Chapter Twelve: Let the Training Commence
My body was healed, my mind set on the task of preparing myself for what we would have to face. Varro had finally accepted that he couldn't stop me, putting all his energy into helping me. Side by side we trained day and night, teaching me all that I would need to know. As days passed I felt myself getting stronger and stronger. My muscles no longer burned from holding a sword for hours. I no longer shook from the exertion. It was a good feeling. Sparing with Varro exhilarated me. It was something physical we hadn't done before. Something that was exciting and painful and made me feel more alive than I ever had in my life. It felt as if we finally shared everything there was to share with each other. At times we fought out of anger, other times out of love, most of the time simply as a learning experience. But as important as it was to learn to fight, what I felt the most was happiness. Having fun with my love in everything I did.
There was only one detriment. The people I came with, more to the point, the man who had rescued me. Caius. I knew that he harbored feelings for me but I thought I had put them to rest. Finding that I couldn't be myself with him because he took it too much to heart. No more breakfasts together, no more hooked arms and personal jokes. He was waiting and there was nothing to wait for, though it seemed that he was going to keep trying. He was going as far as speaking falsely about our relationship, making others question what my intentions were, forcing me to make confrontations that I didn't want to have to make. However I had managed to put all questions to rest with the help of Varro and the rest of our family. Most of the time it was done without my knowing, being defended before word could reach my ears that accusations were being made against me. I wasn't expecting the complications the people who followed me would cause. Just one more reason that I hated the position they put me in. Channeling all my energy into training, it helped to relax me and take my mind off of everything else, spending as much time on the sands as I could.
Even now, standing on the sands, hunched over, sweat dripped from my face as if I had just been drenched with water. I could feel blood running down the side of my face from the cut upon my brow. My shoulder was burning from its hard impact against the sand. Other fresh cuts and bruises littered my body from the heavy training I had been doing. In front of me stood Aelius, pacing back and forth, breathing hard, a frown set upon his face. In the next moment he was charging me, teeth bared, his foot flying toward my face. Crossing my arms, they took the brunt of the force, pushing me back, straightening with just enough time to bend backward, avoiding his fist from making contact. Swinging my torso to the side, I did a complete circle as I avoided another punch. Straightening, I gripped my fist in my hand before thrusting my elbow out, connecting with the side of his head. He stumbled back, giving me the opportunity to land another blow to his face, gripping his hair as I brought it down to collide with my knee. Falling to his back, I smiled as I breathed hard, my muscles shaking with the exertion I was putting my body through. Pushing myself more than I ever had before, proving that I had what it took to fight for the cause, to fight alongside Spartacus.
"Enough!" Spartacus called. "I'd say she's gotten the upper hand." He beamed as he walked down the steps of the temple.
"I have a good teacher." I grinned as I put my arm around Spartacus as he stepped up to me.
"You've healed well. You've worked hard." He said placing a kiss against my temple. "Despite your current appearance."
Getting a gentle smack and a frown from me. Though it quickly disappeared, a smile replacing it as my eyes moved to Varro who stood watching, "I have something worth fighting for."
"Go, get water." Spartacus said before calling the next pair to take the sands.
Running up to Varro, I threw my arms around his neck, laughing as I placed several kisses along his shoulder and up his neck. Holding me tightly, he buried his face in my neck, gently biting it before sucking my skin. Subtly moaning, I took his head in my hands, kissing him deeply. He handed me a cup of water, sitting me on the steps, his legs on either side of me, cleaning my wounds before he wrapped his arms around me. Both of us watched with broad smiles, cheering as the training commenced on the sands before us. We would need strength and we couldn't afford to put it off. Enjoying myself, a shadow moved over me and I looked up to see my problem standing before me.
"Lea."
"Caius." I smiled with mock happiness.
"It's been days since we've spoken." He stated gently.
Looking up at Varro, he had a frown on his face but he nodded at me. Sighing, I kissed him sweetly before standing, walking around to the temple entrance in search of a place to talk. "If its words you wish to break then let us get it over with."
"You're being cold." He frowned.
