Post by Men of Skye on May 14, 2011 9:37:31 GMT -6
Takes place after they leave Agora and return to Lycia concluding the banquet.
Two days would go by, and still the Carnian Palace delved in revelry. But Kam and Bri would depart at mid-morning to return to Bri’s home in Lycia… Here, Kam felt more secure than in Agora… and was glad to be away from the Emperor’s eyes.
Briseis: Weather in Carnia was beautiful, even as other lands suffered the indiscretion of winter, the heavy falling of snow and bitter cold, Carnia remained pure and true, tropical and inviting. It made the journey home that much more inviting along with the promise from Octavius for a visit soon and the bringing of some of the new slaves he had found at market for her. Briseis belonged to these lands and though it pricked her heart greatly to own slaves when coming from the womb of one, of living the life not very long ago, it was something born of the land and not easily discarded, she herself had never hated the life of a slave, never being ill treated except at the Amir hands, and resolving with such treatment that no slave under her hand would ever receive such treatment. The day was early with lunch nearing when the call came that Octavius couch was on the road. Setting quill and parchment aside, she left her offices, those first belonging to her father and fairly flew down the steps to meet Octavius, embracing him lovingly as a daughter would a father. "Welcome to Lycia my Lord" She offered with a smile.
"Thank you, my Lady" Octavius returned with a wide grin and offering a kiss to her forehead. "I cannot stay unfortunately, my wife summons me home but I bring what I promise..." His arm waved the slaves forward, a male and a female. "This is Viddius, to help you with the trials the Emperor has laid before you, and the woman is named Niemah, she is to be your personal lady." Though he spoke of the woman being such, his eyes said more.
Briseis eyes flicked first to Viddius and then to Niemah before flittering back to Octavius. "Thank you...my lord" She bobbed in a curtsy and saw Octavius to his carriage again before backing up as it rumbled out of the yard. For a moment, she stood there with her hands folded before her, her head bowed in quiet thought before turning to the two new arrivals. "Welcome to Lycia, Viddius and Niemah, it is my fervent wish, you both be happy here. Have either of you eaten?" Striking sapphire blue eyes worked back and forth between the two of them.*
Niemah: Niemah stood poised and calm, her hands folded before her, head held high yet eyes demurely focused on the pebbled drive before her, when the Lady spoke, she waited for Viddius to speak, as if was proper for a male slave to speak before a female slave, and when he offered the affirmation that they had indeed eaten in the morning hours of the day, she felt no further need to speak, only nod that it was so. She was a dark-haired, dark-skinned beauty, in colors of sand and sunset, the simple slave robes she wore a roughened flax blend that itched and scratched at her tender skin, belted at the waist with a simple cord. She was comely enough, her hair pulled back in a simple braid. Like all other slaves, she was nothing special, only a commodity to be traded. (d)
Briseis: Briseis gave a nod her head and bid them both to follow her with a simple roll of her fingers. Dressed in a soft pink toga decorated in leaded flowers, a soft pink train followed behind her as she moved up the stairs and then pointed Viddius off towards the male slave quarters. "There will be servants waiting to help settle you, tomorrow we will speak of your duties." She paused a moment to watch Viddius off before nodding her head at Niemah "Follow me" and she lead her through the interior atrium were fountains dipped water in two four-separate 'pools' of black and golden marble, barely knee deep, up the steps into the upper portion of the roman villa to her own rooms. Her chambers had no doors, curtains of light blue and gold draped between rooms and balcony letting in the warm tropical air. She rummaged through her dresser to find a pale blue short toga and a belt of gold that she brought over to Niemah and pointed her to the chamber for bathing "You may change there, these will be much more comfortable than the ones you wear. Light cotton, born from the very sheep tended on this land." With this, she went to the bed and sat upon the edge to wait for Neimah to change. "How long have you been enslaved Niemah?" She asked while the woman changed.*
Niemah: Golden eyes the color of dark amber followed demurely the Lady who was now her master as she was bid, she took in the lush surroundings of the gardens, and the fountains, the back of their throat itched for a cooling drink, bare feet made not a whisper on the tiles as she followed, noting the smells, sights, and sounds of the villa. Soon enough she found herself in the Lady’s chamber, being gifted with new clothing, from the lady’s own dresser, her eyes lifted briefly in question before she was instructed to change. "I have been a slave since I was 8, I'm 18 now." she offered in way of answer before disappearing to change, then a few moments later representing herself. She offered no more information than asked... that often brought repercussions, and Niemah was obedient and well trained. (d)
Briseis: Briseis rose from her sitting as Niemah reappeared again and moved to a tray to fill a cup with water and hold it out for the girl. "Thirsty?" There was not much that missed Briseis’ eye along with the longing stare at the fountains that dripped water in the pools of the atrium below.
The villa itself was square built around the atrium; the lower floors of kitchen, dining, and company rooms along with the slave rooms below, in what other civilizations would call the dungeons, were regularly locked at night but the upper rooms were office as well as bedroom of the Lady of the house and her Lord.
"Do you remember where you came from?" Her head tilted just so sending a curtain of golden blonde hair over her shoulder, the newly bestowed golden ring of marriage on her finger shown as she lifted a hand to push the hair behind her shoulder again.
"You should not fear speaking in my presence for I shall tell you something, I used to be a slave in these lands myself, born here in this villa before being transferred to my father, the former Lord of these lands to his best friend, the Lord Octavius of whose presence you were just in."
Her hands spread wide "All this was my father's, my mother, a slave in this very household. I never intended it to be mine, never fathomed it but I do intend to make the best of my new standings within my homeland and that of what was once my father’s slaves, now my own. I enjoyed my childhood, even as a slave for I was well treated, as will you be."*
Niemah: "Thank you Mistress…" she took the cup and bowed respectfully before taking a step back and then sipping the water slowly. "Tarsus was the name of our village, the village owed taxes, and several children were selected to pay the debt, and I was among them" her eyes widened as Bri told her story of how she too was once a slave, and now owned the very villa in which they stood... slowly she finished the water as she listened to the story, and then when Bri stated she would be well treated, she bowed her head once more... "Thank you Milady, I will do my best to see you pleased." as instructed all her life, Niemah would never show displeasure at her lot in life, it was as explained to her the way of the world and her place in the world was serving those of her better. (d)
Briseis: Briseis let out a thoughtful hum to the tale, committing the story to memory before she gave a nod of her head and smiled. "An’ the reason you were sold in the markets a few days past?" Briseis had to ask, with so many secrets still untold swirling around her, she had to know if she could trust this woman. "Did the Lord Octavius say anything to you about what your services to this house would be?" Slowly she took a turn about the room and then took a seat upon a chair and beckoned Niemah to the other. "Do you wish to return home some day?"*
Niemah: "I know not the reasons for the sale of slaves in my former household, there were several of us taken to the markets, we were not told why..." she confided her eyes lifting to meet Bri's softly, so that the lady could see the honesty there... then she shook her head softly. "Nay Milady, only that I would be your personal slave..." again her eyes found the floor, while her fingers fidgeted with the cup... "I fear I would know no one, and have no home to return to. I guess I have never really given it thought." (d)
Briseis: She gave another nod of her head, seeing the honesty in the girl’s eyes, she would believe what she was told. "Please, have some more water if you wish" She nodded towards the pitcher again.
