The Adriatic Sea was calm. A ship made the crossing. Two women leaned against the railing. Watching the approaching peninsula. Italia, their new home.

"And where are you from?", asked the elven woman. Near white skin and long braided hair. A bit of a plumb figure. She continued to focus her blue eyes on the horizon.

"Asia, you?", the human women turned to look at the elf. Shoulder length blond hair. Brown eyes examining her counterpart. She had to look down on the woman. Towering over her with her high and thin figure.

"Moesia. They confiscated our farmland. I volunteered to join the immigrants. Tadia, my name."

"We should just have stopped paying the reparations. This is just too much. Curse Vespasianus. Curse Valens for failing."

"It would have been manageable. Our lords and ladies refused to shoulder their part of the burden", the elf stamped onto the wooden deck. "Heck, it was their war! Why do we endure the consequences? The expedition was a mistake, all of it was."

"The war was righteousness. Italia is ours, by birthright", the woman retorted. A frown forming. "We should be ready to make sacrifices for our ladies and lords."

"You are their sacrifice!", the elf shouted. The human went through of row of expressions. Settling on confused in the end.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you seen who boarded the ships? The sick, the cripples, the desperate, the old, the disloyal. Your lord and ladies are getting rid of their problems."

"I am not a problem. Our lords and ladies value my worth. Of that I am sure."

"You are a vagrant", the elf checked the woman's clothing. No possessions except for the rags she was wearing. "From where comes your devotion?"

"My life was saved by my lady. I was raised and fed by her orphanage. I owe her."

"Great. Have to share the deck with an indoctrinated orphan… by the gods, why always I?", the elf whispered to herself. Ignoring the other woman as she lectured her on the importance of loyalty to the lords and ladies. Now she was looking forward to reaching Italia. Just to be rid of that insufferable woman.

They reached Italia at dawn. Disembarking near a small town. Their possessions, if they had any, were unloaded. The ship sailed back and left them behind after local guards verified the cargo transfer.

Yes, those were the words they used. They called us cargo. The guards herded us towards a small valley. There we were to make camp. Sentries were positioned around us. Their torches providing the only light sources.

Later in the night, a few buckets of water and a crate of hard and black bread were given to us. We huddled together, keeping each other warm.

"Mommy it's cold. I want to go home", a little elven girl pleaded. Looking up at her mother with an exhausted expression. "I hate it here."

"Endure Tanicia. It will get better. Promised", her mother replied.

"I am hungry", the girl said.

"Here take the bread."

"Did they distribute more?"

"…. yes."

Next day it didn't get better.

The immigrants were told to move south. Towards the city of Bari. They were supposed to help the count in overthrowing the duke. To fight in a war.

"We are not warriors. We can't fight", an old man rebuked after the guards had informed them of their destination and purpose.

One of the guards moved to the old man. She drew out her gladius and embedded it into the old man's heart.

"Does anybody else want to refuse service towards their new lords and ladies?"

Nobody replied. Most eyes fixed on the ground or the dead men.

They moved south. Some tried to escape, all were killed. Bread was distributed every three days. One piece per person.

Something changed after a few days. The guards had a rather loud discussion. The following morning they woke alone. No sign of the people, that had been 'escorting' them. The wagons with the rations were left behind. The horses pulling them not.

A handful of their numbers called out to ration the little food left. Nobody heard on them. The next morning no food was left. They huddled around the wagons. Unsure how to proceed further.

They waited for two days with no water or food.

A rider greeted their excuse of a camp on the third morning.

"Vagrants clear the road! A legion will pass through soon!", the rider shouted. Keeping a safe distance.

Silence answered him. Time passed, the rider waited.

An old woman stepped forward from the camp.

"We need food and water. We are not vagrants. We are from the east, part of the peace treaty."

The rider nodded, slowly.

"You are still to clear the road. We will send supplies as fast as possible. Wait nearby."

The rider turned around, spurring his horse. He rode left and disappeared behind a forest. Only leaving behind the promise of supplies.

The promise was fulfilled at the end of the fourth day.

Water and relatively fresh bread were supplied. They ate, then came the questions.

Twelve legionaries had accompanied the rider.

The immigrants told their story and how they were supposed to fight for the count of Bari.

"The count is dead", a legionary added after the immigrants had finished. They started back at him. A silent question. What were they supposed to do?

"We are securing the rest of the region and are collecting everybody willing to head towards Roma. You are free to tag along."

Nearly all of them accepted. A few chose to try their luck with the local villages.

