Chapter Three: Easy Choice

Author's note: Updated 2/1/15, I am getting some chapter to my beta reader tomorrow so hopefully I can have another chapter uploaded before the end of the week. :)

Melitta opened her eyes, surprised that she was capable of doing so. She had known that her heart had sought to end its beating and she'd wished that her last effort on earth had not been another betrayal of most beloved husband. The lust she'd felt for Gannicus was strong and beat against her mind and chest, plus the constant attention from the God of the Arena had made ignoring the passion quite impossible.

She lifted her head, only to find it weighted with lead, "What is this?" she questioned, hoping there may be someone to answer.

"I am glad to see you awaken," said a woman, a voice that Melitta knew did not belong to anyone that belonged to the House of Batiatus. She tried to push herself up, to give herself some bearings but again, her limbs were weighted down in a soul deep exhaustion she did not understand.

"Why can I not move?" Melitta whispered.

"It is the effects of the potion you were given. It saved your life but causes the body to feel weighted for some time. I promise you I will not harm you. My name is Claire."

"I am Melitta," she whispered to the other woman.

"Melitta, I understand you are confused but I would ask that you listen to what I have to tell you."

Melitta nodded slightly as she felt to tired to do more than turn and focus on the pretty woman before her. Clearly this woman was either a beloved and protected slave or a noble woman for she was clean but her clothing was strange to Melitta. Claire wore leggings that wrapped tightly around her legs in a way that left nothing to imagining. Instead of the simple covering Melitta was used to the strange but kind woman wore something more appropriate for a noble woman but it was also indescribable. A white loose top, buttoned to the edge of her throat with a dark layer over the top. Her sun lit hair was soft and curled in a loose braid lying over her shoulder. Everything about her was strange and off-putting but Melitta forced herself to listen as she spoke.

"You were supposed to die but we have been given the chance to take some individuals from their times and utilize them in the conflict that we are trapped in. You were the first we have taken otherwise others from your house might be here to welcome and prepare you for what is coming. Do you understand so far?"

Melitta thought through the words the woman was saying, nodding once and the woman continued again.

"I wish we had been given the opportunity to ask you before you were taken but it was difficult in your dying moment. At this point we cannot return you to your time but we would have you reunited with your husband."

"Oenomaus?" Melitta asked gently.

Clair nodded, "The request given by my people is to stay and find in your heart to live free and help us fight a worthy cause against those who would see all of my people dead for their differences. What say you?"

Melitta frowned, "I am but a slave, holding worth to my Domina alone. There is nothing within me to give in a battle."

"As I said, you are beloved by one called Oenomaus and he is of worth. If you and he are willing to fight within our ranks then you both will be given land and freedom in our world. It is a second chance to be with the man you hold close to heart."

"Freedom? From Rome?" Melitta asked, tasting the words so foreign to her. She had been born into slavery and found herself protected by Lucretia and given the power to protect others such as Naevia and Diona, though Diona suffered in the end despite Melitta's efforts. This one moment alone would give cause to Melitta to take chance at freedom, to find her with honored husband once more given opportunity to salve wounds and give heart once more.

"This would be freedom in a strange land, among different people and battles yet to fight but yes, this would be freedom from slavery and the might of Rome which once held you to heel."

Melitta lifted her hand and it was easily taken by the stranger Claire, "Gratitude for the much blessed offer, one I am pleased to accept."

"I am pleased to hear that. I do not know how long it will be till Oenomaus is brought here but there is another, which you may know. I would have your help in calming him and giving him choice in which to make."

Melitta nodded and Claire squeezed her hand just before warmth suffused her being for a moment. She sighed gently and realized the weight holding her body in stillness was suddenly lifted, leaving nothing to stop her from rising to truly look at her surroundings. It was a small building with several beds as well as a table with chairs around it. She saw things that made no sense to her and others that were easily placed such as the cup filled with water that Claire pressed into her waiting hands. Melitta lifted cup to lips and drank heavily as her mouth was dry and her lips cracking.

"Gratitude, who do you wish me to see?" Melitta questioned gently as she handed the cup back to Claire.

There was a sudden shout of fury and Melitta startled at the noise, the voice though was incredibly familiar, not as Gannicus or Oenomaus but one she knew from years of servitude with the House of Batiatus within the ludus. "You have taken Barca? Did he fall in the arena as the Beast should have?"

Claire lifted her shoulders in a gesture Melitta didn't understand as she shook her head; "I believe he was killed within the ludus by Batiatus."

"I wish to lay eyes upon him, to give him some measure of comfort."

