Strength and Honour

Part 4

Maximus ached. The manacles cut into his wrists, and his shoulders burnt, screaming in protest at the unnatural position they were forced in to. His bare knees ground into the stone floor of his cell unmercifully. His whole body screamed in utter torment, for each small movement, a dozen muscles protested…loudly.

Maximus hung his head, he had no doubt that he would fool the Emperor with his appearance. The only problem was that it was no longer an act. He hoped that once he had loosened up he would be alright.

He waited.

Commodus stood in the halls below the Coliseum floor. He looked out of place in his dazzling white and gold armour. Purposefully he strode toward Maximus' cell. Quintus and six bodyguards following closely behind.

Forcefully he pushed open Maximus' cell door, and stared at the man he had hated for so long with utter contempt, he cocked his head to one side, to listen to the chanting above his head. "Maximus. Maximus. Maximus. They call for you. The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an Emperor. A striking story. Now the people want to know how the story ends. Only a famous death will do. What could be more glorious than to challenge the emperor himself in the great arena?" Although Maximus knew that this was coming, he had been told by Quintus that Commodus did not know that he knew.

"You would fight me?" Commodus looked at Maximus with utter hatred plain on his face

"Why not? Do you think I am afraid?" Maximus looked at the man with scorn, and managed a rueful smile.

"I think you have been afraid all your life." Maximus leant forward as he said this, his face almost touching the Emperors, daring him to strike him.

Enraged Commodus stared at the man who had dared to call him a coward, slowly he walked around Maximus, staring at him all the while. Eventually he was directly behind his enemy. Maximus willed himself not to turn around, not to show fear as he stood and waited for the Emperor to kill him.

"Maximus the invincible, he who knows no fear." Commodus mused aloud. It was all Maximus could do not to laugh at this, but he could not refrain a small smile.

"I have nothing to fear." Commodus scowled in silent rage. "I knew a man who once said, death smiles at us all. All that man can do is smile back." Maximus continued.

"I wonder. Did your friend smile at his own death?" Commodus asked, trying to remain calm. Maximus closed his eyes, Cicero's death weighed heavily on his shoulders.

"Did your father?" Maximus asked, wanting the Praetorians know what he knew, although Maximus believed that they had found that out long ago. Commodus softened his tone.

"You loved my father, I know. But that seems to be another one of his traits that I did not inherit!" Commodus screamed, as he struck Maximus' back forcefully with both hands.

Maximus fell forwards as far as the chains allowed, he gasped, the sudden pain blurring his vision. He grunted as Commodus struck him again and again. He would not let this wretch have the pleasure of hearing him scream.

Breathing heavily from his exertions, Commodus left Maximus and stood beside Quintus. "He is ready. Unchain him." Quintus and another of his guards stepped forward to unchain the general, who sagged in his chains. As his hands came free, Maximus fell onto the dirt with a grunt, new blood from opened wounds poured down his back. Wearily he struggled upright, and stared the Emperor in the eye. Commodus, flinching under Maximus' stare looked away. Despite the state of the general. Commodus knew that this would not be an easy fight.

Commodus and Maximus positioned themselves on the platform that would take them to the arena floor. The Praetorians closed in around them, their shields locked over their heads, in some attempt at the testudo formation. Only this time to hide the combatants until they were ready for the crowd to see who they were.

As the formation opened, the chanting became a roar. Here was their beloved general fighting the Emperor the whole Empire detested. "Maximus! Maximus! Maximus" they screamed for their champion. The Emperor raised his arms, and spun round so that he could acknowledge the crowd. The few that noticed him spat and hissed, although this was barely audible above the noise the crowd was making for their general. Disgusted, Commodus retrieved his sword from Quintus, Maximus made to follow, but Quintus threw his sword to the opposite end of the arena to Commodus. Slowly, painfully he bent down next to his sword, and picked up a small handful of the dirt, rubbing it between his hands, signalling his readiness to fight. He picked up his sword, and moved to the centre of the ring the Praetorians had formed around them.

