!!!!Warning!!!! This chapter contains sexual content that may not be appropriate for persons under the age of seventeen!!!!
Chapter 33: Let Me Call You Husband
Cicero stood in the open doorway and stared out in amazement at the troop that was on his doorstep. Commodus didn't have the patience to wait any longer. He moved in front of Quintus and up to Cicero. The two stared at each other silently for only a second.
"I've come for my wife. Where is Ursa?", he asked in one breath. Cicero frowned a little. He really did not want to give up his baby sister to this man. Ursa meant the world to him, for the past seventeen years she had been his only world. Commodus looked at him more closely. "Brother, where is Ursa?"
Cicero felt a stab at the use of that word. The little whelp was serious about this, serious enough to consider him family. Then again if he was willing to call him family and ask for Ursa rather than barge in and take her, then perhaps there was good in him after all. He examined the young ruler's expression deeply for a moment, noting the genuiune concern and need in the young man's face. Cicero gave an approving smile and then allowed the youth inside.
"I will go and get her.", Cicero said slowly. Commodus nodded enthusiastically and began to pace. Cicero found himself very amused by the anxiety his emperor was feeling for being seperated from his sister. It was absoloutely hilarious. He walked into the room that he and Ursa had shared for months since being in the capital. He walked over to her as she sat at a small desk and read over a parchment from an independant scribe. She looked up at her brother and smiled. He cleared his throat and put a hand on her shoulder. "You have a visitor."
"Really? Who?", Ursa asked as she stood.
"Well, Quintus for one. And Maximus.", Cicero began. Ursa moved past him. Cicero breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He hadn't wanted to be the one to explain to Ursa that Commodus was there and proclaiming to everyone that he spoke to that she was his wife. He followed his sister quickly into the other room, effectually blocking any means she had of darting back to the room. Ursa stopped dead when she met the gaze of her former master. Commodus smiled brightly at seeing her. Ursa frowned and spun around quickly to go back to the room. Cicero stood in her way, turning her back to face the young man forcefully.
"What do you want, highness?", Ursa asked coldly. Commodus straightened his expression. Ursa was indeed trying to keep herself from feeling any tenderness for him at the moment. No matter, in a few moments he would have them married and then in one another's arms for eternity.
"Ursa Luna, I declared us as married nearly a week ago. Why are you not at our home?", he said flatly. Ursa glared at him.
"You never asked me to marry you and I do not recall consenting to such a thing.", she said turning away. Cicero again forced her to face the young man, now feeling more like a parental figure than he had in weeks.
"I am not bound by law to ask, Ursa Luna. Am I not emperor? You however do have to obey. Now come along so that we can be presented before the senate properly.", Commodus stated firmly. Ursa scoffed and tried to turn back again. This time, Cicero held her sternly in place with her head facing her new husband. "Come, Ursa."
"No.", Ursa said proudly. She knew that around her, Commodus was a different person than around anyone else in the empire; he was vulnerable. She hadn't counted on the events of the past few days changing his demeanor so greatly. Commodus smiled brightly.
"Perhaps you don't understand me, darling. Come with me, now.", he said slowly as he moved towards her. Ursa tried desperately to get away from her brother, but Cicero held her firmly in front of him. She growled at him. "Do not make me become forceful with you, beloved."
"Stop saying that!", Ursa shouted. Commodus reached her and took her by the arms. "You wouldn't dare!" He chuckled and lifted her over his shoulder effortlessly. "Commodus!", she shrieked in surprise. "Stop this, right now! You take me back! Cicero!?!", she shouted defiantly as she smacked the young man's shoulder and back with all the strength she dared, remembering that he still had wounds from a recent scourging.
"Come along, brother.", Commodus said turning back to Cicero for a moment. "I wouldn't do this without all of our family present.
"Yes, Caesar.", Cicero said. He was rather enjoying someone else taking care of Ursa as he had done.
"You horrible, horrible little man! Do you hear me? Little! Put me back now or I'll scream!", she ranted. Commodus walked over to his horse and set Ursa over it. As she scrambled to try and get down, he swept up onto the steed and situated her in front of him. "Let me go! I'll bite you! Take me back!"
Commodus ignored her raving and began to ride quickly, yet ceremoniously back to the palace. The peoples that had gathered on the streets now began to shout praises and sing at the processeion passing them. The ones with flowers began to toss them happily at the 'newlyweds'. It wouldn't be the first time that an emperor had claimed a bride and escorted her home; but this instance didn't have the young lady coming from a foreign realm, she was simply crossing the city. Commodus beamed as he held onto Ursa and rode up to the senate steps with her. She continued to fight with him as he dismounted. He grabbed her harshly and placed her back over his shoulder, carrying her up the steps and inside.
"Senators.", he said calmly as he strode into the centre of the senate room.
