Andromache.
I had no idea what else went on inside that house.
Not a clue.
Until Hector screeched it at me, the mere thought of it made me ill. I felt as if I would be sick. It made me cry. I wanted nothing more then to crawl into bed and cry.
The thought of the place I had brought my child to. The danger I had placed my child in. It made me wonder whether or not I should have been allowed to have another. What if I lost another? Those thoughts raced through my head on the way back to the palace, through the streets as rain poured down, wind shoved us around, even small pieces of ice rained down.
The cloak from the stables was not warm and hardly protected me, though it didn't have a hood, I wrapped it around me protecting my child. Hoping it didn't feel the storm. Hoping it was warm and safe enough inside my womb.
With trembling hands I held them over my womb, hoping I was a good mother. The memories of my first still haunted my dreams.
Still I could remember that night as if it were hours ago….
I could still remember the day I realized I was with child.
With Hector's child.
I could remember our happiness and elation. The mere thought of us being parents was enough to render me giddy to the point of useless.
Everyday Padme and I would go out and shop.
We bought clothes, toys, a crib, everything we could ever need for a baby or child. We'd have it sent to the palace.
Every day we would go out into the market. As time went on the people of Troy caught on and were more then thrilled at the thought of their beloved Prince having a child, a future heir of Troy.
However not everyone loved Hector and Priam as Padme and I learned.
After a long day of picking out cloth for baby sheets and colors to match the crib. We also had a special pillow made a goose feathers for when the baby grew a little larger.
We were so caught up in planning for my baby that we were oblivious to the city around us as we headed home.
"When the baby gets larger we'll move him into your room and move you out into your own chambers. That way we'll have more room incase we decide to have another."
Padme looked to me, a large grin upon her face, "Another? Andromache, you have just gotten pregnant with this one two months ago. Already you want another?"
I nodded, "It was Hector's idea. I just agreed."
Padme rolled her eyes and steered me along the palace walls, in a narrow space between the buildings and the wall that stood between the city and the palace. A shortcut we took every day since we found it a few months after I arrived from Thebe. "Just you wait. Once you have that little Prince or Princess you will not be so keen for another."
I stuck my tongue out at her, ducked under a clothesline full of sheets and asked, "Have you found a midwife?"
"Honestly Andromache, you are just pregnant. Have some patience."
I made a face and walked a little quicker, the quicker I got home the quicker I would see Hector. When we came to the end where an opening was an older man leaning heavily on a cane called out to us, "Princess? Princess Andromache?"
I stopped and Padme immediately asked, "Who are you?"
The older man glanced up at us and came over slowly, leaning quite heavily on his cane. At the sight of me he smiled, "It is you my Princess. I think pregnancy has made you glow like the Gods." He bowed and reached out for my hand, which he placed a kiss upon.
I smiled in thanks.
When the man stood up tall without a problem a chill of unease filled me.
When I tried to pull my hand back he tightened his grip.
And then Padme screamed from behind!
I turned and saw her grabbed from behind and lifted from her feet! She kicked and fought against the man but was no match. Then I saw two other men. Fear for my child filled me.
The elderly man that I thought was cripple leaned forward.
I fought! I kicked and hit him. I kicked and hit until I was grabbed from behind, and then I still fought. I fought until my hands were pulled behind me and a hand held over my mouth.
Padme was tossed down lifeless on the ground and the other man took hold of my ankles.
Even then I still fought, I prayed to the Gods to protect my child and Padme, who's back still rose and fell from her place on the dirty street ground.
The elderly man stepped up to me and looked in my eyes.
I glared at him.
He ran his wrinkled hand over my face, "Priam took my son from me. He had my son sent to fight with his son. His son came home to him. My son did not…so I will take his grandson. His son's son."
In that moment I knew he would try and take the life of my child.
I fought the men that held me.
I fought from the moment they hit me with the cane where my child was, until the last blow I felt that sent me to a blissfully dark place where I felt no pain. I fought as hard as I could with no regard for my own safety. Only fear for my unborn child.
"Andromache?"
I jumped at the sound of the voice.
The unfamiliar man's voice.
The two guards pointed to the doors of the palace.
With a nod of thanks to both men I ran up in them, they followed me. I had forgotten. Since that day Hector made sure I never went anywhere outside the palace unguarded.
