Evie's Notes: Hi friends! Thank you so much for taking a chance on this new fic. Things will be a bit different than in canon as I am taking an alternate look at what New Rome could be. Some characters will be aged up from where they were in canon as well. I hope that you enjoy this new story!
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Antonia found New Rome to be most beautiful in the winter. Making her way through the bustling marketplace, Antonia called out greetings to the stall keepers while bartering for her normal groceries. Having perfected her route through the forum, Antonia was able to make it through her errands in record time.
Her final stop for the day was Creel's Dress Emporium, to pick up her gown for the upcoming Yule Celebration. Stepping inside the shop Antonia was happy to see not only Creel and her shop associate Marta, but her best friend Reyna chatting with the girls as well.
"Good Morning Ladies!" chirped Antonia cheerfully.
"Morning Ti! Are you excited for this year's yule festivities?" asked Reyna.
"Of course! You and the heads of the Senate always plan great events. Creel and Marta, are you two planning to attend the ball?"
"Yup, the boys are coming too" agreed Marta, disappearing behind the counter to snag Antonia's dress. "One gorgeous gown, for our very own gorgeous gal".
"Oh Marta, it looks amazing! You and Creel really out did yourself with this one" complimented Antonia.
"Oh stop, you'll make me blush" brushed off the businesswoman quickly sliding Antonia's card. "Of course your gown was going to be perfect, it's not everyday that you turn eighteen".
"Well your work on my party gown is certainly one of the best gifts I could have received".
"We'll have to watch your back, Ti, in a gown like that every young man and woman is going to be vying for your hand".
"Hah! Yeah, that'll be the day" cackled Antonia. "Trust me I am well aware of the men and women of marriageable age currently in this camp and no one here will be marrying me anytime soon".
"That's what I thought too, but look at me now, huh?" laughed Reyna, spinning her own wedding ring.
"Well not all of us are lucky enough to have their perfect partner fall out of the sky, gift wrapped for them" snarked Antonia playfully. "There clearly are plenty of plus sides to having your sister as the head of the Amazons".
"Yup!" chirped the powerful young woman, leading Antonia back out into the bustling marketplace. "Hylla sends the best gifts. But don't think you have distracted me, I will still be offering sacrifices to Venus on your behalf. I just don't want you to be lonely anymore".
"But I'm not lonely," laughed Antonia. "I have you and Trenton, Nico and Jason, Frank, Hazel, Dakota, Mollie, Doris and Phyllis. Just because I don't have a lover doesn't mean I'm lonely".
"I know that, silly, but I just want there to be someone to look after you. As women in power we always have to be the strong ones, and sometimes it's nice to have someone to help carry the load".
"I hear your concerns and I appreciate that they come from a place of love" acknowledged Antonia.
Checking the sun's position, Antonia realized that she had been delayed longer than she would have liked. Exchanging quick goodbyes with her friend she hurried on her way out of the marketplace and into the village part of New Rome.
* Rise of the Lotus * Rise of the Lotus *
Curving through the narrow streets she finally reached her villa. Stepping through the door she called out a greeting, which was answered back loudly by the house's other residents.
"Welcome back Antonia!" greeted Mollie, a daughter of Isis who had chosen to apprentice under Antonia.
"Thank you Mollie," acknowledged Antonia as she sorted through her letters. One envelope in particular caught her attention, slitting open the back of the card she quickly scanned the carefully penned lines of cursive. "Can you let Delores know that we will be having six guests for supper tonight? Jason and Nico have agreed to join us after all".
"That's wonderful! I'll let her know right away" agreed Mollie, accepting the packages that Antonia passed her as well as the gown from Creel's.
"I'll be working in my office for most of the afternoon, but I expect that you will want to join me when I go to offer sacrifices around four?"
"Uh... duh!" chirped the young girl.
"Alright. If all of your chores are completed on time,we can expect to depart at half three" Antonia granted the excited ten year old, before entering her office .
Her work as one the god's priestesses was a lot more paperwork than she had ever expected as a bright eyed child watching the powerful priests and priestesses advise the councils, oversee drills and mentor the citizens of New Rome.
Antonia smiled fondly thinking back to her own days as an apprentice. She knew that with a couple more years of training, Mollie would make a wonderful Priestess for their patron, Queen Juno.
Turning to the letters from her citizens begging for advice in trade disputes, relations or belief; Antonia settled in for a long afternoon of correspondence.
* Rise of the Lotus * Rise of the Lotus *
A light knock on her office door pulled Antonia out of her head as she pondered the best way to help wheat Farmer Jameson settle his latest feud with Cowherd Philomena.
"Enter" she called.
"Pardon the interruption, but it is just now half - three" explained Mollie entering the room with Antonia's traveling cloak and satchel.
"Already?!" asked Antonia, surprised at how fast the time had flown. "Oh my! Thank you for coming to get me Mollie, I was lost in the thrilling world of cow debates".
Mollie giggled and passed over Antonia's travel items. "You know the more you talk about the cow debates the more I think I should have signed on as a soldier instead" she teased.
"No way, honey! You're stuck with me" promised Antonia, adjusting the girl's walking cloak. "And I promise not to stick you with any cow based correspondence for a long time yet".
A heavy promise she knew, given that Antonia had been thrust into her given role far too soon herself. The previous Priestess of Juno, Talia, had fostered Antonia when she was five years old. For eight years everything was glorious... but tragedy struck.
Talia had been out dealing with a dispute that had gotten out of hand. The farmers had risen up against the herdsmen and Talia had been sent out to try and bring them to reason... a stray arrow had taken the beautiful light of the young woman from the world. Antonia, now thirteen and alone, was forced to step up. New Rome needed an Priestess of Juno, so Antonia took the stand, offering her blood on Juno's altar in the temple as the newest and youngest ever priestess in a long and important line.
"Can we go now? I want to see my friends," whined Mollie, batting away Antonia's hands and shaking the young woman out of her thoughts.
"Of course, my dear. After you". As the duo stepped out into the sunny streets Antonia swore to leave such sad thoughts behind in the shadows. Such sadness wasn't right on such a lovely day, and after all, like she told Reyna, she was no longer alone!
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Evie's Notes 2: Thank you all so much for reading 💕! I hope you enjoyed this update, let me know your favorite part of in the comments! I hope to see you all next week 💗!
I love hearing from y'all! Let me know what you think of the chapter and the story as a whole in the comments or my Tumblr Find-y0ur-j0y! Have a great week and stay safe! - Xo Evie 🌺
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Rise of the Lotus - Percy Jackson Fanfic
FanfictionThings had finally settled down after the Titan War. It was December and Antonia had her hands full preparing for the Yule Tide Celebrations and her eighteenth birthday. Yet when her friend goes missing in the middle of the night a new mystery is th...
