Summary: She is a hard-willed woman, skeptic about the marriage thrust upon her. He was man who has seen enough hardships to last a lifetime, yet unsure of the arrangement. With the help of some impish Trojans, things might just go right... Or not.

The whole storyline MAY have been picked up somewhere, but I tossed and ran with it.

Disclaimer: History MAY have been chopped to pieces in some places. Characters that you recognise are not mine, but the rest are totally fictional and if there are any resemblances at all to those either living or deceased, it is purely coincidental.

A/N: If I could, than I would give you guys a thousand and one reasons as to why this chapter is published soooooooo late. Really, but I don't think you'd appreciate it, right? I'm really, really, really sorry. I truly am! The computer broke down, than my brother got banned from it, which means no comp time for me either, then I had my trials, and now I'm in the middle of intensive classes, which leaves me round about zero time to write. I promise by the River Styx that I WILL have the next chapter out within 2 weeks. Promise! In the mean time, read and review! Thanks!

After bidding Hector a good night and checking on Lydia again, Andromache found herself wandering around the castle grounds with no sense of direction or purpose. She walked on, and found herself at the room where she first met the Trojan prince. She sighed, feeling bitter resentment cross her heart. True, she has already made peace with the heir to the Trojan throne, but she was still against the notion of marriage.

Why was her father so adamant about giving her to the Prince of Troy? Every decision he made that involved her was talked over goblet of wine, and done with much reasoning, as she needed proof and rationale before she committed herself to any such feat. True, arranged marriages were usually done to form alliances, but Thebe did not need an ally in Troy: Thebe is strong enough on its own, with the lands and mountains to their advantage. The Gods have been kind and no destruction has befallen them in the last 50 years. So why give her hand to Hector? Did her father sense something that none other could? Was Achilles finally making his way to Thebe to sack her beloved city? The mere thought of the brute caused Andromache to shiver.

Wondering around again, she sought answers to the unanswered questions in her mind. When she realized that she had reached a forked path, she hesitated in taking the right path, which would lead her to her chambers. The middle fork led to the Trojan emissaries chambers, while the left led to the gardens and eventually the stables. Ignoring the rationalism her heart was trying to fight, she turned her heel and took the left path, anticipation racing through her veins. Little did she realize, in her eagerness to get to the stables, a hooded figure was trailing her.

Stealthily creeping across the yard towards the stables, Andromache threw a hurried glance around her to make sure no one was watching.

"Time for one of my last few acts of rebellion," she muttered to herself. Picking up her pace, she glided to her horse's stall. The majestic white mare stood up, as if sensing Andromache's presence. He threw his head up and gave a snort, prompting Andromache to place a comforting hand on the mare's back, rubbing the mane.

"Shh, Ream. It is just I, " she said, rubbing her hand in a gentle motion. The horse quiet down and Andromache immediately opened the shed and lead her horse out. After putting the appropriate items on the mare's back, she positioned her self to mount her horse when she heard a distinct cough in the darkness.

"Who's there?" Andromache asked, her calm voice betraying her emotions. When she heard no reply, she shrugged it of a gust of wind, but her senses were still peaked. As she again prepared to climb Ream, she heard her name being called out.

"Andromache," it said, its chilling quality harsh against the warm night. Andromache whipped around, her heart beating erratically.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" she said, her eyes whipping around the stables.

"Andromache," the voice said again, this time much closer.

"I must warn you, I do not tolerate such behavior," the Princess of Thebe said, her hand gripping on a piece of wood that she found lying against the stable wall.

"How can you say that, milady, when you yourself once did the same thing?" the voice asked, sounding as if it was standing right next to her. Andromache twisted to her side, her heart still beating a tattoo against her ribs. The figure grinned at her and she felt her body go faint.

"Paris! How dare you!" she whispered fiercely, smacking his arm. He just grinned at her still, enjoying the look of terror on her face.

"Hello, milady. Lovely to see you at this hour at such a place," Paris said, indicating the sleeping horses in the shed around them.

"What I do is strictly my own, Paris," she said, looking around her wearily as if another person would step out of the shadows, namely Hector.

"I am here on my own, milady. There is no one else," Paris said.

"Good. Now, I suggest you go back to bed. I daresay that my mother has planned a great deal for your delegation. Go along now," Andromache said, staring pointedly at the stable door.

