I awoke the next morning with my body draped over top of Gannicus as I slowly rose rubbing the small specs of sleep from my eyes before throwing my legs over the side of the bed we had found and began to redress myself. I felt his lips upon my shoulder as his hand snaked around my waist. "So eager to go back to war." He told me.

"We never stopped being at war." I told him softly as I slowly turned pulling my knee and leg back up onto the bed. "A thing you once told me." I offered him a smile.

"There is no way to convince you to leave with us, and not the Gauls?" He questioned me tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I thought you were to join us once the others were safe." I questioned him.

"And I will, I just figured what would it hurt trying to convince you to leave with me." He shrugged. "Did it hurt?" I asked him.

"A little yes, though I think I knew your answer before you gave it." He told me softly as he too moved away beginning to redress himself. "You and I… we've lost so much, and come so far to just throw it away… why not just leave with the others?" He asked.

"If it were Oenomaus who wanted to leave with Crixus to fight... And not Agron… and you were me… would you not go with him?" I asked him. "Would you not want to fight alongside the only family you have left? I cannot let Agron die alone on the field of war while I run away… he would not do that to me."

"Well then stay near the back so that I can find you… when I can get there." He told me as I smirked, "I will be at Agron's side so look for the man whose lost mind and you will find me." I told him as I moved around the bed walking towards him. "The siblings who have lost all mind, should be easy enough to find." He laughed as he took my hands in his, "Are you sure…" He asked me as I moved onto the tips of my toes kissing his cheek. "Positive. Until we meet again… Gannicus." I told him softly before walking out of the room to find my brother.

Finally finding him as the others were packing the wagons to head to the mountains, I watched as Kore, Laeta and Nasir stood near one preparing themselves to follow Spartacus. While Agron stood there with pain clinging to his face as he gazed over at Nasir with tears ready to spill from his eyes. "You can yet change mind brother." I told him as he looked over to me.

"You can too… from what I heard you and Gannicus have mended hearts." He told me with a short laugh.

"Forgiveness has been given. Love has been told to still be there, but to say heart is mended and we are yet again as one is yet still far from sight. Not for lack of trying brother… I have tried." I told him as he put his hand on my shoulder.

"Well then let us hope that we meet the Roman on the field and remove him from this world so that such things can be mended." He told me as I nodded to him yet kept my lips firmly shut from airing a response.

My heart was torn in two, it beat strongly for both Caesar and Gannicus and yet I was so drawn to the Roman who risked life just to get closer to me. Crassus could have killed him for even knowing he had been with me. For all I knew he was dead and his corpse branded with words of traitor upon the skin. I let my eyes wander towards Gannicus who was tightening the straps upon the supplies they held in the wagon.

Yet if I left with Gannicus now my life would settle, I could have the freedom and life I had been wanting since the moment we were forced apart all those years ago. Small hut in a village, with children. A simple life and he could give it to me, he could give me everything and more and yet I just couldn't tare myself from the idea of Caesar. I knew better than to think I could ever be more than his concubine and slave.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him, the regret and pain filling my chest. I knew he wouldn't make it to us in time. We were all going to fight against Rome's legions and by the time Spartacus and the others made it to the ridge we would either be dead or dying in a field of our people. There was the smallest chance of us seeing victory, I was sure my brother knew this too. Which was why he was keeping Nasir at a distance, he knew we were all off to almost certain death.

"We are not making a mistake are we?" I asked him as I turned to look at him, his face betrayed his answer. "Of course…" He told me as I just nodded while Crixus and Naevia made approach towards us. "It is a thing to behold you still among us." Naevia told me as I looked over to her.

"We started our lives together, is it not befitting we end them as such too?" I questioned her. "We will not die this day." She told me with a smile, "Maybe tomorrow." She laughed as I nodded.

"I had thought you were to leave with Gannicus and Spartacus." Crixus told me as Agron put his arm around my shoulders. "She chose blood over wounded heart. She chose us, and cause."

I just laughed, "Someone has to watch your back Agron, Crixus will be far to busy to do such." I smiled as they all laughed taking their leave while our army began to leave the small village. I could not be moved not yet. I looked over towards where Gannicus yet still stood preparing the last of the wagons as the others were already leaving.

