Chapter 12: The Meeting and The Plot
Cicero led Ursa back to their home. Ursa remained very quiet throughout the trip back. As they entered the house, Ursa wondered if she had done the right thing. Would the emperor simpy allow her back in after such a display? She tried to think solely of how wonderful it would be to hold him again. She sighed and sat down in one of the familiar chairs in their small den. Cicero smiled and walked over to her. He stood her up and held onto her as tightly as he could. She smiled contentedly and breathed in her only sibling. She had missed him so much the past few days. He pulled away and looked down at her with a grin.
"For the first time in a week we'll sleep properly.", he stated. Ursa nodded to him. "Let's have some hot milk like we used to do, eh?" Just as Ursa was about to answer, there was a soft knock on the door. The two turned and Cicero went instantly to the door. Standing in the doorway were three cloaked figures. Cicero bowed a little and allowed the three to enter. The figures were senators Gracchus and Gaius and Lady Lucilla. Ursa stood and bowed politely. The three nodded and approached her specifically and rather forwardly. Ursa took a few steps back as the trio advanced on her.
"Are you alright, Ursa?", Gracchus asked worriedly. She nodded back at him and looked up at them nervously.
"What did you find? Is he planning to assassinate all of the disfavoured senators or only their families?", Gaius asked. Ursa looked at him in disgust.
"Neither! He's not planning anything like that!", she said defensively. The three looked at one another and nodded. "I've found out several interesting things. I've brought some proof of what's really been going on in the palace. I think someone might be forging Commodus's signature. Specifically Falco, he seems to be truly pursuing the throne."
"You refer to him by name?", Gaius asked in amazement. The other two shook their heads slightly.
"Here, I brought these scrolls for our cause.", Ursa said handing them the bundle of parchments from the archives. Gracchus accepted them cautiously. "There's so much corruption in Falco's corner of the senate and in parts of the military as well. We should really look into them first. Commodus is naive, he's following the advice that most everyone gives him."
"But he does wield such power.", Lucilla said to the other two. "Removing him would remove the puppet they are using."
Ursa looked at her in confusion. How could she remove her brother from the throne? The only plausible way was to kill him, but surely his own sister wasn't entertaining such an idea. Ursa sighed and sat down. The three and Cicero spoke quietly and quickly in the next room. Ursa was too tired and involved in her thoughts and feelings to care.
"This documentation proves nothing. Commodus did sign these. He must be destroyed. As long as he has power, than the greater number of people fueling his evil will flourish.", Lucilla said firmly. Gracchus shifted.
"My lady, perhaps we could simply have him legally removed. It might take a little while, but no one would be hurt in the process.", Gracchus offered. Lucilla shook her head.
"My brother is beyond reason or control. He must die.", she said sadly. Cicero touched her shoulder. She felt more adamantly than anyone else in the group aside from Maximus that Commodus should be killed. It seemed terrible that his sister would think this, but all of them agreed that she would know better than the rest of them. She, after all, spent more time with him and knew more of his intimate thoughts than anyone. Cicero looked over towards his sister and frowned.
"Surely we can simply have him kidnapped, permanently.", Cicero reasoned. Lucilla and Gaius turned towards him skeptically.
"Why? Do you think he already suspects something becuase of a certain someone speaking with him privately?", Gaius asked coldly. Cicero took a few defensive steps backwards.
"Of course not. I just fear for my sister. She's grown a little piteous of the rat. It might break her heart if we went through with a plan to end him.", Cicero explained. Lucilla stepped closer to him and mustered her politician's manner. She placed a hand comfortingly on the young man's shoulder as she had done when suggesting to send Ursa in as a concubine.
"Cicero, it is exactly that fraternal love and commitment that encourages my decision.", she said sweetly. "My brother is suffering more than any other human on the earth. He is completely alone, bearing the weight of the empire, and is being used as a toy by ever politician near the capital and far. It would be most merciful to end his constant suffering. He won't even sleep without a tonic anymore. He will be at peace and with our parents again."
Cicero felt strangely comforted at the thought of that. He wished desperately that his parents were alive again in these troubled times. Hearing that another mourning orphan would have the privelege of being re-united with his loving patronage was wonderful. Of course, Cicero was made to ignore the fact that the reunion would mean the presence of murder. He sighed and nodded. Commodus seemed very confused, as was made painfully obvious by his display that night. Cicero looked at the three of them.
