Gladiator: Resurrection
Chapter Nine
Aureilius walked with her arm through Maximus', enjoying being out for a change. She felt well rested after taking his advice about the bath and sneaking in a nap. They now headed towards the Imperial Palace along with Memmon and Temhas. Juba, despite protest, had stayed behind in case they needed assistance should something happen.
"You look wonderful this evening," her beloved looked at her, for the first time not so serious since stepping foot in Rome.
"Thank you. You are as handsome as always. Maximus, please tell me you will age."
"Why is that?"
"Because I am going to grow old and ugly. I don't want you to stay young and dashing while I waste away. Then what will ever keep all the other girls away."
He laughed out loud and squeezed her hand under his fingers. It sound up surd, but there was a sense to the notion too. He didn't know what would happen to him after this all ended. That was left up to the Gods and only they knew.
"I can only promise that I will always love you, no matter if your beauty fades with time."
"Ah, honeyed words. I will take them none the less and make you live by that promise."
He raised her hand to his lips and repeated the gesture made by Althou earlier in the day, only this time with much more sweetness and love. He wasn't sure how the Gods had managed to find him a woman so intelligent and gracious too. She was much a part of his soul now as he belonged to her's. If he lost…he couldn't bear to think that way and swept it aside to forget in the back of his mind.
The group entered the gates to find they were not the only guests dining tonight. Litters and chariots filled the courtyard. Maximus hadn't realized Lucilla had planned a party. The guards let them in and they followed the crowd to the extravagant banquet room. When he entered, dozens of sets of eyes turned to watch him. Murmurs and whispers could be heard on the lips of all those near-by. Lucilla, Lucius and Yasmyn all stood at the head table.
"By the Gods, is that…" Senator Gaius whispered to another.
"It certainly looks like him, but that's not possible! Maximus Meridas perished by Commodus' blade twenty years ago! The anniversary is to be remembered in four days! It must be a imposter."
He strode up to the Royals and bowed before them with the others. Yasmyn's eyes narrowed as she sized up Aureilius, the wheels already turning in her head. Then they took measure of Maximus and decided he was worth having too. Lucius seemed in shock, mouth slightly agape as the former gladiator shook his hand.
"You…you are suppose to be dead," the young Caesar breathed harshly and Maximus wasn't certain if he was upset or not.
"Allow me to explain," Lucilla began.
"No, Mother. I knew he was coming. I've had strange dreams too. Besides, he saved our lives."
"Caesar, there was no other choice back then. Your uncle, he murdered my family…"
"I remember when you were the Spaniard. I wanted to be a great gladiator like yourself."
Maximus smiled at the thought of Lucius as a boy playing in the great marble halls. He must have driven his mother insane with the clatter of wooden swords on the polished stone. Then he noticed Yasmyn's extended hand and kissed the knuckles eloquently.
"This is my beloved, Aureilius," he introduced them.
"I recall meeting you many years ago when we were but babes," Lucius grinned.
"So do I. It has been a long time, Caesar," she replied warmly.
"Come, let us dine together. It would be my honor to sit with the Spaniard and his beautiful mate. We can learn more about each other and put history respectfully in the past."
Barnabas entered just as they were finishing the meal, coming late in the hopes to make a grand entrance. When he glanced about and saw Aureilius' fire dust red hair at the head table, he marched up much to her dismay.
"What are you doing here," she asked quietly, trying to avoid the inevitable scene coming.
"I should be asking you the same thing. Funny how society now allows the common folk to mingle with royals and politicians," he threw pointedly at Maximus.
He reached for and grabbed hold of her arm. She slapped it away and Maximus was on his feet in an instant. He took the senator's spoiled son down to the floor quickly and twisted the offending arm behind his back, on the verge of breaking the bone. Barnabas' face was a mask of rage and pain, in his current state unable to defend himself against the warrior instincts of Maximus.
"I believe I warned you that you would lose that hand," he spoke in his ear, tone menacing and dangerous.
"Out of my way, fool! She belongs to me! We are bethrowed to each other and I will ultimately have what is mine!"
Barnabas tried to push himself away and Maximus allowed him to stand. The young man faced him, waiting for a fight that he would not be privileged to. The gladiator knew better than to start something here in front of all these eyes. They scowled at each other momentarily until he pointed a finger knowingly at the bitter ex-fiancé.
"Aureilius belongs with me. The sooner that you come to realize this, the healthier you will stay. Now leave her alone and get out of my sight."
"Guards," Lucius called and two Praetorians entered to assist, escorting Barnabas out with a hand under each arm.
They dragged him from the room kicking and screaming. Maximus sighed and looked to the frightened face of Aureilius. She was on the verge of tears, so distraught by the fool's attempt to take her away. He smiled apologetically to Lucilla and Lucius, and then motioned for Temhas and Memmon to see her out.
"I'm sorry, but we can stay no longer," he bowed to the royals and left quickly to avoid questions they may have.
"How strange. I wonder whatever Barnabas Marcus would want with Aureilius," Yasmyn asked.
