Chapter 22: Twisted Sisterhood
Cicero had been knocked unconscious by the guards that had tried to take him back to the palace. The guards had simply announced, 'You there, stop where you are' before they accosted him. Cicero had been taken off by the sudden cry and panicked. He had bolted immediately in the opposite direction, but wasn't able to get very far. He lay in the infirmary as he started to come around once more. Ursa sat beside him worriedly. As he opened his eyes, Commodus walked into the room quietly. He looked over at the bed where gracchus still lay, recovering. He ventured over to him silently, trying to remain hidden from Ursa and her brother as much as possible. Gracchus sat up and nodded to his ruler. He had two bruised eyes, a large bruise on his cheek, and several contusions on his jaw. The guards that had carted him off had been exceptionally cruel to the old man. Alot of the Praetorians felt that all senators were worthless and deserved to be thrashed on a daily basis. This was a chance for a select few of them to take out said hostility on the aging politician. Commodus sat down beside the bed and looked him over once. Gracchus looked at him in something that resembled horror.
"Caesar, what happened to you?!", Gracchus exclaimed. Commodus stared at him in confusion for a moment, then remembered that he was still sporting a number of flesh wounds that had bled clearly through his white clothing. He sighed and looked away for a moment.
"Senator, I was wrong to have accused you of treason and cruel to have you arrested like that. I apologize sincerely.", the young man said. He looked up at the man with true shame in his eyes. He had been able to enjoy a small amount of comfort for the past six days, and then an even greater joy two nights ago, but now he felt more alone and burdened than ever. He had to find out who was aiding Gaius and then end the ordeal with Maximus. If Marcus was responsible for the death of his family, then he should pay for it in his absence. It was only right to give Maximus some kind of closure especially since it meant that he would be getting an easy way out at the same time. Gracchus shifted slightly.
"That doesn't quite answer my question. Were you attacked?", Gracchus asked. Commodus shook his head.
"Actually, I was performing in the arena a moment ago.", he explained. "Do you forgive me?"
"I forgive you. But I confess, I had been planning to remove you. I do not believe the throne is safe any longer.", Gracchus said softly. "Speak with Lucilla and Gaius, sire. I think they may feel threatened by something."
"Gaius has done a great number of injustices against me and against the empire.", Commodus said angrily. Gracchus frowned and fought tears away. Commodus noticed the sudden sorrow in the old man's eyes. He looked at him closely. "Senator, what troubles you?"
"Sire, the small movement against you was well-meaning in the beginnning.", Gracchus said softly.
"Gracchus, I am wearied of hearing about how good the intentions of people out for my blood were. Please just tell me what happened and why.", Commodus said quickly and sternly in a low tone. Gracchus frowned and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Caesar, if you knew everything it would break your heart.", Gracchus said sadly.
"Would it save my life? Would it protect my family?! Would it better the empire?!!"
"I don't know, Caesar."
"You don't know.", Commodus replied showing greater signs of anger in this sudden calm. "You don't know. Funny, on the senate floor you seem to know all the ins and outs of government as well as what's going on in the empire and how to remedy any problems. But when it comes down to a dire situation right in front of you", he moved closer to the old man's face, "...you don't know. Well then who does know?"
Gracchus looked at him through tears. "Your sister, she and Gaius have had it out to kill you for months.", he muttered. Commodus glared at him. "You won't believe me if I tell you. Perhaps if you hear it from herself then you will listen. Provide she doesn't end you before you get the truth."
The yung emperor began to shake with anger. He stood slowly. "Senator, you have made accusation after insult against the royal family for far too long. So help me, if I discover that you are accusing my sister of trying to have me killed and she is innocent, then it will be most amusing to have a pair of lions loosed into the senate and let them at you! Do you hear me?! I am tired of the people around me lying to me and plotting against me! I will have no more of it! All traitors will die, starting now!"
Gracchus looked up at the young man in shock. Commodus growled and stormed over to Cicero and Ursa. Ursa looked up at him, then stood and bowed. He growled at her.
"Caesar...", she began and reached out to touch his shoulder gently.
