Love in Rome

The Last Day in Alexandria

        Swish! Swoosh! Clang! Jingle! 

My red skirt twirled around my legs as I leaped to the right. The golden bells on my shimmy belt rang when my hips moved to the sound of the drums and harp. I did one last spin and gracefully bowed my head to my chest as I waited for commentary from the royal court. 

"Marvelous! Absolutely magnificent!" exclaimed the Pharoah as she clapped her hands rapidly. 

"You never cease to amaze me Amunet! You are the greatest dancer in Egypt if I do say so myself! Those moves and rhythm were so mesmerizing and you expressed  such confidence and splendour  that every woman should be!"  

"Thank you very much Oh Great Pharoah" I said humbly, "It is always an honour to please you and your children with my art". I smiled slightly at the Queen's children: Caesarion, Cleopatra Selene II, Alexander Helios, and Ptolemy Philadelphus. They knew that I would give them a piece of date candy after each performance and couldn't wait for me to finish.  I bowed again and made my way back to my room.

In my room I took off my bejeweled bra and skirt and folded it neatly to put in my chest next to my mirror. My fingers slowly traced the deep red fabric and golden beads that adorned my skirt. I remember the day that I started dancing. My mother and father had abandoned me at the age of 16. I would dance in the city market for a few gold coins for some bread and sleep outside the temple of Athena at night. An Athenian preistess saw me and offered to let me dance for the Pharoah. Since that day, I have been dancing and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I brushed my thick, black, wavy hair with a silver comb and slipped on a simple white linen dress which was purposely loose for sleeping. I heard a soft knock at the door

" May we come in?" a soft high pitched voice spoke.

"Now, Did you really think that I would forget your date candy Philadelphus?" I jokingly replied.

The little seven year old boy come out from behind the door followed by Selene and jumped on my lavish, giant bed. I reached in my jar next to my pefumes and handed Philadelphus and Selene a candy each, which Philadelphus devoured immediatley.

"Have you ever been to Rome?" asked Selene while fumbling through and trying on my jewelry.

"No, Why do you ask?"

"It's because mother talks about it all the time, she says that there are giant temples and arenas filled with over 2000 people. The men there are handsome and strong while the women are beautiful and delicate"

I had never stepped foot out of Egypt and didn't plan to.

"Now now children, it is time for you to get to bed. We can't have the future kings and queens of Egypt not getting any sleep, Can we?"

I herded them out of the room and flopped down on my bed. Without diffculty, I closed my fatigued eyes and slowly drifted to sleep.

Late in the night

My eyes shot open! I heard screaming, panicked running. I leaped out of my bed and ran to my balcony that looked over the city. The buildings were ablaze with flames reaching the heavens. I looked down at the streets and then I saw the familiar color of red capes and iron armor.

The Romans were here.