It was a warm and balmy night in Thebes, Egypt-- the sun just setting, and the first stars beginning to twinkle in the growing dusk. The tambors and drums of the musicians pounded out a beat that quickened everyones' pulses and increased the excitement of the festival...for everyone except one particular pack of Garou. Amber, Sanki, and Marie-Claire-- carrying all the beer and alcohol that they could hold-- walk over to an empty table near the middle of the seating-area that had been set up before a great stage, and sat down. Amber sat on the end closest to the Roman leaders' table, watching them suspiciously.

The women were all dressed in the clothing of this place and period-- ancient Egyptian-- but none of them had been in either time OR place for more than a week. They were there to make sure that time happened as it should...namely, that Amon's wife Issa died at the correct time and place so that Amon would seek vengeance and be transformed into a Mummy by the gods...all so that one day he could face the great Malfean Markova and stand a chance. And there-- just 15 feet from Amber-- sat Markova, himself, as the living human Roman general he once was. The Romans had come to Thebes while passing through the area, so the city was throwing a festival in their honor. Amber had decided that she wanted to keep an eye on Markova all night-- as she was the only one who had a resistance to alcohol that she could activate if need be-- because Issa, the high priestess, was to sing that night at the climax of the evening's performances, and Amber harbored the secret fear that this would be when she would die.

Amber began taking long swallows of the delicious Egyptian beer-- Sanki, surprisingly, was matching her swallow for swallow, and she felt bad for the sensitive Silent Strider. Marie-Claire was losing herself in the drink again, as she had when she'd been forced to sit back and let Jack die on an earlier mission. Amber glanced over at Markova, and then the musicians began playing a droning, hypnotic beat, and the crowd hushed.

Out walked the procession of the priestesses of Isis, singing and chanting a slow, mesmerizing song in honor of Isis. Suddenly in the center of the stage appeared Issa, looking stunning and radient. Amber could see the blush of life surrounding her womb, and started choking up. It wasn't fair!! Not only would she be losing her life, but the life of their unborn child! Poor, poor Amon! Amber began drinking again as she let the haunting melody surround her...unconsciously memorizing the song and words, thanks to the universal translator she had been implanted with before the missions began, and her eidetic memory. And then Issa began to sing her solo:

"I stand pure in the light of Isis,
Your light flows within me and through me.
The light of Isis,
Flows within my throat,
Let my voice be true.
Abide with me Isis,
Let me live
Within the glory
of your light
Forever and ever,
Isis, Isis, Isis,
Hear my prayer,
Hear my prayer!"

Amber looked over in the middle of the solo and saw, with horror, that Markova was staring transfixed at Issa with a look of desire on his face! Amber looked from Markova to Issa and back-- dread spreading through her body. She suddenly had the revelation that HE would be the cause of Issa's death...unless she did something about it. Amon had given the pack specific orders not to interfere with what had to happen, but Amber couldn't stand this anymore! She HAD to do something!

As the song ended, Markova leaned over and whispered something to the man next to him while gesturing at Issa, and both men laughed. Then Markova quickly stood, and started towards the area where the priestesses had receded to after the song. Amber felt her legs stand of their own accord, and carry her quickly to place her right in Markova's path. Determined, she fluffed out her red hair-- knowing it would definitely stand her out in this crowd-- put on her most seductive face, stood with her weight on one leg and her hand on the jutting hip, and her chest rotated to stick out.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk...the most handsome man here, an' he's all alone. Such a tragedy! Such waste! I'll have ta change that...if he'll accept ma company?" Amber asks, trailing her fingertips across the bare skin above her breasts and smiling at Markova.

Claudius turns to look at Amber and smiles. "Red hair," he thinks, "where have I seen...?" He nods looking into her eyes and seeing a willingness there. Looking back he sees Issa hug a strange-looking man and kiss his cheek. The man wraps his arms around her and leads her off. He purses his lips and looks back down at the smiling redhead. He offers his arm.
"Well I'm flattered you think so...miss?"

Markova meets Amber

"Amber..." Amber replies in a lingering voice, "...like my eyes." Amber's eyes are a very rare and interesting orange-yellow color, the likes of which Markova has never before seen. They gaze at him seductively yet intensely, and suddenly there's a flash of strength and fire deep within, and then her eyes return to their friendly and inviting glance. Amber takes his arm and begins to lead him back in the direction of the tables, and away from Issa and Amon. "I hear much about Roman soldiers and their...talents..." she says slowly with a sly smile, "...but ye appear ta be much more than a mere soldier." Amber stops their progress and runs her hand across Markova's breastplate. "Tell me...is this the armor of...a general?" she asks, her eyes getting wide.

Claudius smiles at Amber and looks into her eyes. He frowns slightly.
Those eyes, I've seen those eyes before but where? he thinks. He shakes his head and leans into her whispering conspiritorily.
"Yes, it is the armor of a general." He says letting her lead him away.
"I must ask, you are not of Egyptian descent," he says touching a lock of her hair and bringing it to his mouth.
"From where do you hail?"

Amber smiles-- suddenly feeling a little nervous when she realizes that her seduction is working...very well. What will happen to her?? But when she thinks of sparing Issa from whatever that fate may be, it gives her renewed courage.

"Ye're a very perceptive, as well as charming, general...I am honored that ye favor me with yer company," Amber bows her head to him, never letting her eyes leave his. "I hail from Hibernia-- west o' Britania. I am o' the Celtic Iceni tribe. We are fierce warriors..." Amber leans in so that her lips brush Markova's neck as she whispers in his ear, "...an' even fiercer lovers."

Claudius smiles as he feels her lips brush his neck. Looking into her eyes again brings a feeling of deja-vu to him. "Hibernia," he thinks "Hibernia." He takes her hand and twirls her to get a good look at what she seems to be offering him so blatantly.
He takes her hand and bows kissing it, "Hail, Amber from Hibernia, I am Claudius Markova, from Rome."

Amber smiles-- a very pleased look on her face-- and laughs a little when he turns her. He is...charming! Amber is a little confused-- she'd always been lead to believe that one's enemies were heartless beasts who killed for pleasure, and was half-expecting him to sling her over his shoulder and run off into the desert making grunting-noises after she offered herself to him! But he wasn't any of that! Well...SO far, anyhow. "Claudius...nice name..." she thinks in surprise.

"General Claudius Markova-- 'tis a pleasure ta make yer acquaintence!" she says, making a graceful curtsy. "My surname is McPhearson. Amber McPhearson." Amber feels a nervousness shoot through her chest. WHY did she just give Markova her full name?? What is wrong with her? She comes up from her curtsy and takes Markova's arm again. "An' what would ye have me call ye then? 'General?' 'General Markova'...?" Amber trails off, looking over at Markova inquisitively.

Claudius nods in delighted surprise when she curtsies. I thought those from Hibernia were savages, he considers. This one is far from it.
"Claudius, of course. Amber McPhearson is it. Now that is a name to remember. So Amber McPhearson, what brings you to this dry land? I would think that it is so far away from your green island."

Amber laughs and smacks his arm. "Just call me Amber...Claudius!" They continue to walk as Amber's thoughts race. "Why the hell are we here...what the hell would we be doin' here..." she thinks, and finally speaks. "I'm a bit of a traveler, ye might say. First I crossed the sea ta Gaul where I met up with some o' my companions...then we traveled on further east where we became acquainted with the high priestess' husband..." Amber emphasizes the word 'husband.' "He invited us ta come see his land, an' so we took him up on it. We're guests o' he an' his wife while we're here." Amber's voice takes on a regretful tone. "I do believe we'll be leavin' soon..." Amber looks off at the desert for a moment, and then back at Claudius with a smile. "So ye know my isle is green, do ye? Have ye been there then?"