Commodus attacked first, hard and fast, but Maximus easily blocked his attacks, swiftly moving to the other side of the circle. Commodus was convinced that he was winning, after all. Maximus had not yet attacked him. It will be over soon he thought with a smile. And with that, he moved in for the kill.

Maximus watched Commodus. He had not yet started to fight. All he had done was to test the speed and the skill of this man, and Maximus was pleased to find that he was superior to the Emperor in both. Suddenly, without warning, he charged across the arena to attack the Emperor, sword in his left hand. At the last second, Maximus changed hands, his sword cutting into Commodus' left hip. The crowd roared. Commodus glanced at Maximus, shock and pain in his eyes, blood already staining his glorious white tunica. Maximus caught his eyes and smiled. And at that moment Commodus saw his death in the man before him.

Enraged, Commodus charged Maximus. No one killed the Emperor. No one! Especially not on the sands of the arena floor. Commodus hit Maximus with his full weight, and Maximus fell heavily to the floor. In unison the crowd groaned. Maximus blinked. The sudden pain blurred his vision. He shook his head and saw Commodus above him with a raised sword. He lashed up with his foot, and hit the Emperor on his knee, grinding his heel into bone and cartilage. With difficulty, Maximus rose, and watched the limping bleeding Emperor, already planning his death. Opposite him, the Emperor did the same.

Commodus moved first, fast, despite his injuries. He went low and to the left of Maximus, slashing for the tendon above his ankle. He missed, and slashed his calf instead. A superficial wound, but Commodus grinned, pleased that he had been able to injure the invincible general.

Maximus stared at him in utter hatred, walking slowly toward him, never taking his eyes away from his enemy. Swiftly he struck at the Emperor, but Commodus blocked the attack. Swords locked, the two men snarled at each other. Angrily, Maximus'; foot crashed into Commodus' injured knee. He smiled as he saw the pain in his eyes. Maximus backed away from the Emperor. Commodus watched him warily. He stepped forward to follow, but his injured knee would not take his weight, and it buckled, sending the Emperor to the Coliseum floor.

Maximus strode forward to the prone Emperor, sword ready for the kill. But honour let the Emperor rise. A mistake. Commodus thought, watching Maximus. He struggled to his feet, pretending to be more injured than he really was. Maximus watched him with disdain. He was unprepared for the strike that slashed deep into his right arm and sent his sword across the arena. Commodus looked at him and smiled. Say hello to your family for me. Those eyes mocked. Suddenly Commodus spoke.

"Your wife Maximus. She was very beautiful. I remember…she had amazing skin – soft, dark…" he looked at Maximus, awaiting the reaction. Maximus remembered his first fight in Rome

They tell me your son squealed like a girl when they nailed him to the cross...And your wife, moaned like a whore when they ravaged her again, and again, and again.

And Maximus understood.

Furiously he dived forward, ignoring the pain in his body. Intent only on killing this man that had murdered his family. Commodus was prepared for the attack, but not its ferocity. He swung his sword, intending to finish Maximus once and for all. Maximus let the blade come, felt it sink into his arm. He grabbed Commodus' sword arm, and wrenched it away from the blade, that fell to the arena floor. Violently he twisted Commodus arm until the bone broke with a harsh snap that sounded all around the arena. Maximus fist made contact with Commodus' face again and again. He felt something give under his hand as Commodus' nose broke.

Commodus, doing the only thing he could think of to stay alive forced his uninjured arm behind Maximus, and hit his back again and again and again. Maximus was to intent on killing his enemy to notice the fresh wave of blood that soaked his tunica. This failing, Commodus remembered his dagger in his wrist guard. Wearily he thrust it forward, aiming at Maximus face, but Maximus deflected the blade with his left hand. Great. Another wound. A part of him though absently. Grabbing hold of Commodus' arm, he managed to turn the blade on its owner. Commodus stood no chance against the much stronger man, and slowly the dagger edged toward his throat. Desperately he tried to force the blade back to Maximus, but then he gasped as he felt the blade pierce flesh, deeper, and then it could go no further. Commodus looked up at Maximus for one last time, before he fell to the arena sands. Dead.

