Centuries||Closed

[Plutonium]

The son of the blacksmith was chosen when The Harvest came, an event wherein able bodied males of the lower echelon of society were chosen to be trained and fight in the arena as gladiators. They are treated as entertainments forthe Royals and Aristocrats. This starts at the time wherein he is already a seasoned warrior. The Princess, the second daughter of the Ruling Family became attracted to this guy. She started following him with her eyes. And he has noticed. And...what will become of this forbidden love?

 

[Absinthe]

"And now for our final fight, ladies and gentlemen..." The gamemaster paused, prolonging the wait. His voice reverbated in the entire arena. For the spectators, it marked the start of an exciting game. For the participants, it marked the start of the battle for their life. "We present to you, the undefeatable, the humongous.... The Mountain!" The crowd's cheers were deafening. They stomped, just like before every anticipated fight, making the whole arena shake under their feet. "And he will be fighting tonight, our one and only...Romanoooo!"


At the call of his name, Romano tensed in his position, every muscle locked and ready to be unleashed. He stood with total stillness before the entrance, with a broadsword on his hand and his metal armor felt like steel cages around him. He stepped out, showing his form to the bloodthristy crowd. The stomping and the cheers reached its crescendo.


He went into position. His body set in a way that it revealed the least space available for an attack, his arm ready to swing his blade. Under the heavy helmet, he stared at his opponent, calculating. The other guy was heavy and taller than others. He had strength in his side. But it also means that speed was to his advantage. It is a disadvantage that Romano meant to utilize well.


What seemed like hours to the players was actually just a few minutes. It was filled with the sound of clashing steels and when the finale came, the blades were thrown down and flesh met flesh. The sounds of bones being broken and muscles being bruised were loud and clear.


Romano was picked up like a twig and thrown like a bag of sand. He landed on his back, feeling the pain race down his spine. But it brought him closer to the sword he had earlier discarded. With a twist, he took hold of it and he swung it towards the advancing guy. "Do you surrender?" he roared. This close, he was able to read the rage, the calculation and the defeat on his opponent's eyes. The sword was pointed against the man's neck. With just a push, the blade would bury itself on the soft flesh.


"And ladies and gentleman, the winner of this fight is no other than...Romano!"


He raised his arm in victory and the audience loved it. Romano turned around and went back to the waiting area, disgust marked on his face.

 

[Plutonium]

Natalia Rosamund Winchester



​

Natalia had been out for most of the morning. She'd left as soon as dawn broke, she'd headed down to the stables in the early light and chosen a bay stallion to ride out on. She'd gone alone, preferring the solitude, knowing that that afternoon she would have to attend The Harvest. Personally she hated that whole thing, forcing men to fight each other for entertainment. Perhaps it was hypocritical, considering she spent a lot of her time hunting, but at least that had a purpose, she would use the meat.


She rode out of the stables after informing one of the stable hands when she was going, and the horse underneath her tore down the paved path until the reached the forest. The birds were beginning to rise, their songs were alive in the air.


When she'd returned she had six pheasants strung from her saddle and a buck slung over the back of her horse. The stable hands surrounded her. Two took the animals and one came to hold her horse. She thanked them all, before running off to get back to her room. She resided on the top floor of the main building, and as she passed through the main hall she encountered her father.


She bent to curtsey, looking at him carefully. "Six pheasants and a buck father" she told him proudly, hoping that he would be pleased with her achievement. as she looked at his face she couldn't see a hint of emotion, and her stomach churned.





"That'll do" he looked at her with a straight face and held the eye contact for a long second. Once the moment had passed he walked away, and Natalia allowed herself to smile; knowing that was the closest to praise that she could expect.


Feeling lighter she ran to her room, knowing her mother was already waiting. The queen was a beautiful young woman, with fair hair and a young face. She was barely 35, but didn't look older then 25. Today her majesty wore a lim fitting lilac dress that fell to her ankles, and her hair hung loosely around her waist. "Look at you" She teased. "Come on, your father wishes to leave soon. Romano is fighting today."


Romano was the handsome fighter that her father was currently watching, he always took an interest to warriors that came out on top. "I know mother" She replied politely, allowing the servants to begin to undress her. It didn't take them long to complete the well rehearsed routine of taking her out of the hunting clothes, and she'd long given up on the idea of undressing herself; even though that was what she wanted. "He's the handsome one right?"


"Thanks right. Now sit down and allow me to do your hair." Natalia smiled at her mothers skill of being able to change the subject so smoothly. She crossed the room to it at her dresser and closed her eyes as the queen began to comb through her chocolate hair; something she had inherited from her father no doubt.


