This story is loosely based on the book, A Voice in the Wind, by Francine Rivers. It is a very good book, I suggest you read it, especially if you are interested in ancient Rome.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters from Harry Potter. Those belong to JKR. The plot belongs to Francine Rivers, I am just borrowing it. There is no monetary value received from this work.
Do I sound professional enough?
Chapter 2
A week later
Olivia caught up with James just after lunch in the triclinium, as he was about to head out of the door for the Ludi Pleibii.
"But, James!" Olivia cried. "It's not fair! I'm the only one of my friends who has never been to the games!"
"Livvy, Father doesn't want you to go."
"Father didn't want you going either!" she argued.
"But I'm of age now. He can't do anything to stop me."
"That's my point. He can't stop you from taking me!"
"Olivia." James sighed, a sign of defeat. "I'll take you. Some other time."
He headed out the door, and met up with his friends, Sirius Majorian and Remus Albanus. A third acquaintance, Peter Rupprecht, met up with them as they headed into the Circus Maximus. James handed the passes to his private box to the usher, and the man led the group to their seats. A slave was waiting there for them, a shade in her hands, and wine and bread in a basket at her feet. They reclined on the provided couches, and talked about the days' entertainment.
"I've heard that Malcenus is supposed to fight Sertes today," commented Sirius.
"You would be interested in a gladiator that only fights well enough to survive now wouldn't you, Majorian?" asked a voice from behind them.
All heads swiveled towards the speaker. James' eyes narrowed. It was Severus Asyncritus, son of the senator Octavian Asyncritus, and an enemy of the Potters.
James spoke up. "You're polluting the air, Severus. Why don't you go down to the baths? They might, and I repeat, MIGHT, help with your little hair problem." It was a well known fact that Severus Asyncritus had a bit of a problem with greasy hair.
"You'll get yours some day, Potter," replied Asyncritus, before turning and leaving.
" 'You'll get yours someday Potter!' As though he can touch your family!" Remus mimicked. "His father may be a senator, but there's only so much influence he has! Your family is the greater wealth of the two, James. Don't let him get to you."
"All the same, though. You might want to watch your back," Peter squeaked.
"Ahh, don't worry, Petey," Sirius replied. "No foul little backstabber is going to get Jamesy here."
The gates opened at that moment, the trumpets blared, and conversation was cut off for the time being. A retiarius and a secutor came forward out of the opened gates.
(A/N: A retiarius has a trident and a net with metal weights around the edge, so that when it is thrown it will open up and capture his opponent. A secutor [also known as a "chaser"] is supposed to catch the net man. The retiarius has the advantage.)
"I seek not you," said the retiarius, reciting the chant taught to all of this type of gladiator. "I seek a fish."
He made several fancy casts of the net, intending to show off and frighten the secutor. The secutor stood his ground, jumping out of the way of the net when it came too close.
"Why do you flee?" scorned the retiarius. He swung the net to and fro as he advanced on his opponent. As he pitched it, the secutor caught the net, blocking the trident with the net, and pitching his foot into the retiarius' abdomen. He swung the net around the neck of the retiarius, bringing the crowd to its' feet in excitement. He forced the retiarius to his knees, and brought the butt of his dagger down on the back of his head, and killed him. The crowd cheered wildly, chanting the name of the secutor over and over again.
"Vindacius! Vindacius! Vindacius! Vindacius! Vindacius!" The secutor breathed heavily, raising his dagger in salute to the crowd.
"Too quick," James said. "Not enough blood, according to normal standards."
"I disagree," Peter said timidly. "It was just violent enough for those of us who don't have as strong stomachs as you all."
"Well then, Peter, you're the only one. The rest of us all like a good bloodshed," Remus replied.
Malcenus and Sertes didn't fight that day. As it turns out, they were scheduled to fight the next day.
"Sirius, you prat!" James said. "Learn to read!"
