Chapter 25: All Roads Lead Out of Rome

Lucilla was furious. Gracchus followed her, helping her pack as she ranted and raved. "How could you have let this happen!? You are the friend of Rome! You let the emperor feign his own death, flee the country, and now my son has galavanted off with that exotic freak of nature that bewitched my brother!", Lucilla shouted.

"Please, my lady, be a little more sublte. Your brother's life is dependant upon the knowledge that he is dead.", Gracchus said.

"Don't shush me, Gracchus! I can't believe this is happening! Oh yes, and let's not forget the little excursion into the prisons my brother took the other night! How could he! He wanted to serve in the temple of Apollo as a boy! Now he runs off with a Celtess forsaking his faith, his home, his duties, and his family!", she said kneeling and weeping. "What did I do to make him hate me in this way!?"

Gracchus knelt and embraced her softly, comforting her. "My lady, he loves you. He wanted to bring you with him. He wept bitterly at the thought of never seeing you again. Did you not notice how peculiar he had become around you and Lucius? He was heartbroken and could not be comforted."

"I loved him, Gracchus. Why couldn't he just be, be, be normal!"

"My lady he was a free-spirit from birth. You remember that. Commodus is free, now. He is very happy. Certainly you can be happy for that as well.", Gracchus offered. Lucilla wiped away her tears and nodded. This was no time for ravings about silly anger, she had to find her son. She had to be after him quickly before they reached the channel up to Briattania.

"I don't know that we'll be coming back to Rome, Gracchus. There's so much turmoil and it's not due to get better. I think Lucius and I may go to the coutryside to stay.", she said. "I couldn't bear the thought of him enduring the throne."

"I understand, my lady. Go quickly. Aislinn's brothers are due to meet them halfway and I daresay that Aislinn may become violent when she finds out about the grand charade that is in the cart following her.", Gracchus said.

"You mean, Aislinn didn't know? That wailing and carrying on wasn't a facade?", she asked genuinely concerned.

"Of course. Aislinn wouldn't have reacted so intensely if she thought for a moment that Commodus were still alive.", he added.

"Oh! That poor girl! I wept just as she did when my husband died! She really pains for him! That little snipe! I hope she hits him twice as hard as he's ever hit her! At least she has a sister to lean on from now on.", Lucilla said beginning to look resoloute. "I'm on my way, Gracchus. Pray for my journey and my son. I will send word to you as soon as possible."

The two embraced for a moment and then Lucilla hurried off towards the stables. She would have to leave alone with provisions and very secretively. No one should know that the prince was missing. She only hoped that Falco was nowhere nearby.

Aislinn awoke the next morning feeling overjoyed. She reached over and kissed Commodus tenderly on the cheek. Her heart sank tremendously as she pulled away. He was very cold. Her voice caught in her throat. She felt as if she had lost him all over again. She cried out loudly and held onto him, crying. Tormod snapped to attention and gently pried his little sister off of the fallen Roman. Aislinn did not fight Tormod. She lay limp in his arms, wailing. He turned and looked at the three men with them. Claude stepped forward and took Aislinn. Tormod nodded to the others as they began to clean up. The draught was still in effect and the fever was gone. This was good for them, but he wished that Aislinn had not had the flicker of hope that he was alive again. It was sheer torture for her and the rest of them. After the camp was ready to go, Maximus helped Aislinn onto her horse and they set off towards the border. They were making incredible time. By the end of tomorrow they would be well on the way to the ferry of the isle of Brittania and then on their way to the highlands. Tonight they would give Commodus one more vial of the fluid and by the end of a fortnight it would be uneccessary to give him any more. Gracchus had warned them that damage could be done to his heart and lungs no matter how careful they were. Danger was everpresent for both Commodus and Aislinn. It was very unnerving, but the men had faith in their skill and the strength of the lovers.