"Silence!", he yelled. Ursa jumped backwards a little and Cicero looked up at both of them in amazement. "Come with me.", he growled and grabbed her by the arm. Ursa fought for a moment as he dragged her towards the door.
"But my brother...", Ursa stammered.
"Oh, how stupid of me!", Commodus said angrily and turned to Cicero. "Stay!", he yelled at the young man. Cicero said nothing, but lay in the cot in confusion. Commodus turned back towards the door and pulled Ursa beside him. As the two left the room, Ursa pulled away from him. She now looked up at him with anger.
"What has gotten into you?", she demanded.
"Everyone!", he shouted. She silenced and stared at him. "And everything! I have been emperor for nearly six months and nearly every week has been one escape from an assassin after another! The senate doesn't respect me, the military barely obeys me, my sister treats me like a child, and my own women won't give me what I ask!"
"And what do you want! What have you asked of them?! What have you asked of any of us?!", Ursa shouted back. "Do you know why the senate doesn't respect you? You haven't demanded it! Do you know why the miliatary doesn't obey you? You haven't commanded them! Do you know why your sister treats you like a child? You haven't disproven her! As for your women, they've barely seen you from what I understand. You've been too busy wallowing in your own self-pity to try and find joy and comfort!"
"How dare you, you insolent little tart! I gave you a great privelege and what do you give me in return?!", he ranted. He stopped for a moment, looking into her eyes. What had she given him? She had given him comfort, water when he had felt as though he would die, saved his life, sung him to sleep after nights of lying awake, and laid tenderly with him despite her convictions against it. She had compromised herself as well as sacrificed for him in small and large ways. He sighed and looked away. "I'm sorry, Ursa. I shouldn't have said that. You've given me more than even my sister has in recent years. Please don't be angry with me."
"I'm not angry with you, Commodus. I am frightened and hurt. I know what my brother is being accused of and what can be done to the both of us because of it. I know what I have done and the reprocussions that follow if I do not repent and make it right.", she said trying to calm herself. She was unsuccessful. "I am terriffied for you! Your sister wants you dead! I can't lose you, I love you!"
He stared at her. Both of them trembled silently for a few moments. Commodus pulled her to him and held her as tightly as his strength would allow. She relaxed in his arms and breathed softly. He felt every current problem melting away with the gentle warmth that lay in his embrace and would continue to do so as long as the two of them lived. He had made the right choice for his wife, but he could not announce it yet. It could end her life. If there were any assassins still on the loose and he announced that he was now happily married, they would go after her immediately. He couldn't tell anyone about his intentions lest anyone let it slip. He pulled away from her and looked down into her face for a moment, studying the soft contours of her cheeks and jaw. Her bright pink lips were shaped as perfectly as the cold hard statues that lined the palace, but seemed so much sweeter and warmer. He leaned forward and tenderly pressed his lips to hers. Both inhaled sharply and embraced all the tighter. Commodus didn't know how long they remained lost in the moment, nor did he care. He suddenly remembered that he couldn't take her to his side for ever until he resolved the matter of the attempted murder and the accusations against his sister. He sighed heavily and gently moved his face away, leaning forward once more to kiss her forehead before leaving. He turned once more and smiled at her.
"Come to my chambers this evening. We have much to discuss.", he said softly. She smiled and nodded.
Commodus walked into his bedchamber in much better spirits, but still near the edge. His sister had acted strangely lately and she had seemed to want to avoid him at all cost except to give him the draught at night. The draught, he thought. Perhaps he should have Galen examine the contents of it. He would do that later that evening. He looked around the room for his sister. Lucilla sat on the bed, waiting patiently for her little brother. Commodus breathed deeply and walked over to her. She turned and smiled forcibly at him. He smiled equally at her and stood in front of her.
"Brother.", she said and moved to embrace him. Commodus allowed this for a moment, but then pushed her away. She looked down at him in feigned concern. "What is wrong, Commodus?"
"Lucilla, how did you and Gaius discover the document that Gracchus had written to have me removed?", he asked sternly. Lucilla looked away for a moment. Commodus felt a pain in his chest at this. His sister was going to lie to him, he could feel it. "How, sister?"
