The King berated Cassandra for hours after the funeral concluded. He told her many times how he wanted to punish her worse, but the King feared Othryoneus losing interest in her if he took it too far. Instead, he concluded his rant with a violent shake of his head and ordered Cassandra from sight.

As she went, Cassandra overheard Priam mumble how he wished the gods had spared his sons and taken her instead.

What little ground Cassandra had gained with those around her since courting Othryoneus evaporated after her brothers' funeral. Though Helen wasn't liked much more than Cassandra, the disrespect Cassandra had displayed outweighed the palace's hatred of Paris' wife.

Even Helenus couldn't find it in his heart to forgive Cassandra, though he didn't glare at or insult her like many others.

Only Othryoneus remained loyal. While he didn't approve of what she'd done, Cassandra's betrothed rationalized she'd acted out of grief. He told everyone within earshot of how sorrow could turn the nicest person into a monster.

His words fell on deaf ears, yet he never ceased supporting her.

For the first few days after she'd attacked Helen, Cassandra stayed in bed. Othryoneus spent every moment with her she'd allow. When alone, Cassandra pondered her reason for continuing forward. Life held no purpose. Troy's fate, and her own, had already been sealed. Unlike those around her, she knew the outcome of the pointless war.

So, why did she stay and suffer?

While much of her believed she'd die when Troy was toppled, no vision had ever shown Cassandra's end. A grain of hope she'd come out of the war alive existed inside Cassandra, no matter how hard she ignored it.

And, though she entertained the idea, Cassandra wasn't a quitter. Hector had never tolerated it, and he'd be upset to hear she'd even allowed the thought to cross her mind. While their last years together hadn't been as grand as in the past, Cassandra had still wanted Hector's approval more than anyone else's, and the desire continued even after his death.

Also, Cassandra couldn't abandon Othryoneus. She'd proven many of the rumors about her true, but Othryoneus still spoke to and looked at Cassandra as if he couldn't believe he'd won her affections.

His love was a blessing Cassandra would never take for granted.

She shed her sadness.

Cassandra continued as she had before her brothers' deaths, though no one cared what she and Othryoneus did when alone.

Hecuba couldn't be around Cassandra without crying, and Deiphobus tried to fill the void Hector's passing had made for Helen.

The palace had just regained a semblance of normalcy when tragedy struck again.

Against orders, Paris sought the Greek who'd caused his family such misery. The warrior, an invulnerable demigod named Achilles, met the Trojan prince in combat.

Later, sources would claim what skill Paris lacked, he made up for with his determination. The two battled for much longer than any other Trojan had with Achilles.

With sheer luck, Paris struck the demigod in his one weak spot: his ankle. The Greek's invulnerability disappeared, and Paris took the advantage to hit Achilles with a handful of fatal blows.

But he didn't kill the demigod outright, and Achilles murdered the prince before his last breath left him.

The King forbade Cassandra from attending Paris' funeral.

Cassandra hated her father for his cruelty yet didn't argue. She'd resolved to cause her family as little distress as possible.

She spent the three days with Othryoneus in prayer.

Hecuba didn't recover from Paris' death. She wandered the palace at odd hours, always in a state of semi-dress. Priam sent for physician after physician, but none could find a treatment to cure the Queen's woes. All told the King she needed rest and support, but the entire palace could see the King was at his wit's end.

Many thought Priam withdrew from his wife and her problems to protect his sanity. Days would pass when he didn't speak or even look upon Hecuba.

Without his love, the Queen wilted.

The only time Hecuba gained a firm grasp on reality was when Creusa visited.

Days before Paris' death, Creusa had announced her pregnancy. Now, for hours, the Queen would sit with her daughter and discuss every aspect of motherhood.

Over the weeks that followed, Creusa's condition became more noticeable, and Hecuba delighted in cooing and talking to her developing grandchild.

Halfway through Creusa's pregnancy, the Queen's abnormal actions ceased, but her thoughts still seemed distant. Priam took to spending a few moments with Hecuba, yet nowhere near what he used to. Even though she was better, her presence seemed to cause him more pain than joy.

As their love faded, both their ages caught up with the King and Queen. All their hair grayed, and wrinkles appeared that hadn't been visible over the summer. Both lost more weight than they could afford.

