House of Proximo

[Proximo]

Close the harbor of Aventine, the house of Proximo laid. It was a large house that stood in between the street of rich people, though around many poor lived. It was a large house as rich a centurion of Rome mostly were, however inside it contained many rooms as many needed places to rest. Many servants he had, as often he had bought them on market to serve him and his house for years ahead.

There were many obligations concerning a Roman Centurion, one of the most important lied in his loyalty to those that guided Rome’s journey through time. Proximo had sworn on this and followed it until he became what he was now. But mortals are not being with free will nor untouched by incidents that give turns in life. This was one of them, this woman he was carrying home. Though the ride had been long and tedious, he knew now he had done the right thing. He entered his house and called one of the maids, for Minerva needed urgent healing.

[Minerva Gaia]

After Proximo’s slaves cleansed her several wounds and placed her under a clean bed, the physician was brought in to check on her. He wrote down as he looked at her wounds, but when he examined the major wound his look turned stern. He did the best he could and making Minerva’s arm bleed a bit he tried to reduce the fever-danger.

Once he made sure she was much better he came to Proximo and told him that he needed to take good care of Minerva, he handed him the paper with what to do and then told him that he did not know how Minerva would react to what had happened to her. After he said that he packed his things and left, if Proximo needed him he could be called upon again.

Minerva seemed restless, shaking her head among nightmare as the fever decreased slowly, from time to time she would call her brother Leonius and shake a little. It seemed that it would have been better to allow her to die rather than live. Her life seemed to drag her back, but deep down inside she wished to perish for she had lost it all.

Some days passed, and the physician would come back to check on the sick princess. He admitted she was recovering, he did not seem happy for Minerva seemed possessed by what had happened to her. Still, as days passed by, one spring morning in which the sun was shining and birds were singing, she woke up thinking of her Castle and family, but woke up to find her body healed but her soul permanently wounded. She held on to the blankets and stated crying for her own misery and curse. Though she did not know how she had been healed or by who…

[Proximo]

Minerva, the Etruscan princess had been captured. It was by Romans she had been taken under command of Proximo, as on mission they had gone to spy on other lands. Back in Rome she had confronted the the General named Lucius, he had treated her badly as he got to know what importance she were. Stripped naked in public and raped by Lucius alone, she had got dishonored by the deeds who had happened. Proximo did not like what had happened, as feelings for him had grown since the day he found her. However by the things Lucius had done, it had turned him angry an in return he had caused his own commander to become unconscious as Minerva he himself carried home.

As the physician had been to check onto her for days, he had payed the person as often he came to help. Since she were not literally allowed to be there, the Romans had searched for her but unknown they seemed to know it was Proximo who had taken her. He wanted to help her, as bad things he had caused the princess. Whenever romans came at everyones door to check, he had hidden her on a room were none could find her.

The room contained a bed, but without windows as hidden it seemed to be. A door it had not, but curtains hanging in front as which seemed to be a normal wall behind it. In the days she healed, he worried had been sitting close to the bed she laid upon. He wanted her healthy, cause the wishes to know her better were greatly wanted. After days had passed of misery and curses, he still sat close to were she laid. It seemed as if she had woke up, thought tears of crying streamed down her cheek as tight she held onto the blanket."Princess, you awake?"He asked unknown, wanting to hear if she was alright even he doubted it. For a short moment before he had discovered her crying, he had brought himself and her food, in case she was to wake up.

[Minerva Gaia]

Not knowing she was not alone she had started sobbing quite out of control, but she slowly sat back on the bed, still covering herself with the blanket as she looked to the one that had just spoken to her. She noticed it was Proximo who had just asked her and a certain discomfort took hold of her.

She wanted for him to hug her, so that she could cry openly against his chest and be protected from it all; but this could not be, for he had not saved her from what would hunt her day and night. Ever since he had captured her, she had wanted to believe that his handsome eyes would lead her to a land she would love and be loved in, but now…how could she look into his eyes without feeling worthless of everything? Once she lost what she did when Lucius had mistreated her, she could no longer look at any man, especially Proximo, in the eyes.

She looked down, not looking into his eyes as she tried not to cry any harder, but could barely believe what had happened to her, being unable to stop it at all. She then said weakly and trembling a bit, “I am not a Princess anymore…” she then said feeling hate toward Lucius, “…your General made sure I lost it in every way…” She then looked up as if she was looking at Athena and reproached her by saying, “why were you not there… oh goddess of wisdom and virginity?”

Minerva doubted now that any man could want her, or even if anyone married her, they would treat her like garbage or not touch her ever again. This was her bitter end, but now she wondered why she had been healed. She felt really hungry, but dared not speak. Was it now that she had turned into one of Lucius’ slaves, to sleep with him whenever he pleased and give him as many children as he wished for? Would she be turned into the most insignificant being in the world?
Her body, even though fully healed by now, still hurt after what had happened and she dreaded being left alone with any man now, especially Roman.

[Proximo]

Proximo who sat beside Minervas bed, curiously watched as ruined she seemed. He did not like what had happened to her, as raped and humiliated she had got. It was not what he wanted for her to experience, cause just a prisoner had he thought she would be, not a slave to serve a mans desire for pleasure. As she cried where she laid, he sadly looked. To comfort her he decided to hug her as he sat close to her, almost laying he held her close as he wished her to be well. Interested he listened to what she said, but in return he answered with a worried sound in his voice."I am sorry you had to experience all this, if I just had known."He sighed, thought moved to pick up a blanket close by to pull around her as scared and cold she looked.

