It was a hot summer day in Anzio, the famous beach resort of Rome. Flavia, the 18 year old daughter of General Maximus Augustus, lazily leaned against the pillar of her sumptuous balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Her beautiful silk gown flew down her feminine silhouette. Her maid had just braided her shiny, black hair with a string of pink pearls and Jasmine blossoms in the latest Roman fashion. Her hand rested on the silver belt with dangling charms that Senator Julius had given her as a birthday present. Old Julius was courting Flavia and covering her with presents of jewellery, exotic birds, species, musical instruments, gourmet delicacies, etc. But she would not reciprocate his feelings. ¨Why should I?¨ –thought Flavia–¨ He is old and flabby, and I can’t stand his raspy voice. I wish a handsome young man would court me instead of him… Why is dad so interested in me marrying Flavius? Money, I suppose.¨
A cloud of dust on the horizon caught her attention. “Who could that be? Maybe dad is coming back from Gallia!” She ran down the marble stairs and into the garden, anticipating the arrival of the warriors. A few minutes later his father’s chariot stopped at the gate. General Maximus stepped down followed by two big slaves, one black, and the other white with blond hair.
“Flavia! Come see what i have brought you from Galia!” –said the general– as he motioned a slave to unload the trunk from the chariot. He opened it to reveal precious silks, cashmeres and dainty embroidered garments. Flavia was very happy to see her beloved father and hugged him tenderly. “Thanks dad! Everything looks gorgeous!”
She couldn’t help but give the blond slave a long look. He was well build, handsome, had blue eyes –like she had never seen before–, and his skin was whiter than snow. “He looks like a god…” –thought Flavia–. She noticed that he was wearing a thick gold bracelet or gold bangle bracelet in his forearm. It had beautiful foreign designs.
“Flavia, this is Kovak, a norse prince that my soldiers captured in one of our battles with the Vikings.” –said the general– with a twinkle in his eye. Kovak suddenly took off his precious mens gold bracelet and gave it to Flavia with a smile. “My lady, please accept this gold bracelet as a token of my surrender, not only to Rome, but to its beautiful princess.” His look made her blush, as she gently accepted the gift.
Kovak swiftly joined the other slaves. Maximus smiled at Flavia and asked: ¨”So, did you like my present…?” And Flavia, caressing the new gold bangle bracelet –now in her forearm–whispered: “Yes, Dad. I love it! It is just what I always wanted!”.