Chapter 17: The Painting Lesson
Aislinn advised Quintus, when he came to check on her, to encourage Commodus to stay in bed for at least three days to fully recover his strength. By the time Quintus had returned to the emperor, the adrenaline in his system had worn off completely and he had crashed into a heap of moaning and crying. The pain from his arm alone was incredible, but added to it were the numerous gauges from the tiger. The physicians gave him a special tonic to remove the pain. It removed not only the pain, but his consciousness. His dreams were strange during this time. Occasionally there were memories from long ago mixed in, but for the most part he played out a hundred different scenarios betwixt himself and lovely Aislinn. He wanted her to be his wife so badly. He would even be willing to forgo having a harem of concubines to keep her with him. He wasn't sure exactly what had made him begin to feel this way for a young girl that had once made him angry enough to strike her repeatedly. Whatever it was, it was wonderful.
Three days later, Commodus sent for Lucilla. Lucilla nervously entered the throne room where her brother sat waiting for her. She bowed low.
"Hail Caesar," she said softly. Commodus motioned for the scribes that had been speaking with him to disperse. They left the room quickly. She watched and waited in fear. Commodus said nothing to her. He simply stared at her, unmoving. She gulped and fought back a plea for him to speak to her kindly. A moment later, the doors behind her opened and Falco, Drachma, the scribes that had examined the snake and three guards loyal to Falco were escorted in. Lucilla felt her heart jump. She looked back up at her brother. "What is going on?" she asked shaking slightly.
"Be silent, Lucilla. Not everyone in this tribunal is present yet," he ordered flatly. She looked down feeling tears rush to her eyes. Not just for herself, but for Lucius. If her brother decided to execute her for treason, then by law Lucius would die as well.
The doors at the other end of the room opened and several Praetorians entered. They were escorting Aislinn, Claude, Maximus, and Lucius into the room. Quintus led the group up to the throne and ordered them to stand beside it and wait for word from the emperor. Lucilla felt sorrow greater than the loss of her husband seize her. She managed to remain composed by removing herself slightly from her mind. She tried to concentrate on the voice of her brother alone. Commodus looked at the group of people standing before him. Quintus looked at them as well. "Kneel," he commanded. Lucilla obeyed immediately, but Falco and his entourage obeyed with hesitation. Commodus nodded to Quintus who now stood directly in front of them. "You who kneel before Caesar are charged with high treason. First, on account of attempted murder. Second, on account of usurpation of the office of emperor in regards to the Praetorians and the arena. Third, for ordering the destruction of the emperor's property. Fourth, for allowing the emperor to sustain unnecessary wounds in a battle. Fifth, for concealing the matter from the emperor until confronted," he announced. Lucilla began to sob a little at each of the accusations.
"Have you any defense prepared for this accusation?" Commodus asked. Lucilla shook her head desperately. This couldn't be happening. She loved her brother; she didn't want him hurt or dead. She tried to do only what was best for him, for the empire. This was a nightmare come true.
"I contest these accusations. There was no attempt made on Caesar's life from anyone other than that Celtess he keeps at his side like a ...," before Falco could finish, Lucilla hit him as hard as she could.
"How dare you speak to the emperor that way!" she yelled. Maybe by proving their guilt, she could hide her shame.
Commodus looked to the group that stood beside the throne. "Lucius Verus, step forward," he ordered. Lucius obliged. He looked very unnerved to be standing in this position with his mother in the predicament that she was. He looked at his uncle as Quintus approached him.
"Tell us what you received the night your uncle fell ill and from whom," Quintus said. Lucius shifted and recounted everything that had happened between himself and Drachma. Lucilla had not known of this she turned to Drachma, enraged. She had no power to contain herself now. Not only had her brother been threatened, but her baby boy as well. She flew at Drachma, hitting her furiously and screaming curses. Lucius ran to his uncle, who held onto him for a second. He called to the nursemaid to take the boy back to his room with a few of the guards. She carted off Lucius who was crying in fear of the whole ordeal that was about to take place between his mother and his uncle. The guards pulled Lucilla off of Drachma (who was now more unattractive than ever, sporting a great number of bleeding marks on her face), and held her away.