"Ah yes, but if my delegation would be involved, I am quite right in thinking that you should be there as well, yes?" Paris said, looking at a stallion that had woken up and was peering at him. He gave the stallion a piece of fruit that he had snuck out, and the horse accepted it gratefully,

"Yes, yes, but that is not the point. What ARE you doing here, Paris?" Andromache asked, her arms crossed.

"Merely seeking a conversation with you, milady," Paris said smoothly, leading the stallion out of its stall. Andromache's face was one of utter ire.

"Paris! Just what do you think you are doing?" she said, trying to push the stallion back.

"Well, I noticed that you have a mare by your side and deducted that you are about to go for a ride. So, I decided that chivalry is alive and well tonight, and that I shall accompany you to wherever you are headed for," Paris said, bringing the stallion out again.

"Did Hector put you up for this?" Andromache asked, her eyes slit.

"Hardly. If he wanted you to be protected, he would have done it himself. No, princess, I am here on my own free will," Paris said.

"And what about my own free will?" Andromache muttered, finally able to mount her mare without interruptions. Behind her, Paris slid gracefully onto his horse.

"I should warn you, Prince Paris. Nyx is a mulish horse, and does not accept strangers very well," Andromache said, eyeing the horse apprehensively.

"Seems to accept me, though. Must be the charm again," Paris said. He laughed when Andromache groaned.

"Hector warned me about you," Andromache grumbled, softly digging her heels into Ream's belly. Paris followed her cue and they rode out of the stables and into the nearby forest.

"So, milady, where are headed to?" Paris said after a few moments of riding. Andromache turned her head and smiled.

"If you promise not to tell a soul, I'll show my favourite place in the whole of Thebe," she said, urging Ream to go slightly faster.

"And if I break the promise?"

"Than I shall leave you here all by yourself with absolutely no defense at all. I heard that you are none to skilled with self-survival," Andromache said, still smiling, although it was slightly evil now.

"Right. Lead the way then, milady," Paris said nervously. Andromache smiled and dug her heels sharply into Ream, causing the mare to move forward with great speed.

"Wait up!" Paris yelled, as he heard Andromache's laugh disappear in the slight clearing. When he finally caught up with her, she had already dismounted and was tying Ream to a nearby tree.

"That – was – NOT – nice," he wheezed, trying to catch his breath as he dismounted Nyx.

"Well, I thought that you needed some blood pumping through your body, dear prince," Andromache said, now tying Nyx to the same tree as Ream.

"I can get my blood pumping in other ways," scoffed Paris, brushing dirt of his cloak.

"So I heard," Andromache murmured, stroking Nyx's glossy mane.

"Where are we? This is you favourite place in all of Thebe?" Paris asked, looking around the small clearing. There was nothing significant about the place, except for some shrubs and stumps. He could hear water gushing, but could not quite place what it is.

"Not quite. Through there," she said, pointing to a path that was hidden. She walked through the lane, and Paris followed her, eager not to be left behind again.

"Is that water I hear?" Paris asked, grateful for the moon's shine that lit up the otherwise dark path.

"Yes. It's a waterfall, in fact. I find it very calming," she said, pushing aside some branches that were in her way. She walked a bit further and came to a stop. Paris stood next to her and was transfixed by the sight of beauty that greeted him.

A waterfall that poured cool water cascaded gently into a pool of water that gurgled happily and fed the stream that Paris presumed led into Poseidon's domain. The area was slightly void of trees, save for the shrubberies that circled the area. A multitude of flowers covered the grounds, and Paris could hear the distant chirping of crickets and nighttime insects. Moonlight was shining down on them, and Paris could see Andromache's features clearly.

"Calming indeed," Paris breathed, his eyes fixed on the waterfall. He was quite tempted to dive into the pool at that moment. He looked around in wonder, still captured by the stillness and tranquility of the place.

"I found it by chance, truth be told," Andromache said, sitting on a piece of dead log on the ground. She gestured Paris to the rock next to her.

"Truly? Do tell," Paris urged.

"Let's just say that I was not in one of my better moods. I was quite annoyed with my mother, who had made me wear a frilly dress for a formal state dinner," she explained, plucking a flower and inhaling its sweet scent. Paris raised an eyebrow at her.

"I was only 7 at the time, mind. Not that I hated dresses, it was just that that particular dress was just too… frilly. It was too pink, and too full of ribbons and just too… frilly," Andromache said, frowning as she tried to remember the details.

"Go on," Paris said, intrigued.