Claire nodded and the young woman helped Melitta to her feet. They walked out of the small building and into another close by to find Barca being held down by two men much shorter in stature and leaner in years and wisdom. Claire held Melitta back as the two men continued to fight the gladiator and he reacted slowly and weakly, incapable of overtaking the others for some unforeseen cause.

"Barca?" Melitta called out his name in a calming tone.

The large man paused in his struggle and Melitta was allowed to see the man as he was. There was blood smeared across chest and throat, still caught between teeth and lips. He saw Melitta and frowned at her, "Beloved wife of my Doctore?"

"Beast of Carthage," Melitta spoke gently as she took a step forward.

"You have passed into the afterlife, to await the arrival of husband," Barca responded, confused by the current events.

"I am saved from death, as you are."

"For what purpose?" Barca demanded harshly as he shook off the hands of his guards.

Melitta waved them off; she spent many years among the men pretending to be monsters for sake of the arena and the crowd. She knew of their ways and needs, as she knew those of her Domina.

"If we would wish for it, these people will see us to freedom from Rome and the arena. We would not have to purchase freedom with coin but with help to worthy cause they speak of."

"I was betrayed and put to death for my plan for freedom," Barca said.

Melitta did not know for sure what happened to Barca after her destined death so she had nothing she could respond with so she only nodded since he didn't seem to be asking her a question.

"This cause you speak of, what will it require of Barca?"

Melitta turned to look at Claire, who in turn looked at the younger of the two men; he had black hair and green eyes that shimmered with excitement. Then he spoke, "I would ask that you teach our people the ways of winning and surviving as a gladiator. I would have you fight side by side with my people in the coming war and save us from overwhelming forces."

"You have the power to see death undone but you cannot train men to fight?" Barca asked, confusion apparent. Melitta thought it seemed strange as well.

The younger man spoke again, "We fight with magic, but our enemy has found a way to keep us from utilizing power, leaving us with only strength and steel. This is something my people have much less experience in. This tactic has cost us many precious lives, and I would see the agony of that loss not repeated."

Barca looked to Melitta, "Do you take offer of freedom?"

"I have. Would it not be better than dying in the arena or dying at the poisonous machinations of our Dominus?"

Barca reclaimed his place upon the bed and stared at Melitta for a moment, "I would have freedom and a cause to live by among those I would call my brothers."

Melitta smiled at his response.

Pleased to see Gladiator calm and her presence beneficial Melitta watched as Barca turned to the younger man who spoke for their guards, "What of Pietros?" he asked.

The leader looked to Barca with serious eyes, "I would only take those who hold heart instead of fleeting fancy. Your heart is promised to another and I will not waste energy on someone incapable of strength on field just to hold off loneliness."

Melitta gasped at the words; she didn't know who Pietros was so she had no opinion of the person but Barca took offense at the words. The gladiator glared at the little leader standing before him but with a sigh he relaxed on the bed once more, "I find myself understanding despite my wish for his presence. As gladiator, everything in life is fleeting, especially passion."

The leader nodded, "I must seek out one of your brothers, to deliver him. I hope you can calm yourself since there is nowhere for you to go in this world and you have found agreement with our offer."

Barca nodded, the leader looked to Melitta who nodded as well, before he walked out of the room. Claire followed the leader out and the second man, who was much older than the leader stayed next to the door.

"What of Oenomaus?" Barca asked.

Melitta took a couple steps closer though still several feet from Barca. She didn't think he would touch her but she'd learned from years of being around the ludus not to get close to any of the gladiators. "They spoke of Oenomaus being one they would bring here. Apologies for Pietros," she responded quietly.

"I will mend. I still feel blade in my side and damage done by Batiatus and his guards. If these people give chance at freedom, at life after assured death then I would give chance for their cause to seep into heart."

Melitta nodded and whispered the words of her heart, "I would see chance to mend ways with honored husband and beloved friend."

Barca nodded, "Then we shall await the arrival of beloved brothers and dear friends." With that, Melitta walked back to the door and Claire walked them back to her little room to wait for the next gladiator to join them in this strange place.

After seeing to the calming of Barca, Greer walked back to his room and his mirror. He was losing energy but he felt the need to take one more before he rested for a few days. The sooner he had all of his gladiators, the sooner they would return home and prepare for the coming battle.

With a gentle swipe of his fingers across mirror surface, he focused on the moments in the ludus when Spartacus and his men turned sword against master and the celebrants.

He wished to follow Spartacus and watch end to the Romans who destroyed the man's life but for now he would focus on Agron and Duro, brothers who survived together, first in being captured and taken from their homelands East of the Rhine but also the training and receiving of the brand. Agron's name was on the short list that Spartacus gifted Greer with in the beginning but Duro could be utilized as well, not only as fighter but also incentive for brother to leave world behind since Agron and Nasir were both set to live through the final battle. It would require extra incentive to get the German to leave the world he knew for a strange land and stranger time.

