Post by Kamenwati on Nov 11, 2011 9:24:37 GMT -6
Letters, Introductions, and Fatigue
My Dearest Heart--
I have arrived safely in the Capital. I know when last I wrote I was waiting on passage to Genoa and the home of my former Master Octavius, however, sometime in the night the carriage changed course and Octavius joined me and relayed information that at first set my heart at a still. We were headed not for Genoa but for the Capital city Agora located in the county of Agora to meet with the Emperor. The reason for this, my father, has passed. He was killed by the late Emperor Augustus for treason though it was only a front to hide the fact Abu Said Emissaries killed my father and his family for revolting against what was done to me. Being the last surviving heir of his family, I am now, the Lady of Lycia. To put everything that has transpired down would take far too much paper and I hope to soon relate all of this to you in person. I am now a guest of the new Emperor of Carnia, Secundus and it feels as strange and as it probably seems. I grew up knowing Secundus and now to see him in a place of power seems odd and yet fitting. It seems fate is lending us a helping hand my love. By now I perceive you have the assistance of Carnia soldiers and I pray daily they are of enormous help to you.
It feels so strange, this new position. One I am in no hesitation to admit, I do not think I am ready for. I was raised as a slave, not as the daughter of a Lord and not prepared to know and uphold the laws of the land but I would be lying if I did not say that I am happy to uphold the position my father had. Somehow, my conversation with the Emperor has inspired change in Carnia though it would be slow going. There seems even a change in the land, the shadows are receding, perhaps our enemies know now we will not back down. We have long been broken with Rome and realize the Roman Empire is forever gone but we still instill the old rites and religions of Rome if bending them to our will, Carnia can now perhaps be recognized on its own.
At first I was unsure of how I felt in being back. Feeling strange and somehow detached from the land of my birth. I admit I was afraid my past would be returning to haunt me and that no one would recognize the binds of my past as a slave are no longer holding. Yet as each day passes, I come to wonder how it was that I left, my heart has always belonged to this land and though part of me understands I left so that I could shed my bindings of being a slave, part of me also wonders if perhaps I was not meant to truly leave but journey in order to return to take my place in destiny. It is an odd feeling, to know I have a destiny when I've ever felt it was merely to show you yours. Yours is by far a greater one than mine and I cannot be swayed from this but nor can I be swayed of my love for you. I miss you, so greatly that daily my heart aches though I try to hide it and I feel shame at the end of the day I would rather have you in my arms then on a battlefield even as I wish your people, our people freed of the chains that now bind them. I pray my love, that Allah will keep you safe, I pray my love for your victory but most of all and with full knowledge of my guilt in this, I pray for your return.
Forever yours,
Briseis
Sealing the letter with wax, she turned it over to write Kamenwati on the front and then waving the letter to harden the wax before she placed a kiss against the seal that he would break in order to read her words. The doors to the terrace were open, the revelers were still going at it from this morning’s news that Carnia was going to war albeit with the intentions of acting like they were joining the Amir only to change sides once they had reached the battlefield. It was a clever tactic Briseis supposed, but she knew nothing of war. The maiden fixing her hair took a step back and Briseis could see her dipping in a curtsy behind her.
"Thank you" Bri hummed and received an odd look from the girl before she took her leave of the Lady of Lycia. Just as the door was about to close, Octavius knocked and then smiled seeing Briseis in her new robes of a deep ocean blue. They looked all most similar to the ones she wore when she served him but of a finer quality since that time with her standing as a lady now.
"Lady of Lycia, we will miss the Emperor speech and the soldiers marching. You don't want to miss that." Octavius teased at her backside.
Briseis turned in her chair pressing against the back to stand up. "I'm coming" she mused in return letting out a sigh as she crossed the room to join him.
Octavius look turned to one of concern at her heavy sigh. "What's wrong?" He knew her well enough to know when she was hiding something.
"Nothing, just tired" Briseis retorted and she offered him a smile as she took his offered arm as they made their way into the hall to join the Emperor in his box overlooking the courtyard where the soldiers would pass.