"Well, I think I threw the dress out of the window and ran out of the room as fast as I could. I remember my mother shouting at me, and I shouted back at her. I think I said something like 'I'll never be like you'. It struck a chord in both her and me," she mused, looking at the ripples created in the water.

"Well, I can clearly see that, milady. You do wear frills now, correct?" Paris asked amusedly.

"Only on certain occasions. If I must, I must. A simple dress or gown is good enough without extra details on it," she said.

"So you came by this place all because of a dress?"

"More or less. I come here every time I have an argument or if I have to clear my mind. This is my getaway spot whenever I just want to relax and have time to myself without every single person in the Theban household knocking on my door," she said, giving him a wry smile.

"I wish I had a place like this back in Troy," Paris mused, tossing a stone into the pool.

"Does every person not dream of having such a place?" Andromache said, smiling at him. "Why are you out of your chambers at such an hour, Paris?"

"I just wanted a breath of fresh air," he replied.

"A breath of fresh air? Truly you must have a better reason," she said, frowning.

"Uh, I was looking for some entertainment?" he offered.

"And I wonder what kind of entertainment you would be looking for," Andromache said, smirking.

"Oh alright, I was just looking for you and your wonderful company," he said, his shoulders sagging forward in mock defeat. Andromache gave a laugh.

"You sure know how to get around a woman's heart, Paris," she said, chuckling. "Honestly, why were you out of your chambers?"

"Well…" Paris trailed off, his lips curled into a frown.

"Yes?" Andromache prompted.

"Swear that you will not laugh?" he asked.

"I swear," she said impatiently.

"Well, I was, uh, well…" he said, trailing off again.

"Paris, you have my word that I will not laugh, even though how absurd you reason is,"

"I was looking for the most beautiful woman to walk the Earth," he whispered, eyes directed towards the waterfall, the pool, anywhere but her eyes for fear that she will burst out laughing.

Andromache had to bite her tongue from doing just so.

"Oh?" she said simply, fearing that saying anything more would set her off.

"Yes. And I think I found her already," he said, his embarrassment fading into cheekiness.

"In Thebe?" Andromache asked, surprised.

"In Thebe," he confirmed. "And she will soon belong to my brother," he added, looking at his companion's face for any sign of emotion. Although she did not show anything, she felt her heart melt inside.

"Oh Paris, thank you for your kind observation," she said, laughing slightly. Although he was a mere teen, he certainly knew his way around people's feelings.

"Not a problem at all, milady," he said, his smile tinged with tiredness. He gave a yawn, and Andromache realized how long they were gone.

"Come along, Paris. I think it is high time we get back to the castle," she said, pulling the prince of Troy to his feet. He just nodded and they set off for their horses. As they rode through the forest, Andromache turned slightly to regard Paris.

"You do promise not tell a soul about my hideaway, do you not?" she asked. He gave a sigh.

"If I must, I must," he said dramatically, repeating her earlier words. She gave a tiny laugh and together they set off towards the castle and towards the dream realm.

Three days later, a day before setting sail back for Troy….

"This is driving me mad, Claudia! I do not think I am able to stand another day of all these preparations and formal banquets and all these, these things!" Andromache fumed at her aide. She paced up and down her room, trying to suppress her anger. Tonight there was yet another formal feast, and Andromache felt as if she has attended enough to last her a lifetime. If this was the scale of festivities hosted by the nobles of a small city such as Thebe, she shuddered to think how many more there were to come when she arrived at Troy.

"Be patient, Princess. You only need to struggle through one more moon, and you shall be done with it," Claudia said, folding a piece of linen and placing it in the trunk that held most of Andromache's clothes to be brought to Troy.

"Yes, and that shall mean that I will be done with Thebe, too," she said, anger turning into sadness. She sat down at her vanity and looked at the mirror. She gave a sigh at the forlorn look that stared back at her. She bowed down her head, not wanting to see the broken spirit.

"I do not look myself, Claudia. I do not see the carefree woman I used to be. I do not see the rebellious person I was once. I do not see anything, except a woman that has her will taken away from her," Andromache lamented softly. She looked up and saw Claudia's reflection smiling at her.

"You know what I see?" Claudia said, taking out the golden pins that held the princess' hair back from her face.

"A worn-out princess who has attended enough feasts and banquets to last this lifetime and the next?" Andromache asked wryly. Claudia gave a small laugh

"No, I do not. I see a princess who loves her country so much she is willing to part with it. I see a maiden who has been through a lot in this past week than she ever has in her life. Mostly, I see this young woman, still with her free will and spirit, which can never be broken," Claudia said.

