Chapter One...And the Two Shall Meet
The palanquin swayed and Eleni raised a hand to rest it against the pillar next to her.
"I hate this." She stated vehemently, deep blue eyes flaming. "I hate all this being carted around. Why can't we ride?
We both know how to ride. Why can't father just let us ride a couple of those horses he's bringing as a gift? Instead
we're stuck in this - " one of her long hands flicked out, fingers catching at the diaphanous fabric that hung from the
frame of the roof and provided relief from the dust. "This - pretty box, all wrapped up like we're the gifts instead of the
horses." She paused, touched one of the jeweled clasps in her deep auburn hair and peered at her companion,
eyes wide. "Do you think we're gifts, Andromache?"
"No." Stated both firmly and soothingly in a rich, low voice, her sister reached across from where she reclined facing
her and grasped her hand with a steady grip. "You know we're only stopping to offer some gifts to keep the city's
rulers friendly and then sailing on to Sparta. I would have heard if father had other plans."
"You would." Eleni agreed, settling back onto a pillow, face relaxing. Then she sat back up suddenly and grinned.
"Besides, you're the one father's trying to show off now. He can't get rid of me until you're well on your way first."
Andromache's lips curved at their edges.
"Of course. I'm the performing monkey this time around. Besides, Eleni, you're still in mourning. It wouldn't be proper
for him to find you another husband just yet."
"Mourning? If you ask me, that 'husband' of mine couldn't die fast enough." Eleni flopped back against the cushions,
looking up at the birds painted on the ceiling with a face. "Pushy, loutish pig. I suppose I'm just lucky he died in battle
instead of out whoring. Though I'm surprised he could find anyone. I can't imagine any woman wanting to be plowed
by him. Not even for money..."
Andromache nodded with a humming noise. Substitute for actually listening. Absently, she shifted a long, slim hand,
slipping aside the cloth walls of the palanquin to look out at the landscape with wide set dark eyes. She envied them.
The men walking and riding escort outside. After all that time at sea she wanted to be outside as well. Stretching her
overlong legs and feeling the fresh air and the sun on her face. She wondered if this city had gardens and then
chided herself silently. Of course it had gardens. And no doubt she would have a very proper tour of them and not
be left alone long enough to make her acquaintance with the different flowers and herbs. Not that she minded the
tours. She loved seeing new places and this trip, despite its purpose, was a chance to discover new lands and
people. It thrilled her.
Sometimes... sometimes she just missed being able to slip away for the sake of some simple privacy...
"Now next time I hope father picks an old man for me. You don't have to do as much for an older man. Look at
Chrysanthemis. Her husband's simply thrilled to have a beautiful wife. All she has to do all day is sit and weave. And
all the young people he lets her surround herself with - everything's always so full of laughter."
Andromache made the humming noise again. Thinking that Memi was filling more than just her husband's house with
young substitutes. The sounds of the waves on the beach were fading now and instead she could hear the first
whispers of the city. The sound of cattle lowing in the distance. The first shrill voices of playing children. The
landscape in front of her did little to change but she remembered her father saying that all this country's treasures
were beyond its city. That the approach was flat for defense purposes and you had to brave the city's gates before
the true wonders of the land were revealed to you. Like me... Andromache thought. Except only family was allowed
past the gates of her heart.
"What about you, Andromache? Do you want someone young and handsome or old and wealthy?" Eleni leaned
forward, drawing her legs up close to her chest to peer at her older sister with curious eyes. "Have you talked to
father? Has he said who he has in mind? Do you think you'll have to live very far away?"
The pain slide into her heart. The thought of losing all she held dear to live in some foreign land surrounded by
strangers. Compared to that, what did she care who she was married to? She knew a wife's duties. As long as he
was not cruel...
"Not a soldier" she stated after a minute. "Maybe a statesman. Or a merchant. Father hasn't decided yet. Just - not a
soldier..."
Eleni shuddered and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees.
"You mean, not like Athanasios" she supplied and her eyes temporarily darkened to look as haunted as her sister's
at the mention of their oldest brother. Mute, Andromache nodded.
