Pax Fides

 

Every morning now Selina awoke and was very ill, Breul washed her forehead before he headed to the site for work. He made sure there was plenty of cheese there for her to eat as it was her favorite food. Most days Julian and Justinian went with him and spent the day with their Pater now, even young Philo had begun to come with Jovian. The three now tried to tote and carry the things they could to their Paters and the other men thinking themselves a part of the crew of workers now.

At times Breul would go home during prandium at mid day to see all was going well, Atia was very attentive and told him to not worry this sickness would pass with time and that Selina was doing fine, just as Selina herself kept reminding him. In the evenings Darius would accompany Breul and the twins’ home. There were times he was still there and went with them to work in the mornings as well. Darius and Atia were becoming near to inseparable now.

At work one morning Jovian looked at the small group of boys and men as they arrived at the villa site and looked directly at Darius with a devilish smile.

“Well I see that our friend Darius never made it back to his quarters again last night?” Jovian said stifling a laugh at Darius’s expense.

“Jovian do not start on me this morning Atia would not hear of me leaving last night. That woman is not one you can change her mind once she has it made up. “Darius answered his long time friend.

Breul started laughing and then said. “Now let me get this right, my Principale who commands respect from all these Milites, has fought valiantly in how many battles, went on how many incursions behind enemy lines, been wounded how often….cannot tell a small woman who is my wife’s closest friend and lives in my house No or maybe tomorrow?”

At this Jovian, Bracius and some of those within ear shot started laughing quite openly.

“Alright all you, but Picts never used her wiles to get the upper hand on Darius. Besides it’s not like I am being punished or mistreated in anyway, quite the contrary.” Darius yelled back at them.

“Ah it is so sad Breul, another fine single man is biting the dust I think.” Jovian said to both of them and those listening. “I cannot remember our Darius ever spending so much time with any one woman before, do you?”

“No I do not, but I have not seen them holding hands in public yet have you?” Breul asked Jovian.

“Not yet but that cannot be too far into the future at this rate.” Bracius added to the well meaning humor.

“Alright, alright so what if it does, you three surely found it not to be sentence of death did you?” Darius retorted looking squarely at Breul, Jovian and Bracius.

All three looked at Darius, then at each other and smiled back at him openly and with complete friendship. Then everyone turned and went about their work.

Near midday Breul took a walk home alone the twins wishing to stay at the site with the other men and Philo. When he reached home Selina was weaving some cloth from wool. He walked to her and she stopped her work to stand and greet him. He took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly then walked her to their sleeping room. He laid her on their bed and started washing her forehead with a damp cloth. Afterwards he raised her Stola so that her just beginning to swell belly was visible, then he took a flask from the stand close by uncorked it slowly pouring some of the scented oil at her navel. Then he returned the cork and flask and started to gently rub the oils all about her stomach slowly and lovingly.

Selina sighed as the ministrations began to soothe her aching inside, after a while Breul pulled her stola back in place, leaned over and kissed his wife’s forehead as she was drifting into a nap. Then he walked toward the door outside.

“You are a good man Breul.” Atia told him as he passed where she had come into the main room. “Selina and you make one want such a life.”

“I think you have found one yourself Atia, Darius is a good faithful man.” He answered her.

“Yes he is a good man and he is loyal to you, but do you think he is ready to commit to a woman like me?” she asked as much as stated.

“I have known Darius many years and I have never known him to spend as much time with a woman or for as long as he has already with you. You are fine woman Atia and he would be lucky indeed if that was what you want.” Breul told her.

“Thank you Breul all women want what you and Selina have but few ever have it.” Atia said “I am no different; I just don”t want wait too long or it be the wrong man.”

“No one does Atia, I waited a long time myself. I never thought I would meet a woman like Selina or that she would want me as well. I am a very lucky man and I know it.” Breul said and then turned walking out the door and back to work.

As the weeks went by and turned into a couple of months Selina’s pains got less intense and Breul tended to her every day, and night rubbing oils on her growing stomach, he still liked to wash her forehead and occasionally even a complete bath. He made sure there was always cheese in the house now since Selina seemed to eat it at all times of the day and night. Atia took over most of the household chores even though Selina wanted to do more than either of them would let her. Try as she might between Atia and Breul they made sure she was healthy, not overworked or stressed or unhappy, even the twins tried their best to help at home even playing with Jennet more than was normal for the two boys.

Darius was there most nights now and was the same as Julian and Justinian’s uncle. Finally on the festival of Vulcanalia as they were all feasting with a double purpose; one the festival day and second the near completion of the villa. Everyone began to notice that Darius and Atia were standing around holding hands as they all talked, ate and joked with everyone there. Breul and Selina had noticed it too and smiled to one another thinking it was about time. Finally Breul could not help but say something.

“Darius is there anything you and Atia would like to tell us, that we have not all already seen?” He said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

Darius and Atia looked at each other smiled broadly and then both looked at Breul and all those around.

“Go on man of mine tell them.” Atia told Darius and then nudged him in the side a slight giggle in her voice.

“Uhhh, yes everyone…Atia has agreed to be my wife. We hope all of you will share in our happiness and the ceremony. It will be soon, before all my ribs get broken by this wonderful little lady.” Darius said rubbing his side in mock misery.

“I my break more than that you big lummox, I love you and yes WE do want all of you there.” She said grinning to Darius, her face just glowing.

Around the time for Comissato all the men’s heads turned to the door at the rear of the house and stood perfectly still. Because there stood Domatian who had just walked through the house and was observing the festivities.

“Caesar we are all honored at your gracing our simple feast. Can we get you some Muslum or Condituti, there is also Cervesa but I doubt that you would wish that?” Breul told him.

