Another year had passed, and another year of memories had been filled for Prince Hector and Princess Andromache. They had spent their second anniversary at a lake, unknown to all except for a few, select royals of Troy. They reflected over the past years spent together, both amazed at how quickly the time had passed. Hector packed food for them to eat during the course of the day, but they scarcely ate during the course of the day, instead they did other things…

Polyxena and Nickolas's secret was still concealed by themselves and Andromache. No one other than themselves would hear of the love between Polyxena and her Nickolas. If Polyxena ever entered the stable area then she would greet Nickolas accordingly, leaving no hint of her past relationship with him. Nor did she succumb to the great desire to place her lips upon Nickolas'. It was obvious; however, that Nickolas wasn't coping with the separation of Polyxena as well as she appeared to be. He would often return drunk to his home and smelling of wine the next morning. Nickolas also spent the night with many other women, something that was at first oblivious to Polyxena, because he wished to find someone who could replace Polyxena, but no one ever did.

Andromache had been the shoulder for Polyxena to cry on, when Polyxena heard of Nickolas' startling behaviour. Hector still remained ignorant to this, and he always would.

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A month had almost passed since Hector and Andromache's second anniversary. The sun slowly crept over the distant sea, causing its light to shimmer beautifully in the dark blue water. Hector had risen early to prepare four horses for a hunting trip he had secretly planned for himself, Andromache, Paris and Polyxena. Only he knew of this trip so far, although he knew his brother would be far from happy at the prospect of spending time away from Troy and its pretty maidens.

Hector returned to his chamber to find Andromache silently asleep. He smiled fondly at her; he loved to watch her peaceful form as she slept. After gazing at his stunning wife for a few moments, he quietly walked over to the bed and sat beside her. Hector then gently began to kiss Andromache's cheeks and neck, wishing to wake her with his soft kisses.

Slowly, Andromache opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw Hector peering over her and breathed in his scent of horses and hay, which caused her to grin even wider. Andromache looked over to the balcony and saw the sun only beginning to rise into the sky. She groaned and rubbed her eyes before kissing her husband.

"It's barely morning," she said, and playfully pushed her husband off her so she could sit up. Andromache sighed happily when she felt the cool, refreshing wind blow through the chamber from the balcony.

"My dear, you and I have a different definition of morning," said Hector, and grinned broadly.

"You are right, we do," said Andromache, "you're idea of morning is when dawn approaches…-,"

"And yours," interrupted Hector, "is the idea of sleeping till noon."

"Can you blame me Hector?" Andromache laughed, and recalled the previous night with her husband.

"Of course not," smirked Hector, and firmly planted a kiss on his wife's lips. He was silent for a few moments before speaking once more. "I've planned for us to spend a few days away from Troy; we're going on a hunting trip!"

"I'd rather not see animals slaughtered," Andromache mumbled as she stepped out of bed and went to her table. She rather enjoyed the idea of a hunting trip, excluding the barbarous killing of innocent animals before her eyes. Andromache didn't pretend to dislike meat, she loved it, but she would rather not see killing of animals. "I've never been on a hunting trip, my father forbid it. Please promise to me that I won't see you hunting?"

"I promise," said Hector, and walked over to Andromache; he then wrapped his arms around her as she sat in a chair at her table. "I don't think Polyxena will like to see me and Paris hunting either."

"Paris … Polyxena?" said Andromache, she turned to her husband with a confused expression spreading across her face. "They're coming with us?"

"Yes," murmured Hector, lowering his head a little, "I thought Polyxena could keep you company while I hunted."

"And Paris?" asked Andromache, she smiled slightly at the idea of Paris hunting. She had heard he was good at archery, but still had not seen him with a bow even though she had asked him, many a time, to watch as he shot arrows.

"I thought Paris could accompany me while I hunt," said Hector, raising his head. He immediately noticed Andromache's grin and laughed. "Paris is good at archery!"

"I'm sure he is," smirked Andromache, and began to brush her hair. "It's a nice idea to bring Polyxena and Paris with us; it will be an enjoyable trip."

"It will be," said Hector, he then walked over to his side of the bed and quickly brushed his hair. He hadn't put a brush through his hair for two days and felt slightly guilty. After he had made his hair a little tidier he stood up and walked over to Andromache. He kissed her neck tenderly. "I've already loaded my clothes on Helenus. When you've prepared yourself, gather a few peploses and a warm robe, and then meet me at the stables."

