Yeah another chapter getting done today. Go me.

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Unfortunately for Celtica the scene of a happy family did not last. It was barely half a century before Rome's leaders decided once again that conquest was the best way to expand and sent forces deeper into her lands. Celtica also slowly began to feel her grip on her people and lands diminishing as time wore on.

It was during this time that Celtica attempted an alliance with Scandia to the North. This alliance resulted in a the birth of Celtica's second son, Scotland. When Rome learned of the child he was angered and fought with a vengeance to bring Celtica back to him. And during one battle between them the Roman was able to capture the Celtic nation.

Rome roughly shoved the bound Celt into his tent. He was angry and hurt after learning she had laid with Scandia and had a child by him. Somewhere far in the back of his mind he knew he had no right to be angry with her. He himself was far from chaste and loyal, but it hurt none the less since he truly cared for Celtica more than any other of the women he laid with. She was the only one he truly wanted to be with and more often than not when he was made to lay with the others it was her face he saw and her name he called. He knew she was angry with him for fighting her people, but she also had to know he had little choice in the matter.

Having followed her into his tent he quickly forces her to the bed. Pushing her roughly down onto it and forcefully kissing her. His hands began roughly roaming over her body, memorizing her curves. at first she struggles against him and he simply pushes harder against her. It doesn't take long for her to begin returning his actions with moans and mewls. Parting her lips she allows him entrance and before long he has hitched her tunic up around her waist, groping and touching her in all the places that make her cry out. Without even fully undressing either of them Rome removes his undergarments and is thrusting into the soft body beneath him as she lets loose a soft cry of pleasure, arching into him, begging for more. When they both finish Rome pulls himself from her and looks down to see her crying.

"Bretta?" He wipes the tears from her eyes and gently lifts her face to meet his as he fully realizes what he had just done. Despite her willingness he had still probably gone against her wishes. He knew he had been angry and now he regretted not keeping his anger in check. "Oh, Bretta. I'm sorry, so sorry."

Despite her tears she still nuzzled against him, somehow understanding that he truly hadn't meant her any harm.

"It is alright Lor... Rome. But you should not name me so casually. We are still enemies. And as such we should not be so kind as to see each other as human." at that she breaks further down into sobs and suddenly Rome realizes why she was crying. It was not because she didn't want his touch but rather that she did. Damn his caesar for forcing him to attack the one he may love. Damn himself for not telling her before it was too late.

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Rome kept Celtica as a prisoner for the next year. Not once letting himself give in to temptation and touch her. Still nine months into her capture she gave birth to another son, Wales.

When her people finally managed to free her she left her son with his father and left. She had no way of being able to care for the boy during this war, but his father she knew would keep him safe.

This push and pull continued for several more years until one of Rome's leaders finally decided that they had taken as much land on Britannia as they could and ordered that a wall be built. It became known as Hadrian's wall. Celtica's people would stay tot he North of it while Rome's would be to the South. There were still skirmishes along the wall and Rome made sure that he traveled along the wall to inspect the outposts personally. His hope, to be able to meet with his enemy and the holder of his heart.

It was on one of his stops at an outpost that late in the night she found him. She snuck over the wall and entered the small city. It wasn't hard for her to know that Rome was there. His standard flew everywhere as if he was advertising his presence. In a way she hoped he was. This semi-peace between them made her bolder in seeking him out, in hopes that he still cared for her.

She easily found the house he was staying in and his room and let herself in. Taking a knife from her belt she looked around the room and found no guards. Carefully she makes her way over to the bed and sees him, asleep and relaxed. She was always fascinated by his sleeping face. The tension of being a mighty empire melted from it when he was asleep and she was able to see how handsome he truly was under all the wrinkles and furrows set in place by war, unrest and being stretched too thin. She had heard word recently that more and more unrest was being aimed at Rome, even from her brother's people. She feared that like herself he did not have long for this world. Which was why she was here that night. She knew that before she left she would need one last child of her body to give the last of her lands to. Sheathing her knife once more she pulls from a bag on her belt a handful of herbs and sprinkles them over the brazier in the corner. She allows the smoke to waft about the room before chanting.

"Duisigh anois mo ghra.

Ach creidim fein codlata."

She moves over to him and slides into his bed. He stirs, but his eyes remain closed.

"Aisling dom agus tu le cheile.

Mar a bhi againn uair amhain, beagnach amhain."

She leans forward kissing him as his arms wrap about her. Despite her mouth now being occupied the chanting continues with an otherworldly tone.

"Beidh tu codladh mar airdeallach ce.

Agus cuimhnigh an aisling airdeallach."

Their touches become more intimate and soon they are both divested of their clothes.

"Na dean dearmad ar an oiche.

Nil aifeala e."

Soon the two are entwined in a lovers embrace.

"Ta si ach beidh-o-phleasc.

Agus beidh nios mo go luath.

Na dean dearmad.

Na dean dearmad.

Seo go bhfuil roinnt tu areir.

Na gra an bheirt agaibh a shealbhu in aice."

As the chanting drew to an end the first light of false dawn began to shine through the windows of Rome's room and the two that had lain together come to completion. Celtica rest for a moment against her lover before standing and dressing. She pauses at the door to the room and then turns and removes her torque, placing it beside her lover before finally turning and leaving.

"Ba mhaith lion a bheith posta a bhi agat nach raibh againn ce muid fein." he voice was soft but it carried to the ears of the just waking empire.

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Yay! another one done and you do get a translation for that last bit of Irish there. 'I would have married you had we not been who we are.' why did this chapter have to be so sad to write. Please review and let me know what you think. And no asking for a translation of the chanting. It was something I made up as I typed and had translated by google. It probably doesn't make any sense but whatever.