The auctioneer's voice seemed to drone on in some incoherent lull in Will's ears. The yells of the crowds heckles, jeers, and bids were almost dreamlike and vacant as he continued to look upon the young woman in the shackles. She didn't look afraid or nervous, but calm and defiant. The other women around her were quite the opposite: some were weeping, others were downcast with their mouths moving in a quick undecipherable tongue, some were silent like her but their eyes betrayed them – they were terrified.
Will's relaxed stance against the wall had straightened and alerted once he had seen her. Now he was moving slowly, almost cautiously further around the side of the platform into the shadows, attempting to get a better look at her. He noticed then that none of the women wore plaques like the men had worn previously. Instead they all had black charcoal numerals on their tunicas. Her's was XXXVI. She was thirty-sixth out of ...how many? How many of these tear stained faces were brought to the market today? Suddenly he felt a pang of guilt shake through his chest. He was here to buy a human being, like a man buying a sheep or a yard of cloth. Who was he to purchase another person? … Because he was a Roman? … The tables could've been easily turned if Rome had not obtained such unmatched power, and he would've been the one chained and sold at another land's marketplace.
The line was moving. While Will was distracted with his musings and thoughts the line had been moving and the women ahead of her had been sold already. She was next. She was next.
One of Felix's men, a handler, grabbed her arm and hauled her up the few steps that led to the middle of the platform. She never looked at the man that grabbed her, she never looked at the auctioneer when he was placed her his hands. She stumbled slightly when he jerked her to stand next to him, but her demeanor never faltered. Her chin was held high, her jaw set, her eyes were directed down, but not in shame or fear, but in a look of strength and opposition. Will stood frozen, watching as she was brought into the sunlight, put up on the stage before him and listened as the yells of the crowd that had previously been muffled by his own clouded mind were suddenly and extremely loud.
"Why," cried a salacious commoner crudely reaching across the platform that separated the human merchandise from those who had come to buy, "she must be a descendant from the gods! Is she a goddess come to mock us poor mortals here?" He tugged at her tunica, trying to raise the skirt to appraise the bargain.
Instantly the auctioneer slapped the commoner's arm, hard, with a leather whip. The blonde girl took a step back, but still in the auctioneers grasp.
"She's human enough," he snorted. "Here, look you Roman citizens!" he ripped one of the shoulders of the garment, letting it fall from her breast. She tried to reach up to either hide her body with her hand or hold the strap together again, but the auctioneer yanked her arm down. For a second while she stood there, half her chest exposed to the lustful eyes of the crowd she looked so young, so helpless, but the look soon vanished from her face and she stood defiantly once more.
The crowd of men continued to murmur and talk amongst themselves, leaving Will's paralyzed mind to pick up a few snippets of their general consensus: "blonde hair, beautiful, ivory skin, in my bed, so fair, amazing, fuck her, young, soft…." He didn't want to hear it anymore. Suddenly Will broke himself from his astounded and numbed state. He heard the jeers from the men, he saw the look on their eyes, their hands going to their money belt, their eyes roaming her body… He had to get to Felix and tell him that she was the one that he wanted to – to purchase. His spellbound and sluggish mind began to turn again. Felix was on the other side of the crowd, the other side of the market, at the table. He had to get to him before one of these other men had a chance to stake his claim on her. He wasn't sure what the exact reasoning was for such conviction… all Will knew is that he felt a strong and ardent desire to –save- her.
"Where did such a fair creature come from?" cried one old lecher in the mob who customarily bought the young girl slaves for his own sexual play.
"From Brittania, the far north country of the barbarians. She was captured by Caesar's legions and shipped, as you see her, to Rome," explained the auctioneer—his mind already building the pitch for a higher bid. "Come now gentlemen! Make your bids! Let her warm your bed for you!"
A roar of laughter and agreements went up into the stale air of the square. Will was already pushing himself between the sweating and indulgent bodies of the crowd. As he pushed and retaliated against the resistance of the men they looked at him disapprovingly and offended. He could see Felix reclining in his chair behind the table of documents just finishing with one of his clients who also had a blonde girl in his arms, taking her away.
