Note: I'm going to thank my Beta reader, Homeric, for helping me out a lot with this chapter!


Chapter One

Family Ties


Archery had always been a way to get away from my family, however there was one person who always happened to be against it - my mother. The others always seemed a tad timid when I had the bow in my hand. When visitors came to to our small villa and found me practising, she would send her glares spiraling in my direction.

Not very long after an intense fight over my hobby, Mother had persuaded my father to put an end to it. I was informed at dinner one evening.

"Caelia!" Father's amiable voice came to me across the elegant table. "We've decided that you need some well-spent time away from our fair city of Rome!"

"And where would I be going?" I had a hint of distrust in my voice. The ending to this conversation would be a severe one, and not something that I would enjoy. I had known the moment I had glimpsed Mother's beaming smile flitting across her face.

Marcus Aeilius, my father, overlooked my mistrust and continued as though he had not noticed my apprehension. "You're going to Britain. Your mother has informed me of your desire to see Fulcinia Honorius from Marius's household!"

A forced smile graced my lips. "You don't have to go through the trouble father, really. I'm most content here."

"Nonsense!" Marcus paused for a brief second before continuing. "You need time alone! You leave in two days with the maid of your choice." He ended this statement with a grin, as though he had bequeathed me a great gift, and returned to his food.

Throughout the next two days I tried to cling to my old ways of life in Rome. The two things I was most terrified of giving up were my daily archery lessons and the time I spent in the library. I would be unable to read in a dreadful carriage or on a ship that lurched every other minute. I think what scared me the most was the thought of leaving Rome for a place I had only visited once before.

It was upon a fine day that my heavily protected carriage rode out of the large city. I would miss the familiarity of Rome, but I would cherish the fresh air. To me the country smelled of freedom.

I spoke with my maid Aethel on our lengthy and dull journey to the ocean that separated us from Britain. We stopped infrequently at noisy taverns to obtain new horses, but not once did anyone receive a proper rest.

The ride on the boat had been a variation of Hell for me. I had succumbed to seasickness and stayed in my private chamber throughout the journey. The only company I received was from Aethel. On those long swaying nights I had learned much about her. She was a Saxon and been a maid and a friend to me since a young age. Most regarded her as a deep threat, I didn't. All I saw from Aethel was a meek girl who had lost everything.

When we had finally reached nice, solid ground we spent a few dreary nights in a costly lodge. It was mostly to recover, for my Roman bodyguards and myself needed time to recover from sickness and have a safe place to sleep.

In those precious few days I had taught Aethel the basics of archery. It was for both of our benefits. We could protect each other if it ever came to that. She had screamed in delight when she had finally managed to hit her target precisely. The other Romans had laughed at that.

The next few days passed fairly similarly to the ones we had spent previously. From this carriage ride I remembered comparing the differences between Rome's surrounding land and this land. There was no stopping for nearly four days. The arrival at Marius's estate was much appreciated for everyone of the caravan. I had seen attached to the wall a black stone building. It stood as if newly erected and monks seemed to scurry about it. However despite my apprehension the arrival to the village had been joyous.

Fulcinia embraced me as I stepped out of the carriage. She had always been like a second mother to me. Fulcinia looked the same as I remembered; her dark wavy hair encircled her face and her eyes lit up the room. We had been close over these years. We had written letters and I remembered her kindness from her few stays at Rome. She had been one of few who actually spoke equally to me.

After we let each other go I smiled to Alecto and curtsied to Marius. Alecto most definitely took after his mother in appearance - his scrawny build would have never revealed that he was destined to be a Bishop. Marius had developed an unmistakable gleam in his eyes. It was a look of thirst for power. This was to be expected, though. He was so close to the Pope that he thought himself far above everyone around him.

"My!" Fulcinia had said. "You've grown up perfectly. An image of your grandmother, you are. Or at least from the painting I've seen of her!" I smiled and blushed at the compliment. Everyone had said that my grandmother had once been a very beautiful woman.

I smiled to Fulcinia before turning my gaze upon my cousin. "You have grown yourself, Alecto! Last time I saw you I had been the taller."

"Dear cousin," Alecto hugged her in a brotherly fashion. "I was thinking we may never see each other again!"

Marius interrupted our exchange as he called for a servant. "Take their items up to the prepared room!" He ordered harshly. He wasn't the Marius I remembered fondly from my childhood. He was far from it.

A false smile again landed on my lips as I looked at my distant cousins. I accompanied the servant up to my new chambers as Aethel scampered along after me. The room was whitewashed, with only two windows to show the rather unappealing surrounding farmland.

After a quick bath I dressed in a usual Roman fashion. Aethel adorned my bare neck with a string of sparkling beads and braided my hair in an intricate style upon my head. Soon the same servant of Marius's appeared.

"It is time for dinner, milady," he spoke in an uneducated tone.

I smiled at him while I spoke, "Alright. After you take me to the dining room will you be sure to show Aethel to the servants area?"

He lightly nodded. My maid's blonde hair was slightly tangled and her face smudged slightly with dirt and her gray dress was wrinkled. However, even in that state she still looked better then any of Marius's servants. His attendant was extremely thin and his face gaunt. The clothes he wore were raggedy and it was clear that he, nor the other villagers, would be ready for the fast approaching winter.

"What is your name?" I asked curiously.

"My name? That's Mark."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mark." I smiled as he led the way. The dining room and the hall outside of it, was almost overwhelmingly opulent. There were paintings and sculptures that could have been exchanged for enough money to feed the surrounding villages for a lengthy amount of time. "Lovely room." My grin was a forced one.

"I know. Isn't it, Fulcinia?" His smile broadened at my compliment. Fulcinia only nodded to his inquiry.

The table could seat twenty comfortably. Despite its great size Fulcinia, Alecto and I were forced to sit next to the pompous Marius. The dinner the emaciated looking staff provided us was almost as delicious as my old chef had cooked. I murmured my thanks each time the workers came around.

I retired to my chambers early. Though the sun was still shining I slept. I was already sickened by the horrid way Marius seemed to treat his own people.

The next morning I awake with the blaze of the rising sun. Aethel was already there with my favourite tunic and trousers in hand. I quickly dressed and let my long hair flow free. The courtyard I found wasn't what I had in mind but it would do.

Hours later Fulcinia found me shooting arrows harmlessly into a large bundle of hay. At this she smiled and joked, "Always the little rebel aren't you?"

"I've never been a rebel, Fulcinia, I just stand out more clearly!" I laughed pleasantly.

"I meant to ask last night, but would you be interested in learning about herbs Caelia? It could be useful when you have children of your own one day."

"It could never hurt to try herbs out! Though I already do know a lot. That's what happens when I get an entire library to myself," I said.

I collected my discarded arrows and walked up a flight of stairs. My chambers were in a way a comfort when I stepped into them. I rested my bow on a cabinet with the arrows beside it.

After changing into a pale red dress I strode towards the kitchen to get lunch. There I saw Alecto. After a quick exchange with him we walked out of the kitchen and towards the garden.

The garden's beauty seemed incomparable. Alecto held a delicious broth while I only held the bread. Our lunch didn't seem to last long, though. It was stopped short by Marius's barking at a defenceless serving boy and slapping him across the face. I stood up for the child, even though it went against what I had been taught. It was sickening to see a man of his rank do something that vile.

"Marius!" I stormed over to him. He was basking in the shade of a canopy.

"Why did you hit this young boy?"

He spoke simply, "He disobeyed me."

"Don't hit children in my presence," I hissed at him even though I knew it wouldn't stop him. Instead I received a powerful blow to the face that sent me sprawling.