Chapter 1

Esca groaned softly when the sun peaked into his and Marcus' bedroom, yes his a Marcus', when Marcus freed him their relationship became more than just friends, far more. They had kissed one night and the kiss turned into love making and that made them lovers. They now lived in a villa in the middle of a meadow surrounded by trees, and a river running through it. It was quiet and only one other person knew where to find them and that was Marcus' uncle.

Esca sighed silently and went to wrap his arm around his lover only to find the space empty and cold. He opened his eyes and saw that Marcus wasn't there. Esca sat up and held his head in his hand for a moment before getting up and throwing a pair of pants on. He went outside and smiled when he saw his lover sitting on a bench in their courtyard.

Marcus was sitting their silently looking at the small man made pond in the center of the courtyard, he looked like he was deep in thought. Esca walked over quietly as to not disturb him. He sat down next to his lover and stared at the pond, little fish swam around happily, birds sang in the distance. It was quiet and peaceful just the way they both liked it.

"I had a nightmare," Marcus said breaking the silence. Esca turned to his lover and kissed his shoulder. He knew he didn't have to say anything or pry Marcus to say anything. A simple action let him know that he was listening. "It was at the arena where we first met, you were fighting a Gladiator, the same one I saved you from, but when you were on the ground waiting for death you looked at me, I tried to call out to you to make him stop, but I had no voice, I just sat there helpless and watched you die," Marcus swallowed lightly. Esca kissed his shoulder again rubbing his back. "I though I had lost you again like I almost did when I thought you sided with those monsters, no offence," he said gently. Esca shook his head.

"None taken, I left behind my land when I was freed by you," he said lovingly. He took Marcus' hand and put it to his face. Marcus stroked the stubble on his cheek and stared at Esca for the first time that morning since he got up. "Marcus, I'm here, right here in front of you," the smaller man said. "This is where I belong," he said. Marcus smiled and leaned over kissing him lovingly on the lips, smiling against his lips Esca kissing back.

When they parted they rested their foreheads together, they closed their eyes and drowned everything else out except each other's steady breathing. They sat there like that for a while until Marcus pulled away and stroked his Esca's cheek.

"Let's go for a ride," he said. Esca smiled and nodded as he watched Marcus get up, Esca followed as they got dressed and headed to the stables Marcus couldn't help but stare at Esca, how much his personality had changed as they became closer and closer to each other Esca's heart opened up to him little by little every day.

They got on their horses and started to trot around their large territory side by side. They stared at each other at times just enjoying the company. They stopped after a little while to let their horses graze out in the meadow while they walked hand in hand to a pond and sat in the grass. Marcus laid back and rested his head on Esca's lap. Esca smiled at him and stroked his forehead gently his eyes looking at the sparkling waters of the pond. He sighed happily and ran his fingers through Marcus' hair. Marcus looked up at him and chuckled, Esca had a blank face, the face he always got when he was thinking deeply.

"I know that face, what are you thinking about?" he asked his lover. Esca just smiled and looked at Marcus stroking his cheek. The Roman leaned into his touch and kissed his palm tenderly.

"I'm just thinking about us now as we are, and then I started thinking about the past year, The Eagle, the Seal Tribe," he paused and looked away almost sadly. "Almost losing you," he said quietly, but Marcus picked up on it. He reached up and touched Esca's cheek.

"It is I who thought I lost you," he said. Esca closed his eyes and took Marcus' hand in his. "I thought you had truly gone to their side and left me to die, I thought I lost the man that I loved to those monsters," he said. They sat like that for a few moments in silence before Marcus spoke again. "You can't blame yourself for the boy's death," Esca tensed. "It's not your fault," he whispered and sat up.

Esca was shaking slightly at the memory of the young Seal boy that had died that day at the river, had he not told him to wait, he would probably still be alive. He closed his eyes feeling them mist over, but he didn't cry. He never cried.

Marcus stared at his beloved and pulled him into his arms, he sat there holding Esca close as the man trembled. He hated seeing Esca this way, but he knew there was little to nothing that he could do the ease his guilt about what happened. He stroked Esca's hair gently, kissing the top of his head tenderly.

When Esca calmed down he just laid against him and looked at the water. He felt warm and safe in his arms, like nothing could hurt him, and for all he knew nothing ever would as long as Marcus was close to him holding him tightly telling him that everything was going to be all right. It was then he knew he was safe.

There they sat for the longest time in each others embrace, enjoying the warmth and comfort of their company. It wasn't until Marcus picked up his head from it's resting place on top of Esca's head that their peace was disturbed. Esca picked his head up from the resting spot on Marcus' chest looking up at his lover.

"What is it?" he asked gently. Marcus shook his head and stood up, in the distance he could make out the form of a rider he knew for a fact that it wasn't his uncle. Esca rose to stand next to him and stared in the same direction as Marcus, he wrapped his hands around Marcus' arm uneasily. Marcus stared at him for a moment and looked back at the rider something in his heart told him what ever it was it wasn't good.