Dr Petty, was just leaving Belglade, after finishing Nikolai's six month examination. Six month's already. It was staggering. The boy was right on track with his development and growth. Always so observant and full of babbles, the sound of him was a blessing between the four walls of the house. Rolling over and attempting to get his knees beneath him, he was an absolute joy to behold. Spring would be upon them soon and Shai could not wait to get him outdoor's and let him feel the kiss of the sun and blade's of grass to tickle his tiny feet.
So much on the move these days, he had outgrown the bassinet in his parent's room and spent his sleep time, in the nursery surrounded by the constellation's above on the ceiling, that he so loved to fall asleep staring at.
Nikolai was always spoken to, interacted with, by most that came into the main house, but it was Kruger, Rochelle and Shai that had the continuous conversation's with the child. Shai had recently begun speaking to him about Mount Olympus and the 12 God's - Dei Consentes or the Roman Council, while rocking him to sleep at night.
"In ancient Rome, the 12 major gods were called the Dei Consentes - the Roman Council. The Dei Consentes was created around BCE 200 or so, after Hannibal had beaten the Romans badly in the north. Hannibal had not yet made it to Rome, but he was targeting Rome, and the Romans knew it."
"The Roman Senate called on the Roman College, the professors and teachers in Rome, and asked for advice. The College thought about it and came back with an idea. They suggested the problem was that? Rome needed to present a special public display honoring the top twelve gods, along with a special feast." Nikolai's eyelids began to droop to a slow forming close at the continued sound of his mother's voice.
"The Roman Senate decided that was a great idea. They named this Roman council of 12 gods the Dei Consentes. They ordered six couches to be set up in public, and ordered their top artists to create sculptures of 12 god heads - no bodies, just heads."
"These sculptures were displayed in public on the couches in pairs - Jupiter and Juno, Neptune and Minerva, Mars and Venus, Apollo and Diana, Vulcan and Vesta,?Mercury and Ceres - six couches, 12 gods, no Pluto. In Roman mythology, Pluto was not a member of the Council of 12, the Dei Consentes, but Vulcan was."
"Hannibal never made it to Rome, so the people believed that this display created in the honor of the Council of Gods - the top 12 - worked, It saved Rome."
"Forever after, the ancient Romans believed that if Rome was threatened, the Dei Consentes, the 12 most powerful gods in the heavens, would defend Rome. They truly believed this. This belief gave the ancient Romans a lot of confidence.?It is a belief that still stands true today, Nikolai. You will grow up into a man with the same unchartered confidence."
Her words trailing off, Nikolai was sleeping soundly, but Shai didn't put him in his crib quite yet. Instead, she watched out the nearby window as the snow began to fall once again and was drawn from her thoughts by Rochelle, who was whispering from the doorway. "I'm retiring for the evening, Shai. If Kruger comes in late to see Nikolai, please tell him, I left a plate of dinner for him on the kitchen counter."
"I will, Rochelle, thank you..." Shai smiled softly, and watched as the woman turned to make her way to her own rooms.
What she was thinking, was not verbalized. Shai didn't think her husband would be coming that night. The weather was too bad, nor had she seen him in several day's. This was concerning on many levels, but would give it some time. He was perhaps' busy at the Forge and his classes.
Shai missed the daily interaction with the Blacksmith, it was all so bittersweet. But it was also apparent with the upcoming of Spring, it would be time to give pause in thought to her future and the future of their son. For now, they had Nikolai's christening to get through, which was coming up swiftly.
So much on the move these days, he had outgrown the bassinet in his parent's room and spent his sleep time, in the nursery surrounded by the constellation's above on the ceiling, that he so loved to fall asleep staring at.
Nikolai was always spoken to, interacted with, by most that came into the main house, but it was Kruger, Rochelle and Shai that had the continuous conversation's with the child. Shai had recently begun speaking to him about Mount Olympus and the 12 God's - Dei Consentes or the Roman Council, while rocking him to sleep at night.
"In ancient Rome, the 12 major gods were called the Dei Consentes - the Roman Council. The Dei Consentes was created around BCE 200 or so, after Hannibal had beaten the Romans badly in the north. Hannibal had not yet made it to Rome, but he was targeting Rome, and the Romans knew it."
"The Roman Senate called on the Roman College, the professors and teachers in Rome, and asked for advice. The College thought about it and came back with an idea. They suggested the problem was that? Rome needed to present a special public display honoring the top twelve gods, along with a special feast." Nikolai's eyelids began to droop to a slow forming close at the continued sound of his mother's voice.
"The Roman Senate decided that was a great idea. They named this Roman council of 12 gods the Dei Consentes. They ordered six couches to be set up in public, and ordered their top artists to create sculptures of 12 god heads - no bodies, just heads."
"These sculptures were displayed in public on the couches in pairs - Jupiter and Juno, Neptune and Minerva, Mars and Venus, Apollo and Diana, Vulcan and Vesta,?Mercury and Ceres - six couches, 12 gods, no Pluto. In Roman mythology, Pluto was not a member of the Council of 12, the Dei Consentes, but Vulcan was."
"Hannibal never made it to Rome, so the people believed that this display created in the honor of the Council of Gods - the top 12 - worked, It saved Rome."
"Forever after, the ancient Romans believed that if Rome was threatened, the Dei Consentes, the 12 most powerful gods in the heavens, would defend Rome. They truly believed this. This belief gave the ancient Romans a lot of confidence.?It is a belief that still stands true today, Nikolai. You will grow up into a man with the same unchartered confidence."
Her words trailing off, Nikolai was sleeping soundly, but Shai didn't put him in his crib quite yet. Instead, she watched out the nearby window as the snow began to fall once again and was drawn from her thoughts by Rochelle, who was whispering from the doorway. "I'm retiring for the evening, Shai. If Kruger comes in late to see Nikolai, please tell him, I left a plate of dinner for him on the kitchen counter."
"I will, Rochelle, thank you..." Shai smiled softly, and watched as the woman turned to make her way to her own rooms.
What she was thinking, was not verbalized. Shai didn't think her husband would be coming that night. The weather was too bad, nor had she seen him in several day's. This was concerning on many levels, but would give it some time. He was perhaps' busy at the Forge and his classes.
Shai missed the daily interaction with the Blacksmith, it was all so bittersweet. But it was also apparent with the upcoming of Spring, it would be time to give pause in thought to her future and the future of their son. For now, they had Nikolai's christening to get through, which was coming up swiftly.