I have received some interesting commentary regarding whether Spartacus was IN LOVE with Mira, vs. Spartacus loving Mira. I suppose we could say based on what has happened of late on the show, Mira has been killed, I think Spartacus realized too late that he was in love with her, but it was a different kind of love than he had with Sura. That can be a difficult thing to recognize when you have known only one kind of love. I imagine it is much like the difference between your first love and the person you eventually end up with (if you are lucky). First love is always so magical and easy to recognize because of the emotions you feel. Lasting love is more difficult to pinpoint and may manifest itself in many different ways, like friendship, companionship and partnership. In Spartacus's case, this realization came too late, however the writers have not chosen to explore thatyetin the current season. Feel free to give me your thoughts!
Anyway, here is another dose of Sparty/Mira angst for you all to enjoy! (BTW I love to torture you guys!)
The nights were always the worst for Mira. She spent her days rushing about trying to prepare….prepare for what? She often asked herself this. She knew it would only be a matter of time before the Roman army would arrive and the walls of the city were strong, but they could not stem the mighty tide of the Roman legions. Whispers of a new general, Marcus Crassus were being spoke about among the free slaves and gladiators. Mira was not familiar with the man, but had heard of his vast wealth. Wealth it seemed bought you many things including the power to influence "steadfast" rebels. Mira knew there were those among them without honor, who only clung to Spartacus' cause because of the potential wealth it might provide them. Not much good it will do when you are dead, Mira thought mirthlessly as she whittled an arrow shaft late into the night. Mira was well aware that Spartacus tolerated Nemetes and his kind because of their effectiveness in battle. But she often worried that these men could be easily swayed to betray us all for the sake of a heavy bag of coin.
At the thought of coin, Mira paused her whittling and walked to a secret spot in the wall. Mira knew the kind that mixed with the camp followers, whores, and warriors alike. Many knew that her position allowed her access to some of the spoils of war. She looked out into the main courtyard of the villa. She dare not allow anyone see her reserve of coins she had carefully hidden away. Crixius and Naevia's villa was secure, but Mira dare not risk losing what she had worked to save.
The bag was heavy in her hands. It was more money than she had ever thought to have. Almost 1000 denari in her last count. Actually 994 to be exact she thought. Mira could have saved a lot more, but she would typically take half of her share of the spoils and give the coin to others who needed it more. Soon after the real battles had started and their numbers swelled, many among them who had no care for the slaves who either could not fight or had any other skill other than being a servant. She watched as the slaves that were in this category, and it was more than most, traded one cruel master for another. They were still slaves in one way or another. So Mira had given many who had escaped their slavery enough coin to leave and make their way away from Rome. Better for them to get out of the path of Rome's wrath than stay and succumb to it. The last thought made her pause. Would she succumb to Rome's wrath…undoubtbly, Mira thought. A slow march towards death. Those words, spoken what seemed to Mira to be an eternity ago, made her smile. That is when Mira had declared intention of staying my Spartacus' side even in battle; to forge her own destiny beyond that of lover and bed mate to Spartacus. She knew Spartacus thought more of her than just bed sport. Even in the early days, he had said as much. Even if it was a barely veiled attempt to ensure that she was safely out of reach in any skirmish they may encounter, Mira thought a smile spreading across her face at the memory. A small laugh escaped her lips as she remembered many things Spartacus had attempted to try and keep her safe, but Mira always found a way to get herself in the thick of things. Much to the chagrin of Spartacus. It must be proof he cares for me, Mira continued to smile at the memory. Yet that is all that she had now, a heavy bag of gold and memories.
"Long it has been since laughter was heard from those lips." Spartacus' jest echoed into the chamber, piercing Mira's happy thoughts suddenly and startling her.
Mira looked to the doorway to find Spartacus leaning, his arms crossed over his chest, his cloak over his broad shoulders. He was always a striking figure, Mira thought as she caught her breath.
"Long has it been since there was a reason to laugh." Mira shot back at Spartacus pointedly. She carefully placed the bad of coins in it hiding spot. She knew she could trust Spartacus, so there was no reason to be worried. Spartacus, noticing the bag of coins, moved forward into Mira's chamber.
