Chapter 32: The Emperor Takes a Wife
It had been a good three days before Commodus had returned to full imperial duty. Until then, the overseeing of much of the empire went to Senator Gracchus and not Lady Lucilla. Lucilla had been terrified by the recent events and needed time to recover completely. Lucius seemed to feel his mother's anxiety over the matter and stayed quietly out of the way as well. Quintus had been ordered to keep Maximus in the servants' quarters for the time being and arrange for the gladiator and the emperor to meet. After signing several documents that removed free marshal law among the Praetorians and soldiers, Commodus walked into the throne room to meet with Maximus. The morning had just broken over the capital, giving light to another day of limbo in the life of the young ruler. Maximus had, in the meantime, been given more than ample time to study the scrolls from Tertullian and speak at length with Quintus. He had misjudged young Commodus on many counts. There was no denying that the emperor was fairly immature, hot tempered, and often poor in his manners; but he was not a hardened murderer. He was simply a struggling young man trying to handle the throne of the largest government on earth while being prone to bad advice. Maximus felt a little unnerved that someone so callow was on the throne and making the decisions that would shape the lives of millions of people; but if given the proper guidance, Commodus might prove a great example of a leader even by comparison to his late father.
Maximus walked into the throne room where the young monarch sat on his throne looking more genuinely confident than ever. Maximus remembered seeing the boy as a younger teenager and a toddler; it was very strange indeed to see the once timid and tearful young boy sitting on the imperial throne with the authoritative crown that marked all of the rulers of the empire. It didn't seem real. Maximus held back a soft chuckle and simply bowed instead. Commodus nodded to him and stood, ceremoniously, before walking towards him. Maximus stood still and watched his commander approach cautiously.
"I thank you for the quick action you took in helping me disarm the enemy a few nights ago. You and Quintus saved my family.", Commodus said smiling.
"Cicero had a firm hand in it as well.", Maximus added.
"Cicero has been saving mine and my family's life for years now, it just hasn't been as apparent until now.", Commodus said softly. "Now, I will do as I promised.", the young ruler stated proudly as he withdrew a beautiful dagger. He handed it to Maximus, sheathed. Maximus looked at it for a moment before accepting it. He looked up at Commodus and frowned. He set the dagger on the ground and stepped away from it looking back at the young man with a slight smile. Commodus smiled back, acknowledging the gesture with more than gratitude. He cleared his throat. "Maximus Decimus Meridias, you have risked your life in the service of the emperor. I offer my hand to you once more."
With that, Commodus held out his right hand carefully. Maximus grasped his friend's hand and looked down for a moment. A brief and akward second passed between the two. He looked up at his leader's face and then pulled him by the hand into a masculine embrace.
"You loved your father, I know. So did I.", Maximus said softly. "He loved you. It was hard to see, but he believed in you to some extent or another."
"I know.", Commodus said softly. "My father said once that it's all a dream, a frightful dream; life is." He looked at Maximus emotionlessly for a moment. "Do you think that's true?"
"No. It is many dreams, Caesar. It is both good and bad, both being temporary.", Maximus explained standing a few feet away from the youth. "It is the thought that pain is short lived in every sense that makes our lives worth living."
"And is happiness short lived as well?", Commodus asked almost mournfully.
"Absoloutely. Happiness is very temporary. What humanity should seek is contentment, that lasts far longer."
"I had contentment for one night. I don't know what to do about Ursa. I love her so much, I want her to be my wife, but she has refused me.", Commodus said sitting down on the steps again and sighing heavily.
Maximus began laughing. Commodus looked up at him, scowling a little at the mockery. Maximus cleared his throat and stood over the young man with a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you forgetting who you are? You are Caesar. If you have declared that Ursa is your wife, then she cannot refuse you.", Maximus pointed out. Commodus stopped and thought about this for a moment. "But, if you ever bring hurt or sadness to her I will be the third in line to make you suffer horribly."
Commodus nodded and looked away slightly. Maximus frowned at seeing the emperor's sudden sadness.
"Will she love me if I order her to be mine?", he asked sadly. Maximus grinned brightly.
"She loves you now, it torments her. Remember that Ursa has had a sheltered life. Love aside from that which is given to her by her elders must be very frightening.", Maximus reasoned. "Besides, she feels responsible for her brother and is probably trying to use him as an excuse not to face her true feelings."
Commodus smiled in slight amusement at this. In his experience in listening to his sister and the other women in the palace talking amongst each other, it was usually the opposite in a relationship. As the man, he should have been the one denying his true feelings and resisting commitment. It was almost funny. He looked up at his renewed friend with renewed resolve and stood calmly. Just as he was about to exit the throne room with his friend, in waltzed Tertullian with an angry scowl and scroll in his hand. As the old scholar approached him, Commodus reached out and snatched the scroll away from him, wadding it into a tiny ball. Tertullian stared at the young man in shock. The emperor had usually cowered before him when he had come in to chastise him. At the moment, he felt it his obligation to chastise the young man for not taking his commitment to Ursa to heart enough to document their marriage yet. Commodus looked at the older man firmly.
