"Cassius, come on!" Themis called up the stairs. "Stop being such a baby!"

"NO!" Cassius screamed back. "I'm not going!"

Themis growled and slammed her fist into the wall. "I swear to Jupiter, if you're not down here in ten seconds, there will be no honeycakes for a year!"

A pause. Then Cassius yelled, "You're not Mama so don't pretend to be!"

"THAT'S IT!" Themis hollered, starting up the stairs. "YOU ARE DEAD!"

But her brother caught her wrist, stopping her. "Leave him," Capilos said gently. "It's a tough day for him."

"It's a tough day for all of us, Capilos!" snapped Themis. "And yet we're not behaving like-."

"Don't swear," Capilos pleaded.

"And yet we're not behaving like assholes," Themis finished, glaring at her brother. "Don't you dare tell me what to do! I'm older AND of a higher rank!"

Capilos sighed and retracted his hand. "Themis…"

Themis groaned and buried her head in her hands. "I can't believe I just said that…"

"Themis…" Capilos's voice changed from resignation to sympathy. He put his arms around his sister. "I know how hard this is for you. You're the only one who truly remembers our Papa, so-."

"It's really hard," Themis choked, trying her hardest not to cry. "It's been fifteen years and not a day goes by that I don't wonder if he would have been proud of me."

"Of course he would have been proud of you." Capilos smiled weakly and lifted the golden dagger from Themis's belt. "He gave you this. He used this throughout his eight year career as a legionary. It has seen much fighting and has killed many men, as you will too. Dad knew that, and that is why he gave it to you. It's not just a dagger; it's his blessing. I know he'd be so proud of the magnificent woman you've become."

Themis chuckled weakly. "Magnificent?"

Capilos nodded firmly. "Themis, you're the first female Optio ever. If that's not an achievement for women everywhere, and especially for yourself, then I don't know what is."

Themis nodded slowly. "But…what's the use of Optio if my younger, legionary brother doesn't listen to me?"

"Any other day, I'm sure he would," Capilos replied. "But while you feel most affected by our Papa's death, Cassius feels most affected by our Mama's condition. It hurts him so badly that she doesn't even recognise him anymore."

"And he thinks it doesn't hurt me?" snapped Themis.

Capilos shook his head. "No, Themis. Just let me talk to him."

Themis just shrugged. "Sure. Good luck."

Capilos smiled at her, then headed up the stairs to his and his brother's room. He gently knocked on the door. "Cassius?"

"I'm not coming out," came Cassius's stubborn voice from inside.

"Okay, that's fine. Can I at least come in, then?"

Capilos waited a minute but got no answer so he slowly opened the door and peered in. Cassius was lying on the bed on his side, his eyes staring numbly into space. Feeling a pain in his chest, Capilos moved forward and sat next to him on the bed. Hesitantly, he reached out and stroked his brother's arm. Cassius didn't respond to his touch.

After a moment, Capilos said, "Do you remember when you were eight, and Mama fell and hit her head on the stairs?"

Cassius didn't reply but his body tensed.

"We rushed her to the infirmary but the doctor said she'd be absolutely fine," recalled Capilos. "Then when we visited her, she seemed surprised that we were there. Themis told her that, no matter where she was or where we moved to, we would always visit her. Do you remember?"

There was still no answer but Capilos could feel his little brother trembling under his hand.

"We promised that, no matter what, we would always visit her," Capilos continued. "Whether it be in her home after we've moved away or a home for old people, or…"

"Or an insane asylum," Cassius croaked.

"…or a home for mentally damaged individuals," Capilos finished firmly. "She is not insane; she is mentally damaged. That's why she needs us."

"She doesn't recognise us!" Cassius cried. "She doesn't even know our names!" His voice cracked as he cried, "How can we help her if she doesn't even know us?"

"How can we help her if we don't even try?" Capilos asked softly.

Cassius fell silent.

Capilos resumed stroking his brother's shoulder. "We each have something to bring her, remember? You have those honeycakes you made, I have the poem I wrote, and Themis has the medal she received. Remember?"

Cassius slowly nodded.

"We can't let her down," Capilos said softly. "You know we can't. We're all she has left of Papa. And I know that there is some part of the old Mama left inside her head somewhere. We have to continue visiting her and helping her, and maybe one day, she'll get better. But we will never know if we don't try."

Cassius slowly sat up. He looked at Capilos, his eyes full of sadness and fear. His heart aching, Capilos brought his brother into a comforting hug.

That was how, a few minutes later, Themis found them. The anger inside her at Cassius disappearing, she slowly moved towards them and stood next to them. "We should go," she said gently. "We need to get as much time in with Mama as possible."

She and Capilos both looked at Cassius, who nodded and stood up. "I'll get the honeycakes," he said bravely, before leaving the room.

Themis twisted the medal around her neck. She looked down at the gold metal disk, with the words Medal of Bravery, Optio Themis. She had won the medal after she had bravely talked down a terrorist from murdering a room of sixty-two people, including General Octavius's siblings and nine senators. She had been given the choice between promotion all the way to prefect or a medal of bravery, and she had chosen the latter. She knew that she would get other opportunities to move up through the ranks, but Octavius did not offer medals of bravery very often. He had given maybe four or five in his entire career. That was why Themis had chosen the medal; it gave her strength to know that not only was she the first woman to receive a medal of bravery, but she was actually only the tenth person in the history of the Roman empire to receive one. It gave her so much strength and courage.

"Golden medal to go with the gold dagger," Capilos teased.

Themis self-consciously slipped the medal under her tunic.

"No, no, I didn't mean any harm." Capilos frowned. "Do not hide it. Be as proud of it as I am of you."

"You're proud of me?"

"Of course, Themis. When I watched Octavius put that medal around your neck, I could actually feel my chest swelling with pride."

Themis smiled. "Really?"

"Of course!" Capilos grinned. "My big sis; the first woman to receive a medal of bravery."

"Don't forget the tenth person overall to receive one," reminded Themis.

Capilos smirked. "Of course."

Themis brought the golden disk out from under her tunic, displaying it over her armour. "Do you have your poem?"

Capilos nodded and patted his pocket. "Yes."

"Good. Then I believe we are ready to go."

"Finally," Capilos snickered.

"Yes, finally."