Helen didn't fare much better than the Queen, though her beauty didn't disappear. In her depression, her looks flourished. She looked better than when she'd first arrived in Troy.

Though she didn't encourage them, Deiphobus and Helenus competed for Helen's attention. They bickered and fought like foolish boys, and Cassandra often told them so. Even the King called out his sons' poor behavior, but the princes wouldn't stop until one of them became Helen's new husband.

A day in midwinter, Cassandra sat in the gardens. She wore a heavy wool peplos and himation, but neither kept away the chill of the day. Though she dreaded growing sick, Cassandra couldn't bring herself to return to the warmth of the palace.

The Queen had taken up a new project. She wanted a nursery prepared for when Creusa gave birth (Hecuba had already decided her daughter would have her child at the palace, no matter what anyone else thought). The old nursery held too many memories, and the Queen wouldn't be able to devote her attention to her grandchild if surrounded by the past.

Priam's advisors complained about the cost, but the King waved away their concerns. For the first time in weeks, Hecuba had regained a bit of her vigor, and Priam looked at her with a hint of his previous feelings for her.

Hecuba tore about the palace like a woman possessed. She hurled endless questions at every person she came across. The Queen wouldn't wait for answers and grew impatient when her inquiries hung in the air.

On top of Hecuba's hectic behavior, Deiphobus' and Helenus' rivalry had grown to ridiculous heights. They'd taken to playing cruel tricks on each other, ones that if a little detail were off, could seriously hurt the other.

It'd gotten to the point Priam had demanded Helen choose which brother she wanted, though she'd proclaimed she didn't care for either of them. Regardless, if she didn't pick soon, the King would cast her out of the palace and leave her to the mercy of Troy's streets.

Like Hecuba weeks prior, Helen wandered the palace as she moaned about her fate. She cursed everyone she passed. On two occasions, she'd gotten drunk and stumbled around the woods until she passed out.

Creusa tried to get Helen involved with her pregnancy, but Helen only ever talked about the daughter she'd left in Sparta. Once she got started, her rants would end with her accusing everyone in the immediate area of conspiring against her.

The third, and last, time Creusa spent with Helen, the former queen grew so enraged she threw a vase. Shards of glass nicked Creusa's arm, and the King prohibited Helen from being around his daughter.

So, though the tips of her fingers had gone numb, Cassandra wouldn't leave the rare moment of calm she'd stolen. Her mind drifted, settled on no topic for too long. With lazy interest, she watched the birds search for food and debris to improve their nests.

"What are you doing out here?" a voice called; drew Cassandra from her pleasant daze.

She turned and smiled as Othryoneus approached. "Taking in the fresh air."

Her betrothed sat next to her and hugged her. "But you'll catch your death out here."

Cassandra almost laughed. To die from an illness instead of the Greeks ransacking Troy. Would the Fates be so absurd?

"I'm fine." She kissed Othryoneus. "Your concern is welcomed, though."

Othryoneus studied her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I just needed a moment alone. The palace is... too crowded."

Othryoneus nodded. "I've found it quite suffocating myself. That's why I think after I return, and we marry, we should move to Cabesos. It'll be better for us."

"After you return?"

"The King has ordered me to lead an assault on the Greeks."

"But... he has generals."

Othryoneus chuckled. "Have you forgotten I offered myself as one when I came to court you?"

It had slipped Cassandra's mind.

When Othryoneus had first arrived, Priam had had more than enough generals to leave Cassandra's betrothed alone. But morale had dropped after Hector's and Paris' deaths, and many generals had either fled or perished in battle. The King now grasped at straws and had even placed lowly Trojan soldiers in leadership positions.

Cassandra griped Othryoneus' hand. "You can't leave me."

Othryoneus tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Love, I promise it won't be for too long. The King's ensured me after this mission, he'll grant me leave from the rest of the war. In on time, we'll be able to start our life."

"B-But what if you don't come back?"

Her betrothed kissed her then, with such passion he stole Cassandra's breath. She sensed every bit of his love for her.

"Nothing will keep me from you," he whispered when they pulled apart.

Cassandra scolded his brash words as she snuggled closer to him. But she prayed he spoke the truth, that the gods who'd forsaken her for so long would grant her this one wish.