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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 4, 2008 8:37:59 GMT -5
The dinner hall actually is a part of the Royal Palace in Etruscia, it is connected to the great halls of the palace by a small, open hallway. The dinner hall itself is a big hall, in the middle a long table stands. At one end of this table, a throne stands for Leonius to sit on, on his right side a beautifully carved chair for the queen, Julia. Around the table, great archedoors gave way to look out into the nature around. Through these arches, much light could fall in to the hall easily, giving the room a friendly, comfortable, nature bound character.
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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 4, 2008 11:09:50 GMT -5
A long day it had been, and Julia had travelled afar. A one hour's travel it had been to her mother's farm, and another hour back again. Sitting for so long on a hard bench had made her feel tired and weary, and the visit at her mother's has been exhausting.
Her mother was psychically ill, after her father's death she had fallen into a trance-like life and no one had managed to awake her yet. Only two servants had remained to care for her and the house, and they needed all money Julia could bring them. Fruit, bread, water supply and many other things Julia had brought them to survive and care for the farm.
Now Julia returned to the Palace she lived in together with Leonius, as promised she had not stayed long at her mother's and returned soon to be in time for their dinner. She entered the palace and went over to the dinner hall, greeting some of the servants she met on her way.
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Post by Leonius Gaia on Jan 4, 2008 13:59:05 GMT -5
As Leonius had been alone since the time his wife Julia had left for her mother, he himself had kept himself occupied with business important for their country. Long had the country been splitted in tribes, but not long ago it had united into one land, now called Etruscan. From the time they had joined one another, a curtain line of people had been chosen to rule it. All the way from the first king, it had lead to Leonius. He now had to secure it safety and future, together with the wife he had chosen. She was the fairest and most beautiful woman in the land they lived, often people said beauty could be ones curse even he did not believe it. She was the dearest to him and when she were gone he missed her a lot, however only greatness she had caused her kingdom instead of suffering and pain.
After hours of passing, it sonly had turned to night. Something Leonius had waited for long to happen, specially cause of his wife had told him to return as evening arrived. Impatiently he waited on her to return, walking worried as he wished her to come home safe. Thoughts about her being attacked on the rode stroke him as he had missed her presence, but still he expected her to return as dinner were made ready. Deep in mind he thought about, sitting next to the table while he wished for her to return.
Suddenly in his quiet peace, a sound from distance was heard. Doors that slammed open was seen, as the curtains of its room blowed up by the wind it had tossed. Quickly Leonius stood up from were he stood, glad to see his wife enter again after long time of waiting."Julia, how nice to see you again. Tell me, was the trip alright. Is your mother well, or is she still ill?"He said happy and worried, hoping everything had gone well as she had visited her mother. Gracefully approached as it was said, wanting to hug her welcome as missing her a lot he had.
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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 4, 2008 15:21:20 GMT -5
It was a warm night, warm wind from the mountains far away blew right into the dining hall Julia now entered, and gave the warmth in the hall a little cool breeze. As soon as she entered, two guards with her, she saw her husband already rising from his seat at the table to greet her. She smiled at him, and hugged him back warmly, she wanted to greet him before she would tell him all she had experienced this day. She kissed him onto his rough, bearded cheek before stood back a little to look at him.
"I am glad to see you at last again as well, Leonius, it has been a long, dreadful day without you at my side." Julia began. "And you know, my mother is mentally ill, she can not be cured, never. However, today she had a better day, she was fine." she told him, while sitting herself down onto her own chair. She still wore the rosy dress embedded with pearls, and over all, her dress and her hair, a rosy fabric. This she now withdrew. It was warm, horribly warm, and she felt as if the heat was storing beneath it. She lightly placed it over her stool, then turned back to her husband. "She indeed has been better, she remembered me from the first moment on and I could talk to her like we now speak." Julia spoke on with a smile.
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Post by Leonius Gaia on Jan 5, 2008 11:24:42 GMT -5
Leonius smiled in happiness as he saw his love return, the worries he ones had slowly disappeared as he scanned her body curiously for wounds. Thankful he at least was to the guards that had protected her, cause no danger seemed to had happened her. Curiously he listened to her words after she had kissed him, but worried it made him as she told grave news of her mother. By the words she told it did not sound good for future to come, as the illness kept getting worse then ever before." I am glad to have you back, my love. However the news about your mother troubles me, if there is anything more you wish to be done I could at least send some of our greatest healers to her?"He spoke and suggested, wanting her mother to survive as she stood his love closest.
