Started: Monday, March 11, 2013
Draft Finished: Monday, March 11, 2013
Fiction: Continuation
Rated: Mature
Disclaimer: The character and names of Spartacus belong to Starz and its creators.
TV Series: Spartacus: War of the Damned
Pairing: Gannicus/Sibyl
Genre: Romance/Angst
Summary: Gannicus didn't know what annoyed him more: the way she looked at him with such adoration in her eyes or the way she spoke about the gods. Even now she has put her faith in him and he felt bothered by it.
Enlightening Faith
Totem
She was a vision wrapped in a shroud of pure white, standing before him timid and unsure of his approach. Gannicus was enchanted by her doe eyes that were filled with such innocence, he couldn't turn away. As the cloth pulled away from her body, the gladiator stared at her creamy white skin, untarnished and clean; her hair smelled of flowers. No words passed between them, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw a sense of longing in them. His gaze traveled down the length of her body, taking in the softness of her petite body that was not harden with muscle. She was fit, her stomach flat from malnutrition, yet she had some curves on her. The swell of her breasts looked inviting to his touch, but he refrained himself from doing so and took hold of her chin instead.
Her skin was smooth underneath his rough hands, almost like silk. She didn't turn her eyes away and Gannicus was unsure why she was here, or the reason why she was willing to present herself in such a way. He didn't even know her name, and yet she was offering herself to him. A moment passed and the prolonged silence was broken when he made the decision to seek his pleasure elsewhere. She didn't belong here, and he was not going to take advantage of her naivety and muddled sense of gratitude by offering herself to him, to which he believe that she had no business or knowledge in what it entailed. She was a child.
Gannicus didn't find it ironic that she was with him in this current moment, both hiding away from the Romans underneath a stable. As they sat in silence listening to the sound of voices and footsteps above, his mind was filled with the uncertainty that they would not make it out of the city alive. While his attempt at a distraction proved to be successful, the Romans were searching for any remaining rebels in the city. In the quiet, Gannicus was still stricken by the lost of Donar, and although he was tired and deep in thought, he was still aware of his surroundings. The Romans were moving out of the stable to continue their sweep despite the long hours of finding nothing.
"They take leave?" Sibyl asked him in a small whisper.
"Not all," he answered. "Thousands more swell in the streets." Taking a closer look at his right hand, Gannicus noticed that his wound had stopped bleeding. The wide gash still stung now that the adrenaline had wear off. "The ones above spoke of victory, great numbers lost to us."
"Coupled with the curse that Spartacus yet eludes them," she reminded him. Gannicus turned to her and saw that she was looking over at him.
"He is a troublesome man to kill," he said with a smirk. "I have attempted it myself upon occasion." His confession was ignored, and he heard the tear of cloth, an indication that Sibyl was attempting to tend to his wound.
"The gods favor him and bless us as well," she remarked, grabbing his hand to gently wrap the piece of cotton around his cut. Gannicus relaxed as he studied her gentle handiwork.
"They piss upon us and you welcome it as cooling rain," the gladiator scoffed.
"We are alive because they yet guide your hand." He looked up at her when she said those words, noting how she was speaking in a firm tone before returning his gaze to her skillful hands. "One I have faith will see us from darkest hour."
"Would that I shared the same." Gannicus turned his hand to see that his wound was properly covered and that the cloth was tight enough so that it didn't cut off his circulation. For a second, he appreciated the fact that she was at least useful. "You have done this before."
"My Dominus inflicted many wounds upon his slaves," she replied, settling back into her place beside him. Picking up her wooden statue, Sibyl brushed off the pieces of straw off of her legs, and he found his eyes traveling to her actions. "I often tended their injuries."
"Who tended yours?" He asked her. There was a brief pause and Gannicus couldn't help but grow curious at her lack of an answer.
"Diotimus showed a kindness," Sibyl finally answered. At the mention of another man, the Celtic warrior turned away as the corners of his lips lifted in contempt.
"Did he now?" His words spilled out with a hint of derision.
"He stood as a brother to me," she retorted softly. Upon hearing her words Gannicus immediately resented his wild assumption.
"Apologies."
