A loud wail coming from the royal gardens below Andromache's chamber roused her from her light sleep. She had barely slept a full night since Hector had sailed away to Sparta over two weeks ago. She quickly hurried from her bed and wrapped a plain white shawl around her bare arms before rushing out of the chamber.
It was early morning and only a few servants walked through the halls, Andromache was amazed that none of them went to where the cry had come, but she assumed they hadn't heard it. She was even beginning to wonder if she had imagined it.
In the garden, beside a gold footpath, a woman knelt down before Hecuba and her daughter, Polyxena. Hecuba was leaning over to reassure the woman, while Polyxena watched. As Andromache focused her eyes on the woman, she soon realised that it was Oenone.
Andromache slowly walked to where her mother and sister-in-law stood, although she was somewhat unsure of whether or not to stay or return to her chamber.
Upon hearing footsteps, Hecuba suddenly straightened up and smiled when she noticed Andromache. She spoke quickly to Oenone, her lips barely moving and her voice a dead whisper. Neither Polyxena nor Andromache could hear what had escaped Hecuba's soft lips.
"Polyxena," said Hecuba, although she looked at Andromache as she spoke, "please take Oenone to the women's quarters and wait for me there."
Polyxena nodded and helped Oenone to her feet; they walked away from the garden and into the palace. Oenone clung to Polyxena's hand, obviously feeling faint and still tears streamed from her deadly pale face. As they walked away Andromache noticed Oenone's stomach, and saw that it swelled more so than when she had first seen her. At the time Andromache shrugged the thought away, but she and others around her would soon live to regret this.
As Andromache watched them walk away, she saw Cassandra watching her. Cassandra watched her from an entrance into the palace from the garden. A single tear leaked from her left eye as she continued to watch Andromache. Cassandra stepped forward, almost about to walk to where her sister-in-law stood, but then stepped back again. A moment or two passed while Cassandra just stood there and watched Andromache, she then slowly walked away.
Andromache was unnerved by the sight of Cassandra watching her so intently. She barely saw Cassandra now, very few members of the royal family went to see her. Cassandra would remain in her chambers and it was rare for her to leave them, especially when it was still day.
"You've met Oenone before, haven't you?" said Hecuba.
Andromache nodded and turned to look at Hecuba. "Yes, I saw her in the forest when we went camping … although I didn't speak a word to her. I didn't … I don't even know who she is."
Hecuba smiled. "It's alright; I know that there was an attachment between my son, Paris, and Oenone."
"Why did she come here?" asked Andromache.
"She came to see if Paris had left for Sparta yet," answered Hecuba.
"Why would that matter concern her?" asked Andromache, she assumed Oenone had heard word of Paris and Hector sailing to Sparta.
Hecuba fell silent, she pondered over her next words for a few moments before finally speaking. "She … Oenone wished to see him that is all. It's no matter now, Oenone will see Paris when he returns if she wishes."
"Of course she can," said Andromache, speaking quietly. Although she was still slightly confused, she knew there must have been more to the situation but chose to not ask her mother-in-law.
The voyage to Sparta was shorter than Hector had anticipated, and this he was glad of because he was anxious to return to Troy, something he always felt after having left it for more than a week.
The grand ship bearing the Princes of Troy soon docked into the harbor of Sparta. Once arriving there, the Princes were taken on chariot to the palace where King Menelaus lived.
"Welcome to Sparta Prince Hector and Paris," greeted Menelaus, who stood a few feet in front of the doors to his mighty palace, and he raised his hands in welcome. The palace and Kingdom of Sparta, however, was not his by birth right, instead he gained them by marriage.
At the tender of twelve Helen, now the beautiful wife of Menelaus, was abducted by Theseus who was the King of Athens. Theseus planned to marry Helen, as he wished to marry a daughter of Zeus, but as she was still a child when he took her he decided against it. Helen lived comfortably with Theseus, but with him she lost her childlike innocence and soon realised that she was desired by men because of her astounding beauty.
Helen's eldest brother Pollux rescued her from Theseus. However, during the rescue of his dear sister, Pollux was killed after stabbing Theseus, who also died.
King Tyndareus, Helen's non-biological father, was then left with no male heir. Tyndareus also had another child called Clytemnestra, who was now married to King Agamemnon of Mycenae. When Helen married Menelaus, who was the son of the deceased Atreus and brother of Agamemnon, he received the Kingdom of Sparta from Tyndareus who died shortly afterwards.
As Menelaus was the younger brother of Agamemnon by two years, he would not have ruled a Kingdom at all, unless his brother died, because his brother was the eldest and therefore took the throne from their father once he had died. It was indeed fortunate for Menelaus to be blessed with a great Kingdom and a beautiful woman in marriage.
The tale of Helen's incomparable beauty was known throughout countless lands. It was said she was the daughter of Zeus, although she was raised by her mother and Tyndareus, who had raised her as one of his own children. Zeus was said to have taken the form of a swan and seduced Leda, Helen's mother. As a result of this Leda became pregnant with her youngest child, Helen. Some said Leda was raped by Zeus, which is why she killed herself shortly after giving birth to Helen.
