Hello this is my first fic so bare with me! It was heavily inspired by GRRM a song of ice and fire. If you like fantasy you should def check it out! Anyways HOO belongs to Rick Riordan and not me.
The dining hall was scorching that evening. Powered perfumes spread throughout the air like wildfire, hitting her nose all at once. Reyna felt like she was chocking on the air itself. The sweltering heat made it unbearable to breathe, or even think for that matter. All she wanted to do was to tear off the hideous dress she was forced to wear and her nose as well. It was here thirteenth birthday and her father insisted on her dining with noble ladies that night, at a banquet held especially for her. The excessive amount of makeup powder caked on her face felt heavy and it started to itch. The heat made it all the more worse since the powder was already starting drip. Reyna raised her hand and began to scratch at her face wildly.
"Stop that," Hylla commanded, swatting her hand from her face.
"But it's itchy." Reyna complained.
The hall decor was lavish. Filled with statues, indoor fountains and exotic plants. Reyna was seated at the head of the long table along with her sister and her insufferable fools for friends. The nit-wits seemed to only like talking about their hair, clothes and handsome gallant legionnaires that had just returned from service in the legion. How could her sister even talk to people like that? Reyna couldn't even bare to hear their conversation without getting dreadfully bored. Some guests chose to recline on the floor.
Midway through the celebration the party of people chose to recline outside on the terrace. Low couches and tables were already set up for them. Acommpanied with canopy tents with pillows, all provided by her father of course.
Her father Marcus Cornelius Scipio was one of the most mightiest war generals of Roman Empire, The prefect of the Roman provinces of Africa and Hisipania. They owned a magnificent palace with all sorts of exotic furnishings. The people of these provinces loved her father since he was a juste and sensible ruler. They were one of the most wealthest families in the Empire since their province had an abdunce in resources such as wine and spices. Her father had told her that the Romans loved their wine which was evident enough, everytime her father had guests over he'd have to purchase enough wine to fill up the entire river of Tiber, or so she thought. It was a well known fact that he was not the most avid fan of Rome's favourite beverage.
Her father provided goods for Rome and undoubtedly served the Royal family well. In return for his service her father spent the rest of his years in leisure, far away from the political unrest which was called Rome.
Her self control was wearing thin and soon she began to fidget on the couch. She had spent to much time with her sister and other ladies for her liking.
"Will you stop that!" Her sister demanded. Hylla had always been better then her. Hylla was a true r
Roman beauty as she was not, her sister was graceful in anything she did, which was basically every aspect of her life. Hylla was warm and approachable, her persona enchanting everyone she met but mostly the males. Her sister also had suitors of all rankings, sucessful men of the legions, aspiring politicians and wealthy senators. The biggest difference between the two of them, she supposed, was Hylla favoured the traditional pursuits of the noblewoman such as weaving, embroidery, dance, poetry and music. Summing up everything she had said about her sister, Hylla was quite a bore.
She was the opposite of all those things. Distant, cold and calculating those were the words people ascribed her to. Always keeping writing utensils at hand, having favouring to sneak into her father's meetings with other politicians and prefects. She always collected and wrote notes in her father's meetings having been fascinated by the world of politics from a young age.
Reyna had an awkwardly tall, lanky childish figure. Some people claimed she is dreadfully sick because of her skinniness and her not so prominant womanly figure. Her hair laid limply down her back with no shine or lustre. Her eyebrows thick and bushy, eyes to big for her face and random blemishes forming on her skin.
Her body was ready to leap and dash to her chamber. The temptation of sneaking into her room was overriding her ability to think. There awaited her two hounds, the only true friends she had. Never once had they vexed or coaxed her about her un-ladylike behaviour, she supposed it was because they couldn't speak.
The sole reason as to why this feast was held was to forcibly place her into an environment filled with noble woman in the hopes of her turning into one. She scoffed at the thought, did they think of her as some helpless dog waiting just waiting to be led?
Where Reyna failed in the lady-like departments she made up for it in many other pursuits. She excelled in history and was quite well learned in the departments of empires and conquers of the old. When her father was not there she would sneak into the grand library with nothing but a torch in the early hours of the morning; when the whole palace was at rest. For some strange reason she began to idolize some conquers such as Alexander The Great wanting his empire to stretch from east to west. Also she became infatuated with weapons every time she read. Stories of warfare had always grabbed her attention. Sometimes she would sneak into the armoury and train awhile with the swords.
The voice of her sister knocked her out of her trail of thoughts.
"Dear sister did you remember what father said to us?," At moment she turned over to gaze at her sister.
"What?" She mumbled, she had been too deep in thought to even care what her sister was going to say next. Hylla's eyes glazed over in fury before she sighed.
"Perhaps you forget, you never one to listen to father's word, anyway. You are leaving to Rome in two weeks time."
At those few words, she let out a series of high-pitched shrieks. Not before long, every head in the room turned to face their direction.
"Be quiet," Hylla hissed, before turning briefly to apologize for her strange behaviour.
"Father plans to send you as a ward to some patrician family or maybe to a temple, to improve your behaviour."
Reyna could barely contain her rage. Before she knew what she was doing she rolled up her skirts and barrelled out the door like a war elephant, straight towards her father's study. Sure enough she had left the whole audience of women speechless and dumbfounded, her poor sweet sister shamefaced.
