Entering the massive Coliseum that was packed full of Roman Citizens,
Aingil immediately felt the buzzing that signaled the presence of another
Immortal as they walked past the underground entrance to the gladiators'
cells. It caught her by surprise and caused her to stumble slightly and
catching the arm of the man beside her.
"Are you well, my dear?" He asked anxiously.
Cassius was an older man of sixty with white hair, a frail build and a
large nose. He was almost a head shorter than Aingil, but few people were
her height of five foot eight.
"I'm fine. I just tripped on the hem of my gown." She lied, her blue eyes
nervously searching the crowd around her. She missed her husband's
indulgent smile and the way his brown eyes inspected her proudly as they
sat in their box near the Senators. Aingil was tall, ivory skinned and
beautiful, standing out among even the visitors to Rome, for her hair was a
striking auburn. Her waist length hair was braided and in a crown around
her head, adding to the royal look as much as the deep blue satin gown she
wore with silver trim. A white veil loosely covered her hair and draped
across her neck to fall back over her right shoulder and she was slim,
adding height she projected. Shifting with graceful unease, Aingil slid
her hand to the base of her neck and fingered the hilt of her short sword
that was under her dress in a scabbard between her shoulder blades.
'No one would dare a quickening in such a public forum...it'd be suicide. Least I hope not.' She knew she'd become paranoid, but her last time in Rome she'd been very prominent and it still worried her despite the time that'd past because few Immortals returned to cities so soon.
'Soon?! More than a hundred years ago...' Aingil thought with a sigh. Glancing up as the Gladiators entered the arena, Aingil's breath caught in her throat and hr mind few back to her first years in Rome, before she'd been Immortal and she was a woman torn between her husband and the man she loved.
Smiling absently at the female servants' prattle, Aingil strolled slowly through the garden of the Imperial palace. Bending to pick a flower, she was startled as her maids went suddenly silent and she straightened to see a man approaching, nodding absently at her praetorians as they just let him walk past. "Lucia, what is this?" Aingil didn't speak quietly or conceal her statement from the man, her voice regal and commanding to fit her position as she looked at the small, dark haired servant beside her. "He is the secretary of petitions and correspondence for the Caesar, my lady." Lifting an eyebrow, Aingil knew that despite the attire that pegged him as a slave, the title made him one of Augustus' secretaries of state and she waited for him to speak. "I am Remus." He stated in an almost amused voice that had no particular accent that Aingil could place. Slightly intrigued by that and his proud, unslavelike demeanor, she waved her maids away to a discreet distance and gestured for him to walk with her. Not speaking, Aingil studied him frankly. Few men were her height, Augustus was even an inch shorter than his wife, but this man was about six feet tall. His hair was black like her Italian husband's, but Remus had fair skin, high cheekbones and green eyes that were watching Aingil with an intensity that made her blush and duck her head. "I'd heard Caesar's second wife was beautiful, but words don't do you justice." He commented under his breath, openly amused as she blushed further. "You blush as though you've never been complimented." "I am married and to the Caesar, no less! Few men speak so boldly and nor should you for I am sure you know my husband's stance on morality." "I do and that is what I wish to discuss with you, but it doesn't change the fact that you are exquisite." Remus murmured, his voice deepening. Shaking her head absently, Aingil frowned. "Why do you wish to discuss Augustus' laws of morality with me? Shouldn't you bee speaking with him?" "I wish to be forewarned on his possible reaction when I talk to him and I figured you to be the best judge." "Wise...Very well, what is your question?" Aingil asked, lifting the hem of her plain white tunic slightly as she stepped over a small puddle in the path. "Why does Augustus not adorn you more handsomely? Is he that jealous?" Remus asked with a frown as his eyes traveled over her plain attire, which gave no hint of