"I've grown tired of our conversations." I frowned back. "They start and end the same. I do not wish to lead anyone. I'm leaving that to you. If you do not wish to do it then I will allow Spartacus to take them under his wing."
"And I must repeat that they will only listen to one person." He stated stepping closer to me. "They do not respect me. They respect you and no one else."
"Then they are fools." I told him. He took another step toward me, his face just inches from mine, I was going to reprimand him when Otho appeared out of nowhere, putting himself between the two of us. "It is all right." I told the gladiator. He looked over his shoulder at me, taking just one step to the side, enough for me to see Caius again.
"As I told you, they listen to one." Caius repeated.
"Come." I said and moving toward the group that camped subtly separate from the others. "You all must answer a question." I said looking around the group. "Why can you not look to Caius or Spartacus as leader?" They all remained silent. "Answer." I said raising my voice.
"It wasn't Caius or Spartacus who freed us and led us here." A voice said from out of sight.
"And it wasn't Spartacus who freed and led me here either and yet I chose to follow him." I told the group. "Why can you not do the same?"
"Respect." One said before the word echoed around the group.
"Must I repeat myself yet again? I do not want this." I told them slowly, enunciating every word.
"We do." Vita said stepping forward.
"You do not know what you're asking me to do." I told her.
"We do." Felix said with a broad smile on his face.
"And what if I turn away from all of you, leaving you to do whatever you'd like?" I asked them.
"You don't have it in you." Antonia said as she stepped next to Felix.
Hating that she was right, I nodded at her, "You're right."
"Then what do you want us to do?" Caius asked, only now there was a hit of annoyance in his voice.
"Gather your things and join Spartacus' group. We are in this together and know that any decision made is made with Spartacus and the rest of the group leaders. There are no segregations, we are all one group and you need to learn to take direction from someone other than me. But if you are going to be so stubborn about it, I will be the final say of what we do. If I say nothing then I am in agreement with whatever Spartacus or Crixus say.
"Train with the others and learn to defend yourselves. Those who cannot fight are exempt but all those who can should go now before you fall too far behind. I myself need to catch up with the training that has already been taught. Felix and Antonia have already taken the initiative to start to train. Take their lead and join in. If we are able to defend ourselves the greater chance we have at living through his rebellion." They all looked at me but no one questioned anything I said. "Go." I said and they made busy before moving their things in the few empty spaces that were open where Spartacus' group camped.
"Gratitude, Lea." Caius told me.
"Why?" I frowned at him. "Because I can't turn my back on them? Do you feel as if you've won something? You have won nothing, Caius. I would love nothing more than to turn my back on them and let them do whatever they want. However it would seem as if I am what they want and even though the thought turns stomach I cannot abandon them. I hate that this is being forced upon me but if I have no choice than to let it be done. But my coldness toward you will only intensify. I am not yours and I will never be yours."
"You misunderstand –"
"Misunderstand?" I cut him off with raised brows. "When you told Vita and Appius that you were waiting for me that was a misunderstanding?" I asked. He remained silent. "Or what about when you took all those stolas I threw out and packed them with your things? Or that we have shared moments in secret?" I asked him only for him to remain silent. "The list goes on, Caius. You're delusional and unstable. The only misunderstanding there is, is that you think you stand a chance. You only regret me finding out about it. You don't have enough balls to even lead these people, leaving me to do it for you. You make me sick. If I didn't owe you everything I have I would throw you back in with your own kind. You don't belong here. You are neither slave nor a true Rebel. You are simply the helpful Roman who has earned enough respect not to be killed on sight."
"Lea, please." He frowned. "I never meant to hurt you."
"I'm not hurt, Caius." I told him and scoffed. "I'm disappointed." I stated and walked away from him.
"Lea!" He called running to catch up with me. "My words mean nothing. Apologies for speaking out of turn."
"No." I said stopping and facing him again. "There are not enough apologies in the world to make up for all the misery you have caused me. Ever since we've set out to find the Rebels you have been insufferable. What happened to the kind and caring man that rescued me? What happened to the man I grew to care about? Because the man in front of me now is a self-centered and jealous man. One who thinks because he saved me he holds a claim on me. Well, hear me, Caius; because this is the last time I'm going to say this. I. Am. Not. Yours." I told him angrily.
