Months had passed since Nickolas's body had burned brightly on the pyre. On that day Andromache had walked into the town with Hector and they paid their respect to him. Polyxena could not bear to see the pyre again, and so remained in her chamber for that day and many days afterwards.

Polyxena blamed herself for Nickolas's death, even though Andromache had persisted in telling her otherwise. She had heard from servants that Nickolas had stabbed himself after not being able to survive without a woman he loved, no one knew other than herself and Andromache that she was the woman Nickolas had loved.

Now a meeting was being held between King Priam and the Elders, including his two sons Prince Hector and Paris. The reason for this sudden and unexpected meeting was to discuss a call for peace from King Menelaus of Sparta.

Long had Troy and Sparta been war enemies, but King Menelaus of Sparta now wished for peace. King Priam, of course, also desired peace and thus called an assembly to discuss the matter.

"You should go to Sparta," said Priam, and turned to his son Hector, "and take tokens of peace from Troy."

Hector nodded, thinking it to be the right course of action. However, he didn't enjoy the idea of sailing to Sparta, a journey that would take weeks to arrive there and then to depart for Troy once more. "Yes father."

Priam then turned his attention to Paris. He had noticed the distant look that had grown within Paris's eyes; he had especially noticed how reserved he had become. Paris no longer chased after pretty maidens; he seemed almost lifeless since he had returned to Troy from the hunting trip months ago.

"Paris, you shall go to Sparta with Hector," said Priam. He thought Paris would take pleasure from seeing the remarkable Sparta, and perhaps it would raise his low spirits. "You'll sail to Sparta together in a few days time. I do not wish to give King Menelaus time to think differently on the idea of peace."

"I do not wish to go," Paris suddenly said. He hadn't spoken a word during the course of the meeting, and startled a few men who sat near him.

"You will go Paris," replied Priam, speaking sternly and using a tone that implied he would not think differently on his plan.

Paris stood up from his chair and marched out of the room, Hector soon followed him.

"How dare you disrespect our father's decision!" cried Hector, once he had caught up with Paris who hurried through halls of the palace.

Paris chose not to reply to Hector's words, and continued to stride ahead of him.

Hector grabbed onto Paris's shoulder, causing him to stop and turn to face him. "What is it Paris … what is happening to you?"

For a moment it looked like Paris would release his grief onto Hector, his mouth opened and he tried to form words but he couldn't do it. He wouldn't reveal how he was still pained after leaving Oenone. Night after night he had tossed and turned during sleep because his dreams were always haunted by her, and how she had refused him.

"It's nothing," said Paris. He tore away from Hector's grip and walked away.

Hector made no attempt to follow Paris and instead turned to walk to his own chamber.

-

Andromache walked through the halls of the palace; she had planned to see Hecuba who had suddenly taken ill. A physician had been sent to see Queen Hecuba, but had found no true signs of illness and presumed her to be overtired and suggested rest for the Queen.

As Andromache turned a corner she suddenly walked into Paris, who like her, seemed to be lost within his own thoughts.

"Oh!" exclaimed Andromache and laughed lightly. "I'm sorry Paris, I didn't see you."

Paris shook his head. "No, it's my fault."

"Are you alright Paris?" asked Andromache, noticing that his eyes were filled with tears. She stepped closer, her eyes widening with worry.

Paris shook his head and bit onto his lower lip, to keep himself from crying.

Andromache looked up and down the hall and saw no one walking through it, she took Paris's hand and spoke: "Paris, would you like to talk about it … in private?"

Paris only nodded and allowed Andromache to lead him to his chamber. She sat him down on his bed and continued to hold his shivering hand.

"Tell me Paris, perhaps I can help," she said, speaking softly.

Paris laughed weakly, and removed Andromache's hand from his own. He then walked over to his own balcony and looked out from it. He was silent for a few moments, but then he turned his head to Andromache who still sat on his bed. "Do you remember the woman, on the hunting trip, who was with me when I brought Hector to your tent?"

"Yes," said Andromache, she could clearly picture the woman in her mind and gazed at Paris, waiting for him to speak again.

"Her name is Oenone," said Paris, pronouncing Oenone's name softly and smiling slightly. "I met her in the forest on the day of our arrival there and I … I loved her." He laughed at himself then, but it was a forced laugh full of sadness. "I still love her."

