140AD - The Rise to Empress || [GxG] ||

Chapter 22

I would just like to point out the brilliance of the title of this story (140AD), when I was deciding on a title for this story, I had asked a friend of mine to choose any number between 95 and 199. Being the cliché she was, she chose 169. I was not keen and the next number she chose was 123 which still wasn't exactly what I was looking for even though not even I knew what I was looking for. I remember saying 3rd times a charm and she said 140. 140 was a good enough number as any other number but it felt right. Then later as I was designing the cover of it, I thought you know maybe I should put the Roman numerals on it as well ... imagine my surprise once I figured out the Roman numeral for 140 was CXL. It truly felt perfect then. For those who haven't caught on, CXL is a subtle nod in the Clexa direction. Clarke x Lexa.

Translations:
Mare Nostrum = Mediterranean Sea (but it basically means 'our sea')
Misthious = Mercenary

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The yowling of the Roman winds could be heard howling around each and every corner of the villa. It was a good sign in accord with the Legions coming voyage to Greece, the winds were favoring them. In travel they could drop their sails and move with the breeze, placing less stress on the oarsman.

At Portus Julius in Misenum, Neapolis the sailors were hard at work on the ships, assuring there were no tears in the sails and that all the ropes were taught and would not snap under the strain of the ruthless winds of the Mare Nostrum once they were deep at sea.

The Praetorian barracks was close to empty since most of the soldiers were strongly on their way to Portus Julius ready to set sail. The Castra Misenatium next to the Colosseum, which housed the crewmen of the ships, was emptied days before as all of them went to prepare.

However, back on Aventine hill, Alexandria Silvestre had different ideas that none related to war. The slaves followed each other out of the villa, one by one, the last to exit being Sabina. She spared a glance in Lexa's direction who still had her back turned to the front door as her arms were still snuggly wrapped around the Empress.

Out of curiosity each servant tried to see who was in front of Lexa, but each attempt proved futile and the identity of the mysterious woman would stay a secret until the end of time. Lexa's impossibly huge frame, blocked any sort of view that anyone could have.

"Perhaps we can admire this beautiful painting another time. I would rather spend my last few hours in Rome admiring you instead." Lexa dipped her head just enough for her lips to make the lightest of brushes over Clarke's warm skin.

Clarke hummed, interlacing her fingers in Lexa's which were firmly placed on her pelvis. "I don't know, I happen to really like this painting. Perhaps you can admire me another time." In return, Lexa hummed as well, this time leaving a trail of soft kisses in her wake down Clarke's neck. "A tease now, are we?"

"Only for you." As before, Clarke turned in Lexa's arms, meeting her halfway into a slow kiss. Lexa's hair was not braided on the day and it was exactly the way Clarke liked it. There was something about running her fingers through the soft locks that absolutely exhilarated her.

They pulled apart for a moment and got lost in the endless plains of green and blue meeting. Clarke softly traced her fingers over the three lines that trailed over Lexa's eyebrow, over her eye to the top of her cheekbone. "You are so beautiful."

A shaky breath escaped Lexa's lungs as she shuddered under the Empress' soft touch. She had never been treated so delicately, not even by Costia. Her beloved saw her as the fearless warrior she portrayed herself to be and not as the soft woman she was. A woman that craved nothing more than a love so pure even Aphrodite would blush.