Andromache, my sweet::hector, my love
Ch.5
A week passed by quickly. The day before the wedding, Hecuba came in to the women's chambers.
"You'll be a great queen one day, my dear." She said. I blushed. "You'll be moving into the crown prince and princess's new room after the wedding. You'll need new servants, a new court. More duty as well."
"I am ready." I said, standing clam. Like grace. Like the god had gifted me with. Hecuba came and hugged me, like when my mother used to do so the day she and I made our goodbyes. It felt so good. So warm. So much like her.
"My dear, I know it had been hard for you. I and Priam are both so proud of you, as your parents would have been—do you have everything ready?"
"My queen, thank you for welcoming me like a daughter-"
"Please, call me Hecuba, mother, anything but that, my dearest Andromache, like Priam had said."
I smiled. "mother. I do have everything ready-if only I had a blessing."
"The gods will give it to you, I am sure they will. I heard that you were greatly favored by the gods of thebe, as hector is by Apollo."
The wedding, it was said to be the one of the century. There never would have been a bigger one than this. I woke up early in the morning. No, more like woken. After everything was done, I knelt right there, in my bridal chambers, and prayed my hardest.
"O Zeus, ruler of the skies; Hera, mistress of holy marriage,; Apollo, lord of the sun; Poseidon, earth shaker; Artemis, lady of the moon; Aphrodite, goddess of love; Hephaestus, lord of the forges, Demeter, lady of the grains, lord Hades, of the dead, lord Hermes, of the messengers ,Ares, the war lord, Athena, lady of wisdom, Dionysus, lord of wine; and Hestia, lady of the hearth. Bless me, this wedding, and this marriage. Show me the sign that you will bless hector and I."
Just then, with all the servants, princesses, and the queen watching, the sky opened as light all blinded us. From the sky, came the blessing. My wedding dress. It was on me in a blink of an eye. It had ribbons, ruffles, curves, but not too much nor too less, never on the wrong position. It was perfect. The girls and the queen gasped. The dress had long, long laces and a tight bodice that showed off my curves perfectly. The color was pure-white but everything moved it sparked and sent hints of light, light pink. It was glittering which sent rays of heavenly gold and the girls and the queen marveled at the beauty of it all. I put on the veil with it. I have never looked any more beautiful in my life.
So many people were there for m wedding, people of high ranks. I stepped into the aisle with a nervous breath. Hector was watching. I showed myself and grinned a small smile when I heard the gasps, the loudest from hector.
The priest spoke of many responsibilities, such and such, when he gasped. We all tensed.
"The gods are present," he said. "At the moment," then, golden light shined on the dove, eagle owl, and horse, etc. all nearby. They turned into the immortals. All thirteen gods were present.
"Rise, people of troy! I am Zeus, the thunderer. I have brought the gods, the immortals, to honor the crown prince hector and crown princess Andromache of Troy. We mean no harm. We have just merely decided to visit." I gasped. We were having their blessing!
"We have brought you gifts. The wedding dress is one. But, riches, for your life," said Zeus.
"A bonded marriage," said Hera, winking at me.
"Wisdom between husband and wife," Athena.
"Many inventions," said the lord of the forges, bringing in many glorious things, such as hector's new armor.
"A blessed journey whenever you join me on my realm," said Poseidon, and I smiled in gratitude. If we have a safe journey at water, then we may have no fear.
"Ability to heal," said Apollo.
"Animals to have landed on your arrow when you hunt," said Lady Artemis.
"A bond in my realm as well as in you have now," said Hades, grumbling. We were bonded forever, that meant. I smiled at him so genuinely that Hades had to grin back.
"Glory in battle," said Ares.
"Enjoyment in marriage," Dionysus
"I will carry your messages to each other when you need me," said Lord Hermes. Such a gift!
"The warmth of home; call me in your hearth when you are lonely for warmth." Lady Hestia.
"And finally," said Aphrodite, "may I bless you with the bond of husband and wife, eternal love. Any who attempts to separate these two may feel the wrath of Aphrodite!" The goddess lifted us up in the air. "And I present you, husband and wife! You may kiss the bride," said the goddess. The people cheered and roared, as well as the gods, clapping, when hector lifted me up, spun me around, laughing, and kissed me, soft as mountain dew and as gentle as a sheep's wool. The kiss of husband and wife, the kiss that bounded our vows together. And with that, we landed on the ground, our necks tied in a golden thread. I smiled happily at him, so did he, and he kissed me again.
We rode around troy, under the blessing of troy and its citizens. We rode the chariot around the castle more than 20 times that day, people constantly throwing flowers and rice; I was the happiest of all women. I told hector that, and he smiled, and told me that he was the happiest of all men.