Gladiator: Resurrection
Chapter 2
Maximus had no need for sleep, so he sat by the fire for a time just thinking about what it was like to be alive again. He had scoffed at them, at the notion they could give him back his body and make it work once more. They had proven him wrong though. He was here now, among the living once more.
The next morning he had gone hunting and caught a rabbit for breakfast. Aureilius awoke to the smells of good food and came out bleary-eyed. She sat, dressed only in her nightgown and shivered in the crisp air. He gave her his cloak without a word, wrapping it deftly around her white shoulders. She took a whiff of his scent from the collar.
"Did you sleep at all last night," she asked, curious.
"I dozed by the fire a little. I do not require much sleep right now."
"Right now? Does that mean you will later?"
"How did you sleep," he avoided her question with one of his own.
"I had a strange dream."
"Oh?"
"Yes. There was one man, and he was a great warrior. I think he suffered a terrible loss though because he was sleeping by gravesides and a burned home. I don't really understand how I ended up kissing him in a wheat field."
"Do you know this man whom you kissed?"
"Not really, but it felt like I should. It was certainly not Barnabas though. That I am sure of."
"Hmm. Sounds interesting."
"Didn't you say you're an ex-soldier yourself, Maximus?"
He stopped loading up the packhorse to look at her. She was scrutinizing him now from a distance, eyes scrunched into focus. She looked adorable doing that.
"I was a soldier, yes. I rode with the calvery against the Germanians."
"So did this man, but I'm sure he was an officer. A general."
"I was an officer too."
"How odd that I didn't see his face. Sounds like it could have been you," she laughed and spooned up some broth.
"Anything is possible. Finish your breakfast and then dress. We should keep ahead of your ex-fiancé'."
"Do you fear him, Maximus?"
"I fear no one," he replied steadily, with a hint of steel to his voice.
"I do. He'll make me marry him and I don't want that."
"Why did you say yes in the first place then?"
"I didn't have a choice. Father thought it was best, that I would be looked after when he died. It was an engagement of convience."
"An engagement of two senators' children. A merging of power."
"Yes. Certainly not love. Well, he may honestly love me."
Maximus nodded and felt his heart leap for joy. If she did not love him, then half of his battle was won. They had warned him that the fiancé' was a ruthless man. That was nothing he couldn't handle though. He'd fought tigers after all. One man would not stand in his way.
* * *
The two of them traveled on making excellent companions. She felt at ease with him, like he was different from all other men she had known. He was handsome physically, but also intelligent and wise. A noble, strong man. Aureilius was falling more in love with him every day they spent together.
The attraction was mutual. Maximus felt his own heart giving way to her. She was beautiful, witty and altogether charming. He realized that the sacrifice he had made in coming back here was well worth it.
One night, he heard her cry out in her sleep and went to her side. She was crying gentle tears and he knelt down only to have her fall into his arms. Her body was warm and her skin soft as silk. Her crown of dark hair was under his chin and smelled divine. He comforted her and soon she looked up at him.
"I dreamed the man was a gladiator and he was killed," she said, a bare whisper as she studied his face again.
"A murdered gladiator?"
"Yes. He was stabbed in the back…right here."
She touched his back with her long fingers and he was thankful she could not sense the scar through his tunic. She wasn't ready to know the truth quite yet.
"How amazing," his head dipped closer to hers.
"Quite, but he's nothing compared to you."
Their lips met in an exploring kiss and the passion broke like a dam. He pulled her in closer, the press of her curves against him delicious. She threw her arms around his neck and her lips tighter to his own. It was as if they could melt into the other, their desire fueled by love. Maximus let her go slightly to gaze down at her face, placing a hand to cradle the back of her head.
"You are so wonderful a man. I cannot deny my heart any longer. I had to try," she explained and he laughed.
"I'm glad that you did. I couldn't contain myself much longer."
"Maximus, I've waited so long for you."
"You don't have to wait any longer," he smiled and kissed her again, this time sweeter.
"Will you stay with me tonight, so these strange dreams will leave me to slumber?"
He didn't answer, but instead laid her back on her bower of blankets. She slid under the covers and he stretched out alongside, putting an arm around her shoulders. She curled up and was soon fast asleep once more.
Aureilius was learning about him in her dreams, but would she put the pieces together? He hoped they knew what they were doing for this plan to work for all of them.
* * *
Barnabas watched as his servants loaded up the wagon. He knew Aureilius and her guide had at least two days ahead on them, but catching her now wasn't the point. Let her have her little journey and some time along before he brought her back to Rome and their wedding, he privately thought.
She was too independent, he realized now. They had grown up together as children of privilege. The offspring of popular and powerful senators should be wed. It seemed only right. Aureilius didn't see things that way though. She valued true love over virtue and opinion. She would marry a slave if she thought she loved him enough.
Barnabas found fault with her father for her sense of freedom and spirit. He had been left a widow only seven years after his daughter was born. Dana had been a strong woman as well and Pius reigned in neither.
Women should not have a choice, but follow their husbands' decisions, his own father taught himself. Anthony Marcus was specific about his mother's role in the household. She was a gracious hostess and loving mother, but never did she decide any major issues for the estate or family.
He knew Aureilius would not simply plan meals and bear children for him. She had to have her say in everything. He could break her of the ideal, but what kind of woman would she be then? All he knew was that they should be wed for the sake of order and civility.
The guide complicated things. Barnabas had seen how good-looking he was. He took notice of the way his fiancé's eyes lit up. He was a very nasty snag in his plan. He would have to watch this man before he clouded his beloved's mind. Onward to Spain and the sooner this madness would end.