Well, I would bore you with a lengthy explantion as to whre in middle earth have I been, but I don't think ya care. hahah

Anyways, I hope you like it.

Getting back from the hunt, it was late in the day and by the looks of it, Uncle had guests. We walked through the lit hallways before making our way to the the table, were I caught a glimpse of their conversation.

"Looking for who, if I may ask?" I said while sitting down next to uncle.

"The wife of…who was it?" Uncle looked at our guest, scratching his beard lightly.

"The wife of Decimus Placidious."

"Ah yes, that's it. He is a member of the senate, that's why he is so familiar" Uncle smiled in remberence.

"Her husband woke up the next morning on the floor and they couldn't find her or the slave…Its too bad, Cornelia was quite the pretty girl from what I could recall when she visited her husband."

My ears perked up, was it her…? It was a small possible chance. "What happened to her? Where is she now?" I asked in a dull couriosity, not wanting one to get suspicious of my questions.

"Nobody quite rightly knows, there have been but a few descriptions of a woman matching her description..But far as we know, she hasn't been in talks with her family." A man of small proportions answered a few chairs down. I nodded shortly and leaned my head against my hand.

-Cornelia POV-

It has been so long since I've seen anything reminiscent of the Roman Empire, but perhaps not long enough…

I've grown older; my brown locks grew in longer waves, while green eyes grow brighter every day for finally being free of the constraints Rome. It has truly been the blessing from the Gods that Calista and I have prospered well in the tribe we call our home now. They accepted us within time, shown us their ways and we are now whole. I have not forgotton my old life or my family and friends who live behind Hadirans wall, but I would not change my fourtunes now just to go back.

A trained eye studied the boar in front of us, it was of the female gender, that much was apparant, I nodded to Calista to take the shot with her willowy arrow when suddenly, the hog looked up. I halted her with a hand, and we soon noticed five small babes come trotting out of the brush. We smiled slightly as we watched the mother and children interact with one another, it was a beautiful sight, one I enjoyed seeing whenever possible. We soon slipped back silently, letting this family live and grow.

We made it back to camp shortly before sundown. It was made up over one hundred men and women, most of them were slaves while other were just warriors wanting to escape their rule. But it didn't matter, we accepted all, Each learned how to fight and take care of their own being. The leader, Thanh, a woman of great wisdom and knowledge and her husband Trieu did not care if you were female or male, we all had our great parts in life.

We were both welcomed by a younger boy of nineteen with a hug and a smile. Aodhan was a smart boy for his age, and his orange hair was brighter than Calista's. He was training under the one tribes weapons makers.

"Hunt go well?" He asked, with a toothy grin, walking with us back to our hut.

We both shook our head. "The boar we were tracking for a while had babes with her. But, we'll be going out tomorrow." Calista spoke, lifting up the flap for us both. He nodded in understandment. I ruffled his hair once more and we said our goodbyes.

"What a good kid." I said while starting the small fire inside our home. She handed me a few sticks to keep the blaze going. I sat down shortly after and groaned a bit in pain.

"Is the new mark troubling you?" She asked while coming over to me. She lifted up the animal hide and fur that coverd my breasts and parts of my shoulder. She touched the black ink softly. "It is healing, but it looks fine." She confirmed, putting the hide back down and brushing a bright piece of hair out of her face. It was an intricate design that coverd in swirls part of my left shoulder and lowered all the way to begining of my breast. It was sign of killing a bear in a hunt. It was a very proud moment for myself and the tribe around me. I was able to have it skinned and made into a covering for the cold night for my body. Calista added a few more sticks to the fire, and we trailed into our own beds made of various furs and hay. I leaned on my side and looked at the carved eagle around my neck. Wondering if I did stay back in Rome, would I finally have Marcus once agian?

"You have to leave the past behing, friend. We have a good life, with many good people surronding us." Calista spoke in the nights air...She was right, I should let this go, but for some reason the gods wont let me.

"It is hard." I replied softly, tucking myself underneath the fur even farther.

"That it is...That it is." She chuckled wryly, turning herself over to find a better sleeping position. Following her lead, I soon fell asleep as well.

The plain was wet with the mornings soft rain. The glow of the early sun hit our slightly tanned skinned in a way that made smile. it was a beautiful day to hunt, and as of right now, we have been tracking a few deers through the woods. It seemed like the sun was already high in the sky when it finally rested by a small stream of flowing water. Calista aimed her bow, narrowing in on her deer, while I kept to the other side, ready to launch an attack if need be. I gave the signal to let of go of it, within only a few seconds it fell to the leafy floor, dead.

I stood up from my crouch, and walked over to the fallen prize. "Excellent work friend." I appraised her. She came out of her hiding, confusion etched onto her face. "It was not my arrow that killed the animal..." Without even a moment to speak, I pulled out my knife, and looked around. I heard movement from my right hand side, and Calista pointed an arrow towards the sound.

"Come out." I yelled, not sure if it was an animal, or man. If beast, then I hoped to scare it off with my loud talking, if man, well... We will find out soon enough. It rustled again, not wavering its noise behind the brush and trees. Calista shot at it, hoping to slay whatever it may be.

We walked cautiously over towards the area, but before I could take more than eight steps, someone had a dagger across my throat. "You should listen in on your surrondings more." He whispered to me. I looked for Calista for help, but saw with alarming eyes, a man of blond held her life in his hand as well. I nodded to her as much as I could and spoke. "You should not under estimate a woman." I spoke deadly and quickled elbowed him into his side.

He let go, not from in pain but from actual suprise. I swivled around to face him, my knife at the ready. I came at him, yelling slightly, with full intent on injuring this men. His weapon clanged against mine, metal hitting bone. We clashed quickly, he had reach, while I had the flexibility. But it had to come to an end. He manged to pin me to the ground, with sure fire in his eyes.

Looking me over, he saw somthing... His eyes enlarged, his pupils dilated. He spoke softly...in disbeleif.

"Cornelia...?"

Well there ya go. I hope you enjoyed, already have most of this story written out actually! :D Your reviews have been so amazing!

-Ashland

Reviews? Ya, they are welcomed!