"Ah yes, we too shall be leavin soon. Perhaps a day or so." He says as he continues to walk with her. He stops and thinks a moment.
"I have been to Hibernia, only it was a long time ago. I remember how remarkable the hills were and the forests. I did not stay long, regretfully. For had I known their women were so charming, I would have stayed on."

Amber grins and raises an eyebow. "Oh I couldn't have had THAT. Not when I have ye all ta myself now!" Amber winks. "Besides, it's their loss that none o' them stepped inta yer path earlier!" Amber walks with a smile on her face that masks the turmoil going on in her head. "I've never had such a talkative man before-- all the rest just wanted ta come upstairs or go out inta the woods the minute they knew what I was on about an' have at it, then! Such a charmer..." she thinks, shaking her head slightly. She looks over and suddenly notices Marie-Claire, Sanki, and Elsibeta staring at her in disbelief-- their jaws hanging open-- and she smiles and bows her head to them, and then quickly addresses Claudius again.

"So Claudius, where are ye takin' me?" she asks in a low, sultery voice, noticing that they're heading in the direction of the Roman encampment.

Claudius smiles and points to a small embankment by the river just outside the encampment. "I wanted to see the river. We just arrived and I wished to see if it has calmed down since this morning. I notice you were quite bold back there. Do you usually find strange men in uniforms and flirt with them?"

Amber chuckles. "No, no...in all honesty, it's usually me who's bein' accosted by strange men! This is a refreshin' change-- noticin' the man, myself, first, an' goin' after him! As fer a man in uniform, I've never...been with a Roman soldier before, but plenty o' Celtic warriors, aye. Dirty, drunken, rough men, they are, who speak as little as possible. Ye seemed...different. An' so ye're provin' ta be! I take it ye're used ta strange women throwin' themselves at ye-- bein' as handsome an' charmin' as ye are? Not ta mention a general!" Amber glances up at him with a twinkle in her eye.

Claudius raises his eyebrow to her and looks off in the distance.
"You could say that some do throw themselves at me. There are, of course, others I tend to chase. I seem different do I? Perhaps," he says smiling at her, "You should elevate your taste in men?"

Amber laughs and shakes her head. "Not much choice where I come from...I..." she laughs and looks down embarrassedly. "...I'm a barmaid in me parents' tavern. Don't get out much. When I DO get out, it's ta tend ta the wounded in battle...sing ta raise the courage o' the tribe...I'm also a bard." She says, gazing out at the river.

"Amber, ye daft fool! What are ye tellin' him all this fer?? Well...if he's interested, and stayin' with ye, then ye're doin' yer job. Still...revealin' so much..." Amber finally smiles. "I don't know about ye, but I'm in no hurry ta settle down. I don't think the life of a wife an' mother is fer me."

Claudius laughs and takes her arm again. "No, I do not believe you are, indeed. Then again I, too, would make a terrible husband. Always this campaign and that. I am away from Rome so much that I sometimes forget I was not born on some military march." He says leading her down the river a bit. "So you are a bard then, I would like to hear you sing," he wipes the dust off of a boulder that looks fairly flat and motions for her to sit.
"Please, if you would, my lady Amber."

As Claudius describes his own reasons for him not making a good husband, Amber berrates herself for bringing up such a topic. "The man must think me a fool fer talkin' marriage an' children! Ach, Amber! Do ye want ta chase him away so fast? The night is still young!" Amber closes her eyes for a second as they approach the boulder.

"Aah, I would be happy ta sing fer ye, Claudius!" Amber says, making a gallant, sweeping bow, and then hopping up on the rock. She gets up onto her knees, and then sits back on her heels-- placing her hands on her thighs. "This is about the land o' my ancestors before they came across the sea ta Hibernia from the mystic land o' Tuatha de Danaan, where the Elves came from, also." Amber clears her throat, looks out across the river, and begins to sing in a clear voice that floats and resonates strongly and hauntingly.

"'S� an ghealach,
mall san o�che.
'S� an ghrian.
F�n liom go Deo.
Hoireann is O Hi O Ho ra Ha.

'S� na Samhna,
t�s na Bliain Ur.
'S� an crann marbh.
Deireadh an tuath."

When Amber finishes, she looks down at Claudius. "That meant 'It is the Moon, late in the night. It is the Sun. Stay with me forever. It is Samhain, beginning of the New Year. It's the dead tree. End of the tribe.'"

Claudius watches her sing with a bit of admiration on his face. When Amber finishes he laughs and applauds. "Wonderful, wonderful. That was beautiful music. I do not believe I have ever heard a sweeter voice. That language is soothing. Teach me a few phrases."

Amber smiles and bows her head graciously. "Thank you, Claudius! You flatter me! Here-- " Amber pats the place next to her on the boulder and waits for him to sit beside her. "All right, I'll teach ye a few phrases then! Ahem." Amber clears her throat. "'Bail � Mhuire ort!' That means, 'The blessin' o' the Mother on ye.'" Amber thinks, and then continues. "'Cad � mar a t� t�?' means 'How are ye?' An' 'T� m� go maith!' means 'I'm fine!'" Now you try!" Amber says, settling back down to sit with her legs hanging over the boulder and watching Claudius expectantly.

"Oh Gaia, now I'm teachin' Markova how ta speak Gaelic...please don't strike me dead, Great Mother!" Amber thinks in disbelief.

Claudius repeats her phrases passibly and nods. "It is a beautiful language, Amber. Thank you for indulging me. I am interested however. There were many men at the festival tonight, men a bit more robust than I. Why have you chosen to devote your time to me?"

Amber feels another pang of nervousness shoot through her belly. Perhaps-- even as a mortal-- he has some kind of...powers?
Amber laughs. "'A bit more robust?' Ah Claudius, I'm not interested in 'more robust.' It's about time I was with a man who had somethin' between his ears, other than a beer mug!" Amber smiles and pauses. "What drew me ta ye was...the power that emminates from ye. Ye are truly like no other man here." Suddenly Amber feels like she wants to tell Claudius the truth, and she has NO idea why! She thinks that, perhaps, he would understand and not be angry...

"An'-- " Amber smiles and looks down. "-- ye ARE the best-lookin' available man in the entire city." She looks up again. "'An I wanted ta save ye the embarrassment o' goin' after the high priestess an' meetin' up with her protective husband behind stage." Amber smiles a nervous smile and clutches her hands together.

Claudius chuckles and offers his arm. "I see, well then no more of this talk," he says leaning to her side. "Come, would you care to see the encampment? I have some finer wine there that may be more agreeable than this egyptian beer. And we can continue our talk in a more private setting."

Amber leans in so that their lips are inches from touching. "I would like that...very much, Claudius." And-- surprises of surprises-- she means it! For the first time in her life, perhaps, she is being wooed, complimented sincerely, and romanced off her feet instead of bluntly urged onto her back! "Amber, girl, this is dangerous territory ye're treadin'...do ye know what ye're doin'?" Amber asks herself, and the answer comes back, "no...no I do not, but neither do I care."

Amber and Claudius slide down from the rock, and after they brush off the backs of their legs and Amber makes sure her dress is smoothed down, she takes Claudius' arm again, and they start back towards the encampment.

Claudius leads her through the encampment, pointing out certain things and nodding his approval at her interest. When he reaches his tent, he opens the flap and holds it open for her.