"They were engaged to be marry, but she refused him after her father died last year. The poor delusional man has yet to get over her apparently," Lucius shook his head sadly.
Yasmyn had to keep herself from scowling herself at this new revelation. It could put a kink into her own plans for the senator's daughter. They would have to move very quickly then.
* * *
"Did you see him, Neman! He was wonderful! Perhaps Rome is not so barbarian after all," the Queen was gushing to her manservant when they were later alone in her quarters.
"Yes, he is a handsome man, milady, but I've also heard things about him."
"Are you blind, man! He is absolutely stunning! I have decided that I simply must find away to have Maximus for myself."
"It appeared to me that he was quite besotted with the young woman, Aureilius."
"She will be easily forgotten once he is with me. Besides, I have a plan to deal with both Lucius and the woman while benefiting myself the whole time."
"What would that be now, milady?"
"She is obviously very close to my due date. We kidnap her, take the baby, kill both her and my nitwit husband and then I step in as the concerned, grieving new mother. I will be the only one able to console poor Maximus when he finds both his friend and lover dead."
"Have you considered how it will look if Lucius is found dead? You will be the first suspect."
"Well, perhaps imprisoning him in some far outpost of the Empire would be better. I can bend him to my will. Above all, I must have that baby and Maximus shall be my dessert for a job well done."
"The baby is understandable. That much I will see to myself. As for Maximus, perhaps you should learn more about him before you lose your head over the man, milady."
"Is that a warning or advise, Neman," she narrowed her eyes pointedly.
"Its just prudent council. Good night, Queen," he bowed and excused himself.
Slipping down the marble halls stealthy as a cat, no one noticed the Persian leave the Palace. He headed to a local bar and met with two large oafs whom he had contracted their services earlier. His man who had tailed Maximus and his guests back to their residence provided wonderful directions and he passed them to the thugs along with a pouch of gold coins. He instructed them to bring her to a certain location where he would be waiting and then left just as quietly. In the back of the bar sat Althou, watching Neman's meeting with interest. He proceeded towards Barnabas' house to tell him what he had seen.
* * *
Aureilius paced the tiled path in the garden, too worked up to sleep. Her aching back would not cease tonight and she thought walking around outdoors might calm her nerves. There was a soft breeze and the full autumn moon above cast a silver glow down on the slumbering city. She sighed and continued her routine for the last hour, hand rubbing the small of her back.
A bush rustled down the way and she paused in alarm. It was quiet once again, but her mind was buzzing. She slowly crept in closer to investigate and the bush moved again suddenly. Her heart pounded in her breast and she was certain if anyone had been near by, they would have heard it clearly. A fluffy little bunny jumped out into view and she startled, then laughed at her own foolishness.
"Silly of me to think I'm the only one awake," she smiled as the creature hopped away.
She turned and ran face to face into the equivalent of a brick wall. The huge man grabbed her roughly and clamped a hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming out. His partner in crime bound her hands and feet with rough ropes. Then they gagged her mouth and carted her towards the front of the house.
She remained silent in fear, not certain where they were taking her or even who they worked for. They loaded her in the back of a wagon and covered it with a tarp, throwing her into blackness. She heard the snap of reins and the wagon jerked forward. Aureilius tried to learn where they were going by listening to noises around them, but soon gave up when it all blurred together. Her back was screaming in protest now and she knew this was something more urgent. A rusty gate opened as the ride stopped momentarily and then resumed. She scraped herself on the wood of the wagon's bed; opening fresh cuts as they came to a final halt. They hauled her out, skinning her knees. In the moonlight above, she caught sight of an enormous structure rising as if to touch the sky. A multitude of arches stared like dull, lifeless eyes watching the little scene unfold. Aureilius recognized the building and it all made more sense now.
She was allowed to walk down the torch lit ramp into a deep underground labyrinth. There she was chained to a wall to await her fate. A shadowy figure approached out of the darkness and she didn't recognize him.
"Is this the one," one of her captors asked of the new reed-like one.
"Exactly the one. Excellent work. I didn't expect her so soon. We'll leave her here until morning."
They all filed out of the cell and the reed-like weasel locked the door behind. She hung her head and cried tears. However would Maximus know where she was now? It looked so bleak that she could be rescued from this situation by anyone. Closing her tired eyes, Aureilius prayed to the Gods that her beloved would make good on his promise to save her life.
* * *
Meanwhile, as dawn washed over Rome, Maximus and his companions had searched the house and grounds frantically for the missing Aureilius. Temhas ran in with a note in hand from the garden and passed it to the gladiator.
"It appears our kidnappers were none too bright," the young German chuckled as his own joke as the others read what it said.
"At the top of the map it shows the Coliseum and its marked with a X. Do you think…" Memmon barely finished before Maximus nodded he was correct.
"If they want to test me in the arena, so the shall get the chance. Prepare yourselves, my friends. We are forced to battle for the sake of the Empire much sooner than expected."