Claudia Augusti Filia curtsied toward the 5th man she had danced with that night, all of which, her father pointed out as suitable suitors, not that she'd have the last choice on who she was betrothed to in the end. The party was just starting and the army were yet to arrive but Claudia was already over it. The chatter of the participants and the small orchestra which played slow, sweet dancing music introduced her to a painful beating in the back of her head. The goblet of wine she had been drinking throughout the night probably wasn't doing her any good either.

Young servents wandered throughout the hall, refilling and clearing goblets and platters and offering food to the guess. On occansions a servant would get a cruel comment from a noble who's goblet wasn't filled fast enough but overall the night was very relaxed, however, it wouldn't be long before the legions of soldiers arrived and who knew what turn the night would take from there. Suddenly the music stopped, those who were dancing quickly retreated to their tables and it was clear to Claudia what was happening, the army had arrived.

The sound of music and the smell of wine filled the warm evening air as darkness began to creep over Rome like a black blanket. The celebratory homecoming of Caesars great army was in full swing, yet his battle hardened soldiers had yet to arrive. It had been three days since they returned from the northern lands and they had secured yet another victory, expanding Caesars empire further more. The men who returned, those who were uninjured were looking forward to a heroes welcome. And rightly so. Among these men, was none other than the highly regarded and respected General Marcus Brutus, a striking man, who led the soldiers to victory. He bore a white gown and brown sandals, as did his men. However, to distinguish himself from the others a red cape draped over his shoulders and back marked with the symbol of the empire. With a swift flick of his hand he gave the order for his men to join the festivities.

The palace was now a hive of laughter and joy. The great hall was littered with statues of the great gods, paintings of past emperors and great gladiators hung proudly on the walls. People danced and laughed as they mingled. Marcus drank wine from his goblet, pretending to listen to a group of senates who reminisced over one of his past glories on the battle field. He lost count of how many people congratulated him for his most recent victory. Although, he was glad people appreciated his efforts. There was one man who appreciated his efforts more than most and that was the emperor. Most of the senates questioned Caesars decision to appoint Brutus as a General at such a young age, but both have proven their doubters wrong. Marcus glanced over at the emperor, and saw him sat in his throne-like chair, enjoying himself, drinking the wine. His wife in the chair next to him.

Marcus felt a hand touch his shoulder. He turned to find the emperors messenger smile nervously back at him. She was small, with black hair that was tied up. She played with the sleeve of her robe,

'The emperor would like to speak with you, my lord.', she said, before turning away and was lost among the crowd of people.

Marcus drank the remainder of the wine in his goblet before excusing himself and made his way over to Caesar. Again, he was stopped and congratulated by the people before him. He finally reached the steps before Caesar and climbed them. He acknowledged Caesar with a bow of the head and Caesar returned his acknowledgment by lifting his goblet high in to the air.

'Ahh, General, it's been too long!'. Caesar rose from his chair and embraced the young General and Marcus embraced him back. The small, white haired man was dwarved by the mountain that is Brutus. Caesar stumbled back to his chair and ordered Marcus to sit by his side. Marcus exchanged pleasantries with Caesars wife before sitting down. A servant approached Marcus and handed him a new goblet of wine.

'Tell me General, how long was you in the northern lands?', asked Caesar curiously. Marcus took a swig from his wine before replying.

'One year and fifty six day, my lord.'. It felt much longer to Marcus. Many men were lost during this battle and the northern lands were not kind.

'I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your efforts, General. You have won many battles and expanded my empire, For this, I thank you.'. Caesar smiled and raised his goblet once more and the General did also. The festivities grew in to the night and people attending grew merrier. Marcus told stories to Caesar about some of his exploits on the battle fields much to the amusement of the emperor.

'You have conquered many battles and wars, General. But, why have you yet to conquer the heart of a woman?'. Caesars question caught him by surprise. The emperor had never asked about his private life before. He took a moment to think about this. Perhaps it was because he was away all the time and never had chance to settle down and have a family. He had better not say this to the emperor, however.

