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Love Story Of Ayesha And Remus...
- Thread starter Yupar
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RacingRodent
Consul
Coming very soon. A man, a woman, a dream in troubled times
Will fortune favour the brave?
So is she the dream that will soon be in trouble???
T
T
Yupar
Regina Iudaeorum
Pls watch later..but i m falling in squirrels since we did love scenes together...
RacingRodent
Consul
Remus Rabirius (Scene1)
Let me begin my tale in Palestine in the sixteenth year of the reign of
Tiberius heir to the Divine Augustus. I had been bidden to take a
vexillatio of the Syrian Garrison to Judea to see if something could be
done about a troublesome rebel and bandit by the name of Barabbas.
After several months in which the infernal man had slipped through
my fingers time and again like so much water I had cornered him and
much of his ragged band in a small ruined village atop a hillside in that
tumbled country just south of Jerusalem, where the prickly Hebrews
had their temple and were forever making trouble even without the
likes of Barabbas to further stir things up.
I had under my immediate command the II Cohort of the Legio X
Fretensis, the XVIIII Cohors Equitata Galleria of sunburnt but effective
soldiers of the auxiliary and some archers and other rabble from
Herod Agrippa’s personal troops. My units were not up to full strength,
they never are the call on the army for men to sort out this task or that
one is simply too great. Still I had some three hundred legionaries,
maybe five hundred auxiliaries including one hundred horsemen that
might be all important if Barabbas somehow broke our encirclement
and roughly one hundred of King Herod’s men.
“So everything is in position, you should give the order to advance,”
Quintus was my aide, a supernumerary officer on the official rolls, for
a tribune to have a military aide, even a senior tribune is a rare thing
and excited comment but then when your father has been raised to the
Senate by the Emperor himself and he has been known to refer to you
as his nephew then people bend the rules for you.
Besides Quintus Amellius Scarus was a good man, his father was a
Doctor of some note, a poor relation to the Amelliani but then poor is a
relative concept within that wealthy and storied clan. Not that the Rabiria
are exactly unknown I admit so I was well aware that eyes in Rome
would eagerly scan each and every last report of my actions.
I once again scanned what I could see of my array, given the hill a lot
of troops were out of sight but sometimes you just have to rely on the
judgment of the men in command, the centurions were a tried and
tested lot, not that imaginative the most of them but my plan left little
to the imagination. “Have the cornicens sound, the advance will
commence,” I ordered and the disciplined military machine that has
built and maintained the glory that is Rome for centuries swung into
action.
The legionaries advanced up the main track into the village relying on
their large shields and heavy reinforced mail to protect them. The
Galleria, who had won their honorific in a siege action some decades
before included a good many Syrian slingers these days. These and the
lance men scrambled among the rocks to get a good position to rain
lead shot and javelins among the bandits.
At first all seemed to be going neatly to plan, rather too neatly I should
have suspected.
As the lead century wheeled around the last twist in the road then
Barabbas sprang his trap. A concealed load of loads and boulders came
crashing down among the legionaries stopping them in their tracks
and disordering them. Injuries were serious but only to a few men but
the confusion was critical, I had already started running forwards
even before it became clear that the centurions had lost control of the
situation.
Our main force was stalled and the rebels were attacking them with
arrows, thrown spears, sling stones and hand hurled rocks. There was
a very real chance they might take it upon them to retreat and that
would set a bad precedent. I was not sure what supplies the thieves
and looters had managed to stock but I had only gambled on a short
fight and would be hard pressed to feed my men if this turned into a
siege.
The heat was sweltering by the time I got up that hill. My armour felt
hot and heavy. I had forgotten my shield, left with my body slave who
was puffing in my wake some distance back, even so I was blowing
hard. It seemed that wrestling was not the only exercise I had been
missing out on during this campaign.
“Plant your standard a moment, let everyone see it,” I told the
standard bearer.
“Shields up your fools, they can only throw things down on you if you
stay at the bottom of the hill, advance for yourselves, for honor, for
Rome and for glory!” I cried and then gathering myself charged
forwards again. I had that inevitable notion that no one was following
me but to look back would be fatal. I was very relieved when I head the
thunder of military boots and the rattle of metal I can tell you, my
head told my coward’s heart to stop its wailing and we came on as a
surging tide of Roman vengeance.
Besides the delay had let the Galleria, their honorific a tribute to
volunteering to build an undermining shaft in some long ago siege,
into position, now it was the turn of the rebels to feel the bite of shot
and shaft. That distracted them and lessened the barrage that faced us
and by now I felt confident that even if I went down the legionaries
would carry the crest.
So did the bandits. They were fleeing before we came upon them but
they had no avenues of escape. Herod’s archers sprang quills from
those men who dared the slope opposite them and beyond them were
the Galleria’s horse looking more than happy to ride any robber into
the ground.
So it turned into a lethal game of cat and mouse with the legionaries
up for blood hunting the bandits house to house. I was looking though
for one man in particular. He was easy enough to spot. He still wore as
was his common affectation the old and stained robes of a Jewish
Temple Priest. The Pharisee had gone into the back country on who
knew what mission and had been murdered by the robber and his two
daughters raped into the bargain. Barabbas claimed to be a freedom
fighter but the only freedom he seemed to truly desire was that of
reaving among his own people.
“Hold there Barabbas, Rome would like a word with you,” I called in
Latin, before remembering the man had none. He recognized his name
though.
“Come here Roman dog, I will make your skull a drinking cup once I
am escaped, I like a little memento of all our encounters,” His Greek
was not exactly brilliant but the meaning came across, I dare say mine
had been the despair of my tutors for all that it was better than his.
“Well it will be the first time you have fought a man not stabbed him in
the back, I am sure that will be quite your last novelty,” I replied Greek
really is an odd tongue though it can be quite poetic issuing from other
mouths than mine.
So there it was my straight blade with a triangular point versus his leaf
shaped sword. He really did not know how to use it slashing away like
he was trying to reap wheat but such were the enthusiasm of his blows
it took me some time to close with him. I made a thrust and could have
taken him in the belly there and then but I wanted him alive and belly
wounds are awkward at the best of times.
So I made a couple of cuts, parried several of his blows and worked in
close. He swung at me from my left and I used my arm to deflect the
blow, “You are doomed Roman dog, God will have you now and eat
your eyes,” Barabbas said and stepped back as if thinking the job done.
I was surprised by this but welcomed the opening. I pressed my sword
against his throat.
“You are my prisoner,” I said and he frowned clearly expecting
something to happen that just wasn’t.
“Kill me then dog,” He challenge and I had to whip my sword back, He
tried to stab me with his own blade but I caught his arm and then
brought the pommel of my gladius down on his skull. He went out like
a light.
I found a tesserarius and a legionary and handed the unconscious man
over to them to hold. “Well it seems we have won,” I remarked
cheerfully to my gathering officers, it was then that I began to feel
really rather strange, “Poison, poison in the blade,” I think I managed
to get out looking at my arm that felt like fire while the rest of me went
all cold, then I was collapsing, I remember that and being caught by
Quintus and a centurion…after that it went all a bit fuzzy for a long
time.
Let me begin my tale in Palestine in the sixteenth year of the reign of
Tiberius heir to the Divine Augustus. I had been bidden to take a
vexillatio of the Syrian Garrison to Judea to see if something could be
done about a troublesome rebel and bandit by the name of Barabbas.
After several months in which the infernal man had slipped through
my fingers time and again like so much water I had cornered him and
much of his ragged band in a small ruined village atop a hillside in that
tumbled country just south of Jerusalem, where the prickly Hebrews
had their temple and were forever making trouble even without the
likes of Barabbas to further stir things up.
I had under my immediate command the II Cohort of the Legio X
Fretensis, the XVIIII Cohors Equitata Galleria of sunburnt but effective
soldiers of the auxiliary and some archers and other rabble from
Herod Agrippa’s personal troops. My units were not up to full strength,
they never are the call on the army for men to sort out this task or that
one is simply too great. Still I had some three hundred legionaries,
maybe five hundred auxiliaries including one hundred horsemen that
might be all important if Barabbas somehow broke our encirclement
and roughly one hundred of King Herod’s men.
“So everything is in position, you should give the order to advance,”
Quintus was my aide, a supernumerary officer on the official rolls, for
a tribune to have a military aide, even a senior tribune is a rare thing
and excited comment but then when your father has been raised to the
Senate by the Emperor himself and he has been known to refer to you
as his nephew then people bend the rules for you.
Besides Quintus Amellius Scarus was a good man, his father was a
Doctor of some note, a poor relation to the Amelliani but then poor is a
relative concept within that wealthy and storied clan. Not that the Rabiria
are exactly unknown I admit so I was well aware that eyes in Rome
would eagerly scan each and every last report of my actions.
