Andromache of Ilion

Wife of Hektor of Ilion (Troy), Mother of Scamandrius Header art by Francois-Louis Schmied

[belovedofhektor]

Hello, my name is Andromache, daughter of Eetion of Thebes

I am the wife of Hektor, son of Priam and crown prince of Ilion, and I love him very much. After him, I could never love another. It brings me pain to see him fight, but I know he does it for our family. I can only hope we come out of this war with our family still together.

Our son together is Scamandrius, the joy of our lives. Our city too adores him, so dearly that he has already earned an epithet, Lord of the City (Astyanax). No matter what they say we will always love him more, of course, and we will make sure he knows it.

I hope one day this war will end and we will have peace, but until then I will carry the courage Hektor brings me. So long as he is with me, I will not break. I will not give those Achaeans power over me. Especially him.

Please, ask me to tell you of our great city, the lives of those within it. Tales give us strength in the darkest of times. Ask me anything you wish, audiences are informal.

[hekioftroy]

if horses are your power then what are you without them

Horses are not my power. What sort of man would I be if I viewed them as nothing more than an extension of myself?

The horses of Troy are noble creatures. They carry our people and stand beside us in battle with a courage that rivals any warrior's. Without my men, my horses and the love and support of my family, what would remain of me? Very little, I suspect.

People speak often of great heroes such as Perseus and Herakles, yet they rarely remember those who helped make them great in the first place. No man becomes a hero alone. Behind every celebrated name stand countless others whose sacrifices go unsung. So no, my horses are not my strength. They are among my heroes. To answer your question...without them, I would be a far poorer warrior and perhaps far less worthy of whatever stories may one day be told about Troy and its people.

[belovedofhektor]

Ilion without its horses? I could not imagine such a thing. Our people and our steeds forever linked, the city itself renowned for the horses that come from it.

[hekioftroy]

Hector we thought you were dead :(

Oh, my friend, such things do not happen quite so quickly. I know that by now many among the Achaeans likely wake each morning hoping to hear that I have finally fallen dead where I stand but so far, the gods have shown me mercy.

I am a busy man. The burden of being Crown Prince is not a light one, and I know I cannot always give my people the attention they deserve. Yet I ask you to believe that I am doing all that I can and should such dark days ever truly come upon Troy, you would certainly hear of my death soon enough but set your mind at ease I still live, and Troy still stands strong.

[belovedofhektor]

How can you say that you expect your own death, husband mine? Do you think so little of yourself, so little of us that you would simply expect it of your own fate and not fight it? Please, Hektor, do not say such things as that you believe your own death in war inevitable, I cannot bear it. If not for me than for our son you must fight against such an end.

[belovedofhektor]

do you like cats

I have never truly thought about it before but I suppose that I do. I often see them prowling about in the stables and the storerooms, hunting any mice that seek to disturb the horses or our already limited food supplies. They are clever, efficient creatures that aud us greatly and I thank them for it.

[hekioftroy]

Prince Hector, may I have your permission to play with Astyanax? He is adorable.

You will understand that I do not allow just anyone near my son. I bear no ill will toward you but in times such as these, caution is not a choice, it is a duty.

If you would tell me who you are, and present yourself openly, so that I may be certain you mean him no harm, then I could instruct the nurses to allow your presence. Even so, I would advise you to seek my wife’s approval as well. I do not take such decisions lightly and I do not make them without her.

[belovedofhektor]

I will consider it … IF this person shows their face

[hekioftroy]

Hello Hector!:D Can I marry your wife? She's very beautiful...

ONE CHANCE ANDROMACHE ONE CHANCE

What do you imagine I am about to say?🤨 Whatever it is, you are mistaken. Yes, she is truly beautiful. I would never forbid you from seeing that. And yet, I am the one she chose before the gods. I have no doubt she is content in that choice and has no wish to change it. Think, if you must, of our son.

You have no place here, and I would advise you to keep your distance. Even if something were to happen to me, you would not take my place. She is a free woman and for that very reason, this is not a matter for you to pursue, nor for me to entertain. I will not receive such requests again.

[belovedofhektor]

I am quite happily married to my husband, anonymous person. I would not leave him for anyone.

[blended-ice]

Hector -> Andromache -> Astyanax

Horse!!!

[belovedofhektor]

Oh how darling! Our boy does so love Hektor’s horses. However, I can neither confirm nor deny if it was his first word (that is something for only his father and I to know and hold in our hearts). You do well to capture the emotions and love of our family.

[belovedofhektor]

I fear for how the war affects his life, it is true, but nonetheless, no matter how I might wish the circumstances were better when he came to us, Scamandrius is still the light of my life. He will forever be so, over even his father. I am sorry, @hekioftroy but I am certain you too would agree that our boy comes first in our hearts.

[hekioftroy]

And here I thought you had promised that I would always be your number one. Our son is the future of Troy...he will always be of the greatest importance to this city, the very heart of our family. Yet…I had not imagined he would take more space in your heart than I do.

When I think of you both, it feels as though two hearts beat within me, equal in strength, moving in the same rhythm. It troubles me that you do not seem to feel the same.