'You know, you are just like my daughter. You are too picky when it comes to these things. Where is she anyway? Where is my daughter?', Caesar craned his neck and overlooked the floor in front of him. He scanned the room like an eagle looking for it's prey.

'Claudia!'.

As the darkness of night crept upon the city swollowing the last light of day chatter deepened and the smell of wine drifted into the air where it stubbornly lingered. This brought the soldiers, prouldly arriving to a hero's welcome. Her father's empire was, again, broadened at the victory of the Romans. This wasn't uncommon news, the Roman army was very large and made up of dedicated soldiers some who had spent their whole lives training for success in such a position. However, Ceaser was no stranger to a party and if there was an opportunity to arrive he would take it. With a quick flick of a dark hand the soldiers quickly joined the festivities.

Claudia brought her eyes to meet the owner of that hand. The soldier wore a red cape, signifying himself as general. Claudia was quick to assume the general was Marcus Antonius Brutus, her father had quite the liking toward him. Of course, Claudia had seen him before but she never really got the chance to look over him properly. With his high cheekbones and sweeping black hair his handsomeness was an eyecatcher for most young noblewomen. Claudia didn't think of soldiers, particularly generals, to be very handsome men but, somehow, the well-respected general was.

She watched as he joined a group of senates before pulling her eyes away to the walls where sat statues and painting of Gods and emperors and great gladiators before watching the soldiers dance and laugh and mingle with present nobilty, some attempting to impress the nobles, particularly the few women with honour of joining the festivities, of their achievements. Without a doubt a lot of exaggeration would be present in most of those stories.

Her eyes eventually wandered back to the young general who was approaching the throne where her father sat next to her mother. Often was he stopped with pats on the back and what were obviously congratulations on the army's victory. It was when he reached her father's throne she turned her head toward the musicians. She took little notice as a servant girl refilled her goblet before rushing along to fill many goblets of soldiers and nobles awaiting more alcohol. The emperor's daughter sighed slightly. The banging in her head eased off ever-so-slightly but with the direction the night was going she doubted that would be the case for long.

Taking a small, slow sip of wine Claudia closed her eyes and allowed herself to be carried away by the enchanted music that never failed to entice her.

The night continued on and Claudia had found herself the subject of a young soldier's exaggerated battle stories, she doubted he defeated a centurion with his bare hands, and spent some of the time of his stories debating with herself whether his stories were due to a big ego, which many soldiers had, or the amount of wine he had consumed with the scent of liquor escaping in his breath as smoke did from fire, she was almost pleased when her father beckoned her. Almost.

"Well it sounds like you had some... interesting adventures in the war but I really must leave you, father calls," She said to the drunken soldier apologetically attempting to cover up her pleasure in no longer having him in her face.

Quickly and gracefully Claudia approached her father's throne-like seat, exchanging a smile and a small greeting with her mother and offering her father a short bow,

"You called for me, father?" She asks quickly. He often called for her in such occasions but not commonly with such urgency.

The merry making continued. As did the flow of the wine. Marcus thought about how long it would be before he could return to his chamber. Three days had passed since he returned from battle but still his body carried the burden of war. He ached from head to toe, each movement reminding him of every swing of his sword. He felt heavy and lethargic. The celebrations allowed him to forget about the many men he lost up north. Although, only temporarily.

The emperor called for his daughter once more. An urgent tone in his voice now. The calls drowned out the music and laughter with his booming voice. He has such a big mouth for a such a small individual. It was impossible for his daughter not to hear her fathers cry for her presence but for a second Marcus thought she might just have done exactly that. He thought she was either enjoying herself too much or just simply ignoring her father. The great hall fell momentarily silent. The mood fell back in to place a little more than a moment later, as the emperors daughter appeared at the foot of the steps leading to Caesar and the General. Marcus had heard of her beauty but never had he seen it for himself. Not closely anyway. His soldiers referred to her has a goddess and quite right they were too. Her golden locks fell carefully over her shoulders. Her slim body complimented by her dress. Marcus couldn't help but stare at Claudia as she elegantly climbed the steps. Never had he seen such a beauty, even on his travels.