"Your safe now, I will take care of you. I wont let anyone hurt you, you have my word."Proximo whispered as close his face laid to her cheek, while his arms embraced her but with careful, as he did not wish to scare her away by the touch he gave. First as he had approached, he had got a bit wild thought sonly had calmed down as got the blanket around her. Her naked body were surely beautiful and it were no doubt that Lucius got tempted by such, thought he himself respected her and would not touch if she allowed him to. In pain she were as brutal she had been treated, with the help of him and the medics she would heal within days.

[Minerva Gaia]

For a moment Minerva’s heart reacted against anything that Proximo could say or do. She felt in a curse no one could take her out of. And whatever anyone did it was just to gain her favour, in bed. At least this is what she thought for a moment after what she had just experienced herself.

‘I can’t do this,’ she thought after feeling the warm blanket and his strong embrace…’I can’t just kill him and leave…or kill myself…’
Whatever she thought disappeared for a moment as she allowed him to hug her for all the grief he saw she felt and placed her head submissively on his chest. If she could wish things different form what they were, she would not have left the castle of her brother under any circumstances that day. Even though a light of hope had lit when Proximo had taken her to Rome, her doom took place in the hands of his superior, Lucius.

She sighed and thought that perhaps all men were the same, all only lusted for women but never for their personality, for their love or admiration. It seemed like a hateful thing to be in love, but only women were cursed to feel that it seemed. But then again, Proximo had taken care of her and paid the physician, would that not place him among the good men?

“…if I just had known.”

She felt a cool breeze trespass her when he spoke so openly about what he thought and how terrible he felt about her condition. Was he expecting her to achieve a different fate form the one the Sisters had prepared for her? She then closed her eyes for a moment feeling safe. She ignored her surroundings for it was a cold and hidden room, and yet she did not fear like she did in the house of her aggressor.

She then whispered as her beautiful long hair fell to her back while she looked up at him for a moment, “thank you…”

[Proximo]

"If you ever need me, I am here. You don't need to worry, no one will harm you anymore."Proximo answered but held her close, her depression and wounds worried him. He only hoped she would be alright again, as he blamed himself about everything that had happened to her. However by the words the doctor had spoken, he believed she would be alright soon again. Even her mind about roman men probably never would change back to normal, thought he did not want her to fear him. Near he laid to her in bed, as his arms embraced her with the blankets who covered her.

She truly were a beauty, but the things that had happened to her he did not like. Having her close made him comfortable, but was not sure how she felt. Careful he looked over her, as his hands tried to lay away from the parts she protected the most. The skin he touched was both soft and nice, but with other thoughts he tried to keep calm and gentle. Since the moment he met her he had felt attraction to her, but when arriving in Rome it all had changed. Lucius had wanted her for himself and bad things had happened, something Proximo blamed himself for happening. At least no one had noticed him taking her away when wounded his commander, in secret he would keep her in his house until time was ready for her to make a decision.

[Minerva Gaia]

She shivered for a moment thinking on what he had just said and wondered if she could truly trust him. For a moment she seemed to accept since it had been he who had saved her from the grasp of that horrible man. She was glad he had helped her but was unsure on what would happen now for word had reached her of her homeland's fate. She now knew that Lucius, that spiteful man, had killed her brother and would soon reach Julia. Minerva knew, nonetheless, that as a good politician, Lucius would take Julia as a wife, compared to what he did to her.

For a moment she closed her eyes and tried not to think on what had just happened and bless Julia's luck, in a way, but soon recent memories came to her and made her shake her head violently and then she looked at Proximo a bit confused. She did not want to sound strange to him, she merely said, "I think I need to rest, perhaps that will clear my mind..." For a strange reason she felt asleep on his chest, feeling warm and consoled. she did not know how but Proximo had an ability to calm her, to make her feel safe and for a moment she thought that if only she had met him before, she could have found love with him. But Minerva only wondered if he helped her just for pity or because he had made a mistake...could he feel anything for her...especially now after what had happened?

[Proximo]

When the words came that Minerva wished rest from what had happened, he gentle nodded but still did not remove. "Yes some rest would be good for you, although if you need me I am here for you."He answered in return, watching her with curious eyes as naked she almost laid on top of him. She indeed was beautiful, but Proximo who was a man of honor always managed to be calm around ladies like her. Although when desire grew great it as well got difficult to stop him from doing what he wished, however Minerva had been threw a lot. The fate that had happened her was something he did like, Lucius indeed was a cruel man at times but also loved by the people. Threw marriage between Felicita and Marius, Lucius had gained the title pro-consul. However Lucius who controlled the army of Rome, most of the time did as he pleased. Proiximo just hoped that the romans would not find his home and kill him for what he had done, the woman who was rescued from Lucius had great meaning for the future as important she were.

In his house she would stay safe, as long no one figured what he risked in doing. After a short moment of silence, he still had no intention of leaving. Having her close was something he loved, cause strong his feelings had grown for her from the moment they meet. Maybe as well felt the same, even strange it would be. She was a princess and he was just a normal soldier, although her presence made him calm. As he did not remove, he hoped she would not mind.