The Sabine Woman

Chapter 1

I'm not very sure if i'm going to carry on this story, as i barley have any time, but i wanted to see if i would get any response from the first chapter. It is based on the mythological tale of the rape of the sabine woman, which is how by legend rome got it's first wives. I won't spoil the story though.

Chapter 1

Adelphia nervously rubbed the exposed skin on her wrist were – if Claretta was correct in what she had said, an armillam would soon lie. Adelphia let out a frustrated grunt, pulling at the braids that had once lain neatly on top of her head.

Adelphia trudged to the small wooden table that stood at the edge of her room. She stared down at the locket still securely in its place. Such a small item, insignificant to the rest of the world but for her it symbolised the one word that would end her life – Marriage. Her stomach lurched at the torturous thought of being bound to one man and his rules for the rest of her life – simmered down to nothing more than a means of sexual pleasure and a baby making machine.

“Don’t you think you may be over-reacting just a little Adelphia?” Adelphia jumped at the sudden voice that belonged to her maid and closest friend - the cause of her panic – Claretta.

“Claretta, I refuse to believe it! My father would not send me to my death so soon.” Adelphia cried, throwing herself onto her furs. Claretta laughed quietly as the girl she considered a sister curled up into a ball, looking as though she wished her bedding would just swallow her whole. She wondered what all the fuss was about. Adelphia should have been rejoicing at the thought of possibly being mated to a chief.

Claretta rolled her eyes as Adelphia began to whimper and made her way over to the whining girl. She paused to place a stack of freshly washed garments beside her furs before settling down beside her.

“I simply heard your father talking to Adelphus about the need to create peace with a sabine tribe in the west,” Claretta began, placing a soothing hand on Adelphia’s back, “and you know that the best way to secure peace is…”

“Through marriage.” Adelphia finished, the sentence coming out in barely audible mummers as she had buried her head in her furs. Claretta hesitated slightly before nodding her head.

As though she had suddenly realised something Adelphia sprung to life, a look of recognition forming on her face. Claretta jumped slightly at the sudden movement but waited patiently for Adelphia to say what it is she was bursting to say.

“You said father was talking to Adelphus!” Adelphia’s stated in an accusing manor, receiving just a nod from Claretta in reply. Adelphia huffed in annoyance.

“Adelphus said…” she began before being interrupted by a male stood at her door.

“Adelphus said what?” He questioned, leaning on the frame of the door as he juggled a small dagger in his hand.

Adelphia almost screamed in frustration as she stared at the nonchalant look on her brother’s face. She growled slightly in annoyance before stomping her way over to him, an accusing finger pointing at his chest.

“Adelphus, my beloved brother,” She began, spitting out the word ‘beloved’, “Said he would castrate any man not of our blood that even looks at me yet alone asks for my hand in marriage.”

The young man stood there with a look of confusion on his face, completely unaware as to how he had wronged his sister.

“So I did – your point being?” He replied, tucking his dagger into its sheath.