"You struck down the man that took his life," Sibyl turned to him and he looked upon her as she spoke. "The man that took my own, a small piece at a time over a span of years." There it was: her relenting claim that he was her savior. In that current moment, he turned his gaze upward to remind them both that they were far from being safe, trapped under planks of wood while waiting for the Romans to end their search.
"Would that it had made a difference."
"You have made all in the world," Sibyl remarked, looking straight into his eyes. She held his gaze for a second then turned her body away so that her back was facing toward him.
To his disappointment and relief, she didn't engage him in another conversation and the Romans were still unaware of their hidden place under the stable. Gannicus saw the way she sat with her arms hugging her knees and her head resting upon her kneecaps. Her back was still resting against the column and her hands were still clutching onto the wooden totem as he saw the steady rise and fall of her shoulders under her long brown hair. For a second time since he had met her, Gannicus noticed her small stature and realized how young she was. Although she possessed a visage of chastity, she was a woman, and a foolish one at that. Like many before her, she looked upon him as a hero because he freed her from servitude. He couldn't even recall his first meeting with her since his mind was focused on taking the city and slaying every Roman who approached him. The thirst of battle was hard to ignore.
Sibyl's shoulders trembled and her body began lean over in his direction. Without warning, she rested her head on his right shoulder and he didn't make a move to push her away. His gaze lingered on the piece of wood in her small hands, tempted to grab it in spite of how tightly she was griping it. Gannicus knew that she was afraid and the totem was the only thing that was keeping her hands from shaking. He was glad that she was wise enough to have picked it up instead of clinging onto him, but now he saw it as a reminder that she had faith in him; as if she was placing her hope that the gods will keep them both alive and help him guide them to safety. Gannicus didn't know what annoyed him more: the way she looked at him with such adoration in her eyes or the way she spoke about the gods. It had been a long time since he believed in any gods. They had done nothing for him, and he was alive because of the skills he had honed by his own two hands. He had no faith in the gods, only in himself, and he found her to be foolish to think otherwise.
That night when he came upon her standing before him, Gannicus told himself that he did not need her gratitude, and he meant it. Sibyl was young, foolish, and untainted: everything he was not. He did not deserve her attention, nor should she associate herself with his men and his kind, for he would only bring her death and bloodshed. Many have fallen in his demise, and he even showed his brutality in front of her, yet she still looked upon him as her savior. Even now she has put her faith in him and he felt bothered by it. His hardships have taught him that there were no such thing as gods. In his natural environment, he was a killer, slaying men who threatened his existence. As long as he drew breath, he was going to live to drink and fuck another day, and no matter how drunk he would get, Gannicus never found the urge to pray or give into the delusion that there were gods looking over him. The only ones who looked over him were men who wanted dominance over other men of no status, and he would be damned if he were to believe in the same superstition preached by those very men. The only thing they both have in common was the fate of death, and he would be glad to live another day to bring it to them.
The young woman stirred against his shoulder and Gannicus took it upon him to lay her comfortably on the ground. It had been hours since the Romans returned to do another sweep and he was rather perturbed by her closeness. Although he was tempted by the wiles of women, he did not see her as one. Sibyl was different. She was someone who seems to have faith in him as well as her gods. She was also a maiden and should be remained as such. There was no doubt that she is beautiful. Gannicus just couldn't trust himself with her and if she were to stay at his side, he would only ruin her.
For a moment, he wanted to believe that he had some control in her fate by keeping her safe from harm and as far away from death as long as he was alive. Somehow, having her here with him kept his focus strong, and while he watched her sleep, he thought of a strategic plan to get them both out of Sinuessa en Valle. He couldn't let her down now knowing that she had faith in him, and from his experience, he was never one to disappoint a woman. Sibyl shouldn't be an exception.
A/N: There is something mesmerizing about this couple. The chemistry between the actors is amazing, and the way he would look at her! I think it's very organic and real how they both interacted with one another in episode six. You can see that Gannicus is starting to form an attachment to Sibyl, who is strong in her own way despite her innocence. This is my first time watching this show and writing Gannicus' character, so bear with me if he seems out of character. if you do have feedback, I will definitely appreciate it. What did you think? Should I continue this?