"Felix Antonius! Felix Antonius!" He tried to yell above the people around him, who, he noticed before, were just as captivated by her as he was.
The man looked up and saw Gullielmus Faberius struggling through the people, yelling and waving his arm to get his attention. Felix stood and gave the young man a questioning smile.
"Felix Antonius, the girl – the woman, on the stage - I would like to purchase her with my father's money." He said in a rush, slightly winded.
Felix looked at the girl, beautiful no doubt, he couldn't but let his eyes glaze over at the sight of her. But he also saw the crowd's reaction– their catcalls, their arms raised in the air yelling out their bids…it was obvious this one was very popular. And popular meant a higher bid; a higher bid meant more money in his own purse. However, he had made a promise to this young man, his initial hesitance about the subject obviously gone.
"This one…are you certain?"
"Yes, her. I'm positive."
Felix grimaced and looked up at the stage once more. He couldn't blame the boy – look at her! He smoothed his hand over the wispy hairs and shook his head. He was going to loose a lot of profit on this girl…but….
The girl's feet ached, her wrists burned from sweat and dirt rubbing into her raw flesh, she could feel the layer of blood, sweat, and grim over her skin as the men's hands roughly handed her up the steps to one another placing her in the center of the platform. She was weak from hunger already, but the fatigue was beginning to set in as she was shoved across to the man in the brightly colored tunic. She stumbled but was brought upright roughly by the man next to her. She reminded herself over and over 'be strong. Don't let them see you falter. Be strong.' – she would rather die than see these pigheaded men think they had gotten the best of her, or beat her down. A young man with the short brown hair and black toga, who was still standing away from the crowd, near the line of the other slaves, caught her eye. He looked at her with such bewilderment and unabashed interest that it was almost innerving. Just then one of the men who had crowded around the foot of the platform reached out and grabbed the bottom of her toga, trying to lift it up. Immediately, she jumped back and had to repress the reflex to kick or hit the man's hand away – but she was beat to the punch by the auctioneer anyway, who used his whip to fend off the molester. The girl glanced to the auctioneer next to her, thankful for his salvation, but soon he was the one to offend her. "Here, look you Roman citizens!" And sooner than she had time to react, he ripped the shoulder of her tunica, making the garment fall from her chest. She knew the men had a good look at her body from the murmurs around the crowd but when she attempted to meagerly cover herself the auctioneer thrust her chained hands back down to her side. Again her flesh felt like it was on fire, possibly down to her bone from the iron shackles and she winced, but quickly rearranged her features into an unreadable mask.
Once more, the young man in the black toga drew her eye. He was now moving across the square, hurried and restless. He was encountering some resistance from the closely packed bodies in front of the platform but over the yells and bids he was waving his hand, calling out to someone across from him. All she could hear was the auctioneer's ramblings and the men's loud and gruff voices droning on and on…calling out their money offers, lewd suggestions and laughter. Soon, she thought, too soon I will belong to one of these greedy, over indulgent, sickening old men. I will be chained to their bed, locked in their chambers, at their beck and call for every sexual whim. The mere thought of it made her stomach churn, even if there wasn't a speck of food for her to regurgitate. How did she get here, so far from home? How did it get this bad?…..She knew. She didn't want to think of it.
"Cornelius!"
The auctioneer stopped his prattling and turned towards Felix.
"Close the bidding. This man has bought her."
The crowed was silent and every eye in the square, including her, stared at Felix. Then all at was, as if on cue, it erupted.
"You can't be serious!" "I have the money right here!" "Continue! Continue!" "This is not fair" "Felix Antonius you crook!" "Give her to me!" "Curse you!" "Hand her over!"
Felix went up on the platform and raised his arms, attempting to quiet the boisterous and riotous crowd. "Gentlemen Gentlemen! This young man has purchased the girl fairly on a previous agreement of price. We have many more girls lined up for the auction that would no doubt be just as pleasing in your bedroom. Let us continue the auction good citizens!"
