Seven years of pain and sorrow had now passed over Troy. It seemed almost impossible to think the war between Troy and Greece had lasted for seven long years, but it had. No one was left untouched by the war, every Trojan and Greek was haunted by sights they saw on and off the battle field.

It was not only emotional pain that the Trojans had to overcome, but also the lack of fresh food. As each year passed during the war, the food lessened for all. It was virtually impossible to leave the walls of Troy and hunt in forests, or catch fish from the sea or lakes. Every last grain of food had been dug up from the earth, and it was becoming even harder to grow food within Troy because of the lack of rain and resources.

The royal household also felt the shortage of food, and only on extremely rare occasions were there feasts within the palace – even then the food was less than what it used to be.

Almost each piece of gold was used for more horses, men and armor to defend the walls of Troy that had never been breached. Princess Polyxena and Andromache, including a few others, had given their jewels to King Priam so more money could be gathered for food and for battle purposes. Helen of Troy had not offered her jewels to King Priam, which made the people of Troy dislike her even more.

Helen was thought by many to be the reason why war had come to Troy; most of the people were ignorant that war would have come to Troy regardless of whether Helen had been returned to her husband. Even those in the palace didn't attempt to hide their dislike towards Helen. Helen had severely changed since first arriving in Troy and appearing to be nervous and timid to all, she now acted as if there was no war outside Troy's walls and ordered for new robes each month, even if Paris refused her.

Hector returned to his chamber after another day of battle. It was beginning to feel like a task to fight for his country, instead of a matter of honour and duty. He stepped into his chamber and quietly closed the door behind him when he saw Andromache was once again working at her loom.

Andromache hadn't gone to the walls that day to watch as Hector fought bravely, instead she remained in their chamber and weaved garments for the coming winter. She scowled when the thin thread broke once more. The thread Andromache used was the cheapest available and terribly flimsy. Since the war had started, money had been guarded for mainly food and battle purposes, and was not to be used too sparingly on cloth and thread.

"My mother may have some thread left over from what she used for her servants," said Hector, once he had pulled his oxhide and armor off his sweating torso, "I'll ask her tomorrow."

"No, I'll just use this," said Andromache irritably.

Hector smiled faintly and remained silent. He was aware his wife had been in a trying mood for the past fortnight or so, and didn't relish the thought of aggravating her.

"Your bath is run for you," said Andromache as she stood up from her chair in front of the loom. She smiled and greeted Hector by kissing his lips which tasted of sand and sweat.

"Thank you my love," said Hector softly.

The next day Princess Polyxena walked through the halls of the palace; she had flourished into a great beauty and would be an ideal wife for a Prince or King, if it were not for the war. It was even more difficult for Polyxena to marry while Troy had a war outside its gates, since there was a desperate lack of gold for her dowry and no Prince or King would wish to link with a country at war.

The Princess weaved past a few servants who were gossiping madly about Achilles, they saw Polyxena and quickly silenced themselves. Polyxena shuddered at the thought of Achilles, she had heard terrible war tales of him and how he treated his victims.

Polyxena stopped outside Andromache's chamber door and knocked on it gently.

Andromache was leaning on the wall of her balcony when she heard the soft knock on her door. She closed her eyes for a few moments, hoping the person would go away but then she heard another, harder, knock. Andromache sighed heavily and stepped into her chamber and opened the door.

"I didn't you see you on the walls this morning, are you all right?" said Polyxena and entered the chamber without admittance. She sat down at the table.

"I'm fine," said Andromache, rather too happily which roused the suspicion of Polyxena.

"You don't look fine," stated Polyxena as her eyes looked over Andromache's pale and grave face. "Has something happened Andromache?"

Andromache shook her head quickly; she walked over to her dresser and folded a piece of cloth she had used to dry her eyes with earlier that day.

"Please Andromache," said Polyxena gently, "if something has happened then tell me, perhaps I can help."

Andromache looked at Polyxena and sighed heavily. "I am with child."

Polyxena's mouth fell open in shock while Andromache's words registered in her mind. "You're with child?"

"Yes."

"That's wonderful!" squealed Polyxena and clapped her hands together. She laughed happily and then threw her arms around Andromache's neck.

"Yes … it is," whispered Andromache.

Hector was late in returning to his chamber that night; he had been held in meetings with his father and the army generals. He entered his chamber and saw that Andromache was sleeping on their bed, and he smiled. Andromache always looked so perfect when she slept.

Carefully, so as not to wake his sleeping wife, Hector removed his armor and placed it on its stand. He then rested on their bed next to his wife, and ran a finger along her bare and slender arm.

So beautiful, thought Hector as he looked at his wife. He continued to stroke Andromache's arm until she slowly opened her eyes and looked across to him.

"You're late in returning," stated Andromache and looked at Hector for an explanation.

"There was a meeting I had to attend," said Hector and stopped caressing Andromache's arm.

