Chapter 3
A British Stranger
It had taken them over a week to arrive in Athens with the summer weather beating down on them. Lucinda and Anera stayed in their carriage the entire ride until they would reach the villa they were to occupy for the night. The travel of the Emperor's daughter was an event where the nobles around the Empire would beg for her to stay at their home. They would hope that she would put a good word in to her father keeping them in favor.
The heat made the ride at some points unbearable. Both Lucinda and Anera would fan themselves hoping for some temporary relief but it was to no avail. They could only hope to reach Athens quickly and take a long cold bath. They tried to read but they were only able to concentrate on the extreme heat. Anera though found it cooling to look out the window to the lovely views that Greece was allowing them.
"What do you think he'll say when he sees you again?" Lucinda asked as they reached the outskirts of Athens.
"I have no idea, but I'm a bit nervous about it." Anera giggled as she looked out the window to see the blue Mediterranean and the Greek palace.
"I'm sure he won't even recognize you from that gawky girl you were!" Lucinda joked.
"Me, gawky? You must be mistaken, you were the gawky one." Anera joked in return. Both were laughing when they felt the carriage come to a halt. They finished laughing when the Centurion opened the door of the carriage to help her out.
As propriety states Lucinda stepped out first and Anera next. Gaius helped her out as he stood next to a few other Centurions who were taken aback at the beauty of the two women exiting the coach. They were welcomed by Nilo, the steward to Antonion and his family.
"Welcome your grace," he said speaking to Anera and bowing his head. He was a short, sinewy man. His head was shiny with no hair to keep it covered. A white toga with silver outlining told the Romans he was high ranking in the house staff.
"Many thanks –" Anera began to say but she was interrupted not only by Lucinda poking her arm, but someone shouting her name. She looked to her right where Lucinda was looking and saw him.
Antonion Farrus looked even better as an adult than he did as a boy. He had grown into his large ears and nose. A head of golden blond was as bright as the sun shining, but the smile on his face was even brighter. He was a good two heads taller than Anera, a fact that Anera didn't like all that much. But he was built quite well, a dark green toga laid nicely on him showing off perfectly toned arms and legs, where his sandal ties laced up.
He practically ran up to Anera and lifted her into his strong arms. Spinning her around in happiness he finally put her down, the smile on her face was just as large as his. "I'm so glad Lucinda finally persuaded you come to Athens," his voice was deeply soothing, it quickly reminded Anera of Clodius. She pushed the General from her mind.
"Well I suppose it was just time to see my old friend again."
"I suppose it was to get you out of the cramped room of yours," Lucinda said trying to make it sound like Anera always locked herself away.
"Besides it had been a long time since I had seen the Aegean from the shores of Athens. It was time to do some traveling again." He laughed at this.
"It is always good to hear a woman speak her mind. Too many times now-a-days women are too nervous to say anything; it makes for terribly boring conversations." Antonion commented as he took Anera by the arm and escorted her into the open palace.
The palace was based around a courtyard that doubled the size of the Palatine's (Anera's home). The halls of the palace looked down into the perfectly trimmed courtyard. Looking into the halls there seemed to be a hundred doors. The sun shone down into the tree filled center making it seem as if they were walking into their very own Garden of Eden. Anera and Lucinda's faces were gleaming with joy as they saw birds fly in and out of the room.
"It does me good to see you smile," Antonion whispered in Anera's ear. She looked up to him and their eyes met. His sea green eyes met her ocean blue and there was a connection there, something Anera wasn't ready for. She quickly turned her head.
Nilo suddenly appeared at Antonion's side; he stood on his tip toes but still only came to Antonion's shoulders. The steward whispered something to his lord and Antonion looked behind him. The loss of Antonion's attention forced Anera to look behind the small group. "I'll be right back," Antonion said as his hand caressed Anera's quickly sending a slight shiver up her spine.
Antonion walked back to man a few years older than him. He had a fairly pale complexion compared to the Greeks and Romans. He had a curly mess of dark brown hair with a tinge of red. He wore strange clothes, and carried with him a heavy coat. He nodded his head as Antonion walked over. Anera studied the stranger very closely. He had a very large sword hanging from his side.
"A Briton," Gaius whispered.
"What?" Anera walked over to her protector. "What did you say?"
"He's a Briton my Lady."
"Are you sure?" Lucinda questioned walking over to Gaius and Anera.
"Without a doubt," Gaius said looking the man up and down again. "Look at his skin; it is so white because Britannia is constantly rainy."
