A/N: Alright, so, this idea just popped into my head while talking with a friend, and I couldn't get it out. I'm going to update "Treasures that we seek" soon, I've just been having a bit of trouble writing the next chapter. Anyway, this story is not going to be historically accurate, so please don't shoot me if I get something mixed up. Hope you guys enjoy!
Rome, Italy 476 A.D.
The early morning rays of sunlight streamed through the courtyard as Brittany Pierce quietly tread over the still dew-dropped ground.
She knew the servants would soon be waking to start the morning chores, just like always, which made her slink into the ever growing shadows. Once again, when Amelia, her old wet nurse, came to wake her, she would be gone.
'Father won't be pleased with me' she thought with a frown, 'but, then again, when will he ever be.'
Sighing, she hopped over the small fence surrounding her part of the palace. With a quick look over her shoulder she set into a steady jog, weaving through the small trees and heading toward the worn dirt path that lead past the stables. The stables were the only thing she liked about being a royal. Well, when she could sneak off, that is.
"Running off to play with stable boys is not becoming of a princess!", her father would shout when she returned from her escapades with scraped knees that had to be covered by a long dress and tangled hair that had to piled up and slicked down to be presentable.
Amelia would cluck her tongue when Brittany returned to her room, shamefaced and in need of a bath,
"Child, when will you ever learn? If I have to patch one more torn toga of yours, I swear by the Gods I'll take you over my knee just like I did when you were a child!"
Chuckling to herself at the image, Brittany shook her head before pulling back the burlap covering of her horse's stall.
"Atalanta!" She greeted cheerily, "How have you been? I'm sorry I haven't been to visit in a few days. Father has been watching me like a hawk." Atalanta just whinnied in return, lowering her head and nibbling on Brittany's robe.
"I don't have any apples today," She laughed, "Maybe Mike will have some when we get the training field." The horse snorted, but removed her head. After doing a quick brush down and saddling up, Brittany climbed atop her horse and galloped out of the stables.
There were little things that she loved more than sitting atop Atalanta and the feel of riding. Just the grace and power in which her horse moved amazed her. She loved the feeling of being in control of something, and the freedom of being away from her planned out life in the palace.
In what seemed like too short a time, Brittany arrived at a small clearing just beyond the thicket where her family's hunters resided. The clearing held little else but a small shack toward the right side, a wooden beam in the middle, and two raised targets on the left side.
Seeing a figure emerge from the shack, Brittany dismounted and tied Atalanta to a small branch before walking toward the field.
"Mike! I'm here!" she shouted with a wave. Mike turned at the sound of her voice and smiled broadly.
"Britt! You came!" He replied as he picked her up and twirled her before setting her on the ground with a laugh. Brittany punched him lightly in the arm but laughed as well.
"Yea, sorry it's been so long. Father has been having me watched. Anytime I tried to sneak away, someone 'suddenly' needed my help, or some excuse to keep me occupied." Mike nodded with understanding as they walked toward the shack he had just left.
Mike was one of the few people Brittany trusted to be her true self with. Her family had helped him when her mother had seen a small boy being dragged through the streets by soldiers, who had caught him stealing fruit from the market. Brittany remembers peeking out from her mother's dress robes as she spoke sternly to the soldiers to release him. She remembers him looking different than her, with slanted eyes and a different skin color. It turns out, the only reason he had been stealing was because his parents had died when they moved to Rome, and he had no way to eat. Brittany's mother took him in immediately, much to the chagrin of her father. They became best friends in the short time he lived in the palace, due to her father having him move in with the hunters when he reached ten years old. He rarely came up to the palace, so she stole away whenever she could to see him.
"I figured as much," Mike told her when they reached the shack, "Well, that and preparation for your birthday." Brittany winced at the mention of her birthday. Who cares if she's turning 18? She really didn't see the significance, but the whole capitol was going to celebrate her birthday tomorrow, and she was dreading it.
"Please don't remind me, I came out here to take my mind off of such things." She begged him.
"Well, just because it's your birthday doesn't mean I'm gonna go an easier on you! You still fight like a girl." He teased while pulling wooden swords from a shelf.
"That's because I am a girl, Mike." She said with a roll of her eyes, " And fighting is dumb, but it's more fun than listening to the council drone on and on. Now, let's get started before Father sends the whole royal guard after me."
"You got it, Princess." He sniggered.
"You are going down, Chang." She retorted. Brittany despised being called princess.
With that, the two set off in the practice field, weapons raised. They had been doing this for about a year or so, ever since Mike had started training and Brittany begged him to teach her as well. She only did because it was something to take away from her boredom at the palace. Brittany didn't really care for fighting, but it was fun and reminded her of dancing, so she went with it. They could only spar on certain days, though. If anyone saw a hunter fighting with the princess, all hell would break loose. Brittany thinks her father would have a stroke. Yea, he knows she goes exploring but, he has no idea she does this.
They both started off with light hits, just to warm up a bit. Once they both had, the fighting started to get a little heavy. Both of them were swinging swords and pushing forward with all their might. Mike had the advantage due to the fact that he does this everyday and Brittany only every so often, but she isn't half bad, her only problem is that she turns it in to a game, which takes away the point of a fight. They fell into a groove of trading licks before they were both sweating and their limbs were beginning to tire, so Mike held up his hands and declared a truce, knowing Brittany will keep playing until someone wins.