"Come Princes of Troy and greet my wife Queen Helen," said Menelaus. He was a thin man with only a few bold muscles shown on his tanned arms, not like a typical warrior. No beard covered his face; instead he was clean shaven, much like Paris. Menelaus gestured for the Princes to follow him into the entrance hall of the palace.
Paris gasped aloud, but quickly composed himself and was thankful to the Gods that no one had heard him.
The Queen of Sparta was the embodiment of perfection with shimmering gold hair, falling past her slender shoulders that twisted into smooth curls at the ends. Her hair moved ever so slightly with the soft wind that blew through the doors of the palace. Helen's striking curves were only made more appealing by a dark orange gown she wore. Her glowing cheeks reddened when she caught sight of the younger Prince of Troy watching her intently, she hadn't blushed for many a year.
A small child, looking no older than five years old, stood by Helen and tugged on her robes when she saw Princes she had never seen before. She was Hermione, the daughter and only of Helen and Menelaus.
"This is my wife Queen Helen," said Menelaus. He then introduced the Princes Hector and Paris to his wife, who greeted them politely. Then Menelaus, catching sight of his only child by her mother, scooped her up into his arms and chuckled when she hugged him tightly.
"And this is my daughter Hermione," he added. He kissed her forehead and placed her on the ground once more and she hurried behind her mother when she saw the Princes smiling kindly to her.
Hector had felt a pang of jealously when he saw Menelaus with his daughter, but he quickly forced the feeling away after reassuring himself that one day the Gods would bless him and Andromache with children.
"She is nervous around strangers," said Helen, her voice low. She held onto Hermione's hand and bowed her head before the Princes, then her husband. "I shall take her to the nurse."
Menelaus watched as Helen left, still he loved her like he did when he first saw her beautiful and perfect face. His love never faded for her, not even when she was cold towards him and did not return the obvious affection he held for her. Helen treated Menelaus like a mere acquaintance and not the husband he was to her; she couldn't relax when she was in his presence or in the presence of many a man because she saw the look of desire they had for her in their desperate eyes and hated it.
The face of Helen, that would soon cause thousands of men to fight in war, turned to look at Paris. She blushed furiously once more and sharply looked away when she caught the eyes of the Prince on her.
Helen's sheer beauty would always amaze those around her, even Paris. He watched as the Queen continued to walk away, but had sense enough to not attract the attention of her husband by doing so. The image of Helen lingered in his mind, even after she had walked out of sight with her daughter. Her face seeped into every corner of his heart…
A/N: I realise that Menelaus isn't portrayed like he was in the movie "Troy", but I'm going to write him as I felt he was. If you've seen "Helen of Troy" then the Menelaus in that is how I imagine him to have acted etc. Also, Helen did have two brothers (Pollux and Castor), and Pollux (also called Polydeuces sometimes) wasn't actually killed by King Theseus. I followed the version in "Helen of Troy" of how Pollux died, because it works better for me and I prefer it.
There are some reports that Leda, Helen's mother, actually died of shame from Helen's actions of going to Troy etc. But I again prefer how Leda was said to have died in "Helen of Troy."
I know I said Oenone wasn't going to be in it again until the end, but I needed her in this chapter. I think she won't be in it again till towards the end of the story. :)
Queen Arwen – Thank you so much, you left me a lovely review, thank you! I couldn't help but follow the Iliad, especially when Hector gets to live longer in it :)
Jen – Thank you for the review, I'm really glad that you're happy I decided to follow the Iliad and that you're enjoying the story, thanks :) Cassandra is still in the story; she'll definitely be more in it in the coming chapters. I introduced Alexander because I wanted Andromache to know how it felt to be wanted, or needed by a man - so she could detect when Hector showed that he needed her also. I'm sorry but I don't know how to pronounce Oenone, I tried to find it out but I couldn't so I'm sorry.
iamJulianne – Hector won't die for quite a few more chapters yet so I hope you continue to read until then, but I do understand if you still don't want to because Hector's death is horrible. I could warn you when Hector is going to be killed so you don't have to read it if you like. Thank you for the review :)
YoursAlwayS – I'm really glad you enjoy the story, thank you and thanks for the review! I was also sucked into Troy fanfic after seeing "Troy"! Thank you once again, especially for reading the fic in two days – that was fast :)
Luke Skywalker – Thank you for the review and I'll definitely keep writing :) And thank you for liking that I'll be having the war last ten years!
aLL aMeRIcAn gIRl 50 – Yep, here comes Helen! Thank you for the review and I'll try to continue updating regularly :)
Donna Lynn – You're not the only interested in where this is going at the moment, I don't even have completed ideas for the next chapter yet, lol :) Thank you for the review!
Kitera-n-lil – I'm really glad you enjoyed the last chapter, thank you! And thank you for the review :)