Chapter 2: Righteous Indignation

Aislinn was given lavish servants' quarters. The only exception to regular quarters being that hers were separated from the main part of the palace and had gratings on the windows to prevent her 'leaving' without the emperor's permission. Aislinn growled at seeing this. She grabbed a vase and slammed it into one of the grates. Someone cleared their throat behind her. She whirled around ready to attack. There stood Claude, standing and watching in great surprise. She relaxed a little and frowned.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be cowering in the awesome bravery of your emperor? He's such a cunning and strong specimen of a man. Took a dangerous young GIRL!" she threw another piece of porcelain into the grating, "...while she was UNARMED!" another piece of pottery shattered against the window, "...and completely NAKED!" a fourth object broke at the hands of the angry Aislinn, "...and brought her over miles to his home where he was at a total disadvantage, to fight her in public, in a YEAR!" the final piece of beautiful royal tableware hit the window and shattered. She panted and knelt, roaring up at the sky. She lowered her head and burst into tears. Claude approached her as she wailed loudly. He hesitated, and then put a hand on her quivering shoulder.

"Actually it's quite an honor. His highness wouldn't give just anyone the opportunity to die at his hands in the arena," he soothed. Aislinn cried louder. He winced. "Really, you should keep it down. I'm sure the emperor is getting ready to sleep and you really don't want to upset him right now."

"Oh don't I?" she yelled. She climbed up and yelled through the grating. "Why wouldn't I want to upset the wretched brat you call 'highness'? So brave you are, Commodus! So brave! Have to muster all your strength to fight me, will you? Good! You'll need it! I'll do to you what I've done to every other man that's crossed me!" she yelled defiantly. She forgot in her state of extreme emotional upset, that being a little quiet and submissive would be the best way to get her back to her people. Her pride and indignation raged through her alongside her heartache and sorrow. She slid to the floor, silently.

"And what have you done to every man that's crossed you?" a voice behind her said. Aislinn stood bolt upright and turned. Commodus and five guards stood behind her. He smiled as he noticed fear crossing her face.

"You wanted to wait a year to find out, didn't you highness?" she asked spitefully. If she was going to die, she thought she might as well do it before being humiliated for a year at the hands of the Roman Empire.

"I would like to have peace and quiet until then, am I clear?" he said simply. She growled and threw a vase over his head. It shattered on the wall above, the remnants falling pitifully behind him. He chuckled. "So your people win battles by letting anger get the better of them." he mused.

Aislinn snarled, and then stopped. He was smiling. This was exactly what he wanted. She drew in a very deep breath and exhaled slowly. She looked up at him. "Forgive me, highness. I forgot my place as your guest. I promise I will behave properly from here on," she said through slightly gritted teeth.

He frowned. "Very well." he said. He turned to leave.

"Highness?" Aislinn called after him. He turned and looked at her. "I have chosen the one to spar with me during the year."

He looked a little baffled at this. She couldn't have met very many of the guards already. Still, she was full of surprises. "Who?" he asked.

"I choose you," she said in a low voice. The guards began to murmur to one another. Commodus called for silence.

"I was not one of you options, Boadicea Christian," he said angrily.

"My people believe in making war between only the blood of those who have challenged us. If I may have any man I choose to practice with then, it will be either you or your nephew," she countered. She felt quite triumphant as a look of rage crossed the emperor's face and he grabbed her by the arm.

"You will leave my nephew well alone. If I ever hear of you anywhere near him, I'll kill you so slowly you will forget why your suffering began!" he warned. Aislinn smiled a little. He had been successful in making her very angry, now she was returning the favor. He looked into her eyes to see if he was intimidating her sufficiently. He saw the hint of defiance and let go. She wanted him to be angry. She wanted him to lose his temper as she had done. He looked down. If she could humble him by being calm and humble, he could do the same. "Forgive me, Boadicae Christian. I forget that you are but a stranger in my land and have no understanding of our mannerisms. You are tired and need to rest. I will send for you when I am ready to begin sparring." he said. He bowed a little to her and turned to walk away. Aislinn felt a torrent of anger course through her. How dare he! He had made her furious and then been kind (at least in appearance), how dare he! She turned and looked at Claude, who was still standing in the corner of the room and looking terrified.

"I think you should rest as well, sir," she said. He nodded quickly and left the room, darting across the hall into his own. Aislinn breathed deeply and knelt to pray.

"God, my father, please protect me. Please soften his heart and strengthen mine," she breathed feeling more tears well up in her eyes. She prayed relentlessly for a few hours while crying until falling asleep on her bed.

In the other side of the palace, Commodus finished the documents that had been laid before him during the day. He groaned and mumbled to himself. Why had his men brought him a young woman? True, she obviously had a reputation as a warrior, but why her? And why didn't they take note of the cross etched into her medallion? She could've easily been an assassin sent by the Christians to do away with him to make room for their Messiah's kingdom. He shuddered. What had he gotten himself into? All he wanted was a reasonable challenge for a fight in the arena and now his life and throne might have been at stake. Worse, she had threatened dear Lucius. He sighed heavily and took a vial of the sleeping draught his sister had prepared for him. His head throbbed with enormous words scratched on laws and edicts that had been set before him, with complaints from aristocrats and senators, with the horrible words he had been forced to hear earlier that day from all of the senate and his sister.

"It is time that you have a wife," they said. They had continued by saying that he should have at least one full wife to sire an heir for him and if he wanted he could have as many exotic concubines as he needed. He hated this thought. Women were a nuisance. A distraction from what was important. He didn't need the love of a woman. He had been adored by his mother and had the protection and respect of his sister that was all he needed. As far as an heir, Lucius would suffice. He sat down on the bed as his subconscious began to chide him.

"You couldn't have a wife if you wanted one!" it said cruelly. "You're cruel, and spiteful, harsh, and dissolute! No woman would ever hold you tenderly to her bosom! Even your own mother found it too difficult a task." He shouted loudly at nothing and threw one of his scrolls across the room. It was that girl. She was making him furious. He sat down on the bed. Perhaps the reason the men had brought him a woman was that they felt he couldn't handle fighting a man. How could they think that? Hadn't he proved himself? He felt enormous tears beginning to well-up in his eyes at the thought of his people hating him. He sat down on his bed again and let the sadness overtake him. He cried bitterly until the candles and his eyes grew too dim to burn with sadness any longer. By midnight, both he and Aislinn slept soundly after a long and heartfelt cry.