her high position in Roman society. "That's your question?!" Aingil replied with a slight laugh of disbelief. "No...I'm just curious. You should be adorned in silks, satins and jewels as Cleopatra was." "I don't wish to be compared with such a person!" Aingil practically shouted, her blue eyes flashing with fire. The sound of her raised voice caused the praetorians to immediately draw swords and move toward them while Remus paled. "I never meant to offend, my lady. I only meant you should have the best!" Calmed quickly by his honest apology, Aingil didn't glance at the soldiers who stood behind her, raising her hand to send them back. "What did you wish to discuss, sir?" She asked softly, starting to walk again. "It's the Caesar's daughter, Julia...She's laid with many men in the upper Roman classes and rumors are beginning to spread." Remus confessed gently. Aingil missed a step and Remus took her arm to steady her, unaware of the effect it had on her equilibrium. "I have proof, my lady. I'm just not sure if the Caesar will 'shoot the messenger' in his anger at her disobedience." "I know of this already." Aingil confessed, gently freeing herself from his grasp as she took a deep breath. "He knows as well and has done nothing?!" Remus asked in surprise, "I think the law rather silly myself, but I thought Caesar to be fair about..." "He doesn't know..." Aingil admitted miserably, "I've been trying to befriend Julia and save her from herself, but apparently she's lied to me about stopping these...trysts. I am about her age and it annoys her that Augustus is so...devoted to me. This will wound him deeply, but we should tell him." "We?! My lady, you needn't..." Remus protested in surprise. "I should be there. He'll need me." Aingil stated firmly. Waving for the servants and guards to follow them back the to the palace, Aingil missed Remus' look of admiration at her strength, mixed with a strong, unbridled, and almost dangerous desire.
Glancing up from the pile of parchment on the large wooden desk before him, Augustus waved for Aingil to enter and finished signing a document before pushing them all aside. He rose and moved to the ornate, throne like chair nearby, frankly measuring Remus as he spotted the slave trailing his wife. The Caesar was a handsome man with olive skin, black hair and brown eyes that revealed his Italian origin, but he was only 5'7 and despite a modest front, wore lifts in his shoes. Waiting patiently for his wife to explain her presence and the man trailing her, Augustus looked at her with a pleased air, unaware that Remus was fighting jealousy. "Caesar, we must speak with you. I believe you'd prefer if it was alone." Aingil murmured, her expression tight with worry and pain. Raising an eyebrow, Augustus nodded slightly and the aides left as the two praetorians moved just out of earshot, leaning on their spears comfortably, despite the black armor they always wore. "Remus." Aingil prompted softly, moving to sit on a low couch nearby. She didn't recline as was normal and Remus glanced at her curiously, but assumed it was because of the Caesar's presence. Clearing his throat, Remus moved closer and kept his voice low. "It's your daughter, sire." "What about her?" Augustus asked sharply, his body tensing. His tone would normally have sent shivers of fear down a man's spine, but Aingil saw a light of amusement in Remus' eyes as he dropped his head submissively.
'What a very odd slave. He's so proud and self confident, but makes all the right moves to keep from seeming disobedient.' Drawing her attention back to the words, Aingil started as Augustus replied to Remus' information. "She's what?!" He bellowed, anger reverberating through the large open room into the rest of the palace. "Servants at the Villa asked my advice on how to proceed, Caesar." Remus continued in calming, soothing voice. "They are having a hard time keeping this quiet. It's as if Julia wishes to be caught." Rising, Augustus clasped his hands behind his back and frowned irritably as he began to pace. "Maybe if you talk to her, Augustus..." Aingil suggested softly, worry creasing her brow as she watched her husband pace. Aingil could see Augustus was torn between his filial feeling and his strong belief in moral behavior and she glanced at Remus to see if he noticed. To Aingil's surprise, Remus wasn't watching Augustus but her, his eyes dark with desire.
