"From today onward you should get used to being called 'my lady' or 'your highness'. I know it's a stretch Trix but it's the cards you have been dealt." Artemisia scolded Trix as she started to groan at the thought of being called anything other than her name.
She had been having lessons with Juliana for the past two days and they left tomorrow at sunrise. The clothing Juliana had ordered made for her were packed and ready to go. She constantly wore the necklace that symbolized her inheritance. She didn't want to but Artemisia and Juliana insisted. They said that it would help her accept the truth. And it would give her a chance to think and realize that she was truly the heiress of the Roman Empire and she had a responsibility to the people.
Trix could not help but question her readiness to take on the responsibilities expected of her position. Would she be accepted by the people of Rome? Or would she be forced to wed a man she's never met? Would she be hated or loved? Would people believe that a girl was the last heir to the Roman Empire? She remembered lady Juliana and her soldier husband. They had eloped for the sole reason that she had been promised to another man but her heart lay with the dashing soldier. She had to leave her family and sever all ties with her family. Would she be forced to make that choice just as she had found her parents? Surely the emperor's daughter would be allowed more freedom.
"Vitatrix! Are you there?" Artemisia called her attention. "You must listen child."
"My apologies auntie. I am just worried about the future."
"I know it's difficult Trix. But we all have our destinies. If there was any other heir you would have grown up never knowing of your family. You would have lived out your days here. And you would probably become a healer after I have passed. But it is not how the gods have intended for things to happen. You not only hold your own fate but the fate of the entire Roman Empire as well."
"I know auntie." Trix sighed. "What were you saying before I spaced out?"
"I was telling you of our plans today. You will go out to the soldiers. Take Hector with you. They have with them a white stallion. You will enter Rome riding it. You will go to them and they will teach you to ride it as a noble woman would. Then after you will go to Juliana and your etiquette lessons will continue. Then I want you to take a good night's sleep. We leave at sunrise."
Trix quickly finished her meal and dressed. Her clothes were no longer the worn out work clothes she used to wear. They were now of a higher quality with crisp colors and she had a gold band on her arm. She had new sandals. All of which were provided for as the Empress had sent money for her new things. She immediately then rushed out the door saying good bye to Arthemisia.
She rushed through the streets when she remembered Juliana's instructions. She was to walk gracefully and like a proper lady of Rome. Practice for when they arrived. She tried it for a while, then she saw a couple of kids she and Hector had grown up with and she felt like a fool. So she decided to just run along as he normally would.
She then bumped into someone. She looked up and saw the last person she wanted to see Juliana.
"Young lady what are you doing! A proper lady does not run through the streets with her hair all tangled up!" Juliana scolded. "Come let us put you to order! Honestly Vitatrix if you don't get used to acting proper you will become the laughing stock of Rome."
Juliana grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to their home. Throughout the entire walk she scolded her on acting properly and that it was part of her responsibility to do so. She scolded Trix on how she needed to present herself to the people of Rome as a strong woman that would yield to no one. Someone capable of ruling the nation.
As they got to the house she saw that Hector was already up and practicing his archery in the courtyard. He stopped as he saw his mother dragging his best friend while scolding her. He laughed and Trix threw a glare at him.
When Juliana finally stopped talking Trix finally said "My lady I understand that I should be practicing every possible moment. But please consider what people would think when they see me, a simple commoner, trying to act like a woman of noble birth. It may threaten the secret we keep. Thus threatening the Roman Empire itself." Trix tried to speak eloquently so that Juliana would forget her transgression.
"Very well. You have a point." Juliana sighed.
"Thank you." She bowed.
"Trix you are to bow to no one but your parents. Please remember that.Go I know you have other things to do."
Trix walked up to Hector and said "Hector come with me. I have riding lessons with the soldiers this morning. I can't go unaccompanied."
The pair then left. They walked through the city being careful that they were not being followed. They used small sides streets that would reveal to them if anyone was following them. Finally when they reached the outskirts of town they headed beyond the hill where the soldiers had set their camp.