For a moment he held his composure before anger moved across his face. "You should be." He told me through clenched teeth.
"Excuse me?" I frowned at him, taken aback.
"I have given you everything. I've never asked for anything from you and have given you everything you could ever want in return. Varro cannot give you anything other than pain and heartache. He will die and he'll take you down with him." Anger flowed through me and I punched him across his jaw as hard as I could. He recovered quickly, gripping my arms painfully, pulling me closer to him. "I could have given you the life you've always wanted. I tried to give it to you and all you can do is think of him. All you want is him and he can give you nothing."
"Let go of me." I told him coldly.
"We would be wonderful together. I can give you everything you could ever want or need."
"No, you can't." I said shoving him away from me with as much force as I could. "Do you want to know why you can't? Because you are not Varro." I told him. "He could lead me to my death and I would follow him blindly because I love him. I love him more than anything else in this world or the next. I could never love you."
"You could!" He yelled at me.
"No! I couldn't!" I yelled back at him. "It's like you don't know me at all." I told him with venom. "Varro is my world and you mean next to nothing to me compared to him. I'd like to call you friend but you always take it one step too far. You think you stand a chance with me and you don't. From now on, you are not to speak to me or look at me unless it is regarding training or the rebellion. We are not friends. We are nothing. You mean nothing to me."
"You don't mean that." He said with a small voice and fear in his eyes.
"I do, Caius." I nodded at him. "If this is what it takes for you to see how serious I am than I do mean it. You're also no longer my second in command. I've spoken to Otho on the subject and he has agreed to take care of things when I am not present."
"Lea." He said sadly.
"Learn your place, Caius. Learn it or I will hate you for it." I told him and once again walked away from him.
Alone for only a moment, Otho appeared at my side, his arm brushing mine as we walked. It was a comfort as I took deep breaths to try and calm myself. Looking at him, I smiled wrapping my arm around his waist.
"It needed to be done." He told me gently, doing the same.
"And it felt wonderful." I smiled up at him. "It was overdue."
"Are you all right?" He asked.
"I am." I nodded at him. "I feel as if a weight has been lifted. Gratitude."
"None needed." He smiled placing a kiss in my hair. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yes." I nodded again. "I was trying to keep the peace with him because of everything he's done for me. But he's not the man I thought he was. He's not as good as he appeared to be. He's more Roman than Rebel."
"Apologies, I know he was a close friend." He said gently rubbing my arm.
"An illusion." I replied with no emotion.
"Lea!" Naevia's voice called from behind me.
"What is it?" I asked turning to her.
"You need to come." She told me already turning on her heel.
Looking at Otho we both rushed after her. Running round the temple I slowed as I took in the sight before me. Stopping, I couldn't help the smirk that crossed my face as I watched Varro repeatedly hit Caius, blood smeared across the Roman's face. Crossing my arms, I stepped closer, watching as the man I loved beat the man I had grown to hate. Only it wasn't just me. Spartacus, Crixus, and everyone else was doing the same. Not a single person was stepping forward to assist him.
"Stop this." Antonia said appearing at my side.
"Not just yet." I smiled without looking at her. "I'm enjoying this."
"Lea!" She said gripping my arm. "Stop this!"
Looking at her, my smile faded and I looked at her with a hard expression. "No. He deserves this."
"No, he doesn't." Antonia frowned before she walked away from me.
Turning my attention back to the men in front of me, I watched as Varro took Caius by the hair, punching him hard, dropping him to the ground on his stomach. He attempted to get to his feet but couldn't make it off his knees. Stepping forward, I put my hand on Varro's shoulder, feeling his heaving breathes. He looked at me with a heavy frown on his face.
"It's okay." I told him, taking his hand in mine, gently running my fingers over his newly cracked knuckles. "It's okay, my love." I smiled, putting my hand on his face. He nodded at me, turning away from the Roman. The crowd dispersed and I looked to Mira who came forward and put her arm around Varro, leading him into the temple. Turning to Caius, he was still on his hands and knees. Walking around him, I bent down in front of him, a smile still on my face. "Have you learned your place yet?" I asked him.