Amber smiles and ducks a little as she passes under the flap. "Well, here we go, ma girl. Ye're enterin' the tent o' Markova...Claudius. Let's hope this isn't the biggest mistake of yer life! In any case, I'm sure ye'll never forget it!" Amber thinks, and laughs nervously to herself as she looks around the tent.

The tent is fairly sparse, much to Amber's surprise. A suit of leather armor hangs from a pole in the corner. A table with a few papers, a chest that seems unlocked and of course the bed. It is fur lined and seems raised off the floor a good three feet.

Claudius enters and draws the flap closed. He walks over to the chest and pulls out some wine. He pours two glasses and motions for her to sit on the bed. He pulls up a chair and sits opposite her. "Welcome to my humble home away from home," he say motioning around the room.
"Not what you expected from a general is it?"

Amber smiles and takes the wine. She's always preferred beer to wine, but she's curious to sample any foreign alcohol she can get her hands on. She takes a sip...and her eyebrows go up with surprise. "Claudius, you were right! This IS fine wine!" She takes another little sip. Much more flavorful than that stuff she's had a handfastings and such! Then she notices that Claudius is sitting on a chair in front of her and not on the bed beside her, and gives him a quizzicle look...but then quickly erases it from her face. If he wants to continue talking first, that's just fine with her. That will be all the longer he'd be in here with her, and not out searching for Issa again.

"I don't know what ye Romans are used ta when ye're away from yer city, but this tent is a palace compared ta what we use when fightin' far from home! Usually we let Gaia's own wilderness shelter and rest us-- I mean, look at this bed!" Amber runs her hands over the fur, enjoying the softness. "So luxerious and...comfortable looking..." Amber realizes she's bouncing on the end of the bed a little to try it out, and her cheeks pinken a bit as she gives Claudius a guilty smile.

Claudius smiles at Amber's guilty look. He sips his wine and looks her over again.
"I'm glad you like it," he says smiling behind his wine. He stands up and takes Amber's glass and his own and fills them again. He sits next to her and hands her the glass.
"So tell me of this tavern of your father's, I am interested in learning how you live."

"So tell me of this tavern..."

Amber feels a shiver of excitement run through her as Claudius sits beside her, and she quickly takes the glass of wine and has another swallow. Then when she hears Claudius' question, she suddenly gets nervous again. "Ach, ye fool! First ye tell him ye don't get out much, and then ye tell him ye're a bit of a traveler?? Ye must be daft ta think ye could get that past a Roman general...Markova, no less! OK, OK, breathe...ye'll think o' somethin'..."

Amber finishes her long swallow of wine, and her head starts to tingle a little, so she quickly removes the alcohol from her bloodstream. "I was wonderin' when you'd notice me little paradox!" she says laughing a little. "What's a barmaid doin' halfway across the world?" Amber looks down and smoothes the white, gauzy, pleated material across her thighs. Then she looks back up. "I've been me parents' barmaid since I was a young girl, but I was also trained ta fight. My mother is a...healer for our...tribe," Amber was about to say 'a nurse at the local hospital,' but was able to catch herself first. "An' she's always passed on little bits o' knowledge o' healing ta me. Then as I was nearin' on me 20s, she started trainin' me ta be a healer as me father was trainin' me ta be a bard. Ye could say that I heal with a song!" Amber laughs quickly again, her mind racing.

"I really DIDN'T get out much until this past year-- I wasna lyin' about that! This past year the...tribes we have allied with across the sea requested our help in fightin' with them, an' when Father picked those who would go over in the boats, I begged him ta let me go an' act as the healer an' bard, an' he reluctantly let me go. I was tired o' bein' stuck at home, surrounded by the same people day in an' day out." Amber looks at Claudius with fierce and excited eyes as she relives her relief at being allowed to go to Europe. "An' so here I am, traveling across the world with fellow warriors, meetin' all sorts o'...new people..." Amber gives Claudius a smile and a wink.

"But that's not what ye asked, now is it? Me father's tavern-- it's the central point o' the...village. Everyone comes there after a hard day o' work-- some come before work...some in the middle...depends on their need fer the drink. It's a comfortable an' invitin' place-- two stories, made o' wood an' stone. Me an' me parents live upstairs, an' the tavern is on the main floor." Amber gets a faraway-look as she describes her home, her hands pressed together.

Claudius listens as Amber relates her story. He nods, or laughs when it is time. When she finishes he smiles and puts his hand on hers and squeezes it. He lays on the bed, his head in his hand as he leans on his elbow.
"The tavern sounds like a place of solace for your town. I would very much like to visit one day.
Listening to you tell of this place I can almost see it. You are a very good bard. You sound like I do when I speak of Rome. It has been a long time since I have been home."

Amber watches Claudius recline on his side, and smiles and reclines in the same manner, facing him on her side. "Tell me about yer home, Claudius! I've never been that far south, an' I don't know if my path will lead me there. I've been gone from home a long time-- well, fer me, anyhow. I know what good it can do the soul ta talk about home! Tell me!" Amber smiles and reaches over to trail her fingertips down Claudius' arm in a soothing manner, rather than seductive.

Claudius glances down and nods, thinking

Claudius glances down and nods, thinking.
"Of course, of course," he says. He takes a sip of wine. Interesting, he thinks, I've seen her somewhere before...
"Rome is the grandest of all cities of earth. Traveling towards it, it shines like a beacon of all white marble and the brightest flags waving over the gates. The streets are paved, and designs are cut into the very stone. In the morning when you look out your window all you can see is the sun rising over the city. It makes the marble shine like stars. The men begin their trek to work, stopping at street vendors who sell tea and sweet meats. Older men who no longer needed to work or exercise would spend all day in one park or another debating politics, truth, life death whatever," he takes sip of wine. "During the afternoon the changing of the guard would be almost like a parade. The fresh guards would march through the city to their posts and..." his eyes seem faraway now. "The old guards would hand over their helmets and they would march back to the barracks," he glances down smiling.
"I'm rambling now. I guess I truly have been gone too long. I think you and your friends should take the time and travel to Rome. It is unlike any city you have ever seen."

Amber nods, spellbound, as Claudius tells her of Rome, and pauses a moment before speaking once he's done. "Why Claudius-- ye're a natural bard, yerself! The way ye described the city so vividly..." Amber looks at Claudius, shaking her head and smiling. "It's been a long time since someone told ME a story, and so skilfully, at that!" Amber pauses. "I would deeply regret it if our travels didn't take us down ta Rome, but I think we've already extended our time away from the battles by detouring ta Egypt. Even so, the picture ye've painted o' the city will stay with me as if we had." Amber gazes at Claudius for a long moment, and then quickly breaks the spell she feels growing between their eyes. "Now that ye know what brought me ta Thebes-- what brought YOU, if I'm not bein' too forward ta ask?" Amber settles more comfortably, laying her arm on the bed and resting the side of her head on her arm while looking up at Claudius.

Claudius lays his head the same as Amber and laughs. "If I told you that I'd have to kill you," he says with a serious look in his eye and a wink. He laughs a genuine laugh.
"It is nothing really, we were on our way from Arabia when one of our ships tossed in a storm. We saved the men but lost many supplies. We are just here to buy a new ship and to restock," he looks into her eyes.
"You know I must confess, I have an alterior motive for escorting you here tonight. I have been in Arabia for the last six months with nothing but my men and lots of spitting camels to keep me company. It is nice to finally speak to someone who doesn't want orders of which to bitch and complain."

