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Authors: JJ Hilton

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“If she has the might of her father behind her, I stand little chance, do I?”

           
Helenus sighed and tore the letter up into tiny pieces, and dropped them upon
the floor. Anybody who came across them would not recognise them for a letter,
nor guess upon the lines they had contained.

           
“Will Hermione not be furious at such destruction?” she asked.

           
“She believes her letter has already been sent to her father,” he reassured
her. “I have been reading her letters, looking for word of Astyanax, though she
had not written to her mother to inquire after him. I came across this and
thought to warn you, even though her father will not now receive the letter so
he will play no part in her schemes.”

           
“Do you think she will let that be the end of the matter?” Andromache asked
fearfully.

           
Helenus wrapped his arms around her and held her close, as one might a
frightened child, but Andromache noticed he did not answer her and that told
her all she needed to know of the matter.

 

*
* *

 

           
Andromache remained wary of Hermione but she was reassured that no harm would
come to her in Neoptolemus’ absence, for he had decided not to go to battle and
as such, Hermione’s plans, whatever they may have been, were thwarted.
Andromache was relieved - though she knew it likely that Hermione would not
rest so easily.

           
It was soon announced that Hermione’s cousin Orestes would be entertained at
the palace when he visited during his travels of the area, and Andromache
thought irresistibly of the rumours she had heard of a love affair between
Hermione and Orestes.

           
“Do you think there is some truth to such talk?” she asked Helenus in the
privacy of their rooms, and his look suggested that he would not doubt such a
thing.

           
“What if Neoptolemus was to suspect that anything untoward had taken place
between them here in his own palace?” Andromache asked, thinking of ways she
could save herself from Hermione’s dangerous presence. “Would he send her from
him, do you think?”

           
Helenus considered her, and she knew that his conscience, always so clear about
right and wrong, was torn between doing what was right and protecting
Andromache, whom he loved so dearly.

           
“I think we should consider it,” he said cautiously, looking around to make
sure they were not overheard.

           
Andromache thought on the matter with every waking moment as the palace
prepared for Orestes’ arrival. She also knew from Helenus’ stern, worried face
that she was not alone in such dark thoughts.

           
Orestes arrived with little fanfare, for Neoptolemus distrusted his wife’s
cousin already, and Andromache wondered if he too had heard the rumours
concerning them. Orestes showed little regard for his cousin’s husband and upon
setting eyes on her swept Hermione up in his arms, kissing her on the mouth,
his lips lingering a moment too long. Neoptolemus turned red with anger as
Hermione turned pink with pleasure.

           
Neoptolemus did not soften towards his wife during Orestes’ stay, and if
anything his disregard for her became even more apparent to those in the
palace. Orestes was handsome and charming, and his love for Hermione was clear
to all, which did nothing to endear him to Neoptolemus.

           
Andromache considered during Neoptolemus’ frequent visits to her bed, of
telling him that there was talk that Orestes and Hermione had betrayed his
trust under his own roof, but she did not. For even though she despised
Hermione, she could not bring herself to lie to this man who sought comfort
from her.

           
“I often wonder what would have happened if I had made you my wife instead of
her,” Neoptolemus whispered to Andromache as they lay in her bed together. “I
wish that I had indeed taken you as my wife, for then Hermione would never have
entered it.”

           
He sighed and Andromache still did not say the words that would surely mean
Hermione was sent from here.. When Neoptolemus slipped from her room,
Andromache wondered if Hermione had sought solace in Orestes’ bed even as her
husband had come to her.

 

*
* *

 

           
Hermione and Orestes seemed unable to keep their hands away from each other,
even in the company of others and in full view of Neoptolemus, and Andromache
was not surprised when he had finally had enough of such affection and ordered
Orestes to depart the palace.

           
Andromache watched as a seething Orestes departed from the dining hall and went
to his chambers to gather his things while Hermione wept openly at the table,
her hatred for her husband plain for all to see.

           
Neoptolemus looked weary now, and Andromache found herself wishing that he had
found a good wife with whom he could have been happy. As it was, Hermione would
undoubtedly strive to make her husband's life as miserable as she could - and
with no chance of an heir, Neoptolemus could only grow more frustrated.

           
With Orestes granted one last night, after Hermione had launched herself to the
floor and begged and wailed for Neoptolemus to grant this one last request,
Andromache expected that Neoptolemus would as usual call on her when darkness
fell.

           
She waited and yet no Neoptolemus appeared in her rooms, and rather than
falling asleep she grew worried, for it was so unlike him not to come to her.
She thought of Hermione and Orestes’ anger towards him and left the silence of
her rooms to go in search of him. She did not wish to go to his chambers for
she knew Hermione was likely to be there and she did not think it wise to show
her face to such a woman, especially when she knew her to already be so angry.