As they approached General Cato met them. "Your highness." He bowed. "Shall I show you to your stallion?"
Trix nodded in reply.
He led them through the camp to a makeshift stable the men had made. And there stood a white horse.
"What's his name?" She asked.
"Well he is yours to name."
"I'll name him Mercury." Mercury then neighed in approval.
"He already likes it!" Hector said from behind her.
They then got a horse for Hector. A brown one named Phoenix. She was taught to saddlle her horse and how to care for him. Hector who was the son of a Roman soldier had been taught this during his childhood and was already quite competent in doing so. He was simply there for support.
"Alright Lady Vitatrix its time for you to learn how to ride him." Cato announced.
Trix suddenly grew nervous. She has never ridden a horse this big. She had ridden ponies and donkeys but not a war horse.
"You'll do well Trix." Hector said as he held her by the shoulders. Hector had always been sweet to her, but she had only noticed now that he liked to touch her that way and she didn't mind. If anything she actually liked it.
She took a deep breath and mounted it. At first the stallion seemed like it would run away with her on ti. Then it began to calm down.
"She's a natural!" One of the soldiers exclaimed.
They rode the horses around the camp and a little throguh the forest and roads before turning back. Upon their arrival back at camp it was midday. The soldiers then invited her to eat with them. She accepted their invitation and joined them.
"May I speak my mind my lady?" One ofthe soldiers asked.
Trix nodded.
"Well we expected to meet some self absorbed little lady that loved nothing but herself. Instead we found you. We never thought that you would have been brought up like the rest of us."
"Well I was never meant to be found. Ummmm... What's your name?" Trix asked the soldier.
"Octavian my lady."
"Call me Trix, Octavian"
"I beg your pardon your highness but it would be disrespectfull of me."
Trix simply nodded to him. She was lost for words. No one had ever treated her with such regard and respect.
After eating with the men Trix and Hector headed back to the city for her lessons with Juliana.
She was so tired that she felt like it was simply routine for her. After her lessons she headed home and instantly fell asleep.
The next day she woke up before dawn. Her things were all packed and ready to go. A soldier by the name of Gaius had stayed the night to help them bring their things to the army camp.
As they exited the city she looked back at what had been her home for the past sixteen years. It may as well be the last time she saw the city. If she ever returned she would not be the same.
** comments please ** what you think will help me a lot **
It was a days journey from Clusium to the city of Rome. They had left at dawn as planned. The guards were all set and General Cato rode at the front of the party. Trix could not help but stare at the man. He it seemed that he was chiseled from marble. With every look he gave Trix she felt like melting. It was something about this mysterious general that attracted her. They came to a halt to rest. She turned her attention to Hector, who was practicing with some of the soldiers. Hector and a young soldier named Gaius quickly became friends because they were of the same age. Like Hector, Gaius had been training to be a soldier of Rome even before he could walk. He was the son of a soldier and a freed female gladiator. Fighting was in his blood."Hey princess maybe it's time you learned to use the pretty dagger I have you." Hector teased."
Vitatrix was not able to sleep that night. Cato had told her to get some rest before they departed. They immediately buried Juliana's body after the fight. Artemisia held her tight as she kept fighting the tears. Juliana had cared for her just as Artemisia had. She had two mothers growing up and she had lost one. More than anything Trix was worried about Hector. His mother meant everything to him. He barely saw his father and without his mother the closest family he had was his grandfather, the Roman senator Julian. Would the senator accept her friend? He was after all his sole heir.They had buried Juliana in the forest that night. Offerings and prayers had been made. This was no way to put to rest a daughter of a Roman Senator, but they had to make haste. If they did no leave by the next day their enemies could gather their supporters and attack once more.
