Post by LUCILLA ANNIA AURELIA on May 24, 2011 18:43:38 GMT -5
Lucilla held her son's hand as they stepped out into the sunshine. She had decided Lucus needed some fresh air and the gardens were just the place to get some. His little face lit up as soon as the cool breeze brushed gently against his face. Lucas dropped his mother's hand and ran ahead on the pathway that led through the gardens to the center, where it opened up into a small clearing. Lucilla smiled as she watched her eight year old boy laugh and play, fighting the servants with a wooden sword as if he were a real legionnaire. The princess' green eyes left her son for only a moment so she could take in the natural beauty of palace's gardens.
The princess took advantage of any time spent out of the palace, away from the headache her brother and father caused with their constant bickering and opinions of what is best for Rome. Lucas liked to listen to his grandfather and uncle but would grow bored after only a few moments. He was still too young to understand the seriousness of what his elders spoke of. Lucilla, however, understood much of what they said but remained silent, only speaking when her father asked for her thoughts. She was smart enough to speak neutrally in front of Commodus and only gave her true feelings when alone with their father. All of this recent turmoil concerning the assassins and such had only added fuel to the fire that separated her brother and father. Lucilla found herself avoiding the two of them whenever she could, finding excuses to go out into the city or turning the other way when she knew they were coming down the corridor.
Lucas's sudden gasp and the sound of his wooden sword clattering to the ground brought Lucilla back from her thoughts. Her green eyes searched and immediately found him. From what she could tell, he'd tripped over a loose stone and fallen on his hands and knees. The princess took a step forward, intending to rush to her son's side but stopped because Lucas had righted himself. He stood on the path staring at his hands. Lucilla walked up and laid her hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Are you alright, my son?" She asked as she looked down at his hands too. There were a couple of scrapes on them as well as some blood. The boy kept his eyes on his hands, watching the blood run slowly down them. "I'm fine mother." He finally said, turning his eyes from his hands and looking at Lucilla, smiling as he spoke. Lucilla returned her son's smile and then turned her attention to the female servant who had brought out a damp cloth. The young prince took the cloth, whipped his hands clean, and then retrieved his sword and returned to his game of legionnaire. The princess nodded her head at the servant in thanks and followed her son down the path to the clearing. She realized as she walked that her hands were shaking. He hadn't been seriously injured and yet it seemed even the smallest of incidents was enough to set off her anxiety these days.
The princess took advantage of any time spent out of the palace, away from the headache her brother and father caused with their constant bickering and opinions of what is best for Rome. Lucas liked to listen to his grandfather and uncle but would grow bored after only a few moments. He was still too young to understand the seriousness of what his elders spoke of. Lucilla, however, understood much of what they said but remained silent, only speaking when her father asked for her thoughts. She was smart enough to speak neutrally in front of Commodus and only gave her true feelings when alone with their father. All of this recent turmoil concerning the assassins and such had only added fuel to the fire that separated her brother and father. Lucilla found herself avoiding the two of them whenever she could, finding excuses to go out into the city or turning the other way when she knew they were coming down the corridor.
Lucas's sudden gasp and the sound of his wooden sword clattering to the ground brought Lucilla back from her thoughts. Her green eyes searched and immediately found him. From what she could tell, he'd tripped over a loose stone and fallen on his hands and knees. The princess took a step forward, intending to rush to her son's side but stopped because Lucas had righted himself. He stood on the path staring at his hands. Lucilla walked up and laid her hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Are you alright, my son?" She asked as she looked down at his hands too. There were a couple of scrapes on them as well as some blood. The boy kept his eyes on his hands, watching the blood run slowly down them. "I'm fine mother." He finally said, turning his eyes from his hands and looking at Lucilla, smiling as he spoke. Lucilla returned her son's smile and then turned her attention to the female servant who had brought out a damp cloth. The young prince took the cloth, whipped his hands clean, and then retrieved his sword and returned to his game of legionnaire. The princess nodded her head at the servant in thanks and followed her son down the path to the clearing. She realized as she walked that her hands were shaking. He hadn't been seriously injured and yet it seemed even the smallest of incidents was enough to set off her anxiety these days.
