Chapter Four: Reunited
Blood.
Yelling.
The sound of metal against metal.
It felt as if time slowed down as I took in the scene before me. The fighting had already commenced when I realized what was happening. Both sides were family to me, knowing that these gladiators that had come from nowhere could only belong to one company. Only one could bring this many gladiators to one place without an arena built around them.
"WAIT!" I screamed again, running toward where Otho was about to run through the gladiator beneath him. "Stop!" I yelled shoving him out of the way. Spinning on my heel I called to my friend. "Agron!" I yelled and all finally fell silent. All eyes were on me for a moment before they were warily watching each other. "Agron." I repeated as I stepped toward the gladiator, the sword falling from my grasp. There were only inches between us as I looked up into his eyes. "You have no idea how long it's taken me to find you." I smiled at him.
"Lea." He said almost breathlessly. Nodding, grinning at him, it was only a moment longer before he had me wrapped in his arms. "Lea." He repeated.
Laughing as I hugged him back, I couldn't describe how happy I was. "I've missed you so much." I told him finally releasing him. "You and the others."
"We searched for you." He told me, taking my head in his hands. "When we finally found where they'd sold you, the place was filled with blood and the stench of death. We could only assume the worst had happened."
"I was rescued." I stated. "Caius Laelius Sulla came and rescued me and the slaves who had the will to be free. He provided for me and many others as we continued to free as many slaves as we could."
"Rescued?" He frowned and his fingers trailed across a scar across my collarbone.
"It is not a happy tale." I told him, his hands gripping my arms, the frown on his face demanding answer. "I was continuously and brutally attacked on a daily basis. When Caius found me I was barely more than a corpse. Much healing had to be done before I was able to start my search for you and the others."
"Are you well?" He frowned harder.
Sighing, I leaned up, wrapping my arms around his neck, running my hand down the back of his head. "I am. So much more now that I've finally found you."
Hugging me tightly for a second time, emotion was tangible in the air. "Come, everyone will be eager to see you."
"Appius." I said turning to my friend. "Return with the others and get everyone ready. Come to the villa as soon as you can."
"Are you going on to the villa?" Lucius asked.
"Yes." I told him. "My family is there and I need to go to them." He nodded and yet there was sadness in his eyes. Putting my hand on his arm, I met his eyes, "You are family as well. Make sure ours gets to the villa safely." He nodded, putting his hand on my face. "I will be all right."
"Go be reunited with your love." He smiled.
"Gratitude." I smiled and quickly placed a kiss against his cheek. "Now go."
Watching my men till they were out of sight, I turned and smiled up at Agron, wrapping my arm around his waist as we started toward the villa. There was a long silence where I was simply happy to have found them. Happy that Agron was here even though part of me felt as if this were a dream. I felt myself staring at him just in case he disappeared, leaving me once again in agony over the loss of my family.
Catching me mid-stare, I blushed and looked away from him. "Apologies." I told him. "I've been looking so long it's hard to believe that you're actually here."
"Believe it." He smiled pressing a kiss against my hair. "You look well." He said eyeing me from head to toe.
"I'm fully healed. Caius has seen that I want for nothing." I told him. "He has been of great help in finding you."
"He dresses you in fine Roman garbs." He said looking at the stola I was wearing. "Something tells me it's not just your wellbeing he's seeing tended to." He commented with a cold tone.
Smiling, I leaned into his side. "He seeks something he cannot have. I've made it quite clear what I seek. He knows that friendship is all he will ever receive from me."
"Good." He smiled with a squeeze.
"And all I have is Roman clothing. Naevia will have to see me to the clothes of the Rebels." I said and laughed.
He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. There was something he wasn't telling me. Letting a small pause linger, a frown crossed my face, afraid to ask what was really on my mind. Rubbing Agron's back, I looked up at him with worry, finally asking what mattered most to me, "How does Varro fare?" Agron's smile disappeared making my stomach drop. Heaving a heavy sigh, he looked to the sky as if it was going to give answer instead of him. "Please, Agron, tell me how he is."