For several moments, she fidgeted with the table beside her chair, running her fingers over the smooth white surface. "Indeed, you shall be my personal attendant. In the nights though, you will have quarters below, such is the way of things and I am not of the authority to change them, even in my own lands." Her hands folded demurely in her lap. "I fear Octavius is looking further in the future for your purposes." Lips pressed firmly together, she was not ready to say more on it especially with prying ears around the Villa, and the fact she had not broached the subject with her husband of her former condition or the condition she could not have children. "I know the feeling of having no home Niemah and you will forever be welcome in this home for as long as it is your wish. As I have said, it is not my wish for any slave in this household whether a slave working in this Villa or the fields, to be unhappy. If you do not mind my asking, what were your duties within the former house you served?"*
Niemah: "I watched the Mistresses' children's, saw to their needs, there were two boys and a baby girl." she smiled as she thought of the children, they had been a joy to be around "I have some ability to read and write and so they set me to teach them before they were formally schooled by tutors" she nodded softly as she moved and refilled the cup with cool water, and sipped it once again until it was gone, then settled the cup on the table beside the pitcher.. "Does the Lady have children?" her eyes looked hopeful and it was obvious that she enjoyed the children she had tended in her former position. (d)
Briseis: Again Briseis hummed in a note as she took Niemah words into conscious. Octavius had a good heart but it stung at her own thinking Briseis needed assistance in regards to children but it stung even more to notion that he was right. She smiled to hear the joy in Niemah’s voice of tending the children in her former household. That would have been a good trait if Briseis had been able to have children. She took up her sewing from the table and began tending to it, this time being the one to avoid Niemah’s eyes as she gave a shake of her head. "No…" She tried to smile and then faltered.
"… my husband and I were just newly married by the Emperor himself though we were content to call each other wife and husband without his blessing; we so gave our vows to each other long before the Emperor gave his blessing. My husband is the Ambassador to the Tamazgha, his name is Kamenwati, I am sure you are to meet him very soon, but I fear he has taken to wife, a broken woman, I unfortunately, cannot have children. I was pregnant, twice, once when I was quite young and then miscarried quite recently but my husband has no knowledge of that." She babbled on without reason and then stopped. It was shameful, in her eyes to be a woman broken, unable to bear the fruit of union between man and woman.*
Niemah: Niemah listened to her new mistress and when she spoke of losing a child and longing for one, and feeling broken, her heart went out to her, such a beautiful lady but everyone had burdens. She moved quietly on bare feet to kneel before her new mistress, stilling the lady’s hands over the sewing and taking them in her own... "You have kindness in your eyes, and your heart, I'm sure in time the Gods will bless you with a child in your life… you are and worry not over things you do not have…" (D)
Briseis: Briseis hands stilled as Niemah brought them to a hold. Sapphire eyes lifted to the woman and Briseis smiled once more, this time without falter. Her hand lifted to touch at Niemah cheek. "You are such a sweet girl. Please do not think me self pitying, I wish much to give my husband the children he deserves, he would be a good father but I wish them for myself as well but I know my blessings are quite above what they ought to be." She gave a nod of her head and smiled once more. Though the land still believed in the old Roman Gods, Briseis had converted to Allah, not just for her husband, but because Allah had answered her prayers when the roman gods had not. "Allah has blessed us much as it is, so much so I have not begged of him more."
Slowly she pulled her hands from Niemah but not before giving them a gentle squeeze and then moving her sewing to the table. "Come, I shall show you the rest of the Villa and the grounds. You can be free to partake of them, with escort of course, when I am not in need of you. Our country is on the precipice of a divide I fear and my time will be much consumed with council. I take no delight in it but must command your silence in whatever you come to hear in this house, between ourselves, or between my husband and I. Such things, may mean the life and death of us all. These are uncertain times, Niemah, and we may seem unfortunate to bare them, but I count it as an opportunity, that we bare them so our children do not and may perhaps never have to." *
Niemah: "Of course Milady." she spoke in a sing-song voice that was pleasant and bore the regimented speech of slaves, there was no accent no hint of belonging there... only the perfected speech preferred by the upper houses. "I will be the epitome of discretion, I serve you as you wish and have learned the value of keeping things unto myself." she followed behind her new mistress as the Villa was shown to her... (d)
Kamenwati had resigned himself to Bri’s library where he could write entries into his journal. He was keeping a document, one that was secret and held closehold, as to his actions, comments, and potential recommendations to the Amir and the al-Jama'a al-'Ashara ('Council of Ten') of the Tamazgha Federation on Carnian relations. Kam had to diverge his emotions from facts about the Emperor and his Senate… and the sentiments of the people in regards to the Tamazgha…
When Briseis and two slaves first passed his door, then again, he did not think about it, as he was busy scripting in his book. But when Kam had finished his entries, and once more hid the book, Bri, and the female slave, was walking back toward the Lady’s quarters. Satisfied about his entries, and the security of the books, Kam departed the library, intent on getting some food from the kitchen to quell his grumbling stomach. As he exited the library, he came upon his beloved wife and the beautiful slave…
Slavery had a long history in the ancient world and was practiced in most of the world; places like Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Europe. Some of the markets Kam was familiar with, was focused on the slave markets of the Arab lands and North Africa. People traded were not limited to a certain color, ethnicity, or religion and included Arabs and Berbers.
Slaves were a way of life… prevalent everywhere in the world… some more than others, but still prevalent. Even in the Tamazgha, slavery was allowed, and second natured in their way of life… How the slaves came about was more important, than whether or not one had any… Many nobles
Immediately upon arrival in Carnia, he saw the differences of how the Carnians treated their slaves; but it was Briseis who treated them much differently… and for obvious reasons he was aware of.
As Bri and the slave stood before him, the slave immediately bowed before him. “Rise girl…” He said softly… Then he glanced to his beloved wife and smiled… During the smile, his memory of explaining to Bri, the Tamazghan ways and things she had queried about before…
The haram… the forbidden, or sacred place; a sacrosanct or sanctum… a sacred inviolable place. The often misconstrued location where female members of the family live… The word actually refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygamous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men.
Many nobles of the Tamazgha had sizeable harams which typically housed several dozen women. It housed the noble's wives, mother, daughters, and other female relatives, as well as eunuchs and slave servant girls to serve the aforementioned women. Several had his concubines to service his, and his guests, pleasures. This portion of the explanation always got odd looks from Briseis when Kamenwati tried explaining the truest meaning of the word.
Though there was some things he tried to explain about harems that escaped her, their conversations about it were not completely missed. There was much about the Tamazgha and Carnia that resembled one another on how men and women lived in the company of one another and their views on slavery.
Briseis face flushed softly as Niemah bowed before Kamenwati. It brought back to memory of the days when she bowed so low before the master and mistress of the household. Her eyes met his and she smiled in return laying hand to his chest she gave him a kiss on the cheek as he instructed the girl to rise and her hand fell away to take his arm as she faced the girl.
"Niemah is new to the household Kam. Niemah, this is my husband, the Ambassador of the Tamazgha. If he has any need of anything, I wish you to endeavor to make his wishes a reality" She spoke to the girl before turning more into her husband’s body with her own.
Looking down at Niemah, then a quick glance to Bri, he caught the tint of flush in his wife’s face. What was she thinking? And he looked back to the slave girl as she rose by his command. “Welcome Niemah… you have a fantastic Mistress… and trust me girl… shall I require anything, I shall ask of yu first…” he cokeed his head at Bri and smiled, winking to her. “Now I feel more at home… with slaves about me to do my bidding…” he teased, winking at Niemah first, then cokeing his head to Bri again, this time the opposite direction.
Considering the day with the Emperor, he was now relaxing in his new atmosphere as husband. And Niemah was young and beautiful, apparently untouched by cruelty of Master and Time… and he took one more look before focusing on his beloved wife.
His voice, and his glances were innocent… “M’love, how has your day been? I heard a carriage moments ago… but I was busy writing… Did we have visitors?” at what he did not say… but she would know…
"My day has been long" She answered though it was always with the prettiest and most content of smiles. She was not one to complain. "The list of the families of the fallen is quite long and it will take some time to asses all of their needs and see them met. It is disheartening that it will take so long to see them well provided for but I will work my hardest and fastest so that they do not have to suffer long in their misfortunes."
“Do you have anyone that can help you with the lists? I am not surprised the Emperor would bog down yer efforts with paperwork. And he also knows, IF, you do not process this quickly, then popular favor may become adverse in the families suffering at the losses of their benefactors.” Kam did not like Secundus… not one bit… but he deferred any comments about the man.
Her head turned to look towards the front of the villa as he mentioned a carriage and for a moment it seemed as if she did not know what he was talking about and then she smiled. "Oh yes, Octavius was here bringing Niemah and Viddius, remember I told you he went to the markets for me." Her attention turned back to Kam again seemingly unaware of Niemah for the present. "Viddius is below in the slave quarters, Octavius brought him to help with the tasks the Emperor has asked of me but as I have only just received the list, I have not been able to label one task to any one thing"
Though their married life was viewed more political than anything romantic, there was no mistaking the love Briseis bore for her husband for her eyes doted upon him and swept all others from the room in her eyes.