"Gannicus." I called to him as he quickly turned to look to where I stood, quickly making his way towards me his arms wrapping around me pulling me tightly against him. "I will always love you Jana… in both this life and the next… I will find you…" He told me.

"In the next…" I told him as I looked up at him as we moved apart kissing his lips one last time before I moved my hands off his chest and walked away following Agron as the army moved towards Rome.


SP


It didn't take long for us to encounter Romans, the sun was going down leaving the land soaked in this beautiful sunset - bronze orange color throughout the sky. My skin already soaked with blood as I ran alongside Crixus, Naevia and my brother cutting down Romans wildly without any hesitation at all. The next night was no different, we'd come across a forest and made quick of all the Romans roaming within. None stood left alive when we left the forest.

The same thing had happened over the next week, killing the smaller groups we were coming across. We'd taken small villages, farms, and even through our once home Capua as we continued on our campaign towards Rome. I could only hope that Crassus and his much larger army would take the bait that is us headed to Rome and give Gannicus and Spartacus the time needed to take the others to freedom.

Naevia stood alongside Agron and I after another one of our victories claiming that we had yet again taken the day. Agron and I exchanged looks between each other smiles on our lips yet they held the lie that was hidden deep in our hearts. The army at our back started to clamor with cheer towards another grand victory. Our next battle was the one Crixus had sent us all upon. Rome.

As the sun rose in the sky I stood by my brother looking beyond in the distance at the marvel that was Rome. The home to all that the Roman people stood for. This was it. We all stood and watched as those who were left by Crassus to protect Rome began to advance upon us, and by the looks we had them by numbers. There was no way these men were going to beat us we far outnumbered them. A thing they must have known had they any scouts.

I looked over at Agron as Crixus had began to laugh before us as I noticed Verenda and Brictius soon were at our sides. Crixus slowly turned to face his army, his sword extended pointing towards us all. "Rome at last lies within our grasp!" He call out to us all as many of those around me roared with cheer.

"One last legion led by the fool Arrius is all that stands between us… and a victory that shall become legend!" He roared as I couldn't help but cheer alongside all those around me. I had to admit a week ago I would not have thought we would have made it this far, though here we were against all odd and we may very well be able to take Rome. Once we defeat Arrius and his legion we would be able to easily take the unguarded Rome just as we had Sinuessa.

"A lifetime ago when I yet stood beneath the roof of the house of Batiatus… my Doctore Oenomaus demanded answer from those recruits who sought glory upon the sands of the arena." He began to tell us all, my mind soon flooding with memories of Oenomaus and Melitta. "What lies beneath your feet!?" He shouted to us all as Agron and I looked at each other before he slowly stepped forwards.

"Sacred ground!" Agron shouted towards him loud enough that all those around could hear him. "Watered with tears of blood!"

I looked over at Crixus who nodded proudly at Agron as I stepped forwards placing my free hand on Agrons shoulder as Crixus continued. "And this day… it shall be Rome who sheds them!" We all yet again roared in agreement to the sentiment.

"Shall we begin?" Crixus asked us all reminding me of every fight he had ever fought in the arena. His words that he'd use before every fight had become our, we would begin.

"Shall we begin?" Crixus shouted louder towards us all as our roars grew with intensity. "Shall we begin!" He continued to shout as our clamoring and screams just continued to grow.

"Bring fire forth." Crixus called out as Agron and I stood by and watched, Crixus had thought up the night before of something devastating to unleash them upon the Romans below us. It would surely maximize casualties for them, doing most of the work for us before we were to head below clearing the valley of the entire legion before we would make our way to the city.

The massive balls of wood and hay were soon covered in oil as we smashed small vases against them spilling the oil before throwing torches on them. Using small logs the men would push the flaming balls off the side of the ridge allowing them to roll fast towards the Roman legion setting many of them on fire as we just stood there watching as we cheered.

"Attack!" Crixus roared as I looked over at Agron who nodded to me before saying to stay by his side. Though I knew better than to think we wouldn't lose each other in battle like we had been all week.

