Assignment #8

Claudius awoke to a noise outside of his hut. It was barely daylight and he was surprised because it was not a very loud one, but it sounded like someone was outside. Since it was so unexpected he had a moment of fear, wondering if he had any enemies who might want to sneak up on him. He quietly got up from his bed and crept towards the doorway. He decided he would get the upper hand by surprising him instead so he thrust open the door and knocked into the beautiful girl he had seen at the Forum. "What are you doing here?" he asked her. She looked extremely shocked and upset, and so he softened his face to let her know he was not angry. "You just startled me" he said, "I'm happy to see you though". She smiled a little, but still looked very shy and apologetic. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I heard this was where you lived, and I am on an errand for my master so I stopped by to see if you were here". The boldness of her action was so unexpected and pleasing that he blushed a little bit too. "I am very glad you did" he told her, "I didn't know how to find you, but I have been thinking of you ever since I first saw you". For the first time, Claudius thought he might understand the concept of love at first sight. He motioned for her to follow him, and they walked down the Palatine Hill together hand in hand. This was the first time since his daughter had died that he could remember being happy. He began to think of how he would break the news to his friends and family, since her status as a plebe was so controversial to his political ambitions. That was not what he wanted to dwell on thought, and he concentrated on enjoying the moment with the girl he now knew he loved.