"I can read!" he protested. "I just choose not to. Unless its important."
James returned home right before dinner. He entered the triclinium as Lily and Bithia, an Egyptian slave, were serving dinner. Bithia had always held an attraction for James, to the point where she would come to his chambers at night. She leaned over and presented the platter of partridges to him. He chose one and smiled up at her. Bithia reddened and turned away, presenting the tray to Olivia, Decimus, and Estelle in turn. Lily came over to him as he finished eating; a bowl of water to rinse his hands in outstretched before him. The towel was draped over her arm. He dipped his fingers in the water briefly, and let his gaze wander over her body. A week in their care, and she was blossoming back to what she must have been before the invasion of her village. Her auburn hair was curling over her shoulders, and she blushed at his perusal. James dried his hands with the towel, and motioned her away.
Olivia watched the exchange with interest. She noticed something that the brother and parents didn't. James held affection for her slave, Lily. Oh, the irony. James had recently spoken of his contempt for a man who freed his slave just to marry her. Lily held out the bowl for her, and Olivia came back from her thoughts. She would have to talk to him later. After rinsing her hands, she ordered Lily to finish serving her parents and then draw her bath.
"Yes, my lady," murmured Lily deferentially.
Lily placed the bowl on the counter in the kitchen after the meal was finished. From her experience, Olivia would remain with her parents for a while to talk about the day, then come to her chambers in order to get ready for and go to bed.
She let water through the tap, and filled the bath with warm water. Lily added scented oil to the water, it would soften and perfume Olivia's skin. Flower petals were scattered across the surface of the water, adding even more scent to the room.
Olivia arrived minutes later, and sank into the warmth of the water.
"Tell me a story, Lily," she commanded.
"What type of story, my lady?"
"Anything, just keep me amused."
"Yes, my lady. Err- There once was a man in my village known as Atretes, who claimed to be an ex-gladiator from Rome. He told a story of a dark-haired woman, every inch a Roman, named Julia Valerian. Her hair was as dark as night, as was her eyes, and her skin was as pale as the moonlight. They had had an affair, and she became with child. Refusing an abortion, as was the advice of her friends Octavia and Primus, she carried the child to term and bore a son. Her handmaiden, Hadassah, was bid to place the child on the rocks, because Atretes didn't want him. Hadassah was a Christian, and she chose to obey God's law instead of her mistress' law. She took the baby to a man known as John the Apostle, who had supposedly walked the earth with Jesus Christ. He gave the child to Rizpah, a widow whose husband and infant daughter had recently died. Rizpah named the child Caleb, after a warrior of great faith."
Lily would have continued, but Olivia motioned her to stop. "This is an interesting story, Lily. Continue tomorrow."
"Yes, my lady. Do you wish anything else?" Lily inquired.
"No, Lily. You're dismissed for the night. I'll take care of everything else I need done tonight."
Lily headed out of the chamber, and into the garden. She often came late at night to think. This night though, she wasn't alone. James sat in the shadow beneath one of the statues, just thinking. The statue was of a man standing behind a woman, trying to get her to turn around. She was quite beautiful, and seemed shy, her hair flowing and long, and her head downcast. His hands were placed upon her shoulder and hip, and the sculptor, whoever he was, had placed even strength into the hands to make it appear as though he was trying to have her face him. The girl's delicate body emanated resistance and innocence, though restrained passion showed in her hooded eyes and parted lips. Lily had often thought the girl's struggle was more with herself than with the man.
She did not notice James as he sat contemplating what was going on in his life at the moment, though he noticed her. She was quite a pleasing distraction, but with an unruly mistress, he couldn't afford to pay attention to other women. She could be as unfaithful as she liked, but one indiscretion on his part and she was like a Fury in her wrath. He had dallied with one woman, Penelope, a senator's abandoned wife for one afternoon, and she was complaining to him for weeks after. Never taking any consideration that he had always shown her the utmost kindness after she returned from her…indiscretions. He had to break it off, before going crazy.