Trix and Hector waited nervously for the emperor to speak. The soldiers had returned to their barracks and Artemisia was led by a servant to her chambers."Hector" the emperor began "first I would like to thank you for being a fierce protector and friend of my daughter. Artemisia would write to us about you. Although I had no idea that you were Juliana's son.""Her death breaks my heart. We were friends. We grew up together. Well she was first engaged to Patricius." The empress said gravely.This came as a shock to both Hector and Trix. If the couples had not defied their parents both of them would not exist."The last time I spoke to Juliana we were planning on marrying our children to each other." Eliana chuckled as she saw th
A large feast was held in honor of Trix's declaration as heir. Drink and food flowed freely and all the nobles presented gifts to her, which had been brought up to her chambers by her slaves. She looked over at the crowd from her seat of honor and saw Hector. He was speaking to a woman, the woman was much older than him and yet it did not deter her from flirting with the young boy. Tix felt herself go green with envy. "Daughter." She was snapped out of her thoughts "Why don't you dance with Brutus? He is the younger brother of General Cato and he is himself rising among the ranks of the army." Trix nodded at Eliana and took Brutus' hand. He led her to the center of the hall. As they danced she got a glimpse of Hector and his new lady friend. It seemed as though he was flirting back. She turned her attention back to the dance. "My lady it is quite an honor to meet you." Brutus said as he spun her. "I am still at shock with the world I am suddenly in."
Trix rose early before dawn. Her meal was already waiting at the table and her maids were running around her chambers to prepare what she was to wear. She struggled to get out of bed. She wasn't used to getting up this early. She ate, got dressed, and headed out the door with her maids and guards in tow. The training grounds were behind the palace. It was a wide open space which allowed the soldiers ample space to practice combat and archery. A small building was on the side where they could practice fighting within tight spaces. As Trix and her companions entered the grounds the soldiers formed into their ranks and fell to their knees. At the front was Hector and General Cato. She gestured them to rise and Hector offered his arm to her. They walked side by side with General Cato who then instructed them on their routine. "Every morning, at the break of dawn you will first run around the palace. The emperor was strict about you
They had arrived at the home of Senator Marcius and his wife, lady Livia, for the celebration of he birth of their son Regulus.The party was a great affair. Wine flowed freely and the food was rich and bountiful. The Lady Livia was a distant cousin of the royal family and with the birth of her son, Regulus, presented a contender to the throne.The Senator, his wife, and his aging father had come out of their villa to meet the royal family. To their surprise a young man accompanied the royals. Hector was introduced to them as Senator Julian's grandson and heir.Hector was amazed with the attention given to him despite the royal family's presence. Men and women came up to offer their condolences on his mother's death.As per tradition the men were served wine and the women grape juice. Rich food was served. Pork and beef with fruits and bread. No expense was spared at the birth of the Senator's first son.Hector sat with some young men who had welco
Trix was in her room waiting for the doctors. As soon as she recalled everything she told Hector and her parents. But there was still a part of her memory missing. She couldn't remember the day she was kidnapped. Everything about it was a blur. They had returned to the palace and the memory of Juliana's death lingered still fresh in her memory. They had only returned home moments ago. After Juliana's body was retrieved the procession continued out of the city to a large and extravagant burial grounds. It had been owned by the family of Julian for generations and was practically habitable. There were dining areas and stables. There was even a summer home at the edge of the grounds. Juliana's body was cremated at the ustrinae and later on placed in an urn. After prayers were said and offerings made she was interned next to her mother who had died ten years before.The ride back was silent
Trix continued to evaluate her surroundings. She looked up through the opening of the well. It must have been at least fifteen feet above her. It was dark and all she could see was the stars in the heavens above. Suddenly she noticed a faint glow. It must have been a fire. She was about to call out when she realized that it was quite possible that her captors had not left and was guarding against the possibility of her escape. She felt like breaking down into tears. Why would anyone want to capture her? She could think of three obvious reasons. The first was they were after her father and his position as emperor. The second could be to hold her for ransom. The wealth of her family was no secret. If anyone was desperate enough it would be a logical choice to kidnap her. And the third was they wanted to compromise the emperor's lineage.