Twins of Egypt

Chapter 30: Separation || Part 1

[[Selene || A week]]

My hair tangled, unveiled. My body loosely covered with a light turquoise chiton. Ptolemy slept dreamily beside me, the little parchment he was reading slightly beyond the reach of his little fingers. I laid beside him, against the cotton pillows, staring into his little face as the canopy of silk waved lovingly around us. A slave quietly entered, and another one too. As one closed the doors of the balcony, the other tied the white curtains of the canopy to the posts, revealing the two creatures dwelling inside. I fluttered open my eyes, blinked, rose, and looked at Doran whose face was etched deeper in worry.

"Your Grace," he cleared his voice, "the King has requested your presence in his chamber."

I blinked again and rose my body above my son's looking at the fool, "I decline."

"But Your Grace..."

"I buried my boy without him," he shuddered at my rebuttal, "I watched my...closest friend...shrivel, shake, and bleed almost to death as he...," my voice resembled venom, but I did not want to poison Doran. "He can make love to himself, or borrow a common whore to fulfill his needs and deep hole of loss. Juba knows of our current situation he is supposed to secure a resolution." I laid back beside my sleeping son, pushing his caramel locks out of the way. I leaned forward, putting my face near his head; he smelled of soft linens and herbs.

"It is not about your intimate matters, Your Grace..." Doran continued, "There is a letter from Caesar." He approached, with a papyrus scroll in hand. He handed it to me, and bowed shortly after. "He will be expecting you soon." Doran turned and left with the other slaves.

When the door closed, I shifted out of bed and turned towards the balcony doors. I opened them as I read Augustus' cold encrypted letter:

"Juba and Selene:

Congratulations on your blooming family. It seems we may be able to make arrangements now. Perhaps, my grandson Gaius can marry your daughter Drusilla, who I hear is splendidly beautiful. How old is she now? Five? It does not matter. Or your other darling daughter, Cleopatra? Interesting choice of names... You must visit Rome sometime, wonderful things are happening. In addition, your children should come to, so that they may learn the place where they will grow up. Yes, that is correct. I am requesting that you allow your children to learn in Rome. They would be well educated as you two have been. They will be educated by the imperial tutors among their cousins, respectfully the imperial children. They have the right to know who their kin is, correct? Allow them to visit, I am sure they would adore it. Selene must desperately desire company and leisure, especially since she has proven herself a daring and capable leader of Mauretania. I heard she has accumulated a vast wealth and culture into Mauretania, and that the people of North Africa adore her. It must mean well, since all of North Africa loved her mother, and were put in submission by her own ancestors. I pray to see lovely Selene again. The Italian garden needs to be filled with the gorgeous plumes of the lily of the Nile. Soon, my friends.

Farwell,

Augustus."

I closed my eyes and crumpled the letter. My worst fear was to occur...and I would be helpless. I could refuse Augustus, and tell him that Ptolemy and Drusilla are too ill for travel, or that they are unwilling...or perhaps that they are too young? He was taking what I held dear, and thrusting it into the snake pit. He was virtually pitting my children against me; he would make them believe that my mother was a harlot and my father a fool. He was going to make sure Mauretania would always and forever belong to Rome! I shook as I stood. My world was collapsing again. The blue of the sky turned black, and the beauty of the Mediterranean tainted into a muddy brown. I was not willing to let this happen. He will not teach my children to loathe me, and their lineage. Juba needed to decline. He must...He has to! I will not give away my children to that tyrant, unless I die! No. No. It will not happen!