"He got the upper hand." He replied, pushing himself back, sitting on his heels.
Laughing lightly, I shook my head at him. "You will never learn, will you?" I said sadly. "You deserved this."
"He's not as amazing as you think he is." He stated.
"You're right." I nodded. "He's even more amazing then I think he is. He just defended my honor and I am grateful for that. I will not apologize for him. You deserved this. I take pleasure in seeing you this way."
"You are more malicious then I ever imagined." He grinned at me.
"You pushed me to this. You pushed Varro to this. You brought all of this down on your own head." I stated. "If you had simply looked at Antonia the way you look at me all of this could have been avoided. You have to know that she has had you in her sights since you first met."
"Yes." He said with a small smile. "And I've already had her. I'm not interested."
My smile disappeared and I punched him hard across his face, sending him back onto the ground. "You're a pig. You are not the man I thought you were."
Looking up at me with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, he grinned at me. "You made me this way."
Standing, I kicked him hard in his abdomen before walking away from him. Antonia was waiting, ready to tend to him, but before she could rush off to him I gripped her arm, making her look at me. "He doesn't want you." I told her. "He doesn't want you and you are only hurting yourself by trying to make him see you. He won't, Antonia. He is not the man we believed him to be."
"That's your fault." She frowned at me.
"Blame me all you want." I told her gently. "But at the end of the day it is his own choices that have led to this. I've always been honest about my intentions. You've always known what I wanted. So has he."
"Varro." She said with furrowed brows, my words seemingly sinking in.
"Varro." I nodded with a smile. "Everything else is just background noise. Like the cheering of the crowd while standing on the sands. There is one thing that is in focus for me."
"Varro." She repeated.
Growing my smile, I nodded at her again, "Varro."
"Caius will always want you." She told me.
"It'll be the death of him."
"Go to Varro." She nodded and smiled.
"Stay away from Caius." I told her.
She nodded but I knew that she wouldn't listen to me. Walking into the temple, I briskly walked to my room seeing Varro pacing as he rubbed his knuckles. Smiling, I stepped forward, gently taking his hand in mine, placing a kiss against his broken skin. Looking up at him his face was now relaxed as he smiled at me. Leaning up, I ran my fingers through his hair as I kissed him deeply, slipping my tongue between his lips.
"I love you." He told me sweetly.
"I cannot love you more. It's simply not possible." I beamed at him.
"Does this mean you aren't angry with me for what I did?" He asked tentatively.
"Of course not." I told him. "He deserved it. It pleased me to watch you hurt him."
"Some might look down on you for that." He commented.
"Let them." I replied, a small frown forming on my face. "But I am not going to let him try and manipulate me or anyone else under my watch."
"You are still the leader of them." He sated as he took a step away from me.
"I don't have a choice." I told him. "They refuse to follow another. How am I supposed to turn my back on them?"
"You can't." He said with a small smile. "It's not your nature."
"Apologies." I frowned at him. "Varro, I don't want this."
"I know." He nodded, taking my head in his hands as he placed a kiss against my forehead. "But it seems you don't have a choice."
Sighing, I wrapped my arms around him, pressing myself as close as I could to him. Unable to spend as much time with him as I had wished, I was swept up with the needs of camp. Along with Spartacus and Crixus, there were needs that had to be met and it seemed that I could not avoid it any longer. I spent the remainder of the day supplying them with food, water, and whatever else they needed. On top of that there were quarrels that needed to be settled and it seemed to be forced upon me to make final word.
"Do people quarrel about chickens often?" I frowned to Varro as I stripped from my dress after nightfall.
"Chickens?" He frowned back.
"Apparently someone stole one from another and I spent hours trying to figure it out and return the chickens to their proper owners."
"Chickens?" He repeated only he now had a smile on his face.
"If this is what is expected of me I'm not sure I can handle it." I complained as I crawled into bed.
"You can handle anything." He replied as he did the same.
Sighing as I leaned into the pillows, I rolled onto my side to look at him. "I feel as if I'm wasting my time and it's been one day."
"You're not wasting your time." He said turning his head to meet my eyes. "You're doing what you need to."
