Claudius' ban

7

Queen Pianna and former Queen consort Anna had been rivals ever since the time their daughters were growing up. The tension, however, began much earlier. Pianna was jealous of Anna's maidservant Eveline, who always accompanied Anna wherever she went. She craved their friendship, which was a close, intimate yet healthy relationship. She and Eveline later became friends for a while. But after both became pregnant by the same Nerigos bloke their friendship decimated over the years. Her daughter Tamila and Tamila's twin brother Bjarke both had good relations with sir half-brother Olisipo, who's the son of her friend Eveline (Anna's servant). Adonis, the father of all three kids, was seldom in the picture. He was often away sailing. So both friends, Pianna and Eveline, were received by King Ludo (Anna's husband at the time) and lived in Anna's care. They lived in a separate house, in the same complex. Anna's daughter was born the same day as Pianna's twin. Anna at the time noticed the envy in Pianna's attitude. Because she was the daughter of one of her husband's concubines she was not permitted to avoid her. And as a consort of the palace it was expected of her to be lady like and to keep the peace within the social realm of the court. This later changed when Anna found out that her daughter was in an unhealthy, physical relationship with Pianna. As a consequence Pianna was banned from the court and she had to live in a farmhouse at the sea. She was still allowed to see her children once a month (who were already in their teenage years by now), but not to remain at the court. Anna's daughter, however, kept the relationship with Pianna going. She became quite attached to her older lover (who was possessive of her). Pianna decorated her with expensive gifts (necklaces, earrings, nose rings, bracelets, belts, sandals) -Pianna often received such items from her former lover Adonis who was often looting other ships with his gang. These gifts were expensive jewelry and Roman coins that were part of the bounty. After four years Anna permitted her daughter to co-habit with Pianna. Anna did this to appease Pianna's jealousy - which was really caused by her own loneliness and estrangement from her own mother who rejected her since childhood. Another part was to hide the embarrassment of the situation. Her daughter would often remain away for days without admitting where she was. Anna also didn't want her daughter to be labeled as 'unclean' and 'vile' by the elders of the tiny Jehuda kingdom. The elders followed the Torah strictly. So if they would find out about what was going on between Ludo's daughter and his alleged daughter through a concubine (to the public both were Ludo's daughters and they were seen as sisters) they would force Ludo, in obedience to the Mosaic Law, to ban those two women or to stone them. Anna didn't want all that drama. A part of the deal was that Anna made with Pianna was that she would would prevent her daughter from becoming pregnant. Also, Pianna had to behave herself and leave and be satisfied with her daughter alone. Ludo was not even consulted into the matter. He was too busy with foreign trade in Britain and the Rhine region. Anna knew that he would be upset with the arrangement. When Anna's daughter was 22 she would appear at ceremonies as princess Anna. She made a lot of friends quickly. Tamila shared the same bitterness as her mother. Only hers was towards princess Anna and not towards Queen Anna. This, however, led to fights between Tamila and Pianna, because Pianna didn't tolerate anyone talking bad about her slave girl, not even her own daughter. When princess Anna turned 28 she held a big feast in Britain. It was in a town called Venta Icenorum, the Capital of the Iceni tribe. It was attended by many peasants in the region. She left her mother and her mother's new husband behind in Savaria. Her mother was no Queen consort anymore. She remained 19 days in Britain. Pianna, who received the throne of Jehuda town, because of her daughters refusal, heared that Princess Anna was in Britain. Princess Anna had no idea of the developments that took place in her hometown after she left with her mother, her stepfather and two younger half sisters towards the shores of the Baltic Sea. Her migration to Britain was to start a new life. She only used her (previous) title princess for her own advantage. In the Roman world noble women, or woman who were perceived as noble, had certain advantages that were denied to other women. On the 16th day of her stay in Venta Belgarum, Pianna found her in the company of some men. Her jealousy exploded. She kept it hidden for Anna, whom she also called, Phillianna. Philianna was surpriced to see her. Pianna pretended she was happy for her new life. But on the 18th day of Phillianna's stay some of the young men and two elder men were found dead by poisoning. Phillianna immediately suspected Pianna. And she found evidence she she found the snake poison in Pianna's pocket. Pianna confessed and regretted what she had done. Worse: the men were murdered at her feast! She decided to leave town the next day. The punishment for such crimes was long term imprisonment or death. She knew that the Roman penal system was very harsh and impartial. Her plan to began a new life in Britain and to find a wealthy Roman man was ruined. She sailed back, as Pianna's captive, to Jehuda town. On the ship she discovered that is was Pianna now that was the head in the town and that she also had other lovers. Philianna, however, wasn't angry nor upset. She just adapted to the situation. Pianna's son Bjarke didn't want anything to do with her. He was embarrassed of her repulsive lifestyle - drunkenness and lots of wild partying. Phillianna received a central position in Jehuda town and she was the public spokes person, also towards the elders. Phillianna was the one also talking with the merchandise agents who were trading with the town. When a delegation from the capital of Nerigos came, it was Phillianna that would receive them. Pianna remained out of the public eye - also because people didn't like her, but they kept it hidden out of respect for her children who were respected people among the Nerigos rich. Adonis returned and lived as a guard in Pianna's court. She did this to coverup her lifestyle by having a "husband" in the picture. When the news arrived that Claudius had subjected most of Britain, Pianna send her children away to the Paris country. Phillianna would often visit the twin with news from their parents. Adonis was also the father of four other children, who now also lived in Jehuda town. The bitterness of Tamila towards Philianna disappeared after she migrated to the Paris country. And Tamila received some of the girl slaves her mother send her as a gift. Most of them Tamila gave their freedom once they arrived in Britain. Some she retained as house servants for herself.

Now at the village of Tamila, the women seem to have gotten over their ill feelings. They chat peaceful and laugh together with the others. Parisius II, whom the former King Parisius had with a Parisian daughter of a known business man, was there with his Parisian wife. He noticed the calm attitude between his former mother-in-law and the "usurper of his throne" as he called Pianna. He never accepted how she ruined his grandfather's tiny country. He was planning to reverse all of that. But "everything on the right timing" he said "that bitch will not last for long".