"He's not well." He told me with another sigh.
"In what way is he unwell?" I asked quickly.
"His health is sound." He said just as quickly, leaving me too look at him questioningly. "His heart is broken. His mind filled with dark thoughts. He thinks he lost not only his wife but you as well. He's lost everything and its put him in a state that not even Spartacus can bring him out of."
"Does he speak? Does he move? Does he eat or drink?" I asked with concern.
"He hardly speaks. He mainly keeps to himself but he will move around, though he moves slowly with no purpose. He feels his losses every moment of every day. Food has not come easily and he's given most of his away to those who need it more." Agron explained.
"He will grow weak if he does not eat." I frowned. "Spartacus needs him strong in order to fight."
"I know." Agron smiled, kissing my hair again. "Once he sees you all will be right."
"I only hope the death of his wife hasn't permanently wounded him already." I said sadly.
"It hasn't." He told me. "She died before we found where you were. Her death broke him but as soon as the grief passed he put all his energy into finding you. Everything he did was to bring himself closer to you. He wanted to find you so badly I thought he wouldn't survive the search. He loves you. He loves you more than I've ever known anyone to love another. With the exception of Spartacus. The flame he holds for his dead wife still burns." He told me with a slight frown. "Though he has found comfort in Mira's arms." He added with a smile.
Looking up at him, I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was, finally smiling, I sighed and nodded, "I'm happy he's found a measure of peace. I'm sure Mira is more than eager to please him."
Agron laughed and nodded. "Spartacus thought you'd say something of that sort."
"Did he still think me alive?" I asked.
"No, none of us did." He admitted with a frown. "But he speaks of you often. He and Varro both mention you daily. When we thought you dead, Varro disappeared inside himself, but Spartacus still speaks of your words and the influence they have on people."
"Yes, I fear my mouth is more of a burden than anything else." I told him with annoyance. "I have to make more of an effort to keep it shut."
"I disagree." He frowned. "We may not know each other well but I feel as if I've known you for years."
"They speak that often of me?" I asked with a raised brow and a smile on my lips.
"Yes." He nodded.
"I'm surprised you thought me dead all this time." I stated. "My name is not unknown to the slave world. As soon as I started freeing them I became a recognized name among many."
"We do not receive news from Capua often." He commented.
"I understand." I said leaning my head against his chest. "What of the others? Naevia and Crixus? Duro?" I asked looking up to meet his eyes. When he refused to meet mine, I knew that something was amiss. "Something else has happened hasn't it?" I asked as my stomach dropped. "Please tell me my sister isn't dead."
"We aren't sure." He told me.
"Agron." I said stopping him, turning him to face me.
"After you were sold, Ashur made a move for Naevia. But he was simply using her to expose her and Crixus' relationship to our former masters. Domina was enraged, cutting Naevia's hair from her head and sending her from the villa. From what we understand she was moved from villa to villa, we assume, on her ways to the mines. Crixus was set to chains before it was decided that he was to fight Spartacus in a match to please the Romans, meeting his death in the process. It was during that match that the rebellion was started. We killed every last Roman in the house before opening the gates and freeing ourselves."
"Lucretia survived." I told him. "I saw her in the market. And Ilithyia still lives as well."
"They will die soon enough." He told me.
"And Crixus? Duro?" I asked.
"Crixus is in search of Naevia. He will not rest until she is with him." He told me and stopped again. The pause held a heavy weight.
"Duro is dead, isn't he?" I asked, knowing that that's why he hadn't mentioned him yet. He simply nodded at me. "I am so sorry, Agron." I told him as I once again wrapped my arms around his neck.
Holding me tightly, I felt him sigh, his lips against my ear, "Seeing you alive takes away the pain of losses past. It makes the heart soar."
Laughing lightly, I took his face in my hands, rubbing his cheeks with my thumbs. "Seeing you does the same for me." I smiled at him.
