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From all the weeks
19/9/22
Alexandra could hear her heart racing. Excitement coursing through her veins. Her clothes had been taken to the boat but she was not going to wear a tunic and have her hair prettily braided. No, this was an expedition! This was a new beginning. She was going to Egypt; she would no longer be ruled by Julias Cesar. Alexadra crept into her brother Lucius' room; his old tunics were in there and they fit her perfectly. Alexandra crept past the moonlit pond. She stared at her pale white long tunic and a pale blue cloth over it embedded with jewels. Her hair, dressed in plaits and curls with flowers sprinkled all over them. It sickened her, this look. It was dangerous for a woman to be loud and bossy and Alexadra knew that, but this was her expedition no one else’s!
Alexandra was bossy, she was loud and she was proud. Her hate for the boundaries for women was vicious, but not as vicious as her hate of tunics, hair and so on. Alexandra had hand-packed her own clothes, no servants allowed, tucking in a dagger knife and a scroll, which the servants would never have packed. Rome was once beautiful but now it was nothing but dangerous for those against Julius Cesar. Alexandra walked through the humongous villa, her plaited hair swaying. She walked with pride.
Diary entry:
1 day left
We have only one day left until our boat leaves. Papa says this is a scary experience but I disagree. This is an expedition, we are looking for a place in Egypt. This is our goal, but the hardships on the way is what makes it truly an expedition. Diana is going to be foolish enough to wear her long dress tunic on ship!! But I shall wear a man’s tunic. It will be much easier to move on the ship. Marcus, Leo and Lucius will all laugh and Papa and Mama wil scowl but there is nothing they can do when we are set sail and my tunics are supposedly missing! I do hope that this expedition does go forward because the dangers of the sea are nothing compared to our ruler.
Bonus:
“Jewel” Alexadra yelled, “you're such a frighty cat, it;s just water”. Nothing compared to Julius Cesar. Paws padded the tiles and a growl erupted. Alexadra rolled her eyes. “For an exotic pet you're quite dainty”. A large leopard with emerald green eyes stared at her. Alexandra wrapped her arms around her neck. “Thanks for coming, girl” she whispered. Then with one swift movement Alexandra wrapped a rope around her neck tying it not too tightly. “Sorry Jewels, Papa won't let you on the boat unbounded. Between you and me I’m certainly untying you!’ “Alexandra, hurry, Papa needs us!” Diana sweetly called. Always trying to perfect, Alexandra thoughts muttered. “Come on Jewel, I hear the boat will have your favorite meat!” With that the pair strode after Diana.
The vicious wind whipped her face, tendrils of hair blowing wildly. The endless ripples of moonlit waves hypnotized her as they danced back and forth. The waves muffled the sounds of the ship. It enclosed around her comforting her. The endless sea could lulle her to sleep. Yet she could not face sleep. Not with the threats of her worries dangling above her head. The once beauty of the ocean turned into a nightmare. The deadly waves could trap you and the dots in the distance could very well be HIS ships. Alexandra tugged at her braids letting them loose in the wind. She tugged at her long tunic, her tunics were definitely going to disappear soon. She hated them! She scrunched up her face, everything was dangerous, but it was up to her to find the beauty in it all. This expedition, this dash to freedom was hers. She was escaping.
Alexandra grinned, piles of long dress tunics blew out the window. Alexandra reached for her last fancy tunic but paused. She might just need one, just in case Egypt wasn’t so keen on her new look. She stuffed it into her drawer and looked out the window. Her clothes were flowing away in the sea. A huge gust of wind smacked her in the face, she hastily shut the window. She looked at her reflection. She wore a short male tunic tied together with a red sash, her wild blonde hair now free. Just then Alexandra was knocked into her wall. She stood up gripping the bed, trying not to vomit. She moaned, the one thing she hated the most about the unique ocean was the waves, the waves that could demolish any ship.
Alexandra gripped the staircase, trying to walk to the main deck. “Alexandra” came with a dainty voice. She groaned. “What Diana?” she hissed. Alexandra turned around to see her beautiful sister's horrified face. “Are you wearing a man's tunic, never mind, you need to come back down, it's not safe for us up here! The waves” she whimpered. Alexandra rolled her eye’s. Then her hand slipped, her body crashed to the floor. She gripped her hand, looking at it she saw it was covered in blood. Diana groaned. Then a wave smashed into the ship spraying water all over the sisters. Diana screamed. Alexandra grabbed her sister's hand dragging her undercover. She searched for the problem, the main sail was being pulled down, almost tipping the ship over. She saw her brothers trying to heave a heavy crate of… the sail rope! “Jewel” screamed Alexandra. She grabbed the very sharp hair piece out of Diana’s hair. Clutching her bleeding hand to her chest. Her pet leopard bounded up to her. She grabbed Jewel's side and pointed to the boys. Jewel pulled Alexandra along, keeping her on her feet as the boat rocked. She ran over to the rope, ignoring Marcus screaming at her. The sail rippled and the ship spun out of control. Something hit her on the head, pain booming. The ship was leaning over the sail trying to get free. She started hacking the rope, cutting it. The rope snapped and the sail set back into place. Alexandra rested against Jewel. The pain settled in. Finally these stupid hair things were useful.