I was one of the very few still using daggers in battle which made me a slightly unique encounter for the Roman soldiers who had the displeasure of coming across me. I would be jumping in the air only to guide my daggers deep into their necks, or jumping on their backs to slit throat. Or something Saxa showed me rolling along the ground slicing their legs to cause them to fall before stabbing them deep in the chest and stomach.

We made quick of the Roman legion around us decimating their numbers with ease as I rose from the ground whipping my ponytail over my shoulder before noticing Agron as he now stood next to me with a smile. "Any deeper and you would have cut his head clean off." He laughed as I shook my head.

"He didn't put up much fight." I told him as I cleaned my dagger off on the Roamans clothing.

We moved towards where Crixus was standing over Arrius getting to him just as he shoved his sword through the man's mouth blood spewing all over the ground and the man's own armor. He pulled something off the man's neck as Agron and I were soon joined at Crixus side by Naevia as we all looked at him as the rest of our army soon surrounded us.

"Arrius has fallen!" Crixus roared pushing his hand into the air with the medallion he took from the man's neck.

"You stand as a fucking god." Naevia told him as those around us continued to roar with cheer. "With Rome trembling before you." Agron added. "As Spartacus once promised."

"Bloody fucking victor." I told him as he chuckled to me, it wasn't long after when we heard the familiar sound of Roman war trumpets behind us as my eyes quickly met Agrons before I turned around to look towards the sound. My heart slowly sank into the pit of my stomach as I grabbed onto Agron's arm.

"Stay at my side." He commanded. "We will die at each others sides...not alone." He whispered to me.

"We will see; Mother, Father, Reinhard and Duro soon enough… I would not greet them without you." I told him softly before looking out at the massive army that was now surrounding us.

"They will attempt to overrun position!" Agron soon spoke to Crixus as the man himself turned to face us. "Let them think they have succeeded, and fall upon them from our flanks!" Crixus spoke up as we all turned to each other nodding in agreement to his orders.

Agron took me by the arm as he dragged me with him towards the rear of the army where we were to do as commanded. I looked up at Agron as we soon stopped running as he seemed slightly out of breath. "I wonder how far Spartacus and Gannicus made it." He spoke softly.

I had nearly forgotten that Gannicus had raised word towards joining us, I suppose I knew deep down they were just words to give me hope towards survival. We both knew we were headed in different directions and would likely never again lay eyes upon each other.

I could hear roaring and more trumpets as I looked back with Agron watching as the Romans and our own people began to charge at one another. Crixus and Naevia obviously leading the charge. Agron turned to me with a soft smile, "I am proud of you Jana… you are everything and more I could have hoped you to become. Mother and father would be proud of you… you embody everything a woman of our clan would be." He told me.

"Blood of my blood. I am proud to call you brother and more than happy to die fighting at your side." I told him as we smiled at each other putting our foreheads against one another before moving apart and getting ready to fight.

It wasn't long until their men on either of our sides reached us and the flanking troops as we quickly began to engage them in heated battle. Agron bashed a Roman to the ground with his shield before engaging another two in battle as I slid across the ground finishing off the man he knocked down before running towards another taking him down from behind before he had a chance to get my brother from behind.

Agron and I soon found ourselves yet again close to Crixus and Naevia the four of us having each others backs. "Father!" I heard a young man's voice call out as I was killing a Roman. I looked over watching as two of our men pulled Crassus from his horse, throwing him hard into the ground below. "Agron! Crassus is on the battlefield." I told him as he looked to where my eyes were.

It was in that moment I watched as Verenda fell to the ground her neck slashed as I moved closer to my brother, "We must call a retreat. They have us in numbers." I told him as he looked to me, "All one has to do-" He began to say as I shook his arm.

"Crassus dying will not end this fight they will send more… not to mention all those on horses… are men that can lead this army." I told him, "We must retreat."

"Fall back and re-form upon higher advantage!" Crixus shouted out to us all as I looked over to Agron, "Seems you two are of like mind." He commented to me as I rolled my eyes following Agron's lead while we killed any Roman who got too close to us.

That was when a Roman kicked me to the ground while cutting Agron's side, causing me to scream with fear as I wiped the blood from my mouth before picking up a spear shoving it deep into the Roman who cut him.