'You called for me, father?', she asked softly. Marcus could tell she didn't want to be here as much as he did. Caesar liked to celebrate almost anything so this was not an unusual event for Claudia. And being summoned before her father was something she also got used to.

Caesar smiled back at the sight of his daughter standing before him. He loved his daughter as much as any father loves his daughter. He can be considered a little over-protective when it comes to Claudia and as her best interest at heart. But he has recently grown frustrated with her reluctance to find a suitor, especially after her late fiancee. Caesar wants to make sure he has a grandchild and heir.

'Ah, here you are, my dear. Isn't she beautiful, General?'. Marcus nodded in agreement with Caesar, though, he didn't take his eyes off Claudia. Marcus could feel his heart pounding a little faster, as though it would when we was on a battle field. He also noticed that he had forgotten about much of the pain in his body. He moved uncomfortably in his seat.

'Now, since the pair of you are alone tonight, I think it would be a crime should the two of you not share a dance together, don't you think?'. Caesar had a rather serious tone to his voice but Marcus wasn't sure if he was joking or not. Marcus looked at Caesar who had a wry smile on his face. His heart beat faster, probably the fastest it had ever done before. Marcus moved uncomfortably in his seat once more. After finally deciding Caesar was being as serious as ever, Marcus rose from his seat and held out a hand towards Claudia.

Claudia gave her father a small smile in return, not one that was strained but one don't quite show her white teeth. Her father, she knew, did love her as many fathers loved their daughters, maybe even more then some, but he could be overbearing at times and was over-protective towards his daughter. With each party came more possible suitors Claudia would meet the deeper his brow furrowed and the more Claudia could see frustration written on his face as clear as the paintings on the wall.

Claudia knew she wasn't making it easy for him but none of them seemed right and even though her father had the final say on who she was to marry he wasn't going to force her to marry a suitor she disliked... was he? Claudia wasn't completely sure. Her father was quite a deceitful person, a good father but some of the lower class citizens and those of the empires he had conquered definitely wouldn't have the same view. Ceaser needed an heir married into the line, empress was a title Claudia couldn't take until she married. An empress ruling the empire alone? That was unheard of and most probably not an idea anyone would be willing to try out. Her father was also awaiting heirs, she expected him to want to keep the throne for his descendants and not his sibling's.

'Ah, here you are, my dear. Isn't she beautiful, General?' Her father says. Beautiful the one thing she was known for over the Roman Empire, sometimes she wondered if she'd ever be known for something other than her looks. Her thoughts were soon momentarily pushed away from her mind as she turned to the general who nodded, keeping his eyes on Claudia. She felt her cheeks going red, unsure on whether she was blushing from the compliments or because her hazel eyes found themselves drawn to the soldier. She had heard of his bravery and kindness among his soldiers, her father held him very high. Her eyes continued to look over the general, his dark muscular body and sweeping black hair. It was as if Venus herself had given birth to the general then placed him on earth to grace its people with his looks. She had heard of his handsomeness from other noblewomen but never did she imagine the human embodiment of handsome to sit before her. She felt her heart flutter inside her chest, it's quick-paced rhythmic beating pounding inside of her head but at her father's word, however, Claudia allowed her eyes to tear away from the general.

'Now, since the pair of you are alone tonight, I think it would be a crime should the two of you not share a dance together, don't you think?' Ceaser says seriously. To Claudia it was quite obvious he was instructing the pair of them to dance but Marcus, however, seemed a little unsure. No one, not even those who dined with emperor often, knew his ways better than his daughter and his wife.

Her eyes wandered back to the General who then stood and held out a hand Claudia.

"I think that can be arranged," she says to her father before taking the General's strong hand and allowing him to lead her into the crowd of dancers.

She cherished every step, every twirl. One of her hand rested willingly on his shoulder and the other held his strong, capable hand, a hand that had men begging for mercy and built an empire, sending a tingling sensation up her arm. Her heart seemed to be doing flips in her her chest and, for that one song, it was just Claudia, Marcus and the enchanted music.

