Gladiator: Resurrection
Chapter Six
"How did you come home without your own fiancé'," Anthony Marcus bellowed at his son as Barnabas tried to explain.
The situation had been on going since his return to Rome. Those he had told about his journey saw an opportunity to berate him for his failure. His father had been after him for an hour now with now sign of slowing. Even his mother had scowled!
"Father, she was insistent! Plus well protected by some brutish farmhands! I swear she has the notion that she loves the one, her guide!"
"So! You are her fiancé'! I have spent a great deal of time and money preparing for this union! I will not see her humiliate my house!"
"What can we do? I can't force her out."
"The Senate is not in session for another two weeks. I will go this time."
"Father, you can't! She already disrespects your authority! If you show up there, I'll lose her indefinitely," Barnabas was frantic to stop his father.
"Well, do you have a better ideal then!"
"There was an abandoned house not far from her own. I will hide out there and when she is alone, I'll take her."
"That is kidnapping, my son. Be careful," Anthony's voice dropped low in warning.
"Not if I argue that he took her first. She is still my fiancé' and that means I have some right over her."
"Alright, but I cannot support you publicly if caught…"
"Yes, I know. The Senate always comes first," he glowered as he spoke and then marched out of the room.
"Should we tell him about the ring," his mother asked Anthony.
"No, no. The boy has to learn sometime," he sat down and took a swig of wine.
* * *
Aureilius was coming to terms with her shifting form. Since Juba and Temhas had arrived three and a half months earlier, life had settled into a pretty normal routine. She was four months pregnant now and showing quite a bit, but didn't worry too much. She didn't know what normal was for a pregnancy to begin with. As long as she felt healthy, things were good.
The men spent the morning hours working on drills. Maximus had not forgotten his military training and was forging the other three into warriors. Juba was good, but the younger men were green. Especially Memmon. He wasn't a fighter. Temhas, while becoming a good friend, like to needle the other about his inability. Maximus usually put a stop to it. He could tell though that Memmon's frustration was brewing within.
"Memmon," he called as the boy brought in the animals one evening. He stopped to listen half-heartedly.
"What is it now? More lecturing?"
"No. I have a special task for you. You make up for your weakness in distance fighting by being good at hand-to-hand combat. You have a quick eye for detail, but not always the coordination to match with a long sword."
"What exactly are you getting at, Maximus?"
"As much as I may want to, I cannot always be with Aureilius at all times to protect her. That is where I want you to come in. I want you to be her guard at all times."
"Really," Memmon was growing excited by the ideal.
"Yes. Now, it is very important that you realized the danger. Nothing must happen to her at all cost."
"Of course not! She is like a sister to me! I would give my life for hers."
"Good. We'll start your training tomorrow then."
"Thank you, Maximus! You won't regret it," he called after the man as he walked towards the field on the hill.
Aureilius smiled and began to follow after her beloved. Suddenly it felt like déjà vu, as if she had seen this unfold before. Her body felt heavy from the extra weight of the baby. She saw the golden sun sinking towards the horizon, creating a brilliant burst of light on the ocean's water. Reaching Maximus' perch wouldn't be all that easy, but she tried. Knee-high wheat brushed at her silky skirt and it moved on her legs delicately soft.
The breeze caught at her dark auburn hair, blowing it back from her neck and shoulders. It was warm as it raced over her skin. Lightning bugs rose from the stalks to take flight around her like fallen stars. He spotted her finally and came back down to meet her, wrapping her in his arms.
There was no words spoken between them. They simply gazed at the other's eyes, time stretching out before them. She saw a vision of a regal man standing on a hill covered in wheat. He took her in one arm and kissed her tenderly. Just then, she found Maximus was doing the same, lips pressed gently to her own. They fell apart and she smiled at him.
"You were the strange man I kissed in my dream," she whispered as he brushed her hair from her face.
"Yes. A vision of love to come," he replied gently in his deep voice she had fallen for so long ago.
She touched his cheek before roving her fingers over his black hair, cut short and neat. Her hand rested on the back of his head as she felt his own slide over her rounded belly and the child inside moved. Aureilius laughed softly as his touch tickled her flesh. He smiled with her.
"A thousand times the world's mysteries unfold themselves like galaxies in my mind's eye, but you still remain. You will always be my mystery," Maximus said and she cocked her head in curiosity.
"Your own words or another poet's?"
"A young soldier penned it to his beloved the morning before he died. I memorized it because they rang true for myself."
"Between your wife and you?"
"I never got to tell them to her. I offer them to you now, as my beloved."
"They are beautiful words, Maximus. Thank you."
He hugged her to himself and felt her laugh again. He joined her and they took in the view of all around them. She noticed lights in a house not far away.
"Someone must have bought the old place," she said.
"Yes, awhile ago. I'm keeping my eye on them. Come. Let us head back for dinner."