"What do ya mean you're not a Roman? 'Course you're a Roman!" Jedediah said, disbelief on his face. "I mean...aren't you?"
Octavius was silent for a while, his head bowed and looking ashamed. He sighed. "I am a Roman...but in the eyes of my people, I am not a true Roman. I was born at a time where only boys born in the city itself were considered Roman. And I was not born in Rome. I was born in the province of Velletri."
"What's that 'spose 'ta mean? Wasn't that a province of Rome?"
"It was. But things were different in my day. For someone to have citizenship from birth they must be born within the city. I was born outside the city because of my father."
"Caesar?" The cowboy asked, crossing his arms and looking confused.
"No. My real father, Gauis Octavius. I know what you are thinking, Jedediah. In Rome the oldest son shares the same name as his father. He was Caesar's brother's son. He had Roman citizenship. As did my mother. But since I was born after they left Rome, I was not. Later, when I was a little older, eighteen, perhaps, it was so long ago, I met Caesar for the first time. I knew we were related, but I never thought he remembered my family. He said I had potential...great potential...and we marched together into battle once or twice, saw each other here and there, occasionally, when he was not busy, we would do fun activities such as hunt or fish. Then, when my father died...my real father, Caesar adopted me. But once his political career began I hardly ever saw him until...until his funeral."
Jedediah noticed the Roman looked like he was about to cry, and offered a small, comforting hug. "It's alright..." He whispered, rubbing his back.
"Jedediah why does it hurt so much to remember the past?" Octavius asked, his voice miserable.
"Sometimes the past hurts us, Ockie, but we can't let it ruin our lives. As for Antonius...I'll make sure he gets what's coomin' to him." Jedediah said reassuringly.
"But he is right. I am not a true Roman. I do not always follow the Roman way. A real Roman would have already been fighting and won, not lying wounded in bed and letting his people fend for themselves. I feel horrible, Jedediah. Perhaps I am a barbarian."
Everyone was silent for a moment, until Ahkmenrah, who was still there, spoke. "You know, though you Romans were occasionally a pain, I believe you are the best one in all of their history."
"That is right," Lepidus said, adding in. "You are the wisest of us all. Your loyalty and wisdom is more than honourable, it is incomparable. You were the right choice. And I stand by you."
The Roman looked a little better, but there was still doubt in his eyes.
"Octavius," Jedediah said, looking at his friend. "I don't care who ya are, or what your past was. All that matters to me is that you're here..." Jedediah took his friend into another meaningful hug. "And my best friend is safe."
The Roman smiled slightly, and wiped away the last few tears. He hugged his friend back. He then sighed, and looked to the ground. "I am sorry to break down," He said, ashamed.
Jedediah shook his head. "Its alright Octavius," He said, rubbing his friend's back. "I kinda had a few break downs myself."
"Really?" Octavius questioned, a surprised look on his face. "Why?"
"'Cause I was afraid. You were gone, I thought we'd never find you or find you too late. I was scared for ya pardner."
"But, Jedediah, that is unlike you. To cry over stuff, I mean."
The cowboy sighed. "Don't know." He replied.
"Perhaps...it was also the dreams? Did they upset you?"
"No. Octavius, it ain't nothin'..."
"Dreams?" Ahkmenrah questioned, his eyes narrowing. "What kind of dreams?"
Jedediah went to state that it really was nothing until Octavius spoke. "Jedediah, you told me you had three dreams. One during the rise of Nero, and one about Marcus and what is happening now. But you did not tell me about the other. What. Happened?"
Now Jedediah was looking a little angry, and shot his friend a look of 'not now,' before facing Ahkmenrah. "Thanks fer your help, King Tut, but we'd best git' goin'."
"Wait," The Egyptian said, stopping the cowboy. He then picked up Lepidus. "You wait outside. This is something that needs to he discussed between them."
Lepidus nodded, and left after being put down. Silence presumed, with the three exhibits keeping to themselves and their thoughts. Jedediah was nervous- what for he couldn't say. Something just told him he shouldn't tell the pharaoh about the dreams, and that it could have a negative impact on their lives. Octavius was just as nervous- he was worried about why his friend was having such dreams...such nightmares...and what the third dream was, since so far they had been rather terrifying. And Ahkmenrah, fearing it could have something to do with the Tablet, and something, perhaps, to do with Octavius and his fate, was worried. And as much as the cowboy wanted to keep it between himself and his friend, there was no escaping Ahkmenrah's inquisitive stare.
The cowboy sighed, and then spoke. "I've been...having dreams, Ahkmenrah. Horrible...just...dreams."
The Egyptian nodded, and gestured for Jedediah to continue. "When did it first happen?" He asked.
"When Nero was here...after I...well...after Octavius left to fight him. I dreamed he'd been killed an'...well...it ended up bein' me instead."
"So obviously it was wrong," Ahkmenrah said, puzzled by what the cowboy told him.
He nodded. "The next one was when the Mayans had Octavius. I dreamed of everythin' just...fallin' apart like...like the world was endin' or was in...just...one big war or somethin'..."
"Interesting...I can see no parallels...what was the last one?"
"Oh, that? I just...well...dreamed of Antonius taking over Rome. There, can I go now?" Jedediah asked hopefully.
"Strange..." Ahkmenrah said aloud, tapping his fingers in a thinking gesture against the table. "So the first one was wrong, the second has not even happened, and may never, and the third just happened..." After a few more moments of consideration, Ahkmenrah sighed, and mumbled something under his breath. He then glanced at the two miniatures. "You can go now. I need to...think, on the matter."
And with that, he placed the two on the ground, and they made their way out of the room. The dream, only half true. And Octavius knew.