The dress Julia now wore was both lovely and pretty, the beauty of her always made him smile even at times it made him pleased in other ways. All he wished for was for her to be happy, but if her mother was to die then he was not sure if it was possible to do so. Shortly after his words were spoken, he leaned to kiss her lips back passionly and with love. However he started leading her over to the table, as dinner already were made clear."You must be hungry, come lets sit down to get something to eat, shall we?"He suggested, walking with linked arms over to the chairs they owned.
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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 5, 2008 11:52:16 GMT -5
"No, my love, even the greatest healers will not be able to help her after such a long time." Julia said. She was not sad or depressed because of this fact, or at least her thinking so. For so long now already her mother had been in such an instabil situation, so that Julia simply gave up believing she could heal. However, if Leonius truly could assure her she would be more well again, she would do anything. It was just that she had given up town.
After another short kiss, she agreed to Leonius' words. "Indeed, so what have the cooks prepared for us to eat tonight?" she replied. "I hope that whatever it is, there is enough to fill my stomach!" She spoke.
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Post by Leonius Gaia on Jan 5, 2008 15:28:17 GMT -5
"I see, well yes. I am quite sure the dinner will please you my love, cause today its your favorite."Leonius answered Julia, glad to have her back as he also had prepared some food she would like for her return. The food that covered the table was mostly vegetarian food, but along drinks as water and wine. Fish with citron fruit was his beloved wife favorite, this he knew cause long had they been together and threw their time together he had noticed her habits. Slightly he nodded to one of the servants to remove what covered their food, but at the same time as he helped her sit down while reaching out the chair for her.
"Now, what you think?"He said smiling, kissing her cheek happily as he himself turned to sit down next to her. Leonius himself preferred vegetable fruits, as apples and salad to eat. He believed that the more apples he ate the stronger it could make a man in battle, however it was proved it was true. Gentle he started to eat what he was given, watching his wife curiously as he was happy for her return.
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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 5, 2008 17:05:34 GMT -5
"Really, my favourite? That's very kind of you." Julia replied, smiling brightly, and then turning for the first time to look at the table, seeing there were many plates with food, although covered by metal bowls so that she could not see through. Now, that two servants came forth at Leonius' order and removed them, Julia could get a glimpse of the food beyond at last. On their site, the part of the table Leonius and Julia were sitting at, was almost covered with plates of the most different kinds of fruit as well as fish with parted and a little squeezed citron fruits on it. This was a meal Julia truly prefered from all others.
"It looks lovely, my dear, thank you." She spoke on, smiling even more. "Exactly what I like best, and it is so lovely arranged! I have to thank our cook afterwards." she continued, but now at last took a break, letting him answer. In the meantime, she picked up a fork and with it gathered a few fruit pieces as well as parts of the cooked fish onto her plate, and she began eating.
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Post by Leonius Gaia on Jan 5, 2008 19:35:54 GMT -5
Leonius smiled by the shock Julia got of his surprise, it was good to see her happy after she had returned home from her mothers terrible illness. The time she had spent with her had probably been sad, thought now he wanted her happy again as her day had been troubled with worries. Interested he listened to what she said in return, however as she started to eat he did also. With gentle looks he watched her, thinking that she had looked lovely were she sat eating."I am glad you like it, my love."He said smiling, watching her shortly before he took more to eat in his mouth.
"Now tell me, what further plans do you have for today or the day tomorrow?"Leonius asked curiously, wondering what she might had planned further even he hoped to spend some time alone with her. However as she had been gone to her mother, much had happened at their own palace. News of Rome`s growing power was increasing, which worried him and their people a lot. At any time their land could be attacked, cause low defenses they had and a easy target for anyone that seeked glory and power.
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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 6, 2008 8:19:14 GMT -5
"Of course I do, and for tomorrow... no, I haven't planned anything yet. Have you?" Julia asked him in return, hoping for him to not be too busy, she wanted a little spare time with her husband again. She had not heard about any rumours of Rome's increasing power as threat to their country, so had no reason to worry. Julia did not have much experience with politics, with planning in before of what political foes could do and so start a counter attack. Therefor she only worried if Leonius told her of his problems.