"I can't imagine what seeing Varro will do to you." He smirked at me.
"Lots of crying and kissing and love making. You won't want to be around for it." I told him before we both laughed, once again wrapping our arms around each other as we continued on to the villa.
When it finally came into sight, it was Agron's arm that stopped me from rushing forward, bursting through the gates. The scouts on top of the wall were already alerting the group to our return, making the gates ready to be opened as everyone else approached it. My heart was beating so fast with anticipation I thought it was going to burst. Stepping through the gates there were fires and belongings everywhere. People drinking and laughing, making love, and talking excitedly. My eyes were wide, not wanting to miss anything, as I was led into the villa. The entrance was large with more rebels in sight. Agron spoke to one of the rebels, watching as he quickly ran off. Smiling up at him, he winked, both of us hearing commotion before Spartacus appeared in front of us. Unable to hold myself back any longer, I beamed at him before he did the same, rushing toward him. Throwing my arms around his neck, I couldn't help but laugh with happiness. Continuously running my hand down the back of his head, I gripped him tightly, never wanting to let him go. Having to pry my arms off of him, he took my head in his hands, looking at me as if it were the first and last time. Leaning into his touch, I put one hand over his heart, the other gripping his forearm.
"I love you." I told him softly.
"I love you." He said before pulling me against his chest. "We thought you dead."
"I survived." I smiled up at him. "And now I'm home."
Grinning, he placed a kiss against my forehead. "I cannot express the happiness seeing you alive brings me."
My face hurt from the force of my smile, taking his head in my hands, I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I can say the same. I feared I would never find you."
"What happened to you?" He asked.
"I am eager to share with you what transpired after I was sold, however I will save it for later." I told him. He smiled and nodded at me. "Where is he?"
"Come." He said putting his arm around me, leading me through the villa.
The house was in full celebration. They were enjoying the freedom that they were gifted. Every room we passed was filled with the sounds and smells of happiness. Soon the sounds of them started to diminish as Spartacus led me into the bowels of the villa. There was little light and the sound of the rest of the house was barely audible when he finally stopped outside of a dark room. Looking at Spartacus, I frowned, already feeling emotion starting to take control.
"He prefers to be alone and is probably asleep." He told me gently. "He's in rough shape. He hardly speaks and hasn't eaten in days."
Putting my hand on his arm, I smiled as I nodded at him. "I'll take care of him."
"I know you will." He smiled, kissing my cheek before walking away.
"Spartacus." I said turning toward him. "If it's not too much to ask could you keep everyone from this part of the house?"
"Of course." He smiled at me.
"And when the others get here?" I asked, feeling anxious.
"I'll see them properly tended to." He replied, his smile never faltering.
"Gratitude." I smiled at him.
"Bring him back." He told me with seriousness before he walked away.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the room, seeing three candles alight on a small table. Seeing a pile of belongings, my eyes moved to the opposite side of the room. The corner was dark but I could make out the shape of him. Stepping closer, I could see the pile of blankets, Varro coming into focus as I stepped next to him. Tears welled in my eyes as I knelt at his side. His skin was smeared with dirt, small wounds covering his body. Despite his condition, I couldn't help but smile. He was here. He was right in front of me. Smiling, I watched him sleep, seeing the pain across his face. Reaching my hand out, I placed it lightly against his chest, relaxing at the feel of him. Closing my eyes, my smile grew, tears running down my cheeks as I ran my hand up and down his chest. The feel of his skin was euphoric. Leaning over him, I ran my fingers through his hair, staring at his face. Leaning down, I pressed my lips against his. Gently parting his mouth with my tongue I deepened the kiss, eagerly awaiting for him to wake. Soon his lips started to move with mine, the familiar feeling making my head swim. I had missed him so much. Wanting the kiss to last forever, knowing it couldn't, he gripped my arms and pulled me away from him. Opening my eyes, even in the dark, I could see the blueness of his eyes, drowning in them as I always did.