The journey to the channel was uneventful. Aislinn said absoloutely nothing and gave no facial expressions. Tormod was very worried about his sister. All of their lives she had been so vibrant and playful. He knew for a fact that this had posed a slight problem for her when she appeared before Commodus initially. It was a wonder these two had fallen for each other. Commodus being a confused and somewhat spoiled little boy, and Aislinn being a buligerant and somewhat disrespectful little sprite. Tormod found the urge to laugh when he entertained the thought of the two of them married. In fact, it seemed hilarious to think of Aislinn as married at all. After fourteen hard days of travel, and fifteen nights of cold sorrow and silence, the group arrived at the chanel. Aislinn looked at it bitterly. She was on her way home. Months ago she thought she would never see this again and was desperate to be right where she was standing, but weeks ago she only wanted to be beside Commodus. She climbed off her horse and began walking towards the ferry. Quintus and Maximus carried Commodus. Tormod waited a few paces behind his sister just in case and Claude walked in front of her. She turned to take in one last look at Rome in its proper form. She sighed heavily.

"Aislinn!", yelled the voice of a familiar little boy. Aislinn whirled around as Lucius came bounding towards her. "Wait for me!"

"Lucius!", Aislinn cried in surprise. "What on earth are you doing here!? Where is Lucilla?!"

He ran to her and hugged her.

"Is he alive again? Is my uncle alright?", he asked. Aislinn felt her heart tear into sub-molecular shards of remorse. She cried silently for a moment, a cascade of tears washing her face. She looked down at Lucius. He looked up at her with genuine excitement.

"C-c-commodus is dead, Lucius.', she whispered. "There is only one death. People cannot come back from the dead."

"But after uncle came back from the prisons he said that he had died and risen to a new life, that means he can come back over and over again!", Lucius exclaimed happily. A deeper hurt burned inside Aislinn. She had murdered more than her beloved, she had truly murdered an innocent. She fell to her knees, screaming. Tormod rushed forward and took Aislinn on the ship. Claude came over to Lucius and took his hand.

"Come along, Lucius. It will be a good long while before your uncle is awake again.", Claude said.

"Then he really is alright!", Lucius shouted happily. "I knew it!"

"Of course he is. Aislinn is simply very sad about leaving the capital. By the by about that, where is your mother? Is she very far?", Claude asked as they walked towards the ship.

"Oh yes, I told her to stay in the capital until I retrieved my uncle and Aislinn.", he said proudly. Claude frowned. The captain came to the shore and called for everyone to finish boarding. Claude sighed and walked onto the ship with Lucius.

"This is going to be rather difficult to explain.", he muttered.

Commodus began to awake as the night grew very cold. He shuddered madly. He felt sweat all around him, he must've had numerous fevers in his sleep. He rubbed his throbbing head and tried to inventory what had transpired recently. Memories came back slowly and in small pieces. The pieces that contained the beautiful Aislinn began to meld together. He struggled to focus on these small bits of joy that were flashing before him as the present became clear. He felt the gentle rocking of the sea beneath him and sighed. He was free. No more meetings with the senate, no more gaudy attire in public, no more protocol even when in private with his family. He smiled. Now he could be with Aislinn. Aislinn! She wasn't there! It was so dark and cold, and hunger coupled with pain were gnawing at him. He rolled over and pulled himself onto his knees. His armour and previous clothing had been removed. He was wearing simple leggings and a tunic, both white. His shoulder wound had been bound well, but ached. The ship lurched underneath him. Another sensation met him. He felt as if every organ within him were quivering and freezing cold. It was the same type of stomach illness that accompanied a terrible headache or high fever. He turned to the side and heaved for a moment. Every muscle in his body and stomach seemed to strain and wretch uncontrollably. Luckily, a cabin boy spotted him while trying to sneak a peek at the 'corpse' in the hold. The boy gasped when Commodus looked up at him. "Aislinn.", he rasped. The boy screamed and ran up the stairs.

