Fabia awoke early that morning. She had hopes of leaving the
house and going to the forum without her escort but, alas, Gaius awaited her at
the back door. Begrudgingly she and Gaius left her father’s villa at the top of
Palatine Hill and wound their way down the hill towards the Forum Romanum. As
she passed by the hut of Romulus, Fabia could not but feel a swell of pride
deep in her chest as she gazed upon the great symbol of Rome’s humble
beginnings. She could not fathom that her
family’s descendants were but mere farmers, considering the wealth her father
and uncles accumulated. Coming down the steady slope of the Palatine Hill,
Fabia and Gaius passed the temple of Vesta where Fabia’s elder sister, Claudia,
served as a priestess of Vesta. Fabia could not help but thank Hercules that her
sister was chosen for the honor, for she would much rather marry the wealthy patrician’s
son her father had picked for her husband. From the temple of Vesta, Fabia and
Gaius walked quickly past the city walls down to the Forum Romanum. As they
walked by the Regia, Fabia hoped to catch a glimpse of the great princeps,
Caesar, but Fortuna was not with her that morning and Caesar was nowhere to be
seen. Crossing the forum Fabia could not help but notice the Basilica Sempronia
where she could just hear the lawyers in the court arguing for their patrons and
tutors schooling their charges. Finally Fabia made it to the Commitium where
the great orator, Cicero, made his speech.