“I wish all here greetings of this Vulcanalia Feast. It sounds as if I should have been here earlier so I could offer congratulations to these two who are going to unite in marriage soon. “Domatian told everyone in a formal tone of voice. “Thank you Breul I would accept some Conituti, it is a warm day. I see you and your wife should be offered blessings as well. I found out where you live so I could come here and talk to you if you have time.”

“Thank you Caesar, yes we are having our fourth..The twins over there are the oldest; Julian and Justinian and Jennet here beside Selina is our daughter. We can go into the house and talk if you like.” Breul answered as Atia handed him a cup of the spiced honey wine.

 

Breul and Domatian walked back to the main room and sat in chairs at a table there. Domatian asked if Breul had plans for when the villa was finished and Breul told him that they would take a short break between jobs but that everyone was accustomed to that being the case.

Then Domatian slid over two pouches of coins and told him that one was for him specifically and the other to be divided among his men as he saw fit. He wanted Breul to start accepting more than he usually did as the Centurian of his small cohort not just one of the men. Breul agreed saying he understood why he wished this.

Domatian then told him that he may ask them all to take a commission in Misenum for the Pliny family in some work there, around the base of the Roman fleet harbored there under Pliny the Elder. He also told him to be sure of his men because the young Pliny was exhibiting signs of being zealous of finding and punishing those of non Roman faith. Since Breul was born Celt in Britannia and his men had been with him for a long time, just be very careful. He was beginning to think there might be a threat there to this family and Pliny the Elder was a highly regarded friend of his father’s Vespasian.

Breul agreed quickly telling him they would be ready at any time he deemed necessary. The families might even enjoy some time nearer the coast for a while. Domatian stood and took his leave only telling Breul to wish his men well. Breul did as Domatian had asked he put his pouch of coins away. Then the next morning equally divided the other one among his men. They all were very pleased with this continued and unexpected rewards form the younger Caesar.

Two weeks later Atia and Darius went through the marriage ceremony and were now joined together. They still lived with Breul and Selina because Atia would not hear of them moving until Selina had her child. Darius was becoming much attached to the three children and all of Breul’s family considered him a member of the family just as they did Atia.

After another month the villa was completely done with Claudius Marilus overjoyed with the work they had done even giving the crew a bonus amount at his pleasure. The men were spending time now exercising and training a few hours every day to keep in shape and hone their skills during this welcome period between construction projects. Gladius and Pugio were getting use and sharpening that was needed after months of no use.

3 months later Selina started her labor pains one afternoon just as a small quake vibrated the ground under the entire town, not enough to damage anything but just enough to be felt and scare animals. Darius took the children outside to play and not be underfoot while the birth was happening. Breul and Atia attended to Selina who was now in full birth with her water broke. Atia was doing everything a good midwife knew how to help and Breul was there doing everything he knew to do from having helped with the birth of colts in the legions forces while he was in Britannia.

When the Boy child finally came screaming into this world it was Breul who chewed the umbilical cord into and tied it off. Then Atia wiped the infant down handing to Selina as Breul cleared away the after birth. Then Breul came back into the room and sat with Selina and the new boy in her arms kissing them both and taking his turn at holding him up and then in his arms. Before he put the boy back in his wifes arms and she put him to her breast for his first meal suckling his mother’s milk.

“What name have you chosen my husband for this son of ours?” Selina asked as the boy started to nurse.

“If you agree my wife I think we will call him Basilius.” Breul told her.

“Basilius, I like that my husband. He is strong like you.” She told him smiling.

“He is perfect like his mother who I love more than I ever thought possible.” Breul said.

“I hope Darius will be as happy when it is our time for our child to be born.” Atia said watching them from across the room.

“Do you mean that you are with child already, Atia?” Selina asked her. “Or are you just thinking about the future?”

“Yes I think I am with child, I have never been late before. I haven’t even told Darius yet since I am not completely sure.” She said to them both. “Please do not say anything yet, I will tell him when I am sure. Do you think he will be happy about it Breul.” She asked.

“I think we will all be surprised at his being a proud man, husband and prospective father.” Breul said. “I think he will be as surprised as we will be when you tell him.”

“I do to actually, he a much kinder man than most people realize.” Atia added.

Darius came back at about that time with the children, when they saw their mother holding the baby, they all ran to her side to get their first look, Breul picked up Jennet in his arms and held her so she could see better. Julian and Justinian asked his name as soon as they knew the baby was a boy.

“Basilius is your baby brother’s name my brood.” Selina said holding him now so all could see him better.

“He looks like you Pater.” Julian said. “I am glad we have another brother.”

“Me too he completes our family.” Justinian added smiling at Breul.

“Then you wouldn’t mind having another cousin, boys?” Atia said without thinking.

“Cousin Aunt Atia?” they asked in unison.

“Cousin, My wife for who?” Darius asked the thought not quite registering in meaning.

“Yes my large husband, cousin our child.” She then said her head rather bowed, this was not how she had planned to tell him nor yet at all.

Darius stood still for about a couple of seconds before picking her up in his broad arms and swinging her around. Then he said. “Are you sure my wife, you are with our first child?”

“Pretty sure Darius, I think you are happy.” She said playfully hitting at his arms holding her off the floor.

“Oh yes Atia, like I have never been before.” Darius said just before kissing her.

At about this moment little Basilius started fussing ready for some more warm milk. So Selina placed him to suckle at her breast again. Just as someone was heard at the door to the street, it was a messenger from Misenum with a sealed scroll for Breul ,the messenger had been instructed to wait for a reply before he returned.