"How should it be done?", he asked. Lucilla and the other two looked at one another and nodded for a moment.
"We will need the help of Maximus.", Lucilla said softly. "It is something that he would be more than happy to do since he has ptitied my brother since his early ages. We will discuss the matter with him now and then meet again tomorrow night."
Cicero nodded and bowed. He looked over at Ursa once more. She seemed to be pining. It angered him. He turned back to Lucilla. She watched Ursa closely for a moment.
"We should probably make sure that she can't go back to the palace tonight after what's been said. For that matter, she should be kept in for at least three days until this is completed.", Lucilla said softly. Cicero looked at her, terriffied. Was Lucilla suggesting that they imprison his little sister. She looked at him, noticing his fear and again smiled in a calming manner. "She hasn't slept well for days. That is the answer, Cicero.", she said holding out a small flask to him. "It is very powerful, only give her a few drops every time the sun changes from day to night and vice versa. She will be perfectly safe, but in a very sound sleep."
Cicero accepted the flask hesitantly. He stared at it pensively. It would be in his sister's best interest to keep her safely out of the way. Her current infatuation with the emperor could prove deadly for everyone involved if she uncovered what was about to transpire. He knew Ursa's nature, she would immediately reveal the plan to him and cost them their lives and her own. Commodus was not a reasonable person and would kill anyone near a citizen accused of an attempt on his miserable life. Paranoia, rather than simple overindulgence, marked this young Caesar's persona among the senate. He nodded to Lucilla and the others.
"I will keep alert and make sure nothing goes awry.", Cicero said with a bow. "I thank you for protecting my sister while she was in the palace."
Lucilla smiled and nodded. "It was the least I could do after such a selfless gesture on both your accounts.", she lied smoothly. Cicero watched as the men left his small home. Gracchus hesitated. He turned to Cicero and spoke softly.
"I think permanent abduction would be a much better course of action. Would you and Ursa be with me if I attempted this myself?", he asked in an almost inaudible whisper. Cicero stared at him for a moment, then back at Ursa. He smiled. If he could keep everyone clean of the youth's blood, then all the better. He turned back to Gracchus and nodded firmly. Gracchus smiled. What appeared to be true fear and worry for the emperor was blazon on the old man's face. Cicero dismissed this. Gracchus was 'the friend of Rome' and cared deeply for every citizen and politician alike, Commodus would be no exception. Cicero walked over to Ursa for a moment and embraced her. She returned the gesture and looked up at him.
"Is everything alright? Did my information help at all?", she asked excitedly. He smiled.
"Yes, it was most useful to Lady Lucilla and the senators. It has made their decisions change slightly.", he lied. Ursa smiled. "I'll be right back."
Cicero moved to the kitchen and then out to the well where the milk they kept was lowered into the cool of the open earth. He pulled up the rope that held it and poured a small amount into a pitcher. He took the pitcher inside and set it over the hot coals of the dwindling fire at the front of the fireplace. The back fire was still burning quite brightly. He turned to Ursa and smiled a little more at her. She did the same, but only for a moment. The truth of the fact that Ursa was actually missing Commodus almost made the young man furious. He sighed and poured the milk into two cups. As Ursa looked longingly our the window, Cicero carefully put three drops of Lucilla's potion into one of the cups and brought the two over to his sister, offering her one of them. She breathed heavily and took the one in front of her. Cicero watched her drink the draught slowly and her eyes grow heavier. He felt a twinge of guilt, but pushed it violently aside to reassure himself that this would help her a great deal. Ursa leaned on him and smiled.
"I have missed you, Cicero.", she said yawning. He downed his milk in one swallow and then lifted her to him. The two laid back against the wall with Ursa laying to her brother's side, but her upper body propped against his. She smiled as she drifted off to a sound sleep. Cicero looked down at his sister and felt drowsiness settle warmly on him. He smiled. Everything in the world seemed to be fitting perfectly right now.
"Don't worry, little bear. I won't let anyone take you away, ever again.", he breathed as he kissed the top of her head and slumped over to sleep. In the palace, Commodus lay awake feverishly thinking of what the next day would hold for him and Ursa.