Andromache sat up on their bed and thought carefully as how she was to word to Hector that she was with their child. She feared telling him in case she lost the child, or that she was incorrect in her assumption that she was pregnant. It was not only telling Hector that Andromache feared, she feared for the life of the child that grew in her womb. She imagined their child growing up in the city while the war still carried on, and she couldn't bear to think that her child would have to see Troy like it was now – no child should have to see it she thought.

"Hector, there's something I need to tell you," said Andromache. She turned to look at Hector and to the curious expression that spread across his face. She reached out for his hand and held it within her own for a few moments before speaking. "I'm …-,"

A loud knock suddenly sounded on their chamber door. Hector looked to Andromache and then to the door. After a few seconds he hurried to the door to answer it.

General Glaucus stood outside Hector and Andromache's chamber, his gold helmet under his arm. "Prince Hector, the Greeks are attacking. You must come at once!"

"They're attacking now?" gasped Hector. He dashed to where his armor stood on the stand, leaving the chamber door open, and began to dress into his battle attire.

"Yes," answered Glaucus, "the Greeks want this war ended and have made a feeble attempt to attack us at night."

Hector nodded, he then turned to Andromache who was watching him with wide eyes. "Will you help me with this, my love?"

Andromache jumped a little at Hector's words; she had been absorbed within her thoughts. She sat up off their bed and helped Hector with the several layers of oxhide, and then with his bronze breastplate.

As soon as Hector was equipped for battle, he left Andromache in their chamber – without hearing what she wished to tell him – and hurried out of the walls of Troy and fought once more with the Greeks.

The sun rose brighter the next morning than it had done in months, and its blissful rays of light shined down on the sea, making the sea appear as if it was sparkling. The Trojans that had been killed during the nights battle where laid on pyres and burned in front of their families, who grieved terribly.

Hector stood outside the walls of Troy and paid respects to the men he had known and that had died during the night. He looked out to the bodies that were waiting for their funeral rituals and lowered his head in dismay.

After a few minutes, he looked up to the bodies once more and saw that a few of the bodies, near the edges of the wall, were of Greeks. Hector called to a captain of his army, Lysander, who was also looking at the dead bodies.

"Yes my Prince?" asked Lysander and walked to where Hector stood.

"When our men have finished gathering the fallen," said Hector, "send an emissary to the Greeks. They can collect their dead without fear of assault."

Lysander's eyes widened a little. "Do you think the Greeks would have done the same for us?"

"Of course not," said Hector stiffly. "That is why Troy is worth defending." He then turned away, mounted his horse and rode back to the palace.

As Hector walked through the palace, he saw Andromache sitting on the grass in one of the royal gardens. He slowly walked into the garden with palm trees sprouting from the dry soil, and a small waterfall trickling water into the pond beside Andromache.

Andromache raised her head as soon as she heard footsteps and smiled weakly when she saw Hector walk up to her. She watched as he sat down in front of her and took one of her hands in his own.

"It's so peaceful here," she said and smiled when she heard the faint sound of birds twittering close by.

Hector nodded in agreement.

"Do you remember that I wanted to tell you something yesterday?" asked Andromache.

"Yes," said Hector.

"Well, what I had planned to say," Andromache said, "before you were called away, was that I'm with child." She said it so smoothly and easily that she even amazed herself, she had dreaded telling Hector but the words flowed out of her mouth like silk.

Hector's eyes widened and he opened his mouth a little; he certainly hadn't expected to hear those words from her. He laughed happily, and loudly, and threw his arms around Andromache, then kissed her lips passionately.

"We're going to be parents!" He cried and kissed Andromache once more.

Andromache couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm going to be a father," said Hector, testing how the words felt as they dripped off his tongue. He then looked at Andromache, his eyes kind and gentle. "And you're going to be a mother!"

Looking out from her balcony that overlooked the royal garden Andromache and Hector sat in; Helen watched as they laughed together happily and envied them. She watched how they looked at one another, so much love in their eyes, and wished that Paris looked at her the same way. Helen knew Paris still loved her, and she couldn't help but continue to love him as much as she did when she left Sparta, but there was something missing in their love.

A/N: I skipped quite ahead in years with this chapter, so I hope it's not too confusing. Also I used the lines between Hector and Lysander from "Troy". And please keep reviewing :)

Queen Arwen – I knew it wouldn't escape your notice that Hector was naked ;) I'm really glad you liked the last chapter, and thank you for the review :)

Priestess of the Myrmidon – I'm glad you're enjoying the quick updates, and I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, thanks! And thank you for the review :)

Donna Lynn – By Andromache reacting to Helen and Hector's reactions they way she does, I'm trying to convey that I think Andromache would feel jealous of Helen (because of her beauty) and would feel insecure and worried that Hector would stray away to Helen. Thank you for reviewing chapters 40&41 :)

Kcrane – Hector's remark to Andromache was awful, so take your time in forgiving him ;) Thank you for reviewing and reading each of the chapters, and I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter :)

Kitera – Helen was especially horrible in the last chapter, and is definitely worth hating at times. Thank you for reviewing the last chapter :)