But Julia had found a different cause to worry, all for herself. She had noticed, her stomach was uneasy in the last few days, and now that she was eating fish she suddenly felt a disgusted move in her stomach, as if it was the most ugly food. She stopped for one moment, trying to prevent feeling worse and continued to eat fruit so that Leonius would not notice the change in her.
Julia was not sure what caused her bad stomach lately, there could be so many reasons. She could not yet exclude any of these.
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Post by Leonius Gaia on Jan 6, 2008 12:32:28 GMT -5
"Good, well I haven't really planned much either although I wish to spend time with you alone tomorrow. I have ordered no visitors to be let in, nor any business to be discussed. Hopefully nothing will intrude us, if you at least wish to spend time with me again?"Leonius spoke and suggested, wanting to have some pleasure time with her again as long it had been since they had done so. Careful he kept on eating, watching were she sat but saw something was troubling her.
She did not seem well in the position she sat, nor did she eat much of the food she favorites most. Something had to be wrong, but lot it pass as she did not wish to speak about it. If she had problems she would tell, cause his trust in her was strong as stone. Smiling he watched her from were he sat, glad to have her back as long she been gone. The mother who she used to visit was very ill, close to dying but still alive. It worried him, but wanting to help so his wife would not be depressed by it.
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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 6, 2008 12:45:51 GMT -5
Julia continued her smile, she did not want her husband to think anything was wrong, to trouble him even more. Probably it was nothing anyways, nothing but her stomach playing weird, that was all. So she continued eating fruits, from grapes to oranges and apples, just to assure him she was alright. Although, she avoided fish. her stomach grumbled alone from the smell of the fish. Although it was her favourite food, she could not eat it in the current circumstances.
"How nice, so a whole day just for our own then? What shall we do? I hope we will not be bored then." She spoke laughing, joking before biting into an apple and then had to chew. She looked at Leonius, she truly was happy with him. he had given her so much in life, has saved her a many times, and provided her with the best life she could have dreamed of, being a queen, in love, rich, and currently in peace.
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Post by Leonius Gaia on Jan 6, 2008 15:05:03 GMT -5
In return to Julies words and laughing, he could not stop himself from laughing a little also. After some seconds of calming down, he spoke again to answer what she had said."Indeed, we surely wont be bored I hope."Leonius said with a smile, wondering if Julia already knew what he wanted. If they next day was to spend time alone together, they probably would be able to do things they often did. The beauty of her presence always made him in special mood, cause often she treated him like a true wife would.
"I hope the food taste, my love. You don't seem to be really hungry tonight."He continued speaking, seeing that she had not eaten much of that was given her on plate. Something surely was troubling her, thought he just hoped everything would turn alright. Leonius did not like to see his wife in pain or sadness, although he loved her smiles and the happy mood she spread to others.
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Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 6, 2008 16:04:41 GMT -5
To answer Leonius' inquirey about her eating so little, Julia spoke "No, my love, it is wonderful food, delicious. Just that I... I have eaten a little bit during the ride home." She explained, lied to him. She did not like lies, but in this moment, it had to be, Leonius had enough to think of than her having stomach problems.
"So, what do you plan for the day tomorrow?" She distracted their subject away from her sudden changing eating habits. She was not sure what he wished for, if he had something special on his mind, but most probably he had. He always was planning ahead, as a true king would. But in this case, he should tell her as well, so that she can prepare herself and maybe other things for the next day.
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Post by Leonius Gaia on Jan 7, 2008 13:32:36 GMT -5
"Ah I see, well about tomorrow I thought we could just do as we normal do when we are alone. Just spend some fun together and such, enjoying the freedom we have together."Leonius answered smiling, but laying down the food he ate as he rather wished to watch her then eat. He was glad about her return, although said news she brought back. The past she had experienced was horrible, many bad things had happened to before he and her meet, however great it was that he meet a such beautiful woman as she.
With all his heart he loved her, glad that she was his but feared that bad news was to come about her mother. She herself did not seem well in the way she behaved, the food who was given her was her favorite and not often did she deny it. Something was wrong, thought he still kept his thinking to himself as nothing was said yet."Well if you maybe are finished eating now, we could do something else or what do you suggest?"He spoke on, taking another sip of the wine he had so it all could be drinked up before they leaved.
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