A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
What if one girl, only the age of sixteen, knew a secret that would change Rome as we know it? Would she use that secret? Follow Justice Harmony-Lynn Germainus's story. GalahadOC, LancelotOC
Disclaimer: I own nothing that relates to King Arthur, or any of the 'theories' that are interpreted in my story.
BIG NOTICE Yes, for those who had read Tale Of Two Ladies: The Woad and The Wild Fire, this is a revised version. I would like to see a lot of reviews, I had around 80 lat time, and I want to try and see if I can beat that this time, PLEASE HELP ME WITH THAT DREAM!!!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!
The ordure of rotten and decaying flesh was overwhelming. Two young maidens laid curled together in a corner of a cell, shaking in fear. They had obviously not been there long, for there were no signs of torture or beatings, yet. Only a few tell-tale scratches of a well fought-yet lost-battle.
"What do you think is going to happen to us, Liliandra?" The young dark haired woman asked.
"I don't know, Guinevere." stated the brown, wavy-haired young maiden in an unsure voice. "But I promise to get us out of here." She added with a new found confidence. Suddenly a rather scrawny man appeared in front of the cage, causing both Liliandra and Guinevere to gasp in surprise and fright.
"Talkers, huh? Well, I'll show you what we do to talkers!" He stated as he quickly opened the caged doors and reached for Guinevere.
"No!" Liliandra protested as she pulled Guinevere behind her as best she could. "I-I was talking to myself. I should take the punishment, not she." She stated, trying to sound sure of herself. The man looked disappointed as he sneered at her.
"As you wish." He growled as he dragged her by her arm out of the cell.
Justice, daughter of Bishop Germanius, was incredibly bored at the moment. She had been asked by her father to join him and numerous other Bishops in a meeting that day. So she sat there, becoming increasingly uncomfortable in her blue, frilly dress her father had obviously picked out for her, because she would rather be running around in breeches and a tunic. She wasn't like the other Ladies of Rome. She enjoyed freedom in any way she could take it. Be it freedom from constricting dresses, or freedom of speech. Her father proclaimed that she needed to be tamed, that her spirit was too wild for a respected Lady of Rome. She didn't care for tea-parties, Lady's Night, needle work or cooking. In fact, she was a horrible cooker, and nearly burnt down the whole east wing of their house only a few months ago. Suddenly, Bishop Germanius's outburst started Justice out of her bored daze.
"He has damned us all with his teachings! He should be excommunicated and killed!" He shouted as Justice looked at him confused.
"Who, Father?" She asked, forgetting that she was to be seen, not heard.
"Pelagius, my dear, has gone down the road of Satan himself!" He stated angrily.
"What?! No!" Justice protested as she stood quickly. "All he has ever done was express his beliefs that men are all equal. It is not the work of Satan, but the work of a genius." Justice stated as she stared down at the people sitting at the table. They all had passive faces as she sneered and headed towards the door.
"Where do you think you are going?" Her father asked, well, more so demanded as she stood before the grand oak doors.
"By your leave, gentlemen." She stated in the most snobby voice she could muster as she over exaggerated her bow and quickly headed out the door, making sure to slam it behind her.
"Get back in there you foul creature!"
Liliandra groaned as she was roughly thrown back into her cell with Guinevere. Guinevere, surprised by the sudden intrusion, gasped as she dragged her farther into the cell, as if afraid that the men would come back and snatch her again. She had been gone almost a day with those savages, and it showed. It seemed as if her exposed skin was just one big bruise, and it looked as if her shoulder was dislocated.
"Liliandra, I have to relocate your shoulder." Guinevere stated as Liliandra began to shake her head furiously at the idea.
"No." She stated in what sounded like a muffled plea.
"Liliandra, you'll lose the use of your arm if I don't relocate it." Guinevere stated softly as she grabbed Liliandra's arm. "Ready?" Liliandra nodded as she exhaled. In one fluid motion, and with a sickening "pop", Liliandra's shoulder was relocated. She let out a strangled gasp, keeping herself from screaming in pain knowing that the consequences would be far worse. As Guinevere looked at Liliandra, her face was white and she was breathing heavily.
"Oh, Lily" She thought as she enclosed her younger friend in a hug, where Lily silently passed out.
It was later that night when Justice went to find Pelagius. He was in danger, and she knew it could only end in his death. Her father had always been afraid of competition. So what did he do? He got rid of the competition any way possible. As she turned into the barn area she saw some Roman troops marching past.
"Oh no, it's already begun. They must be looking for Pelagius." She thought as she silently crept her way into the barn. Pelagius had been like a real father to her. When she was little he had come from Britain, and had immediately been assigned as her care taker by her father. He was the one who had taught her, fed her, tucked her into bed at night when she was little and told her stories. Fairytales, that would grab at her imagination, and take her to a far distant place, where she felt that she belonged. With heroic knights, gallant white steeds and gracious Kings. She ran into the barn as her last desperate attempt to find him, warn him and tell him to leave Rome for his own life's sake. She sighed in relief as she saw him in one of the horse's stalls, her horse's stall actually. There he stood, calmly stroking Jupiter's white mane.
"Pelagius!" She greeted urgently as she ran up to him. "Pelagius, you must leave Rome! They are going to kill you!" She stated quickly as she grabbed him hand and began to drag him down the pathway. For a girl of only sixteen summers, she always prided herself as being strong. Pelagius, while against the orders of her father, had taught her how to fight, and use weapons such as a bow and sword. He had always believed in the advancement in society, and that included with woman also.
"Pelagius! You must go, leave Rome at once! My father is going to have you excommunicated and killed! As early as tomorrow morning if he get's his way!" Justice stated, her voice panicked, and her face a few shades paler then usual.
"I know, my child, and I have accepted that fate." He stated calmly as he stopped her, holding a wooden box with many little squares on the top in front of her. Justice looked down at it in wonderment as he handed it to her.
"What is it Pelagius?" Justice asked as she played with the many mobile squares on the top of the box. The were coloured, as if to make a picture.
"It is a puzzle, Justice. A puzzle, that if unlocked by the wrong hands could destroy Rome as we know it." Pelagius stated, sounding much older then he really is. Justice's eyes widened at this, as she looked down at it doubtfully. How could a box, no bigger than her hand, have something inside it that could destroy the whole city of Rome?
"I am trusting you with this, Justice." Pelagius stated as Justice looked at him confused. She was startled out of her confusion though, as men's shouting could be heard.
"Oh no, they're here!" Justice exclaimed as the Roman troops began to break down the door coming into the barn.
"Listen, child, as my last wish I want you to figure out this puzzle. Once you are able to make the picture, the box will unlock. Do not force the box to open, or the secret will be lost. Find out the truth, and guard it with your life." He stated hurriedly as the Roman soldiers began to pile in around the two. Two soldiers grabbed Pelagius and began to walk him out of the barn. As his figure disappeared out the door, Justice felt her tears leaking down her face. Her legs gave out as she landed on the floor, heaving with untold agony. Her friend, brother, father, was gone.
The last memory she would have of him is the blank look his face held as he hung by the neck, the crowd cheering in the background.