Strength and Honour

Part 2: The Dream that was Rome

Maximus slept fitfully. The pain from his ragged and bleeding back surfaced often, puncturing each dream with a whimper. He dreamed. He dreamed of happier times. Of when the Emperor was alive. When he was Rome's greatest General. And when he once had a family waiting for him. They were happy dreams.

The reality, when he woke moments later was somewhat different.

"Maximus!"

Maximus woke to the sound of his name being whispered urgently,

"Maximus!" There it was again, slightly louder this time, but no less urgent. As he opened his eyes, his hand shot out and grabbed the person around the throat, knowing that people only entered his cell for two reasons, to hurt him, or to kill him. Maximus wanted to postpone the latter for as long as he could. As his vision cleared, he grunted in surprise as he saw Quintus, but he did not loosen his grip, knowing from experience, that although they may be friends, Quintus put loyalty to the Emperor above all else.

"What are you doing here?" he growled angrily, hissing in pain. He shook his head to clear his vision, when he did, he saw Quintus looking at him worriedly. "Have you come to finish what Commodus has started Quintus. Is he not man enough to fight against a half dead General, but I have to wonder – are you man enough Quintus?"

Quintus stared at Maximus. His words had hurt him deeply, he knew that he had betrayed Maximus, and he would accept death willingly if Maximus was to kill him. But Maximus was a soldier like Quintus. Surely the man knew what it was to obey orders?

Maximus stared at his friend who had neither spoke nor moved since he had entered Maximus' tent, but still crouched with Maximus' hand tight around his throat. Maximus let his hand drop, and moved to the other side of his cell, as far away from Quintus as he could get. Quintus stared at the mess that was once Maximus' back with horror. Maximus sensed that Quintus was staring at him and he detested it.

"What's the matter Quintus? Have you never seen a slave beaten before?" he asked bitterly. Quintus looked away ashamed. He knew that he had played a part in Maximus' position. Although he was not the one that had beat him, he had arrested him, and ordered his execution. Quintus thought back to that day, and realised that things could have bees so different if he would have just listened to Maximus:

*Maximus, please be careful, that was not prudent.*

*Prudent! The Emperor has been slain.*

*The Emperor died of natural causes.*

*Quintus, why are you armed?*

*Guards! Maximus, please don't fight. I am sorry, Caesar has spoken.*

*Ride until dawn and then execute him.*

*Quintus, look at me. Look at me! Promise me that you will look after my family.*

*Your family will meet you in the after life.*

Quintus bowed his head in shame at the part he had played in Maximus' downfall. Wearilly he tried to explain his actions:

"Maximus, I am a soldier. I obey orders. Would you have preferred it if I had refused and been put to death. It would not have stopped what happened Maximus, your family died when you refused his hand."

Maximus spun round in anger. "And I died with the Emperor!" Quintus looked up at Maximus sharply.

"Maximus…" he began

"I cant go on like this Quintus. When it started I lived only for the hope that I could kill that bastard. Now that hope is dead, and I will follow. I only hope that Marcus doesn't blame me for killing his dream, if we meet in Elysium." Maximus went on sadly.

"You didn't kill his dream Maximus, Commodus did."

"I killed it Quintus. He asked me to become the protector of Rome, and restore the city as a republic…" Quintus stared at him in shock, he knew the love that the Emperor had held for Maximus. He had not realised the extent of it. Maximus closed his eyes as he remembered Marcus' voice:

*There was once a dream that was Rome, you could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. It was so fragile and I fear that it will not survive the winter.*

Maximus continued. "Commodus killed the man, Quintus. But I killed the dream." Quintus stared at him sadly, only now beginning to realise that there was more to his hatred of Commodus that he had first thought.

"I'm sorry Maximus, I did not know."

"No-one knew Quintus, just me and Marcus…and that brat of a Prince. That was why he killed him. I was going to steal his glory."

"It would have been you he killed, Maximus. If you had risen to power."

"Better I was dead, if only the better man could live. Marcus was a far better man, Quintus." He said sadly, looking up at his old friend.

"Do not underestimate yourself Maximus, you too are a great man. And do not fear, for Commodus will not live long." He added

Maximus looked at him in surprise, "Your young officer, Marcus told me the same, you have a date?" he asked

Quintus nodded. "Four days from now, the Emperor will challenge you to a fight in the Colloseum. It will be a fight to the death." Maximus stared at him in shock. "It is not the first time the Emperor has done this Maximus. But he likes to injure his opponent before the fight to ensure his victory. That is my job."

Maximus stared at his friend in horror, thinking that he had come to kill him. "I will not do it to you Maximus, but the Emperor will think I have, after all I am his commander of guards." He added with a wry smile "But you are weak, Maximus, and Commodus is strong. The fight will sway in his favour. There will be a lot more punishment between now and the fight. You will be lucky if you can stand when he calls for you."

Maximus looked at Quintus, a new fire burned in his eyes. The first sign of hope that Maximus had felt since the day Marcus was murdered. "Commodus may be strong Quintus, but I am the Emperors General, and undefeated." He paused "And I have my beliefs. Commodus must die. Marcus did not want him to rule,*Commodus is not a moral man, you have known that since you were young. Commodus cannot rule. He must not rule. You are the son that I should have had* he killed my family, my friends and now I will kill him. I will have my vengeance."

Quintus smiled at this new sign of life in his General, it had been too long since he had felt hope, and now he was certain that Maximus would save Rome. Or he would die trying.

Quintus rose to leave, and was surprised when Maximus struggled to his feet and embraced him. "Strength and Honour." Maximus whispered into his friends ear, eventually releasing him from his embrace. Quintus strode away, then turned suddenly with his hand to his heart, he bowed his head to Maximus, who smiled at the gesture of friendship. It had been too long since he had felt hope.

Quintus turned as he was almost out of the cell. "The Gods love you." He said to Maximus, before leaving him.

Maximus bowed his head sadly, and sank to the floor of his cell wearily as he took in all that had happened between him and Quintus. "The Gods must have a sense of humour." He muttered to himself sadly, remembering those words spoken between him and Quintus after his last battle in Germania.

Juba watched Maximus silently. He moved to the bars of the cell, all that separated him from Maximus. He had heard the exchange between the General and the Praetorian and he was worried for his friend.

"Maximus, who was he?" he asked confused, he thought that he had seen that man working with the Emperor, but here he was friends with Maximus.

"A friend, Juba. No need to worry." Juba stared at him, and Maximus knew that he had heard the angry confrontations between the two men, and didn't believe him. "He betrayed me once, that is why I am here. I should be dead – the Emperor had been murdered by his son…Commodus, he asked for my loyalty and I could not give it. As a result, Commodus named me a traitor and ordered my execution. I escaped. Only to discover when I returned home that I was too late to save my family. The praetorians had butchered them. Quintus' men, but under Commodus' orders. That is why I am here, and he shall die."

Juba stared at Maximus, "Will he help you kill the Emperor?"

"I don't know, I don't know. But one things for certain. In four days one of us will be dead, and if I don't kill Commodus, someone will before this year is over."