I once again scanned what I could see of my array, given the hill a lot
of troops were out of sight but sometimes you just have to rely on the
judgment of the men in command, the centurions were a tried and
tested lot, not that imaginative the most of them but my plan left little
to the imagination. “Have the cornicens sound, the advance will
commence,” I ordered and the disciplined military machine that has
built and maintained the glory that is Rome for centuries swung into
action.
The legionaries advanced up the main track into the village relying on
their large shields and heavy reinforced mail to protect them. The
Galleria, who had won their honorific in a siege action some decades
before included a good many Syrian slingers these days. These and the
lance men scrambled among the rocks to get a good position to rain
lead shot and javelins among the bandits.
At first all seemed to be going neatly to plan, rather too neatly I should
have suspected.
As the lead century wheeled around the last twist in the road then
Barabbas sprang his trap. A concealed load of loads and boulders came
crashing down among the legionaries stopping them in their tracks
and disordering them. Injuries were serious but only to a few men but
the confusion was critical, I had already started running forwards
even before it became clear that the centurions had lost control of the
situation.
Our main force was stalled and the rebels were attacking them with
arrows, thrown spears, sling stones and hand hurled rocks. There was
a very real chance they might take it upon them to retreat and that
would set a bad precedent. I was not sure what supplies the thieves
and looters had managed to stock but I had only gambled on a short
fight and would be hard pressed to feed my men if this turned into a
siege.
The heat was sweltering by the time I got up that hill. My armour felt
hot and heavy. I had forgotten my shield, left with my body slave who
was puffing in my wake some distance back, even so I was blowing
hard. It seemed that wrestling was not the only exercise I had been
missing out on during this campaign.
“Plant your standard a moment, let everyone see it,” I told the
standard bearer.
“Shields up your fools, they can only throw things down on you if you
stay at the bottom of the hill, advance for yourselves, for honor, for
Rome and for glory!” I cried and then gathering myself charged
forwards again. I had that inevitable notion that no one was following
me but to look back would be fatal. I was very relieved when I head the
thunder of military boots and the rattle of metal I can tell you, my
head told my coward’s heart to stop its wailing and we came on as a
surging tide of Roman vengeance.
Besides the delay had let the Galleria, their honorific a tribute to
volunteering to build an undermining shaft in some long ago siege,
into position, now it was the turn of the rebels to feel the bite of shot
and shaft. That distracted them and lessened the barrage that faced us
and by now I felt confident that even if I went down the legionaries
would carry the crest.
So did the bandits. They were fleeing before we came upon them but
they had no avenues of escape. Herod’s archers sprang quills from
those men who dared the slope opposite them and beyond them were
the Galleria’s horse looking more than happy to ride any robber into
the ground.
So it turned into a lethal game of cat and mouse with the legionaries
up for blood hunting the bandits house to house. I was looking though
for one man in particular. He was easy enough to spot. He still wore as
was his common affectation the old and stained robes of a Jewish
Temple Priest. The Pharisee had gone into the back country on who
knew what mission and had been murdered by the robber and his two
daughters raped into the bargain. Barabbas claimed to be a freedom
fighter but the only freedom he seemed to truly desire was that of
reaving among his own people.
“Hold there Barabbas, Rome would like a word with you,” I called in
Latin, before remembering the man had none. He recognized his name
though.
“Come here Roman dog, I will make your skull a drinking cup once I
am escaped, I like a little memento of all our encounters,” His Greek
was not exactly brilliant but the meaning came across, I dare say mine
had been the despair of my tutors for all that it was better than his.
“Well it will be the first time you have fought a man not stabbed him in
the back, I am sure that will be quite your last novelty,” I replied Greek
really is an odd tongue though it can be quite poetic issuing from other
mouths than mine.
So there it was my straight blade with a triangular point versus his leaf
shaped sword. He really did not know how to use it slashing away like
he was trying to reap wheat but such were the enthusiasm of his blows
it took me some time to close with him. I made a thrust and could have
taken him in the belly there and then but I wanted him alive and belly
wounds are awkward at the best of times.
So I made a couple of cuts, parried several of his blows and worked in
close. He swung at me from my left and I used my arm to deflect the
blow, “You are doomed Roman dog, God will have you now and eat
your eyes,” Barabbas said and stepped back as if thinking the job done.
I was surprised by this but welcomed the opening. I pressed my sword
against his throat.
“You are my prisoner,” I said and he frowned clearly expecting
something to happen that just wasn’t.
“Kill me then dog,” He challenge and I had to whip my sword back, He
tried to stab me with his own blade but I caught his arm and then
brought the pommel of my gladius down on his skull. He went out like
a light.
I found a tesserarius and a legionary and handed the unconscious man
over to them to hold. “Well it seems we have won,” I remarked
cheerfully to my gathering officers, it was then that I began to feel
really rather strange, “Poison, poison in the blade,” I think I managed
to get out looking at my arm that felt like fire while the rest of me went
all cold, then I was collapsing, I remember that and being caught by
Quintus and a centurion…after that it went all a bit fuzzy for a long
time.
To Be Continued
i like troubled time dreams
Yupar
Regina Iudaeorum
Ayesha (Scene 2)
The Indian merchant ship that carried me has now arrived at the port of Elath.
The passengers have disembarked. Workers were now offloading their cargo. For me, I had to find another ship to continue my journey to the coast of Galilee. Then I would continue my land journey to my home, Nazareth. I saw the port was busy and crowded not like on ordinary days. There were a lot of Roman soldiers and some Roman military style tents are spread around in places near the port.
I walked along the port and went to a small restaurant for taking a lunch.
In front of the restaurant, there was the smart Roman tent that was bigger than any of others. While I was waiting for my meal, I noticed a few roman soldiers urgently coming and going. And most them not of normal rank. As my lunch arrived, one of them came to the restaurant and ordered a drink. I felt his face was familiar to me but I didn’t remember where we had met. Because as a healer or physician of Nazareth, I travelled places a lot to gain my medical knowledge and learn new medicine, treatments and healing techniques. That’s why I came back from Asia where I had learned new treatment liked acupuncture technique from China and got very good combining the technique with the herbs of India.
The Roman turned his head toward me, with a stunned look on his face.
He asked, “Are you Ayesha, Ayesha from Nazareth? Do you remember me?”
I answered, “I’m sorry. I feel like I know you. But I can’t remember.”
He said, “Do you remember the Roman Physician and owner of the herbs shop in Rome, Demus Scarus. I am his son. My name is Quintus Amellius.”
I was starting to remember him; I had known his father very well.
Once there was a small meeting of physicians from all around the places under Roman Empire. We were sharing our knowledge and discussing each other’s. At that time, I was just a Teenage Jewish girl who had just learned our traditional medicines.
In Rome, it was very difficult for a poor girl to find a place to stay. But his father helped me to find a place to stay and I learned lots of new skills from him. Even though it was difficult to create a good friendship between Romans and Jews, his father was a good friend of mine.
I replied, ‘Quintus Amellius, yes... Now I remember, sorry, I didn’t remember you at first, last I saw you … you were a very young boy.
Now you become a smart man. But I always remember your father very well. How is everything about him and you?”
“He’s fine, sister Ayesha, even though you don’t recognize me, I remember your face very well, how can I forget the kind hearted sister like you, you are the only Jewish sister I have ever met. We were here after we captured the bandit leader Barabbas…”
“Oh…I know him, His cruelness is very famous!
Few of our people think he is the leader of the rebellion. But what we know is he is just a bandit, and despicable murder...even for his own tribes liked us. He has never spared...”
“Don’t worry sis, we have captured him…even we don’t think him as rebellion leader….He is just bandit for us. But the leader of our troop was wounded on his left arms. His wound was a small cut. But the blade had poison. And so far he’s still unconscious. Our doctor has just given up. Is it OK with you, if I request your help? His name is Remus Rambirius. He is like my brother, too. But he’s a son of Roman senator Rambirius, and he may govern your Judea one day.”
“There’s no problem Quintus, I don’t care if he is Roman, Jews or anyone else. As long as he is a patient, wounded and need helps,
I have to cure him as a healer. That’s my ethics,
I don’t have hatred and angers between Rome and Palestine for time being. Let’s go Quintus, Please lead me …”
I followed him immediately after we have paid for our meals.
When we arrived inside the tent, I found the tall and muscular guy laying on his bed. His upper body is bare and his strong body showed he was a great fighter in battle. His hair was dark and short and when I saw his face, mixed with Greece and Roman, I admitted he is a quite handsome guy. His lips are turned grey caused by poison. And his body temperature was too high, too.
After I checked his wound and symptoms, I knew the poison that was killing him. It was venom from some kind of rare poisonous scorpions. And I could tell the poison had not reached his inner organs. I requested Quintus to make him sit down. Then I brought out my acupuncture needles, and asked for a candle to vaccinate them.
Then I put my needles to his back’s acupuncture points to control spreading of venom all over his body. After taking a half of hours, I fully controlled the spread of the poison. Then I prepared for his treatment. I had to use another poison to remove poison from his body. That was the most unbelievable method that I have just learned.