"Mother why are we heading back?", the elven girl asked. Snuggled up in a blanket. A tent protected the pair from the wind.

"Not back. We are heading towards Roma. The eternal city. Things will get better, promised", she answered. Spooning her daughter. "Now sleep. We need our energy to march with the legion."

Her daughter didn't have to march.

The legion's cavalry dismounted a few riders. The horses harnessed to the wagons. Those who had difficulties marching were allowed to ride on the wagons.

The elven mother followed directly behind the wagon her daughter was in. Smiling and waving at her every time she chose to peek out. For short durations, Tanicia would even march alongside her. She tired out quickly and her mother had to often carry her back onto the wagon.

This continued for a while. They visited city after city. More and more people were beginning to join their journey towards Roma. Nearly ten thousand people were now marching together.

It took another week and then they reached the eternal city.

"Is this Roma?", Tanicia asked looking up at her mother. Holding her hands firmly.

"Yes. Now things will get better, promised."

The eternal city didn't look so eternal, not any more. Ruins and rubble marked nearly all places. Few remained in acceptable conditions.

The family settled into an old temple near the walls and the western gate. Sharing it with twenty-three others. Half of those came from the east like them, the rest from the duchy of Neapoli.

The next days were filled with simple hard labour. The elven mother helped in clearing away rubble or carrying building materials to the craftsmen. Her daughter helped out in the soup kitchen. Filling the bowls for the people waiting in line.

Daughter and mother were cuddling in the temple after sunset. Their tent propped up next to a pillar. It was engraved with murals of old times, supporting the roof above them. They were talking in the shine of a lit candle.

"A boy you say? Do tell me more", the mother asked.

"He works in the soup kitchen as well! He is so nice and funny!", the daughter exclaimed.

"It is great that you made a friend. What is his name?"

"Petrus!"

"And where does Petrus come from?"

"From a village in the south. His parents were farmers."

"And is he an elf?"

"No, he is a human. His ears are really small and short. It looks funny", Tanicia continued on as her mother observer her with a conflicted expression. "Mom, are you listening?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then answer my question."

"Sorry… could you repeat it?"

"Mom! You lied", Tanicia exclaimed. Frowning at her mother. She still repeated her question "Petrus birthday is coming up soon... so I need help with a gift. Will you help?"

"I have a lot of work for the next", Tanicia looked at her mother with big round eyes. "… I will make time for you."

"Yaaay. I love you mom!"

Tanicia embraced her mother. She, in return, gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead.

Time passed and worked continued. More houses looked ready to be repopulated and the city began to look cleaner. Day by day things got more organized. It felt like somebody was slowly detangling a messy knot of wool.

Though there was one problem. And that was leaning against a building with his friends. The elf had to pass this street to deliver the materials she was carrying.

"Tadia! Why don't you show us Neapolitans how to perform the oldest profession on Octanian", Cario said. Thrusting his hip into a sack of grain as she passed the group. "Maybe you are better than this sack."

"Cut it", an armoured figure said as he watched over this part of the street.

Tadia had found out what kind of demi-human those guards were. Minotaurs, they lived mostly in Aegyptus and somehow a rather sizeable amount of them tagged along with the heir of the duchy.

Ah yes. She had learned who her new lord was. Literally the heir of their former enemy. This did not bowl well with Tadia. If he chooses to retaliate … if he chooses to harm her daughter … then … she would personally kill him. No matter the cost.

Maybe it was better to leave for another settlement. But who would welcome them? They were stranded in a sea of hostility.

Cario put the sack of grain down.

"At least the sack is worth something. You are certainly not", Cario stepped closer. His friends howled behind him, encouraging the man further.

Tadia stepped back. She was not about to react to this provocation. She was above that. The elf took her first steps away from him.

Cario frowned and looked angry as she didn't respond.

"Hey! Didn't you have a daughter? Twelve years old?", he said.

Tadia stopped dead in her tracks.

"That's better. Would be a shame if something happened to her. Come here, just for a few minutes."

Tadia was shivering. She looked up to the minotaur guard. He starred back into her eyes.

He inclined his head in the direction of her destination.

"Get on with it", the guard said.

Slowly Tadia moved to reach the end of the street.

Steps echoed behind her, a hand landed on her shoulder, she shivered at the firm grip. In her panic, she dropped the materials.

"Now don't leave", Cario whispered into her ear. One of his hands was moving up to…

There was a crack and a groan. The touch of Cario's hands disappeared.

