Spirits Forged in Fire

After what felt like traveling for hours, the weary pair made it to the gates of the small city, and were admitted by worried faces and gentle hands. Their bloody robes were taken, and both were given fresh ones before they went to see their relatives. Briseis entered the room first, and was practically strangled by Helen's desperate hug.

"You made it! Did Paris..." her voice trailed off as her lips trmbled in fear. Her question was answered as Paris wearily entered the room. Helen ran to him, and embraced him tightly. Briseis then locked eyes with Andromache. As she approached the queen, Andromache sensed the grief in Briseis' eyes as a sob wracked her body. A nursemaid took Astyanax as Andromaches legs buckled. Briseis grabbed the other woman, and together they sank to the floor. Andromache heartwrenching sobs tore through Briseis soul, as she too began to weep for the fallen hero.

"No no no....not Hector...please tell me it isnt true...he is supposed to be here..." Andromache sobbed into
Briseis shoulder, as Briseis kissed the top of her head in comfort.

"I know it hurts...I know...Hector died trying to save me, and I would surely give my life right now too see it undone." She whispered into Andromache's hair, but her words were lost in the other womans grief. After a short while, Adromache was brought somethign to help her sleep and taken to a room to rest while Briseis took young Astyanax, more for her own comfort than anything else. Helen, Paris and Briseis sat in the dining room of the hosts small palace, and leaned wearily on the table. Briseis clutched at her cousins only child in sadness, and cuddled the small baby.

"Where do we go from here?" She asked, as Helens look posed the same query to the exhausted Paris.

"We wait." He replied softly. "We wait."

Two weeks later, a courier raced up to the city gates, and was allowed admittance to see the remaining members of the Trojan royal family.

"Prepare your things, for you are to return to Troy. King Priam remains behind, and sends word that the Greek Army has left." The man said, breathless. In shock, Paris relayed the message to all who had traveled to safety, and they all prepared for the return home.

None were prepared for the state of Troy though. The city had been almost entirely destroyed, its mighty walls felled and its beautiful towers toppled. The Greeks, leaderless, had pillaged the city and left quickly, having no need for prisoners. Those who had managed to hide away remained safe, and Priam saw to it that the rebuilding process had begun. With the majority of the population dead, this was a massive undertaking indeed, and it because quickly clear that the Troy of old could not be rebuilt. Instead, a skeleton of its former glory, Troy was a city that had barely survived one of the largest and most devastating invasions of all time. While Andromache had grieved silently, she now took her place as Troy's queen, regal and stoic, and every inch royalty. While Paris and Helen clung to eachother for strength, Briseis returned to her former home sickly and weakened. Unable to eat, and lacking any energy, Andromache feared for her health.

After only two days home, she was sent to her bed and a healer summoned. As the healer left Briseis bedchamber, Andromache entered. Seeing Briseis' tearstained face, she sat on the bed and took her cousins hand.

"You are with child." She said, having recognized the symptoms of a difficult early pregnancy already. Briseis only nodded, tears in her eyes. "Are you alright?" She asked, placing a kiss on Briseis cheek.

"I dont even know if he is alive, Andromache. How will I have the strength to do this alone?" She questioned softly.

"You wont be alone Briseis. You will have all of us. Now please rest, for you should begin feeling a little better soon." With another affectionate peck to the cheek, Andromache left Briseis alone. Briseis closed her eyes, and let herself slip to another place and another time.

"Who do you suppose she is?".
"She's a hellion who managed to kill one of Kale's men with his own knife. That would be enough to buy her
a place of honor at my table."


"I promised you that I would not hurt you, and I stand by that. I dont know what just happened, but I will tell
you now, I do not take women against there will. There are too many who are more than willing"
"Briseis, you do something to me."

"You do something to me."

With memories of her brief time with the greek warrior replaying themselves in her mind, she drifted off to a quiet sleep.