~ A captive for Rome...

[Minerva Gaia]

Life was a glimpse of eternity. It represented a fast journey through magnificence and charm. But it also meant a sacrifice for mortals and a long yearning for an eternal rest, where no fear abode nor pain or sorrow. A state of mind where nothing was meant to worry the sensitive heart and love ruled in its kingdom of devotion.

In one moment life could change, not merely but entirely. Minerva was a proud and beautiful Etruscan Princess. She enjoyed the gardens of the castle and the freedom she could breathe in as she rode on *** her beloved mare. One so loyal to her as to not even left her when she had been kidnapped. But now, what was Minerva? Was she eventually the Princess the King so highly stated as being proud of? Was she the beloved sister-in-law of one of the wisest Queens the earth had known?

“Your eyes are almost dead… …You're a wasted face…
…you're a sad-eyed lie… …You're a holocaust…”

Her tears fell copiously on her cheeks and the table where she had been placed on. But now it seemed as if her own tears were bloody, everything hurt and bled. Her whole body was filled with scratches, blood and wounds from being so ill treated. And for a moment she thought her eyes were looking at a beautiful woman, Persephone, the wife of Hades, lord of the Underworld. Sometimes it was said women were much stronger than men, and this was a clear evidence of that, her whole body had gone through oppression and constant bleeding, and she still lived.

It suddenly seemed as if he would stop but he didn’t and her whole body was at the edge. Such a bitter end…
Soon after she seemed to have problems with breathing and before she knew it she fainted, went unconscious as some sort of fever reached her whole body and the bleeding continued. Such a vile act, without mutual agreement, would always mark Minerva’s heart. Would this be her end? Or just the beginning of a dreadful cursed life?

[Proximo]

As the screams were heard from the inside, Proximo who had waited on his lord to come out was not curious in what happened and therefor decided to interrupt and see what was going on, in case it was his lord being slaughtered by the woman he had captured. In great haste, he alone went inside the house of Silvio and in surprise he got to see Lucius having fun with the lady who was taken capture. It eagered him, cause most of all feelings within him had risen from depths as he first had met the female. It was if he were in love, and every moment Lucius made on her made him angry.

Silent he stood watching as he had entered, but unable to move as the shock who had met him where to great for him. She had fainted upon the table, though after a short moment he decided to do actions against it as the doors behind him were closed. In quick moves he picked up a vase and smacked it in the head of Lucius, making him fall to the floor so he would stop the madness he were doing."Stop it, you bastard!"He yelled out, wanting him to stop as a lot he had started to care about Minerva the princess slave.

[Lucius Valerius Silvio]

As Lucius had fun with what he did, he in surprise got attacked by Proximo that from behind in quick moves had caused him to fall on ground by a simple vase he used. Terrible pain it caused Proximo, and in anger he shouted but sonly fainted upon the floor as unable he were to move. Blood dropped from his head, thought nothing serious were damaged. He were alive, but not awake for minutes to come. It was unfortunately timing, though the hit he got made him unconscious and if waking up he would be unable to remember for sure.

[Minerva Gaia]

As Lucius fell off her, it seemed that she began to breathe again as her chest lightly elevated and her nostrils worked to their fullest. But Minerva could not wake up; she was in a feverish state, strong pyrexia that could only be cured with medical treatment and being cared for. Still, she was a woman that would fight until the end. Even though now she has lost everything, for no she feared no man would want her. This was the end of her sorrowful existence, if she lived she would be in Hades and if she died perhaps the gods would pity her.

Her whole body trembled because of the fever and the several wounds Lucius had inflicted her. It also trembled form his beastly act, when Minerva had not wanted it to happen. Her body was tense, full of sweat and wounds, blood that even covered the table and the floor. Her hair was all over the table. Her pitiful state could clearly present her still like a strong woman, for many died whenever bleeding excessively. But now something had to be done in order for her to survive.

[Proximo]

In shock Proximo watched as his lord and friend laid unconscious at the floor, it made him afraid of what now to come but sonly his gaze and thoughts were drawn away. As he saw the girl he captured, wounded on the table close by. It made him worried as deep feelings had grown strong for her, she were a beauty and he wished her nothing more then to be happy. She were wounded and needed help at ones, with a rush he went over to were she laid and picked her up in his hands. As that was done, guards suddenly entered the room and saw their own lord Lucius on the floor. With worried eyes he looked at them, but hurried out the back door as he carried the woman out. The guards instead of following, went to check on their lord instead as some ran over but sonly missed the sight of him.