The girl put a bit of distance between her and the auctioneer, taking this moment of confusion and distraction to step away from the post that the man had placed her at. She allowed her shoulders to slump, her head to drop, just a little, and let the façade fade for just a moment…because she saw the handsome young man with the dark hair and black toga standing next to Felix, the man who had called out to the auctioneer. For a moment, a split second – she allowed hope to fill her chest. At least he was not twice her age and sickeningly obese like most of the men in front of her. It was certainly not her choice to even be purchased by any of these men, but if it was to happen, he would surely be the best she could ask for, especially if he at least would treat her fairly. Felix continued with his speech to placate the men, and for the most part was successful as another young woman, number Thirty Seven, was led up the stairs by the handler. How easily their attention was diverted.
The girl was led down the steps by Felix towards Will. He could not help but stare at her. She met his eyes for a moment, appraising his face and expression, then once again put on the mask of indifference as her eyes moved to the cobblestone ground below her bare feet. She could not allow this hope to go too far. He was still a Roman, he was her 'Master'. She did not know his character – but when he looked at her with such adoration, she couldn't help but let her chained heart soar just a little. Such warm brown eyes, flawless tan skin. He was clean-shaven and his hair was cropped short, but with the hint of curl at the ends on the back of his neck where it had grown a little longer. His high cheekbones and square jaw made his face appear chiseled from stone. This man, her master – it seemed now, was handsome to be sure.
Will suddenly realized that the dim light behind the platform and the distance of her on the stage did not to her complete justice. She was even more beautiful than Will had previously thought. His breath caught in his throat and he found himself in the same state that he was in when he was a 12 year old pre-pubescent boy around a pretty face of a girl from town. But this was not just a pretty face, it was an alarmingly beautiful face of a woman whom Will did not know: nothing about her past, her family, or even her name….but she was his, quite literally.
Will finally noticed that she was struggling to still keep her garment pulled up on her body where the auctioneer had torn it from its seams. Without hesitating, Will untied the knot on the shoulder of his toga and unraveled the black garment from his body, twirling it around, and very slowly guiding behind her back and across her shoulders. The girl gave him an obvious look of confusion and contemplation of his kindness, but obliged him by wrapping the fabric around herself securely. She still did not meet his gaze again.
Immediately two men came bounding towards the three of them, one of them pounding their fist on the frail table. "Listen here Felix Antonius, I was in the lead of that bidding and I could've gone higher! She should belong to me! …. Mark my words, you will not hear the end of this!"
Felix put on the face of the businessman and again began to sooth the angry customer. "Brutus Tullius, she was bought fairly. We – " he said, gesturing towards Will – "had an agreement prior to the auction and this is the slave that he chose. There is no debate in that! I am sorry that you feel that you were cheated but I swear to you that any of these other young women will do the job credibly. Please, continue with the auctioning – an interruption like this will not happen again."
Brutus grumbled, still not completely happy with the situation but progressively compliant, and turned towards the cheering, bidding crowd where he had come from. The second man, tall and trim, came with a bit more of a professional and calm demeanor, but just as disagreeable as Brutus and until now had been standing aside quietly. Felix now turned his attention to him, with the same complacent business smile as before. "Iacobus Nortanus…something I can help you with?"
"I was prepared to pay a steep price for her, you know." He said lowly, glancing over to the blonde girl who stood a couple of feet away. The girl immediately recognized the man before her, her face flashed before her mind's eye, recalling the night she was taken into the legion's custody...
Felix nodded and kept the smile plastered on his face. "Yes, I'm sure you were…but as you heard me tell Brutus Tullius, this deal is sealed with Gullielmus Faberius Cicurinus here, and all is final."
Iacobus turned to face Will with a small smile. "You're Senator Gullielmus Faberius Laternisis' son?"
"I am" Will replied, a bit cautiously considering the man's response to his name.
"I'm Tribunus Iacobus Nortanus Metallus. I…. knew…your father." He said, still with the curious smile playing on his lips.
"Good to meet you Tribunus. I hope there is no hard feelings concerning today's events." Will amended very diplomatically. Perhaps he was his father's son after all. This man was an Officer in Rome's legions and knew the Senator, probably a good friend to have, he reminded himself.