"Have you told Polyxena and Paris?" asked Andromache as her husband walked over to the door.

"No … I thought I'd tell them now," answered Hector, speaking very quietly. His cheeks reddened as he felt Andromache's glaring eyes scan over his face.

"Hector!" cried Andromache. She stood from her table and walked over to where her husband stood. "Polyxena and Paris are still sleeping and they may not even wish to go! You should have spoken with them before now!"

"I know," whispered Hector, sheepishly. "I'm sure they'd love to come though." He sighed heavily; he knew that Paris hated the outdoors and that Polyxena hated riding for long hours.

Andromache smiled weakly. She wrapped her arms around Hector's neck. "Go to Paris and make him come with us, I'll go to Polyxena."

"I thought you were going to prepare…-," said Hector.

"I don't need to have my hair beautifully prepared if I'm going to be riding all morning through forests," interjected Andromache. "It'll be quicker if I call for Xanthe to gather me some clothes while I wake Polyxena, and while you wake Paris."

"I love you Andromache," said Hector and kissed his wife passionately. "There are not many Princesses who wouldn't decorate their hair and faces before leaving their palace."

"Then you should be thankful to the gods that you have such an amazing wife," smirked Andromache. She kissed her husband and closed her eyes for a moment, before reopening them, she was faced by her husbands chocolate coloured eyes. Andromache explored his eyes, and smiled. "I love you."

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Hector and Andromache successfully persuaded Polyxena and Paris to join them on the hunting trip. Paris was less than pleased to leave maidens swooning at every flick of his delicious hair, and Polyxena was displeased to leave her chamber where she spent many hours of each day. After Hector and Andromache had spoken magical words to their friends, they finally accepted the kind invitation.

As Andromache left the woman's quarters with Polyxena, she considered going to Cassandra's chamber and asking if she wished to join them also. She pushed the thought from her mind; she knew Cassandra wouldn't wish to leave with them. Andromache had also heard, from Xanthe who knew all of the palace gossip, that Cassandra had panic attacks almost every week. The news saddened Andromache, she wished to see her friend that had shown nothing but kindness to her when she arrived in Troy, but she had been told by Hecuba that it would be best if Cassandra was left alone, even Polyxena was refused admittance to her sisters room.

Andromache rode on her horse, Hermione, Hector rode on Helenus and Polyxena and Paris rode on their own horses. Hector and Paris led the way out of the magnificent walls of Troy, and Polyxena and Andromache rode behind them.

The time passed by quickly as they rode to the forest. Men had already been sent to the forest earlier that morning to prepare tents for them to rest in once the Princes and Princesses arrived. The men would depart from the forest later that day, leaving the sons and daughters of Priam in the forest alone.

Hector and Paris talked merrily over memories of their childhood. Andromache smiled and listened while they spoke, she enjoyed listening to stories of her husband's childhood, he rarely spoke of it to her.

In some ways, for both Andromache and Hector, their lives had only begun once they met each other. Hector was continuously occupied with the army; he never allowed himself a moment of rest or peace except from a few rare occasions. Andromache was forever at her mother's side, being taught the many lessons of life. She didn't live for herself; instead she lived for her family. When Hector and Andromache met, they began to live for themselves and one another. They finally saw reason for life…

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A/N: I wanted to personally say thank you to the reviews again this time:

Donna Lynn – I've decided that Hector won't find out about Polyxena and Paris, but you're right, Hector would want to kill Nickolas for taking his sisters virginity. Thank you for the review as always! My email alerts were messed up for a couple of days too, but they're fine now.

Eraserhead – Thank you, I'm really glad that you're enjoying the story. Thank you for the review!

Queen Arwen – Thank you for the review! Hector naked is always a good thing ;) Of course you can tie Hector to a bedpost ;)

Regina – I'm not going to be following the movie "Troy" too much at the end, which is where the son is already born when war comes to Troy. Instead I'm going to follow the Iliad etc. Because I've decided to do that, Andromache won't have her son (Astyanax) until further on, just over a year or more before Troy finally falls (the war lasted 10 years). So he won't be around for a while yet, but don't worry I've not forgotten him :) Thank you for reviewing, and I'm glad you like the story!

Kitera-n-Lil – Thank you for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter :)

Aviella-Avuka-A-Fallen-Angel – I'll try and update the story more frequently, and thank you for the review!