Chapter 27: Role Reversal
The ship to the shores of the highlands ended that morning. Commodus found it difficult to walk, as did Aislinn. Soon, though, they found the strength and determination to leave the ship and climb onto land. As Aislinn had expected, her three other brothers were waiting for them. She ran to them and embraced them tightly. Eoin, the eldest, held her the tightest of all. He adored his little sister and had missed her terribly. All three of them looked skeptically at the Roman entourage that would be following them back home. Tormod saluted them and they hit one another playfully.
"Didn't come back from Rome with a wench, I see.", Seamus joked. "Aren't Roman standards low enough to allow a lad like yourself a bride?" The brothers laughed as Tormod threw Seamus to the ground. The two wrestled for a moment. Eoin pulled them apart and bonked their heads together reproachfully. The two grunted a few curses before Eoin dropped them. Eoin stood before the Roman men and little Lucius ceremoniously.
"So, you're the emperor that got hisself thrashed by my wee one, eh?", he said to Maximus. Maximus smiled and shook his head. Eoin looked at Quintus who looked at Claude, who in turn looked at Commodus. Eoin lifted a brow. "This? This is the mighty Caesar?!"
The brothers laughed. Seamus walked over and picked up Commodus's arm. "He's rather small.", he chided.
Cailen grabbed his hair and looked him over. "Pale as well.", he added. Tormod stepped forward and spitefully grabbed the former emperor's chin. Commodus pulled away angrily.
"But he is rather fetching, right lads?", Tormod said disdainfully. The men laughed. Commodus fought back the urge to hit all of them as hard as he could. He was not at all accustomed to being humilated like this. Even as a boy, Immaus or Lucilla had stepped in to stop most of the cruelty. Lucius stepped in front of his uncle and hit the nearest highlander. The men laughed and backed away as Lucius raised his fists defensively. "Look lads, he's a got a wee stalwart guard! How sweet!"
"Leave my uncle alone!", Lucius shouted in very poor Gaelic. The men stopped and stared at him. They looked up at Aislinn who smiled triumphantly. She had obviously prepared the boy for such an occasion. They laughed and ruffled the boy's hair. Lucius slapped their hands away and remained defensively in front of his uncle. Commodus looked at him with both admiration and hurt. He needed the protection of his eight-year-old nephew? He sighed and took Lucius by the arm, holding him to his side. Aislinn stepped over to Commodus and looked at her brothers angrily.
"Let's go. Mathair will be worried, Athair too. My husband and I are eager to settle in.", Aislinn said proudly.
"Husband? You married the freakish runt?", Eoin said in shock. "Did Athair or Mathair know?"
"Mathair knows everything. Let's be off.", Aislinn said firmly. Her brothers snickered as they mounted the horses. Lucius rode on the horse with Claude, Commodus with Quintus and Maximus with Tormod. Aislinn rode alone as did her brothers. Even for as sturdy as these horses seemed to be, Commodus was quite sure that they would not have been able to carry the large older brothers. The journey through the highlands was unnervingly quiet. The brothers said nothing to the Romans, but shot them dirty and hateful looks every chance they got. Lucius was the only exception. The men had taken a liking to the bold young boy and thought of him as a tempermental playmate at the moment. After three long days, the group rode up to the fortress MacTavish. Aislinn smiled and rode as fast as she could into the settlement. Commodus followed. The gates were opened for them, and the troop rode in.
"Lady Aislinn has returned!", the watchmen shouted in perfect Gaelic. Commodus found that the language was very harsh and difficult to speak. He had vicariously received basic lessons from Aislinn through Lucius. Their mispronounciations were the same, but they were far less adorable coming from the older man than dear little Lucius. The guards snapped to attention, and servants took Aislinn's horse as she dismounted and walked up to the mainstay of the fortress. There were several small homes scattered within the fortress walls. Commodus looked at all of the peasants that were wandering about. They seemed unafraid of their princess and bowed, shouting happy welcomes to her. He smiled. Aislinn ran into the castle and headed for the throne room. A rather short, stout, and very weathered man stopped her. His hair was grey, eyes intense green like his daughter, and his smile was jolly and genuine. he embraced Aislinn with a fatherly affection that Commodus found himself envying. He kissed the girl repeatedly on the head.
"My wee darling! I'm so glad you are home!", he shouted happily. Aislinn cried in joy and held onto her father. After they had spoken quietly for a moment, the man looked up at Commodus and the rest of the men. He walked towards him. "My name is Dhiarmid MacTavish. I am Aislinn's father." He held out his right hand. Commodus grasped it at the shoulder and held on respectfully. The man patted the young royal's arm with admiration.
"It is an honour to meet you, sir.", he said. The man smiled. "I was moved by your letter."
"What letter?", Dhiarmid said in surprise. Commodus looked at him in confusion. Another loud, very angry, very maternal voice joined the commotion.
