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Chapter 15
Coming of Caesar
The mist was covering the fortress as it did every morning, but unlike many mornings the fortress was not silent. People were running all over the fort, mostly servants running to and fro for Marcus. He had a carriage full of things, hidden most of Lucilla's belongings and some of his own he was taking back to Rome. Gaius was throwing some more belongings on to the carriage when he was approached by people he feared.
Gawain and Galahad walked over to Gaius, the Roman gave a quick shiver. He didn't like the knights; he didn't want to think of what they were capable of. "Where are you going?" Galahad questioned smugly.
"I can't answer that." Gaius said, he tried to keep his voice steady.
"Why? You do know where you're going, don't you?" Gawain inquired.
"Because it is not my place to answer such questions," Gaius allowed showing his inferiority.
"Knights," Arthur called from behind them. Gaius let out a sigh of relief when he saw Gawain and Galahad walking over to Arthur.
The knights had gathered around Arthur, all loyal to the end. "General Patrious has decided he needs to go to Rome, it is our duty to make sure he has a pleasant departure."
"And hopefully he'll never come back," Bors said loud enough only for his brothers to hear.
"Has he heard something from the Lady?" Lancelot questioned. "It's been nearly a month and there has been no word of her arrival in Rome… doesn't that bother you?"
"Perhaps she was detained with her ailing father." Marcus appeared behind the group.
"Perhaps," whispered Tristan getting a glare from Arthur.
"We will see each other soon. Farewell." Marcus said turning around to mount his horse. He hadn't even gathered his reins before the familiar sound of the gates opening grabbed everyone's attention.
From around the corner a galloping entourage of horses and men came to a crashing halt before the knights. "Marcus!" The front man bellowed as he dismounted. He had a royal purple cloak on that contrasted is dirty blond wavy hair.
Even as the man bellowed Marcus reluctantly dismounted his horse. Arthur and the knights stood not sure what they were watching.
"Marcus."
"Cassius."
"That's Caesar to you Marcus. Or did you not get the letter? I sent it at least 3 weeks ago." Marcus remained silent not wanting to look the other man in the eyes. "I sent it to Lucilla considering I have heard nothing from her in over 3 weeks; much longer than usual."
"I don't know what you're talking about my Lord." The words my Lord had to be pulled from Marcus's mouth.
"In private," Cassius made a motion towards the hall. As Marcus walked passed Arthur giving him a glare filled with hatred. Cassius stopped in front of Arthur. "Commander Artorious I would be honored if you and your knight could join us in the hall."
Realizing he was in the presence of Caesar Arthur could only nod. The men shuffled into the hall, the knights taking their usual seats, Caesar took a seat next to Arthur and Marcus next to him. Once the doors were shut Caesar stood up and looked down to Marcus as if he was looking at a bug that needed to be squashed.
"Where is she?" Caesar angrily questioned.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Marcus said with no honor in his voice.
"Don't lie to me!" Shouted the Emperor of Rome; calming himself down he threw a piece of parchment in front of him. "She sent me this, the last letter she sent to me. These words explained how you entered her room, threw her across it and continued to beat her."
"Does she explain why I did such a thing?" Marcus was becoming smug now.
"She does. But even doing so does not take the blame from you. You were not brought up to destroy a woman for making a mistake. Is this how you treat the beauty, the pride of Rome?" The hate in Caesar's eyes was enough to melt stone.
"That's all this is about. This is what it's been about for the past two years. You're jealous that Senator Cassius chose me to marry Lucilla instead of you. You wanted her for yourself but she wouldn't even have you. Where the rumors true then Cassius? Lucilla refused your proposal." Marcus was enjoying toying with the Emperor.
Caesar said quiet for a long moment. "Lucilla wanted a man who could help her father, you were that man. As for me? I was the man that could soothe her soul."
Jumping out of his seat Marcus shouted, "I am her husband and you will not speak of my wife in such a way!"
"Oh may I not profess my love quietly to myself? Why not? You show your affection by throwing her across the room!"
This heated argument made the knights a bit awkward; they were not used to being in attendance of such acts made by such high ranking men. Yet they all were enjoying seeing Marcus getting slammed by Caesar.