Everyone on board the ship stirred. Aislinn was laying next to Lucius, who had been told not to say anything about his uncle to her by Claude. She woke quickly. Lucius stirred and looked up at her. She patted his arm comfortingly and went to the door of the large cabin to see what was going on. The captain marched over to her door after recieving the report from the terrified cabin boy. He bowed a little, knowing her garb and what it represented.

"My lady, the Roman in the hold is awake and is asking for you.", he said. Without thinking, Aislinn slapped him hard accross the face. He looked up at her in shock. What was inappropriate about what he had told her? She glared at him and breathed at least three curses in Gaelic that her faith condemned using. At the moment, Aislinn didn't care. She was without purpose and feeling. She had shed innocent and tender blood, and now people were toying with her saying that he lived again. The confused mariner took a few steps back. Lucius burst past them to go below and see his uncle. Aislinn groaned and raced after him. Aislinn raced down the stairs, tripping on the last and tumbling a few steps. it was debateable which hurt more, her injured head or her twisted ankle. Thanks to Commodus, this leg would never be the same. She looked over at Lucius. He was kneeling over his uncle's body. He reached down and hugged him. She sighed and looked away for a moment. She turned back and got up to go and take the boy back up the stairs. To her surprise, Commodus reached up and returned the affection of his nephew.

"Uncle!", Lucius cried happily. Tormod, Maximus, and Quintus arrived on the scene as Aislinn began moving slowly towards the form of her beloved. Could this be real? Was this a truly cruel joke that her mind was playing on her? She inched closer and gazed in fear and wonder at him. Commodus found a little more strength when he felt Aislinn's presence near him. Lucius pulled away and stepped back. Commodus looked up at Aislinn and gave a big, bright grin. Aislinn gasped and fell on him. She held onto him.

"Aislinn.", he whispered.

"You were dead. I saw you, I held you. You were so cold. You were dead.", she whispered in true shock.

"I haven't been dead since before we met in the arena.", he breathed. "I have missed you, Aislinn. We... (gasp)...we weren't sure that this would truly work. I am so glad it did. We can be together."

She smiled. He was alive. She stopped. He was alive? She growled. He was alive! She pulled away and hit him as hard as she could. He fell backwards. Maximus and the others flew forward and struggled to pull Aislinn off of him before she could undo his small recovery. She shouted and cried.

"How dare you! You horrible little toad! How could you!? I mourned for you! I died, myself! You pretended all along! You lied to me!", she shouted. Commodus reeled and looked up at her as Quintus helped him sit up.

"It was the only way, Aislinn. I just wanted you to go home. I just wanted you to be free again. I want to be with you.", he said softly. The small voice he was using was all his strength could allow him. He suddenly retched again. As he did, Aislinn strongarmed her way out of the grip of the two men and ran to him. She held onto him. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to make you cry again."

"Silence!", she shouted and held onto him tighter. "Be quiet, Commodus." Her voice and face softened, but her hold did not. "You could still fade. Bring me strong basil and broth if we have it. He needs sustenance and water. Bring blankets and get him warm. Tormod, help get him up into the cabins.", she ordered. Tormod nodded to the others to do as she said. Aislinn did best when she was allowed control of a situation, this was her small way of remaining in control of everything that had happened over the past weeks and perhaps the past few months. She looked down and smiled. She kissed his face repeatedly. He groaned, but thoroughly enjoyed each tender gesture. Now he was truly alive. He couldn't wait to see the highlands. Gracchus had warned all of them that he was still in danger until the medicine was out of him entirely. He laid back in her arms and ignored the fear that was trying desperately to take hold of him. If he expended every bit of his soul in the next few moments, then it would be well spent. Aislinn was his. She truly loved him, and he had finally found his other half. The fear stepped back and began gathering its strength. It would be back in the morning reminding him of his mortality and the fact that Aislinn's family was still ahead. Falco was still on the loose, and if Lucius was here then where was Lucilla? For now, though, it remained silent. Lucilla would have quite a distance to catch up, what with being a day and a half behind her son, but she was getting close. The sides of the puzzle were about to meet, and what a picture they would make!