"Where is she? Is that filth with her? I'll give him a doing with my own two hands!", the voice that was obviously Aislinn's mother shouted. The woman burst into the room. She was dressed in fine green clothing with the sash of her people's tartans draped accross her shoulders. She growled and advanced on Commodus. The red in her hair was matching the red in her face perfectly. Commodus found himself very afraid of this woman. Her green eyes burned into him, repeating a death sentence as she came closer. She walked up to him and hit him. He fell on the floor, groaning. "Bow before royalty, boy!", she shouted angrily. Aislinn stepped forward.
"Mathair!", she shouted as she helped Commodus stand. "My husband has yet to be introduced to the family."
"Your what? I did not consent to a union, Aislinn. He is a Roman, a kidnapper, as well as a foul and loathsome murderer.", the woman shouted. "You will not be married without my consent. I gave my consent for you to be wed to Iain MacCreery, but you refused. Why do you handle him affectionately? What posion has he given your mind and heart that they would be swayed away from your knismen and country?"
"I am in love with him, Mathair.", she said in a low voice.
"How can you love someone who has brutalized you? You desire him, Aislinn. Your taste has always been something of a mystery to me. No matter, you are home and these men can be dealt with.", the woman said raising her hand dismissively.
"Mathair, we have already consumated. Several times, actually.", Aislinn added.
"Many do so before their marraige. It is forgivable, you were confused while in Rome. I daresay that you are still confused. Take them away. To the dungeon with the men, lock the boy in one of the rooms near mine.", her mother ordered. Commodus noted the tears in Aislinn's eyes. Aislinn had been very proud of her virtue and innocence. It was against her faith to be carnal outside marraige. If her mother refused, then Aislinn would have committed a great sin in her own reasoning. Aislinn began to shake slightly with sadness. Commodus pushed forward and faced the woman proudly. "Take hold of him!", she ordered. Three palace guards stepped forward. One held each arm behind him and forced him to his knees. The other grabbed him by the hair and held his head back, ready for the point of a blade. Her mother took out a dagger that belonged to the family. Aislinn shrieked. Tormod held onto her while her other brothers held onto Maximus and Quintus. Seamus stood omiously in front of Lucius and Claude. "Did you have something to say, Roman?"
"I have a Roman name, highness, but I am married to a Celtess. Her ways have become mine.", he explained. The woman laughed and stepped closer. "Including the faith of her people."
"If you had any wisdom about you, boy, you would know that Aislinn has forsaken the faith of her family and people. She has defied the Tuathenia and chosen to serve another God.", the woman hissed. Commodus gasped in shock. Maximus, Quintus, Claude, and Lucius did the same. "Which do you follow?"
"Does it matter? We were wed in the manner of the highlands, in the eyes of our God we are married. Even you are not above him. I certainly wasn't. Aislinn and I are married by faith and tradition. "Your approval is greatly desired, but not necessary." The woman knelt and pressed the dagger to his throat slightly. Commodus grunted in pain. Aislinn shouted in fear as Seamus held Lucius back.
"You are full of so many forms of courage, Roman. Let us hope it will stave off the enemies that came before you.", she said. Commodus looked at her in puzzlement. "At least one hundred of your soldiers and a horribly ugly little man came here not more than a fortnight ago. I assume that you angered them and they beat you here. You may gain my favour, since my approval is not necessary, by bringing the man to me alive. The soldiers will be eradicatd by the clan. I warn you, Roman, if you do not gain my favour or if you displease me once, I will kill you. Aislinn has recovered from your death once, she can easily do it again.", the woman warned. "I never received word from my daughter with your seal."
Commodus widened his eyes, looking at the woman that threatened his life. "You sent that letter?"
"I am queen, who else can claim the right to rule the highlands in a heading?", the woman said smiling. "Boadicae is a name we use to frighten the Romans. My name is Sorcha of the NaStiubhart. You will address me as 'highness', 'majesty', 'excellency', or 'my lady'. Am I clear?" He nodded. "Good then. Get him food, he is far too weak. I fear he will die right now from the power my presence imposes. Take them. The Romans may stay in the servants' quarters. The boy may sleep with Aislinn." Commodus looked down. "Oh, and the child may stay in the room next to them." She smiled slightly at her newest subject. Commodus smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. As Sorcha left, Dhiarmid helped Commodus stand. He ordered Aislinn and Lucius to go on to their rooms and await a meal. He turned to Commodus.
"Come talk with me, lad. I'll tell you some things you'll need to be knowing around here.", he said with a wink. He escorted Commodus away.
Elsewhere, Lucilla's ship came very near to the shore that would lead her to the highlands. She frowned and breathed in the cool air. She hoped Lucius wasn't ill from this nasty weather. As she mounted a horse and headed for the main path that would take her through all of the local cities and settlements, Commodus sat down with Dhiarmid and began to learn about Aislinn's family and past.