"You should be leading them." I frowned as I trailed my fingers across his chest. "You would be able to do a better job than me."
"No." He smiled. "They trust you. They look to you in a way that no one can replace. Whether you like it or not they're yours."
"I hate it." I frowned further, pouting.
"Stop." He smiled rolling onto his side, pulling me against him. "You are smart and beautiful and can accomplish anything you put your mind to. You want them to survive just as much as the rest of us. You will take care of them."
"I want to take care of you." I told him, putting my hand on his face.
"You've taken care of me enough." He stated. "Let me take care of you for a while."
Kissing him, I gently rubbed his cheek, "You did take care of me."
"And I will for the remainder of my life." He said kissing me passionately.
"Many, many years from now." I smiled kissing him again.
Falling asleep in his arms, I woke early, everyone looking to me running through my mind. Unable to fall back asleep, I got up, readying myself for the day. Eating and drinking, it appeared that I was the first to rise, leaving me to think heavily on what was to come. Hearing voices, I came around the corner to see Antonia and Caius. Keeping from sight I watched her tend to him with as much kindness as a wife treats a husband. Jumping, I heard my name from behind me, seeing Lucius, the old owner of the temple, coming up to me.
"Watching from the shadows now?" He asked softly.
"She shouldn't be with him." I stated coldly. "He's not a good man."
Turning to him, he had a smile on his face, "He is."
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"His heart is sound. He's simply attempting to place it in the wrong hands."
"He makes everything feel awkward." I replied as I turned away from the pair.
"He's surrounded by champions. He simply wishes to be one himself."
"Perhaps I need to make him one." I stated with furrowed brows.
Lucius laughed and shook his head at me. "Do you plan on putting her in harm's way only to have him save the day?"
"The thought has crossed mind." I smirked at him.
"Go speak with them. Make amends." He said gently shoving me forward before I could make retort.
"Lea." Caius said with surprise. "How do you fare?" He asked politely.
"Still taking pleasure in seeing you wounded." I smiled at him, hearing a loud cough behind me. "Apologies, for my comment and for what happened, I hope that we can put it behind us."
"Yes." He said getting to his feet.
"Gratitude." I told him, before adding, "But this doesn't change anything."
"I know." He nodded.
"Okay." I nodded back before walking away from them.
"Not quite what I meant." Lucius said falling in step with me.
"I spoke to him, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"That's all you can ask of me right now. I'm not sorry Varro beat him. I'm not sorry that I took away his standing amongst our people. I'm not sorry for any of it." I said quickly as my anger started to flare again.
Lucius put his arm around me with a broad smile. "You need a release."
"I'm training nearly constantly, but in this area it doesn't seem to be helping."
"I mean something other than the sword. Something that will take more thought."
Frowning at him, he laughed and led me to the growing armory, grabbing two bows and two quivers of arrows. "Lucius."
"You're not allowed to argue. If you're so intent on training then you should also learn the bow."
Nodding with a sigh, he led me from the temple and into the woods. Keeping the temple in sight, he stopped and handed me a bow and arrows. "Now, the first thing to learn is your stance. With the sword you can face your opponent, ready to fight at close range. The bow is for long range fighting. You will be able to kill with yards of distance between you and your enemy."
Nodding at him, he perked my interests. "I can kill from a safe distance."
"Yes." He smiled. "Now, stand shoulder-width apart completely sideways to your target. Do not bend your knees or your waist. You must keep a straight back. Your head is the only thing that turns toward your target and your arms are the only body part that moves." Nodding at him, I did as he said. "Your arrow has a notch in the back that fits against the string. Make sure it's in place. Keep your stance, don't let it falter or it will not shoot properly."
"Okay." I nodded, placing an arrow against the string.
"Now, straighten your bow hand but keep a slight bend in your elbow and do not lock your shoulder. Hold the bow with only three fingers, keeping your thumb lowered." Doing as he instructed, I looked at him for him to continue. "Draw the string back with three fingers before the arrow, keeping your arms in line together. Anchor the string on your face, touching the corner of your mouth so you can see down the shaft of your arrow. Take a breath, let it out, and release your arrow." Letting the arrow fly, I went to lower the bow when he stopped me. "Do not lower stance until the arrow is in your target." Nodding, I watched where the arrow had gone but there was nothing imbedding in the tree I was aiming for. "Again." He told me. Loading another arrow, I took my stance again. "This time, make sure your back in straight. Look down the shaft, envision it's path. Now try again."