All he could do was nod, and take his wife’s hand. He preferred not to speak at all rather than comment about Secundus.
"You've been busy writing much of the day, you should go outdoors, it is not healthy for you to stay shut up so. There are many fine horses in the stable, perhaps you could go for a ride? I was about to show Niemah the grounds, if you do not wish a ride, perhaps you will join us?"
It seemed Briseis had once again thought of Niemah’s presence for her attention turned to the girl as she spoke her name and then she was offering a smile towards her husband again. Many options for him to choose from, but she hated that they were so locked away from one another in their duties to their countries; but Briseis was not a fool either and the Emperor's ploy to make her Ab Aeterno not only because she was a woman (as this handling of families was more a woman's task) but also to keep her estranged from her husband. This, she had voiced to no one, not even Kam for the thought of it pained her heart even in mere thought let alone voicing it.
Even in this moment, with Niemah present, she longed for her husband, her heart pained even more that their time was so divided that they hardly had time together except at meals and when the rest of the house slept to spend time with one another. Still, it was only two days now since they had come home, perhaps it would change as time went on. Briseis only hoped and prayed it to be so for she felt her duties as a wife quite lacking in the present, and that was without touching on the subject of children, which her and Niemah had discussed only scant minutes before.
He chuckled a bit. “Oh I am finished writing… and yes, to get out would be good…” patting his wife’s hand. “I would rather spend my days and nights with you than to ride a horse… there shall be plenty of time for that…Allah be praised.” he too looked to Niemah as Bri did. “So my Lady, lead the way, show yer humble servants about the villa… Besides, I could not refuse such beautiful company. I know not about Carnian men, but men of the Tamazgha appreciate their women…” he spoke so eloquently charming… his voice as a westward wind from the desert.
Did Kam understand what wife he took to him? One who could never successfully bear him an heir? How it ached at her heart to think such a thing but it was flat truth, her miscarriages had proven it even though Kam did not know of the recent one she had suffered. She shielded it from him to spare the pain of it and not because she did not trust her husband, he was the truest husband she could ask for and her best friend. He had accepted her from the beginning and had never underestimated her or belittled her. No, he had been ever a rock that she could lean upon when weary and the support of comforting words when she was at a breaking point. It had not been so long ago he had seen her worst, abducted and abused by the Emperor, he had fought for her honor, for her... because he loved her, this she knew and felt with every fiber of her being and no one would ever convince her otherwise for what he had done for her, for what he instilled in her both with words and without them.
As the trio walked about the villa, Kam took it all in… but how could he know of the distress that lie within Briseis’ mind. He had not known of her pregnancy, nor the loss of the fetus. He merely assumed that their lack of sexual intimacy was based upon the abuse she suffered under Abu Said… and now the stress that the Emperor had placed in such responsibilities upon the Lady of Lycia. They had for months enjoyed intimacies everyday when they lived in Skye… but upon their escape from the burning building… times such as those were few… and far in-between. Yet, he was her husband, married for love, not power or jewels… and he desired to be faithful to her…
But as they walked, he would fantasize about his wife; the scant clothing of the Carnians, a catalyst of desire… yet he would speak of, nor touch, what he desired most. A touch here, a soft breath there… oh what he would not do to love his wife.
"Humble servants? I am rather unwilling to call my husband a servant." She took his arm leaning in to kiss his cheek as she let out a hum of laughter before her attention once again returned to Niemah and bid the girl to follow after them.
The back of the Villa was as beautiful as the front, it seemed the lands had been sculpted to suit the former Lord of Lycia and his family but the truth was, the Villa had been built upon the most beautiful spot on the land and dated back generations of her father’s family to the very first Romans who had settled on the island. It had been thousands of years since the Romans had landed on these shores and yet the people still held their head high even when Rome fell, singing praises of their own bloodline. Many still held their head high to come from Roman descent even though the Rome in them had died long ago, stories told from ancient lips were fairy tales now much as the lands of Ireland and Scotland told their children of their descent from the first beginnings of life.
As they walked the sprawling hills, Briseis pointed out in the distance the fences that kept the sheep, their livelihood pinned in and the roads that connected the counties and the river that lay just out of sight for the hills that made up Lycia.
Step after innocent step, the couple, followed by a slavegirl, made their way around the villa, and eventually the estates beyond. One point of interest after another was identified and made note to. Kamenwati would smile as he could see the pride she exudes in her interest.
Verily, this land was beautiful… hills thick with forests and good grazing areas… valleys with streams and rich dirt for farming. This must have been a Roman paradise in years past.
Upon one of the hills she stopped, her arm still inside the crook of her husband’s arm. The wind whistled across the hilltops hot and inviting and Briseis let her eyes slid closed to the feel of it across her face. Yet the wind was sparse and it was quickly over making Briseis sigh and cling tighter to her husband’s arm.
"This is a vast upgrade from the shop and the small apartment where we barely fit together in two tiny rooms. Yet, I cannot bring myself to pity what we had, even so little of it, for I was most happy in those days and most unaware of the cruelty of the world. So much has changed, Kam, in such a short time... what frightens me the most is there is yet more change on the horizon, I cannot see nor touch it yet but feel it with every fiber of my being."
This land did not have the hot winds of the desert, nor the cold blasts of frigid air that Skye did… He too closed his eyes atop the hill, allowing the gentle breeze to carry him away from the confines of this earth. His soul soared far above the land… at least until she spoke, and it brought him back to Earth. “Allah be praised… we did share a good time there… and I agree, change is yet again coming… for the Emperor is killing his people… he oppresses them… desire to crush their free will…”
Briseis let her head lean against her husband’s shoulder, her fingers finding his arm and curling into it, grasping it with both hands and yet the touch was tender. "I was five when I left these lands for Genoa, the lands owned by Octavius, it was only a few short months of my mother’s death and I had feared I had done something wrong; but Octavius was kind and my fears soon melted away to accept my fate as I thought it was. To live as a house slave was my only ambition."
The cant of his head and the smile was reassuring and he listened.
Her fingers stroked the hardened muscle of his arms from his days upon the battlefield having no knowledge of his thoughts on desiring his wife who was still healing from the loss of child. She often found herself in quiet moments when they could be together thinking of him, of his wanted and heated touch, what he brought out in her only Allah had knowledge to. The stars would blush on the many occasions that had been together before her capture and it was partly her time with the former Amir of the Tamazgha that kept her from enjoying her husband’s touch again, the other part being her body healing.
Her touch fueled the fire within him… How could a simple touch burst him into such passion?
"I've risen further than I could ever have dreamed, no not dreamed, for I would never have asked for this. It is a blessing and a curse but moreso a blessing with you by my side. As such, I feel it right to inform you that upon our marriage, that you have gained half-attainment of what is mine as your wife. Upon my death, whenever it is willed by Allah, this all will be yours. If the Lord of Agora, Julius Ovidius is agreeable to trading within the isle, then it is a starting point for the whole island. You see there the smoke rising in the distance in both east and west there?"
He listened… but the visions and thoughts of passion’s intimacies ricocheted in his brain. But her words snapped him back to reality. “Allah be merciful Bri… speak not of death… I want nothing but you…not land, nor riches…” she cut him off by pointing… and he sighed and looked beyond…
Briseis pointed in the distance again raising her head to the smoke that rose pale against the skyline. "Those are villages of Lycia, the people live well on tending half the stock of our sheep, while slaves tend the rest. I would see their lives improved and raise my sights higher than dreams, if Julius will but align himself with us, we have hopes of planting fields of food like Thracia and the lands of Pontus do. You are Lord of Lycia now, would you do a favor that would much please your wife in seeing the villages taken care of?"