'Is he insane?!' Aingil thought, her eyes wide, 'If Augustus notices, he'll...' "I will write to Julia and make her come here." Augustus finally stated, coming to a stop. "Nothing will be said until I see her face to face. Do you understand?" They both nodded and Augustus raked a hand through his short hair. "Aingil, you are the only person I trust without reservation...I am going to have this slave assigned to your service until I have dealt with Julia. You make sure that he remains silent." Aingil's jaw dropped and she rose, desperately trying to find an excuse for this not to happen. "But...As my personal slave?! Augustus, that's such a step down from his current position in charge of so many others! What will the slaves think?" "My dear wife always so concerned for others." Augustus stated in a slightly patronizing voice that made Remus clench his jaw in anger. Augustus paid the man no attention and continued: "He'll be reinstated when I've spoken with and punished Julia. I'll tell the servants I was concerned for your safety and assigned him to you. He's large enough that they'll believe in some threat on your life." "Of course, Augustus." Aingil responded as required, unconsciously biting her lip in concern. "Go to your chambers then. I'll have him write up a letter to Julia and then he'll be along." Bowing slightly at the dismissal, Aingil turned heel and walked quickly through the palace.
'No one would dare a quickening in such a public forum...it'd be suicide. Least I hope not.' She knew she'd become paranoid, but her last time in Rome she'd been very prominent and it still worried her despite the time that'd past because few Immortals returned to cities so soon.
'Soon?! More than a hundred years ago...' Aingil thought with a sigh. Glancing up as the Gladiators entered the arena, Aingil's breath caught in her throat and hr mind few back to her first years in Rome, before she'd been Immortal and she was a woman torn between her husband and the man she loved.
Smiling absently at the female servants' prattle, Aingil strolled slowly through the garden of the Imperial palace. Bending to pick a flower, she was startled as her maids went suddenly silent and she straightened to see a man approaching, nodding absently at her praetorians as they just let him walk past. "Lucia, what is this?" Aingil didn't speak quietly or conceal her statement from the man, her voice regal and commanding to fit her position as she looked at the small, dark haired servant beside her. "He is the secretary of petitions and correspondence for the Caesar, my lady." Lifting an eyebrow, Aingil knew that despite the attire that pegged him as a slave, the title made him one of Augustus' secretaries of state and she waited for him to speak. "I am Remus." He stated in an almost amused voice that had no particular accent that Aingil could place. Slightly intrigued by that and his proud, unslavelike demeanor, she waved her maids away to a discreet distance and gestured for him to walk with her. Not speaking, Aingil studied him frankly. Few men were her height, Augustus was even an inch shorter than his wife, but this man was about six feet tall. His hair was black like her Italian husband's, but Remus had fair skin, high cheekbones and green eyes that were watching Aingil with an intensity that made her blush and duck her head. "I'd heard Caesar's second wife was beautiful, but words don't do you justice." He commented under his breath, openly amused as she blushed further. "You blush as though you've never been complimented." "I am married and to the Caesar, no less! Few men speak so boldly and nor should you for I am sure you know my husband's stance on morality." "I do and that is what I wish to discuss with you, but it doesn't change the fact that you are exquisite." Remus murmured, his voice deepening. Shaking her head absently, Aingil frowned. "Why do you wish to discuss Augustus' laws of morality with me? Shouldn't you bee speaking with him?" "I wish to be forewarned on his possible reaction when I talk to him and I figured you to be the best judge." "Wise...Very well, what is your question?" Aingil asked, lifting the hem of her plain white tunic slightly as she stepped over a small puddle in the path. "Why does Augustus not adorn you more handsomely? Is he that jealous?" Remus asked with a frown as his eyes traveled over her plain attire, which gave no hint of her high position in Roman society. "That's your question?!" Aingil replied with a slight laugh of disbelief. "No...I'm just curious. You should be adorned in silks, satins and jewels as Cleopatra was." "I don't wish to be compared with such a person!" Aingil practically shouted, her blue eyes flashing with fire. The sound of her raised voice caused the praetorians to immediately draw swords and move toward them while Remus paled. "I never meant to offend, my lady. I only meant you should have the best!" Calmed quickly by his honest apology, Aingil didn't glance at the soldiers who stood behind her, raising her hand to send them back. "What did you wish to discuss, sir?" She asked softly, starting to walk again. "It's the Caesar's daughter, Julia...She's laid with many men in the upper Roman classes and rumors are beginning to spread." Remus confessed gently. Aingil missed a step and Remus took her arm to steady her, unaware of the effect it had on her equilibrium. "I have proof, my lady. I'm just not sure if the Caesar will 'shoot the messenger' in his anger at her disobedience." "I know of this already." Aingil confessed, gently freeing herself from his grasp as she took a deep breath. "He knows as well and has done nothing?!" Remus asked in surprise, "I think the law rather silly myself, but I thought Caesar to be fair about..." "He doesn't know..." Aingil admitted miserably, "I've been trying to befriend Julia and save her from herself, but apparently she's lied to me about stopping these...trysts. I am about her age and it annoys her that Augustus is so...devoted to me. This will wound him deeply, but we should tell him." "We?! My lady, you needn't..." Remus protested in surprise. "I should be there. He'll need me." Aingil stated firmly. Waving for the servants and guards to follow them back the to the palace, Aingil missed Remus' look of admiration at her strength, mixed with a strong, unbridled, and almost dangerous desire.