"C'mon, Princess. You gotta get back to the stable, it's almost time for breakfast." Mike announced once they caught their breath. She glared at him as much as Brittany can glare, which isn't much, so he just laughed.
"I guess you're right," She admitted with a sigh, dreading going back to the palace. Mike walked her to her horse after they had stored the weapons back.
"Oh yea! Almost forgot I have an apple for Attie." Mike told her while rummaging through his toga pocket. Once he found it, he held it up for the horse to eat, which she did quite quickly.
"She is so spoiled." Brittany commented while Attie happily munched her apple. Mike nodded his head in agreement.
"Thanks for practicing with me, and I'm sorry I can't come as often as I'd like." Brittany said genuinely. She hated for him to be out here alone. He waved her off, knowing what she was thinking.
"It's no problem, Britt. Just get back in time for your father not to notice and all will be well." He replied with a wave as Brittany mounted her horse.
"Stay out of trouble, Mike!" She yelled back once Atalanta started racing toward the stables. Mike just shook his head and walked out of site.
It wasn't until Brittany had reached the stables and put Attie up that she notice how high the sun was in the sky. She quickly raced back to the courtyard and over the fence, hoping to sneak by undetected. Sadly, her hopes were dashed just as she thought she had made it safe.
"Princess! The Emperor wishes to speak with you immediately!" Marcus, one of her father's council members, shouted when he saw her.
"Can't I change first?" She asked as she tried to back away. Marcus shook his head franticly.
"No, your highness! He insisted you come now." He told her while dragging her toward the palace entryway.
They reached the throne room in less than a minute, with Marcus practically pulling her the whole way.
"My Emperor! I have found her!" Marcus announces to the whole room, which include the rest of the council, her mother and her father, who turned at the sound of her arrival.
"Thank you, Marcus! Now Brit- by the Gods! What on earth happened to you!" Her father gasped as he took in her appearance. Furrowing her brow, Brittany glance down and noticed one of her sandals was broken, dirt was all over her toga, and her hair was full of twigs and leaves. Scrambling for an explanation, she glanced at her mother, who just shook her head while placing a palm to her forehead.
"Uh, I.. fell off my horse by the stables?" She offered hopefully. Her father's jaw grew tight, but it looked like he bought her story, unlike her mother who her lips at seeing through the lie.
"How many times do I have to tell you! The stables are no place for a girl, let alone a princess!" He yelled in exasperation. Brittany nodded meekly, having heard this same reasoning before. Her father cleared his throat and shook his head quickly before continuing.
"However, your explorations have nothing to do with why I have called you here, the reason I have called everyone here." Brittany looked around and noticed that it wasn't just her family and the council that were in the throne room; it seemed to be all noble people of Rome. As she scanned the crowd, she caught the hazel eyes of her other best friend, Quinn Fabray, who was the daughter of her father's most trustworthy council member, Russell Fabray. Quinn dropped her eyes as soon as they met Brittany's which seemed to be filled with shame? Embarrassment? Brittany couldn't tell, all she knew was she had a very bad feeling about all of this.
"What reason would this be, Father?" She asked timidly, afraid of the answer. The Emperor clasped his hands together as he addressed the whole audience.
"Citizens of Rome, I have gathered you here today to announce, that my daughter, Brittany, is to be wed! But, not to just any prince, she is fulfilling the agreement of being betrothed to the Prince of Egypt!"
Startled gasps filled the rooms, as well as quiet murmurs, but Brittany was frozen in shock. Arrangement? Marriage? Egypt? So many thoughts were running through her head that she didn't speak. Her mother, however, did.
"I beg your pardon?" She questioned furiously. The smile slipped off her father's face. "I thought that arrangement was void? Brittany hasn't been betrothed in years!"
"Plans changed, my wife. Brittany must fulfill her duty as princess to her country." He explained quietly. Before her mother could speak again, he addressed the now excited crowd.
"With this agreement, Brittany, as heir to the Roman empire, will rule not only Rome, but Egypt as well! We all know peace with Egyptians has been rocky from time to time, but this agreement will fix that completely. Peace will be brought to both countries and the fighting will end!"
Brittany just stared with wide as at her mother, who slumped in her chair. Her mind was screaming so many different things but her voice was gone.
"Alas! There is more news! Brittany will be accompanied by the daughter of my dear friend and beloved council member, Russell Fabray, in order to keep all ties with Egypt, not just the kingdom!" Brittany's trance was broken at this news and her eyes turned to meet Quinn's, but the girl was met with blonde hair getting lost in the crowd. She turned toward her father and saw Russell standing behind him, a smug look on his face.
"When was this decided?" Brittany croaked out, on the verge of tears. Again, her father's smile faltered.
"That is none of your concern, Daughter. I have decided this and you must obey. You have a duty to your country. Therefore, you shall leave tomorrow as planned to Eg-"
"Tomorrow?" Brittany mumbled sadly, "On my birthday? I don't understand-"
"Silence!" The Emperor bellowed, his face beet red. "Tomorrow, you will board a ship to Egypt and marry Prince Noah of Egypt in two months time!" Brittany's eyes spilled over with tears as she raced out of the throne room and toward her chambers, ignoring all calls of her name. When she reached her room, she slammed the door and sank down to the floor, sobbing into her hands. Knowing there was nothing she could do to change her fate, due to her gender and role as princess, Brittany closed her eyes and tried to ignore what her brain was shouting at her.
Tomorrow, she would leave all of Rome behind to become Queen of Egypt.
Let me know what you think!