Iacobus looked over to the girl, who immediately dropped her eyes, doing everything she could to not draw attention to herself. She was sure he knew who she was, and he couldn't be sure if he realized that she recognized him as well. She ever so slightly moved her body behind Will who was between the Officer and herself.
"No hard feelings, of course. Merely very…disappointed." Iacobus stated slowly, with his hands languidly behind his back turned and began to walk away. He almost made his way around the corner where escort was waiting before he stopped and turned his head towards them. "Oh, and it was nice to make your acquaintance Gullielmus Faberius. I'll be seeing you soon, I'm sure." Then he continued on his previous path, and out of sight. The girl relaxed minutely and looked down at her fist that was holding the toga to her body. Her knuckles were white. She released her grip a little and let the blood flow back into the joints in her hands, turning the bones from white to an angry pink hue.
Felix chuckled and breathed a sigh of relief. "You'd think he'd let the past die by now."
Will turned to him with a questioning look. "The past?"
"You really don't know much about your father, do you?"
Will looked down, momentarily ashamed of the obvious ignorance and shook his head.
"Tribunus Iacobus Nortanus was up for the senate the last time your father ran for the seat. But Tribunus just didn't have the popularity your father did…he's a rather unapproachable kind of character. So he lost to your father – which meant, since he lost, again – he couldn't run for another five years. Needless to say I think he's still a little bitter."
Will turned and looked in the direction in which Iacobus disappeared a moment before. Now he knew what that curious little grin on his face meant.
"I would suggest though that you get this girl out of here and back to your home before you cause any more of a ruckus out here." Felix grumbled, inclining his head slightly towards the crowd behind Will where the auction had continued. A few lingering eyes at the edge of the mass were still finding their way to Will and his purchased slave. The girl looked behind her too and saw some of the men who were leading the bids still had their heads turned in her direction. She shifted her weight uncomfortably.
"Yes, you're probably right…What do I have to fill out?" He asked gesturing to the parchment on the table.
"Oh let me see here…" Felix spoke to himself, sitting back down in the chair and shuffling through a few of the documents.
Will took this moment of relative placidity since he officially made his purchase to formally acknowledge the person standing next to him. He turned and smiled at her…he wasn't sure if he should extend his hand, or just state his name? perhaps ask her her name? … he was at a loss…but just then she looked up at him, seeing him shift from the corner of her downcast eyes. She tilted her head, in a very curious, cautious, and questioning sort of way. She could tell he was struggling to say something, and frankly she thought it was endearing. This was the first Roman man she had met who was actually conscious and respectful of her presence and hadn't laid a hand on her, not even when he placed his toga on her shoulders.
"I-I'm Will" he stuttered, his voice not sounding like his own.
She looked away quickly and he thought he could see a grin on her lips, but couldn't be sure.
"Here we are!" Felix broke in, not noticing the exchange between the two of them. "This is the only information I have on this one. She hasn't said one word since she's been taken into the soldier's custody…not even in her native tongue! So we cant be certain if its stubbornness, or if she's a mute…who knows, she could just be an idiot!" He laughed.
Will glanced over at her and her posture and expression did not change. She seemed to be articulate and alert from what Will had seen so far – then again, his judgement had been extremely clouded by her appearance thus far. What he really wanted to know his how she came to be put in the soldier's custody in the first place…
"We do have a name on record though. One the other Barbarians that was captured had called her 'Elyrch' and she responded…and I'm told that apparently that's her people's word for a swan." When Felix looked up from the document he had a smirk on his face and his eyes roamed over the girl once more. "Swan…" he looked over to Will. "Fitting, isn't it?"
"Uh… perhaps I could finish reading the information for myself…and any of the other documentation you need I could send to you tomorrow." Will offered. It made him very uncomfortable for this man to continue to talk about her in his way while she was standing in front of him. If she didn't speak Latin or not, it was uncalled for and the behaviour of the bidders and atmosphere of the auction in general was beginning to wear on him.