"Drink my fucking piss," I could hear Brictius shout to a Roman as I moved to Agron's side quickly putting daggers into my sheaths and picking up a sword. "You Roman cunts" I could still hear the man shouting.

"Agron…" I whispered to him as he looked to me, the pain consuming his eyes as I looked around. "We must climb back up. Do you need my help?" I asked him as he shook his head for but a moment until his eyes widened at a sight just beyond us. I turned my head to look along with him as I watched a Roman dig his sword into our friends head. "Oh god…" I muttered as Agron took the sword from my hand.

"Jana stay behind me!" He shouted to me as I just put my back to his drawing my weapons from my sides again, while Agron finished off another Roman before I heard him shout loudly from behind me. "Caesar!" I turned to look at the man as Caesar's eyes met with mine, holding our gaze until I heard a horse approaching and as quickly as I heard it I felt myself get knocked to the side and watched as Agron fell to the ground blood soaking his chest.

"Agron!" I cried out as I quickly scurried to his side looking over him not sure what to do. "Do not die on me, please do not die." I begged him as I looked around us seeing many Romans following the man on the horse who had cut down my brother.

"Do not leave my side…Jana." He begged me as his eyes slowly began to shut causing my heart to break. I stayed there at his side kneeling next to him as tears flooded my face. I should have stayed with the others, I should have convinced Agron to leave with Nasir. I put my forehead to Agron's forehead and could feel his breath on my neck, he was still alive.

I looked up seeing the Romans were ahead of us a bit finishing off our army with as much ease as we had with all the legions we had found. I watched as Crixus and Naevia were engaging Caesar in battle. I slowly began to rise as Agron grabbed hold of my wrist. "Don't leave me." He stammered out his eyes clenching closed with pain as I sat back down watching the nightmare that was slowly unfolding before me.

Crixus had Caesar on his back sword risen in the air ready to end his life, my heart clenching within my chest. Though right as he was about to make his move I felt my whole body go numb right as I could hear Naevia scream in terror. A spear went right through Crixus' stomach the spear being held by the boy whose life I had saved back on the ridge near Sinuessa. A boy I should have just killed. Crassus' son Tiberius.

Crixus fell to his knees blood pouring from his lips and his wound as I looked down at Agron before quickly searching for a sword to protect myself with. "Crixus!" I could hear Naevia scream as I looked back over to Agron. My eyes soon widening with fear as I watched the man slowly approach me with two other Romans at his back. His hand extended towards me to help me off the ground.

"Take the one she protects as prisoner, see he finds no other wounds. These two will be vital in us ending this war for good." He said before moving closer to me, "Come, sweet girl." He told me as I screamed out when they began to take my brother's body from me.

"Do not make me ask again, I can just as easily see that he does not make it back to our camp." He told me as I nodded slowly taking his hand as he helped me from the ground. The two Romans at his side held swords out to my neck as they slowly walked us back towards where Crixus and Naevia were. Keeping me in place from doing anything to stop the scene unfolding before my eyes.

I felt helpless.

"Silence that fucking bitch." The boy called out as Naevia was making attempt to crawl towards a sword, only to me kicked in the face by one of the Romans. I made attempt to run towards her but was stopped by the two Romans that were now holding me in place by both their arms and weapons.

"Naevia…" I tried to squeak out as one of the Romans took her by the hair as he held a sword to her neck. "Hold!" Crassus called out from beside me as he and the men who were not leading me moved towards them.

"This is the Gaul that would seek the fall of Rome?" He asked as Caesar called out "And his fucking woman." The boy proudly stated that Crixus was defeated by his hand.

"Speaking of." Crassus spoke as he motioned for his men to move me forwards as the one pushed me in the center of my back causing me to lose my footing and fall into the ground before me as I moved onto my knees looking up at Crassus before letting my eyes wander towards Caesar who took a few steps forwards. "Jana…" Caesar commented.

"Consider it an early gift for your services towards the end of this mess." Crassus told Caesar as he then looked towards his son. "Retrieve your sword. It had been too long from proper hands." Crassus told him.

