The news from Rome of the death of her father came as a terrible shock for Livia, not so much because it was unexpected, for the Senator had been ill for some time, more that it spelled danger, as his high status was her protection against the unfettered ambition of her violent husband.
Livia's marriage to Claudius was not a love match, which was rare in Roman high society, but an arranged marriage between her nobility and his wealth. The fact that by her late 30s, she had been unable to bear children had fueled the violence and hatred that Claudius held for Livia and he felt no reason to disguise his longing to be rid of her.
Claudius already had a string of mistresses and one young slut in particular was marked to be his next wife, a willing victim to cement his legacy with children.
The sound of hobnailed boots echoed down the atrium towards her quarters in the country villa. Two of her husband's guards appeared at the doorway, chains in hand. Livia's loyal slave Tila rushed at the men screaming with a long-hair-pin in her hand, striking one of the men viciously in the shoulder, before he clubbed her unconscious with a heavy fist.
"This is an outrage" shouted Livia as the guards grabbed the gentle Roman lady, roughly chaining and gagging her. She was surprised however that they had not stabbed her to death there and then, but Claudius was far too clever to simply murder her in cold blood. No doubt he had plans to destroy her in some other way, so that her disappearance from society would be welcomed and forgiven.
When Livia awoke, she was lying on a rough cot in the corner of a dark room. The only light was a beam of sunshine coming down from an open skylight, showing moats of dust in the sultry air. Her arms and one leg were free, but the other was manacled by a chain to the heavy bed. She could not free the manacle and struggling just caused it to rub painfully against her shin.
A day and night passed slowly with only bread and a flask of water thrown to her through the doorway by a guard. There was a bucket in the corner where she could relieve herself, but apart from a rough rag on top, there was no sign that this would be emptied. Livia wept quietly, but although she had always had the comforts of riches and privilege, she had endured emotional suffering throughout her life, so would face this new challenge with a strength that had grown within her.
As the second evening was drawing-in, Livia heard a commotion outside and drunken laughter coming closer. The bolt of the door to her little cell was drawn back and the door kicked open violently, followed by the stink of rancid wine and sweat from one of the guards: "Get in their and fuck her hard" he said to the hulk of a man standing next to him. Pointing to Livia with the butt of his whip, the guard gestured at his large companion to enter the room: "I'll be checking and If you don't hurt the bitch, the boss will hear about it and that will be you fed to rabid wolves, you bastard Gaul".