Hector.
Her screams woke me up.
They pulled me from the heavy deep sleep she had put me in.
I hadn't told her, I had had every intention of telling her when I returned to our chambers. But then I couldn't. I couldn't do that to her.
Maybe it was cowardice, or maybe I was protecting her.
I didn't know.
She didn't give me a moment during the night to let me think it over. She took me in our bedroom. Fed me. Gave me wine, bathed me, and then climbed into bed naked with me.
Soon after I feel asleep……and then I heard her scream.
It was then I knew she knew.
I ran from bed as fast as I could, my legs would not carry me fast enough. I ran through our chambers towards her screaming. The closer I got the worse I felt. I knew why she screamed.
When I came to my wife I saw her in a ball on the floor. Before her stood a royal messenger, who fled at the sight of me.
I dropped down beside my hysterical wife while she screamed.
A piece of paper in her hand.
I did not need to read the paper, I knew what it said.
Without a word I took the paper from her, I pulled my wife into my arms and held her. She clung to me. She wrapped her shaking arms around me, and clung to me desperately. I held her tighter.
I didn't tell her to calm herself, I let her cry.
Her hot tears fell from her beautiful face onto my bare chest, the hot liquid rolled down my skin. Until I pressed her head to my chest, threading my fingers through her hair. Then her tears were rubbed into my skin. Her nails dug sharply into my skin as well.
But, I never said a word.
Instead, I kissed her, I held her close and told her I loved her. I held my wife while she grieved for her entire family. A loss I couldn't and didn't want to comprehend.
Her spirit was broken.
Achilles had crushed her with his violence. As soon as the vile man came to my mind I threw him aside, I would not think of him while I held Andromache. I would not allow him to enter my life anymore then he already had.
She seemed so destroyed and frail while she wept, it killed me.
Until I finally pulled her into my lap, where I could comfort her completely.
When she became silent I grew worried. Her body trembled, she shook from grief, but had run out of tears. It was then I held her close and stood.
I left the piece of paper on the floor.
I carried her back through our chambers. Into our bedroom, I walked to bed and sat down. But I didn't let go of her. Instead I began to run my fingers through her hair. I comforted her the way she comforted me on countless occasions. I rubbed her back, kissed her face, held her, even softly played with her hair. I knew how comforting the simple touches were.
Even when she could grieve no more, when her body began to stop trembling and she fell asleep, I held her.
I inched back in our bed. Pulled the blanket over us both. But I held her close to me while she slept.
I would not sleep.
Not just because dawn was near, but incase she woke.
I would not leave her side.
I would not abandon my wife when she needed me the most. I continued to touch and kiss her.
Ignorant of the sounds of the palace, as it woke.
Ignorant of the few knocks that came on our chambers door. I never moved.
When one of my Lieutenants knocked, then came in our chambers to investigate, he came in our bedroom. Word had spread about Achilles's latest conquest. He stayed a distance away, but told me, "My Prince, King Priam has asked for your presence."
Quietly I told him, so I would not wake Andromache, "Tell my father I am not leaving Andromache today."
He did not argue, but nodded, "Very well, my Prince."
Then he left, shortly after he left one of my fathers messengers came, Nordius. An annoyingly skinny man I never liked very well, a messenger of the Gods as well.
He was an apprentice not even a priest.
When he came in my bedroom I glared at him, the man looked from me to Andromache, who was still asleep, and in no more then nightclothes. I did not like him looking at my wife in such a state.
"Go away," I told him.
The man walked further into my bedroom, my temper flared. Andromache stirred against my chest.
"Prince Hector, your father needs to speak with you immediately as possible. I will stay with the Princess if you would like. But I am not to leave this room until you agree to see King Priam."
That's what he thought, "I am not leaving my wife. You'll get out of my room now, in unharmed. Or I will start throwing daggers at you, Nordius.
The young blonde man narrowed his eyes, "Do not threaten me."
Had my wife not been on my chest, I would have gotten from bed and thrown him from my chambers. While I was not King, he still had to respect me. If he even thought I would listen to him, an apprentice, the man was mad.
However, I never had to even think about how I would throw him out without touching him.
Someone else came in my chambers.
I was grateful to see it was Padme. She wore one of Andromache's purple robes, a royal robe. But I was so angry with Nordius I didn't care. I told my wife's handmaiden, "Padme."
Surprised that I was speaking to her, she looked at me.
I nodded my head toward Nordius, "Get him out."
Padme looked pleased, while Nordius looked annoyed, "Prince Hector, I will not allow a slave…" Sadly, Nordius stopped talking. Padme had walked behind Nordius and kicked him between the legs. Hard.
Her strength surprised me.
Padme brought him to his knees with that one action, she then drug him from the chambers by his hair. Rather upset that he had called her a slave.
I looked back to my peaceful wife.
Softly kissing her temple.
Soon, Padme walked back into our chambers. She walked calmly back to my marriage-bed, Padme even had the nerve to sit down on my bed. She looked over my wife, her friend, "Is it true."
Quietly I told her, "Yes."
Padme made a face, she was visibly upset.
I wanted her away, so I asked, "Would you bring up some food for us? I want Andromache to eat and drink. She can't stop eating from her grief."
Padme looked to the soft swell on her friend's stomach, she dipped her head, "Yes Sir."
Almost silently she walked from my chambers.