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly, staring down the shaft at the tree I was aiming for. Making sure my back was straight I let it fly, burying the arrow in the edge of the tree. Smiling, I looked at Lucius.
He smiled at me, "Again."
For an hour or two Lucius and I trained with the bow. We only stopped because the noise of the temple was starting to grow louder. Everyone was waking and we both knew there were things to tend to. Also, my arms were burning from working my muscles in different ways. Smiling at him, laughing lightly, I embraced him. "Gratitude."
Wrapping an arm around each other we made our way back into the temple. "Now, I'm going to be counting on you to help me train those who are willing. The sword is fine and everything but the bow will help as well."
"Yes, Lucius." I smiled at him.
"Others have already begun to learn. Mira shows much promise. We've been working whist you've been recovering."
"She is a skilled woman. I am happy to call her cherished friend." I smiled at him.
"You enjoyed yourself, didn't you?" He smiled back. I nodded at him. "Feel less weighted down?" I nodded again, taking a deep breath. "Good girl."
Laughing again, I did feel like a weight had been lifted. Unfortunately the feeling lasted only a moment. As soon as we were within the temple walls I was once again bombarded with the worries of the camp. Lucius sighed, giving me a squeeze with his arm before he walked away from me. I settled what matters I could, walking around the Rebels, talking to a few; separating two fighting kids who were threatening to wake the dead. Sending them to their tents, I moved on, trying not to be overwhelmed with all the thoughts in my head. Before I could surrender to them, my mind was calmed when an arm wrapped around my waist. Smiling, I looked up at Varro, wrapping my arm around his in return.
"I've found that I do not like waking alone. From now on you should wake me before you leave the warmth of my side." He scolded.
"Apologies." I said kissing his arm. "I vow to never leave your side without you knowing of it."
"I'll do the same in return." He said spinning me in front of him, kissing me deeply as I laughed. "Now go be a leader."
"I'm attempting it. It's not as easy as it looks." I told him.
"Then go to Spartacus. He'll tell you what you should do." He replied.
"You're a smart man, my love."
"You're simply lucky I am not jealous of the man."
"He's your most trusted friend." I told him. "Besides, you know I only have eyes for you."
"I do." He nodded kissing me. "I do know that."
"Good." I smiled before moving away from him in search of the Bringer of Rain.
Finding him with Mira in their bed, they were talking softly to one another. Not caring, I rushed forward and threw myself onto my stomach atop the bed between them. Both laughed, smiling at me questioningly.
"I must complain for a moment and tell you that I loathe being a leader of the people." I said looking at Spartacus.
He laughed lightly, rubbing my back as he placed a kiss against my hair. "Break words and tell me why."
"These people are petty and self-serving. Their problems mean little to me and yet I have to have final say when compromise cannot be met. I find it exhausting. It makes me resent them, which doesn't help the fact that I want no part in leading them."
"You were always content in the shadows." Spartacus smiled at me.
"I enjoyed my freedom to run the Batiatus house. That was all I wanted." I frowned at him. "If I had simply been free to be with Varro at the same time I'd still be in that house."
"No, you'd have escaped with us." He corrected.
Nodding at him, I gave him a small smile, "If that had happened things would be very different right now. I wish it had been so."
Running his hand down my hair he smiled at me, "As do I."
"You would be happier." Mira commented as she gently played with my hair.
Grinning, I shook my head at her, "No. I've never been as happy as I am now. I simply did not foresee such responsibility befalling me."
"Where is your other half?" Spartacus asked.
"Right here." Varro's voice said from the doorway.
Turning my head I beamed at him. He smiled back before joining the three of us on the bed, sliding in on Mira's other side. "Hello, my love." I smiled kissing him from over Mira's side.
