Oroveso thought, I might be green but I’m not stupid. There’s more between Publius and Tlachtga than meets the eye. All of a sudden he realized what was behind all this peace and goodwill with Rome. Tonight he would catch the lovers red-handed. But he ruminated on the peace and abundance this relationship had brought to their tribe, the like of which they had never experienced. Now with Rome’s discovery of the mine, the dissolution of the romance would inevitably mean war. This surely was the beginning of the end. Dinner came with an air of foreboding hanging over the otherwise joyous atmosphere. All wondered when they would meet in such surroundings again. After dinner it was back out into the gardens, which was only a precursor to bedtime.
Bedtime came, and as usual Publius’s bedroom was only a stone's throw from Tlachtga’s. The only traffic along the corridors were the mice who held silent guard. When complete silence permeated the sleeping quarters, Publius rose, donned his sleeping robe and tiptoed to Tlachtga’s room, opened the door, slipped across the floor to where lay the personification of Aphrodite the Greece Goddess of Love. As they lay oblivious to everything but their passions, unbeknownst to them, they had company. Outside the bedroom door stood their accuser waiting for the opportune moment to strike. As they lay embraced, the door opened and Oroveso walked across the bedroom floor,
“So, this is what you pair have been up to all these years. Tlachtga, you have committed the unpardonable sin, you’ve betrayed the trust of your people. You will answer for this in the morning.”
With that, Oroveso stormed out of the room. Tlachtgaa and Publius lay on the bed. Something beautiful had been brought to an end. Tlachtga knew she would pay with her life in the morning. Without a word being spoken, Publius got out of bed, fastened his robe around him and headed back to his room. Both lovers spent a restless night envisioning what the morrow might bring.
In the morning Oroveso sounded the gong of the Aceni people. All dropped what they were doing and headed to Tor Hill. Tlachtga and Publius sat surrounded by priests, Caratacus and members of the army. Off to one side sat the crew of the Roman galleon. They knew Publius could not be condemned by Druid law, and if he were, every Roman soldier in Britannia would descend on Avalon to avenge the atrocity. After an hour, the hill was black with people, all bewildered as to why they had been called. The gong was struck only in the most dire of circumstances. And to add insult to injury, off to one side was erected a funeral pyre. Their beloved Queen sat captive with Publius. What in heavens name was going on?
Next in the progression of solemnity, Oroveso confronted his people and cried, “Dear friends of the Aceni people. I’m the bearer of terrible tidings. Our beloved queen is the transgressor of the most terrible sin. She has violated the most sacred trust of our people. I caught her and Publius in the act of fornication, which is punishable by death according to our law. I now call upon our gracious queen to defend her actions.”
