Price of Love-Slave!GreecexRoman!Reader Final

Reader’s POV



Marcus was gone; with any luck, for forever. After three weeks, you were beginning to feel as if maybe, he wouldn’t come around again. You could hope for that at least. Maybe you were actually going to get to live peacefully now.

Being part of a Germanic tribe was surprisingly civilized. You had always expected horrific things and monsters at your door every day, animals attempting to eat you, that sort of thing. There was none of that though. None of the Germanics actually seemed barbaric to you. And that was opposite of what you expected. Even though you’d always tried to give their kind the benefit of the doubt, you knew that you hadn’t been able to completely dislodge the idea that they were.

Actually, the Germanics, in many ways, were more civilized than the Roman world you had grown up in. The lifestyle was easier, and more civilized, but the people themselves lacked much of what the Germanics had. Sure, the Germanics could be every bit as fierce and evil as the Romans, but it seemed more common for them to be docile and loving. The normal state of things here, judging from the five new families you had met since deciding to stay, was a large family that loved each other very much, and worked hard together to survive in the harsh environment.

Heracles had wasted no time in finding you a place to settle down. He decided on an area with a lovely view, and Albrecht and his boys helped him find a place that would be good to build on, helped him build, and helped him make all of the things you were going to need to survive. On your end, Irmgard and Trude helped you make new clothes, blankets, small tools (like bowls and cords), straw pallets to sleep on (you still missed your feather mattress), and other things of that sort. You were excited. You couldn’t help but be.

Heracles had given you a crudely fashioned wooden ring the day before, and you now wore it on your left ring finger. Your engagement ring. It was obvious that Heracles had had a great deal of help from Albrecht (especially to make the inside smooth), but it also bore the tell-tale marks of a far less skilled carver. It was perfect in every way.

It had taken a great bit of explaining on your part (Heracles could only contribute a small bit), but you had managed to explain how Roman weddings worked. Irmgard, for your sake, had insisted that you would have a wedding as similar to what you would have had, if you had still been a rich Roman, as possible.

Irmgard had taken your toga (which you hadn’t worn since you arrived in Germania), and did her best to transform it into what you described a wedding dress as. It looked similar, and you were pleased. You never expected that the woman had the skill to so change a simple garment.

You ran your hand over the material, realizing you had almost forgotten how much softer Roman clothes were. Irmgard nudged your arm, and you lifted them, allowing her to pass the simple brown cord behind your back. She had a slightly hard time tying the Hercules Knot, but after a few tries, the belt was securely fastened around you.

Next was your hair. This was much more difficult. You simply did not have the tools to make it exactly as it was supposed to be, but it was fairly close. When she finished, your hair swept around your head and joined at the back, falling down your neck in slight, soft curls. Trude, who had been helping when required, but mostly just standing in the corner watching, stepped forwards once your hair was finished. In her hands was a bundle of small orange flowers.

“This isn’t a replacement for a veil, but I hope these will help!” You smiled brightly at the gesture. It certainly wasn’t the traditional orange veil, but it touched your heart all the same.

The two women expertly wove the flowers into your hair, creating a sort of flower wreath. After that, they did the same thing to your shoes before placing the necklace you had brought with you around your neck, and giving you a few articles of very Germanic looking jewelry. You looked at yourself the best you could and smiled. Your dress, hair, belt, “veil,” and shoes were as close to the real thing as you were going to get. Irmgard and Trude had gone out of their way to make this a special day for you, and you would never forget it.

Trude left the room to get the men, and you sat stiffly on the bed. You were suddenly feeling nervous. It was stupid, you knew, but you couldn’t help it. Despite having been with Heracles for so long, and having been extremely close to him, both physically and mentally, you were nervous. Maybe it was the idea of actually being married, or maybe it was the idea of consummating your marriage. Whatever it was, you sat still, and did your best to push the nervousness away.

Irmgard noticed your nervousness and silently sat down beside you, clasping your hand in hers. “Don’t be afraid. You will be very happy, I know it.” She squeezed your hand and smiled at you. You smiled back.

Suddenly, Trude opened the door and poked her head inside, completely shattering your slightly regained nerves. “They’re here!” she said, in an excited whisper.

You stepped into the slightly crisp air, and spotted Heracles. He was standing in front of the rest of the men, who were acting as the groom’s party. Nervously, you walked up to him, followed by Irmgard and Trude, who were acting as your party. As you looked into his eyes, you felt your nervousness begin to ebb.