There was none who could think it more odd then Briseis to be standing the company of men upon the Emperor box, now one of the Senate; it was the first time ever in the history of Carnia that a woman was on the council of the Emperor.
Empress Prima sat next to her husband, the picture of Carnian beauty in her exquisite robes and veil, which rested just so on her head by the weight of the wreath of golden leaves on her head identical to her husband’s, only slightly smaller than the wreath upon his head. Briseis fought hard not to fidget though she was sure she was hard to notice behind and to the right of the Emperor as he gave his speech to the golden army of Carnia.
"An' remember this above all, Our Roman Gods are watching, make sure they are not ashamed!" Secundus voice rang out followed by the growing rumble of cheers from soldier, nobility and commoner alike as his speech came to an end.
"Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!" The Soldiers cheered raising their shields as they called for the Emperor.
Briseis could not help but crack a grin as she joined the other nobles invited into the Emperor box and those of the Senate in clapping for the Emperor's speech. They resounding clap of their hands drowning out as the horns sounded and the slap of sandaled feet too over the roar of the crowd and row upon row of solider marched from the courtyard towards the bay where the ships lay in wait to take the men in aid of Kam.
"Briseis...come...look" Octavius mused low and reached to take the woman's hip angling her in front of him for a better view over the balcony.
Teetering forward, she peered none too far over the balcony and watched the men matching. Watched wives blowing kisses to their husbands, mothers ringing their hands and calling for glory and honor for their sons while other women threw white petals under the men's feet as they marched. Briseis felt her throat tighten as tears sprung to hers eyes. Those of guilt that a lot of these men would not return home to their mothers, fathers, wives, daughters and sons and some of it pride. She gave a small sob as the tears began to trek down her cheeks and she quickly pulled back from the balcony as she moved to wipe the tears away and clutched to a pillar consumed so heavily with her tears that she felt weak at the knees and her head fuzzy.
"Briseis..." Octavius spoke at her backside when she turned away "What's wrong?" He asked of her again, his hands at her shoulders squeezing tightly.
Honestly she did not understand what came over her and she laughed if to throw him off as she wiped the edge of her palm over her cheeks to wipe the tears away. "Nothing nothing, like I said, I'm tired."
"Come on, I'll take you back to your rooms to rest..." Octavius spoke the concern heavy in his voice and the squeeze of his hands at her shoulders as she ushered her away from the gathering back into the palace booked no refusal.
Several days later...
The atrium was alive with activity. Lunch was brought outdoors and the council members had broken from the chamber to enjoy the sun as was the Emperor's decree. Musicians were strumming at their instruments while conversations buzzed between the groups scattered around the large garden the palace was wrapped around.
Days had passed since the march of the soldiers and it was life as normal or so it seemed though Briseis knew those with loved ones upon the battlefield now shared her own feelings. Anxiousness for the battle to be over swiftly and the guilt of wanting their loved ones home.
For all to see, nothing was wrong with Briseis and she simply was learning her new place for surely the days blurred one by the other. Nightly she wrote Kam of what she had done that day, what she was feeling and expressing her wish that he return home to her safely before the letter was sealed and a kiss placed upon the seal to be sent off.
Things seemed the same. Change was coming slowly but already those some who had been apprehensive of having a woman on the council began to compliment Briseis arrival into nobility.
After resting the day of the march away, Briseis had turned the next day into a whirlwind gathering medical supplies to send off to the bed, visiting with those who had a family member off in the battle to see if they needed anything, lists being made for supplies for the families who needed the help while their fathers, sons or husbands fought within the war. She could not fathom why she had been so emotional watching the men match off to the Bay but she would not allow it to hold onto her any longer.
No matter how tired she was by the days end, she made sure her letter to Kam was written before falling into bed dreaming of him often. It was somewhat of a comfort to visit him within her dreams, holding onto him, reveling in times they had spent together before any of this had ever began.
By morning she was often more tired then when she went to bed, but Briseis was on a path she could not stop and she pulled herself together to keep going.