The senators watched in complete amusement at this scene. None so amused as Gracchus, who felt a swell of pride at seeing his son carrying his wife. He had loved Anna Faustina more than anything and had vowed to her when she had contracted the plague that caused her brain spasm, to always look out for their son and see to his hapiness and safety. The old man's bruises and wounds from the previous week were healing nicely, though still quite noticeable. Commodus gently set Ursa down and held onto both her hands tightly.
"To order!", Gracchus called as the rest of the men silenced their snickering and comments on the situation. The troop that had led the way into the city and returned with the emporer, entered the room as well and stood near the young couple. Ursa continued to fight with him. "The senate has been called together at your request, Caesar. What is it that brings us here?"
"I call it love. This is Ursa Luna. She is my wife and I am her husband. Now I shall hold her to me and embrace her before the people of Rome. I declare that on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, not but seven days prior to this; I, Lucius Aelius Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antonius, took Ursa Luna of the house of Cicero to be my wife.", he stated firmly and proudly. Ursa was too busy physically struggling to break free of his grasp than to contest this at the moment. He looked at all of the old men with a contented smile. "Has the senate anything to say about this matter before the scribes make it official?"
"You bride appears apprehensive, sire. Perhaps she would rather be alone with you than here at the moment for a proper wedding night.", one of the senators jested aloud. The rest of the senate burst into laughter along with the Praetorians. Commodus smiled brightly and laughed as well. Ursa shouted indignantly and struggled harder with him.
Gracchus moved forward. "Caesar has spoken. Hail Ursa Luna, queen and wife of the emperor!", Gracchus shouted happily. The rest of the senate repeated in agreement. Commodus nodded to them and began to walk out of the room, trying to drag Ursa with him. Ursa planted her heels firmly into the floor and refused to budge. Commodus looked at the rest of the senate and smiled brightly.
"It is rather fetching for them to play hard to get, isn't it?", he joked as he hoisted her back over his shoulder. Ursa began shouting threats and insults as he carted her up the stairs and out into the palace. The two walked down the hallway and towards the imperial bedchamber. Ursa fought madly, now beginning to get more violent. They passed Tertullian's office. The old scholar looked up in admiration as the young man passed, carrying his 'catch' over his shoulder proudly. The two walked up to the door of the room. Commodus looked at the guards firmly. "My wife and I are not to be disturbed for any reason. If the empire falls, inform me when I open this door. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Caesar.", the two men said in amusement.
Commodus pushed the doors open and strode in calmly. He walked over to the enormous bed and threw Ursa into the centre of it. Ursa tried to climb off the bed and race to the other side of the room, but he was much too fast for her. In one movement, he leapt onto the bed and straddled her, holding her wrists down with both hands. She continued to try and move away from him. He smiled and looked her over, devouring her with his eyes.
"Get off of me! Let me go!", she shouted angrily.
"This is no way to behave before your husband.", he said firmly, lifting her for a moment and then pushing her back onto the bed by her wrists. "Like it or not at this moment, Ursa, you are my wife. Say it."
"No.", she growled. He smiled wickedly and moved closer to her, hovering an inch in front of her face. Ursa quickly leaned to one side and bit his hand lightly. Commodus shouted in surprise for a moment, then turned his gaze back to her. He cocked one brow and smiled more deviously. "Get off me or I'll scream so loudly your head will explode!"
"Promises, promises.", Commodus mused, remaining over her. "You don't have a reason to scream, darling; yet." He reached forward and nipped her shoulder lightly. Ursa gave a small shout. He moaned slightly and then moved to her neck, giving it a playful nip as well. Ursa moved furiously to try and free herself of him. He growled and nipped her ear, lingering beside her face. "You are my wife. Say it.", he whispered in a husky voice, his mouth tracing her jawline seductively.
"No.", she growled firmly once more. He smiled. He moved his hands away from her wrists long enough to remove his top and then took hold of her once more. He looked deeply into her eyes. There was no hatred for him, not really. There certainly wasn't the same fear and anger that had been there the first time she had been mistakingly brought into his quarters. She was willing, just angry with herself for allowing her senses down around him once before. Ursa was not used to being romanced, she was used to obeying her brother and other figures in authority. Commodus had tried to be tender with her once. While it had worked that night, he would need to be as forceful as any of the other authority figures in her life if he was to have anykind of lasting relationship with her. He reached one hand over the other, holding both her wrists firmly in one hand above her head. He said nothing as he reached down with his free hand and began disrobing her. Ursa shrieked as he managed to pull the soft clothing off of her and toss it to the floor. He leaned close to her face once more, touching their noses together carefully.
"You are my wife, Ursa. Say it.", he whispered. She glared at him.
"No.", she repeated angrily. He smiled and pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. Ursa cried out between both of their mouths as he pressed his body against hers; crushing her resistance with his warmth for her. Their breaths beagn to mingle, creating a strong current of electricity between the two of them. To his delight, Ursa relaxed a little and deepened herself into the kiss. He moved upward, forcing her head backwards and her breath to heighten. Ursa moaned, cursing the heat that was within her for him. He moved his face awy from hers, still lingering a hair's breadth away from her. "I can't love you.", she whispered.