"Tertullian, answer me this; do you have a wife?", Commodus asked directly.
"Yes, sire.", Tertullian replied.
"And where does she reside?", Commodus continued.
"With me at our home, sire.", Tertullian said proudly.
"And does Quintus have a wife, Tertullian?"
"Of course, sire."
"And where does she reside?", Commodus asked as he began to pace casually. Tertullian rolled his eyes.
"With him and their children at their home, Caesar.", Tertullian answered annoyedly.
"And does my fa-, I mean, senator Gracchus have a wife?", Commodus said stopping in front of the scribe, smiling brightly.
"He did, sire.", Tertullian said in slight confusion. Commodus nodded and looked a little sad himself at hearing this.
"And where did she reside?", Commodus continued as he began to pace again.
"Sire, I fail to see where this is going.", Tertullian said with a yawn. Commodus turned to him sternly.
"I asked you a question, Tertullian.", he countered. The old man sighed heavily.
"She resided with him at their home, sire.", he answered.
"So it stands to reason that the best place for a wife is at home with her husband, doesn't it?", Commodus asked with a bright grin.
"Without a doubt, sire.", Tertullian replied quickly.
"Good then. I shall need my horse readied. I need to bring my wife home.", Commodus said feeling the enthusiasm of a child about to ride their first horse.
"Sire, you haven't declared Ursa as your wife before the senate.", Tertullian added as the emperor began to leave the room.
"Not yet. I feel that she should be present for such an event, don't you Maximus?", Commodus asked lightly.
"Absoloutely, Caesar.", Maximus answered.
"Good. Gather fifty of my Praetorians and Quintus. I will not have my wife accompanying me defenseless.", Commodus added as he strode out of the room. "Now, I think this will require a change of clothing."
Maximus laughed in sheer hapiness and excitement for the first time in months. He followed the young monarch to his quarters and stood near the door as his friend went through the imperial wardrobe. The white vestments that he had donned for the initial battle with Maximus in the arena had been repaired and cleaned over the past few days. He took it out, piece by piece and examined it thoughtfully. He smiled brightly and almost sang aloud as he put every accessory on himself. Maximus watched in admiration. It almost made him truly sorrowed to see another man getting ready to enjoy something that he had just recently been denied. The fact that a friend that he felt guilty for wounding was not allowing the harm to phase him was refreshing and nearly enough to distract him from the misery of his widowerhood. Commodus finished by placing a sterling silver laurel wreath on his head. He stood before a full lenght mirror near the end of his chambers and admired himself thoroughly. He was brilliant in the pure white, appearing as a perfect marble statue sculpted by the finest artist in the empire. He smiled and breathed deeply as he turned to Maximus.
"Are you nervous?", Maximus asked with a grin.
"Excited.", Commodus replied. "Let's go. I can't live without her much longer."
"Allow me, sire.", Maximus offered as he opened the door. Commodus nodded to his friend and left the room with Maximus only a few inches behind. The two men walked hurriedly to the frontmost entrance to the palace. Quintus and the other Praetorian entourage that the emperor had ordered were at the ready on horseback. Quintus and the men rode magnificent black stallions while Commodus's proud white Arabian stood at attention for his master. The horse had been saddled and bridled in cermenious silver and purple decorations symbolizing both the emperor's marriage and royal authority. The men saluted their commander proudly and watched as he mounted the beast in one smooth movement. Maximus looked around for a moment in disappointment. Quintus suddenly rode up to him holding the reigns of another stallion. Maximus nodded to his old friend and mounted the steed. He couldn't miss this. Commodus turned to Quintus and nodded. Quintus moved the guards into formation. As the group was about to ride away into the city, Gracchus appeared on the steps and called to the emperor. Commodus turned to him, practically giddy for the moment.
"Call the senate to order and have a scribe at the ready, senator. Today, I bring my wife into the palace and take her to my side.", Commodus ordered excitedly. Gracchus smiled and bowed politely before rushing off to complete the task. Commodus turned back to face Quintus. Quintus shouted the order to the rest of the men and the group began to move towards the outskirts of the city. As they rode, slowly as possible, down the main road; several citizens began to gather to see about the commotion. Before long, word had spread of the emperor's desire. The citizens all began to celebrate, gathering up flowers and gathering back on the sides of the street for the parade that the emperor would soon make back to the palace with their new queen. Commodus smiled and breathed as deeply as he could to stay calm. The entourage followed Quintus's direction. Quintus had recieved directions from Cicero before the incident outside the city in case Lucius met with harm. The procession stopped in front of a small stone home. This was a commune for Christians, scholars, tutors, and orphans. It was quite bare as far as comforts, but the people that came from the homes appeared as bright faced and healthy as any royal. Commodus smiled to them and dismounted. Quintus led the way to the door and began to knock harshly.
"Open the door, in the name of the emperor.", he ordered. Commodus waited patiently as the door began to open. It was time to claim what he had sought for since his childhood; love, true love. The door opened wide.