Alexandra’s face burnt with rage, she suppressed the need to lunge at her brothers. Who smirked as Papa screamed at her, “this is the last time” he said in a calm yet ominous voice. “If you make one last slip up, your precious leopard is not going to have much of a life anymore” he whispered. “What’s your decision?” Alexadra stared up at him, “I’ve already made it.” Alexandra strode out grabbing one of her fathers quills. The frosty wind stroked Alexandra as she stared at the rippling sea. She hoisted her heavy pack on her back. She pulled out a glinting emerald dagger, as she urged Jewel onto the boat. “Come on kitty cat, I’ve promised I have food in my bag,” she coaxed as she climbed onto the boat. The leopard climbed in after her, sensing Alexandra's fear she curled up into a small ball, taking up half the boat. Alexandra held the dagger up high, slicing the rope, and the boat fell into the water. Water sprayed everywhere, Alexadra grabbed the oars, rowing towards freedom.
Alexandra’s thoughts washed over her as she leaned against Jewel, the boat was drifting with the current. She was no longer a Roman girl, silenced in fear. She was no longer told “seen not heard”. The black sky was lit up with dazzling stars dotted like diamonds. The lapping waves stroked the small boat, pushing it forward. Alexandra stroked Jewel, the leopard nuzzled in. She was the only family Alexandra had. Then the boat thumped against something. Alexandra stood up, they were at the shore! Gorgeous trees stood up on a rolling hill covered in grass. The sunrise was breathtaking. Then she heard footsteps, a deep yet childish male voice started talking, “are you okay, how long were you at sea, wow you're pretty, did I just say that out loud, sorry, wait! Is that a leopard so cool? Oops sorry do you need help, wait of course you do come on my Grandpa and I will help” Alexandra smiled at the boy. This was freedom.
Bonus: the letter she writes to her family
Dear family,
Your choice is wrong. We are leaving Rome yet you make me hide myself.
I can never change who I am, I will never change who I am. Not for you or
for everyone. I love you all but with love comes sacrifice. You will not
harm my leopard Jewel, ever. So I am leaving. I have taken the spare
boat. If you want to change me you have to find me.
Alexandra
From all the weeks
19/9/22
Alexandra could hear her heart racing. Excitement coursing through her veins. Her clothes had been taken to the boat but she was not going to wear a tunic and have her hair prettily braided. No, this was an expedition! This was a new beginning. She was going to Egypt; she would no longer be ruled by Julias Cesar. Alexadra crept into her brother Lucius' room; his old tunics were in there and they fit her perfectly. Alexandra crept past the moonlit pond. She stared at her pale white long tunic and a pale blue cloth over it embedded with jewels. Her hair, dressed in plaits and curls with flowers sprinkled all over them. It sickened her, this look. It was dangerous for a woman to be loud and bossy and Alexadra knew that, but this was her expedition no one else’s!
Alexandra was bossy, she was loud and she was proud. Her hate for the boundaries for women was vicious, but not as vicious as her hate of tunics, hair and so on. Alexandra had hand-packed her own clothes, no servants allowed, tucking in a dagger knife and a scroll, which the servants would never have packed. Rome was once beautiful but now it was nothing but dangerous for those against Julius Cesar. Alexandra walked through the humongous villa, her plaited hair swaying. She walked with pride.
Diary entry:
1 day left
We have only one day left until our boat leaves. Papa says this is a scary experience but I disagree. This is an expedition, we are looking for a place in Egypt. This is our goal, but the hardships on the way is what makes it truly an expedition. Diana is going to be foolish enough to wear her long dress tunic on ship!! But I shall wear a man’s tunic. It will be much easier to move on the ship. Marcus, Leo and Lucius will all laugh and Papa and Mama wil scowl but there is nothing they can do when we are set sail and my tunics are supposedly missing! I do hope that this expedition does go forward because the dangers of the sea are nothing compared to our ruler.
Bonus:
“Jewel” Alexadra yelled, “you're such a frighty cat, it;s just water”. Nothing compared to Julius Cesar. Paws padded the tiles and a growl erupted. Alexadra rolled her eyes. “For an exotic pet you're quite dainty”. A large leopard with emerald green eyes stared at her. Alexandra wrapped her arms around her neck. “Thanks for coming, girl” she whispered. Then with one swift movement Alexandra wrapped a rope around her neck tying it not too tightly. “Sorry Jewels, Papa won't let you on the boat unbounded. Between you and me I’m certainly untying you!’ “Alexandra, hurry, Papa needs us!” Diana sweetly called. Always trying to perfect, Alexandra thoughts muttered. “Come on Jewel, I hear the boat will have your favorite meat!” With that the pair strode after Diana.