"You already have.", he replied moving his cheek against hers. "I need you, Ursa. You are my world, my breath, my wife. Say it."
Ursa looked up at him. For the first time in her life, she was experiencing a fear that wasn't unpleasant at all. She longed to be with him. She had wanted to be his since the day she had seen him in the catacombs. She looked up at him, trembling. To say that she was his wife would require relenquishing not only her own will to him, it would mean that she was an adult and no longer under constant need of her brother's care. She would be a completely different person living a completely different life. However, different seemed wonderful now. She wasn't truly relenquishing her free will, she was making her will his and he was about to do the same. She smiled slightly and moved her mouth to his ear.
"I am your wife, Commodus.", she whispered. "I love you."
"Then kiss me.", he whispered back. The two met in a passionate kiss once more. Ursa felt a wall of boiling water slam into her chest at feeling his presence in her spirit. The two moaned pleasurably and breathed deeply. He moved away for a moment, savouring the sight of the young beauty that had joined herself to him. "You know I love you.", he said softly.
Ursa gently pulled her hands free of his grasp. He allowed this noting that there was a hungry fire now burning behind her gaze. She sat forward and placed a hand on each side of his waist, placing her head against his chest and breathing deeply. Commodus tilted his head backwards and inhaled the moment. He looked back down at Ursa, who gazed up at him, desirously. He leaned her forward once more, moving slightly to remove the last pieces of clothing that restrained him. Ursa moved to accept him fully and smiled at him. He growled playfully and entered forcefully, causing the young girl to arch backwards and scream loudly as she had promised. She snarled as he moved away and readied to press himself into the centre of her love once more. She grabbed both his arms and bit softly onto his shoulder as they met again. The eager royal kept a faster pace this time, entering and exiting as if they had but a few seconds left to love one another.
Ursa was overcome with emotion already. She would fully release soon. Heat gripped the two as their bodies moved in sync with their breath and holy desire. Ursa arched herself once more and screamed loudly as a magnificent climax took hold of her. She breathed heavily and began to feel a second as he grasped her shoulders tightly and shouted in ecstasy. Release of sheer passion felt wonderful to him as his physical love met its full culmination within her. The second peak of delight took hold of the young girl. Ursa shouted louder than ever as the two collapsed onto one another again. They breathed heavily, trying madly to replenish what they had just expended in the proof of their need for each other. Commodus felt that the only way he could breathe more fully was to do so alongside the breathing of his wife. How wonderful it was to say that; his wife. He moved his mouth over hers once again, drinking in the sweet relief that pulsed from Ursa's heart and lungs at once. The two remained locked onto one another until falling into a peaceful sleep together. The world was perfect for now, just perfect.
A year later, Commodus walked into the throne room looking happily at the young man that was waiting for him.
"Brother.", Cicero said turning to face his brother-in-law excitedly. Commodus approached him and embraced him for a brief moment. "It doesn't seem right to be doing this after so many years. Especially after you and Ursa have been married for one year already."
"It will seem right when the two of you are finally alone together.", the young emperor reassured. Cicero nodded excitedly. "It will just be terribly strange for your younger sister to have a child older than your firstborn."
Cicero laughed at this as did the emperor. Both seemed to be on equal terms for the moment. Ursa had been with child for nearly four months now; and Cicero had been given Callistas, one of the emperor's concubines, to wife. Today was their wedding day. True to his word, Commodus had yet to take a concubine to his bed. In fact, it seemed to be a running joke with the whole of the capital that the emperor was too exhausted by the passions of his wife to have strength for another woman. The two looked at each other in admiration for a moment.
"My sister is in love with you, do you have any idea how strange that is?", Cicero asked with a smile.
"Not as you do.", Commodus replied with a smile. "Then again, I think that you have yet to know how truly wonderful she is."
"Certainly not as you do.", Cicero replied with a laugh. "Ursa felt kindly for you since the day you met. Did she tell you that?"
"Repeatedly. ", the young monarch breathed happily. A servant entered the throne room and bowed quickly. Commodus nodded to him. The servant darted out of the room as the emperor turned back to the manservant. "Are you ready?" Cicero smiled brightly and nodded. "Good. You look like you've been waiting for this for eternity."
"Not quite eternity, Commodus.", Ursa said as she walked in calmly. Commodus hurried to her and took her in his arms. The two kissed and held one another, swaying for a moment. They turned back to Cicero. "Come, brother. It's time." Cicero breathed deeply and watched his sister and her husband lead the way out of the room. Had he known over a year ago what sending his little sister into the palace to be with the emperor would bring to their family, he would have done so at the very start of the young Caesar's reign.