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stardancerluv · 8 days ago

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New Geta chapter asap.

Life & work got in the way. 😣

💙Barely had time to post some of the PR for Fantastic Four. 💙

What the Emperor Wants

Part Twenty - Three

Summary: Plans for the empire, musings and afflictions transpire.

Notes/Warnings: mentions of ancient words/beliefs... kilani: a sofa, nundinaes: weeks, anno: year, Floralia a festival of flowers…fertility…celebrated with dancing…merriment. Moments of Caracalla’s illness is shown…nothing explicit.

❤️s, likes, feedback & reblogs are always welcome & appreciated. (Sorry about the delay)

You reclined on your on klinai. You had told Aelia to have one of the servants bring it out onto the balcony. Pillows and blankets covered it and surrounded you. Never had you seen so many.

Your comfort was of the utmost importance. Geta, you felt was always calling for a fresh plump pillow for you. They were changed regularly in the royal box. The throne the two of you shared no longer was uncomfortable.

Earlier, Geta had to attend to some matters in his planning room regarding Caracalla’s baths. Before he had left, he had made sure you were in good spirits. Inwardly, you were very pleased. Geta, was truly all you could have prayed for in a husband, a companion.

How you came to be with him was a distant far off memory. That night, fear moved through you. You were truly terrified. His reputation caused nightmares. Though the man was different, there was and still remained a sharp edge. The goddesses had been with you and gave you strength. You did not waver before him.

You felt blessed that he shared his soft side, the dreamer side of him. The one who loved reading and the beauty in life. He had told you of times he would sit in the shade under the mighty boughs of a tree.

You were terribly aware that in the deep shadows resided in Geta. There lurked a side of him that could be cruel and unforgiving. Many had met their end by blade and beast alike with a casual word or a twist of his wrist.

That side came into the light to protect the two of you. His patience was kept for you, and Caracalla but as of late for all else it had shorten considerably. No longer were dissidents simply expelled, banished their punishments were swifter and more violent. Their words were silenced almost as soon as they spoken. The stones under foot were brilliant in the scarlet of their life being spilled.

To disagree with the emperor was like disagreeing with the gods themselves. The murmurs of discontent that reached you, worried you. You wished there was something that could be done to please the people. To bring their favor back to Geta, you and the child you gently swelled with.

That’s when the idea struck you. A festival could be held. Floralia, you remembered in your village how much people had enjoyed it. Carefully, you rose from where you had been lounging. You would go to him. Tell him.

*******

“The gardens are being seeded and have taken growth.” The man said he glanced him and his brother who nodded.

“Good. They will keep the airs fragrant and fresh. People will want to be there.”

“Yes, sire.”

From the corner of his sight he saw Caracalla tremble where he sat. As he got closer, a far away look clouded his eyes. The tremble grew in strength.

“You are dismissed. Leave.”

“I thought…” Geta saw the man look towards Caracalla.

He stood between them. “I said leave.”

The laurel that had been sitting atop his brother’s own firey strands fell with a sharp rattle on the ground at his feet.

“Leave now.” He hollered. He came up behind where Caracalla sat. Tearing and freeing sash that had been wrapped around him, he covered his hands and gave firm touch to his brother’s shoulders to still him.

“I am here. I am here, calm thy spirit. Calm thy spirit.” Geta whispered.

“No!” He raged, he bounced where he sat. “Father wishes for me to join me.” The edges of his mouth were growing foaming. “No!”

“Lepidus! Lepidus, come forth!”

The door clanked and banged against wall.

Geta, glanced. Brief respite filled him seeing that the man answered his call. The man bowed his head briefly.

“Sire? Oh Sire.” The broad, yet wiry guard made haste over to where they were.

“Bring him to his chambers. Draw the curtains to dispel the light of the day and stand fast in case there is another moment his illness grabs for him.”

The wiry man nodded, then easily retrieved the laurel and rested it on his bother’s head. “Sire,” He softly whispered. “It is I, Lepidus.”

Geta stepped back, leaving the cloth on his brother’s shoulders. He had taken ahold of it and twisted some of the fabric about his fingers. His eyes appeared to be clearing and returning from the far away look at that had taken ahold.

He glanced up at Lepidus.

“Dondas, wishes for you and him to rest.”

“That will be pleasant.” Caracalla replied softly, regaining his breath after his outburst.

The wiry man easily helped his brother to his feet and soon together they left the room.

Geta leaned against the large table. It felt heavy to see such an outburst. It came on the appearance of the spreading of his disease. It sadden him greatly.

******

“Empress, I only left for a moment to check on this evenings meal. What is it you wish?” Aelia, found you in one of the passageways.

“I had an idea I wish to share with Geta.”

“Are you sure you should go to his planning room?”

You saw distress fall cast a shadow over her. It creased her brow. Geta, in an angered state had sent her away. You supposed he had never spoken to her as thus. It can be quite scary when rage fitting of Jupiter is in him, certainly you understood that she wished for it to never happen again but truly you going to speak with him would not cause that in him.