It was like two negative effects turn the new positive effect. I gave him a mild portion of poisonous herbs, I got from Asia. When it was finished, all I had to do is to decrease his temperature by rubbing him with water soaked pieces of rag again and again. And every one hour, I gave him a tea spoon of another potion to control his temperature and gain his strength back.
Around midnight, all other soldiers went back to their respective tents and fell asleep... Only Quintus left on our tent and he had already fell sleep on his bed at other side of tent. It was almost dawn, when his temperature got back to normal and was out of danger.
After I confirmed he was getting better, I took a nap in sitting position beside his bed. Because of the tiredness of the travelling and without sleeping the whole night, I fell in sleep deeply…
The Indian merchant ship that carried me has now arrived at the port of Elath.
The passengers have disembarked. Workers were now offloading their cargo. For me, I had to find another ship to continue my journey to the coast of Galilee. Then I would continue my land journey to my home, Nazareth. I saw the port was busy and crowded not like on ordinary days. There were a lot of Roman soldiers and some Roman military style tents are spread around in places near the port.
I walked along the port and went to a small restaurant for taking a lunch.
In front of the restaurant, there was the smart Roman tent that was bigger than any of others. While I was waiting for my meal, I noticed a few roman soldiers urgently coming and going. And most them not of normal rank. As my lunch arrived, one of them came to the restaurant and ordered a drink. I felt his face was familiar to me but I didn’t remember where we had met. Because as a healer or physician of Nazareth, I travelled places a lot to gain my medical knowledge and learn new medicine, treatments and healing techniques. That’s why I came back from Asia where I had learned new treatment liked acupuncture technique from China and got very good combining the technique with the herbs of India.
The Roman turned his head toward me, with a stunned look on his face.
He asked, “Are you Ayesha, Ayesha from Nazareth? Do you remember me?”
I answered, “I’m sorry. I feel like I know you. But I can’t remember.”
He said, “Do you remember the Roman Physician and owner of the herbs shop in Rome, Demus Scarus. I am his son. My name is Quintus Amellius.”
I was starting to remember him; I had known his father very well.
Once there was a small meeting of physicians from all around the places under Roman Empire. We were sharing our knowledge and discussing each other’s. At that time, I was just a Teenage Jewish girl who had just learned our traditional medicines.
In Rome, it was very difficult for a poor girl to find a place to stay. But his father helped me to find a place to stay and I learned lots of new skills from him. Even though it was difficult to create a good friendship between Romans and Jews, his father was a good friend of mine.
I replied, ‘Quintus Amellius, yes... Now I remember, sorry, I didn’t remember you at first, last I saw you … you were a very young boy.
Now you become a smart man. But I always remember your father very well. How is everything about him and you?”
“He’s fine, sister Ayesha, even though you don’t recognize me, I remember your face very well, how can I forget the kind hearted sister like you, you are the only Jewish sister I have ever met. We were here after we captured the bandit leader Barabbas…”
“Oh…I know him, His cruelness is very famous!
Few of our people think he is the leader of the rebellion. But what we know is he is just a bandit, and despicable murder...even for his own tribes liked us. He has never spared...”
“Don’t worry sis, we have captured him…even we don’t think him as rebellion leader….He is just bandit for us. But the leader of our troop was wounded on his left arms. His wound was a small cut. But the blade had poison. And so far he’s still unconscious. Our doctor has just given up. Is it OK with you, if I request your help? His name is Remus Rambirius. He is like my brother, too. But he’s a son of Roman senator Rambirius, and he may govern your Judea one day.”
“There’s no problem Quintus, I don’t care if he is Roman, Jews or anyone else. As long as he is a patient, wounded and need helps,
I have to cure him as a healer. That’s my ethics,
I don’t have hatred and angers between Rome and Palestine for time being. Let’s go Quintus, Please lead me …”
I followed him immediately after we have paid for our meals.
When we arrived inside the tent, I found the tall and muscular guy laying on his bed. His upper body is bare and his strong body showed he was a great fighter in battle. His hair was dark and short and when I saw his face, mixed with Greece and Roman, I admitted he is a quite handsome guy. His lips are turned grey caused by poison. And his body temperature was too high, too.
After I checked his wound and symptoms, I knew the poison that was killing him. It was venom from some kind of rare poisonous scorpions. And I could tell the poison had not reached his inner organs. I requested Quintus to make him sit down. Then I brought out my acupuncture needles, and asked for a candle to vaccinate them.
Then I put my needles to his back’s acupuncture points to control spreading of venom all over his body. After taking a half of hours, I fully controlled the spread of the poison. Then I prepared for his treatment. I had to use another poison to remove poison from his body. That was the most unbelievable method that I have just learned.
It was like two negative effects turn the new positive effect. I gave him a mild portion of poisonous herbs, I got from Asia. When it was finished, all I had to do is to decrease his temperature by rubbing him with water soaked pieces of rag again and again. And every one hour, I gave him a tea spoon of another potion to control his temperature and gain his strength back.
Around midnight, all other soldiers went back to their respective tents and fell asleep... Only Quintus left on our tent and he had already fell sleep on his bed at other side of tent. It was almost dawn, when his temperature got back to normal and was out of danger.
After I confirmed he was getting better, I took a nap in sitting position beside his bed. Because of the tiredness of the travelling and without sleeping the whole night, I fell in sleep deeply…
To be continued..
RacingRodent
Consul
Remus Rabirius (Scene3)
I was not surprised when I awoke to loud snores. A praetor of an
Imperial force even a small one like mine rarely sleeps alone. I
customarily had a guard posted outside my tent too. I easily identified
Quintus’s resounding horn blasts, the man claimed he did not snore
but I knew better. In the near dark I was a bit fuzzy as to the shape
half sat half slumping besides me.
It dawned on me by the light of the lamp swinging near the entrance
that this was a woman. A very beautiful woman, unlike any I had seen
before. She was at once rounder and softer looking than any woman I
had previously encountered and yet there was a certain slender
strength to her like those girls who insist on doing Spartan style
exercise and gyrating around in those halters and loin clothes, not I
must admit that I mind a good looking girl in a skimpy pair of such
garments.
Still there was something rather more genteel about this girl. I really
was not sure what she was doing next to me. I did not take slave girls
with me on campaign, it often aroused jealousy and above all created
problems with the wife Claudia who when I left her in Antioch had
been in that feminine condition that was neither fit for travel nor wise
to upset. My parents would be thrilled no doubt when they got the
letter, a lot of scheming had gone into that marriage.
So there I was alone in my tent, not counting a Quintus snoring away
fit to wake folks back in Rome and this petite delicate wonderful
creature her chin softly rising and falling on her chest. I really was too
weak for any impropriety I assure you but it did not seem so
comfortable a resting spot and so I eased her down on the bed besides
me. If I was motivated as much by a desire to look at her more closely,
to smell her perfumed skin, to feel her warmth next to me I can only
plead a madness of Venus but I swear by Vesta no more than a fitful
yet most happy sleep occurred after that.
Of course morning came around all too soon.
Quintus had left without a word helping to oversee the preparations
for my transport to Alexandria no doubt and the great hospital there. I
was awoken with a start when the girl suddenly unwrapped herself
from around me with a series of apologies in both broken Latin and
rather better Greek than my own.
“I am sorry, I should not, I did not mean, I ought to go,” She said.
She was upright and about to sortie from my tent, a thought that filled
me with the utmost distress when I caught her arm and she stopped.
She could easily have shaken free if she wanted to, I really was not yet
in top condition though surprisingly hale for a man who by all rights
ought to be dead.
“Please stay, just a moment, I don’t even know your name,” I managed
to bite down a confession that she was the most beautiful woman I had
ever seen, it was a little too soon for such declarations.
“I am Ayesha, I was just asked by your friend Quintus Amellius to help
you, I drove out the venom, please I should go tell the other doctors…”
She made a tentative move to pull away but it was not a real struggle.
“You know Quintus?” I asked in Latin which is my preferred tongue
even though she was more at ease with Greek.
“I knew his father, I study medicine in Rome, I go everywhere for
knowledge, herbs, drugs, potions, way to cut man so he don’t bleed, I
love to heal,” Said Ayesha and her face took on a glow as she spoke, as
if Apollo himself had granted her a portion of his halo.
Latin was not her tongue but she did not need to speak with patrician
grace to fill me with awe. Somehow, I cannot quite remember how I
persuaded her in my stiff Greek and her exotically accented Latin to
stay and talk awhile, a short while became a long while and we shared
breakfast together.
Eventually I had to answer the needs of the body but rather than be
allowed to stagger to the nearest latrine I had to put up with the
slightly mortifying experience of having my urine and stool collected
in bowls and closely examined by Ayesha and the other doctors. This is
really not the way I ever planned on wooing a woman but the medicae
pronounced themselves happy with the results and at least I could use
it to persuade Ayesha to stay with me the afternoon as well.