           
It was a stark cry that alerted her to danger and she hurried down the corridor
to the master’s chambers. Neoptolemus lay upon the floor, a knife embedded deep
within his chest. She saw no sign of Hermione or Orestes, yet she knew them to
be responsible.

           
“Help! Help!” she called, and rushed to him, falling to her knees beside him.

           
He was pale and his eyes were slowly emptying of vigour, but he remained
clinging to life and clasped her hand in his, looking into her face as she
smiled down upon him. Tears clung to her eyelashes.

           
“I love you,” Neoptolemus said, his voice quiet and weak.

           
“I love you too,” she lied, to soothe him, and he closed his eyes.

           
Helenus and two guards came upon them then, Astyanax only a few steps behind,
and at once they knew that Neoptolemus was dead and by whose hand it had been
done.

           
“Send guards out in search of Hermione and Orestes,” Helenus commanded, and the
guards rushed out to do as he had said.

           
Andromache cradled Neoptolemus’ body in her arms and wept for him.

 

*
* *

 

           
It was with much mourning that Neoptolemus’ pyre had been lit and his soul
released to the afterlife, and Andromache did not think on what was to become of
her for she had no idea what she should expect.

           
Neoptolemus’ advisors called her and Helenus both to their chambers a week
after Neoptolemus’ passing and bid them sit before them for there were great
matters to discuss.

           
“There has been no sighting of Hermione or Orestes,” one of the men said,
“Though it has been established that they are guilty of Neoptolemus’ murder and
as such his wife recounts all claim to his inheritance, properties and titles.”

           
“As it should be,” Andromache nodded, relieved that such a woman would not
inherit her husband’s lands.

           
“Neoptolemus did not leave instructions for what should become of his lands and
properties upon his passing,” the advisor went on, “Though he spoke often of his
wishes, and as such we as a council have come to a decision.”

           
Andromache and Helenus were silent as they looked to the council.

           
“It was his wish that Helenus should become King of Epirus - after all he was a
royal prince of Troy, and he has often guided and advised the king well on all
matters of state,” the advisor said, and Helenus bowed his head, though
Andromache saw that he was shocked at what they now told him. “Do you accept
this honourable title?”

           
“I do,” Helenus said, smiling tremulously for the first time upon entering the
chambers. “I shall do everything within my power to rule justly and greatly as
King.”

           
“As was his wish,” the advisor said, smiling and bowing to Helenus. “And as for
Andromache and her children, they are released from any service to King
Neoptolemus  and his court, and are placed under the care and protection
of King Helenus of Epirus.”

           
Andromache looked to Helenus and he smiled back at her, adoration in his eyes,
and she knew that Neoptolemus too had seen the love that this man held for her
and her children, and she knew at once that they would be safe in Epirus with
Helenus as king.

 

*
* *

 

           
Two months had passed since the death of Neoptolemus and yet there was no
sadness in the great city of Epirus, for there was a most wonderful ceremony to
be celebrated and all of the city had joined in the joy and laughter of such an
occasion.

           
Andromache knelt before the priest in the great temple and made her offerings
as King Helenus made his offerings beside her.

           
When the priest had proclaimed them man and wife, King and Queen, Andromache
took Helenus’ hand in her own and together they walked from the temple to a
chorus of cheers and clapping, for they were much loved in the city. The
princes joined the small procession, Astyanax guiding his younger brothers with
a smile upon his face, for he could wish for no greater happiness for his mother
than to be happily married to his most beloved of uncles and guardians.
Molossus, Pielus and Pergamus, the golden princes, were delighted too for they
knew that their beloved father Neoptolemus would have been joyful to see
Andromache and Helenus united.

           
The procession travelled through the streets until eventually they reached the
palace, the sunlight shining brightly through the windows and archways.

           
“I am most pleased for you both,” Astyanax said to them as he kissed first his
uncle and then his beloved mother. Andromache wiped a joyful tear from her
son’s face and kissed each of her sons, their smiling faces so adoring to her.
“May your reign here prosper.”

           
Andromache and Helenus ascended the stairs together, hands clasped, and
retreated to the royal chambers that were now theirs.

           
“I love you,” Helenus said to her, and she saw in his honest face that he meant
it.

           
She took his face in her hands and kissed him on the mouth, and his arms
wrapped around her. She felt his heart beating fast, his breath catching in his
chest, and she knew that he had longed to hold her in this way as his wife, for
such a long time now.

           
“I love you too, my king,” Andromache said, and she too meant it, for this man
had protected her and loved her for so many years that she knew her beloved
Hector would be proud of them both and it was with his blessing that she kissed
her new husband once more.

           

           

 

           

 

 

 

           

 

           

 

BOOK: The Trojan Princess
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ads

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