“You speak of requests as if you plan on dying…” he huffed… “But with Allah’s goodness, I shall do as you ask…but only should something happen to you…”
She let her head rest against his shoulder again though tilting back to look at his face. "I wanted to tell you too, with Octavius help, I have had papers drawn up regarding my wishes that you should have everything upon my death though it is already law, I wish to have no reason for people to doubt or be able to fight such a wish."
“By God Almighty Bri… is there something I should know? Are you in ill-health?” he started to get irritated.
She let go of his arm and turned to lay her hands upon his chest moving them in a downward stroke her fingers working across the ripples of his chest through his clothing to clutch at his side as she pressed her body close into his. Niemah, who had no doubts been present to tour the lands, was once again forgotten, as wife turned chin up towards her husband as her head tilted back to look at him. "It is my wish that you be happy, my husband, in every possible way. Use whatever resources on our lands that you have need of both earthy and in the slaves. Retain any one of them that you wish to attend to your needs."
She would let go of his arm, and her hands, small upon his chest, seemed as if they were anvils… He found it hard to breathe thinking about life without her. She had always been in his life… “I am happy M’love… Allah has been good to me…” he felt her insistence of her words… and her reference to the slavegirl, Niemah. This was curious yet, and fueled his thoughts of Bri dying. He silently vowed that if the Carnian Emperor had anything to do with her ill-health, he would raze the Palace and all within… and then set Carnia free of any Emperor or Senate of Roman legacy… But he would say nothing to Bri, and yet, he registered the vow in his mind.
The offer was innocent and Briseis who had never said anything she did not mean, meant it in the truest sense of wanting his happiness. "The treaty with the Tamazgha is unstable now, this causes you grief, I see it; and it pains me but I promise you in return, to do everything in my power to strengthen that treaty in time and see your people happily restored past their times of Abu Said. If anyone knew his ways, evil as they were, we do, my love; and I promise you, I will see such times pass for your people and mine. Know above all things, I desire your happiness." Her fingers squeezed tight against his side as she drew him into her, the mounds of her breast pressing ever so tenderly against his own as her mouth parted in the want of kiss of his lips to her own, inviting and tantalizing him with those sumptuous curves.
His deep brown eyes would gaze at her… concern of her health bounced ideas all around his brain. Occasionally, he would glance to the beautiful Niemah and wonder how much she knew… Being drawn unto Bri, feeling her thru the thin material sparked life into his loins once more… and the kiss they shared was deep, sensual, and passionate. “I am happy with you…” was whispered into her ear as his eyes closed, embracing his beloved wife.
The slavegirl would simply kneel and close her eyes to the pair of masters allowing them personal private space.
The kiss had ended and she laid her head against his chest. It seemed like an eternity that they stayed there, with Niemah in the background. She knew he feared something was wrong with her, that she was dying but it was far from the truth. Her body was well healed from the miscarriage that she still kept secret, never letting the truth of it pass from her lips. So few people knew and those that did pitied her, except for Niemah who offered words of comfort instead to being privy to such knowledge.
It was not that Briseis thought the worst would come from him knowing, they had been through so much; he would support her and be her rock if he knew, this she trusted without a hint of doubt but she thought she was sparing him the pain of the knowledge of it for there was no way of telling if the child lost was his... or the Amir's. Her heart, she reasoned, could bear the knowledge of it for the both of them.
When he began to worry, for a moment, she thought of telling him. Of letting out such a secret to ease his suffering but her mind reasoned it would only deepen his suffering even as it eased his fears of her death. Her fingers curled around his backside as she turned her head against his chest to look out of the sprawling hills, the valley village below. Eternity rested here, in these lands, and for once Briseis could envision their lives, not the lives of others, years from now, old and gray, still happy, still together and powerfully in love as they were now. Their lives were bound together, as it had always been and always would be. Yet there were things, Briseis did not know, secrets that others held that could change the whole of the world for them.
"Come, let us back to the Villa and have some supper" Her hands slid from around his back to his waist, cluttering softly as her head tilted up and her lips sought his again. She turned and beckoned Niemah to follow after them.
“Yes, let us retire to sanctuary…” If there as anywhere they could be safe, it was at her villa… and they would make the trip quite quickly… He did not care for Carnia, and the politics so similar to Rome… but this was her land… and now his. At least until she was able to travel. Her health meant more to him than life itself.
Later, when they had eaten and the whole house had gone to bed, slaves locked away and she tended to her own bed and his in the room next to hers. She listened to the silence of the night, the occasional chirp of a night bird as her fingers curled in her hair. For a long while she stared at the ceiling, just listening, thinking of all that had befallen them and all that could come as sleep would not come.
The meal had been interesting, the company favorable. During the meal, he would gaze across the table at her and smile. Customs were blended as the pair either compromised on cultural eating habits or made their own. His mind formulated ideas on her health… outwardly, she looked well… but internally, he feared the worst. For a man so sexually active with her before, their intimacy veered upon only the mental… save for slight touches, for physical love-making had been absent... But he would endure all for her.
After everyone had retired to their quarters, he gazed upon the ceiling… he would be very familiar with it before sleep would call him away to another time, another place…
Finally, restless with thinking, she threw her covers back and slipped her feet against the cool stone of the floor. Her nightdress was sheer and slightly too big as it had been the former ladies of the house, it dipped off one shoulder, the moonlight casting a glow on the pale naked flesh.
Slowly she padded across the floor and drew back the sheer curtains to Kam's own room. Her golden hair fanned out over one shoulder, she must have looked ethereal against the moonlight as she seemed to glide across the floor. As she stopped at the foot of the bed, she smiled seeing through the pale light of moon, the curves of his face. Reaching down, she pulled the covers down, slowly off his body till they were at the foot of the bed and then shifted to stand upright, her fingers captured the folds of her nightgown and pulled upward until her thighs were naked flesh and then pushing upward, she pulled the gown from over her head and let it hit the floor.
Now bared naked before him, she leaned down to the foot of the bed and slowly etched upward, crawling up the bed and the side of him till she was at a position to throw one of her legs over his waist as she straddled his body with her own, one knee pressing into the bedding at either side of him as she leaned in stroking the hair away from his face and giving a feather light kiss against his lips. "Make love to me" she whispered against the still night air.
A dream? Could a dream be so vivid… so real? A ethereal vision seemed to float across the room, capturing his senses as she crept across his bed… his manhood sprung to life as the vision of his beloved straddled him… Her fingers pushed aside errant furls of his long brown hair… and then the spirit spoke, demanding him to make love to her…
They had not touched each other in months, the last time in Skye, before she had left for Carnia and he for the Tamazgha, then it was because she was healing though she could fathom he was thinking it was because of her nightmares of the Amir, but those nightmares were dead and gone. It was surprising how well you got over something when you had a strong arm to keep you from falling over. He was her everything, people could think what they wanted; that this was a political marriage, a treaty agreement to keep peace with the desert but no one knew that fate had bound them together long before this, long before she was Lady of Lycia.
His large brown hands caressed her face as she shifted and sat upon his hard member… a sigh that would briefly caused him to inhale, and slowly exhale as her movements pleasured him.
Tonight no one mattered, not the Emperor and his power hungry followers, not Octavius, or those who were slowly etching their way in the path being carved unbeknownst to any of them. Tonight, the only thing that mattered was her husband and that she showed him in touch and in movement, her love for him…
Not once, not twice, not thrice… but in time, he seemed to drift off into ecstasy… to bliss of another world as the two lovers melded into one another… It was as if she was making up for lost time… and he did not complain… Moonlight from the far windows caused an ethereal scene as the lovers frolicked, loved, and made love to one another… forming a bond that would seal fate for the future… Their love… and love-making… could be foundations of legends… of myths.
How she loved his body through the night, how she sounded without shame that their slaves would hear them as he loved her body in return bringing her to those unimaginable heights she was sure no one else in the world but him could bring her to. She loved him till her body was exhausted and sore all over again as if this was her first time with a man and exhausted she fell asleep within his arms, traditions of separate bedrooms be damned. Tonight, she loved her husband in ways words could never express.
Just as their eating habits break cultural lines, so did their passion… no longer would the married pair be bound to separate bedrooms… she was not Berber, nor he Carnian… and in their lives, they built fundamental guides for themselves… damned be the normal for others… theirs became the “normal” for them.