��I am the empress, his empress surely I can go in there.”

“Yes, yes but he worries about you. You have been blessed with good feelings and no ailments since you are with his child.”

You were in good spirits, a wondrous idea had graced you. He would be pleased, you were certain of it.

“I have. I have shown how grateful I an to the gods, goddess daily for that blessing.”

“Why, not go and enjoy some of the fresh airs in the atrium and I will tell him you are there.”

You took a moment and thought about it. “I suppose that would be nice. I do like the fresh scent of the flowers.”

*******

Aelia, powered wine and some vinegar she had fetched from the kitchens and powered them over Geta’s hands.

“The empress, wishes to speak with you Geta. She had wished to speak here but I told her to go the atrium. I will have the footfalls of Caracalla wiped, I will not chance his madness grabbing her or the baby that grows in her belly.”

“Thank you Aelia. I shall go to her. Will the madness be swept away by nightfall?”

“Yes, surely.”

*******

Sitting there gently you ran your fingertips along some petals and some soft, fuzzy green stems. The memory of Geta first spotting you in the atrium visited you. It was from that moment forth he had begun to refer to you as his blossom. You smiled softly.

“Before me is my blossom, my flower full of life and color.”

Smiling wider, you turned in the direction of the rich timber of Geta’s voice. It filled the atrium. His words were as sweet as honey when speaking of you and to you.

“My husband.” You replied. “Geta, my love.”

They would never cease to brighten your spirits. As he drew closer, you watched as he looked you over.

“Are you in good spirits, the baby?”

“Yes.”

Easily with care of the layers of his clothing, he sat facing you. He took your hands into his lap. Gently, he caressed them with idle touches.

“You called for me?”

“Yes.” You nodded. “Yes, a thought came to me,”

You glanced down at how his ring hands held yours. His thumb, gentle caressed the back of yours as you spoke.

“Oh?” He smiled. “What came to you?”

Inwardly, you fluttered like that of butterflies wings.

“When I was a child, there was the Floralia festival. The people of my village loved it. It was fun.”

You glanced at him as you spoke. A serious expression sharpened his features.

“It could lift the spirits of the people.”

He nodded. “My father only ever enjoyed war festivals, hunting ones. They were good but this will show our love and appreciation of the goddesses.”

You nodded. “They have been wonderfully kind to spare me of the illness that sometimes plagues women when they carry

a child. This will surely please them.

“Yes, yes it should.” He smiled. “And then when general Acacius returns with his victory it will make their happiness even greater.“

His eyes were warm as he looked at you. He brought one of your hands to his mouth and he pressed a kiss to one of your knuckles. “We will do it. It will be a wonder to behold since you are and will always be my special blossom.”

*******

It had been a quick two nundinaes. You had maintained a level of rest and taking care of yourself during that time. A few times those that crafted your clothes visited a few times so that you would have an array to choose from. They were soft and lovely.

One particular night, staying in shadows when the royal Domus was fast asleep, Geta brought you to his planning room. Glancing around he opened the doorway and ushered you in. He made sure that door would not close with a loud clank, as it normally did.

He ushered you to the table to show you the approved sketches from the craftsmen.

“I told them your beauty was to be their inspiration.”

Flowers were shown hanging from lofty heights. Fellows with lyres in their hands were here and there. Memory of the beauty of their music visited you with a glance. Goats were shown free among the people. You hoped their mischief would not be uncontrollable.

“Geta, this all looks truly wonderful.”

A proud look had come over him.

“So this pleases you?”

You nodded.

“Your beauty has brought a greatness to the empire it did not have previously.”

“My heart, oh Geta.” You took one of his hands and placed it over your heart. “Around you, my heart flutters like the butterflies in the gardens.”

A smile curled his lips. “It is my pleasure to do so.” He let his hand gently to the swell of your stomach. “I am eager to see our child. I am certain it will have sense of beauty you have.”

You placed your hand over his. “It will have your strength.”

“I surely hope it does. I have prayed to gods for it.”

He reached up and cupped your cheek. His rings were cool. He had yet to remove them for the evening.

“Before we begin to usher in this festival, I have a gift for you.”

“Geta, you have given me the gift of being your wife, being the mother of your child what else could you possibly give me ?”

He smiled, then moving away from you he turned and went to a corner of the room. Anticipation filled you, as you watched him bend over and pick up a basket that was large in size. All you could make out was a large blanket.

“This love a small gift, a small companion to brighten your moments when you are here in our atrium or apart.”

Your eyes grew. “What a small delight. Hello small one.”

Out from the blanket, came out on small paws and small ears was a bunny. Its small nose twitched and rested its two front paws on the edge of the basket as you spoke to it.

“Geta, what a wonderful gift.”

He smiled softly. “She came from a wonderful family. Those that raised her family spoke of their love and sweet nature to the children of the household they were raised along side with. She will surely love our child as well.”

“Oh, what a delight.”

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