Laughing, she gently shoved me away from her, making me bow my head, blushing even though my eyes were still on Varro's. Spartacus broke the silence as he gripped my sides, sending me into a fit of laughter, thrashing to get away from him. Varro did the same to Mira and soon the bed was full of flailing bodies as we tried to get away from the tortures of our men. By the end of it I lay with Varro's arms wrapped around me, Mira in Spartacus'.
"It makes me happy to see you happy." I smiled at my friends.
"The same for you." Mira said taking my hand as she returned my smile.
Laughing, I basked in the glow of this moment. For in this moment everything felt as it should be. This was how life was supposed to be. We were supposed to be happy with men who loved us in a place where we were free to be so. I'd give anything to be able to live like this. All we had to do was win the Rebellion. Something that had just begun.
"My advice for you, my sister, is to simply learn as you go. I have no answers for you. I know not what I do. All I know is that I refuse to see any harm come to another slave. I will free as many as I can and I will take them under my wing and give them what the Romans have taken. I will care for them. I know you will do the same. But there is nothing more than that that I can tell you to make it easier. Even I learn something with each new day." He told me kindly.
"Gratitude." I smiled, leaning forward and kissing his cheek. "Your words are almost as good as mine." I teased and laughed.
He shook his head at me, feigning a jab for my side, making me move even further against Varro. Laughing and talking, we didn't get up until the sounds of the camp finally forced us from the bed. It was hard to leave the serenity of it. Feeling like it would disappear the moment we stepped from the room. But we all knew that it couldn't be like this forever. At some point we would be forced from our sanctuary. Forced to fight for our lives and those that followed us. But not before we prepared ourselves for the fight.
As soon as everyone was fed, we took to the sands as our training continued. Spartacus took his place in front of me. I'd learned a lot from him but it took only a few moves for him to put me onto the ground. He truly was an impressive man. Spending several hours training with him and the others, when I finally took a step away to drink and recoup I was bombarded with people coming to me with their problems.
"Junius has taken all the bread, hoarding it away like the pig he is." Prisca told me angrily.
"Apologies?" I frowned at her.
"He's taken it all for himself and he refuses to share." She said changing her wording.
"Have you asked him why?" I replied.
"What reason is there other than selfishness?" She practically yelled at me.
Looking at her, I smiled before stepping away from her, "Come with me."
She followed as we moved past several tents, seeing all our people passing the time, the sight of them in such close quarters, dirty and thinning. Every day was a struggle and if you thought too much about it, it would threaten to tear you apart. Stopping at a tent in the corner, I gently pulled the cover back to reveal a small child, a little girl that was the spitting image of her father. She was still sleeping, a slight wheeze in her breathing.
"This is Junia." I told Prisca. She looked at me with furrowed brows, understanding crossing her face. "Her mother named her after her father before she died just minutes after giving birth. She was a sickly child. Her lungs have never been quite right. All the healers told Junius that she wouldn't see her fifth birthday." I said and looked at her with a broad smile. "She just turned nine. She loves to run and play. But her lungs still aren't right and she struggles at times. But her father looks out for her above all else. If he took a little extra bread it was for her. He probably hasn't eaten a bite of food until his little girl's belly is full."
"I didn't know." Prisca told me. "I mean, I never thought…" She said trailing off.
"Exactly." I told her, hearing others behind me. "We know very little about each other. We don't know each other's situation. Where we came from. Who we're looking for. Who we left behind. We don't know anything about each other and yet we are to fight and be as one together." Pausing, I let the door fall back into place, turning around to see a small crowd forming. They were all looking at me expectantly. "All I'm trying to say is that we need to learn from each other. Embrace what we have and grow from it. We all share the same goal. We need to work together to reach it. So enough with all of your pettiness. Help me, help you." I took their silence as an agreement, smiling at them, "Gratitude. Now go, be useful."
They all nodded, some smiling, as they took their leave of me. Walking back toward the entrance to the temple, I stopped when I heard angry voices, recognizing them as Spartacus and Gannicus. I knew that the Bringer of Rain wanted to bring Gannicus into the fold, making him one of the greatest allies of the Rebellion. I also knew that Gannicus wanted no part in it. He had won his freedom and wanting nothing more than to keep it. The last thing he needed was to get himself into trouble with the Romans, supporting what was more than likely a hopeless cause.