Andromache stood up from the bed and walked over to Paris, she embraced him tightly and he grabbed onto her. He sobbed onto her shoulder, releasing the pain he had locked away for months.

"I even asked her to be my wife," sobbed Paris. "I've not bedded another woman since her because I know I'll only be reminded of her."

"I'm sorry Paris," whispered Andromache, she did not need to be told that the woman Oenone had refused him. "There will be other women Paris, better than her."

Paris pulled away from Andromache and shook his head slowly. "There will never be another woman like Oenone, and I'll never love another woman like I love her."

Andromache stayed with Paris until the sun had set over the sea of Troy. She had listened while he poured his heart out to her, and only her. Andromache tried to comfort Paris, but she didn't realise how helpful she was in just listening to him. His spirits seemed to have risen a little when Andromache left, he smiled and hugged her tightly before opening his chamber door for her, and then she walked to her own chamber.

It did not take long for Andromache to return to her own chamber, and she felt guilty for not seeing Hecuba but decided to see her the next day. She was fairly surprised to see her husband sitting at the table in their room, pouring over various kinds of maps. He looked up at her as she entered, and smiled sadly.

She knew that look; she knew it so well now then she didn't even have to ask Hector for an explanation for his rare expression. "When will you be leaving?"

"In a few days," said Hector, and stood up. He walked over to his wife and removed her shawl for her. "King Menelaus of Sparta has sent word of peace to Troy. My father wishes to accept this and is sending Paris and me there."

"King Menelaus … is he not the brother of King Agamemnon of Mycenae?" asked Andromache, raising her eyebrows slightly.

"Yes, why do you ask?" asked Hector.

"I have heard tales of the Kings, that is all," answered Andromache. She had heard that King Menelaus lived in the shadow of his brother King Agamemnon. And that King Menelaus was thought to be a coward of a man compared to his brother.

"We'll most likely remain in Sparta for seven days," said Hector after a moment, "so I pray the journey will not last long, but you'll hardly notice that I'm gone."

Andromache said nothing, she knew her husband was trying to reassure her mind, but she disliked how he thought she would hardly notice his absence. When Hector left Troy she felt like there was no reason for her to wake each morning and prepare herself beautifully, she felt as if a part of her soul was missing when he left her.

-

Princess Andromache, including members of his family said goodbye to Prince Hector and Paris from the entrance hall of the palace, who were to leave with a small group of men that would accompany them to Sparta. Queen Hecuba did not wave farewell to her sons there, instead she spoke to them separately in her own chamber as she felt too tired to leave it.

No one knew … no one other than those blessed with knowledge knew that this would be one of the last times when Troy was in peace. Soon blood would run across the now clear sands, soon cries of men dying would be heard by all, and even sooner enemies would land on the shores of Troy.

If Andromache had known what was to pass then she would have begged Hector and Paris to stay, begged Priam to reconsider his plan, and then so many lives wouldn't be lost and torn apart. Perhaps so many wailing widows wouldn't crowd the gates of Troy each day after hearing of their loved ones death. Perhaps the walls of Troy would still stand proudly … perhaps Hector would still have lived…

-

A/N: Just to let you know, I'll not be following the movie "Troy" too much towards the fall of Troy, I'm going to try and stick with the Iliad and other things. Also, the war will last ten years, the amount it actually lasted.

Queen Arwen – Thank you for the review and I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, thanks:)

Donna Lynn – Thank you, it's really nice that you continue to enjoy the story and enjoyed the content in the last chapter, thanks :) Thank you for the review, and I'm glad you enjoyed the length!

Lady Hades – Thank you for continuing to read the story, and thank you for the review:) I'm really glad you're enjoying the story, that's great, thanks!

Beling – I wish Andromache and Hector had lived happily ever after too :( Thank you for the review:)

MRS.Nathan Scott – Did you mean for me to update soon, rather than review? If so then I've updated, so I hope you enjoy :) And thank you for the review!

Kitera-n-lil – Thank you, I'm really glad you're enjoying the story and liked the last chapter, thanks :) And thank you for the review!

Sara – Wow, you're a fast reader to read this in an hour :) Thank you for the review! Astyanax was born during the war, he was a baby (or small child) when Troy fell and he was killed. But you're right, he does die after Hector. Although in the movie "Troy" Astyanax is already born before the war, but I'm not going to be following that too much.