"Maybe... maybe father will find you someone that laughs" Eleni offered softly after a minute. Surprising a look out of
her older sister at her sudden insightfulness. It made Eleni grin brightly. "You think I don't pay attention,
Andromache. But I do. Sometimes" the teasing light from their shared childhood was briefly in her eyes again and
they were little girls sharing harmless secrets and dreaming vast futures for themselves for a moment. "A nice rich fat
merchant that makes you laugh. And you'll grow fat too until your dark eyes get lost in your cheeks. And you'll have
babies. Hundreds of babies to fill your villa by the sea and run around chasing the dogs and laughing just like you
and your fat, fat husband."
Andromache laughed out loud at that, smile transforming her face so that everything in the world near her seemed to
soften. Silently thanking her younger sister for giving her something to hope for. Please, she thought, face still soft
with laughter. Please, whoever my father finds for me... let him be kind...
"My ladies" the voice from one of the guards outside the palanquin. "We're here. We've reached the gates of Troy."
The heavy gates of Troy swung slowly open to admit the party from Thebes, and the king was alerted to his guests
arriving. King Priam, in his royal robes, flocked by the ever present priest/advisors made his way down to the main
square. "King Eetion. Always a pleasure." He said, greeting the king of Thebes in a friendly manner. "I see you've
brought your entire family?"
"Not the entire lot." Eetion was off his horse, still spry despite his years. True his was not as great a city as Troy but
he was still a ruler and he greeted King Priam with a grasp of his wrist. "Just my sons, Athanasios and Vasilos" he
swung an arm proudly to encompass two younger men that sat rigid on their horses. "And some of my daughters."
He added in a lower voice with a chuckle indicating the covered palanquin four of his slaves carried. "A small
indication of my get, I'm afraid. But we do thank you for your welcome all the same. And I bring gifts as well!" He
clapped his hands and several of his men ran forward leading seven sleek yearlings by their lead ropes. Eetion's
eyes shone with pride. He knew a good gift when he gave it and what better to give Troy than horses.
King Priam nodded at the guards, who moved to close the heavy gates. "You're in Troy now." He said, nodding to the
palanquin. "I would think they're weary from their journey. Here they can stretch their legs while we talk the boring
talk of old men." He chuckled at that and appraised the horses. "My son will be most impressed by your gift, which in
turn pleases me."
Eetion chuckled. Pleased by the gift's appreciation and he gestured his men to turn the beasts over. With a nod to
his oldest son, he extended a hand, drawing the younger man over. Athanasios' eyes didn't blink as he joined his
father. "Vasilos!" Eetion called. "Tell the girls they're free to go." His lips shifted for, despite himself, he was a man
that knew his daughter's minds. Perhaps far too much to be good for a man. But he loved them. "We," he turned
back to the king of Troy and agreed: "We will talk as old men should."
Eleni scooted closer to her older sister, trying to peer over her shoulder to see what Andromache saw from where
She had parted the curtains to look out. "We're free?" She asked, voice both nervous and excited and Andromache
smiled, face relaxing.
"The king of Troy has offered to let us walk." She turned to look at her younger sister with a smile starting to curve
the edges of her lips. "I thought my legs were going to lock up this way." She added with a laugh and Eleni giggled
too. Andromache's legs were notoriously long, especially for a woman. Vasilos pulled the curtains aside.
"Come on." he sounded impatient. As if the small talk between kings was fascinating but Andromache knew it was
simply the position next to the two kings he really missed.
"Go." She gave his shoulder a light push. "We can dismount well enough on our own." The slaves settled to their
knees and one of the guards stepped forward to offer his hand. Andromache took it with a soft smile for him and
slipped out, thankful for the grace her mother had pounded into her as a knobby knee, long armed child. Now it kept
her from tripping as her legs readjusted to being able to move again and she stepped to the side to raise her face
and look at the city around her as her sister clambered enthusiastically out as well.
King Priam looked at the daughters indulgently, then just as quickly dismissed them as he and Eetion discussed
pleasantries. "Ah, there he is." Priam said, waiting for his oldest son. It was all part of his learning to be king. Hector
had the soldier part down, and the leader of the army part down. Now it was just the finer points.