Amber throws her head back and laughs a long laugh. "Aah Claudius, ye make me laugh!" She laughs again and wipes at the corners of her eyes, and then fixes Claudius with a serious stare. "Ye...ye mean ye had alterior motives fer...fer bringin' me here?" Amber suddenly sits up straight and puts a hand to her chest in mock-outrage. "An' ta think that little, innocent me fell fer it!" Amber makes as if to stand up and leave.

Claudius watches her stand up and smiles. He sighs and motions to the door. "Well if you truly feel that way," he stands and walks to the flap and opens it.
"I was hoping to continue our private chat, but if you are offended..."

Amber looks at Claudius with surprise as he actually follows her to the tent-flap and opens it for her! Could this man have seriously not gotten her joke, or is he just giving it back to her?? Amber decides she'll give him the benefit of the doubt and stop playing games. Amber suddenly turns, and her eyes are flaming. She grabs the tent-flap out of Claudius' hand and snaps it back closed, then turns to him, grabs his face, and kisses him hard.

He returns her kiss holding her tight to his body. His hands roam across her back. He brings his hand over to her leg and lifts it, holding it to his side.
Good kisser, he thinks, The eyes so familiar...so fiery. He feels himself become aroused as they continue their kiss. He smiles within the kiss breaking it.
"And all I wanted to do is talk," he says glancing up with a little shrug.

Amber raises her eyebrows and breathes hard-- her face flushed with desire. "Oh..." She puts her lips closer to his and whispers in a breathy voice, "...I guarantee ye'll continue talkin', Claudius. An' if I do my part right, I'll have ye doin' more than that."

"Oh goddess, I've got guts!" Amber thinks excitedly to herself. "Well...the good part is that I know I can back up my promise, anyhow! Especially with Claudius-- I'll actually take pleasure out of it! DAMN but he's a good kisser!! I haven't felt this much need fer one particular man in...well, I can't remember when!"

*****20 Minutes later*****

Claudius crawls to the top of the bed and gently takes her with him resting her head upon his shoulder. Seeing her eyes closed, he gathers his will and the covers leap to his hand covering them both. He kisses her forehead and sighs contently.
"Well that was...intense. I have never...that is to say...Amber do all women of Hibernia make love as fierce as you?"

Amber opens her eyes lazily and smiles a slow smile. "Ye give me much credit, lover..." She laughs a low, satisfied laugh. "I thought meself a skilled lover, but you...you..." she leans up on one elbow and fixes her eyes on his, shaking her head slowly. "You were absolutely...amazin'." She suddenly puts her hand on his chest and her eyes fill with wonder. "Claudius-- at one point I...I thought I..." Amber laughs self-consciously. "Don't laugh, but I thought I could feel what ye were feelin', as well! I almost blacked-out! My darlin', I have never, NEVER had better sex in me whole life, an' I expect I never will again!" She looks at him with sincere eyes, still full of admiration and amazement.

Claudius smiles and nods letting out a long breath. "That was amazing, Amber. I have never been like that with anyone," he leans over and touches her nose with his finger tip playfully.
"I never will be again I assume. So Amber tell me something, this life you have, constantly travelling, don't you wish to just find somewhere and call it home?"

Amber laughs and flushes a little, nodding in understanding and then looking down. "I love me parents...I love me town...me father said that I'll inherit the tavern when he passes, but-- Gaia willin'-- that won't be fer a very long time." Amber pauses and looks back at Claudius. "At this point in me life I'm really not sure what I want...what about ye, Claudius?" Amber reaches over and starts stroking the hair back from Claudius' brow-- letting it filter through her fingers before she moves her hand back to run her fingers through it again.

"Mmm I was hoping to finish this campaign and retire home. Stay at the villa growing grapes, perhaps make my own wine," he smiles at the thought of himself in a farmers tunic.
Leaning on his elbow he rests his head in his hand. He runs his hand along her side his eyes following his hand.
"You are very beautiful."

Amber blushes with pleasure. "Rather than argue with ye, I'll just be happy that ye find me so!" she laughs. Then she stops and thinks, "Why DIDN'T he just retire home then? What is it that stopped him?" She's almost about to ask him, herself, when she realizes that it hasn't even happened yet-- time-travel is SO complicated!

She rests down on her elbow in the same manner as Claudius, takes his hand and kisses it. "You should, Claudius. If that's what ye want ta do, then do it. Ye have the power ta do or be whoever ye want-- a luxery not enjoyed by most people-- so take advantage!" She begins kissing each of Claudius' fingertips.

He raises his eyebrow and watches her kiss his fingers. "I should. Perhaps follow my father into politics. Be a senator and do something. I just want to change things," he looks out to the tent flap. "It's so barberic out there," he says a faraway look in his eyes. He returns his gaze back to her and looks into her eyes.
"Be careful when you travel, Amber. I would hate to think of you hurt before you reach your home...or perhaps Rome?"

Amber stops in mid-kiss as she reaches Claudius' pinky and opens her eyes wider. She's speechless! Could she possibly be having the same effect on Claudius as he's having on her? Suddenly following him to Rome seems like the only thing she wants to do! It takes her a good moment to finally clear her head and realize what she's thinking! "I can't leave me pack...not when there's so much I have ta accomplish...the horn-- I have ta find the rest o' the pieces o' the horn. An' I can't let Amon down-- I could never let Amon down. No, no...what am I thinkin'! Duty first...duty always first..." Amber thinks to herself.

Amber gives Claudius a warm, bright smile. "Ye about had me convinced ta leave me pack an' follow ye on ta Rome!" Amber uncharacteristically blushes crimson as she realizes how forward that sounded, and quickly looks down. "Ah, Claudius-- that I had the luxery ta go wherever I pleased! But there are so many others who are relyin' on me right now...things that only I can do fer the group...I have ta stay with me pack an' not let 'em down." Amber sighs regretfully, and finally looks up. "I'll be safe, Claudius. Gaia-- and yerself-- willin', we'll meet again someday." Cliodhna's eyes grow distant as she ponders the implications of these words, based on what she knows about the future.

'Her pack?' he thinks, 'Wait a minute.' he gazes into her and sees her secret. He smiles and looks her over again. 'I knew something was different about her...' he chuckles to himself.
"Ah I tried," he says not without a little regret. He brings his hand from her side and lightly touches the line just above her breasts to her chin. He leans in and kisses her lightly on the lips.
"Well then, we will have to make tonight last then..." He lays back down making sure he is very close to Amber so she can look down into his eyes. 'Where in hades have I seen her?' he thinks with a frown.
"You know you look awfully familiar to me...have I...we ever met before?"

Amber looks deeply into his eyes-- thrilled that he wants to continue their night as long as they can, as well-- and tries to think if she's seen Claudius before. "I...I may have heard o' ye before, but...I'm positive I couldna have layed eyes on ye before or ye wouldn't a' had such an effect like lightenin' strikin' when I saw ye after the concert..." Amber smiles, and finds herself a little breathless as she continues to lock eyes with Claudius.

She finds herself being pulled towards him-- just as she had when they were innocently lying on the bed side-by-side talking earlier-- only this time she gives in to the magnetic pull and leans forward, kissing him with emotion and feeling. A very deep, slow, romantic kiss. When she finally pulls back a little, her eyes are closed and she remarks, "If ye DO remember where ye've seen me before, let me know..." and then she leans down to kiss him again, this time wrapping her free arm around his chest and holding him tight.

He brings his arm under her and presses her to him. Once the kiss breaks he smiles and brushes her hair from her face. 'Should I?' he thinks and then smiles to himself. He reaches his hand out and the glass of wine appears in his hand. "Something to drink?" he asks as the other wine glass floats towards Amber.