"Your defense against the prince's accusations is disregarded. Have you anything for the second charge?" Commodus said.
"No one seized control, sire. You were out of commission and action needed to be taken on your behalf," Falco said. "The throne needed to be filled."
"Why did the throne need to be filled?" he asked. Quintus moved to his side again.
"Claudius Hephaestus, step forward," he ordered. Claude obliged and bowed. "When those kneeling here before us entered the quarters of the emperor's slave, what were the words of senator Falco? And be precise, Caesar hates to lose information."
Claude bowed his head. He turned to Commodus. "These are the words of senator Falco, and they disgust me, highness. I implore you to not hold them against me," Claude said. He looked directly at Falco. "Upon hearing Aislinn weep, he announced clearly that 'Caesar is as good as dead.'."
Lucilla felt another stab in her heart. Commodus felt anger and sadness fighting within him at seeing his sister like this. She had done something terrible and needed to be taught a lesson, but hurting her was torture for him. "And is senator Falco a physician qualified to announce the death of a royal?" he asked.
"No, Caesar," Claude replied. Commodus motioned for him to step back. He looked at the group of traitors again. "And of the third count?"
"I am at fault, Caesar," Lucilla said quickly. Her voice broke as she confessed it. "I ordered that your slave, Aislinn be sentenced to death in the arena."
Commodus turned to Aislinn. "Then I believe your crime was not solely against me, Lucilla," he said.
"Aislinn of the Boadicea, step forward," Quintus ordered. Aislinn obliged, bowing to Commodus and then turning and bowing her head slightly to Lucilla. Lucilla felt guilt twisting a complex knot in her stomach. "Did the lady commit the sole crime of attempted murder against you?"
"No," Aislinn replied. She looked at Commodus. "May I, Caesar?" she asked. He nodded. She approached Lucilla and held out her hand expectantly. Lucilla fished for the medallion in her pockets. She took it out and handed it to Aislinn carefully. Aislinn accepted it and walked back to her place beside the throne. "Lucilla is guilty of nothing against me. I have forgiven her."
The guards murmured to one another and Lucilla felt relief of some kind settle over her. Commodus looked at Aislinn and then at his sister. "Is there any that you would hold accountable for the shedding of your blood?"
"No, Caesar. But the fault of the attempted assassination lies with Falco and his cronies," she said coldly. She glared angrily at all of them.
"Very well. The tribunal has heard all but one account for the five accusations. Maximus Decimus Meridias step forward," Quintus said. Maximus stepped forward. "Of the last two accusations, Maximus, who sectioned off the arena from the loyal Praetorians, preventing any aide to his highness in case of emergency once he had left the palace?"
"Senator Falco gave the order," Maximus said plainly.
"And who knew of all of the accounts which have been spoken of and did not report them immediately to myself, Captain of the guard, or the emperor himself?"
"Senator Falco and Lady Drachma," Maximus said. Drachma gave a wail of horrified sorrow. She knew that she would pay for her machinations with her life. Commodus nodded and motioned towards Quintus. Quintus ordered that the witnesses be led away. As the group turned to leave, Falco leapt up and drew something from his sash. It was a small knife-like star. He hurled it at Commodus. Maximus reacted quickly, throwing himself in front of the emperor. He caught the wicked tiny weapon in his shoulder. Lucilla let out a scream, as did Aislinn. Quintus flew into a rage and punched Falco square in the face. Falco crumpled to the floor in front of his horse-faced daughter and lackeys. Commodus looked up at Maximus. "Are you unhurt, highness?" he asked.
