Disclaimer: I do not own Gladiator, nor am I claiming to. The only thing that I own is the story, and the unnamed woman in it.
Dirt and Rose Petals
By: Blue Minstrel
Petals fall around the young woman as she stands on a balcony. The crowd roars around her, but she hears none of it. A tear rolls down her silken skin as she witnesses the death of a Caesar. Commodus.
Dead....you're dead. That's impossible, it can't be.
The crowd hushes. The words of the Gladiator echo around the stadium, his voice powerful, even so close to his death. He orders the freedom of his comrades, and two guards rush to do his bidding.
How is it, that a slave has become more powerful than a ruler of Rome? she wonders as she watches. She chuckles bitterly, making her earrings jingle. It wasn't on his own, no. The crowd made him powerful. Is that why you died, Commodus? Even after you said that you wouldn't?
FLASHBACK
"It is done. Maximus will die by my hand tomorrow, and then all of Rome will chant MY name, not his!" Commodus declares, more to the echo in the room, than to the woman standing by the window. His arms are stretched out as if taking in his own wondrous glory.
"And how exactly do you plan on doing this, when even the undefeated Tigris could not?"
He turns suddenly, lowering his arms. "Why? You don't think that I can?"
"I didn't say that."
Commodus looks her over carefully. Her long, blue robes, her brown hair in a loose bun, her jewelery. Weren't those the earrings he gave her? Finally his stops at her green eyes. They stare back at him with a steady gaze.
"Maximus will die tomorrow, because he will be.....injured before the fight." Slowly he walks over to the window, standing next to her, then sighs happily as he looks up at the sky. "It will be glorious, you'll see. Maximus will fall, and then they will all love me."
"I'm sure some love you already." She says as a sad smile crosses her face.
He grins, then looks at her. "Of course they do. Why shouldn't they?"
Silence enters the room as they both continue to stare at the sky.
"Commodus?"
"Yes?"
"What if......what if you're killed tomorrow?" Her face betrays her by showing a flicker of pain after she says these words.
He pauses for a moment, searching for the words. "Tomorrow....... is not my day to die."
END FLASHBACK
Maximus swayed, then fell. Lucilla runs to him, her robes fluttering behind her.
Why does noone run to you? The emperor of Rome lies dead among the dirt and rose petals, and it is almost as though noone cares.....no, I care.
The slaves come out now. They carry him away, and Commodus is left on the Colosseum floor. The crowd begins to leave, and the young woman turns from the balcony. After fighting against the crowd, she reaches her destination. Still, Commodus lies there. Slowly she walks on nimble feet over and looks at him. She can't help but notice that the color of blood on his white armour closely resembles the color of the petals. Carefully, she lies down beside him. With one arm under her head, she reaches over with the other to lightly play with his hair. She continues to watch him, then begins to weep when he does not turn his head to watch her.