Amber stares at the glass for a moment, and then back at Claudius-- her mouth open as she slowly reaches out and catches the glass. Then she squints at him hard for a moment-- studying him intensely-- shakes her head, and squints again. Then she closes her eyes, and Claudius can hear Amber's voice clearly in his mind. "So...ye must be a Mage then, because I can tell ye're not o' the Fae, an' I'd have killed ye by now if ye were a Leech!" Claudius hears her laugh in his head as her lips curl into a smile. "I take it ye know what I am, then...is it...a problem?" The smile fades a little as she waits for his answer.

Claudius shakes his head hearing her voice. He smiles and gives her a look, telling her it's not. He sips his wine and smiles.
"Of course not. Or we would not have done...this," he says sending her a flash of memory.

Amber suddenly gasps and falls back onto the bed-- her arms falling out to her sides. When she recovers enough of her senses, she turns her head to glare at Claudius and then flop her arm against his side, smacking him as she smiles weakly. Suddenly she flips up and rolls onto her hands and knees, crawling over and straddling Claudius' thighs. She looks down at him with a mischievous smile. "What's this? Ye seem ta have...lost somethin'..." she remarks, and calls upon Gaia's healing gifts. She closes her eyes, bites her lip, and suddenly Claudius feels a golden warmth spread through his loins as he regains what was recently lost.

Claudius' eyes widen as he feels himself tingle all over. He laughs and grabs her underneath her arms and pulls her on top of him. He kisses her passionately and wraps his arms around her. He holds her tight and runs his hands down her back to her lower back and runs his fingers lightly there. "Oh you have done it now," Amber hears in her mind.

*****1 Hour Later*****

Amber laughs as Claudius has to pull her next to him as her limbs seem to have no strength for the moment. Her head flops onto his chest, and she continues to breathe hard. "Ma Mhuire, what did you DO, Claudius??" she asks incredulously. "My legs are shakin'..." she turns her head up to look at his smug face, and her eyes narrow a little. "No surrender, Claudius...no surrender..."

Claudius laughs and kisses her forehead. "I'll never tell," he says looking askance at her. 'My gods she is insatiable,' he thinks sighing.
He looks down at this woman who has made this night far more memorable than anyone else in the city would. 'It's a shame she won't be around longer than just tonight. Perhaps the ship needs more work. Yes, I think I will postpone our travels for another day,' he thinks.
Something within him stirs for just a moment and he wants to take this woman and retire. Move to her side of the world and just forget about everything. He shakes his head and looks up at the ceiling. 'What am I thinking, there's too much to do too many lives at risk...' he looks down at her content little smile, 'But when I am done...I'll come back for her.'

Amber looks up at Claudius with a smile on her face and watches him. "I wonder what he's thinking...what he thinks o' me...is this really the same Markova who everyone fears an' hates?? But...how can that be? How can everyone hate someone so much who I...l-- " Amber pauses, "-- who I like so well?" Amber folds her arms and rests them on Claudius' chest, looking down at him with a little smile. When she's gathered enough strength, she moves up and lays down on top of his body, resting her head on his shoulder with her arms curling up around his shoulders.

"Aah Claudius...how can I think o' lettin' ye go without me..." she folds her arms on his chest and rests her chin on them. "I've already grown so fond o' ye..." she leans forward and kisses his lips lightly, and then rests the side of her face on her arms. Their bodies pressed together like this, she can feel herself rise and fall with his every breath...can feel the warm skin on his stomach against hers...she glories in each sensation as she rests there.

Claudius smiles and puts his arms around her, his fingers runing up and down her back. He looks down into her eyes.
"You have your pack and your friends. I understand. I know what it is to have duty binding you to someone," he says not without a touch of regret in his voice.
'What is this woman doing to me? I've never had thoughts such as these. Didn't Marcus tell me I'd never find love...not in this lifetime he said.'
His gaze follows the details of her face. 'I KNOW I have seen her somewhere.'

Amber looks down at Claudius-- again wondering what he's thinking. "Wow, Amber me girl-- it sounds like he might really like ye!" she thinks to herself, and her cheeks pinken with delight as she smiles at him. "Holy Gaia, what am I thinkin'?? This is still Markova we're talkin' about, right? Oh Mhathair, I think I'm really feelin' somethin' fer him!" In the midst of Amber's revelations, she suddenly realizes that, well, Claudius hasn't...been completely satified yet...and she pushes herself into a sitting position. "Claudius...I think there's somethin' we fergot. But when I'm done, I guarantee ye'll never forget it."

*****15 Minutes Later*****

"Stop, Amber stop! By the gods...you win..." he says.
'No one has ever done that!' he thinks his face a bit flushed.

Amber smiles a beaming smile. She crawls up over his body until her face is above his, and then slowly leans down and kisses him. "I'm so happy when I bring ye pleasure, Claudius!" she says softly, sits up on his stomach, and reaches over to get the two glasses of wine. She deftly gets up on her knees, lifts her leg and brings it back across him, and sits beside him without spilling a drop, and then hands a glass to Claudius. "It looks like ye could use a little drink!" she says, and laughs a joyful laugh.

Claudius shakily takes the glass and drinks deep, finishing it. He hands her the glass and flops onto his stomach, resting his head on one arm and using his hand to rub Amber's leg.
"That was...amazing. I feel I have been visited by a goddess tonight," he says, a twinkle in his eye. "Shall I call you Venus? Because after all this I would say you are none other. I feel as if I should kneel and worship you, my Lady Amber."
'What in Hades did I just say?? What is this woman doing to me?'

Amber almost drops her glass as she's bringing it to her lips, fumbles a second, and then brings her hands down to hold it on her leg-- mouth open in surprise. "Why Claudius...that's the single-most...beautiful an'...an' breathtakin' thing ANYONE'S ever said ta me! An' comin' from YOU, of all people...ye who are...well, like a god ta me, as well! what did I do ta deserve that?" she asks breathlessly. She turns her body so that she's facing Claudius with her side against his side and stomach, and brings her arm over his body to rub his back lightly. She feels smooth skin...muscle...what's this? She peers over his back and sees a round scar-- about the size of a Punt-- on his shoulderblade...quite a lot of scar-tissue there. "Goddess, Claudius, what did this?" she asks with awe in her voice, touching and admiring the scar.

Claudius looks back a moment and narrows his eyes. 'My scar, I got that...what do I tell her?' he thinks. He raises an eyebrow at her.
"I was shot with an arrow in Gaul. I was pulling one of my men to safety. Luckily my armor and bone protected me. It was still very painful to remove," he says and touches her face.
'Now this is disconcerting. That face...those eyes...where?'

Amber looks at the scar a moment longer, and then back at his face-- continuing to rub his back. "I have me share o' scars, but nothin' worth talkin' about," she says regretfully. She brings the wine glass to her lips and drains it all in one swallow, sitting up and reaching back over Claudius to put both of their glasses back on the table beside the bed. Then she lays down on her stomach next to him with her arms folded, and rests the side of her head on her arms so she's facing him. She bends her legs up at the knees and crosses her ankles, letting them bounce in a carefree manner. She smiles at Claudius. "Are ye goin' ta get it tomorrow when ye're walkin' amoung yer men again? I think some of the screams an' shouts that have been comin' from this tent should have reached the very city!" Amber laughs, and her cheeks pinken a little.

Claudius chuckles and rolls over to his side facing her and puts his hand on her back. He rubs across her shoulder blades down to her lower back softly all the while watching his hand.
"Don't worry, I have made sure that what is said in the tent cannot reach the outside," he says with a sly smile.
"Disappointed?"