By which time I learned she was headed home to Nazareth in Galilee. I
cautioned her against the lawless road up the Jordan Valley and
recommended that she come to Alexandria with me and then by boat
to Caesarea and from there to her home, I could even arrange her
armed escort, I had some pull thanks to my rank and relations. When
she expressed doubt I must admit I played shamelessly on her sense of
duty as a doctor to ensure she would guard me against relapse. Thus I
secured her company on the ship and then canal boat to the city ruled
by the Pharaohs until Divine Augustus cast down the last of the
Ptolemies.
Again there was no impropriety but not for want of trying on my part.
Ayesha though she clearly responded with her heart showed a
woman’s caution of such things. I must have kissed and rubbed near
every inch of her beautiful exquisite body clothed and when I could
persuade her into the bath’s quite naked but always she resisted my
manhood. I was at times left feeling quite frustrated but ever hotter for
her look, her touch even just the faintest hint of her smile. Alas though
Rome had heard the news and though we had a good fortnight
together those seventeen blissful days ended with orders from the
Princeps and Imperator.
So we parted. I composed letters of transit and introduction to ensure
Ayesha safe passage. “Be careful my love,” I told her, “I hope to be back
in Judea before long but I must honor the Emperor’s commands, I
will call you when I return to take up my post.”
“I will wait, I go Nazareth, my home, I have much learning now, I will
help my people, maybe when you come back you can help your people
be more kind, less nasty,” Ayesha told me and I had to bite down a
retort that we were no more nasty than required to stop that fractious
lot from tearing each other apart and letting the Pathians in and those
fellows were a lot crueler and more rapacious than any Roman.
“But I love you properly when I see you again, send for me and I come,
I shall help you and love you,” Ayesha assured me and we parted there
on the docks her ship bound one way mine another.
Rome was much as I imagined it. Fraught with the intrigues of Sejanus
of the Praetorians, absolute master of the City with even the Emperor’s
Germans withdrawn to the Campania, still the man was wise enough
not to challenge an actual command and I did my formal triumph
though somehow it seemed to celebrate the Praetorians rather than
the legionaries who had actually performed the service.
I sat through a couple of gloomy banquets with the Emperor himself at
his retreat and was all too eager to return to Palestine to take up my
posting and more importantly to see Ayesha again. If perhaps in my
folly I conceived I might come up with a solution to decades of unrest
and lawlessness well I was young and ambitious and would live to learn
better.
I was not surprised when I awoke to loud snores. A praetor of an
Imperial force even a small one like mine rarely sleeps alone. I
customarily had a guard posted outside my tent too. I easily identified
Quintus’s resounding horn blasts, the man claimed he did not snore
but I knew better. In the near dark I was a bit fuzzy as to the shape
half sat half slumping besides me.
It dawned on me by the light of the lamp swinging near the entrance
that this was a woman. A very beautiful woman, unlike any I had seen
before. She was at once rounder and softer looking than any woman I
had previously encountered and yet there was a certain slender
strength to her like those girls who insist on doing Spartan style
exercise and gyrating around in those halters and loin clothes, not I
must admit that I mind a good looking girl in a skimpy pair of such
garments.
Still there was something rather more genteel about this girl. I really
was not sure what she was doing next to me. I did not take slave girls
with me on campaign, it often aroused jealousy and above all created
problems with the wife Claudia who when I left her in Antioch had
been in that feminine condition that was neither fit for travel nor wise
to upset. My parents would be thrilled no doubt when they got the
letter, a lot of scheming had gone into that marriage.
So there I was alone in my tent, not counting a Quintus snoring away
fit to wake folks back in Rome and this petite delicate wonderful
creature her chin softly rising and falling on her chest. I really was too
weak for any impropriety I assure you but it did not seem so
comfortable a resting spot and so I eased her down on the bed besides
me. If I was motivated as much by a desire to look at her more closely,
to smell her perfumed skin, to feel her warmth next to me I can only
plead a madness of Venus but I swear by Vesta no more than a fitful
yet most happy sleep occurred after that.
Of course morning came around all too soon.
Quintus had left without a word helping to oversee the preparations
for my transport to Alexandria no doubt and the great hospital there. I
was awoken with a start when the girl suddenly unwrapped herself
from around me with a series of apologies in both broken Latin and
rather better Greek than my own.
“I am sorry, I should not, I did not mean, I ought to go,” She said.
She was upright and about to sortie from my tent, a thought that filled
me with the utmost distress when I caught her arm and she stopped.
She could easily have shaken free if she wanted to, I really was not yet
in top condition though surprisingly hale for a man who by all rights
ought to be dead.
“Please stay, just a moment, I don’t even know your name,” I managed
to bite down a confession that she was the most beautiful woman I had
ever seen, it was a little too soon for such declarations.
“I am Ayesha, I was just asked by your friend Quintus Amellius to help
you, I drove out the venom, please I should go tell the other doctors…”
She made a tentative move to pull away but it was not a real struggle.
“You know Quintus?” I asked in Latin which is my preferred tongue
even though she was more at ease with Greek.
“I knew his father, I study medicine in Rome, I go everywhere for
knowledge, herbs, drugs, potions, way to cut man so he don’t bleed, I
love to heal,” Said Ayesha and her face took on a glow as she spoke, as
if Apollo himself had granted her a portion of his halo.
Latin was not her tongue but she did not need to speak with patrician
grace to fill me with awe. Somehow, I cannot quite remember how I
persuaded her in my stiff Greek and her exotically accented Latin to
stay and talk awhile, a short while became a long while and we shared
breakfast together.
Eventually I had to answer the needs of the body but rather than be
allowed to stagger to the nearest latrine I had to put up with the
slightly mortifying experience of having my urine and stool collected
in bowls and closely examined by Ayesha and the other doctors. This is
really not the way I ever planned on wooing a woman but the medicae
pronounced themselves happy with the results and at least I could use
it to persuade Ayesha to stay with me the afternoon as well.
By which time I learned she was headed home to Nazareth in Galilee. I
cautioned her against the lawless road up the Jordan Valley and
recommended that she come to Alexandria with me and then by boat
to Caesarea and from there to her home, I could even arrange her
armed escort, I had some pull thanks to my rank and relations. When
she expressed doubt I must admit I played shamelessly on her sense of
duty as a doctor to ensure she would guard me against relapse. Thus I
secured her company on the ship and then canal boat to the city ruled
by the Pharaohs until Divine Augustus cast down the last of the
Ptolemies.
Again there was no impropriety but not for want of trying on my part.
Ayesha though she clearly responded with her heart showed a
woman’s caution of such things. I must have kissed and rubbed near
every inch of her beautiful exquisite body clothed and when I could
persuade her into the bath’s quite naked but always she resisted my
manhood. I was at times left feeling quite frustrated but ever hotter for
her look, her touch even just the faintest hint of her smile. Alas though
Rome had heard the news and though we had a good fortnight
together those seventeen blissful days ended with orders from the
Princeps and Imperator.
So we parted. I composed letters of transit and introduction to ensure
Ayesha safe passage. “Be careful my love,” I told her, “I hope to be back
in Judea before long but I must honor the Emperor’s commands, I
will call you when I return to take up my post.”
“I will wait, I go Nazareth, my home, I have much learning now, I will
help my people, maybe when you come back you can help your people
be more kind, less nasty,” Ayesha told me and I had to bite down a
retort that we were no more nasty than required to stop that fractious
lot from tearing each other apart and letting the Pathians in and those
fellows were a lot crueler and more rapacious than any Roman.
“But I love you properly when I see you again, send for me and I come,
I shall help you and love you,” Ayesha assured me and we parted there
on the docks her ship bound one way mine another.
Rome was much as I imagined it. Fraught with the intrigues of Sejanus
of the Praetorians, absolute master of the City with even the Emperor’s
Germans withdrawn to the Campania, still the man was wise enough
not to challenge an actual command and I did my formal triumph
though somehow it seemed to celebrate the Praetorians rather than
the legionaries who had actually performed the service.
I sat through a couple of gloomy banquets with the Emperor himself at
his retreat and was all too eager to return to Palestine to take up my
posting and more importantly to see Ayesha again. If perhaps in my
folly I conceived I might come up with a solution to decades of unrest
and lawlessness well I was young and ambitious and would live to learn
better.
To Be Continued
Yupar
Regina Iudaeorum
Ayesha (Scene4)
Since I departed from Remus and I couldn’t help thinking about him. All the way home, he filled my thoughts. The more time we spent together the more attractive he became. He had entered my soul with his kindness and caring manner. It was hard to believe a Jewish girl like me had a true affection for a Roman soldier; a senator’s son like him. I barely denied my feelings and resisted him because of our differences in classes and races. And another major thing I heard from Quintus was he had a wife named Claudia, even their marriage is mixed with politics and power holdings.
