“Well, I will worry,”
And off they go. It isn’t long before they are holding hands. Rigana is a beautiful young girl and Gaius is a well- built, good-looking Roman.
“Would you fancy a boat ride?” asks Rigana.
“Yeah, I’d love that."
They walk to the water's edge where Rigana commandeers one of the locals. “Cripus, could we have a boat for the afternoon?"
Within minutes, four men are launching a sea craft into the water and helping the occupants aboard. It is a beautiful spring day to sail a calm sea.
“You look absolutely ravaging today, Rigana.”
“Well, I’m not dressed for a date,” she says coyly.
“You could have fooled me.” He stares at her longingly. “God, I could fall for you, head over heels.”
“I feel the same way,” she says earnestly, “but nothing can ever come of this. If anything ever happens to Mother, I would automatically become queen. I must remain chaste to become a priestess.”
“Let’s make the most of it,” cries Gaius.
They sail along for the next thirty minutes and then pull into a little cove, anchor the boat and find a lovers' nest and sit down.
“We've got to be careful. Mother could forbid me from seeing you and then where would we be?” sighs Rigana.
“I know your mother likes me, and we’ll be careful.”
“The famous last words,” laughs Rigana.
Well, one thing leads to another and they are lying, kissing and smooching on the grass until Rigana pulls away.
“That’s enough Gaius, I’m only human, I can’t take any more.”
They lie on the grass, getting their second wind and before they know, it they are back at it. This time Rigana pulls away. “Let’s go for a walk.” They get up and walk hand-in-hand along the shoreline.
“Are you here on official business?"
“Not really, I told father I wanted to come and see you, and he give me his blessing."
They walk along the shoreline, their arms wrapped around each other’s waists until Gaius says, “We better be getting back. I don’t want to be taking advantage of your mother’s generosity. When will I see you again?”
“I’ll send Eilidh, but keep this secret. if certain of the Druids find out, I’ll be strung up and quartered,” laments Rigana.
Back in Queen Boudica’s abode she turns to Lhiannon, “Go see if Rigana is back from her escapade and bring her here.”
“Yes, dear queen,” and off she goes.
Within minutes, she returns with Rigana in tow.
“So, how is the wandering minstrel?”
“Fine, dear queen.”
“So how long has this been going on for?”
“A few months.”
“And you never told me.”
“I’ll arrange for a meeting with Gaius’s father.”
At this, Rigana begins bawling her eyes out.
“Go back to your duties. I’ll talk to you later.”