Amber laughs a loud belly-laugh and smacks his arm, and then leans in with big eyes and cries, "Yes! Yes I am, now that ye mention it!" and begins laughing hard. "Well then I suppose if I yell..." and Amber takes in a deep breath and shouts, "Oh GOD, Claudius! Ye're HUGE!! Holy Goddess, LOOK at it!! I've never seen one so big!" Amber quickly lowers her voice, "...that no one would hear that?" Amber shakes her head in disappointment and makes a noise with her tongue. "Too bad..." she says with a sly grin.

Claudius laughs out loud and slaps her butt playfully. 'Beautiful, funny, charming...gods...what is happening here?' He thinks and then looks back at her. He grabs her and brings her over to him, her back facing his side and kisses her cheek playfully.
"You are a goddess! A goddess of trickery," he says with a wink. He opens his arm for her and when she puts her head on his chest he strokes her hair, running his fingers through it.
"I've never seen hair this color before, it is very beautiful," he says and there's a flash in his mind. His smile stiffens a bit then it is gone. He looks back at her and smiles again.
"Amber, I am almost positive I have seen you before...are you sure we have not seen each other? Perhaps we passed on the street a few days ago?"

Amber grins and laughs as he's playful with her, and then snuggles down with her head in the crook of his arm when he offers it for her. "Let me think..." she says in answer to his question. "Wow, he's really, really sure he's seen me before...HAS he?" she thinks, her brow furrowing. "Goddess, Claudius, I can't think of when ye would have...we only arrived a little earlier this week, an' we haven't been outta the high priestess' house that much. Are ye sure ye didn't just see someone with red hair a long time ago who mighta reminded ye o' me? Or what about...I know ye Mages have some kinda powers, sometimes, where ye can see inta the future...do ye have somethin' like that?" she asks, trailing her hand over Claudius' chest and stomach.

Claudius frowns in thought, staring at the ceiling when it hits him. The dream begins to replay itself as his body stiffens next to Amber. His eyes drift of faraway. This time as the dream unfolds her pays far more atention to the woman by the door. Just as he almost sees her face or hair he wakes from the vision.
"I don't know," he says his voice thick. "Perhaps I dreamed you, Amber. Maybe this is all a dream that I will awaken from and find myself on the ship in a cold bed wrapped in bearskin wondering where my goddess went."

Amber freezes for a moment in his arms, and then her eyes tear-up. No man has EVER spoken to her this way! EVER! And to top it all off, she thinks she's...she's...well, falling for him harder and harder every second...maybe she even...no, it must be too soon for that! No...she really does think she might...love him! GOD! Love MARKOVA! But it's true!! Amon's going to skin her alive! Well...too bad! He has Issa-- why can't Markova have someone, and why can't it be her?? "Better me than some diseased Roman whore, or somethin'!" she thinks defensively. "He's too good for anythin' like that!"

Amber finally regains enough of her senses to take Claudius' face gently with her fingertips and turn it to look at her-- her eyes still filled with tears. "Claudius, ye didn't dream me-- not this time, anyway. An' whether or not I'm here tomorrow or the next day, I have ye right now, an' I'm goin' ta hold ye like this fer as long as we DO have together!" She slides one arm under Claudius and holds him tightly in both arms, her tears wetting his shoulder.

He holds her tight and kisses her forehead. In his head he hears the voice of Marcus, "You will find one love, but she will not stay by your side for long...at least not in this lifetime."
'What did he mean by that,' he thinks. Claudius looks askance at Amber and closes his eyes, gathering his will he reaches out across time and space to somewhere...in the future? in the past?
He sees her on a snow covered hill staring out against a vast army all dressed in strange armor. Her face is determined and she looks as she does now! Perhaps a year older if that. She blows the horn and there's a strange noise like the boom of greek fire and Amber clutches her chest falling to the ground.
Claudius opens his eyes and looks at Amber snuggled on his shoulder, her eyes closed, looking so peaceful. He opens his mouth to say something, to warn her but nothing comes.

"Claudius...ye're suddenly very quiet-- what are ye thinkin'?" Amber suddenly looks up, feeling alarmed. "Oh Gaia, did I say somethin' wrong? Was I too forward?" she asks hastily.

"Now ye've done it, Amber...ye find the one man who ye think ye're fallin' in love with, an' then ye go and get emotional and frighten him away!" she thinks, reprimanding herself.

Claudius smiles and squeezes her shoulder.
"No no, Amber my dear. You have done nothing wrong. I was just thinking that I do not believe the ship will be done by today. Perhaps you could come to see me tomorrow night? I would be very happy to see you."

Amber feels herself fill with warmth and relief, and she beams him a beautiful smile. "I would be very happy to see you, too," she says in a suddenly soft voice, not even worrying about how she's going to get away from the pack to see him, or what excuse she'll have to think up to accomplish it. She gets up on one elbow. "Maybe the day after that we could...accidentally knock a hole in the bottom o' the ship...put sleeping syrum in me packmates' beer..." she looks into Claudius' eyes, "...make the sun stop risin' an' the moon stop fallin'..." she says softly, and leans towards Claudius, holding his cheek and kissing him deeply.

Claudius kisses her back just as passionate and brings himself to lean over her, his arms around her. 'This woman will die,' he thinks and then squeezes his eyes shut, 'They all die.'
He runs his hand down her side to her leg and keeps it there.

Amber wraps her arms around Claudius as they kiss, and enjoys the feeling of him leaning over her. Then she brings his head down to lay on her breast, and holds him in her arms-- stroking his hair with her hand. "Are ye all right, Claudius? Yer energy suddenly seems...well, rather low. Is there anythin' I can do, mo mh�irn�n b�n?" She kisses his head and looks down at his face for his response.

Claudius sighs and looks up and smiles.
"Just one thing," he says as he kisses her and gently postions himself on top of her. He gently kisses her and lets his one hand touch her cheek.

Amber kisses him back and trails her fingers down his spine. "Ah Claudius...an' ta think that all I wanted ta do was talk..." she says, immitating something he'd said earlier, and laughs softly. She returns to kissing him, and holds his back in her hands...moving her lips across to his cheek, and then over to kiss his neck softly...murmuring about how wonderful he is, and how much she enjoys holding and kissing him.

He sighs softly. 'I want her to stay, she doesn't deserve to die...some day I will make it so no one will ever have to die!' he thinks. He kisses her neck and brings his face into hers and kisses her softly.

Amber suddenly feels so much emotion welling up within her that she can't contain it, and is grateful when he finds her face and starts kissing her lips as the tears start to overflow from her eyes. "Oh it's not fair..." she thinks mournfully. "I, who have never thought I'd have anythin' ta do with love, an' here's where I find it! An' I have ta leave! I don't want to leave...why..." she thinks as the tears start to fall, and keeps her lips against Claudius' so he won't see her like this.

*****1 Hour Later*****

Claudius watches Amber with his eyes as she rests in his arms. He lets out a contented sigh and says with a thick voice.
"Amber....never has...it been anywhere near that..."

Amber nods and smiles-- her eyes wide with equal incredulity. "I used...a bit o' my healin' powers at the end...but you...you don't need any powers ta render me senseless, Claudius." She begins to rub his chest slowly, bending her leg to bring it up to rest across his thighs. She smiles and holds Claudius tighter. "How do ye feel, mo gra?" she whispers.

"Warm...drained..." he says and looks down at her. He closes his eyes and holds her a bit tighter. 'Mo gra?' That is the second time she has called him that tonight.
"What does that mean? 'Mo gra?'"