Even if I resisted him, I was on his ship and all the people on board are his men. If he wishes to force me, I have no power to help myself. But he was not that kind of man and he didn’t force me to do anything, I was not willing to do. He made me feel at ease and safe throughout our journey. He valued me with his heart and I could feel it. No matter how I resisted, the one I had to admit was my heart is left behind with that Roman guy.
After arriving home, my mum and my step father warmly welcomed me. I rested for a few days and then, I spent my life as usual by healing the patients near and around Galilee. Because of the improvements of my medical skills, my name was fast becoming known throughout the land. I became the shining star of Nazareth after I successfully cured our mayor’s child who they thought as dead due to diarrhea. After that, there were more patients from the Galilee area but also from the City of Judea and other places.
I began to interest the people of power, while I accepted to cure the diseases of prostitutes in Nazareth. Almost all of our Jewish doctors and healer denied giving them treatments because they believed that it was an appropriate punishment for low mentality persons liked prostitutes. But with my medical ethics, I believed that those prostitutes were also humans and no need to discriminate against them because of their career. I successfully cured most of their sexual diseased, persuaded and helped them to work their life in another career. After that difficult thing have done, most of my people, especially woman and peasants, cheered me as a miracle healer of Nazareth and a daughter of god. While few of our Jewish leader thought me as mischief of Jewish believes.
But in spite of my busy working life, I missed Remus almost every minute of every day. No man had influenced me like him in all of my life. I still remembered his smiles, jokes and felt his accidental and intentional touch and poke to my body. Sometimes his muscular and strong half naked body made me smiled and a bit ashamed of me for resisting and denying his feelings for me.
But I believed if our fates are sealed together, there will be the day I will meet him again when I need not have to cover my feelings.
Still, I can’t help but wonder …Does he miss me, too?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Two months and three weeks later, I got news about him. He was promoted and became the new governor of Judea, the highest recourse of our Jewish people. There was also much good news about him. Not like the former governor, he respected existence of our peoples’ believes and culture, and tried to use more gentle and peaceful ways to deal with the conflicts between Rome and old fashioned Jewish leader. He could be kind and brave at the same time. If he had succeeded or not, at least he had listened to my last words when we departed. And he is one I want, the only one in my life and wished be with him again, more and more, each day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A week later, a small Roman troop came to my house lead by Quintus. He gave the invitation letter to me from my beloved Remus.
“My beloved Ayesha…
I would like to invite you to come my govern city of Judea.
My first reason is for the sake of our people. I would like to present you as a messiah by representing Jewish people and helping me to create the long lived peace.
My second reason is I wish to promote the health of both of our people based on your wide knowledge in medical fields.
The third and most important reason is I would like to see your face again!
I would like to show my gratitude to you for saving my life.
Missing our perfect time at a couple of gloomy banquets,
Making me feel perfect, deep inside...
You helped me gain more strength
You make me satisfied with your mirth
Please come to me!!!
Trust me –
I will never make you cry
Before the ocean run dry
With loves
Remus.”
After reading his letter, my heart melted in happiness. How long I have been waiting to see his face again? Now my wish was fulfilled and it was also for the sake of my people. There would be a lot of obstacles for both of us but I believed in Remus. With his love and help, I could pass through anything.
I gave Quintus my reply. I would leave for Judea on Sunday and would arrive three days later. Quinus assured me Remus would have everything prepare for my arrival.
After Quintus departed, I prepared myself for travel and informed my parents and checked all my patients.
Since I departed from Remus and I couldn’t help thinking about him. All the way home, he filled my thoughts. The more time we spent together the more attractive he became. He had entered my soul with his kindness and caring manner. It was hard to believe a Jewish girl like me had a true affection for a Roman soldier; a senator’s son like him. I barely denied my feelings and resisted him because of our differences in classes and races. And another major thing I heard from Quintus was he had a wife named Claudia, even their marriage is mixed with politics and power holdings.
Even if I resisted him, I was on his ship and all the people on board are his men. If he wishes to force me, I have no power to help myself. But he was not that kind of man and he didn’t force me to do anything, I was not willing to do. He made me feel at ease and safe throughout our journey. He valued me with his heart and I could feel it. No matter how I resisted, the one I had to admit was my heart is left behind with that Roman guy.
After arriving home, my mum and my step father warmly welcomed me. I rested for a few days and then, I spent my life as usual by healing the patients near and around Galilee. Because of the improvements of my medical skills, my name was fast becoming known throughout the land. I became the shining star of Nazareth after I successfully cured our mayor’s child who they thought as dead due to diarrhea. After that, there were more patients from the Galilee area but also from the City of Judea and other places.
I began to interest the people of power, while I accepted to cure the diseases of prostitutes in Nazareth. Almost all of our Jewish doctors and healer denied giving them treatments because they believed that it was an appropriate punishment for low mentality persons liked prostitutes. But with my medical ethics, I believed that those prostitutes were also humans and no need to discriminate against them because of their career. I successfully cured most of their sexual diseased, persuaded and helped them to work their life in another career. After that difficult thing have done, most of my people, especially woman and peasants, cheered me as a miracle healer of Nazareth and a daughter of god. While few of our Jewish leader thought me as mischief of Jewish believes.
But in spite of my busy working life, I missed Remus almost every minute of every day. No man had influenced me like him in all of my life. I still remembered his smiles, jokes and felt his accidental and intentional touch and poke to my body. Sometimes his muscular and strong half naked body made me smiled and a bit ashamed of me for resisting and denying his feelings for me.
But I believed if our fates are sealed together, there will be the day I will meet him again when I need not have to cover my feelings.
Still, I can’t help but wonder …Does he miss me, too?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Two months and three weeks later, I got news about him. He was promoted and became the new governor of Judea, the highest recourse of our Jewish people. There was also much good news about him. Not like the former governor, he respected existence of our peoples’ believes and culture, and tried to use more gentle and peaceful ways to deal with the conflicts between Rome and old fashioned Jewish leader. He could be kind and brave at the same time. If he had succeeded or not, at least he had listened to my last words when we departed. And he is one I want, the only one in my life and wished be with him again, more and more, each day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A week later, a small Roman troop came to my house lead by Quintus. He gave the invitation letter to me from my beloved Remus.
“My beloved Ayesha…
I would like to invite you to come my govern city of Judea.
My first reason is for the sake of our people. I would like to present you as a messiah by representing Jewish people and helping me to create the long lived peace.
My second reason is I wish to promote the health of both of our people based on your wide knowledge in medical fields.
The third and most important reason is I would like to see your face again!
I would like to show my gratitude to you for saving my life.
Missing our perfect time at a couple of gloomy banquets,
Making me feel perfect, deep inside...
You helped me gain more strength
You make me satisfied with your mirth
Please come to me!!!
Trust me –
I will never make you cry
Before the ocean run dry
With loves
Remus.”
After reading his letter, my heart melted in happiness. How long I have been waiting to see his face again? Now my wish was fulfilled and it was also for the sake of my people. There would be a lot of obstacles for both of us but I believed in Remus. With his love and help, I could pass through anything.
I gave Quintus my reply. I would leave for Judea on Sunday and would arrive three days later. Quinus assured me Remus would have everything prepare for my arrival.
After Quintus departed, I prepared myself for travel and informed my parents and checked all my patients.
To be continued...
RacingRodent
Consul
Remus Rabirius (Scene5)
Sea journeys are not for Romans I concluded after a particularly rough
voyage in which unseasonably high seas had obliged me to make more
than one visit to the ship’s rail and not all my companions had made it
that far. So it was with some relief that we arrived at Caesarea and I
was able to formally take up my post as Governor. My predecessor as
you might imagine was just as happy to hand over and return to Rome
post haste, pausing only to make offerings to Neptune for a smoother
voyage than I had endured.
The roads leading into and out of the city were lined with crosses, on
some of these the bodies still twitched, others were occupied only by
rotted scraps. It seemed on inquiry that Barabbas had been more than
willing to give up his confederates once the questioning started and
the torturers had helped him remember more names still. I went to see
him in his cell and found a wreck of a man, overgrown hair and beard
covered in badly healed burns and scars, his hands and feet twisted
claws from too many injuries left untreated.
“Have him cleaned up and restored to some semblance of health,” I
commanded the warders, “We shall publicly execute him in front of the
Golgotha rabble after the heathens have their bread ceremony,
Passover or whatever.”
Let that be an end to it I thought. These constant pointless insurgencies
achieved nothing and soon degenerated into petty banditry anyway, as
the would be rebels learned their own people made far easier targets
than tough well-armed Roman soldiers.
I was already thinking of Ayesha again even before the grizzled
veteran centurion who had charge of the Province’s network of
whisper mongers mentioned in passing. “Galilee has been unusually
quiet of late, it seems they are all too busy worshipping this new
doctor cum prophet Ayesha, the authorities are a little worried by her
popularity but old Tertius Cassius is just plain thankful for having a
quiet life at last and is loath to do anything.”