"Hello, my love." I smiled at him. "I am home." His eyes grew wide as he simply stared at me. Running my hand down his face, I rested my hand there, running my thumb across his lower lip and then along his jawline. "Varro, love, I am real and I am here."
Without another word he pulled me down against his chest, his arms wrapping around me with a vice grip, his lips meeting mine in a fierce kiss. His mouth invaded mine, his tongue slipping into my mouth, his taste flooding my senses. Rolling me underneath him, his weight on top of me made me feel safe. Our kisses became more passionate as I felt him harden against my thigh, making me pull the clothes from his body. Smiling, I grew wet as his lips never ceased moving with mine. Arching against him as he pulled up my dress and pushed up inside of me. I gripped his sides, bending my knees, gripping him tightly as my head began to swim. It was over quickly, yet he remained on top of me, his arms still wrapped around me tightly. Holding me against him possessively, I ran my fingers through his hair as we caught our breath. All the while he remained silent. It wasn't until I felt the droplets against my bare skin that I stopped, my happiness turning to sadness. Gripping him tighter, I felt my own wave of tears as I felt another of his fall against my skin.
"Varro." I said softly, rubbing his back, feeling the scars that the whip had left, in an attempt to comfort him.
"I thought you were dead." He finally told me with a hoarse voice. "I thought you were dead."
"I nearly was." I told him, slowly rolling over so we were facing each other. "Paulus was a monster."
"How did you escape?" He asked running his fingers through my hair before resting it on my cheek, his thumb moving back and forth across my cheek.
"I didn't." I told him. "Caius rescued me."
"Caius." He said looking away from me, jealousy in his tone. Though the sound of it made me smile. "You've been with him this whole time?" He asked.
"Yes." I smiled, leaning up and kissing his neck. "You do not need to worry about what happened in my absence. I've only ever been loyal to you."
"You've been gone a long time." He said still not meeting my eyes.
"Varro." I said smiling at him, making him meet my eyes. "I love you. I love you more than anything else in this world. Nothing has or will ever change that."
"And I love you." He finally smiled, kissing me deeply.
My smile faltered when I looked at him, "I'm so sorry to hear of your wife's death." I told him gently.
Shaking his head, he smiled at me, "Not necessary."
"Not necessary?" I frowned at him. "She was your wife. From what I've been told her death took a toll on you."
"It did." He nodded. "But things were never the same. Not after what happened to us. Not after seeing you whipped and sold to that man. She came and spoke to Batiatus, giving herself to the house to help pay off my debt more quickly. She had been told of you and what you meant to me. It led to many arguments, a rift being formed." He told me with a frown on his face. "Even in our happiest moments I found that my feelings were waning. Having her in my arms again was amazing and I felt joy with her. Yet what I felt for her was diminished in comparison to the way I felt at the mere memory of you." He explained, his expression softening. Smiling, I ran my hand down his face. "I missed you. I never knew how much I loved you until you were ripped from my arms."
"I knew I loved you the moment I laid eyes on you." I smiled at him, running my fingers through his hair. "I've thought about you every day since I was sold. Being reunited with you was the only thing I could think of. There was hardly a moment where you weren't on my mind." I told him as emotion started to seep through. "I love you." I told him airily. "I love you so much."
"I love you." He said and kissed me again. "A thousand times I love you." He added and continued to kiss me.
Laughing, I wrapped my arms around him as we continued to kiss. In this moment I couldn't have been happier. It didn't matter what had happened in our past or what happened in our future. As long as we were together we would be okay. As long as we had each other we could handle anything that came for us.
