Weak

  Lady Andromeda allowed Maids, Corrine and Moira, to dress her for her journey. She watched as Sir Rahael was dressed in his Red Tunic and shining, silver armor. She was impressed to see him a real soldier. His face was stern and in deep thought. Lady Andromeda was dressed in a simple, purple gown with silver threads lining the bodice and over skirt.

   When the couple was ready they were lead from the chambers. They silently walked through the corridors. Lady Andromeda stole secret looks at her husband. He kept his eyes straight and his body rigid. Lady Andromeda felt an uneasy aura around him. She wanted to ask what he was thinking but thought it better not to speak. She let her head fall again and watched the stone floors as they made their way out of the castle. 

  The front doors opened to a large crowd, waiting to bid them goodbye and safe travels. Lady Andromeda ignored the cheering crowd and followed Sir Rahael to his horse. He turned to her. Lady Andromeda kept her face down, not wanting to look at him and say goodbye. He placed his fingers under her chin and gently pulled her face up. She refused to bring her eyes up to look at him. "Look at me, Meda." he urged. Finally she allowed her sad eyes to look up at him. "Do not be sad, M'Lady. I will return soon. We will write to each other everyday." he assured. "I just don't want to be alone anymore." she whispered.

    "I know, but you will have much to do when you arrive home. You will be the Lady of the house and the people of the city and region will need you to be strong. They will look to you for leadership while I am away. All the times I have left in the passed they have been left to fend for themselves. You will bring them light." He explained. "I do not know how to run a household nor do I know how to lead. They will see my weakness and then what?" she complained. "You are more than capable of running a household. You are smart and know how to serve others. The people will love you just as I do. You just take care of them as if they were your family that you love.  Protect them as you would your own children. You make sure that they are clothed, they have food, and they are educated. That is all you will have to do. Our people are wonderful, caring, and have great ingenuity. Don't look at it as your are in charge, look at is as just a big family and work together." Sir Rahael said. "I will try." Lady Andromeda said in a small voice. "I have no doubt that I will return to a city full of happy, prosperous people and to a beautiful wife smiling as I enter the castle grounds. I do expect you to be waiting outside the doors to greet me. When you write tell me everything that you are doing to help our people and how you are settling. I want to know everything as if I am standing next to you." he requested.

   She gave him a small smile in response. "I cannot leave until you give me a real smile." he said with his crooked smile. She stared at him for a moment and a big smile spread across her face. "That's the smile I wanted. That will be what I think about when I fall asleep in my tent." He replied. Then he picked her up and kissed her lips. Lady Andromeda threw her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.

   He placed his wife back on the ground and kissed her head. he turned to his horse, Lady Andromeda stepped back to allow him to mount the horse. He looked down at her, "Fear not, M'Lady , I will defeat these hoards and return to your arms." he swore and lead the army out of the estate. She watched as they galloped out uncertain she would see any of them again. She feared her new husband would not return to her and she didn't know what the future would hold then. 

  After the last of the army departed, Lady Andromeda walked over to her carriage followed by her Lady's Maids. The carriage was simple but large. Lady Andromeda presumed that it was simple to protect her from what might be lurking on the road. What could be lurking on the road? She had heard stories of bandits and creatures outside the walls of her childhood home. She had never left the protected grounds.  She started to get nervous about the journey. First she worried about just bumps and bruises from travel, now she could be in real danger.

  "M'Lady we have to go." Maid Corrine urged. Lady Andromeda didn't move. "Do not worry, Sir Rahael has you well guarded and we will arrive in Lemia before you know it." Maid Corrine assured. Andromeda slowly stepped towards the carriage and the door was opened. When she climbed in she noticed that one side of the carriage had been covered in a small bed. She wondered if Sir Rahael had someone modify this carriage just for her. The maids followed her in and noticed the bed. "Oh, that is what special accommodations the soldiers had mentioned." Maid Moira commented. Andromeda turned to her with a questioning look. "The soldiers who were loading the carriage said that Sir Rahael and requested the carriage be made more comfortable for you." Maid Moira explained. Andromeda smiled, this gave her the hope that this marriage was true and not just for politics or convenience. 

  Once the women were secured and ready, two soldiers placed themselves on horse back in front of the carriage. They started to move with the carriage in tow. The rest of the twenty soldiers followed closely behind.  Andromeda looked out the window at her childhood home. There wasn't much she would miss but the memories with the Emperor. She also said a silent goodbye to  her mother and let a single tear escape her eyes. Though she never knew her mother she still felt close to her in this place. Now she would lose her mother forever. She was happy that she was finally away from her cruel father and step mother.

Andromeda was still thinking about how she could possibly be the lady of a house and take care of any entire city. She knew how to cook and clean but never managed. She was  going to have to learn quickly. She also knew that she was going to have to learn how to manage a house and take care of the people in it. 

The carriage left the village around the estate that she had grown up on and started out on the open road. Seeing the farms and the plots of dense trees started to frighten the lady. Who was hiding behind the trees and behind the bushes? Would they want to hurt them? Maid Corrine saw the look on her mistress’s face and leaned over to her. “M'Lady, do not worry. We are well guarded. Maybe you should rest. You had quite the day yesterday and last night must have tired you. Just relax. If anything happens I will wake you/” she urged. Lady Andromeda looked to her friend and nodded. Maid Corrine was right. She was tired and she was just making it worse by worrying. The lady turned from the window and laid on the cot. It was soft and it made her feel like a big hug. She hoped that she would be able to sleep without injury. Lady Andromeda closed her eyes and fell asleep.