Staggering, Maximus moved away from the body. Unable to believe that he had done it, that he had killed the Emperor. He stared up at the now silent crowds, wishing that they would make some noise – anything other than this silence that hung in the air.

Quintus stared at his general, knew that he must make the first move. "Caesar." He called Maximus, Maximus stared at him blankly, not registering what Quintus had called him. "Caesar! What now?" quickly Maximus snapped out of his day dream. "Quintus free my men. Senator Graccus is to be reinstated. There was a dream that was Rome, it shall be realized. These are the wishes of Marcus Aurelius." Quintus stared at him then turned to his men.

"Free the prisoners. Go!" he looked at Maximus proudly "What we do in life…" he whispered to his friend.

"…echos in eternity." Maximus continued, hoping that he had done the right thing for Rome.

Maximus smiled as he saw his friends enter the arena, blinking in surprise, then understanding as they saw Commodus dead, and a bloody Maximus standing in the arena. Dutifully, they knelt to the ground. Embarrassed, Maximus ordered them to rise. "Rome will be a republic again. I will rule only until the senate is ready to resume control." He told his people.

Suddenly, the pain hit Maximus. He struggled to lift off his armour that was shooting pain through his injured back. The crowd roared in anger when they saw the blood on Maximus tunica. He looked up at the people,

"Commodus was not a moral man." He told them simply. Suddenly, the pain became too much for him and he crashed heavily to the arena floor.

"Maximus!!" Lucillas' despairing scream could be heard all around the Coliseum. The crowds watched as she ran to he one true love, they were confused, but nothing more could surprise them this day. Wearily Maximus opened his eyes, grimacing at the sun that blinded him, he looked at Lucilla.

"Lucius is safe." He told her, struggling to stay awake. Lucilla smiled, her son was safe. All this man had given so that she could live without fear. She bent down, and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

Juba stepped over to his friend, "Maximus…" he began, but Maximus quieted him.

"You have your freedom," he said "You will see your family again soon."

Juba smiled. "My family. I had given up hope of seeing them long ago."

Maximus reached out a hand to Juba, signalling that he wanted to stand up. He embraced his friend. "Never give up Juba, never give up."

Maximus staggered as he moved across the arena to Quintus, Quintus opened his arms wide and embraced his General. "The Gods love you!" he said, a huge smile playing across his features, Maximus smiled back.

"The Gods have a sense of humour." He replied, looking at the dead Emperor.

"And now you are Caesar." Quintus told him quietly. Maximus looked sharply at him.

"The dream lives Quintus, it is just a matter of when it will be put into practice." He told his friend.

"You would make a good Caesar, you would do what is best for Rome…" Quintus continued.

"I am," Maximus replied, "by making her a republic again."

Maximus called to Lucilla, and he headed out of the arena, a slow staggering walk, with Quintus supporting him on one side, Juba on the other. As he made his way through the tunnel, he could hear the crowds chanting his name, "Maximus! Maximus! Maximus!", he remembered Commodus' words,

The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an Emperor. A striking story. Now the people want to know how the story ends. Only a famous death will do.

Maximus smiled. Commodus had had his famous death, and now they were free. He looked back into the area at the dead emperor. "Now we are free, and I shall see you again, but not yet, not yet…" he whispered the treat to Commodus, who lay alone and abandoned on the arena floor.

He smiled to himself despite his pain, the story is only just beginning he thought, and with that he went home. To a woman, a child and the republic.

Roma Victor.

OK, that's it. I'm kinda sad to have finished it, this story was my baby! But I gave you all the happy ending that you asked for. And you never know dear readers; there is always room for a sequel…

Please read and review to let me know what you think