Andromache and Hector

Andromache stood in the gardens as she often had as a small child, but this would be the last time she would do so as a Princess of Thebes, she belonged to Troy now and Hector. Her mind easily pictured the handsome face that now greeted her every morning when she woke, whose smile brightened every day. Their first night together had been a mixture of pain and pleasure she had not thought possible and now she thanked the Gods for him.

She stood by the tree she had climbed as a child when seeking comfort and peace, and rested her hand on its bark, she was saying goodbye to everything and everyone she loved, except for Hector. Eetion walked down the path towards her and Andromache looked at her father a small tear trickling down her face ae the thought of leaving him behind. Eetion took his daughter in a warm embrace and wiped the tears away. 'My daughter, you go to a good life. He is a good man and will love you.' Andromache tears flowed freely and she wept in her fathers embrace, something she had not done for a long time.

Eetion held her a long time allowing her to cry, wanting to cry himself but not allowing her to see the weakness, he would miss his passionate headstrong daughter dearly. 'Come now, child,' he said at last, rubbing her eyes with his cloak, 'We must go, you leave soon.' Andromache nodded and took deep breaths, 'If only I didn't have to go,' she said sadly. Eetion smiled, 'We knew you would leave one day but it does not make the parting any less hard.' Father and daughter walked together back to the palace, the place she had known as home her whole life

Andromache parted company from her father outside the rooms that were her own. She closed the door behind her and rested her back on the coolness of it for a few moments. 'My Lady,' came a voice that brought Andromache back from her restful place, 'Sila,' Andromache said, 'Are we ready to leave?' she asked her, 'As we will ever be I think,' Sila answered. Andromache smiled, 'Have you said your goodbyes?' she asked knowing the maid was leaving much behind also, 'Not yet,' she replied, 'Then you should go, everything is done that needs to be.' Sila nodded her head and Andromache moved away from the door letting Sila through.

She went and stood on the balcony that over looked the gardens she had just been in and heard the door open and shut behind her, 'Are you ready my love?' Hectors voice was strong and powerful yet kind and gentle and full of love. 'I am,' she answered, 'At least as I will ever be.' He came and stood next to her and folded her into an embrace that she had wondered if she would welcome and now she could not imagine being without. 'All will be well my love.' He kissed her hair, 'Troy will love you as I do.' Andromache nodded her head. 'We should leave,' she said not adding that it should be before she lost the courage to go.

Hector took her by the hand and led her out of the rooms and Andromache shut the door behind her, and as it closed she kenw she was leaving one life to go to another. They walked together down the corridors to Eetion halls, where the King awaited them, 'My daughter and my son, to you I have given many gifts and all the blessings the gods may bestow upon you. May your days together be long and full of joy.' Tears ran down Andromaches cheeks and she could see them in her fathers eyes. Hector looked between them, 'In your daughter I have all that I need. She is the greatest of all gifts.' Eetion smiled to them and nodded his head, 'Go now and may your journey be swift and without danger.' Andromache and Hector stood and left the halls and went to the horses waiting them outside. Riding through the streets of Thebes people lined up to wave them farewell. Andromache felt pride swell in her chest, pride for her city and its people.

Andromache rode alongside Hector as they made their way towards Troy. The countryside near her home was lush and green and she had always loved it. Now she would have to grow to love other land and people. She turned and looked behind her at the city she loved as it grew smaller in the distance, soon she would not be able to see it at all and it would be gone. She hoped not forever and that they would come back, at least to visit.

She turned her head forward and looked ahead, she hoped she was betraying nothing. They rode through the early morning light stopping during the heat of the day. Andromache stood stretching out the kinks from the ride. She felt Hector's gaze on her, 'Do you regret it my love?' he asked her. Andromache knelt before him, 'Regret, no, it is just hard to be so far away.' Hector kissed her forehead and ran his hand down her face. 'I want you to be happy in Troy.' Andromache nodded thinking that she would in the end be happy where ever Hector was.

How easily she had come to love him, it almost frightened her how easily. She had not wanted to marry him but without thinking had accepted and now here she was leaving her homeland far behind because she loved him. She kissed the palm of his hand and came to sit beside him. They looked out over the people with them as they slept or stretched or did what ever helped them to relax.

They rode onwards each day bringing them closer to Troy. When they were within a days ride Hector sent on a rider to tell them he was returning with his bride, Andromache Princess of Troy.

Andromache could see the walls of Troy now and the sparkling sea that was so close to its walls. She shaded her eyes with her hand trying to gleen more from the vision in front of her. Hector was talking animatedly about the city, his people and his family and though she was eager to see them she felt a fear in her stomach that they would find some fault with her, some flaw and she would be sent away again, told the marriage was a mistake, that she would not be Hectors wife. She kept praying to the Gods she would be enough for them, for him, over and over each one in turn.

'I can't,' she said suddenly stopping her horse in its tracks. Hector looked over at her, 'Andromache?' he said questioning her. Others moved closer but Hector waved them off seeing a strange look in his wifes eyes, he moved closer, 'Andromache my love,' he said again. She looked up at him, 'What if they don't like me?' she said, 'I don't want to leave you.' Hector slid down off his horse and moved over to hers, she climbed down to stand next to him. 'They will love you,' he said in a soft voice. 'But what if they don't?' she felt panicky, 'Then we shall deal with it but you are my wife and that is all that matters my love.'

Andromache nodded, 'Come ride with meo tho the city. He climbed up onto his horse and offered his wife his hand and she climbed with him. 'We will enter together.' Andromache smiled feeling reassured by the sense of his chest against her back. 'Together,' she said. He held onto the reigns almost holding her in an embrace as they rode onwards.