Hector

When I left her she had been hardly awake, curled up beneath the blankets of our bed. She looked angelic. How I wished I could remain in bed with her and watch her sleep, watch her as the sun rose.

Sadly I was not allowed such simple pleasures.

A storm was coming.

Fishermen had seen it offshore when they went out, slowly day by day it grew larger and came our way, destroying towns along the coast as it did so.

Poseidon was rather angry it appeared.

We'd speak of the storm and such matters today.

Before I left my sleeping wife I glanced out the balcony, it was not yet visible. Not yet. But by the word of the villages, and the men we had sent to survey the damage, it was large.

And it was heading our way.

I did not kiss Andromache, she was asleep. I would let her get what sleep she could while she could.

So I walked from the bedroom and down the halls of our chambers, I stopped for a moment outside of Padme's room. She was sound asleep as well. Sometimes I would stop and speak to her if she were awake. I'd have her bring Andromache breakfast in bed, draw her a flower bath, even take her out shopping in the market. But it was not a wise thing to wake either woman, especially Padme.

So I continued out of the chambers and into the hall, past Tarus who dipped his head in a respectful greeting. I returned the gesture.

Tarus then asked, "Is there anything you wish me to see done?"

I nodded, "Andromache is not to set foot on a horse. Is that understood?"

Tarus nodded, "She is still with child, my prince?"

A smile came over my face, "Indeed."

There were times my sister's ability to not keep a secret could be a thorn in my side, and other times I was more then grateful.

The dark skinned guard smiled, "No harm shall come to Andromache or the young one while I am here."

I nodded my thanks to Tarus and then set out to find my sister before I was due in court.

Cassandra had always been a tad off.

But Paris and I loved her no matter what odd things she did, or had eccentric she became in her age. She was our sister and that was that.

I made my way to her chambers where both her and Paris could be heard arguing as if they were still children.

"I will not brew you a love potion! Are you mad?"

"But Cassandra you must! I am in love, love! Do you not know what it feels like to be in love?"

As I drew closer to her bedroom I could hear the irritation in her voice, "NO Paris, you are not in love, you are in lust. There is quite a difference. And besides I will not help you woo a Priestess of Apollo, it is immoral and wrong."

I stepped into her bedroom as Paris fell across her bed in exasperation, "Please! I beg of your dear, sweet, beautiful, sister of mine."

I leant against the doorway and crossed my arms, "No Paris."

He jumped a foot at my voice, Cassandra did not.

Our brother sat up and ran a hand through her perfect hair, an s if he sensed a strand out of place. Vanity was nothing new to Paris.

Cassandra continued to brush her hair from where she stood, the pearl brush bright against her dark hair, "You've come to speak of the storm?"

I nodded and Paris made a face of disgust, I'll be off then if THAT is what you two wish to waste your morning talking of." At that he stood and walked from the room with the grace of a cat.

Which he had proved many times over in flight from angry husbands and lovers.

Once the door to her chambers closed she asked, "The storm that is your wife?"

"Indeed," I replied.

Cassandra continued to brush her hair and I remained where I stood. She then asked, "I take it Andromache has not told you of the child yet?"

While she concentrated on a tangle she still gave me her full attention.

"Andromache still blames herself for the loss of our first. I think she is afraid she may loose this one as well," I confessed.

My sister smiled, "You are very perceptive brother."

It wasn't perception.

Andromache still believed she could have saved our first, but there was not a chance in the world, nothing either of us could have done. It had been two years and the pain was still as fresh as the night it had happened.

But I would not dwell. I had to protect both my wife and child without her knowledge until she was ready to tell me. To say the least it had been two moons and I was getting impatient. It would drive me mad.

Cassandra set her brush down on her dresser then picked up a pearl hairpin. "Brother you must allow her time. You were more then patient for the six months of celibacy that followed. You're patient for the times you are forced for months at a time from your wife. I have seen you at court, your almost patient there, this should be nothing for you."

True.

But this was different. How? I was not quite sure but it was different. That I was certain. So I asked, "has she come by?"

"Later today she will," Cassandra told me.

I nodded, "Tell me everything."