[belovedofhektor]

Oh of course my love for you both is equally strong, beloved, but I am so incredibly proud of this wonderful being that we have made together. I adore seeing him learn and grow, one day to be as brave an kind and good as his father. My love for you only adds to my love for him. He is my sunshine while you the steady beat of my heart just as I am yours.

[belovedofhektor]

I fear for how the war affects his life, it is true, but nonetheless, no matter how I might wish the circumstances were better when he came to us, Scamandrius is still the light of my life. He will forever be so, over even his father. I am sorry, @hekioftroy but I am certain you too would agree that our boy comes first in our hearts.

[belovedofhektor]

Does King Priam know that Teucer is his nephew? Has the king considered trading Helen back to Menelaus in return for Teucer? I heard that he originally demanded the return of Hesione in talks with Menelaus over the situation with Helen and Paris…perhaps a long-lost nephew traded for Menelaus’s stolen wife and treasures could suffice?

If you speak of Teucer, son of Telamon, my king knows well who he is. All the family mourns Hesione’s loss from our shores, and are saddened that her son stands against us now. And for all that he shares blood with my husband’s family, he is not a slave to be bartered. Achaean or no, Teucer is a free man, son of a king and brother of a prince. He could not be traded in such a manner, setting aside the truth that a trade of anything of anyone for Helen would not end this war.

The Achaeans would carry on, in desire to break us. So too do I fear for Helen’s safety in a camp of soldiers, no matter if her husband was there to offer her aid. Women do not tend to fare well when alone amongst soldiers. At least in our city she can be protected from that.

[hekioftroy]

Hello great Prince Hektor! How fares your son? He was still so small last I saw.

You are kind to ask. My son is well and growing far too quickly, if you ask me. It seems only yesterday he was small enough to be carried without protest. Now he already keeps us quite busy and makes his presence known in every corner of the palace. I would not have it any other way though.

He brings a great deal of light into these days, especially in times such as these. He even learned to call me "Baba". His little voice is truly adorable.

[belovedofhektor]

Let us only hope that by the time he has reached the days in which he can hold onto memory, it will be only good things that surround us and not the horrors and fear of wartime.

And until then I shall spoil him with the sweetness of honey and kisses, so he might feel only our love

[belovedofhektor]

The winds sing of spring, of the Queen Below returning to the sunlit skies at her mother’s side. Of warmth on my cheeks, the fragrance of plains grasses in the air. What I would give for peaceful days anew, when I might take my son to our guardian river and let cooling waters dance about our ankles. I pray for this war to end, so my husband can watch our boy grow at my side, rather than in glances to where we stand atop the wall and watch over him.

[belovedofhektor]

i saw that you bake lots of sweets. whats your favorite sweet and whats your favorite to feed your husband?

Oh I do love sweets. Like my boys, I adore sesamous, but I think my favorite is baklava. How could it not be, after my first taste of it was from my beloved Hektor’s hand? Sweetness and giddy delight, a rush of warmth and adoring butterflies in one’s stomach. It forever tastes of our love for each other and so, in turn, it is also my favorite to feed him.

[hekioftroy]

Hey! So, hypothetically, how would you feel of you died, the Greeks won, and your son was thrown off the walls while your wife, Andromache was taken as a slave by Achilles' son? Just a hypothetical question of course! I'm sure everything will be fine with a strong prince like you fighting, Hector;)

What cruel thoughts are you placing before me? I hear such talk of my death often enough, yet I will not tolerate such dark imaginings about the fate of my wife and my son. Such a thing will not come to pass. And even if I were to fall, my wife is far stronger than you seem to believe. She would defend herself against anyone and raise our son to become a man of strength, one who would rule Troy with gentleness and kindness.

Your speculation paints a false picture of what would truly be. My death would not condemn my family to such a fate. And as you yourself have said, I will remain strong and continue to fight. For any further concerns, direct them to my counselor @panthoonides .

[belovedofhektor]

Whatever might happen to me, how dare this asker suggest such a fate would befall our son.

[belovedofhektor]

Thank you all for your patience with my recent silence. I was struck down by an illness and it took the healers much time and work to care for me through it. I am grateful for both their care and that this sickness did not pass from me to my loved ones in this time. I would have never forgiven myself if it had ripped my husband from the plains upon which he protects us nor if it had touched our sweet boy, still so small and delicate against the raging cruelty of sickness.

I am still on the mend, but the worst of it has passed and the healers have deemed it safe for me to return to court once more.

[belovedofhektor]

Happy birthday @hekioftroy my darling

I love you more with every day that passes

[hekioftroy]

hello handsome 🌹 *gives you a flower and runs away blushing*

Gods! I truly thought my days as a much-pursued bachelor were over the moment I married. 😳

A surprise indeed...especially since it is usually my sisters who receive the flowers. I appreciate the gesture greatly, it is beautiful indeed. Speaking of beauty… has anyone seen my wife? I would very much prefer not to test her patience over matters like this...

[belovedofhektor]

I think it’s sweet of our people to be giving you flowers. As long as that’s all it is.