As the darkness of night crept upon the city swollowing the last light of day chatter deepened and the smell of wine drifted into the air where it stubbornly lingered. This brought the soldiers, prouldly arriving to a hero's welcome. Her father's empire was, again, broadened at the victory of the Romans. This wasn't uncommon news, the Roman army was very large and made up of dedicated soldiers some who had spent their whole lives training for success in such a position. However, Ceaser was no stranger to a party and if there was an opportunity to arrive he would take it. With a quick flick of a dark hand the soldiers quickly joined the festivities. 

Claudia brought her eyes to meet the owner of that hand. The soldier wore a red cape, signifying himself as general. Claudia was quick to assume the general was Marcus Antonius Brutus, her father had quite the liking toward him. Of course, Claudia had seen him before but she never really got the chance to look over him properly. With his high cheekbones and sweeping black hair his handsomeness was an eyecatcher for most young noblewomen. Claudia didn't think of soldiers, particularly generals, to be very handsome men but, somehow, the well-respected general was.

She watched as he joined a group of senates before pulling her eyes away to the walls where sat statues and painting of Gods and emperors and great gladiators before watching the soldiers dance and laugh and mingle with present nobilty, some attempting to impress the nobles, particularly the few women with honour of joining the festivities, of their achievements. Without a doubt a lot of exaggeration would be present in most of those stories.

Her eyes eventually wandered back to the young general who was approaching the throne where her father sat next to her mother. Often was he stopped with pats on the back and what were obviously congratulations on the army's victory. It was when he reached her father's throne she turned her head toward the musicians. She took little notice as a servant girl refilled her goblet before rushing along to fill many goblets of soldiers and nobles awaiting more alcohol. The emperor's daughter sighed slightly. The banging in her head eased off ever-so-slightly but with the direction the night was going she doubted that would be the case for long. 

Taking a small, slow sip of wine Claudia closed her eyes and allowed herself to be carried away by the enchanted music that never failed to entice her.

The night continued on and Claudia had found herself the subject of a young soldier's exaggerated battle stories, she doubted he defeated a centurion with his bare hands, and spent some of the time of his stories debating with herself whether his stories were due to a big ego, which many soldiers had, or the amount of wine he had consumed with the scent of liquor escaping in his breath as smoke did from fire, she was almost pleased when her father beckoned her. [i]Almost[/i].

"Well it sounds like you had some... interesting adventures in the war but I really must leave you, father calls," She said to the drunken soldier apologetically attempting to cover up her pleasure in no longer having him in her face.

Quickly and gracefully Claudia approached her father's throne-like seat, exchanging a smile and a small greeting with her mother and offering her father a short bow,

"You called for me, father?" She asks quickly. He often called for her in such occasions but not commonly with such urgency.