Glancing up from the pile of parchment on the large wooden desk before him, Augustus waved for Aingil to enter and finished signing a document before pushing them all aside. He rose and moved to the ornate, throne like chair nearby, frankly measuring Remus as he spotted the slave trailing his wife. The Caesar was a handsome man with olive skin, black hair and brown eyes that revealed his Italian origin, but he was only 5'7 and despite a modest front, wore lifts in his shoes. Waiting patiently for his wife to explain her presence and the man trailing her, Augustus looked at her with a pleased air, unaware that Remus was fighting jealousy. "Caesar, we must speak with you. I believe you'd prefer if it was alone." Aingil murmured, her expression tight with worry and pain. Raising an eyebrow, Augustus nodded slightly and the aides left as the two praetorians moved just out of earshot, leaning on their spears comfortably, despite the black armor they always wore. "Remus." Aingil prompted softly, moving to sit on a low couch nearby. She didn't recline as was normal and Remus glanced at her curiously, but assumed it was because of the Caesar's presence. Clearing his throat, Remus moved closer and kept his voice low. "It's your daughter, sire." "What about her?" Augustus asked sharply, his body tensing. His tone would normally have sent shivers of fear down a man's spine, but Aingil saw a light of amusement in Remus' eyes as he dropped his head submissively.
'What a very odd slave. He's so proud and self confident, but makes all the right moves to keep from seeming disobedient.' Drawing her attention back to the words, Aingil started as Augustus replied to Remus' information. "She's what?!" He bellowed, anger reverberating through the large open room into the rest of the palace. "Servants at the Villa asked my advice on how to proceed, Caesar." Remus continued in calming, soothing voice. "They are having a hard time keeping this quiet. It's as if Julia wishes to be caught." Rising, Augustus clasped his hands behind his back and frowned irritably as he began to pace. "Maybe if you talk to her, Augustus..." Aingil suggested softly, worry creasing her brow as she watched her husband pace. Aingil could see Augustus was torn between his filial feeling and his strong belief in moral behavior and she glanced at Remus to see if he noticed. To Aingil's surprise, Remus wasn't watching Augustus but her, his eyes dark with desire.
'Is he insane?!' Aingil thought, her eyes wide, 'If Augustus notices, he'll...' "I will write to Julia and make her come here." Augustus finally stated, coming to a stop. "Nothing will be said until I see her face to face. Do you understand?" They both nodded and Augustus raked a hand through his short hair. "Aingil, you are the only person I trust without reservation...I am going to have this slave assigned to your service until I have dealt with Julia. You make sure that he remains silent." Aingil's jaw dropped and she rose, desperately trying to find an excuse for this not to happen. "But...As my personal slave?! Augustus, that's such a step down from his current position in charge of so many others! What will the slaves think?" "My dear wife always so concerned for others." Augustus stated in a slightly patronizing voice that made Remus clench his jaw in anger. Augustus paid the man no attention and continued: "He'll be reinstated when I've spoken with and punished Julia. I'll tell the servants I was concerned for your safety and assigned him to you. He's large enough that they'll believe in some threat on your life." "Of course, Augustus." Aingil responded as required, unconsciously biting her lip in concern. "Go to your chambers then. I'll have him write up a letter to Julia and then he'll be along." Bowing slightly at the dismissal, Aingil turned heel and walked quickly through the palace.