The vicious wind whipped her face, tendrils of hair blowing wildly. The endless ripples of moonlit waves hypnotized her as they danced back and forth. The waves muffled the sounds of the ship. It enclosed around her comforting her. The endless sea could lulle her to sleep. Yet she could not face sleep. Not with the threats of her worries dangling above her head. The once beauty of the ocean turned into a nightmare. The deadly waves could trap you and the dots in the distance could very well be HIS ships. Alexandra tugged at her braids letting them loose in the wind. She tugged at her long tunic, her tunics were definitely going to disappear soon. She hated them! She scrunched up her face, everything was dangerous, but it was up to her to find the beauty in it all. This expedition, this dash to freedom was hers. She was escaping.
Alexandra grinned, piles of long dress tunics blew out the window. Alexandra reached for her last fancy tunic but paused. She might just need one, just in case Egypt wasn’t so keen on her new look. She stuffed it into her drawer and looked out the window. Her clothes were flowing away in the sea. A huge gust of wind smacked her in the face, she hastily shut the window. She looked at her reflection. She wore a short male tunic tied together with a red sash, her wild blonde hair now free. Just then Alexandra was knocked into her wall. She stood up gripping the bed, trying not to vomit. She moaned, the one thing she hated the most about the unique ocean was the waves, the waves that could demolish any ship.
Alexandra gripped the staircase, trying to walk to the main deck. “Alexandra” came with a dainty voice. She groaned. “What Diana?” she hissed. Alexandra turned around to see her beautiful sister's horrified face. “Are you wearing a man's tunic, never mind, you need to come back down, it's not safe for us up here! The waves” she whimpered. Alexandra rolled her eye’s. Then her hand slipped, her body crashed to the floor. She gripped her hand, looking at it she saw it was covered in blood. Diana groaned. Then a wave smashed into the ship spraying water all over the sisters. Diana screamed. Alexandra grabbed her sister's hand dragging her undercover. She searched for the problem, the main sail was being pulled down, almost tipping the ship over. She saw her brothers trying to heave a heavy crate of… the sail rope! “Jewel” screamed Alexandra. She grabbed the very sharp hair piece out of Diana’s hair. Clutching her bleeding hand to her chest. Her pet leopard bounded up to her. She grabbed Jewel's side and pointed to the boys. Jewel pulled Alexandra along, keeping her on her feet as the boat rocked. She ran over to the rope, ignoring Marcus screaming at her. The sail rippled and the ship spun out of control. Something hit her on the head, pain booming. The ship was leaning over the sail trying to get free. She started hacking the rope, cutting it. The rope snapped and the sail set back into place. Alexandra rested against Jewel. The pain settled in. Finally these stupid hair things were useful.
Alexandra’s face burnt with rage, she suppressed the need to lunge at her brothers. Who smirked as Papa screamed at her, “this is the last time” he said in a calm yet ominous voice. “If you make one last slip up, your precious leopard is not going to have much of a life anymore” he whispered. “What’s your decision?” Alexadra stared up at him, “I’ve already made it.” Alexandra strode out grabbing one of her fathers quills. The frosty wind stroked Alexandra as she stared at the rippling sea. She hoisted her heavy pack on her back. She pulled out a glinting emerald dagger, as she urged Jewel onto the boat. “Come on kitty cat, I’ve promised I have food in my bag,” she coaxed as she climbed onto the boat. The leopard climbed in after her, sensing Alexandra's fear she curled up into a small ball, taking up half the boat. Alexandra held the dagger up high, slicing the rope, and the boat fell into the water. Water sprayed everywhere, Alexadra grabbed the oars, rowing towards freedom.
Alexandra’s thoughts washed over her as she leaned against Jewel, the boat was drifting with the current. She was no longer a Roman girl, silenced in fear. She was no longer told “seen not heard”. The black sky was lit up with dazzling stars dotted like diamonds. The lapping waves stroked the small boat, pushing it forward. Alexandra stroked Jewel, the leopard nuzzled in. She was the only family Alexandra had. Then the boat thumped against something. Alexandra stood up, they were at the shore! Gorgeous trees stood up on a rolling hill covered in grass. The sunrise was breathtaking. Then she heard footsteps, a deep yet childish male voice started talking, “are you okay, how long were you at sea, wow you're pretty, did I just say that out loud, sorry, wait! Is that a leopard so cool? Oops sorry do you need help, wait of course you do come on my Grandpa and I will help” Alexandra smiled at the boy. This was freedom.
Bonus: the letter she writes to her family
Dear family,
Your choice is wrong. We are leaving Rome yet you make me hide myself.
I can never change who I am, I will never change who I am. Not for you or
for everyone. I love you all but with love comes sacrifice. You will not
harm my leopard Jewel, ever. So I am leaving. I have taken the spare
boat. If you want to change me you have to find me.
Alexandra