Tadia turned around. Cario was laying on the ground. Nose bleeding, groaning in pain.

The minotaur above him. The guard turned around to face her.

"Get on with it", he repeated.

The elf hastily recollected the material in front of her.

"Hey don't let her get away!", one of Cario's friends said.

"Surround the big one!", another one added.

She heard fighting sounds behind her. Tadia fled the street and only turned around when she reached its end.

Cario and his five friends lay on the ground. The minotaur stood above them. He turned around.

"Get on with it", he repeated again and Tadia didn't need to be told a fourth time. She disappeared into the building that was her destination and delivered the materials. When she left it to get the next patch the street was empty. Only a bit of blood was left behind on the dirt road.

That was the one problem she had with the city. Easterners were harassing the Neapolitans, the Neapolitans were harassing the easterners. Only the guards prevented the worst of it. But sometimes there were no guards or they had too few numbers.

She didn't want to think about what would happen to her or her daughter if something occurred without guards present. What would have happened to her today without the minotaur?

This conflict was hurting the ones who were trying to coexist and the weak who couldn't defend themselves from the harassment. Guards helped, but the situation didn't get better. This was getting dangerous. She had to get her daughter out of the city. But where to?

The next morning they awoke with a messenger standing at the temple entrance.

He spoke about an order from the governor. Everybody was to claim a house for themselves. For free. Tadia didn't want to. If she claimed one and ran into somebody like Cario… if her daughter runs into somebody like him …

She moved to the messenger who was currently speaking with a Neapolitan.

"The guards will watch over the process...", the messenger began.

"No they won't!", the Neapolitan shouted at the messenger. Surprising himself if his expression was honest. "Sorry, I mean..."

"Yes, we are aware. The guards can't be everywhere. The governor is working on it. Please have patience", the messenger turned to look at Tadia. "And what can I do for you my beautiful maiden?"

Tadia blushed a bit. It had been a long time since somebody complimented her. With her figure leaning on the heavier side. She had always been a bit fatter, just like her mother and her grandmother and her grand-grandmother… hopefully Tanicia wouldn't inherit that trade of their family.

"Miss?", the messenger promoted. Tadia blushed a bit more. She couldn't daydream in front of a messenger.

"Sorry I was just …. uh"

"No problem miss. What was on your mind?", the messenger replied with a smile.

"I want out of the city. Somewhere else than here, please", Tadia said.

"Miss things will get better, you just have to wait for..."

"There has to be something. I am a single mother, I have worked my entire life on our family farm and…"

"Ahh, you are a peasant", he said, quickly adding an explanation, "Sorry that wasn't meant as an insult. So you are a farmer. That changes things."

Tadia looked expectantly at him.

"There are a few abandoned farmhouses around Roma. To my knowledge, nobody has claimed one yet. We planned to distribute them to the peasants anyway as we will with the land."

Tadia beamed a smile.

"Yes. I would love that. Wait...", she blinked a few times. "You are giving farmland away? For free?"

The elf stared at the messenger with awe. The man chuckled in return.

"We are. But we limit the amount someone can claim. Each farmer family should have enough to be self-sufficient and make a sizeable profit."

"Where is the next farmhouse? I have to get my daughter", Tadia said and darted out of the temple. Heading for the soup kitchen where her daughter was helping out.

The messenger looked on with a smile as he watched the elf run through the streets.

It didn't take long for Tadia to collect her daughter and their few belongings. They headed out of the western gate.

Soon they reached the first farm. A house and a small coop to its left, a big one behind it.

Tadia moved to the fields and begun to dig in the earth. She took a bit of it into her hand and smelled it.

"Why are you smelling the earth mom?", Tanicia asked.

"It is a trick. You can smell if the earth is fertile. Your grandmother taught me."

"Can you … can you show me how to do it?"

"Of course sweetie. Come here."

The pair of mother and daughter continued to check each farmhouse and the surrounding land for their quality. They settled on one after a few hours.

The farm was a good bit away from the city. The next gate would be the eastern one. It was around five kilometres away from them.

The farm consisted of a house with a cellar and attic. Build out of stone and wood. Still in a good condition.

There was also a barn that was twice as big as the house and two smaller coops. Perfect to handle the cattle.

The surrounding land proved to be of good quality and there was even a small forest nearby with a small stream flowing through it.

For Tadia it felt like the perfect home. Her daughter however was a bit sad. Tanicia was far away from her friend or any potential friend.

"I want to be closer to Petrus", she stomped on the ground and pouted at her mother. "I don't like this farm."