When she was finally dressed, in a light pink dress, with her hair braided and a delicate silver crown placed on her head she followed her mother down the courtyard where the carriages were waiting. She bid her mother a safe journey then climbed into the second white carriage, ignoring her sister as she looked out of the window.





"We've been waiting."


"I was busy" she replied calmly, continuing to watch out the window as they rolled out of the palace gates. "I was feeding the castle. You can thank me when you have food on the table tonight."





"I don't eat meat."





For the rest of the journey Natalia did her best to ignore her sister, and once they'd taken their seats at the arena she didn't even give her a second glance, even when the blond girl tried to catch her attention. Davina was still trying to talk to her when the warriors entered the arena, but as soon as Romano entered she fell silent.


Natalia was anxious as the fight progressed, her stomach tightened as it seemed that Romano was beat. When he finally won she smiled, and rose out her her seat to join in the applause, much to the annoyance of her father and sister, which made it all the better.

 

[Absinthe]

Romano sat back on one of the benches in the waiting area of the arena, where the gladiators gather for their turn during fights. He removed his helmet and laid it beside him. He gathered his breath and released it slowly, his tension slowly ebbed with it. It was over. He'd had for another day of his life.


"Romano! Great fight! The audience loved it," Kairn, the gamemaster joyfully exclaimed. He was a big man, both in width and in length. He was a man about in his forties with brown hair shined and pomaded to perfection, no strand is out of style. And he ruled the arena. He arranged fights, collected the fees and paid the men.


"Glad to be of service."


"They are already clamoring for your next fight. Here's your payment. Maybe a drink, Romano?" He had slung his heavy arm on his pained shoulders,making him wince. But Romano was glad when he was handed a heavy pouch, coins clinking.


"Master Kairn, I'm afraid Romano has to refuse. He has other...obligations."


At that sound of the husky but feminine voice, both their heads whipped to the direction of its source. Romano gritted his teeth in anger, but he was forced to stretch his lips in a parody of a smile as Lady Barbara Maine strolled lazily towards them, her maid and footmen behind her.


The two men bowed as she is the wife of an aristocrat. Kairn gave an excuse and left them promptly. "Romano, what a spectacular example of a male you are! You fairly gave me goosebumps during your fight. It was so exciting!" she purred against his ear, as she twined her slender arms on his neck and pressed her body towards his. Romano suffered her advances. They had been occasional lovers, especially when her husband is away like now. "Really, Babs, what do you want now?" She pouted for a moment but was soon smiling again, fickle woman that she is. "There will be a party tonight, held by Lady and Lord Viliers. I wish you to be my escort." Anger immediately filled him. So he was to be her pet tonight, to be paraded among the nobles. He a lowborn man, forced to mingle among the people he's supposed to serve. Very well, let them point and gawk at him. He sent her a sly smile, as he snaked his arm around hed waist, bringing her closer and making her gasp. "I aim to please you, Babs. See you tonight."

 

[Plutonium]

Natalia Rosamund Winchester



​

Natalia had snuck away from her family as soon as the fight had finished, her father was too busy talking and if Davina noticed then she chose to stay silent. She wasn't sure what had hoped to achieve by sneaking away, but before she knew it she was walking down through the lower levels of the arena. She could hear her footmen hurrying behind her, but they seemed to be the only ones that had noticed her absence.


Her feet carried her down to the waiting room, although she was unsure of her intentions until she was leaning outside the waiting room and looking around. There were no other gladiators that she could see, but inside she could hear speaking, although the voices were unfamiliar.


"Master Kairn, I'm afraid Romano has to refuse. He has other... Obligations."





Natalia knew that voice. It belonged to Lady Barbara Maine; an uptight aritocrat who always seemed to be around every corner chatting up some man, she was married, but that didn't see, to stop her sleeping around. It angered Natalia, the woman was nothing but trouble and to go behind her husbands back like that. She didn't understand how she could do it.


Sneaking a glance through the crack in the doorway, although she wasn't sure why she was spying, Natalia watched as she spoke to him. She saw the look on her face, to her she was just another play thing. Natalia grimaced Romano didn't seem to be enjoying her attention, until he put his arm around her waist; it made Natalia's stomach churn.


It was at that moment one of her footmen chose to announce her arrival;


"Her royal highness, Princess Natalia, approaches."





Natalia glared for a second before entering through the door that was being held for her, she had a smile plastered on her face, partially real, mostly forced. She surveyed the room in a quick glance, it was rather bare. The floor was dust and sand, and the walls were bare stone. There seemed to be benches along them.


Lady Maine glared at her full force, but if looks could kill then Natalia would have killed her years ago. The Lady always seemed to forget exactly who she was, what she was, although Natalia only had to touch her tiara to remind her, the others may had to bow down to her as an aristocrat but that meant nothing, because Natalia was a royal.