"My father said it was a soggy country," Anera said. "What kind of business do you think he has with Antonion?"
"None of ours," Gaius said. "Come this is a good time to allow those to converse and allow us you get your things unpacked."
"Yes of course. It would be nice to get out of these cloths. My perspiration is making me sick." Nilo escorted Lucinda towards the stairs, Gaius followed but Anera's glare remained on the strange man.
"My Lady?" Gaius questioned, Anera nodded and followed him to the stairs.
The halls were filled with the smell of the Aegean. Flowers hung around the banisters and the sound of birds filled the air. Anera had been to Athens before but she did not have the privilege of staying at the palace. Entering her room she found a fresh bouquet of roses on the table. There was a note sitting on the table…
So glad you finally made it to Greece,
You make my heart soar just being near you.
Make yourself at home.
My heart,
Antonion
Anera smiled at the note as some of the servants laid her belongings on the bed and began to unpack them for her.
"Ready to roam the gardens?" Lucinda wondered popping her head in Anera's room. She had changed from an orange colored dress to a pale yellow. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a stylish bun. "You're not even ready yet."
"I can't change as quickly as you can," Anera laughed.
"Of course you can't with these people unpacking your things," Lucinda walked over to the servants. "Come, come, hurry up!" she shouted to the Greeks.
"It's fine Lucinda. I don't mind staying in these clothes," Lucinda gave Anera a grimace.
"You're a mess!"
"No, not at all," Anera shrugged it off. "Come I want to see the gardens."
They left the room with Gaius following closely behind. Walking through the palace, they were given looks by each servant and the few other noblemen that were constantly using the royal residence as a home for the short time. Lucinda and Anera giggled about it as they made their way towards the lush gardens. As they entered the gardens Antonion's eyes met Anera's.
"You're down quickly," he had been sitting at one of the large benches with the stranger sitting across from him. He rose quickly and striding over to Anera gave her a peck on the cheek. She smiled, blushing. The stranger rose as well and walked over to Anera and Antonion. "Allow me to introduce you to Sir Hector, one of King Arthur's famed knights."
"A knight from Britannia?" Anera said smiling.
"Yes my Lady," his accent was obviously from a far off place. His voice carried a familiarity to it, something made Anera nervous.
"Hector you are in the presence of royalty. This is Anera, daughter of Caesar." At the name of Anera the knight's eyes widened.
"Anera?" He voice shot towards the Roman.
"Yes…."
"My apologies, you remind me of someone from long… long ago."
"She has that effect," Lucinda interceded.
"Lucinda!" Anera scorned. "It is quite all right. What brings you to Greece?"
"I met Hector when I visited Britannia some years ago. We have kept a constant correspondence. His father is one of the great Sarmatian Knights," Antonion explained.
"A Sarmatian Knight?" Lucinda wondered. Hector nodded in agreement. The two women looked each other in the eyes then quickly turned away.
"That is an honorable charge," Anera said.
"Would you all care for some dinner?" Anera hadn't noticed the sunning setting and now it was nearly dark. They all agreed.
Antonion took Anera by the arm but she could feel the constant eyes of Hector on her. As they sat down to dinner, they found themselves at a small table. Antonion sat at the head of the table with Anera to his left, Lucinda next to her and Hector to his right.
Sitting down they were quickly served some bean soup, with the customary pitcher of wine sitting on the table. "What is Britannia similar to?" Lucinda questioned as she sipped her soup.
Hector smiled, "Women are quite inquisitive if they're from Rome," Antonion said.
"It's quite fine, my sisters have never learned to hold their tongue," Hector chuckled ripping off a piece of bread.
"And how many sisters do you have?" Anera wondered in her elegant tone.
"I have four sisters and seven brothers,"
"Twelve altogether? That's quite a household." Anera laughed, for some reason there was something a bit familiar about so many children.
"My parents enjoy each other's company."
"I would say so," Lucinda commented.
"What is it like being in Arthur's service?" Anera questioned. The servants were just now bringing some roasted chicken.
"An honor, my lady. He is a man one could only dream of fighting under. His love for the country of Britannia is inspiring."
"Sounds like a fantasy," Anera commented as she cut into the chicken.
"It is something I have dreamed of since I was first able to hold a sword," Hector said.
"Is that how you measure your life? Since you were first able to hold a sword? Since you first carried your shield? Since you first killed a man?" Anera said the last one with a disdain.