As he rose to leave, he noticed the new slave, Olivia's slave, outside, kneeling on the ground, and talking in a language he didn't understand.
"Å, Marcus, De vil't forstår hva I'm følende akkurat nå. Mitt sinn slik forvirrer, akkurat da I brukt være når De gjemmer fra som meg og fortsetter flytte slik's I kan't finner De noensinne. Den kjæreste bror min, t'er slik lett kjøre, akkurat som I lærte, løp hva skremmer De fra, men hva om kjøring får De drept? De sagt alltid mine nerver var den verste delen av meg, godt, De hadde rett. Til slutt innrømmet I at De var, er De glad nå? Selvfølgelig er De skjønt, hvorfor vil't De er? All safe i Deres afterlife, som sannsynlig levebrød av det opp med en harem av en sort også t'er min gjetning. D'De hus Atretes? Den gammele mannen i vår landsby? Jeg moret min elskerinne med hans historie denne aften. Hun funnet det være interessant, minst få henne til henne at hennes kjær bror vunnet't tar henne ennå til spillene. Ahh, være slik ung igjen, hva er I siende? Å, være slik ung i ånd. Hver dag er en prøve holdt ut, og I vender mot den samme hver dagen etter. Jeg kan't står det mer, bror, I behov ut. Ut av denne stinking Eternal City, og ut av mitt liv. Ingen materie kostnadene!"
(Translation at the end. Aww, hell, here it is. 'Oh, Marcus, you wouldn't understand what I'm feeling right now. My mind is so confused, just as I used to be when you would hide from me and keep moving so's I couldn't ever find you. Dearest brother mine, t'would be so easy to run, just like I was taught, run from what scares you, but what if running would get you killed? You always said my nerves were the worst part of me, well, you were right. Finally, I admitted that you were, are you happy now? Of course you are though, why wouldn't you be? All safe in your afterlife, probably living it up with a harem of some sort too, t'would be my guess. D'you remember Atretes? The old man in our village? I amused my mistress with his story this eve. She found it to be interesting, at least to make her forget that her dear brother won't yet take her to the games. Ahh, to be so young again, what am I saying? Oh, to be so young in spirit. Each day is a trial to be endured, and I face the same every day after. I can't stand it anymore, brother, I want out. Out of this stinking Eternal City, and out of my life. No matter the cost!')
"What did you say?" asked James, out of pure curiosity.
"Nothing, much, m'lord. I was just talking to my brother."
"Your brother? I wasn't aware you had one."
"No longer, m'lord. He's dead."
"I'm sorry," James sympathized.
"Why?" Lily clapped a hand over her mouth. 'Damn my quick mouth!'
"Why what?"
"Why are you sorry? You didn't even know him." She shrugged. "I didn't mean to say it, m'lord, it just popped out."
"It's fine. I'm sorry, Lily, because I myself lost two brothers, a long while ago."
"You must miss them."
James shrugged. "What's there to miss? They were annoying little brats, and I was happy they died."
Lily heard the intake of breath as though it came from another person. "Surely they had some redeeming qualities, though."
"Not really. They were sent from Pluto himself to torture me."
Lily laughed. "I don't believe that, m'lord. They adored you most likely (who wouldn't? she thought) and you didn't like the fact that they wouldn't leave you alone. Had you actually spent some time with them, p'rhaps 'twould've been easier for them to believe in you and to mimic your actions."
"Like a servant?" he asked sardonically.
"We all serve something or someone, m'lord."
"Who told you that?"
"My father."
"And what did he serve? What did he believe?"
"He believed in love. He served others."
James winced. Love. The subject had never been a good one to broach him with.
"I'm sorry, m'lord. If you'll excuse me," Lily began backing away.
"Wait." James' voice came out hoarsely, and he swallowed before speaking again. "What do you think I serve? What is it that I believe?"
