SHADOWS AND LIGHT
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the following characters, they are the property of whoever owns the rights to the motion picture "Gladiator".
Commodus sat alone in his chamber, despondent. Another pointless, lonely day. He always spent the days alone. He had no friends, no-one to talk to. His father was ashamed of him, the servants despised him and his sister, his Lucilla, the one ray of light in the darkness that was Commodus' life was now married. She had no time for her brother now. He could feel the tears well up inside him, the pain he felt fighting to get out. Why was he so unloved? All his efforts to please his father went unnoticed; HE had transferred his fatherly love onto the general Maximus. The great Maximus, thought Commodus bitterly. What is he that he is more deserving of my father's love than I? A soldier, brave and strong. That was it, Commodus realised, he possessed virtues that Commodus father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius prized more highly than any of Commodus own. What of his virtues? Cunning, intelligence, pride. Did these mean nothing?
Deep down Commodus worried that these attributes DID account for nothing in his father's eyes. Commodus knew that his father loved Maximus more than him, it was a source of great sorrow to him. It was the cancer that ate at his soul, a knowledge that froze his heart. His greatest, darkest fear was that Marcus Aurelius would chose Maximus for his heir, rendering Commodus life worthless. For what was his purpose if not to rule Rome? His blood ran cold at the thought. He could not, WOULD not allow that to happen. Commodus would be Emperor. He would be worshipped, revered, feared, and above all, loved. Maximus would have to step aside, willingly or otherwise….--
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the following characters, they are the property of whoever owns the rights to the motion picture "Gladiator".
Commodus sat alone in his chamber, despondent. Another pointless, lonely day. He always spent the days alone. He had no friends, no-one to talk to. His father was ashamed of him, the servants despised him and his sister, his Lucilla, the one ray of light in the darkness that was Commodus' life was now married. She had no time for her brother now. He could feel the tears well up inside him, the pain he felt fighting to get out. Why was he so unloved? All his efforts to please his father went unnoticed; HE had transferred his fatherly love onto the general Maximus. The great Maximus, thought Commodus bitterly. What is he that he is more deserving of my father's love than I? A soldier, brave and strong. That was it, Commodus realised, he possessed virtues that Commodus father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius prized more highly than any of Commodus own. What of his virtues? Cunning, intelligence, pride. Did these mean nothing?
Deep down Commodus worried that these attributes DID account for nothing in his father's eyes. Commodus knew that his father loved Maximus more than him, it was a source of great sorrow to him. It was the cancer that ate at his soul, a knowledge that froze his heart. His greatest, darkest fear was that Marcus Aurelius would chose Maximus for his heir, rendering Commodus life worthless. For what was his purpose if not to rule Rome? His blood ran cold at the thought. He could not, WOULD not allow that to happen. Commodus would be Emperor. He would be worshipped, revered, feared, and above all, loved. Maximus would have to step aside, willingly or otherwise….--