Proximo had done a terrible deed, but helped someone in need. He cared for the woman he had taken with him, and specially he did not want her to be a slave as normally she were a princess. To his home he would take her, though trying to help her rather then hurt her. She was under his care now, even he would be haunted by every roman in the city. He would not let her be taken slave again, cause she were royal and royals were to be treated with respect.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

Marcus had entered Lucius' house since he wanted to talk to him about his two Legions and how they had progressed lately, but the slave had take him into a small room to wait for he was told he just received news from spies and a royal woman who had just been kidnapped. He waited patiently looking at some paintings on the walls, some reminded him of Poseidon himself, as some sea figures could be seen in an impluvium.

But then suddenly a scream of horror got goose-pumps on his skin as he shivered suddenly and turned to look at a closed door. For a moment he approached it but did not dare to open it, perhaps it was Lucius enjoying himself with the prisoner, though he did not like such scream, he desisted and began to leave the door behind when suddenly another voice and a great sound made him slam the doors open quickly. All he saw was a shadow running away, for he did not see who it was, blood on the table and the floor and Lucius laying on the ground with a great wound and a vase broken on the floor.

He whispered Lucius' name and then ran forth, the guards moving away so his brother could look at him. He knelt beside him and looked at his open wound, it did not look too deep. but still if nothing was done soon then Lucius might loose something. Marcus then looked at the guards and said quickly, just what he did whenever he commanded his Legions, "get a physician to his rooms! Quickly!" The guards ran to get the physician and Marcus then looked at his brother and said, "hang in there, Lucius. You will be fine..." He made use of all his strength and picked Lucius up on his shoulder and carried him slowly to his chambers.

Once there he tried to place him on his bed as gently as he could manage. Soon after some slaves came inside in order to cleanse some wounds and make it easier for the physician to heal him. Marcus then brought a chair beside his brother's bed and looked at him a bit worried, he only hoped it was nothing serious. The physician arrived and worked on Lucius' injury, hopefully he would come back unharmed.

After a while, Marcus was left alone with his brother, he leaned on the chair and then hoped soon Lucius would wake up. His eyes could show how worried he was about him, even when it was not a severe injury, he still cared for him. And, against all the slaves could say or do, Marcus did not want to leave his brother until he woke up, even if it would take him two days with no food.

[Lucius Valerius Silvio]

Lucius were unconscious as he laid on the floor, wounded in the back of his head and unknown to what had happened. Without seeing who had attacked him from behind, he was unable to describe who had caused the deed that had made him fall. Totally without possibilities to move he was on the floor silent, the things that went on around was not visible for him to see as closed his eyes were. Proximo who had done it all, was not discovered as he in secret ran away with Minerva the prisoner.

When Marcus suddenly entered when Proximo was gone along with the girl, and Lucius still on floor, he came to help. However nothing he could do as unconscious he were, voices that his step brother spoke was heard thought not answered. Shortly after he was picked up and brought to a room were he could lay, there medics came to look over him as well Marcus was worried about Lucius.

Time went and lots happened, but after time he woke up even blurry his sight were. He did not remember what happened last as wounded he got, even the rest that happened earlier still lingered in his mind. All his memory until that smash in his head was remembered, though nothing else."Brother.."He whispered in return to his brother, watching him curious as unknown and confused Lucius was."What happened?"

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

Marcus sighed in relief as he saw Lucius open his eyes. When he called him he quickly leaned forth and held one of Lucius’ hands on both of his. He then said, “Worry not, brother. You are in your house and have been guarded by myself until now. Would you like something to eat or drink?”

He called upon a slave of Lucius’ to bring him some food and water. He then returned to the chair near the bed and said plainly, “As far as evidence found, I believe someone threw a vase at you and took your slave after the assault.” His eyes burned with anger but soon after he regained his calm nature and added, “but do not worry, brother. We are doing the best we can and will find that man sooner or later. Though I believe it was one of the men who came with the Princess from Etrusci.”