Felix laughed heartily and stood up from his chair. "Ah I know what's on your mind, eh? Want to get home quickly!" he slapped a hand on the young man's shoulder. Will humoured him with a grin and nodded slightly. He rolled up the documents and information on number Thirty Six and tied it securely with a piece of twine. He then reached in a small wooden box that was sitting in the corner of the table and drew out a long, iron key. Roughly he grabbed the girls arm. She resisted at first to his forceful handling, but realized quickly that she was finally going to get the cursed shackles free from her wrists. The sound of he cogs turning inside the lock seemed to reverberate in her ears. The iron chains fell to the table with a 'clunk' and her arms felt like a thousand tons was lifted from her tired muscles.
Will's mouth went agape at the sight before him. In a two inch diameter around her thin white wrists was a raw band of flesh, half bleeding, half scabbed, and partially infected. He closed his mouth quickly and clenched his jaw tight. This was ridiculous. Surely there was no reason for them to give this girl such unfair and almost tortuous treatment. As quickly as he could, Will thanked Felix Antonius, shook his hand for a second that was necessary, then grabbed the documents lying rolled on the table. The girl inspected her hands, forearms and wrists carefully but swiftly noticing to her relief that her previous worry of the iron scrapping her to the bone was false, close, but false. She let a sigh of relief escape her full and dry lips. She also saw the look on the face of the man who called himself 'Will'. She saw first the hurt, and the pity, then the anger and resentment towards the man on the other side of the table began to settle across his eyes. He said his goodbyes quickly. Then he turned towards her, his face relaxing, cautiously he extended his arm, and barely touched the back of her shoulder. He inclined his head in front of them, as if to lead her along. She hesitated for a moment, knowing that if she followed this man he would lead her to his home, and she would indeed belong to his residence. Her feet made the decision for her as they began to slowly, with gaining confidence, moving to Will's side. The two of them walked through the marketplace at a slow, but comfortable pace. Will glanced from time to time from the corner of his eye. She caught his eye the third time and he diverted them quickly, a little embarrassed that she had seen his attention.
While they walked, She mused to herself: Little did these cantankerous, arrogant, and haughty Romans know… was that she could speak Latin. She had understood every word that had been spoken to her, at her and about her since she had been captured and taken into custody. The fact was simply that she didn't feel like obliging these insidious men with the grace of her acknowledgment. When they asked her a question she did not give any inclination that she had heard them. When they beat her for not complying she continued to remain silent as the grave. Silently she questioned her resolve on how much longer she could keep up this act. The man at the table had told Will that her name was Elyrch…. Her father's pet name for her. Her father, the man he had so ignorantly referred to as 'another barbarian'…her father, who's dead body now lay at the bottom of the cold sea.
She wondered if she should tell her master her real name – if he would care to know…. Perhaps if he was as kind as his warm eyes portrayed him she would inform him that her father wasn't a barbarian, but a kind gentle, educated man, her mother had had a strong spirit and a lovely singing voice, when she was a child she longed for a brother or sister to play with her, that she enjoyed lying in a meadow of tall grass on a summer's day, and that her parents had named her Eilis, but the Roman's in Brittania she had grown up around had called her Elizabeta.
Thanks for the reviews so far!
Here are a few quick notes about this chapter:
If you couldn't tell by the description or name of Iacobus Nortanus – he is James Norrington (Iacobus is the Latinized form of James) And his Title - Tribunus is basically the ancient roman is pretty much equal to a very high ranking, calvary officer, who would be the head of his own legion, and would could still continue to climb the political ladder - hence the history with Will's father. Also, I decided to give Will shorter hair, and a clean shaved face mostly because short hair was the widespread, accepted, and 'civilized' style for men at the time, as well as not a lot of facial hair. I personally think that Orlando Bloom looks amazing with any kind of hair cut! ….well maybe not one of those that have shapes and designs sheared into them – but who knows.
One last thing I should probably warn you about: I play sports in college and classes are starting up again soon so this story won't always be updated as quickly as the first two have been so far. Just a heads –up.
Thanks Again! And R&R!
-InnerSmile