"What's happening?" I asked but there was no time to reply before Spartacus attacked him.
"Lea." Varro said appearing at my side.
"Varro, what's going on?" I asked him.
"All our coin is missing." He replied. "As well as the map with our plans on it."
"Gannicus wouldn't take it." I frowned at him. Looking at the crowd all seemed to believe it. Even Oenomaus stood idly by while Spartacus and Gannicus fought. "Enough!" I yelled stepping forward only to have Varro pull me back. "This isn't right. I don't believe that Gannicus would do such a thing."
"Spartacus believes it." He stated.
Out of the corner of my eye I watched Mira dart across the sand, picking up a bow and arrow. Yelling to Spartacus, he and Gannicus dodged the arrow, watching as it made purchase in the throat of Chadara. Rushing to her, she was already dead.
"I only meant to wound." Mira said with a tone of guilt.
"You did what was right." I told her as our coin and map was pulled from her body. Nasir appeared, grief stricken, taking Chadara's hand in his, saying her name. "Apologies about your friend." I told him, he looked at me with wet eyes. "Truly." I said with furrowed brows, running my hand down his hair.
Staying with him, I didn't move until Gannicus stormed by with his belongings. "Gannicus." I said following him. "Gannicus wait."
"I'm not staying here." He said with a small laugh, turning to face me.
"What is waiting for you in Capua? What has Rome given you that can be rewarded with such loyalty?" I frowned at him.
"My freedom." He said with disdain before turning on his heel and moving away from me. Gripping his arm, yanking it to make him face me again, he took my arms painfully in his grasp. "Don't make this harder than it has to be, Lea."
"Stay." I told him sadly, putting my hands on his forearms. "If all the years we've known each other meant anything to you, you'll stay."
"Don't." He said gripping my arms tighter.
"There is nothing for you there." I told him, moving my hands to his shoulders, stepping closer to him. His hands moved to the sides of my head and he heaved a heavy sigh. "You belong here with us. Not just because of your skill but simply because you are one of us. No one is more like us than you are. You must see that."
"All I see is a group of Rebels starting a fight that they cannot win." He replied.
"We can win this." I frowned, pulling away from him. "In the end it's your choice, but choosing to leave in the wrong one."
"Lea." He said gripping my arm. Spinning, I met his eyes with a hard glare. "Come with me."
"What?" I frowned at him.
"Come with me. If you stay here all you will find is death. You may live long enough to see all those you care about die and then you too will die."
"No, I won't." I stated matter-of-factly. "I have something to live for."
"What? Love?" He smiled in mockery.
"Has it been so long that you've forgotten the feeling?" I frowned at him with sadness. His expression softened and I saw something shift in his eyes.
"Release her!" Varro's voice yelled, the sound of rushing feet following it.
Gannicus released me in time for me to turn, my hands finding Varro's chest as he rushed to defend me. "It's all right." I told him gently.
"You're words have found their mark." Gannicus told me. "But my mind remains unchanged."
"So you are just going to leave?" I frowned at him.
"I have made my decision."
Nodding at him, I fought back the tears that threatened. "Then you deserve whatever awaits you in Capua." I told him, turning and storming back into the temple.
"Lea." Varro said following me. "Slow down."
"He's infuriating." I replied, still rushing forward.
"Love, please slow down." He said gently.
Sighing, I slowed my steps until I stood in the hallway, hearing him step up behind me. His hands found my arms and he pressed a kiss against my shoulder. "He's going to leave and it's a mistake. They are not going to spare him simply because he won his freedom, Rome will always find a way to enslave us. The freedom they gave him is simply one more way with which they do it."
"I know." He said kissing my shoulder again. "But he is free and is free to make his own choices."
"I know." I said turning to him with a frown on my face. "But his place is with us."
"If that is so then he will return." He told me reassuringly.
"Something has to give, Varro. These moments of peace cannot last and I'm terrified of what will happen when it finally ends."
"We will figure it out together." He said before kissing me passionately. "No matter what happens. As long as we're together everything will be as it should."