Two days would go by, and still the Carnian Palace delved in revelry. But Kam and Bri would depart at mid-morning to return to Bri’s home in Lycia… Here, Kam felt more secure than in Agora… and was glad to be away from the Emperor’s eyes.
Briseis: Weather in Carnia was beautiful, even as other lands suffered the indiscretion of winter, the heavy falling of snow and bitter cold, Carnia remained pure and true, tropical and inviting. It made the journey home that much more inviting along with the promise from Octavius for a visit soon and the bringing of some of the new slaves he had found at market for her. Briseis belonged to these lands and though it pricked her heart greatly to own slaves when coming from the womb of one, of living the life not very long ago, it was something born of the land and not easily discarded, she herself had never hated the life of a slave, never being ill treated except at the Amir hands, and resolving with such treatment that no slave under her hand would ever receive such treatment. The day was early with lunch nearing when the call came that Octavius couch was on the road. Setting quill and parchment aside, she left her offices, those first belonging to her father and fairly flew down the steps to meet Octavius, embracing him lovingly as a daughter would a father. "Welcome to Lycia my Lord" She offered with a smile.
"Thank you, my Lady" Octavius returned with a wide grin and offering a kiss to her forehead. "I cannot stay unfortunately, my wife summons me home but I bring what I promise..." His arm waved the slaves forward, a male and a female. "This is Viddius, to help you with the trials the Emperor has laid before you, and the woman is named Niemah, she is to be your personal lady." Though he spoke of the woman being such, his eyes said more.
Briseis eyes flicked first to Viddius and then to Niemah before flittering back to Octavius. "Thank you...my lord" She bobbed in a curtsy and saw Octavius to his carriage again before backing up as it rumbled out of the yard. For a moment, she stood there with her hands folded before her, her head bowed in quiet thought before turning to the two new arrivals. "Welcome to Lycia, Viddius and Niemah, it is my fervent wish, you both be happy here. Have either of you eaten?" Striking sapphire blue eyes worked back and forth between the two of them.*
Niemah: Niemah stood poised and calm, her hands folded before her, head held high yet eyes demurely focused on the pebbled drive before her, when the Lady spoke, she waited for Viddius to speak, as if was proper for a male slave to speak before a female slave, and when he offered the affirmation that they had indeed eaten in the morning hours of the day, she felt no further need to speak, only nod that it was so. She was a dark-haired, dark-skinned beauty, in colors of sand and sunset, the simple slave robes she wore a roughened flax blend that itched and scratched at her tender skin, belted at the waist with a simple cord. She was comely enough, her hair pulled back in a simple braid. Like all other slaves, she was nothing special, only a commodity to be traded. (d)
Briseis: Briseis gave a nod her head and bid them both to follow her with a simple roll of her fingers. Dressed in a soft pink toga decorated in leaded flowers, a soft pink train followed behind her as she moved up the stairs and then pointed Viddius off towards the male slave quarters. "There will be servants waiting to help settle you, tomorrow we will speak of your duties." She paused a moment to watch Viddius off before nodding her head at Niemah "Follow me" and she lead her through the interior atrium were fountains dipped water in two four-separate 'pools' of black and golden marble, barely knee deep, up the steps into the upper portion of the roman villa to her own rooms. Her chambers had no doors, curtains of light blue and gold draped between rooms and balcony letting in the warm tropical air. She rummaged through her dresser to find a pale blue short toga and a belt of gold that she brought over to Niemah and pointed her to the chamber for bathing "You may change there, these will be much more comfortable than the ones you wear. Light cotton, born from the very sheep tended on this land." With this, she went to the bed and sat upon the edge to wait for Neimah to change. "How long have you been enslaved Niemah?" She asked while the woman changed.*
Niemah: Golden eyes the color of dark amber followed demurely the Lady who was now her master as she was bid, she took in the lush surroundings of the gardens, and the fountains, the back of their throat itched for a cooling drink, bare feet made not a whisper on the tiles as she followed, noting the smells, sights, and sounds of the villa. Soon enough she found herself in the Lady’s chamber, being gifted with new clothing, from the lady’s own dresser, her eyes lifted briefly in question before she was instructed to change. "I have been a slave since I was 8, I'm 18 now." she offered in way of answer before disappearing to change, then a few moments later representing herself. She offered no more information than asked... that often brought repercussions, and Niemah was obedient and well trained. (d)
Briseis: Briseis rose from her sitting as Niemah reappeared again and moved to a tray to fill a cup with water and hold it out for the girl. "Thirsty?" There was not much that missed Briseis’ eye along with the longing stare at the fountains that dripped water in the pools of the atrium below.
The villa itself was square built around the atrium; the lower floors of kitchen, dining, and company rooms along with the slave rooms below, in what other civilizations would call the dungeons, were regularly locked at night but the upper rooms were office as well as bedroom of the Lady of the house and her Lord.
"Do you remember where you came from?" Her head tilted just so sending a curtain of golden blonde hair over her shoulder, the newly bestowed golden ring of marriage on her finger shown as she lifted a hand to push the hair behind her shoulder again.
"You should not fear speaking in my presence for I shall tell you something, I used to be a slave in these lands myself, born here in this villa before being transferred to my father, the former Lord of these lands to his best friend, the Lord Octavius of whose presence you were just in."
Her hands spread wide "All this was my father's, my mother, a slave in this very household. I never intended it to be mine, never fathomed it but I do intend to make the best of my new standings within my homeland and that of what was once my father’s slaves, now my own. I enjoyed my childhood, even as a slave for I was well treated, as will you be."*
Niemah: "Thank you Mistress…" she took the cup and bowed respectfully before taking a step back and then sipping the water slowly. "Tarsus was the name of our village, the village owed taxes, and several children were selected to pay the debt, and I was among them" her eyes widened as Bri told her story of how she too was once a slave, and now owned the very villa in which they stood... slowly she finished the water as she listened to the story, and then when Bri stated she would be well treated, she bowed her head once more... "Thank you Milady, I will do my best to see you pleased." as instructed all her life, Niemah would never show displeasure at her lot in life, it was as explained to her the way of the world and her place in the world was serving those of her better. (d)
Briseis: Briseis let out a thoughtful hum to the tale, committing the story to memory before she gave a nod of her head and smiled. "An’ the reason you were sold in the markets a few days past?" Briseis had to ask, with so many secrets still untold swirling around her, she had to know if she could trust this woman. "Did the Lord Octavius say anything to you about what your services to this house would be?" Slowly she took a turn about the room and then took a seat upon a chair and beckoned Niemah to the other. "Do you wish to return home some day?"*
Niemah: "I know not the reasons for the sale of slaves in my former household, there were several of us taken to the markets, we were not told why..." she confided her eyes lifting to meet Bri's softly, so that the lady could see the honesty there... then she shook her head softly. "Nay Milady, only that I would be your personal slave..." again her eyes found the floor, while her fingers fidgeted with the cup... "I fear I would know no one, and have no home to return to. I guess I have never really given it thought." (d)
Briseis: She gave another nod of her head, seeing the honesty in the girl’s eyes, she would believe what she was told. "Please, have some more water if you wish" She nodded towards the pitcher again.
For several moments, she fidgeted with the table beside her chair, running her fingers over the smooth white surface. "Indeed, you shall be my personal attendant. In the nights though, you will have quarters below, such is the way of things and I am not of the authority to change them, even in my own lands." Her hands folded demurely in her lap. "I fear Octavius is looking further in the future for your purposes." Lips pressed firmly together, she was not ready to say more on it especially with prying ears around the Villa, and the fact she had not broached the subject with her husband of her former condition or the condition she could not have children. "I know the feeling of having no home Niemah and you will forever be welcome in this home for as long as it is your wish. As I have said, it is not my wish for any slave in this household whether a slave working in this Villa or the fields, to be unhappy. If you do not mind my asking, what were your duties within the former house you served?"*
Niemah: "I watched the Mistresses' children's, saw to their needs, there were two boys and a baby girl." she smiled as she thought of the children, they had been a joy to be around "I have some ability to read and write and so they set me to teach them before they were formally schooled by tutors" she nodded softly as she moved and refilled the cup with cool water, and sipped it once again until it was gone, then settled the cup on the table beside the pitcher.. "Does the Lady have children?" her eyes looked hopeful and it was obvious that she enjoyed the children she had tended in her former position. (d)
Briseis: Again Briseis hummed in a note as she took Niemah words into conscious. Octavius had a good heart but it stung at her own thinking Briseis needed assistance in regards to children but it stung even more to notion that he was right. She smiled to hear the joy in Niemah’s voice of tending the children in her former household. That would have been a good trait if Briseis had been able to have children. She took up her sewing from the table and began tending to it, this time being the one to avoid Niemah’s eyes as she gave a shake of her head. "No…" She tried to smile and then faltered.