"Gaius and I were discussing the edict you had written last week regarding the subsidizing of physicians during the plague and we saw him leaving the archives. Gaius and I have been working to investigate many of the plots aginst you as of late. When we asked him what he had been doing he said nothing, but darted away and dropped the scroll he had been holding. I took it and read it, and then went to tell Quintus what we had found.", Lucilla said nervously. Commodus glared at her.
"And you told Quintus that Gracchus had already tried to flee and where he had been?", Commodus asked. "He could verify what you have told me without my asking for details?"
"Why would you need to, brother?", she asked innocently. She reached out and put a hand on the side of his face. Commodus pushed it away firmly.
"Sister I am not a child. Stop mothering me! You're patronizing me like a toddler, but you won't give me comfort or encouragement when I need it!", he shouted.
"Oh, brother, you're upset. Perhaps you should lie down for a few hours.", she suggested. He growled at her. "Let me get you something to calm you."
"No!", he shouted. "Lucilla you have been accused of treason as well! Gracchus admits that he had indeed been plotting to have me removed and sent to live in secret near the sea. While having me kidnapped is a crime, his intentions were noble and I will judge him based on both facts. What about you? I have read recently that Gaius has written many edicts and orders using my signature. Do you know what that means for him, sister? Treason by means of forgery, usurpation, and murder! Do you have any idea what kind of punishment that will mean for him?"
"Brother, Gaius has been writing only documents sent to the senate.", Lucilla argued. She really didn't think her petulant little brother was capable of doing the research required to prove what he had just said. She moved towards him once more. "You're over reacting, little brother. I really think you should simply go on to bed and forget all of this. We can deal with the matter in the morning when you can think clearly again."
Commodus lost all control. He was exhausted of every citizen around him denying him respect and dignity. He slapped her harshly accross the face. Lucilla fell to the floor and looked up at him in shock. She breathed quickly and began to cry a little. He glared down at her and stood over her menacingly.
"Lucilla, you have been accused as well. What defense will you have? You've done nothing but demean me for the past few days. Do you have anything to confess?", he asked in a growl. She stared at him in silence. She could confess to him right now that she had indeed plotted to kill him, but explain that Lucius's life was at stake. She still had no faith in her brother keeping his temper and understanding her fear for her son and herself. She could confess that Gaius had planned since before Marcus had died that he would kill Commodus and take the throne since he was a second cousin to Marcus himself. She could have lifted every burden from her chest that very moment, but she lacked the faith in her brother to do it. Instead, she simply burst into tears and remained on the floor. Commodus groaned and stormed over to the door. "Quintus!", he called.
The captain of the Praetorians appeared in the doorway a moment later.He bowed and saluted the young emperor. "Yes, Caesar?"
"Take my sister to the cell where Gaius is being held. Arrange for an audience with both of them and the senate tomorrow. Be sure twelve of the other nobles are there as well, we will need a tribunal. Both of them are under arrest for treason and attempted murder until they can prove their innocence.", Commodus said firmly. Quintus nodded slowly. He didn't know why the emperor was lashing out at his sister, but plots among family members were not uncommon in the empire, especially in the royal family. "Bring my nephew to me. He will need to be watched closely until further notice."
"Of course, sire.", Quintus said and ordered two men to help him with Lucilla.
Lucilla fought madly and began to hurl insults at her brother, voicing all the hurt and frustration she had experienced in silence since her father's death. Commodus ignored it and watched the guards drag his sister away kicking, screaming, and weeping. He hated seeing any hurt come to his family. Lucilla had been the only stable woman in his life since their mother had died. She hadn't been the best source of comfort, but she had donce for the time being. He sighed and sat down sadly. He hoped that Ursa would arrive soon. He needed to speak with her and relieve both their anxieties. Hopefully, by the morning his sister would have her defense prepared and would have learned a valuable lesson. There was, after all, no way that she had truly plotted to kill him. He walked over to his bedside table and took the glass from the previous night that still had the majority of the draught in it. He took it to the door and commanded the nearest guard to take it to Galen and have it examined immediately for its use and potency. After the guard left, Ursa walked up to the door. He stared at her for a moment, then smiled brightly. He took her by the hand and gently pulled her inside.