I did a little probing questioning of my informers but it soon appeared
to me that describing Ayesha as a prophet was a little exaggerated.
Then again that got me to thinking. The damn heathen Hebrews set a
great deal of store by their prophets and their insanely jealous God. I
mean do not get me wrong Gods are to be respected of course but I
must admit to being a little wary of any God who refuses to allow his
followers to make obeisance to another. This angering of the deities is
no doubt why Palestine is doomed to be ruled by other powers and
never her own people but at least Rome is a kinder mistress than
Parthia.
Still Ayesha was hot in my thoughts even when I did my duty by my
wife. Her movements, her grace, her interest in the world were so very
different from my Claudia’s obsession with image and status and the
ever changing fashions of jewelry and women’s clothing.
The two thoughts combined. If Ayesha could work her charms on the
Jerusalem mob in the same way she quieted Galilee we might all of
us Romans , Greeks, Jews, Samaritans, Arabs and the what have you of
these parts know real peace. Then trade might properly flourish and
that again would be to the good of all. Of course it would be impossible
to allow any figure such power and influence without close Roman
supervision and who better to supervise than the Prefect of Judea?
If that just happened to be me who already had a close and fruitful
relationship with Ayesha then all to the better. Oh the folly of the distracted heart. Still such thoughts were close to uppermost in my mind when I composed that fateful summons. Uppermost was the fact that I would never risk Claudia and the children in that snake pit that was Jerusalem at the best of times and certainly not during the Passover when the heathens with their shrill caterwauling were but one thrown stone from a riot and two good riots from a revolt.
If Claudia was not present then perhaps I and Ayesha might get to
know each other better? I really do not know how I envisaged the
future at that point save alas I saw only the roses and heeded not the
thorns. So was my letter dispatched and so was the gaze of those dread
Fates drawn upon us.
Sea journeys are not for Romans I concluded after a particularly rough
voyage in which unseasonably high seas had obliged me to make more
than one visit to the ship’s rail and not all my companions had made it
that far. So it was with some relief that we arrived at Caesarea and I
was able to formally take up my post as Governor. My predecessor as
you might imagine was just as happy to hand over and return to Rome
post haste, pausing only to make offerings to Neptune for a smoother
voyage than I had endured.
The roads leading into and out of the city were lined with crosses, on
some of these the bodies still twitched, others were occupied only by
rotted scraps. It seemed on inquiry that Barabbas had been more than
willing to give up his confederates once the questioning started and
the torturers had helped him remember more names still. I went to see
him in his cell and found a wreck of a man, overgrown hair and beard
covered in badly healed burns and scars, his hands and feet twisted
claws from too many injuries left untreated.
“Have him cleaned up and restored to some semblance of health,” I
commanded the warders, “We shall publicly execute him in front of the
Golgotha rabble after the heathens have their bread ceremony,
Passover or whatever.”
Let that be an end to it I thought. These constant pointless insurgencies
achieved nothing and soon degenerated into petty banditry anyway, as
the would be rebels learned their own people made far easier targets
than tough well-armed Roman soldiers.
I was already thinking of Ayesha again even before the grizzled
veteran centurion who had charge of the Province’s network of
whisper mongers mentioned in passing. “Galilee has been unusually
quiet of late, it seems they are all too busy worshipping this new
doctor cum prophet Ayesha, the authorities are a little worried by her
popularity but old Tertius Cassius is just plain thankful for having a
quiet life at last and is loath to do anything.”
I did a little probing questioning of my informers but it soon appeared
to me that describing Ayesha as a prophet was a little exaggerated.
Then again that got me to thinking. The damn heathen Hebrews set a
great deal of store by their prophets and their insanely jealous God. I
mean do not get me wrong Gods are to be respected of course but I
must admit to being a little wary of any God who refuses to allow his
followers to make obeisance to another. This angering of the deities is
no doubt why Palestine is doomed to be ruled by other powers and
never her own people but at least Rome is a kinder mistress than
Parthia.
Still Ayesha was hot in my thoughts even when I did my duty by my
wife. Her movements, her grace, her interest in the world were so very
different from my Claudia’s obsession with image and status and the
ever changing fashions of jewelry and women’s clothing.
The two thoughts combined. If Ayesha could work her charms on the
Jerusalem mob in the same way she quieted Galilee we might all of
us Romans , Greeks, Jews, Samaritans, Arabs and the what have you of
these parts know real peace. Then trade might properly flourish and
that again would be to the good of all. Of course it would be impossible
to allow any figure such power and influence without close Roman
supervision and who better to supervise than the Prefect of Judea?
If that just happened to be me who already had a close and fruitful
relationship with Ayesha then all to the better. Oh the folly of the distracted heart. Still such thoughts were close to uppermost in my mind when I composed that fateful summons. Uppermost was the fact that I would never risk Claudia and the children in that snake pit that was Jerusalem at the best of times and certainly not during the Passover when the heathens with their shrill caterwauling were but one thrown stone from a riot and two good riots from a revolt.
If Claudia was not present then perhaps I and Ayesha might get to
know each other better? I really do not know how I envisaged the
future at that point save alas I saw only the roses and heeded not the
thorns. So was my letter dispatched and so was the gaze of those dread
Fates drawn upon us.
To Be Continued
Yupar
Regina Iudaeorum
Ayesha (Scene6)
A day before the appointed day, Quintus and two roman soldiers arrived to accompany me to Judea. He brought a mule for me to ride, a present from Remus. It was a black and strong, a very expensive gift for an ordinary person likes me.
When morning came, I took a bath, and washed my hair dressed in a thin cotton robe with a purple cloak. I shined my black hair with olive oil and completed it with crown of flowers. A touch of makeup and fragrance and we departed from my home and headed to City of Judea.
That evening, we arrived in the city of Judea. When we saw a city gate, Quintus stopped me for a moment while he sent two soldiers to signal the start of the welcoming ceremony. Then we slowly approached the city of Judea...
I was lead through the city gate into the crowded street, people turned to me waving and cheering. I was surprised and flattered by the huge welcome ceremony that Remus arranged for me. I have seen this kind of ceremony only as one in the crowd during the Triumphs and Festivals only. Great throngs and flags lined the streets; people were cheering and hailing me as their messiah. Some were spreading palm leaves and flowers in my path. I was moving slowly through the crowded streets toward the Praetorium of the Fortress of Remus, My heart was racing. It was a feeling, I had never experienced before. I was filled with wonder, excitement and happiness. My beloved Remus had done all of this for me. The scent of flowers filled the warm air, a beautiful thing!
When I reached the Fortress, Remus stood waiting for me (with his dignified character). He welcomed me with a warm hug and brought me to the balcony. Then Remus announced to the crowd, "People of Judea, this elegant lady standing here is Ayesha of Nazareth, a very excellent healer and miracle maker of Galilee, I believe her as a messiah. One who will bring peace and harmony to our land. I wish to present her as a symbol of all Jewish people as the emperor's and god's will. If the people of Judea agree, Hail her name!"
The crowd answered with the roar of my name, "Our Messiah, Ayesha of Nazareth!"
Remus turned to me, smiled meaningfully and asked "Will you agree to be a messiah, for this people and me?"
I smiled and answered "Yes, Your Excellency, I will."
Then, Remus presented the small splendid building between the temple of Judea and his fortress as my new home.
Once the ceremony has done, we went down to the fortress and took dinner together and with other authorities of Judea. Since we were not alone; we had little chance for conversation. He just asked about my miracle healings and about what I have done in these months we were apart.
When dinner was finished and everyone had gone, he ordered Quintus and his body guards to stay at his fortress, changed out of his dress uniform and leaded me to my new home. Along the way, he talked about his future plan of reconciliation between Rome and our people. He planned for me to hold a small briefing every Sunday at the temple. In effort to keep the peace between our two people, I accepted and told him my opinions and wishes to help him. Then we walked silently till we reached my new home, but I noticed he was frustrated and looked like he still had a lot of things to says. When he said good bye and turned himself back, I couldn't keep pretend anymore and hugged him from behind. And said, "Until now, you have only told me half of what you are planning, I wish to know the rest!
I can't pretend anymore with you, will you tell me? I came here to make peace for others but what about me, the peace of my heart?"
He turned back again and held me tight, then he gently kissed my forehead and said, "This is my answer Ayesha, you are more important to me than Emperor and Rome" and then gave me a teasing smile.
I pushed him away a bit as I felt my cheeks burning as my heart pounded.
He tilted his head and smiled, saying "Good night my dear, Sweet dreams" and then left for the night.
Sleep did not come easily this night.
A day before the appointed day, Quintus and two roman soldiers arrived to accompany me to Judea. He brought a mule for me to ride, a present from Remus. It was a black and strong, a very expensive gift for an ordinary person likes me.
When morning came, I took a bath, and washed my hair dressed in a thin cotton robe with a purple cloak. I shined my black hair with olive oil and completed it with crown of flowers. A touch of makeup and fragrance and we departed from my home and headed to City of Judea.