"Thanks to you, brother," he said in shock. "Take the prisoners away. They will feed the tigers in place of the others three days ago," Commodus ordered as he stood to help Maximus sink to the floor in pain. The star made a wound that was much smaller than anything he had sustained before, but it was in quite an awkward place on his shoulder blade. Lucilla sobbed loudly as the guards holding her began to drag her away. "Quintus, did you not hear that Lucilla has been forgiven of her crime? It was not solely against me, but against Aislinn of the Boadicae first. If she holds no blame to her then I, as her brother and emperor, will not either." Commodus ordered. The guards released her and looked at their ruler with admiration. Lucilla raced up to the two of them. She looked at Maximus momentarily, but then hugged her brother tightly. She wept immensely.
"I'm so sorry, Commodus. I was so afraid. I can't lose you," she whispered. He held onto her as well. She had learned her lesson. She had seen the power and respect he commanded as well as the tenderness within Aislinn that called to him. That was it! Aislinn was a warrior, a fierce warrior, that knew all too well how to be gentle and tender towards others.
"Peace, sister. Falco will pay and all will be well. Take Maximus to his quarters and tend to his wound. I will send Lucius to you there," he said. Lucilla nodded, wiping tears away as she began examining Maximus. Commodus watched all of them leave then turned to Aislinn and Claude who were being led away. "Aislinn of Boadicae, walk with me," he ordered. Aislinn nodded to him and motioned for Claude to go on. She walked up to him and bowed. Commodus reached down and took her medallion in his hand. He looked at it very closely. He smiled. "Let us go and see about my nephew."
Aislinn and Commodus walked into the room where Lucius had been waiting with the nurse. He looked up at his uncle, still crying a little. The nurse had been showing him the paintings his mother had been working on. Commodus approached the boy, held him tightly and told him to follow Quintus to his mother. Lucius cried out with joy and then ran to Quintus. As the boy and the Praetorian left, the nurse excused herself; leaving Aislinn and Commodus alone in the room. Aislinn walked over to one of the paintings, entranced.
"I have always been curious about painting. Artists are so beautifully gifted," she whispered. She reached down and lovingly touched the brushes and the paint jars. Commodus smiled and walked up behind her. She stood perfectly still when she realized he was there. He reached with one arm and held her around the waist very gently. With the other, he reached under her arm so that it was resting on top of his. He took one of the brushes in his hand and smiled.
"Hold the brush with me, Aislinn," he said. Aislinn shook as she grasped the handle over his hand. "Good, now follow my lead," he instructed.
The two, as one, dipped the tip of the brush in a jar of blue paint. They began to make long, fluid strokes over what was to be the sea. He breathed in the scent of her hair and basked in the warmth she radiated in front of him. She smelled like fresh flowers to him. This would've struck him as odd, what with her being a slave that was forced to train in combat as a man, but right now he was concentrating on the pleasure this was bringing him. HE relished the feel of her incredibly soft hand against his as they moved. He suddenly dropped the brush, allowing her to hold it alone. He removed his hand from under her arm and wrapped it around her, a little higher than the other. He leaned down, breathing deeply, and placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. Aislinn breathed slowly, trying to keep her senses. He leaned to the other side and kissed her other shoulder so very tenderly. Aislinn felt her heart and body screaming at her to take him. This was obviously love (as well as lust, but the first was much more beautiful), and she felt the same. Aislinn was overwhelmed. She whirled around and looked up at him. Commodus pressed her against him, cradling her face in his hands. He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. Aislinn let out a soft growl and kissed him deeper. Again, Aislinn felt the world drop from beneath her feet. The air grew so warm she couldn't breathe. It was as if she had shot straight up into the air, right into the sun, but it was so dark. The air around her whooshed past and she landed again, right into his arms. She sighed and looked up at him as he released her. The door behind them opened. Gracchus cleared his throat. The two turned. Anger filled Commodus's eyes and Aislinn turned as red as her hair.
"Caesar is due to address the senate in but a moment," Gracchus said.
"Then it would have been more prudent to have entered after the moment was up," Commodus growled. Aislinn pulled away and raced back to her room. He let out a sigh and then threw the painting to the floor. He felt tears rolling down his cheeks. He groaned, thinking to himself that Aislinn hated to see him lose his temper. He picked the painting back up and straightened it. He turned to Gracchus. "I am ready, there is much to discuss."