"She is my property; I may do with her what I will." Marcus stood his ground.
"I will only ask one more time: Where is Lucilla?" Not getting an answer from Marcus he turned to Arthur asking the same question.
"When last we saw here she was riding southeast toward Londinium with two of my knights as escorts." Arthur stoically replied.
"Where was her final destination?"
"Rome, my Lord."
Caesar had a confused look on his face. "She said her father was ill," Tristan boldly stated.
"Her father's ill? Not last time I saw him." Looking towards Marcus, Caesar shouted. "What have you done?"
"What's right by me." Marcus would give nothing away.
"If you let any harm come to her…." Caesar intentionally didn't finish the statement.
All the knights were confused on to what was happening. "Wait," Arthur stopped the arguing, "Are you saying Lucilla never made Rome?"
"Correct. She never made Rome."
"Then where is she?" Dagonet inquired. Each was becoming worried not only for Lucilla but for Bedwyr and Cai as well, they were brothers.
"Marcus, as your Emperor I demand the information or suffer the consequences."
"You'll get nothing from me. You are no more fit to be Caesar than I am to be a farmer. That cloak should be mine. And it will be mine." Marcus was shouting. He took a step closer to Caesar in an effort to rip the cloak from his shoulders but Caesar was quicker than that, he had his dagger out and when Marcus lunged the dagger went through the side of the armor into his lung.
Falling forward Marcus fell into Caesar's arms, "She doesn't love you any… more…." Those were his last words.
Caesar let Marcus fall onto the floor. "Guards!" The guards waiting outside walked in. "Put him on the first boat back to Rome, give him to his family. There will be no public funeral for a traitor." The Guards nodded and walked away dragging the body away with them.
Turning towards the knights Caesar looked at each one in the eye. "I do apologize for the lack of nobility that was just seen. Romans usually have better decorum." Taking a breath he took his seat again next to Arthur. "Allow me to explain: Since Lucilla has been here we have stayed in constant contact. She has kept me informed on how the wall is run and who has the control. Needless to say the men here love you Arthur. You should be grateful to have that kind of respect. From what I hear Marcus ran this fort by status alone, never taking your military savvy opinions into consideration." Arthur tried to intervene but Caesar would not be stopped.
"As you heard a few weeks ago I received a letter from Lucilla. It came only a few days after a pervious letter. They usually never came so quickly. Hearing of what Marcus did, my first thought was to come here. Unfortunately my father had passed and so I needed to stay for my coronation. I came here as soon as I could.
"For weeks Lucilla has guessed Marcus was planning something against Rome. Neither of us could guess what it was. When I arrived here and saw the look on his face when he realized I was now Caesar most of my questions had been answered. Except for one… where is Lucilla?"
The knights were silent. They didn't want to show ignorance by saying they didn't know where she was but they didn't want say the wrong answer either. He was Caesar after all.
Arthur took the incentive to begin to explain his side of the story. "A few weeks ago Lucilla received a letter from Rome saying her father was deathly ill. Marcus allowed her to take leave to Rome. With her I sent two of my knights, Sir Bedwyr and Sir Cai."
"Have you heard any news from either of them?"
"No." Arthur sadly responded.
"It is what I had thought." The knights pushed further in to hear what Caesar was saying. "Marcus planned all of this. He figured a way to get Lucilla to be lightly defended and had probably his soldiers attack the caravan when they were far enough from the Wall. From there he most likely had a safe house to put her in or in the worse case he had her killed. As for your knights, I'm afraid they're captured or even worse no longer on this Earth.
"Once he had Lucilla out of the way he would come to Rome and take out anyone he needed to in order to get the crown. With him being Duke of Britannia he would easily get to Caesar."
"Only problem was Caesar died before he could get there." Galahad said a loud. Ceasar noded in agreement.
"Now there's only one thing to do," Gawain began.
"We need to find Lucilla before anything happens to her." Tristan said. He was already thinking about how he was going to slaughter those holding her captive. If he found out she was gone… god save those who took her away. The future no matter what was going to be bloody.
This chapter didn't take me long to write, it was really fun! Tell me what you think! Review, review, review!