That evening, we arrived in the city of Judea. When we saw a city gate, Quintus stopped me for a moment while he sent two soldiers to signal the start of the welcoming ceremony. Then we slowly approached the city of Judea...
I was lead through the city gate into the crowded street, people turned to me waving and cheering. I was surprised and flattered by the huge welcome ceremony that Remus arranged for me. I have seen this kind of ceremony only as one in the crowd during the Triumphs and Festivals only. Great throngs and flags lined the streets; people were cheering and hailing me as their messiah. Some were spreading palm leaves and flowers in my path. I was moving slowly through the crowded streets toward the Praetorium of the Fortress of Remus, My heart was racing. It was a feeling, I had never experienced before. I was filled with wonder, excitement and happiness. My beloved Remus had done all of this for me. The scent of flowers filled the warm air, a beautiful thing!
When I reached the Fortress, Remus stood waiting for me (with his dignified character). He welcomed me with a warm hug and brought me to the balcony. Then Remus announced to the crowd, "People of Judea, this elegant lady standing here is Ayesha of Nazareth, a very excellent healer and miracle maker of Galilee, I believe her as a messiah. One who will bring peace and harmony to our land. I wish to present her as a symbol of all Jewish people as the emperor's and god's will. If the people of Judea agree, Hail her name!"
The crowd answered with the roar of my name, "Our Messiah, Ayesha of Nazareth!"
Remus turned to me, smiled meaningfully and asked "Will you agree to be a messiah, for this people and me?"
I smiled and answered "Yes, Your Excellency, I will."
Then, Remus presented the small splendid building between the temple of Judea and his fortress as my new home.
Once the ceremony has done, we went down to the fortress and took dinner together and with other authorities of Judea. Since we were not alone; we had little chance for conversation. He just asked about my miracle healings and about what I have done in these months we were apart.
When dinner was finished and everyone had gone, he ordered Quintus and his body guards to stay at his fortress, changed out of his dress uniform and leaded me to my new home. Along the way, he talked about his future plan of reconciliation between Rome and our people. He planned for me to hold a small briefing every Sunday at the temple. In effort to keep the peace between our two people, I accepted and told him my opinions and wishes to help him. Then we walked silently till we reached my new home, but I noticed he was frustrated and looked like he still had a lot of things to says. When he said good bye and turned himself back, I couldn't keep pretend anymore and hugged him from behind. And said, "Until now, you have only told me half of what you are planning, I wish to know the rest!
I can't pretend anymore with you, will you tell me? I came here to make peace for others but what about me, the peace of my heart?"
He turned back again and held me tight, then he gently kissed my forehead and said, "This is my answer Ayesha, you are more important to me than Emperor and Rome" and then gave me a teasing smile.
I pushed him away a bit as I felt my cheeks burning as my heart pounded.
He tilted his head and smiled, saying "Good night my dear, Sweet dreams" and then left for the night.
Sleep did not come easily this night.
adams apple in olive Garden? who seduced that poor man? a little bit confuse by it
RacingRodent
Consul
It will make more sense later, I promise
could it be possible?It will make more sense later, I promise
xso
Tribune
Best story I read so far, a favorite theme for me. Beautiful illustrations. Ultimate dream if this could be a film in the future! Cant wait for the continuation! Thanks!
RacingRodent
Consul
Thank you 
I was privileged to work with a great team on this led by Yupar, with a lot of back room support by Siss and as you have seen a few samples so far some really excellent original artwork by MH
I was privileged to work with a great team on this led by Yupar, with a lot of back room support by Siss and as you have seen a few samples so far some really excellent original artwork by MH
RacingRodent
Consul
Remus Rabirius (Scene7)
Ayesha was of course an instant hit with the mob. Her beauty, grace
and history of good works in Galilee made her far more popular and
appealing than either fat Herod who rarely bestirred himself from his
palace or the Pharisees who were awkward collaborators at the best of
times. I doubt that all the mob hoped for could have come to pass but I
could easily have persuaded my fellow Governors in Palestine and the
power brokers back in Rome to make a few reasonable concessions.
Peace would have allowed us to concentrate on important matters on
the frontier and the growth of trade and rule of law and order would
have swelled taxes and other revenues from the region as well as
benefitting the common people. Of course as a man my mind was not
entirely on the politics.
I was hot for Ayesha. Every memory, every sense had been enflamed
by being in her presence once again from having been in her presence.
She was the most inspiring woman I had ever met, not just with a fine
body but a mind to match, not simply given over to indolence and
cunning as were some of the matrons of Rome and their daughters but
actually seeking to understand and heal the world of its ills.
We arranged to meet at an Olive Garden outside the city walls. It was
not terribly wise after all to have the Jews new Messiah seen to be too
hand in glove with Imperial authority. Let Ayesha in time force us to
submit to her entirely reasonable demands, demands that would have
been carefully crafted by me naturally. In the meantime though I had
one urgent demand that I felt must be met.
A simple cloak disguised who I was and I slipped out of the Praetorium
into the night. In case a patrol stopped me I bore the seal of a plain
clothes agent, something which as a Governor I happened to have a
few handily ready. Luck was with me however and I slipped through
the shadows to my destination without being queried as to my
breaching curfew.
Ayesha was with a few friends, it was funny how the local equivalent
of an aedille had mentioned giving permission for her to hold a party
in this space to me in the course of business. Had I needed to intervene
of course I would have allowed it but it helped when the normal
routine of administrative matters was observed.
Talking of observing I did that a moment. Standing silent in the
glooming shadows while I watched Ayesha share food and drink and
joy and laughter with her female companions, it was a spell binding
moment. I watched as she cast joy forth with the same ease a farmer
scatters seed and the plants she set grew more readily into smiles and
jollity. Then I came made a motion to draw her eye and she made her
excuses and came to join me.
We kissed and hugged, “I have longed for you Ayesha, I have longed
for you so…”
“Remus, I was thinking, about your wife,” She began and I stopped in
confusion.
“My wife?”
“Yes, it would be wrong of us, we must not hurt her by giving in to our
feelings, not physically we can love each other but not be lovers,”
Ayesha explained to me and I felt abject horror.
“My wife? My wife does not care, she has her children and her position
that is all she cares about, she does not even bother to take note of
whatever else I do or who I am with,” I said aghast, actually that might
have been a slight exaggeration Claudia was very sensitive to loss of
face but did not expect me to be abstinent when she was not present,
Ayesha might have been seen as more of rival because she was but
then that very fact prevented me from confessing that point.
“Remus, we must be good, it is better to be good,” Ayesha told me.
“At least let me hold you,” I said and she assented holding me tightly as
well in those slender arms, she did not try and stop me when I went a
little further than holding and kissed her lips and face. I grew more
daring and kissed her neck as well.
“Oh Remus you mustn’t I must be good, I ah…” Ayesha lost herself for a
moment as my hands roved over her clothing and then I found the
clasp to her robe and was kissing her neck, her shoulders, her chest
the tops of her breasts. She issued a faint moan or maybe a half meant
plea to stop and I was kissing her nipples.
Her clothes fell about her waist and we descended to grass. She half
tried to restrain me, half guided me as I swept my lips across her ribs
and belly. I turned her over so she would not impede me and also so
I could attend to the soft skin of her back with all my art. Tongue, lips,
hands, fingers, finger tips all were employed to thwart her mind and
excite her senses as I was consumed by the scent and feel of her hot,
writhing, firm and supple body.
“No slower, things are moving too fast,” Said Ayesha with her words
but her hands aided me as she turned around so I could slip her robe
from her body and then she was reaching for my tunic pulling it up
over my head. Like most civilized men I don’t bother with subligae in
hot weather though my military boots resisted coming off easily. I had
to keep Ayesha distracted with one hand and my mouth while the
other undid the fussy straps until I could kick them clear.
Then, we were both quite naked and caught in the moment. My urgency
for Ayesha’s body overwhelmed my good senses and now I devoted
everything urging her on and on to greater abandon. She writhed
against me but whether in fit of passion or half-hearted attempt to
restrain me and slow me down I doubt even she knew. My lips
explored her breasts, her ribs, her belly and then I found her mouth
again and she kissed me back with equal urgency as my hand roved
across her, lifting her from the grass and pressing her into me one
moment then pressing her down the next.
I teased her legs apart and found her hot, moist womanhood under its
thatch of dark hair. I pressed and rubbed that hooded nub just under
the upper join of those swelling woman’s lips and felt more than heard
her gasp right into my ear as she rose at hips and dashed herself
against my fingers. Now ever more greatly daring I pressed the tip of
my manhood against that space, weaving it much as a long fat finger,
teasing apart those petals, lingering at the opening to that sweet
scorching darkness.