"Do you not approve of his life, Anera?" Antonion wondered. Lucinda smiled; it was just like a Roman household to find a way to talk about politics at the dinner table.
"I do not approve of measuring one's life by war," Anera took a sip of her wine. "Why not think of life in better means?"
"How so?" Hector wondered leaning back in his chair a bit.
"Measure it by the birth of your family, by the day friends were wed and their child's birth. Things that are better than death and destruction."
"What if one's life is nothing but death and destruction, I wonder."
"Then that is not a life one should be proud of," Anera answered.
"This is getting quite heated," Lucinda interjected. "Let us think of better things."
The rest of the conversations were spent speaking of mindless babble from Rome and of the women's trip out to Greece. Hector remained quite for most of the rest of the dinner keeping a constant eye on Anera, his glare made her a bit nervous.
"It is quite late I think I will go to bed," Anera said pushing her chair from the table. Antonion and Hector stood in respect as the lady left the table. "Lucinda?"
"I will stay for another small glass of wine if you don't mind," Lucinda said as a servant refilled her glass.
"Not at all, enjoy," Anera said turning to leave the table.
"Would you like an escort my lady?" Hector wondered still standing. Antonion was surprised at bit at the request, more or less that he didn't think of it.
"I would not want to pull you away from this intriguing conversation," Anera said comically.
"No, on the contrary, I need my rest for my departure tomorrow."
"You leave tomorrow?" Lucinda wondered.
"Yes my lady. I must return to Britain," Hector explained.
The Briton and the Roman took a walk toward their rooms; they were only a few doors away on the same floor of the palace.
"You don't agree with my life do you, my Lady?" Hector wondered as they made their way through the gardens.
"Yes I do agree with it, I just think you are looking for happiness in the wrong places."
"And you know where to look for happiness?"
"Allow me to propose a question to you: do you have someone in your life?"
"A lover?" Hector wondered, Anera nodded. "Yes I do."
"So why do you not measure your life by her?"
"It is honorable in Britain to measure by something a bit nobler."
"Is love not a noble thing?" Anera shot back. "Or is taking the life of another nobler?"
Hector looked into her eyes and saw her parents, "Do you remember your mother?" He asked without thinking.
"Remember her? Of course I do, she died only a few years ago, why do you ask?" Hector did not reply. "I remind you of someone don't I?"
"Yes you do."
"A female?" Hector nodded, "you loved her didn't you?"
"We all did," Hector said.
"We all?"
"She was the child of one of the knights, we all loved her."
Anera glared at Hector as if he was telling her of a fear she had been having. "The daughter of who?" She was finally able to ask.
"The knight Sir Tristan," Hector said.
"And who?"
"The lady Lucilla," Hector finally answered after a few seconds of consideration.
"That can't be possible…"
"And why not?" Hector asked.
"Because Lucilla and Tristan were never married and although no longer a lady of Rome she would never have an intimate relationship with a man who was not her husband." Anera said harshly. "She might have lost her mind falling in love with a Sarmatian but should not have lost her morals."
"Lost her morals?" Hector grew angry.
"Yes, her morals!" Anera grew just as angry. "It is repulsive to think of her lying with a man other than her husband."
"And what if her husband was dead!" Shouted the Briton.
"She then should have returned to Rome to find another match!"
"Even though she loved another?"
"Yes! Besides so soon after her husband's death she should not have fallen in love so quickly."
"Why not?"
"It is improper!"
"Propriety! Is that all you Romans care about!"
"We need to set a good example for the rest of the world," Anera and Hector were almost nose to nose screaming at each other.
"Have you ever thought that the rest of the world is perfectly fine without the influence of Rome?"
"What like you Britons?"
"Yes in fact, we are doing perfectly fine without Rome."
"You think that only because you don't know," Anera shouted.
"Oh I think I know quite well. I did grow up with Roman influence."
"You grew up with constantly hearing your father's detestation for Rome, you never made your mind up!" Anera shouted.
"Is everything all right?" Antonion and Lucinda were standing behind the other two looking in shock at the impropriety they were seeing.
"Perfectly fine," Hector said angrily.
"Perfectly," Anera said a bit calmer than Hector. "Good night." Anera turned around and slammed the door closed.
"She's a pain," Hector said walking away, "much like her parents," he muttered to himself closing the door.
I hope you all enjoyed it! Please let me know how you thought about it... did you like seeing one of Bors's kids in the picture? Please Review! Thanks a million!