"I hope not," Andromache said seriously. Although she has come to know her future husband considerably during all these festivities, she still cannot come to terms with the fact that she will not be the independent character she is. With a sigh, she got up and crossed her room, looking out the window.

"Do not fret, princess. Things will be fine once you set sail for Troy," Claudia said, at a loss of what to say.

"Will it? What will happen to you? What will happen to my brothers? What will happen to my parents? What will happen to Lydia, most of all? I cannot see her without me to guide her. She needs me as I need her," Andromache said in frustration.

"I am quite sure she will brought up quite well by your mother," Claudia said.

"Yes, perhaps," the princess mused. "I think I would like to visit my waterfall one last time before I leave, Claudia."

"As you wish, princess. I will get your clothes ready and summon Aenea to get Ream ready," Claudia said, bowing.

"No, that is not needed. I wish that my absence be unknown to anyone except you, Claudia. If anyone asks my whereabouts, tell them that you have not seen me since the break of dawn," Andromache instructed. Claudia bowed again.

"As your highness wishes," she said and left the room. Qs the door closed behind her, Andromache let out a sigh and started to look for a piece of terry cloth and a spare change of clothes. Satisfied with the simple dark blue gown she found in her wardrobe, Andromache slipped into her white robe, pulled the head on and left the room silently.

Making her way to the stables, she just managed to avoid a few people, including Paris and her father. Getting Ream out of the stall, she quickly made her way to her favourite spot. Looking around to make sure that no one was around, she hurriedly stripped off her garments and slipped into the cooling and soothing water.

As he made his way through the sprawling castle, Hector felt a consistent nagging feeling at the back of his mind. He was starting to have doubts about his impending marriage, especially when he felt that Andromache was starting to back off again. With a groan of frustration, he found himself once again at the garden where they had reconciled. Smiling slightly, he walked over to the jutting garden and looked out into the city.

At the sound of laughter, he turned around and saw a few children chasing each other. Probably let out to release some of their energy, he thought wryly. When he saw them tickling each other mercilessly and jumping to avoid collision with one another, he felt a feeling of sadness tug at his heart. Looking at them made him realize his somewhat lost childhood. Even when he was a young prince, he took on more responsibility than he could carry, just because he was eldest born. If he had shown infinite dependability now, he was showing ten times more now. He vowed never to make his own child lose his or her own childhood for the sake of the pressure of the crown.

He snapped out of his reverie when he felt an insistent tugging on his royal blur robes, begging for his attention. He looked down, and saw the now familiar face of Lydia. She smiled her angelic smile, and he smiled back before bending down.

"Good evening, Prince Hector," she said, curtsying.

"Good evening to you too, Lady Lydia," he said with a nod of his head.

"You look sad," she stated primly, frowning at his face.

"Do I now?" he said mildly, amused at her remark.

"Yes you do. Smile!" she said, trying to push his face into a smile. He laughed at her attempt and gave her a full-blown smile.

"I'm smiling, I'm smiling," he said, laughing and picked her up, bringing her to the garden.

"Good. Are you waiting for Andromache?" she asked, her thumb in her mouth, a habit that she still could not rid off.

"No, I am not. I am simply looking around, waiting for nighttime to come around," he said, setting her upon a bench and taking a seat next to her. Lydia frowned.

"Oh. Well, I was hoping to find her if I found you," she said.

"Sorry to bring your hopes down, milady."

"Not to worry, Prince Hector. I shall be off then. Could you tell her that I am finding for her perchance you come across her?" Lydia asked, climbing off the bench.

"Of course," Hector said. Lydia gave him another bright smile in thanks and ran off to join her friends again.

"I wonder how Andromache will deal with having to leave her," Hector muttered to himself.

He got up and wandered around until he came across the stables. He heard the nervous pawing of horses as he entered the stable, hoping to catch the keeper so that he could ride one of the stallions.

"May I help you, milord?" a voice enquired from behind him. Hector turned, and saw a servant dressed in brown garments.

"Are you the keeper of the stables?" Hector asked, looking around.

"At your service, milord," the keeper said, bowing down.

"And your name is…?"

"Aenea, milord."

"Good. Well, Aenea, if I may, I would like to try out one of your fine horses here," Hector requested.

"Very well, milord. I have orders to fulfill your every request," Aenea said, bowing down again. He led Hector through the stables, pointing out horses that might interest the Tamer of the Horses.

