1Horns sounded and everybody turned to face the doorway. A silhouette appeared, slowly blocking the doorway with his form. The two praetorian on either side of the doorway stood to attention and the room fell silent. Everybody including myself bowed lowly and said "Hail Caesar!" it was then he entered the room. I peered through the guests trying to see him as music started and the celebrations commenced. It was no use. He was forever mobbed. After about an hour the frenzy died down and I saw him, clearly. He was laughing and to me it still sounded like that little boys laugh. I slowly walked over to the little couch where he was sitting. The butterflies were now in my throat, so I cleared it.

"Ahem, Caesar?" I said nervously. He finished what he was saying and turned to me. He stared in disbelief for a moment and the nearby guests turned as he slowly rose to his feet, Wide eyed and open mouthed...

Commodus

I was relieved to be back in Rome again. I left all my heartache and betrayal in Germania and would start again here, home. I fear I will have to be very wary now as people are being very good to me because they want things. I came back to a splendid celebration until Camilla, wife of Marc, a senator, was talking with me. She is a frightful bore so I knew what to expect. She talks of her husbands politics with me whenever I see her and she was doing the same again. I nodded now and then and stared into my wine glass, giving her the odd fake laugh hoping that somebody would save me from her. Luckily, over my shoulder, a young lady called me. I asked Camilla to excuse me and I turned to face her.

The sight my eyes met was more heavenly than anything I had ever seen before. I recognized her straight away. She was always painfully beautiful. I stared into deep green eyes in disbelief. 'She is an angel from your imagination,' I thought as I stared on in silence. I saw a smile begin to grow across her beautiful red lips. Her eyes, they ran with silent tears. My best friend...

Octavia

He just stared and stared at me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking because of his expressionless face, but I knew what I felt. I was so happy. A wide smile slowly spread across my lips without me noticing. I fought back tears but a couple leaked out anyway. I was a dream come true for me. I hadn't had any real friends since Commodus due to my terrible relationship with my Mother. I have always been more tom-boy than lady and my Mother hated it. She wouldn't let me befriend boys because it would soil my clean reputation, yet all girls wanted to do was sow or speak of who they would wish to marry one day. Commodus was my true friend, my best friend...

Commodus

"Octavia!"I exclaimed. I smiled so broadly my cheeks ached for release. I turned to the few guests who were watching

"Excuse us, we do not wish to be watched, thank you." with that they turned away. I looked back to Octavia who had now wiped the tears away and was just beaming with happiness. I don't know what made me act in such a wild manner in front of so many people, but I couldn't stop. I scooped he small body up into my arms and hugged her until I thought I would break her. I heard her musical laughing in my ear at this as she pulled away.

"Caesar, this is quite a party!" she began. My cheeks as pale as they are, were flushed from joy, and my breathing a little fast.

"That it is." I said, quietly, "Please, don't ever call me Caesar! I am Commodus to you.!" She took a long look at me from my crown to my feet and finally said

"you look well." I was immensely pleased at the compliment as under her glare I became quite nervous of my appearance. I stood and took in her beauty, Taking her hand and asking her to 'give me a twirl.'

"You look sublime!" I told her. At this point I was called away by the senators, apparently it was urgent, so I left, making sure to tell Octavia I would send for her tonight. I could only try to express how eager I was to reacquaint with her. She smiled and told me to go...

Octavia

He was the gentleman I had remembered. It was a fantastic reunion and I was eager to speak with him again tonight, but I was happy to just have seen him again. Also, I was relieved that he was as happy as I. I spent the rest of the party with my Mother as her friends went home earlier. We stayed as we were staying over at the Palace for a while. It was all so exciting. I told my Mother about my meeting Commodus and how happy he seemed. She was pleased until I told her that I was to be meeting him again later. She scowled at me and said,

"Where is this meeting to be taking place, might I ask?"

"Well, I don't know. He told me he would send for me" I answered honestly.

She eyed me suspiciously before telling me to be careful and to guard my reputation or else no man would ever marry me. She had mentioned marriage on several occasions lately and I was getting the impression that she was already trying to find me a husband. I had told her I didn't want a husband until I was twenty. She scoffed and told me that at twenty I would practically be a hag. Men wanted teenagers to bear them many sons. I hated the idea, but it wasn't my choice, although I protested it frequently.

I left the party before my sister to ready myself for Commodus. I dressed in

midnight blue silk with silver trim this time and painted my eyelids blue. I was laying on the bed when the praetorian guard knocked my door as asked me to come with him to the Caesar's chambers. I was still a little nervous, but a lot less than earlier. Perhaps it was the wine.

I followed the praetorian closely through the dark Palace. I glanced out of the window and noticed that only a few guests remained and they were giving their goodbyes to Lucilla. Although could barely se I could feel the size of the rooms. They were gradually getting bigger and smelling sweeter until we reached a richly carved door. The praetorian lighty tapped on it and a startled voice inside shouted "What?"

"I have the lady here Sire" the man answered in a deep husky voice.

"Oh, that was fast. Send her in." Came th reply. The praetorian held the door open for me and I entered. The rich smells of perfumes intoxicated me as my eyes adjusted to the rather dim candle light. I saw Commodus' shape, gazing out of a window and approached him.

"I still can't believe its mine." he said quietly in a tone of disbelief, "all mine."

"I can,"I said as I stood next to him and also gazed out into the night. It was a breathtaking view. "You will do well." I added, certainly. I saw him smile out of the corner of my eye. "Here!" He said cheerily, rather out of the blue.

"Have some wine with me and tell me of you life now,"

"Well me and Mother are still like strangers. She shelters me from this civilized life, you know. I am hypnotized by it."

I answered him. I looked down at him and smiled.

"I would much rather hear about you. Im sure you have some superb plans for Rome!"I said excitedly. At this he looked up at me, he eyes sparkling with boyish charm.

"I have fantastic things in store for my people! I will entertain them with games so amazing they will forget about the trifling matters of the senate!" he said it with much passion.

"You see," he continued, "I find politics and politicians cause more problems than they fix. The people deserve fun!"

"Absolutely!" I cried, excited at the idea.

"You think it's a good idea then?" he asked tentatively.

"Oh definitely! I think you are the best thing that could have happened to Rome! Politics will kill it." I answered honestly. He gave me a very appreciative smile and the night continued with much more talk and much more wine. It was very good for both of us as we don't get very much chance to talk. I found that we are both lonely. At the end of the evening he had a praetorian help me back to my room, as I was rather drunk. He told me that the next day would be the first day of the games and he wanted me and my Mother to be there. Of course I agreed and was looking forward to it. I dreamed about until I drifted into a deep slumber