Gladiator: Resurrection
Chapter Seven
The congenial household now living at the Percius villa all helped Kelse set the table before eating dinner. She had complained at first about cooking so much food, but she was beginning to enjoy herself now. Maximus said they should all eat together as no one here was a servant, but the girl felt more at ease in her kitchen.
"So, when do you think we should leave for Rome by," Temhas looked at Maximus across the round table over his plate.
"Not for another three or four months at least. Aureilius should be close to her due date, in case trouble should arise, to make it safer for her."
"What do we do until then?"
"Harvest our fields and keep what we need. We'll sell the rest and take the profit with us."
"How long will we be there," Memmon now spoke up.
"Until she delivers."
"You plan to leave your own flesh and blood with others to be raised?"
"We have no choice. This is what the Gods have decided is best," Aureilius spoke up and all could tell by her tone that there was a touch of sadness.
"She's right. The Gods have given each of us a fate, a duty, in saving Rome. We have few choices, any of us," Juba replied.
"I plan to return to my village in the north once this is all over. I have family there," Temhas said.
"More like a girl, my friend," Memmon teased.
"A couple of girls I heard," Juba laughed as Temhas blushed. Even Maximus ducked his head and shared a smile, eyes crinkling at the corners.
A plate broke in the kitchen and everyone quieted. Aureilius rose and went to see about Kelse, laying a hand on Maximus' shoulder for him to remain seated. She entered and found the girl picking up pieces, tears in her eyes.
"Whatever is troubling you, Kelse," she asked as she bent down to gaze at the girl's face.
"I…I'm sorry, my lady. I'll take care of the plate right away," she whispered, voice trembling.
"No, leave it for now. Does this have to do with Temhas?"
"I thought he loved me, my lady! He was so kind and sweet! Now I hear he has a girl back in Germania."
"Did he tell you that he loved you?"
"Not in so many words, but I saw a glimmer in his eyes when he spoke to me. Not even Memmon looks at me that way. I also see how your gentleman gazes at you."
"Oh, Kelse. Men are foolish creatures. They can say one thing and mean another. If Temhas has not confessed that he truly loves you, then I wouldn't pay much attention to his glances."
"What about the gentleman though?"
"He is a very special man, Maximus is. I knew he was the one for me when I first saw him. We didn't love each other until a bit later and he told me first. You have to hear it to believe it."
"So, I jumped to conclusions then?"
"You should really talk to him and find out," Aureilius smiled and went to stand.
She felt her legs weaken under her and she gripped the counter's edge. There was only floating blackness in front of her eyes and she shook her head to clear it. Before she could stop her, Kelse was out and calling for Maximus. He came back and she sighed.
"Are you alright? Kelse said you almost fainted," he asked.
"I just stood up and was a little dizzy is all. The girl is panicky."
"You've cut your palm."
"Oh, I must have put it down on a shard when I went to stand."
Her vision blurred over again as she looked at her bleeding palm. She saw Maximus in a dusty arena, bleeding himself. She knelt down to his side and placed her own bloody hand over the wound. It healed under her touch as if by magic. Suddenly it cleared and she looked up at him in surprise.
"Give me your hand," she instructed and took another shard from the pile.
"What are you doing? Are you sure you're alright?"
She took his palm and sliced it open. He winced and looked at her as if she had gone mad. Aureilius placed her bleeding hand in his then and pressed them together tightly. There was a tingling feeling and she let go. Both cuts were healed clean with no scars.
"One of us with save the other because they are immortal. All I know is it is not me," Aureilius felt the weight of his gaze and left the room before she turned red.
"What do you wish me to say? I didn't know this myself. Perhaps we are immortal together. I simply don't know what the Gods do not reveal," he followed her out to the porch.
"I had a vision just now."
"What of exactly?"
"You were bleeding in an arena. I came to your side and saved you. I was bleeding too and put my hand to your wound and saved you. What does that mean?"
"Like you said, one of us will save the other. We will do this because we are meant to be together."
"I still think you are more divine than you know, Maximus. I will be happy to save you though," she hugged him and he returned the gesture.
"I shall save you, divine or not, Aureilius. I love you."
"I know. I love you too."
They held each other while the stars twinkled above. Then he carried her to their bed upstairs.
* * *
Rome bustled even in the heat of the afternoon. Queen Yasmyn watched the masses as they ran from here to there. They didn't see her standing on her balcony behind sheer curtains or the populace would have noticed something very wrong.
Yasmyn hated this forsaken country. It was nothing like her native Persia. Everything here was fast, loud and smelled horrible. She wished that her father had never arranged this marriage. He wanted to curry favor with the Empire though to ensure Persia's safety. So, here she was trapped in a loveless marriage and a huge lie.
Her father, Jafer, was pushing her to produce an heir. Problem was that she physically couldn't. Only herself and her right hand man, Neman, knew this little fact. They kept it a closely guarded secret too because she had been faking for the past seven months.
"What are you doing out here without your padding! Do you want to be caught," Neman was scolding and she rolled her eyes.
"I asked not to disturbed. No one would dare enter. I am of fragile health, you know."
"Even so, you risk too much. Go put it back on. Lucius is on his rounds and he will be dropping by soon."
Yasmyn sauntered inside and strolled behind her dressing screen. Neman cleaned up the room a bit to make it look like she was bedridden and not up roaming around. She came back out, her slender figure now much rounder thanks to the padding he had specially made.
"Are you happy? I look like a cow now," she whined.
"You look pregnant, as you should. Into your bed now and be quick about it."
"You're worse than my own mother."
"Someone has to take care of you before you ruin everything we've worked so hard for."
She flopped on the bed and sighed. The pad was itchy and uncomfortable. There was a soft knock and she scrambled under the covers quickly. Neman went to open the door to find Caesar Lucius patiently waiting. He bowed before the monarch.
"Your Majesty, please. My lady has just awoken from her nap."
"Thank you, Neman," the young man stepped inside.
"Lucius, my love! You've come to visit me," Yasmyn exclaimed, feigning happiness as he sat on her bedside to hug her gently.
"I wanted to check in on you two. Are you alright? Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm fine. How is the Empire?"
"That is not your concern. All you have to do is stay healthy for the baby and yourself. No talk of politics."
"Not even a little news?"
"None," he smiled warmly.
"You truly care for me, don't you Lucius," she suddenly asked and he raised a curious eyebrow.
"Of course I do. Why would you question that, Yasmyn?"
"I worry that you'll find fault with me and then your love will fade. I'll be alone."
"My dearest, I could never find fault with you. I love you. You will always have the baby and I."
He moved to touch her belly and she instinctively pulled away. He looked at her face with its slanted doe eyes and saw the nervousness written there.
"Forgive me. I forgot that you don't like to be touched," he murmured. Neman cringed at his post by the door.
"Lucius, I just…you understand, don't you?"
"Yes, of course. You rest now. I'll check back in later," he stood and walked out of the room. Yasmyn sighed and rolled her eyes, glad he was gone once more.