"Over here we have the more exotic mares, bred more for show purposes rather than hunt or cavalry. Am I right to think that you might want a horse that might be a bit of a challenge for you?" Aenea asked, turning around.

"I'll take any horse you give me, Aenea," Hector said, grinning at keeper.

"A challenging horse it is then, milord," Aenea said. He brought Hector round the corner and stopped suddenly.

"Oh no," he muttered.

"What? What is the matter?" Hector asked, alertness taking over.

"Not to worry, milord. This has happened before. There is no need for you to worry," Aenea said, staring at the empty stall before him.

"Oh?"

"Yes. This is Ream's stall. Beautiful white mare she is. Belongs to Princess Andromache. And as you can see, the stall is empty, which means that the princess has run off again. Only the Gods know where she goes every time," Aenea explained with a sigh.

"She has done this before?" Hector asked, feeling slightly apprehensive.

"Oh yes, countless times, more so in these past few months. Well, here we are. Milord, I give you Storm. He is one of our more seditious steeds, and I think he will prove quite a challenge to you," Aenea said, bringing the magnificent black steed out of its stall.

Hector walked over to the mare and gently put his hand on its mane, all the while saying soothing words and rubbing its neck in gentle circular motions. He offered an apple to the stallion. Storm snorted in trepidation at first, but calmed down in Hector's skillful touch and gentle tone. Aenea watched in awe as the beast responded to Hector's commands.

"Now I know why they call you Tamer of the Horses," he said reverently.

"It's a gift," Hector said nonchalantly. Aenea brought out a set of saddle, which he put on Storm's back. Hector nodded gratefully and mounted his steed gracefully. He carefully navigated the stallion out of the stables and into the clearing.

"All done, milord. There is nothing much up ahead, except for the forest and a few clearings. Mount Ida is to your left, but it would take a three-hour journey to get to the base. If you ride to your left, you would arrive at the main gates of the castle. However, I would be more than happy to escort you to our fields where we train the steeds," Aenea said.

"Not to worry, Aenea. I think I will just take a stroll around the forest area. It is not too dense, is it?"

"Not very so, but it is still thick enough."

"Very well. Thank you for your help, Aenea."

"You are most welcome, milord," Aenea said. He bowed, and walked away, leaving Hector to his own thoughts. He dug his heel into Storm's belly, and they cantered off into the forest.

When fairly deep into the forest, the Prince of Troy noticed that some of the branches were snapped from the tree and that a path of still fresh horse-prints was on the ground. His soldier senses came alive as he prepared for the worst. He analyzed the situation, but realized that the tracks and snapped branches were just randomized doings, and not from bandits' activities. He lowered his guard, but his mind was still racing.

Throughout the forest, he heard birds chirping about, calling to their surroundings. He heard the rustle of winds through the tree-leaves and felt the breeze tousle his somewhat messy hair. Up front, he thought he heard the gurgling of brooks and the sloshing of streams. As he neared, he thought he could hear a waterfall, tumbling into a body of water.

Storm gave a sudden neigh that alerted him immediately. He looked around, and he noticed a mare tied to a tree nearby. He dismounted Storm and walked over to the horse. It was white, and there was only one of it. He stroked the horse's silky mane, and admired its beauty.

"Beautiful white mare she is. Belongs to Princess Andromache…"

As he remembered what Aenea had said, a grin flitted at his face. He quickly tied up Storm next to Ream and scanned the ground for footsteps. He could barely see the tracks, but they were there. A woman could have only made the tracks, so he quietly followed the trail. Careful not to step on any twigs or dry leaves so not to announce his presence, he made his way through the hidden path the sight that welcomed him took his breath away and rooted him to the spot, much like his brother a few days ago.

Well, that and the fact that he saw Andromache swimming around the pool, quite unclad.

Hector felt as if he was intruding on her privacy, but he could not tear away his gaze from her. Her raw beauty enticed him, making him stand still and not able to move, not so much even to take a breath. The way she moved gracefully in the water, how her hair clung to her back and just the splendour was enough to make him stare even more. When he finally could not stand it any longer, he took a deep breath and stepped into the clearing.

"Lady Lydia has been looking for you, milady," he said politely, trying to fight the grin that was creeping up his face.

Stunned, Andromache turned around, took good look at who was intruding on her solitude, and screamed.

There are no personal thank-yous in this chapter, but I would like to thank each and every one of you who took time out to review my story. Perhaps next chapter?