The pause in the constant dribble of the council was welcomed. Between working in the cities to gather what the families needed. Briseis for once was glad of the break. Tables were laid out laden with food. As always, she left the meats behind for sliced vegetables and fruits before finding a quiet place in the corner with some cushions to rest.
It was not long before Octavius joined her and lounged on the pillows beside her, resting against his side with his feet laid out, his elbow propping him up going giving her an overview of the councilmen.
"That man there is the Comitia Curiata. His name is Brutus Flavius..." Octavius pointed out one of the gentleman who still wore the riggings of a soldier.
Briseis leaned back against her own pillows popping a piece of fruit into her mouth as her head turned to where Octavius had pointed. "The Comitia Curiata?"
"Yes, its a man who can endorse and ratify ideas into proposals of law by the Emperor. Of course the senate can vote on it but the Emperor has final say. Brutus is a good man, a formal general which is why he still dresses like a soldier. He likes the old ways but he is an idealist to a point, Serious in one hand but he likes to joke and tease on the other, mostly females of course but he is loyal to the core. You probably have nothing to worry about with him. He is the type of man who won't bury an idea until all the angles have been covered." Octavius explained the man then paused to take a bite of his lunch.
"All right." Briseis hummed digesting the information before nodding. "An' who is that next to him?"
"That is Julius Ovidius. Lord of Agora. He has a killer business instinct but is mostly quiet. Doesn't really argue matters unless they pertain to Agora, so careful on treading that territory."
"Does he always look like he is calculating something?" Briseis asked.
Octavius let out a laugh. "Yeah. Ok now that man sitting by the fountain is Cicero Pocius, Lord of Thracia, he’s a realist and not often swayed by fancy ideas. He's a good man though, at least to his family but he hesitates when new laws or ideas are purposed. That man to the left of him is Lord of Pontus, Titus Furius. He doesn't trust people very well and is often paranoid. He values the old days when men were the head and were above women. An’ to the right of Titus is Manius Naevius, Lord of Martius. He is somewhat of an ass-kissing, excuse the language, but he has a good heart too, mostly wants to see the people of his land prosper."
Briseis let out a hum of understanding as she viewed each man without guilt that she was staring at them. For days she had been seated between them in council and none of them had offered her any information, not their name or where they came from. Her plate was still full of food but she pushed it away and wiggled down upon the pillows so she could lay her head against the plump softness of it.
"What's wrong?" Octavius asked, it was rapidly becoming his catch phrase with her.
"Nothing I'm...Still Tired" Briseis started to say and then stopped as Octavius finished it for her. She sent him a scowl but on her usual gentle face it looked rather humorous with a woman who's temper never rose. "It's a lot to take in, ever since I arrived I have been going and going… It's natural that I'm tired" She retorted after a pause.
Octavius just sighed. It would be a waste to try to argue with her. "All right then, lets take a break from council tomorrow then. What would you like to do?"
For several minutes Briseis was silent, she was catching the eye of someone who scowled at her every time she caught their eye. "Hmm?" she questioned and then shook her head. "Can we go and pay homage to my father’s grave?" She asked and then blushed lightly feeling guilty for having not done so yet. "Octavius, who is that?" She asked nodding her head at the man who looked like he had eaten a whole lemon.
"We can do that. It's outside the city but he has been afforded a place of honor in the Mausoleum, well half his ashes have, the other are at home in Lycia." Octavius spoke as he turned on the pillows to look towards the far corner of the Atrium.
Cyrus Villius was a rather large man with large creases in his skin that looked rather like scars and the way he was staring daggers at Briseis, he looked like a bear. "That is Cyrus Villius, he is the reason I still have Mathayus as your personal guardian. He was being voted into the position of Lord of Lycia right before you showed up and when you did, all his dreams went up in smoke. I can't prove he would or would not try to cause you harm but I am not taking any chances." He paused, his head cokeing as his face fell with concern again. "Briseis, are you all right? You look like your going to be sick."
Briseis managed a smile as she pushed up from the pillows. "Just a stomach ache.." She retorted as she handed off her plate to a servant. "I'm going to lay down before the council resumes again." and off she went leaving Octavius looking concerned and bewildered all in the same look.