“U-Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia,” you said, relieved to have those words out.

“Ubi tu Gaia, ego Gaius.” Heracles smiled warmly at you, and you finally felt the rest of your nervousness fade.

Irmgard, who was acting in the part of pronuba, took your hands and placed them in his. You stared up at him, and he stared back down at you, and slowly, he leaned down as you reached up, and you shared a kiss. It was tender and sweet, and you were relieved for that. Kissing was still new enough to you, and it didn’t help that you were doing it in front of people now. There were no papers to sign or other legal things to be attended to since you were not actually in Rome.

After that, the entire group sacrificed a wild boar and settled down to a feast prepared painstakingly by Heracles, Albrecht, and Trude. Gilbert insisted he helped, but more likely he just got in the way.

When the feast finished, Heracles left quickly, leaving you and the group and heading towards what you knew was your soon-to-be house. Reinhardt, Dieter, and Otto behind, as they were to escort you (along with Irmgard) to the house. When you started off, you were flanked on each side by Irmgard and her three sons, and the nervousness was creeping back in.

By the time you arrived at the house, the sun was beginning to set. The house itself was small, and blended into the surroundings fairly well. It was sitting on a slight incline, and faced a fairly large river. The reddish-orange reflection of the sun off of the lake seemed to bathe the entire area in a lovely glow. Heracles was waiting at the door.

Your little party broke up, the three boys left immediately, and Irmgard walked off to the side, shooting you an encouraging smile.

Heracles closed the little distance between you, and after staring into your eyes for a moment, he swept you up into his arms. Even though you had been expecting this, you squeaked in surprise when he did it. He chuckled before walking to the door and pushing it open with his back, carrying you over the threshold. You instantly noticed that there were two rooms in the house.

When he had sat your feet on the ground, Irmgard appeared and grabbed your hand, dragging you to the second room and closing the door behind you both.

“Thank you,” you whispered to her as she removed your necklace.

“You’ve been through a great deal for a girl your age. This day was the least I could do.”

“No, I don’t deserve everything you’ve done for me, for us. You’ve gone far beyond simple kindness. I’m certain we would both be dead by now, if it wasn’t for you and your husband. I just wanted to thank you, for everything you have done.”

“It was my pleasure,” Irmgard said, smiling gently. She placed the jewelry on a crude table and moved behind you, beginning to unwind the flowers from your hair, and letting it fall naturally again. “How does it feel to be married?”

“Not much different.” You glanced at the bed and felt your cheeks redden. “Or at least not yet…”

“Are you afraid?” Irmgard asked, coming back around to face you again.

“I am… but at the same time, I’m not. Does that make sense?”

Irmgard smiled, and placed her hand on your arm. “I understand perfectly. Now it is time to pray, ja?”

“Yes,” you smiled, and the two of you kneeled and bowed your heads. Irmgard prayed to the Germanic gods and the Roman gods in turn, asking to make your marriage a peaceful and prosperous one, for them to keep you both safe, and to bless you with many sons and daughters. You wouldn’t admit feeling very awkward at the last part.

Irmgard stood, and helped you to your feet. “Good luck, _____.”

“Thank you,” you whispered as she walked out of the room.

As soon as she left the room you sank onto the mattress, but as soon as you touched it, you almost jumped up again. It was far too soft. You sat your full weight on it and gasped. It was a thin straw mat on top, but there were feathers underneath. You smiled to yourself. Heracles must have worked very hard and killed many birds to make this mattress for you.

Heracles opened the door suddenly, then walked in and shut it behind him, his eyes on you. You blushed and lowered your eyes, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He seemed unfazed though, and sat down beside you. You could still feel his eyes on you. You looked up.

“Are you ready, Mistress?” He smiled teasingly, and you relaxed a bit.

“I am, Master.” At this, Heracles’ face grew more serious. You knew he was thinking about how far you both had come, and how different your lives were now-and would forever be-from what you had thought they would be originally. There were things you would change, but you were happy. No regrets. And you believed that Heracles wouldn’t change a single thing, and if he liked your new lives as they were, that was more than enough to make you happy.

“I love you, Heracles,” you said quietly, staring into his eyes.

He brought his hand up and held your jaw, staring at you in his deep, intense way.

“I love you, _____, for now, and forever.”