Amber looks at Claudius as a pang of fear rushes through her. "Oh shit, what do I say? What do I say??" she thinks in a panic. She closes her eyes and quickly tries to compose herself. "I won't lie ta him...an' it will be...OK, I hope..." She laughs a little laugh. "Well...it's a Hibernian term of endearment...it means..." Amber clears her throat, "...it means 'my love.'" She opens her eyes and looks at her hand as it moves across Claudius' stomach, and then gives another little laugh. "We Celts...we may be fierce, but our speech is very lovin' at times, aye?" she asks, continuing to watch her hand nervously.

Claudius' mind is already very nearly asleep, he nods dreamily.
"I like the way it sounds. Mo gra...mo gra..." he holds her tight and she can tell he is about to drift off. "My love...Amber." and he is gone to dream...

Amber lifts her head up and stares at Claudius for a moment as he drifts off to sleep, her mouth opening in surprise. Then she lets her head fall back down onto Claudius' arm-- not too hard, though. She can't believe what he just said...! She feels her heart burning in her chest, and finds Claudius hand with hers and holds it tightly. She watches his face as he sleep until she finally feels sleep carrying her off, as well, and closes her eyes slowly. "T� gr� agam duit..." she whispers before she enters unconsciousness.

A few hours later...

Claudius awakens sometime in the night. The torches have burned down and the tent is illuminated only by the gentle glow of the candles on his desk. He looks down at the sleeping Amber. Her lips upturned in a smile even in sleep.
'I wonder what she dreams,' he thinks as he softly strokes her hair. He touches her face lightly memorizing the details. He smiles thinking of the night's events.

Amber lays peacefully for a moment, and then suddenly jerks and sits upright. "Is it me turn ta do the watch?" she asks in a sleepy voice-- eyes still closed-- as if she's so used to this routine that she knows it in her sleep.

Claudius touches her back and runs his fingertips down to the small of her back, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin. He touches her shoulder and helps her back down to his lay in his arms. He chuckles at her.
"No, Amber don't worry I'll take the watch, go back to sleep," he says with a little smile.

Amber lets him lay her back down-- her eyes still closed-- and she snuggles back against him.
"Aah...bless ye...I'll make it up ta ye..." she says in a rapidly-fading voice as she falls back to sleep.

"I'll hold you to that," he says behind a smile. He holds her, hand on her shoulder and moves himself to his side so that her face brushes against his neck. He continues to watch her sleep...all the while trying to place her face and trying to drown the vision of her body laying in the cold snow...

Later, just before the sun begins to rise...
Claudius continues to stroke her hair and watch her sleep. Amber moves a bit. "No...no, don't leave! Stay here! Ye...ye haven't shown us the...the uptairs...yet..." Amber moans.
Claudius chuckles a bit and shakes her gently. He kisses her forehead.

Amber suddenly throws her leg over Claudius' legs-- pinning them down tightly-- clenches her right hand around his throat while sitting up slightly, and holds her left are drawn back with the fist clenched. "What do ye think ye're doin' ye bloody bas-- " Amber's eyes finally open and she sees Claudius laying there looking at her in surprise, and she immediately drops her fist and unclenches the hand around his throat, moving it to the side of his face in horror.

"Ah Gaia, Claudius! I'm so sorry! We fightin' women learned ta do that in our sleep in case we were about ta be violated by some strange barbarian or another! Mo Dia, I'm sorry Claudius!" she says, stroking the side of his face and kissing his cheeks...eyes...chin...forehead between apologies.

Claudius stares at her with wide eyes, 'I'll know not to try that again.' He coughs trying to ease his throat.
"Well then," he says, "I'll remember to let you sleep in tomorrow."

Amber suddenly smiles a bright smile. "Oh aye...we have tomorrow, indeed!" Then she sees him holding his throat, and her eyes look pained again. She moves his hand away and places hers very gently around his neck, and closes her eyes. "I'm not used ta sleepin' the night with someone so close, Claudius...I'm really sorry..." she explains as suddenly Claudius' throat feels warm and soothed. She takes her hands away and lays back down next to him. "Well! What a way ta wake up!" she laughs, still looking at him with apologetic eyes.

Claudius rubs his throat and laughs. "I've woken up better, but not quite as exciting. So my little Amber, what are your plans for this day?" He says leaning on one elbow.

Amber smiles a little and her eyes unfocus. "Well, first thing will be ta return ta our host's house so I can be teased mercilessly. Then I'll find out what we're ta do today-- I believe our host has plans fer us..." Amber moves her hand up Claudius' chest to grip his shoulder, and she winks. "...hopefully nothin' TOO strenuous!" Amber laughs and brings her hand back down his skin to run up and down his side in a caress. "What about ye?" She leans up on one elbow, resting her head in her hand as she gazes at Claudius.

Claudius sighs, "The usual paperwork, inspect the ship, speak with the men, perhaps take a walk into town later," he smiles at her wickedly, "Rest a little for tonight's festivities."
"Save your dinner for this evening, Amber I shall have our cook prepare something for us."

Amber smiles and bows her head, putting a hand to her chest. "I would be delighted ta join ye fer dinner this evenin', General. Is dress ta be...optional?" she grins a naughty grin, moving her eyes over his naked body lewdly.

Claudius gives her an innocent look, "Why no, my Lady Amber. What do you take me for? The undressed part is during desert," he says tickling her sides.

Amber laughs loudly and curls up in a protective ball, swatting his hands away and shrieking. She finally gets up on her knees-- grabbing a pillow and holding it out in front of her like a weapon. "Stay back, Claudius! I'm warnin' ye!" she says, trying to maintain a menacing tone and serious face despite the comical situation.

Claudius gets a very serious look on his face and raises an eyebrow.
"Oh really," he said making a grab for the pillow. Amber swings hitting him on his side. He makes another quick grab and she takes it with both hands and swings hitting him square in the chin. He falls back onto the pillow his eyes closed, arms flopping outstretched.

Amber looks down at the pillow, then over at Claudius, and then quickly drops the pillow and crawls over to his side. "Ah Mhuire, sometimes I don't know me own strength..." she murmurs, leaning over Claudius' face and peering down at it. "Are ye all right, love?" she asks with a concerned tone.

He opens one eye and grabs her bringing her onto him and kisses her, playfully slapping her butt. "Oh Amber, my day shall truly be a series of long hours till you arrive for dinner." He says once the kiss is over.

Amber laughs, brushing the hair from her eyes, and lays down so that her head is on Claudius' chest with her body straight out so that they form a T-shape on the bed. Amber crosses her ankles, places one hand on her stomach, and reaches to take one of Claudius' hands with her other hand. "I completely agree with ye, Claudius. I'm gonna be totally distracted all day long..." Amber sighs, rubbing the palm of Claudius' hand with her thumb. "It's not fair, is it..." she murmurs, staring at the ceiling without seeing it.

He smiles contentedly enjoying her touch. He rests his other hand upon her head stroking it. "What's not fair?"

Amber's eyes suddenly clear as she realizes that she'd spoken that aloud. "Oh..." she looks down at the hand resting on her stomach. "...us only havin' a couple o' days together before bein' pulled apart...not knowin' if our paths will cross again..." Amber's voice gets softer, "...feelin' this way about someone who SHOULD be me enemy...technically speakin', o' course." she adds quickly, and then continues on in a quiet voice. "I've never felt this way about any man...never done a lot o' the things we did last night with any man...never fallen asleep with another man...Gaia, do ye hate me? Did I do somethin' wrong?" she implores, looking up at the ceiling intently.