Spending several hours talking and kissing and making love, I had never felt more whole in my life. Seeing his smile, the shine back in his eyes, meant the world to me. We spoke of everything that had happened since we were parted. It was hard. I didn't want him to know what happened to me and hearing of the moments he spent with his wife was not something I wanted to picture. Though it was something we both needed to go through. I had no secrets from him. I never would. Now more than ever I knew he was the love of my life. I would love him forever and now I knew that he felt the same way. I felt guilty for not being more saddened by the loss of his wife. Only I couldn't bring myself to be unhappy. These were the happiest moments of my life. To have him once again in my arms meant the world to me.
"I could look at you forever." He smiled as we laid naked in each other's arms.
Grinning, I kissed him sweetly. "And I you." His smile faltered as his fingers trailed new scars that my dress had been concealing. "Ignore them." I smiled at him. "I am healed and I am fine. I am more concerned for you."
"Me? Why?" He asked with a smirk. "I'm just as fine as you are."
"Are you?" I asked with a raised brow. "Spartacus tells me that you've become a recluse and that you haven't eaten in days."
Sighing, he sat up, looking away from me. "I had my reasons."
Sitting up, for a moment I took in the scars on his back, running my fingers across them, trailing gentle kisses along them, before turning so I could face him. "Do you have a wish for death?" I frowned at him. "Did you simply wish to wither away because you thought you had lost those you loved?"
"You were lost." He frowned at me. "I had no reason to believe that you had survived what happened to that house. I had nothing left to live for."
"What of Spartacus? What of Naevia? What of all the people who follow your brother? There are always reasons to live, Varro. Even if I were dead that is no reason for you to give up. You need to live." I told him with furrowed brows.
"My wife died. I could survive that." He told me before putting his hand on my face. "But when I thought you had been killed and I wasn't there…" He said and paused. "I couldn't survive that. The guilt alone…" He said pausing again.
"Varro." I said softly, straddling his lap before taking his head in my hands.
"There was no coming back from your death." He said sadly as he wrapped his arms around me.
"What happened to me wasn't your fault." I told him as I ran my fingers through his hair. "And even I am not worth you losing your life." I added putting my hand against his chest, feeling his hearts strong beat. "For I am alive in you." I smiled and kissed him.
"Have I told you I love you yet?" He smiled.
"No." I said shaking my head.
"Let me show you how much." He whispered with his lips against mine.
His breath moved over me, making my head groggy as he pressed his lips to mine, moving to my jawline, down my neck, and between my breasts. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders as I leaned away from him, allowing his lips to move further down. His tongue ran along my flesh as I leaned forward again, our lips once again meeting in a passionate kiss. We were about to make love again when there was a voice from outside.
"Lea?"
Both of us froze and looked to the curtain that covered the door. Sighing, I ran my fingers through Varro's hair, knowing that our time alone was now over. "Hello, Caius." I replied. Varro furrowed his brows, his muscles tensing as he looked at the man's silhouette. Smiling, I shook my head and kissed him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." Caius said gently though I could hear the hardness in his tone. "Everyone is wondering where you are."
"Apologies for my absence." I told him. "Varro and I have been preoccupied, but we will rejoin you presently."
"Gratitude." He said and left.
Smiling at Varro, I took his face in my hands and kissed him deeply. "It would appear our time alone together is spent."
"I disagree." He said wrapping his arms around me. "I refuse to allow you to dress. You are mine and I will keep you for as long as I see fit."
Laughing, I kissed him passionately as he rolled me onto the floor, once against lying atop me. Our legs and feet moved against each other's, our hands running along any bear skin within reach. Our hands gripped tightly together, rubbing fingers and palms against each other. For a moment we simply stared into each other's eyes. I could look into his eyes forever and never grow tired of them. Keeping our eyes locked, he pressed his lips to mine.
"We should dress and rejoin the others." I told him without conviction.
He nodded before kissing me again, his hand sliding down my side, reaching for my cunt as he smiled at me. Grinning, I couldn't help but bite my bottom lip, shutting my eyes as he started to massage me.
"We shouldn't." I said knowing that I wasn't going to stop him.
He silenced me with his mouth, feeling his cock harden, replacing his hand as we made love again.