140AD - The Rise to Empress || [GxG] ||

Chapter 10

Translations:

Ientaculum = Breakfast (You've seen this one)

Salve = Hello/Greetings

Futuo = Fuck (You've seen this one)

Quaeso, veni mecum. = Please, come with me.

Prandium = Lunch.

Hiems = Winter/cold/stormy weather

Matris futour! = Motherfucker!

Stigma = Tattoo/Brand

Cohortes Praetoriae = Praetorian Guard

Non nobis solum = Not for ourselves alone. (This was the motto of the Praetorian Guard.)

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When the first light comes, Lexa wakes up but this time in no sort of cold sweats. Morta had left her alone, for now, up until the next fortnight. Fourteen nights of peaceful sleep until she's in for a long night again when Morta comes to haunt her and so the process will repeat itself, over and over again until she can make peace with her demons. She does not know when that will be or if it ever will happen. But up until then, she will savor her peaceful nights.

As per the coming ritual, Valentina brings her ientaculum and Lexa eats. After she bathes and Valentina cleans her wounds, she then clads herself in the armour she thought would bring her many more victories in the Colosseum, but she knew it would soon be replaced by royal guards' armour.
Soon, she would become part of the Praetorian Guard and would get her hand tattooed marked to officiate her takings in the guard, that she will serve the Emperor until the end of her days. Lexa was definitely having second thoughts as to if she really wanted to give her life up to the guard. She was still so young and had not seen much of the world yet.

However, when she went on her knees that morning to ask the gods for guidance, something inside of her said that this was her calling. Lexa liked to think that it was her father communicating with her through the voices of the gods but who was she to say. But it was enough to shun away any of her second thoughts and doubts about the taking she would have to take very soon.

With her thoughts abolished, she closes the door to her quarters behind her and makes her way to the quarters of the Empress, ready to start her second day of duty. Her second day of many to come she thinks. However, when she knocks on the door to make her presence known that she was ready whenever Clarke was; the handmaiden Raven opens the door just a smidge.

"Salve, Alexandria. How can I assist you?"

"Salve, maiden. As promised, I am here for duty. Whenever the Empress is ready to start her day, I am ready. I'll wait here in the corridor." Lexa wore a friendly smile on her lips, she was energized today and actually in the mood to do her duty. A good night of sleep was all she required and now here she was.

Raven stepped into the corridor, closing the heavy door behind her as softly and gently as possible. "I'm afraid the Empress will not leave her quarters today; she is feeling quite ill if you understand what I mean. She has asked me to tell you that you are welcome to do today whatever you please to do."

Understanding, Lexa took a step back and nodded her head, a small smile on her lips. She understood all too well what too much wine and ale could do to an individual and she had, had her fair share of the ailment in her younger years when she and Octavia would go to the tavern most nights after training.