"… my husband and I were just newly married by the Emperor himself though we were content to call each other wife and husband without his blessing; we so gave our vows to each other long before the Emperor gave his blessing. My husband is the Ambassador to the Tamazgha, his name is Kamenwati, I am sure you are to meet him very soon, but I fear he has taken to wife, a broken woman, I unfortunately, cannot have children. I was pregnant, twice, once when I was quite young and then miscarried quite recently but my husband has no knowledge of that." She babbled on without reason and then stopped. It was shameful, in her eyes to be a woman broken, unable to bear the fruit of union between man and woman.*
Niemah: Niemah listened to her new mistress and when she spoke of losing a child and longing for one, and feeling broken, her heart went out to her, such a beautiful lady but everyone had burdens. She moved quietly on bare feet to kneel before her new mistress, stilling the lady’s hands over the sewing and taking them in her own... "You have kindness in your eyes, and your heart, I'm sure in time the Gods will bless you with a child in your life… you are and worry not over things you do not have…" (D)
Briseis: Briseis hands stilled as Niemah brought them to a hold. Sapphire eyes lifted to the woman and Briseis smiled once more, this time without falter. Her hand lifted to touch at Niemah cheek. "You are such a sweet girl. Please do not think me self pitying, I wish much to give my husband the children he deserves, he would be a good father but I wish them for myself as well but I know my blessings are quite above what they ought to be." She gave a nod of her head and smiled once more. Though the land still believed in the old Roman Gods, Briseis had converted to Allah, not just for her husband, but because Allah had answered her prayers when the roman gods had not. "Allah has blessed us much as it is, so much so I have not begged of him more."
Slowly she pulled her hands from Niemah but not before giving them a gentle squeeze and then moving her sewing to the table. "Come, I shall show you the rest of the Villa and the grounds. You can be free to partake of them, with escort of course, when I am not in need of you. Our country is on the precipice of a divide I fear and my time will be much consumed with council. I take no delight in it but must command your silence in whatever you come to hear in this house, between ourselves, or between my husband and I. Such things, may mean the life and death of us all. These are uncertain times, Niemah, and we may seem unfortunate to bare them, but I count it as an opportunity, that we bare them so our children do not and may perhaps never have to." *
Niemah: "Of course Milady." she spoke in a sing-song voice that was pleasant and bore the regimented speech of slaves, there was no accent no hint of belonging there... only the perfected speech preferred by the upper houses. "I will be the epitome of discretion, I serve you as you wish and have learned the value of keeping things unto myself." she followed behind her new mistress as the Villa was shown to her... (d)
Kamenwati had resigned himself to Bri’s library where he could write entries into his journal. He was keeping a document, one that was secret and held closehold, as to his actions, comments, and potential recommendations to the Amir and the al-Jama'a al-'Ashara ('Council of Ten') of the Tamazgha Federation on Carnian relations. Kam had to diverge his emotions from facts about the Emperor and his Senate… and the sentiments of the people in regards to the Tamazgha…
When Briseis and two slaves first passed his door, then again, he did not think about it, as he was busy scripting in his book. But when Kam had finished his entries, and once more hid the book, Bri, and the female slave, was walking back toward the Lady’s quarters. Satisfied about his entries, and the security of the books, Kam departed the library, intent on getting some food from the kitchen to quell his grumbling stomach. As he exited the library, he came upon his beloved wife and the beautiful slave…
Slavery had a long history in the ancient world and was practiced in most of the world; places like Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Europe. Some of the markets Kam was familiar with, was focused on the slave markets of the Arab lands and North Africa. People traded were not limited to a certain color, ethnicity, or religion and included Arabs and Berbers.
Slaves were a way of life… prevalent everywhere in the world… some more than others, but still prevalent. Even in the Tamazgha, slavery was allowed, and second natured in their way of life… How the slaves came about was more important, than whether or not one had any… Many nobles
Immediately upon arrival in Carnia, he saw the differences of how the Carnians treated their slaves; but it was Briseis who treated them much differently… and for obvious reasons he was aware of.
As Bri and the slave stood before him, the slave immediately bowed before him. “Rise girl…” He said softly… Then he glanced to his beloved wife and smiled… During the smile, his memory of explaining to Bri, the Tamazghan ways and things she had queried about before…
The haram… the forbidden, or sacred place; a sacrosanct or sanctum… a sacred inviolable place. The often misconstrued location where female members of the family live… The word actually refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygamous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men.
Many nobles of the Tamazgha had sizeable harams which typically housed several dozen women. It housed the noble's wives, mother, daughters, and other female relatives, as well as eunuchs and slave servant girls to serve the aforementioned women. Several had his concubines to service his, and his guests, pleasures. This portion of the explanation always got odd looks from Briseis when Kamenwati tried explaining the truest meaning of the word.
Though there was some things he tried to explain about harems that escaped her, their conversations about it were not completely missed. There was much about the Tamazgha and Carnia that resembled one another on how men and women lived in the company of one another and their views on slavery.
Briseis face flushed softly as Niemah bowed before Kamenwati. It brought back to memory of the days when she bowed so low before the master and mistress of the household. Her eyes met his and she smiled in return laying hand to his chest she gave him a kiss on the cheek as he instructed the girl to rise and her hand fell away to take his arm as she faced the girl.
"Niemah is new to the household Kam. Niemah, this is my husband, the Ambassador of the Tamazgha. If he has any need of anything, I wish you to endeavor to make his wishes a reality" She spoke to the girl before turning more into her husband’s body with her own.
Looking down at Niemah, then a quick glance to Bri, he caught the tint of flush in his wife’s face. What was she thinking? And he looked back to the slave girl as she rose by his command. “Welcome Niemah… you have a fantastic Mistress… and trust me girl… shall I require anything, I shall ask of yu first…” he cokeed his head at Bri and smiled, winking to her. “Now I feel more at home… with slaves about me to do my bidding…” he teased, winking at Niemah first, then cokeing his head to Bri again, this time the opposite direction.
Considering the day with the Emperor, he was now relaxing in his new atmosphere as husband. And Niemah was young and beautiful, apparently untouched by cruelty of Master and Time… and he took one more look before focusing on his beloved wife.
His voice, and his glances were innocent… “M’love, how has your day been? I heard a carriage moments ago… but I was busy writing… Did we have visitors?” at what he did not say… but she would know…
"My day has been long" She answered though it was always with the prettiest and most content of smiles. She was not one to complain. "The list of the families of the fallen is quite long and it will take some time to asses all of their needs and see them met. It is disheartening that it will take so long to see them well provided for but I will work my hardest and fastest so that they do not have to suffer long in their misfortunes."
“Do you have anyone that can help you with the lists? I am not surprised the Emperor would bog down yer efforts with paperwork. And he also knows, IF, you do not process this quickly, then popular favor may become adverse in the families suffering at the losses of their benefactors.” Kam did not like Secundus… not one bit… but he deferred any comments about the man.
Her head turned to look towards the front of the villa as he mentioned a carriage and for a moment it seemed as if she did not know what he was talking about and then she smiled. "Oh yes, Octavius was here bringing Niemah and Viddius, remember I told you he went to the markets for me." Her attention turned back to Kam again seemingly unaware of Niemah for the present. "Viddius is below in the slave quarters, Octavius brought him to help with the tasks the Emperor has asked of me but as I have only just received the list, I have not been able to label one task to any one thing"
Though their married life was viewed more political than anything romantic, there was no mistaking the love Briseis bore for her husband for her eyes doted upon him and swept all others from the room in her eyes.