Claudius listens, his eyes closed until she begins talking quietly. He raises up on his elbows. Hate her? Do something wrong? He scowls and in a voice that she has not heard before.
"What was that? Does your god hate you? For what?" He takes his hand from her and rolls off the bed. "So what was that horrible crime that made you sleep with a Roman? You're a Celt and as we are enemies, so I can only imagine how damned awful it was!"

Amber rolls over to her hands and knees and sits back on her heels, putting her hands to her mouth. "Ah Claudius, did that come out soundin' bad! Please-- " she reaches out a hand towards him, "-- I didn't mean it like that. Of COURSE it wasn't awful, ye fool man!" Amber starts getting frustrated. "I knew ye were Roman before ye even saw me! What I meant was..." Amber crawls forward and kneels at the edge of the bed closest to Claudius, sitting back on her heels again. "...Gaia must hate me ta keep ye from me fer so long, only ta take ye away again after such a short time!" Amber clasps her hands and brings them up to her chin, looking at Claudius intently. "What kind o' lovin' goddess would do that to a faithful servant...knowin' full well that after finally findin' ye, I'd never want fer anyone else again?" Amber lets her hands fall to her legs and looks down, sighing. "Amber, ye daft fool! Learn ta speak in yer head, not outta it!" she berrates herself silently.

Claudius looks at her, and the anger and hurt leaves his eyes. He nods and sits on the edge of the bed. "I see, I took that wrong then," he said touching her shoulder. He stands and picks up his tunic and puts it on. He looks at her and smiles.
"It's late, I have to delay the ship or else someone will think it fixed." He chuckles.

Amber watches him, and feels strong disappointment when she realizes that they really WILL have to part soon. She watches Claudius dress-- sitting motionlessly for a time-- and then backs off of the bed. She quickly finds the bowl and pitcher of washing water on a table, along with some cloths for scrubbing and drying, and begins squeezing the water over her shoulders and across her belly, and then scrubbing herself with the wet cloths...feeling a warmth start at her belly and expand throughout her whole body as she begins remembering the details of the previous evening.

Claudius finishes dressing and begins to put his armor on. He does this in silence-- her words still echoing through his head, his vision still clear as day. 'I will find an augur today and see what that vision was...and if I can prevent it.' He thinks. He finishes clasping his armor and looks at Amber again...

Amber finishes washing, and then annoints her body with perfumes, sits on a stool, and begins brushing her hair. "Claudius-- I'm takin' so long over here...would ye mind findin' where ye threw me clothes when ye ripped 'em offa me?" She glances over her shoulder at him with a smirk, and suddenly her body is silouetted in the sunlight radiating against the tent as the sun comes up over the hills-- her red hair lifted up to expose a white neck...shoulders...back...then the curve inward of her waist, and the roundness of her bottom sitting on the chair. She pauses like that for just a moment as the light creates a nimbus around her body, and then goes back to brushing her hair.

Claudius bends to pick up her clothes and is stunned by the sight of her in that moment. In that moment something in his chest begins to ache, in that moment he can no longer breathe, and in that moment his eyes lock and cannot move. And then the moment passes.
He hands lays her clothes on the bed near her.

Amber finishes her brushing, and spreads her shining hair across her shoulders and back, and then turns to see her clothing laying across the bed. She smiles at Claudius. "Ye're so sweet-- thank ye, Claudius." She stands and begins to dress. When she's finished, she walks over to Claudius and checks all the straps on his armor-- giving his breastplate a little rub with the side of her hand to polish one spot...and to hide her eyes as they begin filling with tears. "Come on, girl-- think o' somethin' ta say before ye embarrass yerself!" she thinks quickly.

"Ah Claudius...I'm sorry about the bearskin an' sheets..." she says, glancing over at them and giving a quick, strained laugh, while continuing to polish the same spot on Claudius' breastplate absent-mindedly.

Claudius chuckles and looks at the bed. He wraps his arms around her and smiles down at her. "Don't worry about it, Amber. Although I may have to go into the city today to buy more." He laughs again. "Oh my Amber, shall I buy the finest sheets to ruin tonight?"

Amber laughs and blinks quickly to get rid of the tears, squeezing Claudius tight. "Whatever ye like, mo gra-- the only thing I'll be coming to see tonight is you. We could be makin' love in the river, for all I care!" she says, suddenly thinking that this could be interesting...

"Claudius...I was only frustrated earlier. The Goddess is a kind an' generous woman. She could have given us only one moment together, but she gave us an entire night...and continues ta expand out time together. If all we'd had was the walkin' an' talkin' earlier, that would have been a gift beyond diamonds. I...I think I have been forever changed by this night with ye, me Claudius, an' I will thank the Goddess fer givin' me an experience that I'd never even dreamed o' knowin'." she says, hoping that by sharing more of her heart, she can continue to convince him of the sincerity of her love.

Claudius opens his mouth to reply, when the tent flap shakes.
"General, it's Darius. The men are ready for inspection," he shouts and then quietly, "They've ahh been waiting an hour, sir."
Claudius turns to the door and grimaces. He puts his arm around Amber and shows her to the flap. He stops short of it and takes her shoulders and kisses her.
"I have to go, Amber. We'll talk tonight, come after sunset. I'll meet you just outside the encampment." He says and then opens the flap.

Amber feels dazed at the quickness of their final seconds together, but is grateful for a last kiss before going, in any case. She nods at Claudius and smiles. "Tonight after sunset then, mo gra," she whispers, and pulls her veil around her hair so the soldiers won't stare so much as she exits the tent. She doesn't look back because she already knows how the men will smirk and chuckle at Claudius, and she doesn't want to further encourage that humiliation. She walks steadily past the Romans, keeping her head high until she finally enters the city.

As she steps onto the pavement, she suddenly stumbles and has to reach out and put her hand against a wall. Her other hand moves up to rest on her abdoman, and suddenly she feels her world slide sideways-- her eyes growing huge. "Oh my god..." she whispers. "Oh no...oh Gaia help me..." she whimpers quietly and closes her eyes, leaning against the wall, never taking her hand off her abdoman. "How could I be so careless?? I even made him spill more o' his seed inta me than humanly possible, an' never ONCE though o' the consequences..." she berates herself inside her head. "Oh what will he do if he finds out??"

Suddenly she remembers Amon and her packmates, and slumps even more weakly against the wall. "Oh Mother-- they'll try ta make me give it up or destroy it! Amon...Amon would try to kill it!!" Amber looks down at her stomach, holding it now with both hands. Pregnant with Markova's baby. "Wee babe...ye may be all I have o' Claudius when this trip is over..." Suddenly she feels...happy. Excited, proud, and extrememly protective of this life that has only recently begin to grow within her. "I love yer father...an' so I love ye. I will not let Amon kill ye...I cannot let yer father find out about ye, either...it's just the two o' us, tiny one..." she thinks, and suddenly feels a strength rush through her, although it's tinged by some fear. She stands, composes herself, and begins the walk back to Amon and Issa's house to see how everyone is faring.

Claudius watches her leave, once she is out of sight he quickly pulls Darius aside and asks him to do the inspection.
'Where in Hades could I find an augur here,' he thinks as he strides down the street. He stops at a few shops and asks, but no one can tell him...or will.
Finally after an hour of searching he reaches a foreign merchant.
"Good merchant, I am looking for an augur, a seer. Who is the best in the city?"
The merchant thinks a moment. "That would be Issa."
"Issa, who is Issa?"
"The high priestess, the one who was singing last night," the merchant says.
Claudius thinks back and nods, snapping his fingers. He digs in his pocket and hands the merchant a coin.
"There's two more if you tell me where she lives..."

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