"Your beliefs are your own, m'lord, and quite private unless you wish to share them. As for what or whom you serve I would expect it to be Rome."
James laughed. "Nay, I don't serve Rome. I serve myself, if that is possible. Is it, little Lily? Is it possible to serve oneself?"
"I s'ppose that 'tis so. No one can have two masters, and if it comes down to serving an empire, even the mightiest, or yourself, I believe most would choose themselves."
Lily glanced up at James. His face was troubled, revealing conflicting thoughts. He had everything that anyone could desire. But was it all an act? Did he never show his true self to anyone? Was his façade just that, a mask? Lily was afraid. Everything had been so different from what she had been used to. P'rhaps that was why she kept silent, her lips pursed in confusion.
"M'lord, may peace find its' way to you," Lily turned to leave.
James glanced at her in surprise. He watched her form moving away, through the garden and inside the villa once more.
Finis du chapitre
I'll update soon, since the holidays are here! YAY! Santa Clause is coming to town in 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alriadne: My information on Artemis says: 'Greek moon goddess. Her main temple was in Ephesus, where a meteor fell (the meteor was then kept in the temple), supposedly designating Ephesus as the goddess' dwelling place. Although Romans equated Artemis with Diana, Ephesians believed she was the sister of Apollo and daughter of Leto and Zeus and viewed her as a mother-goddess of the earth who blesses man, beast, and the land with fertility.' So wouldn't it make sense that she was one of the most provocative goddesses?
Mystic Queen: I did.
opal.star: I didn't listen to it, but I had to express my feelings. Thank you for saying everything was right. I hoped it was. Thank you for saying that it was amazing what I did.
tonnie: Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only stubborn one out there. Now if I could only stick up for myself at school…something to work on.
mooncancer: Thank you as well. I agree that that thing was a long line of really bad swear words in 25 different languages. I think you meant to say Roman professor, not romance professor. Though it did give me a laugh to read that. You brightened my day. The unsuitable language is quite often the only way to express oneself. Sorta like the shirt I wore to school today. And got subsequently called to attendance for it, because it's offensive to one of my teachers.
Siridragon: cute name by the way. Thanks, and I did.
Remmi the Pyro: Thanks, and I'm glad you like it.
The NHL Hockey Chick: I do too. Thanks.
QueenOfTheRogue: Tell me about it. As for this comment, 'may a thousand and one sky-blue-pink alpacas wearing ocean-green-red Hawaiian grass skirts singing "the song that never ends" in German with really bad Indian accents bless this story, and curse you to the Bermuda Triangle and 13/25 of the way back where you land in the middle of the Atlantic ocean and are swept away to the artic circle wearing only your bathing suit (which you probably look horrible in)where you are met by a band of two headed dodo birds wearing snoe-white-purple boxers singing "hakuna matata" in swahili with really fake French accents that pelt you with purple sluchies and hang them upside down from the ceiling of a melting igloo by their toenails and whip them with wet noodles.....' I absolutely loved it! I was laughing so hard. It's a good 'curse' (jk) to use on my friends when they piss me off. Do I have your permission?
star: I'm glad you think it was great. Yes, the mightiest have fallen far. And it hurts the most when they land. Hopefully in a sticker bush. An acadia tree p'rhaps. Thumper does teach good morals, right?
Anonymous: Yes I did. Have you read them? I like them, how about you?
fireangel: I'm glad you like it. I didn't let that *cough*asshole*cough* get me down. You did ask kindly and maturely, and since it's Christmas break now, I'm writing more. It's just I have a Math A regents to take in January and my teacher's being horrible about how much we need to study for it.
Nestrik: I will, don't worry.
Dragana: I have. I'll try to update soon. You know (please take no offense here), but I never realize how annoying it was to say please update soon until you're the author that has to deal with all of these reviews. Again, take no offense, I didn't mean you in particular. I meant in general.