Chapter 12

The morning shone with brightness and warmth that made the villagers wonder when this had happened before. The birds sang and flew around playing with one another. Children ran through the streets, laughing and not having a care in the world.

The palace was in a state of calmness for once. Everyone seemed to take things much easier than normal. Even the servants were given time to relax and do what they wanted.

Anama woke to find sunlight shining through the curtains. The sky was as blue as the water, and there was not a cloud in the sky. The breeze blew throughout the room, giving Anama a chance to get fresh air.

As she looked around, she noticed something was missing. That something was in fact her husband. She paused after thinking that.

"My husband." She whispered.

"Yes?" She looked up quickly startled. "You called me?" Hector walked into the room with a smile on his face. He brought with him breakfast for both of them, and an Iris for Anama.

"I was just wondering where you were, but now I see what you were up to." She smiled and leaned in to kiss him. She just melted. She could not believe that she had married this man. He was so amazing. They broke apart and Hector handed her breakfast to her.

"How are you feeling this morning?" he questioned.

"I feel wonderful. A bit tired, but I feel like a whole new person." She smiled as she said this, and Hectors heart constricted. He loved it when she smiled.

"Well, that is wonderful." He began eating his food. Anama noticed him. He didn't exactly eat, he shoveled. She just sat and stared at him amazed. She had never seen him eat this way before. Probably because of sitting in front of royalty for so long. He noticed her staring.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Well, actually yes." She said and smiled. She wiped a few crumbs that were caught in his beard. "But, I was staring because I have never seen you eat like that before."

Hector just laughed. "Yes, well, you will notice a lot of things that are different for me when I am alone."

"Like what?" Hector looked at her and smiled. He took their breakfast platters and placed them on the table. He turned towards her and smiled.

"Well, one is that I always walk around here without clothes on. Two, from now one, I can have you whenever I want, wherever I want." He smiled and walked towards her.

She smiled. "Well, I think I can get used to those. Anything else?"

He just smiled and kissed her. They stayed in bed for the rest of the afternoon only getting up to eat something. When mid-afternoon came around, Hector got out of bed while Anama was still sleeping. He went into the chest and got riding clothes out for the both of them. He laid them on the bed and went to draw a bath for the both of them. He called for Kia and she brought in hot water to bathe in. She left the room and Hector went over to the sleeping Anama.

"Anama my love, awaken." He said as he kissed her forehead. She mumbled something non human and rolled over. Hector just smiled and whispered into her ear. "Anama, wake up. The palace is burning down."

Anama jumped up and looked over to see Hectors laughing face. "You brute! There are easier ways to wake me."

"Yes, but none as wonderful as these." He continued laughing and Anama punched in the arm. It actually hurt. He rubbed his arm as he looked at her and they both started laughing. "Come on, there is a nice hot bath waiting for us."

"Us?"

"Yes, us. Come." He dragged her out of bed and walked over to the bathing tub. He placed her in it and got in behind her. "Let me wash you."

He wet her hair and took lavender oil, the kind that he loved to smell as he lay beside her, and gently massaged it threw her hair. She moaned a little at the feeling and Hector had to restrain himself. He washed it out and started to wash her body. He watched as the water ran down her skin in little streams. When he was done she turned and faced him.

"It's your turn now." He just smiled and let her wash him. She washed his hair with his own oil and washed his body. The water glistened over his muscles and she had to restrain every feeling to not jump him there and then. 'There would be more time for that later,' she smiled to herself. They finished washing and dried off. They walked back into their room and Anama found riding pants and a tunic for her to wear. She gave Hector a questioning glance.

"What are these for?"

"Just get dressed. I have a surprise for you." He kissed her and went on getting dressed. Anama shrugged and got dressed also. She went to braid her hair but Hector stopped her.

"Leave it down. I like to see it shine in the sunlight." She smiled and left it down. "Come we must hurry."

"Where are we going?"

"You will see. Come on." He wrapped his arm around her waist and they strode out of the palace towards the stables. When they entered there were two horses saddled up and ready to be ridden. Anama looked over to Hector who had a smile of sheer pride.

"This Anama is your horse. Since Azeel died, I decided to get you a brand new one for your wedding present. Her name is Umbra."

"She is beautiful." Anama walked over to the horse. The horse was pure white and had a silver looking mane. Her eyes are what caught Anama's attention. They were as blue as the ocean and it seemed as if they could tell a story. She rubbed her nose and the horse acquired the attention.

"Come my love, we must leave soon." Anama nodded and they both mounted their horses. "We will be back soon, do not worry." He said to the guards. The rode out of the city towards the hills. When they reached the top, they dismounted and walked to the edge.

When Anama reached the edge she gasped. What lay before her was extraordinary. Ocean, as far as the eye could see stretched on for miles in every direction. The sun was just setting and it cast a beautiful trail along the ocean water top.

"I knew you always wanted to see the ocean, so here she is. Isn't she beautiful?"

Anama couldn't say anything. She was absorbed in the beauty of the water. What lies beneath the vast openness of the water? She was so absorbed in looking out over the ocean she didn't realize Hector placing a blanket on the ground and basket of food.

"Anama my love." She broke out of her dream and looked over towards Hector. There he sat on a blanket with a basket of food and a bottle of wine. "Join me." She smiled and walked over to him.

"What is all this about?"

"I can't indulge my wife in the beauties of our world?" he asked in mock innocence.

"Yes you can but it seems so, so," she couldn't think of the right word. "It seems as if you're doing a lot for me lately."

"Well of course, you are my wife if I'm not mistaken." Anama just laughed. She took some food out of the basket and began eating. She took a glass of wine that Hector poured and looked over the ocean.

"It is so beautiful. As a child I would dream of swimming in the ocean and being able to live freely."

"And now you can." She looked over to Hector to see him with a sad look upon his face.

"What is wrong?" she asked. Hector looked up at her with sorrowful eyes. "Hector," she didn't get much else out because he stood up and went to the edge. She stood up and went to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Hector, tell me what troubles you." Hector sighed and turned to her.

"I wished this wouldn't have to happen. Anama," he sighed. "I must leave Troy on official business. There are allies that need to be won and I am afraid that I am the one to go. I know it is sudden, just after our wedding, but I must go. This pains me to say this but it must be done."

Anama sighed and looked towards the ocean. "How long will you be gone?" she dreaded the answer, for if it pained Hector to say, then it would be for quite awhile.

"4 months at least." Anama lowered her head and began to cry. "Shhh my love, please do not cry. It pains me to see you this way. If there was any other way, believe me,"

"I know. It is your duty as future king of Troy. Don't worry, I shall be fine. As long as you return to me safely, I will be fine." She smiled up at him with tear stains on her cheeks and kissed him.

"Come, we must get back before it is to dark." They packed up their belongings and left back for Troy. They went back into their quarters spending the night in each others embrace, making love and wishing for the sun to never rise.