All he could do was nod, and take his wife’s hand. He preferred not to speak at all rather than comment about Secundus.
"You've been busy writing much of the day, you should go outdoors, it is not healthy for you to stay shut up so. There are many fine horses in the stable, perhaps you could go for a ride? I was about to show Niemah the grounds, if you do not wish a ride, perhaps you will join us?"
It seemed Briseis had once again thought of Niemah’s presence for her attention turned to the girl as she spoke her name and then she was offering a smile towards her husband again. Many options for him to choose from, but she hated that they were so locked away from one another in their duties to their countries; but Briseis was not a fool either and the Emperor's ploy to make her Ab Aeterno not only because she was a woman (as this handling of families was more a woman's task) but also to keep her estranged from her husband. This, she had voiced to no one, not even Kam for the thought of it pained her heart even in mere thought let alone voicing it.
Even in this moment, with Niemah present, she longed for her husband, her heart pained even more that their time was so divided that they hardly had time together except at meals and when the rest of the house slept to spend time with one another. Still, it was only two days now since they had come home, perhaps it would change as time went on. Briseis only hoped and prayed it to be so for she felt her duties as a wife quite lacking in the present, and that was without touching on the subject of children, which her and Niemah had discussed only scant minutes before.
He chuckled a bit. “Oh I am finished writing… and yes, to get out would be good…” patting his wife’s hand. “I would rather spend my days and nights with you than to ride a horse… there shall be plenty of time for that…Allah be praised.” he too looked to Niemah as Bri did. “So my Lady, lead the way, show yer humble servants about the villa… Besides, I could not refuse such beautiful company. I know not about Carnian men, but men of the Tamazgha appreciate their women…” he spoke so eloquently charming… his voice as a westward wind from the desert.
Did Kam understand what wife he took to him? One who could never successfully bear him an heir? How it ached at her heart to think such a thing but it was flat truth, her miscarriages had proven it even though Kam did not know of the recent one she had suffered. She shielded it from him to spare the pain of it and not because she did not trust her husband, he was the truest husband she could ask for and her best friend. He had accepted her from the beginning and had never underestimated her or belittled her. No, he had been ever a rock that she could lean upon when weary and the support of comforting words when she was at a breaking point. It had not been so long ago he had seen her worst, abducted and abused by the Emperor, he had fought for her honor, for her... because he loved her, this she knew and felt with every fiber of her being and no one would ever convince her otherwise for what he had done for her, for what he instilled in her both with words and without them.
As the trio walked about the villa, Kam took it all in… but how could he know of the distress that lie within Briseis’ mind. He had not known of her pregnancy, nor the loss of the fetus. He merely assumed that their lack of sexual intimacy was based upon the abuse she suffered under Abu Said… and now the stress that the Emperor had placed in such responsibilities upon the Lady of Lycia. They had for months enjoyed intimacies everyday when they lived in Skye… but upon their escape from the burning building… times such as those were few… and far in-between. Yet, he was her husband, married for love, not power or jewels… and he desired to be faithful to her…
But as they walked, he would fantasize about his wife; the scant clothing of the Carnians, a catalyst of desire… yet he would speak of, nor touch, what he desired most. A touch here, a soft breath there… oh what he would not do to love his wife.
"Humble servants? I am rather unwilling to call my husband a servant." She took his arm leaning in to kiss his cheek as she let out a hum of laughter before her attention once again returned to Niemah and bid the girl to follow after them.
The back of the Villa was as beautiful as the front, it seemed the lands had been sculpted to suit the former Lord of Lycia and his family but the truth was, the Villa had been built upon the most beautiful spot on the land and dated back generations of her father’s family to the very first Romans who had settled on the island. It had been thousands of years since the Romans had landed on these shores and yet the people still held their head high even when Rome fell, singing praises of their own bloodline. Many still held their head high to come from Roman descent even though the Rome in them had died long ago, stories told from ancient lips were fairy tales now much as the lands of Ireland and Scotland told their children of their descent from the first beginnings of life.
As they walked the sprawling hills, Briseis pointed out in the distance the fences that kept the sheep, their livelihood pinned in and the roads that connected the counties and the river that lay just out of sight for the hills that made up Lycia.
Step after innocent step, the couple, followed by a slavegirl, made their way around the villa, and eventually the estates beyond. One point of interest after another was identified and made note to. Kamenwati would smile as he could see the pride she exudes in her interest.
Verily, this land was beautiful… hills thick with forests and good grazing areas… valleys with streams and rich dirt for farming. This must have been a Roman paradise in years past.
Upon one of the hills she stopped, her arm still inside the crook of her husband’s arm. The wind whistled across the hilltops hot and inviting and Briseis let her eyes slid closed to the feel of it across her face. Yet the wind was sparse and it was quickly over making Briseis sigh and cling tighter to her husband’s arm.
"This is a vast upgrade from the shop and the small apartment where we barely fit together in two tiny rooms. Yet, I cannot bring myself to pity what we had, even so little of it, for I was most happy in those days and most unaware of the cruelty of the world. So much has changed, Kam, in such a short time... what frightens me the most is there is yet more change on the horizon, I cannot see nor touch it yet but feel it with every fiber of my being."
This land did not have the hot winds of the desert, nor the cold blasts of frigid air that Skye did… He too closed his eyes atop the hill, allowing the gentle breeze to carry him away from the confines of this earth. His soul soared far above the land… at least until she spoke, and it brought him back to Earth. “Allah be praised… we did share a good time there… and I agree, change is yet again coming… for the Emperor is killing his people… he oppresses them… desire to crush their free will…”
Briseis let her head lean against her husband’s shoulder, her fingers finding his arm and curling into it, grasping it with both hands and yet the touch was tender. "I was five when I left these lands for Genoa, the lands owned by Octavius, it was only a few short months of my mother’s death and I had feared I had done something wrong; but Octavius was kind and my fears soon melted away to accept my fate as I thought it was. To live as a house slave was my only ambition."
The cant of his head and the smile was reassuring and he listened.
Her fingers stroked the hardened muscle of his arms from his days upon the battlefield having no knowledge of his thoughts on desiring his wife who was still healing from the loss of child. She often found herself in quiet moments when they could be together thinking of him, of his wanted and heated touch, what he brought out in her only Allah had knowledge to. The stars would blush on the many occasions that had been together before her capture and it was partly her time with the former Amir of the Tamazgha that kept her from enjoying her husband’s touch again, the other part being her body healing.
Her touch fueled the fire within him… How could a simple touch burst him into such passion?
"I've risen further than I could ever have dreamed, no not dreamed, for I would never have asked for this. It is a blessing and a curse but moreso a blessing with you by my side. As such, I feel it right to inform you that upon our marriage, that you have gained half-attainment of what is mine as your wife. Upon my death, whenever it is willed by Allah, this all will be yours. If the Lord of Agora, Julius Ovidius is agreeable to trading within the isle, then it is a starting point for the whole island. You see there the smoke rising in the distance in both east and west there?"
He listened… but the visions and thoughts of passion’s intimacies ricocheted in his brain. But her words snapped him back to reality. “Allah be merciful Bri… speak not of death… I want nothing but you…not land, nor riches…” she cut him off by pointing… and he sighed and looked beyond…
Briseis pointed in the distance again raising her head to the smoke that rose pale against the skyline. "Those are villages of Lycia, the people live well on tending half the stock of our sheep, while slaves tend the rest. I would see their lives improved and raise my sights higher than dreams, if Julius will but align himself with us, we have hopes of planting fields of food like Thracia and the lands of Pontus do. You are Lord of Lycia now, would you do a favor that would much please your wife in seeing the villages taken care of?"
“You speak of requests as if you plan on dying…” he huffed… “But with Allah’s goodness, I shall do as you ask…but only should something happen to you…”
She let her head rest against his shoulder again though tilting back to look at his face. "I wanted to tell you too, with Octavius help, I have had papers drawn up regarding my wishes that you should have everything upon my death though it is already law, I wish to have no reason for people to doubt or be able to fight such a wish."