Greer watched for the moment when Duro would turn and protect Agron, forfeiting his life. Duro may not have been the greatest fighter but when the brothers fought as one they lay waste to their enemies. He knew that final blow was coming for Duro and he heard the words whispered to Agron who held Duro's head upon knee.

"I save you this time brother."

Greer pauses time just before kiss is pressed to fallen brother's brow and he slips the golem down in place of fallen gladiator and before the space of several breaths passed Greer pulled himself and Duro's limp form into limbo. He looked down as the man realized he was no longer in pain and focused on Greer who stood over his head. Greer spoke, "I would ask you, if you could live to see your brother once more, would you fight for another cause?"

Duro nodded, not knowing what else to say as he stood, blood still dripping down from stalled wound in his stomach. It would not get worse but it also wouldn't heal until Claire or Ella started her magical healing work. Duro focused on the mirror as Agron screamed after placing that last kiss on the Duro-golem's forehead. Duro watched as his brother jerked to his feet and went blood crazy on any Roman soldier who had the misfortune of being in his eye line.

No matter the price, whether it be taking Duro now and Nasir later, Agron would be a boon for Greer's cause. The Germans would make the ZarCorp patsies quake in their boots. It was too bad Greer would have to find himself several years later before it would be time to take Agron.

"Come with me and see wound healed," Greer spoke and led Duro into the same room where Barca was resting.

The Beast sat up to look at Duro, "You were gladiator in Batiatus' ludus?" he asked.

Duro nodded as Ella led him over to another chair, having him sit as she set to work healing the wound. Greer left her to her task, "Keep them from fighting and give Duro the details of the war they have found themselves fighting for."

Ella snorted, "You speak as though you are King instead of your sister. Stop bossing me around."

Greer glared at her, very aware of the fact that they shouldn't be fighting in front of gladiators who would use any sign of weakness against them. "Ella, you decided to come here with me! I am in charge of this mission and you will do as I say or be sent home, do you understand?"

Ella caught his eye and looked over to Barca who was watching them intently. "Yes I understand sir."

Greer left, slamming the door behind him as we walked back to his mirror and the mission at hand. There was nothing else that could be done at the moment as Greer would need to rest so instead he slipped his finger across the edge of the mirror activating the visual of the next lives he would save and take in the process.

Duro looked at the big man sitting on the bed, he was about the same height as his brother Agron and much wider in the chest. His eyes watched Duro as the small woman in front of him kept her hands on his mortal wound.

"How is this possible?" Duro questioned the little woman even while the wound started knitting itself. He could feel the strange effect on the inside of his body, slowing move out to the surface of the wound.

"It's my power, the ability to heal wounds before they take life."

"You have such power and yet you need us to fight for your purpose?" Duro questioned.

She looked up at him, her blue eyes serious and full of emotion, "Yes we do."

And she would say no more as she worked on his chest. He could still feel that strange stretching sensation and decided to focus on the other gladiator, the one with the same 'B' on his arm. They had been taken and killed within the same ludus under the same Dominus.

"I am called Duro, I hail for Germania," he spoke to the other.

"I am Barca, the Beast of Carthage," the other spoke and Duro's eyes widened in realization. He'd never seen the Beast in the arena, had never set eyes on one until he was fighting within its caged walls, but there had been stories of the Beast as well as Spartacus or Crixus. They had fallen to whispers when Spartacus took on Shadow of Death but Duro recalled the tales of Barca. He had also heard the whispers within the ludus that barely weeks before Agron and he were purchased, Barca had bought his freedom and left the ludus safely.

"You were not freed as Batiatus claimed?" Duro asked.

Barca laughed, a deep belly sound that caused the little woman to jump before she settled back at his chest. "I was destroyed by the treachery of Ashur, the Syrian fuck! All to save him from spending coin."

Duro nodded, "I have been privy to said treachery, apologies."

"Absent thought of sympathy for I have no need of it," Barca responded, angry and annoyed at Duro.

Little Woman's fingers finally slipped away from Duro's chest and she heaved a sigh, "Do you wish to know the cause you now fight for?" she questioned.

"I will see my brother once more?"

Little woman nodded, "Agron from East of the Rhine will be taken for our cause, Greer has already decided."

"Then I care not why I am saved, for chance to see beloved brother again."

Little Woman nodded, "Now that there is two of you, would you be pleased to train once more as if you were still among your brothers?"

Duro shared a look with Barca and they both grinned, "I would see time move quicker through training," Barca responded.

Duro nodded as well, "Once I see end to wound, we shall begin."