I felt Ayesha’s resistance melt a little further and in my passion took
that as my cue to further advance my claim upon her body, “No, no,
not so fast, slower, please, oh please oh, oh.” Ayesha was by now no
longer sure what she wanted only that she wanted something. I felt
her flesh yield even as she mounted a brief contradictory last ditch
defense of her virginity, “No, oh yes, no, wait, oh Remus that is so good
but wait but oh yes, I love you, ah.”
I pushed inside, past the point of no return, there was a brief moment
of internal resistance and Ayesha gasped in sudden pain but she only
clung to me the more and then we were moving together. She at first
tentative unsure of herself or I or the rhythm, I with growing
confidence as I felt her give herself to me, I took it as the invitation to
give full rein to my virility and drove on, deeper, with building force
and rising tempo. She gasped and cried but she held me and moans of
pleasure began to overcome the pain of her deflowering.
We built up together and I felt myself spend with sudden clenching
all-consuming fury such as my wife had never been able or willing to
provoke but I was not done. I rode Ayesha, I thrust with a passion that
overbore my senses as much as it robbed her of hers and then
suddenly she was bucking and writhing under me, not much, not that
first time but enough for me to know I had truly conquered the rest of
her body along with her heart even as I yielded myself to my passion
for her.
“Oh Remus, I love…you, ah, so…much…Remus…” We moved with that
same demanding rhythm until we both cried out again without words
and then I half collapsed down upon my elbows my face presses close
enough to hers I could feel her warmth, “Oh I am a naughty girl my
love, my sweet Remus,” She told me and we kissed long and slowly and
held each other for a time.
Eventually she was forced by the press of time to return amongst her
companions who would vouch for her honor and I snuck back
through the streets. I noticed in passing a squadron of Temple Guards
but they were permitted to patrol the precincts of the Temple and
besides all I could see was Ayesha, all I could feel was Ayesha, all I
heard was the sound she had made, those whimpers and moans, all I
smelt was her sweet sweat and musk. I was a man blind and besotted
and I did not count the risks that night.
Ayesha was of course an instant hit with the mob. Her beauty, grace
and history of good works in Galilee made her far more popular and
appealing than either fat Herod who rarely bestirred himself from his
palace or the Pharisees who were awkward collaborators at the best of
times. I doubt that all the mob hoped for could have come to pass but I
could easily have persuaded my fellow Governors in Palestine and the
power brokers back in Rome to make a few reasonable concessions.
Peace would have allowed us to concentrate on important matters on
the frontier and the growth of trade and rule of law and order would
have swelled taxes and other revenues from the region as well as
benefitting the common people. Of course as a man my mind was not
entirely on the politics.
I was hot for Ayesha. Every memory, every sense had been enflamed
by being in her presence once again from having been in her presence.
She was the most inspiring woman I had ever met, not just with a fine
body but a mind to match, not simply given over to indolence and
cunning as were some of the matrons of Rome and their daughters but
actually seeking to understand and heal the world of its ills.
We arranged to meet at an Olive Garden outside the city walls. It was
not terribly wise after all to have the Jews new Messiah seen to be too
hand in glove with Imperial authority. Let Ayesha in time force us to
submit to her entirely reasonable demands, demands that would have
been carefully crafted by me naturally. In the meantime though I had
one urgent demand that I felt must be met.
A simple cloak disguised who I was and I slipped out of the Praetorium
into the night. In case a patrol stopped me I bore the seal of a plain
clothes agent, something which as a Governor I happened to have a
few handily ready. Luck was with me however and I slipped through
the shadows to my destination without being queried as to my
breaching curfew.
Ayesha was with a few friends, it was funny how the local equivalent
of an aedille had mentioned giving permission for her to hold a party
in this space to me in the course of business. Had I needed to intervene
of course I would have allowed it but it helped when the normal
routine of administrative matters was observed.
Talking of observing I did that a moment. Standing silent in the
glooming shadows while I watched Ayesha share food and drink and
joy and laughter with her female companions, it was a spell binding
moment. I watched as she cast joy forth with the same ease a farmer
scatters seed and the plants she set grew more readily into smiles and
jollity. Then I came made a motion to draw her eye and she made her
excuses and came to join me.
We kissed and hugged, “I have longed for you Ayesha, I have longed
for you so…”
“Remus, I was thinking, about your wife,” She began and I stopped in
confusion.
“My wife?”
“Yes, it would be wrong of us, we must not hurt her by giving in to our
feelings, not physically we can love each other but not be lovers,”
Ayesha explained to me and I felt abject horror.
“My wife? My wife does not care, she has her children and her position
that is all she cares about, she does not even bother to take note of
whatever else I do or who I am with,” I said aghast, actually that might
have been a slight exaggeration Claudia was very sensitive to loss of
face but did not expect me to be abstinent when she was not present,
Ayesha might have been seen as more of rival because she was but
then that very fact prevented me from confessing that point.
“Remus, we must be good, it is better to be good,” Ayesha told me.
“At least let me hold you,” I said and she assented holding me tightly as
well in those slender arms, she did not try and stop me when I went a
little further than holding and kissed her lips and face. I grew more
daring and kissed her neck as well.
“Oh Remus you mustn’t I must be good, I ah…” Ayesha lost herself for a
moment as my hands roved over her clothing and then I found the
clasp to her robe and was kissing her neck, her shoulders, her chest
the tops of her breasts. She issued a faint moan or maybe a half meant
plea to stop and I was kissing her nipples.
Her clothes fell about her waist and we descended to grass. She half
tried to restrain me, half guided me as I swept my lips across her ribs
and belly. I turned her over so she would not impede me and also so
I could attend to the soft skin of her back with all my art. Tongue, lips,
hands, fingers, finger tips all were employed to thwart her mind and
excite her senses as I was consumed by the scent and feel of her hot,
writhing, firm and supple body.
“No slower, things are moving too fast,” Said Ayesha with her words
but her hands aided me as she turned around so I could slip her robe
from her body and then she was reaching for my tunic pulling it up
over my head. Like most civilized men I don’t bother with subligae in
hot weather though my military boots resisted coming off easily. I had
to keep Ayesha distracted with one hand and my mouth while the
other undid the fussy straps until I could kick them clear.
Then, we were both quite naked and caught in the moment. My urgency
for Ayesha’s body overwhelmed my good senses and now I devoted
everything urging her on and on to greater abandon. She writhed
against me but whether in fit of passion or half-hearted attempt to
restrain me and slow me down I doubt even she knew. My lips
explored her breasts, her ribs, her belly and then I found her mouth
again and she kissed me back with equal urgency as my hand roved
across her, lifting her from the grass and pressing her into me one
moment then pressing her down the next.
I teased her legs apart and found her hot, moist womanhood under its
thatch of dark hair. I pressed and rubbed that hooded nub just under
the upper join of those swelling woman’s lips and felt more than heard
her gasp right into my ear as she rose at hips and dashed herself
against my fingers. Now ever more greatly daring I pressed the tip of
my manhood against that space, weaving it much as a long fat finger,
teasing apart those petals, lingering at the opening to that sweet
scorching darkness.
I felt Ayesha’s resistance melt a little further and in my passion took
that as my cue to further advance my claim upon her body, “No, no,
not so fast, slower, please, oh please oh, oh.” Ayesha was by now no
longer sure what she wanted only that she wanted something. I felt
her flesh yield even as she mounted a brief contradictory last ditch
defense of her virginity, “No, oh yes, no, wait, oh Remus that is so good
but wait but oh yes, I love you, ah.”
I pushed inside, past the point of no return, there was a brief moment
of internal resistance and Ayesha gasped in sudden pain but she only
clung to me the more and then we were moving together. She at first
tentative unsure of herself or I or the rhythm, I with growing
confidence as I felt her give herself to me, I took it as the invitation to
give full rein to my virility and drove on, deeper, with building force
and rising tempo. She gasped and cried but she held me and moans of
pleasure began to overcome the pain of her deflowering.
We built up together and I felt myself spend with sudden clenching
all-consuming fury such as my wife had never been able or willing to
provoke but I was not done. I rode Ayesha, I thrust with a passion that
overbore my senses as much as it robbed her of hers and then
suddenly she was bucking and writhing under me, not much, not that
first time but enough for me to know I had truly conquered the rest of
her body along with her heart even as I yielded myself to my passion
for her.
“Oh Remus, I love…you, ah, so…much…Remus…” We moved with that
same demanding rhythm until we both cried out again without words
and then I half collapsed down upon my elbows my face presses close
enough to hers I could feel her warmth, “Oh I am a naughty girl my
love, my sweet Remus,” She told me and we kissed long and slowly and
held each other for a time.
Eventually she was forced by the press of time to return amongst her
companions who would vouch for her honor and I snuck back
through the streets. I noticed in passing a squadron of Temple Guards
but they were permitted to patrol the precincts of the Temple and
besides all I could see was Ayesha, all I could feel was Ayesha, all I
heard was the sound she had made, those whimpers and moans, all I
smelt was her sweet sweat and musk. I was a man blind and besotted
and I did not count the risks that night.
To Be Continued