“By God Almighty Bri… is there something I should know? Are you in ill-health?” he started to get irritated.
She let go of his arm and turned to lay her hands upon his chest moving them in a downward stroke her fingers working across the ripples of his chest through his clothing to clutch at his side as she pressed her body close into his. Niemah, who had no doubts been present to tour the lands, was once again forgotten, as wife turned chin up towards her husband as her head tilted back to look at him. "It is my wish that you be happy, my husband, in every possible way. Use whatever resources on our lands that you have need of both earthy and in the slaves. Retain any one of them that you wish to attend to your needs."
She would let go of his arm, and her hands, small upon his chest, seemed as if they were anvils… He found it hard to breathe thinking about life without her. She had always been in his life… “I am happy M’love… Allah has been good to me…” he felt her insistence of her words… and her reference to the slavegirl, Niemah. This was curious yet, and fueled his thoughts of Bri dying. He silently vowed that if the Carnian Emperor had anything to do with her ill-health, he would raze the Palace and all within… and then set Carnia free of any Emperor or Senate of Roman legacy… But he would say nothing to Bri, and yet, he registered the vow in his mind.
The offer was innocent and Briseis who had never said anything she did not mean, meant it in the truest sense of wanting his happiness. "The treaty with the Tamazgha is unstable now, this causes you grief, I see it; and it pains me but I promise you in return, to do everything in my power to strengthen that treaty in time and see your people happily restored past their times of Abu Said. If anyone knew his ways, evil as they were, we do, my love; and I promise you, I will see such times pass for your people and mine. Know above all things, I desire your happiness." Her fingers squeezed tight against his side as she drew him into her, the mounds of her breast pressing ever so tenderly against his own as her mouth parted in the want of kiss of his lips to her own, inviting and tantalizing him with those sumptuous curves.
His deep brown eyes would gaze at her… concern of her health bounced ideas all around his brain. Occasionally, he would glance to the beautiful Niemah and wonder how much she knew… Being drawn unto Bri, feeling her thru the thin material sparked life into his loins once more… and the kiss they shared was deep, sensual, and passionate. “I am happy with you…” was whispered into her ear as his eyes closed, embracing his beloved wife.
The slavegirl would simply kneel and close her eyes to the pair of masters allowing them personal private space.
The kiss had ended and she laid her head against his chest. It seemed like an eternity that they stayed there, with Niemah in the background. She knew he feared something was wrong with her, that she was dying but it was far from the truth. Her body was well healed from the miscarriage that she still kept secret, never letting the truth of it pass from her lips. So few people knew and those that did pitied her, except for Niemah who offered words of comfort instead to being privy to such knowledge.
It was not that Briseis thought the worst would come from him knowing, they had been through so much; he would support her and be her rock if he knew, this she trusted without a hint of doubt but she thought she was sparing him the pain of the knowledge of it for there was no way of telling if the child lost was his... or the Amir's. Her heart, she reasoned, could bear the knowledge of it for the both of them.
When he began to worry, for a moment, she thought of telling him. Of letting out such a secret to ease his suffering but her mind reasoned it would only deepen his suffering even as it eased his fears of her death. Her fingers curled around his backside as she turned her head against his chest to look out of the sprawling hills, the valley village below. Eternity rested here, in these lands, and for once Briseis could envision their lives, not the lives of others, years from now, old and gray, still happy, still together and powerfully in love as they were now. Their lives were bound together, as it had always been and always would be. Yet there were things, Briseis did not know, secrets that others held that could change the whole of the world for them.
"Come, let us back to the Villa and have some supper" Her hands slid from around his back to his waist, cluttering softly as her head tilted up and her lips sought his again. She turned and beckoned Niemah to follow after them.
“Yes, let us retire to sanctuary…” If there as anywhere they could be safe, it was at her villa… and they would make the trip quite quickly… He did not care for Carnia, and the politics so similar to Rome… but this was her land… and now his. At least until she was able to travel. Her health meant more to him than life itself.
Later, when they had eaten and the whole house had gone to bed, slaves locked away and she tended to her own bed and his in the room next to hers. She listened to the silence of the night, the occasional chirp of a night bird as her fingers curled in her hair. For a long while she stared at the ceiling, just listening, thinking of all that had befallen them and all that could come as sleep would not come.
The meal had been interesting, the company favorable. During the meal, he would gaze across the table at her and smile. Customs were blended as the pair either compromised on cultural eating habits or made their own. His mind formulated ideas on her health… outwardly, she looked well… but internally, he feared the worst. For a man so sexually active with her before, their intimacy veered upon only the mental… save for slight touches, for physical love-making had been absent... But he would endure all for her.
After everyone had retired to their quarters, he gazed upon the ceiling… he would be very familiar with it before sleep would call him away to another time, another place…
Finally, restless with thinking, she threw her covers back and slipped her feet against the cool stone of the floor. Her nightdress was sheer and slightly too big as it had been the former ladies of the house, it dipped off one shoulder, the moonlight casting a glow on the pale naked flesh.
Slowly she padded across the floor and drew back the sheer curtains to Kam's own room. Her golden hair fanned out over one shoulder, she must have looked ethereal against the moonlight as she seemed to glide across the floor. As she stopped at the foot of the bed, she smiled seeing through the pale light of moon, the curves of his face. Reaching down, she pulled the covers down, slowly off his body till they were at the foot of the bed and then shifted to stand upright, her fingers captured the folds of her nightgown and pulled upward until her thighs were naked flesh and then pushing upward, she pulled the gown from over her head and let it hit the floor.
Now bared naked before him, she leaned down to the foot of the bed and slowly etched upward, crawling up the bed and the side of him till she was at a position to throw one of her legs over his waist as she straddled his body with her own, one knee pressing into the bedding at either side of him as she leaned in stroking the hair away from his face and giving a feather light kiss against his lips. "Make love to me" she whispered against the still night air.
A dream? Could a dream be so vivid… so real? A ethereal vision seemed to float across the room, capturing his senses as she crept across his bed… his manhood sprung to life as the vision of his beloved straddled him… Her fingers pushed aside errant furls of his long brown hair… and then the spirit spoke, demanding him to make love to her…
They had not touched each other in months, the last time in Skye, before she had left for Carnia and he for the Tamazgha, then it was because she was healing though she could fathom he was thinking it was because of her nightmares of the Amir, but those nightmares were dead and gone. It was surprising how well you got over something when you had a strong arm to keep you from falling over. He was her everything, people could think what they wanted; that this was a political marriage, a treaty agreement to keep peace with the desert but no one knew that fate had bound them together long before this, long before she was Lady of Lycia.
His large brown hands caressed her face as she shifted and sat upon his hard member… a sigh that would briefly caused him to inhale, and slowly exhale as her movements pleasured him.
Tonight no one mattered, not the Emperor and his power hungry followers, not Octavius, or those who were slowly etching their way in the path being carved unbeknownst to any of them. Tonight, the only thing that mattered was her husband and that she showed him in touch and in movement, her love for him…
Not once, not twice, not thrice… but in time, he seemed to drift off into ecstasy… to bliss of another world as the two lovers melded into one another… It was as if she was making up for lost time… and he did not complain… Moonlight from the far windows caused an ethereal scene as the lovers frolicked, loved, and made love to one another… forming a bond that would seal fate for the future… Their love… and love-making… could be foundations of legends… of myths.
How she loved his body through the night, how she sounded without shame that their slaves would hear them as he loved her body in return bringing her to those unimaginable heights she was sure no one else in the world but him could bring her to. She loved him till her body was exhausted and sore all over again as if this was her first time with a man and exhausted she fell asleep within his arms, traditions of separate bedrooms be damned. Tonight, she loved her husband in ways words could never express.
Just as their eating habits break cultural lines, so did their passion… no longer would the married pair be bound to separate bedrooms… she was not Berber, nor he Carnian… and in their lives, they built fundamental guides for themselves… damned be the normal for others… theirs became the “normal” for them.
