A/N: Sorry its so short, its 4am, give me some slack!
Oliv watched his sister riding under shaded eyes. Maximus smiled more now, which made Oliv happy, but he had shared so much with Flavia. The little boy sniffed, feeling the pangs of jealousy. He felt so alone at the villa. Maximus and Flavia had been his only real friends. He bit his lip. The horse slave tutor and his sister. Sadly, Oliv walked over to Maximus, standing stoically next to him.
"What's the matter little warrior?" The slave asked. He started training for the Emperor in two weeks, and was working out a plan constantly.
"Nothing, Maximus. When can I have a go on Aurelius?"
"How about now?" He ran over to the trotting horse. Soothing him gently, the slave slipped the reins over his head, and calmly started to lead the horse back.
Flavia smiled, "that was fun. Can't we just do this all day in the stead of reading?"
Maximus grinned, shaking his head. Olivius looked on sadly. No doubt the two were sharing another one of their hidden jokes.
"Here Oliv, mount up." Maximus watched the boy carefully, not helping unless needed. His young master had a fragile pride.
The boy executed the mount perfectly. He would grow to be a fine horseman, it was a shame Oliv's father would waste him on foot soldiering.
"Why don't we try something new today Oliv? Take Aurelius twice around in a fast gait."
Maximus watched thoughtfully as Oliv cantered the beast excellently. Although the boy was young, he learned faster than Maximus had ever imagined. As Olivius neared his instructor for the second time, Maximus stopped him.
"Now then, dismount, I'm going to show you how to jump." Maximus got on the horse and walked him back, shouting instruction as he went, "calmly back Aurelius down the track. Do it slowly, and speak to him softly as I taught you. When you're this far," he paused, "stop."
The boy nodded, then yelled back, "will I have time for this in battle?" He was confused.
"No, in battle you come at the target head on anyway, we'll do that later. Now kick Aurelius into a fast gait," Maximus did so, and the horse start cantering. "Lean forward as you near the fence, and about three paces away, nudge by his back leg," the slave went on to execute a mastered jump.
As he finished, Flavia leaned into Oliv's ear and whispered, "he's only teaching you out of pity. He likes me better'n you."
Oliv bit his lip, struggling back tears. As Maximus dismounted enxt to them, worry streaked his eyes.
"Something the matter Oliv?"
The boy turned and ran back to his rooms.
Oliv watched his sister riding under shaded eyes. Maximus smiled more now, which made Oliv happy, but he had shared so much with Flavia. The little boy sniffed, feeling the pangs of jealousy. He felt so alone at the villa. Maximus and Flavia had been his only real friends. He bit his lip. The horse slave tutor and his sister. Sadly, Oliv walked over to Maximus, standing stoically next to him.
"What's the matter little warrior?" The slave asked. He started training for the Emperor in two weeks, and was working out a plan constantly.
"Nothing, Maximus. When can I have a go on Aurelius?"
"How about now?" He ran over to the trotting horse. Soothing him gently, the slave slipped the reins over his head, and calmly started to lead the horse back.
Flavia smiled, "that was fun. Can't we just do this all day in the stead of reading?"
Maximus grinned, shaking his head. Olivius looked on sadly. No doubt the two were sharing another one of their hidden jokes.
"Here Oliv, mount up." Maximus watched the boy carefully, not helping unless needed. His young master had a fragile pride.
The boy executed the mount perfectly. He would grow to be a fine horseman, it was a shame Oliv's father would waste him on foot soldiering.
"Why don't we try something new today Oliv? Take Aurelius twice around in a fast gait."
Maximus watched thoughtfully as Oliv cantered the beast excellently. Although the boy was young, he learned faster than Maximus had ever imagined. As Olivius neared his instructor for the second time, Maximus stopped him.
"Now then, dismount, I'm going to show you how to jump." Maximus got on the horse and walked him back, shouting instruction as he went, "calmly back Aurelius down the track. Do it slowly, and speak to him softly as I taught you. When you're this far," he paused, "stop."
The boy nodded, then yelled back, "will I have time for this in battle?" He was confused.
"No, in battle you come at the target head on anyway, we'll do that later. Now kick Aurelius into a fast gait," Maximus did so, and the horse start cantering. "Lean forward as you near the fence, and about three paces away, nudge by his back leg," the slave went on to execute a mastered jump.
As he finished, Flavia leaned into Oliv's ear and whispered, "he's only teaching you out of pity. He likes me better'n you."
Oliv bit his lip, struggling back tears. As Maximus dismounted enxt to them, worry streaked his eyes.
"Something the matter Oliv?"
The boy turned and ran back to his rooms.