"Young lady", Tadia spoke in a strict tone. "This farm is perfect. Soon other farmers will move in around us. Then you will have plenty of playmates. Sounds good?"

"I want Petrus."

"Of course you want", she whispered to herself. "I am sure we can make an arrangement so he can visit us sometime."

"Yay!"

A few days past and the family settled into their new home. They had spoken with the messenger and ownerships of the farm was confirmed. Though the matter of the land had been postponed. Apparently, the governor was waiting for somebody to arrive so that they split up the land between the farmers.

A few people from the city had brought seeds and cattle towards her farm. Always escorted by guards. They got wheat, millet, corn, barley and amaranth, as well as a few vegetables, fruit trees and berry seeds.

For cattle three chickens and a cock. Two mules. One male, one female. And three goats. Two females and one male. Fodder for three months was provided and the people helped to fill the water troughs.

Everything was turning for the better.

One day Tadia prepared lunch in the kitchen. Her daughter was outside and played with the cattle while watching over them as they tried to graze.

She suddenly heard her daughter speak with somebody. The elf leaned against the wooden door and eavesdropped.

"Yes, that is a nice goat. What is your name little high-elf?", a man asked.

Tadia all but stormed out of the farmhouse. Only to stop dead in her tracks when she spotted the man. A wood-elf. A wood-elf in noble clothing. She swallowed audibly.

"My name is Tanicia. Are you a wood-elf?", her daughter asked.

"Yes I am, Aellelorn the name. How are our cousins in the east doing?", the man asked back. A goat moved to him and nibbled on his clothing.

Tadia quickly moved to the animal and drove it back to the rest. Then she pulled her daughter behind. Taking two steps away from the man. She bowed her head.

"How can I help you my... my lord?", she asked. Failing to suppress her nervousness.

"No need to bow. I was just moving through and wanted to take a look. Your farm?"

Tadia looked up and just noticed the carriage ten metres behind the man. Two horses in front of it, a third grazed three metres to their left.

"Yes, it is ours. Though the land has yet to be given to someone. The governor is waiting for somebody."

"Ah, right", the man eyed her. "Tell me how are the high-elves doing in the east?"

Tadia was about to answer as the door of the carriage opened. A lady stepped carefully outside, a hand on her round belly. The elven man quickly moved to assist her. Tadia recognized the race of the woman. Sea-folk, a mermaid, long scaled ears and some spots of skin were covered in them as well. Her hair was blue.

"I am pregnant, not old", the woman said. Swatting away the helping hand from the elf.

"We are pregnant and we must make sure you don't strain yourself too much", the elf gave her a kiss on the lips.

The mermaid looked to be annoyed and happy at the same time.

Tadia cleared her throat. Immediately regretting it when both turn to look at her. And then they moved closer, standing directly in front of the farmer and her daughter.

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Anaitis, this is my husband Aellelorn", the mermaid said.

"Tadia and that is my daughter Tanicia", she answered.

"Lovely names, did you have any difficulties reaching Roma?"

She had, but choose to lie. "No, we haven't my lady."

They continued to question her about things. Like how she was treated in the city or if the governor made any announcement regarding elves and sea-folk. Tadia felt herself ease up and began to say how she really felt about it. They also asked about farming and how she planned to plant the seeds.

"Hm, yes. Problems between the Neapolitans and easterner is worrying", Aellelorn remarked. "We will have to talk with Lucius about it. Council meeting should be in a few days."

Tadia stared wide-eyed at the pair. There were not simple nobles. They were council members. Part of the people that were governing them. And they were talking with her, on her farm. Talking about everyday things. About farming.

Their conversation continued until Tanicia moved from her mother to Anaitis.

"Can I feel the baby?", she asked. Tadia checked the expressions of the nobles. They didn't look offended. Thank the gods.

"You may", Anaitis allowed.

Tanicia placed her hand on the belly. Smiling after a moment. "I can feel the baby!"

"Yes, she is kicking. We expect her to be born soon", Aellelorn added.

"She or he. Well, I think we need to head to the city. I wish you good fortune. We will be working together soon. Don't worry about the land around your farm. We know the people distributing it", the mermaid said. Giving them a beautiful smile.

The nobles said their goodbyes and continued their journey towards the city.

Tadia just stared after them.

"Things are getting better aren't they", she said to herself.

"Yes!", Tanicia exclaimed. "And I will get a future playmate soon."

Tadia just chuckled at her daughter's optimism. But then again after everything happened maybe just maybe that was possible as well.