Caesar walked towards me as he knelt down checking to see that I was alright. Looking over me in search of wounds. When he had found I had none he took my arm gently lifting me off the ground and moving me away from Crassus and the other Romans. He removed his cloak wrapping it around my arms so that no Romans who make attempt on me yet my eyes were upon Naevia… whose eyes and attention were on the man she loved and nothing else.

"The man yet lives." The boy spoke as I couldn't help but sob weakly as I looked out towards my two friends as I watched my people either being captured or slaughtered in the distance. Few were running off towards the direction we had come from likely in the hopes of reaching Spartacus before the Romans could catch them. Fools errand.

"I shall see him crucified-" The boy spat out as his father looked from Naevia to me before back down at Crixus. "No. I would use opportunity to send message to Spartacus. So that he may know the depths of his failure." Crassus began to say as Caesar moved from my side taking Crixus' head forcing him to look over at Naevia.

Roman cruelty knew no bounds it seemed, what was wrong with my heart for allowing such a man into my heart yet… I knew he was doing what he would have been commanded to do. Just as I would had this entire thing been reversed in our favor. I lowered my head slightly before looking back up at my friends.

"And what fate I shall see him to as well. Take his head." Crassus spoke as Naevia for a brief moment looked over to me as I stood there my mouth agape unable to to make a sound. Though the sobs from Naevia were enough for the both of us, this would not have happened had we the entire army here and not just the one half of it.

Caesar was soon back at my side his arms around me as he tried to move me so that I was not facing the scene at hand yet, I needed to see this. I needed my heart to see the anger I was going to fill it with. I watched as the boy raised his sword cleaving Crixus' head clean off his shoulders as I watched Naevia pass out on the ground while Crassus nodded.

"Leave his woman with the head… she and a few of her people can make their way back to Spartacus with word of what has happened. Those that were of the slave leadership should they still be alive will be brought back to the encampment for questioning upon Spartacus destination." He spoke as I looked towards Caesar.

"You will be safe in my tent." He told me as I felt him moving me away from Naevia and Crixus' body. Giving me no time at all to grieve over a friend, or say goodbye to a girl I once yet held as sister. The words yet still unable to form from my lips, yet he seemed to form them all. "Gratitude for giving the girl to me." He told Crassus as the man now upon a horse was near us.

"None needed, the girl is of clear importance to not just you but our cause. The knowledge she possesses could end this war. I will see her crimes forgiven should she finally agree to help." Crassus spoke as Caesar nodded. "I will see to it that she does." He told him as the boy who'd killed Crassus now stood before me stopping us from moving.

"I know you." He told me as I just stood there my entire body yet still filled with shock. "You were the girl who save me upon the ridge…" He spoke with a devilish grin upon his lips. Saved him. A mistake I will not make a second time, ever given the chance I will see this boy to an early grave.

"She can have my horse… I would suggest for you to ride with her, though I fear you would have trouble with such." The boy said before walking away as I looked over at Caesar.

Anger and sadness filled me. I wanted and knew I had to hate him yet I could not bring myself to do such. His eyes searched mine knowing it would be a long time if not a lifetime until I would be able to forgive him for letting that boy kill Crixus. Yet… I knew we would have done the same to him. This was war.

"We have a long journey ahead." He told me as he helped me on the horse as my wrist were now bound. "Please do not make attempt to escape… Crassus will not be so kind towards you should you do such." He told me.

"He has my brother… I am his prisoner until I can see to it that he is safe from Roman grasp." I remarked as he just nodded. "You are far from my prisoner." He told me. "Crassus would not see such word branded to you either...ally is the word he would like." He told me.

"I will never… be his ally." I commented harshly. "I will make sure your brother is treated and his wounds taken care of." He told me as I just looked forwards trying my best to keep any bit of strength I had left present even though every part of me just wanted to break down into tears at the thought of the pain my dearest friend was going to go through the moment she awoke… she would have to relive Crixus' death every time we shut and reopened her eyes… until the end of her days.

I was happy to be with Caesar again, even though I knew my life would be anything but a free one. Though deep down I knew, I should have left with Gannicus and the others… Agron and I both should have left with them. A regret we would both share until the end of our days. However short that time would be.