Strength and honour
Maximus
hung in his chains. He hurt. Both mentally and physically. Cicero's death
weighed heavily on his shoulders. Another wound to add to his already ragged
and bleeding heart. Another scar to add to his grievously wounded body.
He sagged wearily. The pain he felt in his broken body was nothing compared to
what he felt in his soul. Selene. Juan. Proximo. Haken. Cicero. His wife, child
and friends. All dead. Because of him. His thoughts drifted to Juba - at least
he was still alive, although probably not for long. He thought of Lucilla - the
only woman other than Selene Maximus had allowed himself to love. Daughter of
the greatest man Maximus had ever known. Sister to the worst. His heart
screamed in agony as he thought what Commodus was doing to her - if she still
lived.
He flinched as the lash tore his skin, the only indication that the lash had
hurt him. His head drooped and he saw his blood drip onto the floor that was
already stained dark by it.
His torture had became almost systematic now, it had been happening since the
day he had been captured, almost a week ago. He knew that his battered body
could not take much more of this treatment, but he would never betray Lucilla.
Even though she had betrayed him.
The lash struck him again and again, but he paid little attention to it. His
body may have been there, but his mind was far away.
He thought of happier times, on his farm near Trujillo with his wife and son.
His horses.
*Do you remember the last time you were home?*
*Two years, two hundred and sixty four days…and this morning*
Maximus watched his son in a silent battle of wills with one of the wild ponies
that shared his land with him. Juan was struggling to get the little horse to
obey his commands on a lunge line.
"Juan." He called his son as he walked over to him, Juan looked at him
expectantly. "A horse will do nothing for you if you are not its friend." He
said with a grin, but yet deadly serious. He walked to the small grey mare, at
first she flinched away, but pricked her ears when Maximus rubbed her crest. He
found some crumbs in his pocket that he fed to the small mare.
He walked back to his son, and grinned as the small mare calleded after him as
he walked away. "She is young." He told his son. "She doesn't know what you
want. Its up to you to teach her. Not tell her." He smiled as the horse began
to listen to his son…
Maximus was cruelly bought back to reality as the lash struck him over his
shoulders.
"That's enough." He heard the Praetorian officer say. His torturer coiled his
whip and strode away. Maximus closed his eyes in silent thanks. The young
Praetorian Officer was troubled. He disliked the torture of the General,
believing that he had suffered much to much already. He strode to Maximus and
looked at the proud man sadly.
"I obey the Emperor." He said, as if to explain his actions. "I think he is
wrong…" he paused "…my brother served with you at Vindorbarra. He said that you
were the best General in the whole of the Empire. The only undefeated General -
and the only one that truly cared for his men…" the Praetorian stopped mid
sentence, unsure if he had said too much, but Maximus was glad for the mans
words.
"What was his name?" he asked weakly
"Julius Varrus." He told him, "He died in the first campaigns in Germania - an
infected wound…" Maximus cut him off
"I remember, a brave man who died too young…what is your name?" he asked
suddenly.
"Marcus Varrus." He answered
"The Emperors name…" Maximus thought out loud. Marcus nodded.
"I have to leave," he told Maximus, "Quintus will ask for me…" Maximus frowned,
thinking of the friend that had betrayed him. Marcus saw this and was quick to
defend his officer.
"He loves you sir, but he does as the Emperor commands. As I do. Would prefer
us to disobey our orders? It does not mean that we agree with Caesar, nor love
him. He has enemies…in the Senate, in his guard, the people…and in you. He will
not live long." Marcus paused. "I must leave now. General. Sir." He said,
snapping to attention, and throwing Maximus a crisp salute before he left Maximus'
cell.
"Marcus, your dream may live again…" Maximus whispered to his dead friend.
Maximus stared at him, unable to believe what Marcus had told him. So it was
arranged. He only wished that they would kill Commodus before they killed him.
His only regret was that he would not be the one to do it.
Maximus gasped in pain as he tried to re-position himself. He had been cut down
from the chains that held him upright, but he was still manacled to the wall -
each small movement caused agony to wash through his body.
Juba pressed his face against the bars that separated him and the other slaves
from Maximus. Worry was set deep into his kind brown eyes.
"Are you ok?" he asked, realising a second later what a stupid question that
was. Maximus looked at him and grinned weakly, realising the absurdity of the
question, grateful to Juba for asking it.
"I'll live…" he paused, knowing that the Emperor wished to execute him, "…until
Commodus asks for me."
Ok, this is my first ever attempt at fanfiction, so please be nice and don't
slate me too much ok…but please review and let me know what I think.
Part 2 will come soon, I promise - only I'm not quite sure when, because I have
lots + lots + lots + lots + lots of college work to do before my exams in the
summer L
Anyway, enjoy, and Ill start on part 2 as soon as I can