Marcus held Claudia's soft, gentle hand as he guided them on to the floor and in to the crowd of nobles who were already dancing. They took their positions, holding each other in the normal dancing procedure. Marcus' eyes fell upon Claudia's and for a moment it felt like they were the only two people in the room. The music fell kindly on Marcus' ears. A slow rhythm, which Marcus was grateful for. As much as he had quick feet on the battle feet, the ball room was a completely different ball game. They slowly and gracefully glided across the floor, as did several other revelers. And, although, Marcus felt it was only the pair of them in the room, he could feel the onlooking glare of the onlooking senates and nobles, as they looked on with a mixture of smiles, shock and surprise on their faces. He could also sense the watching eye of Caesar looking down on them from his chair.

Marcus wanted to say something to Claudia. This beautiful specimen who held his shoulders' like no-one had before. He too was careful with his grip on Claudia's waist and made sure he didn't hold her too tight and damage her delicate frame. But for the life of him he couldn't find the words to say something. He could have said anything. He could have complimented her on how she looked, or how her day had been so far. Instead, he settled for something he would later curse himself for.

'I was sad to learn of your fiancee's death, my lady. I mourned him.', said the General with a sympathetic look on his face.

He immediately cursed himself. He hoped he had not brought back any grief or sadness to the woman in his arms. Brutus did not know what it was like having lost a loved one. For he was from an orphanage and never really knew his family. However, he knew what it felt like to lose men on a battle field, and he classed his soldiers as part of his family. So, he could only imagine what pain she went through, or even still going through, having lost the man she was betrothed to. After he finished cursing himself inside, Marcus focused back on his dancing and hoped he didn't look like too much of fool in front of the spectators watching them.

For a quick-footed soldier Marcus moved smoothly with such precise rhythm. She would never imagined a soldier to be so gentle, to dance so smoothly. The dance had yet to end when she felt them, eyes staring at the pair. Senators, nobles and soldiers alike who weren't caught in dance or conversation glanced at them. For a brief moment the emperor's daughter allowed herself to be pulled back into reality. The reality of the decorated hall where the scent of wine had not only strengthened but continued to linger in the air. She brought her eyes to some that watched her and the general. Some were smiling while others looked at the pair in shock and was that envy on the faces of those noblewomen? It wouldn't surprise her but she didn't get to inspect them properly before they were out of her view.

Slowly she closed her eyes, allowing the music to once again engulf her with its melody. She allowed herself to trust the handsome general and once again she was transported to her secret world of Marcus, her and the music. The general held her waist lightly as if she was a delicate item that would shatter if held too tight. Not that she had never been held so softly before but there was something different... she hadn't a single idea what that something was.

Claudia didn't resemble her father appearancewise despite her height. She had her father's short height and the general quite obviously had the height advantage over her by at least a head. She looked up at him with hazel eyes. Marcus seemed not quite there- deep in thought until he brought an end to the silence that held the two dancers despite the sweet music.

'I was sad to learn of your fiancee's death, my lady. I mourned him.', the general says looking down at Claudia in sympathy. Claudia says nothing, pursing her dark pink lips. The topic of her deceased fiancé was still an uncomfortable one. He was one of the suitors her father introduced her to. She admired his kind, bouncy and almost-childish nature. She loved the fact he didn't want her for the empire. If she wasn't under pressure to choose a suitor he probably wouldn't be one she'd consider, however, the couple were close and it was not easy for her to lose him at all. Her eyes glistened slightly of unshed tears which she was willing to hide.

"As am I," she replies, a single tear streaking her face before she inhaled with a shaky breath. Not another tear dropped from her eyes.
"That is what war does to men. Do not get me wrong sir, I do not mean to offend but war only brings death and killers. No one truly wins a war, they just gain more resources. Innocent men become killers or end up on their death bed. Besides the past is not a thing to be changed." She says gently, allowing the soldier to slowly twirl her once more. "As much as we wish to we... we cannot bring back the dead or may Pluto have mercy on our souls." Claudia didn't say a single word more throughout that dance