"It is late of the hour. Does the thought of losing your coin keep up from you bed?" Spartacus glanced around the room to the neatly stacked arrows, some finished and some unfinished, along the wall. The room was spacious, but tidy. There was no bed, not like the one he had currently or like the one they had shared in a number of villas they had raided before…..Spartacus pushed the thought of the end of their relationship aside, not wanting to think of those moments in those beds. "That is if you had a bed to go to." Spartacus quietly noted the lack of a proper bed in the room, stopping halfway in.
"There are plenty of empty…..unused beds in some of the other villas. I can have one brought to you for your use…." Spartacus offered, but Mira interrupted him.
"A bed is the least of my concerns right now," Mira motioned to the stacks of unfinished arrows, "besides, what I have functions properly for my needs." Mira paused, moving to the stacks of unfinished arrows, selecting a few and sitting on edge of the cot she used as a bed. "Besides, I do not have much use of it of late." Mira began whittling the arrow shaft with short deliberate strokes, not looking at Spartacus.
"Yes. I went to the villa I had thought you had chosen when we took the city." Spartacus moved towards the door again, looking out into the courtyard, his arm leaning above the entrance. The motion made Mira look up. She watched as the muscles of his arms flexed from the slight shifting of his weight as he spoke. Her mouth went dry, remembering those arms around her many nights as they slept, made love. Spartacus glanced over his shoulder, when he hearing the pause of the knife against the wooden arrow, catching Mira's intense stare. Mira glanced quickly back to her arrow and restarted her motions.
"Yes, well…..there were others who needed it more, and…." Mira shrugged her shoulders absently, "I do not require much." Mira smiled up at Spartacus, who had turned to face her again. The jest regarding her not needing much was not lost on Spartacus. She had asked only for more of his heart, which he had advised her he denied he had any more to give. Mira had accepted this answer, although he remembered this trail of tears on her cheek as she spoke her acceptance of the end. He was also well aware of her continued sorrow, but her continued loyalty to his cause. In the early days, after their intimate relationship had ended, he often thought he would not have been surprised to rise one morning to find Mira gone. Yet, each morning she had continued to remain with him and his cause. It pained him to know she, like himself, would probably not survive. A slow march towards death. Words he remembered Mira saying after they had saved Naevia.
"It warms the heart to see you….." Spartacus meant to state he was glad to hear she had found another, based on her comment of not needing her bed of late. But the words would not come out. He did not want to think of Mira with someone else. But he was foolish to think she would not find another. Spartacus' unfinished comment paused Mira's movements as she looked up at him. She placed the arrow shaft and knife next to her feet and stood facing Spartacus
"I was foolish…." Mira's hand slapped quickly and sharply across Spartacus' face, ending his sentence. The entire movement was over in a moment, with Spartacus looking shockingly at Mira's face as she moved closer in anger.
"Do not! Do not come to me now…." Mira spoke swiftly and forcefully, "when I have just begun to….." Mira's lips trembled as her anger morphed to sadness. "Yes, you are foolish!" Mira shouted. Spartacus clutched Mira's shoulders, shaking her softly.
"I only wished to see you settled and ensure you had everything you needed. I am glad you have found another, I would not come between that." Spartacus watched confusion, and surprisingly amazement, wash over Mira's face as he spoke.
"You are glad I have found another…" Mira broke from Spartacus's grasp as she laughed in amazement, covering her hands with her face. "Is that what you think? Because I have little use for my bed that I share a bed with someone else?" Spartacus stood motionless as Mira faced him with fire in her eyes. "I have given everything for this, for you."
"And I would see all you have given repaid, 1000 times more than the coin you already possess." Spartacus rushed to Mira again, whispering fervently his true feelings through the words he spoke. "You deserve a life. A husband who honors and loves you. Children." Spartacus heart ached at the last word and from the look of longing reflected in Mira's eyes. "You deserve more, Mira….more than a slow march towards death with a man who believes himself cursed by the gods."
Mira moved forward, placing her hands on Spartacus's chest, leaning in closely to peer directly into Spartacus' eyes. Her lips a shadow away from his. "And you deserve more than to believe you are a man cursed by the gods." Spartacus looked intently into Mira's eyes as her warmth radiated against his skin. "I share no one's bed. My only wish each night is for dreamless sleep so I may not be tortured by the memories of us." Mira voice broke as she moved away slightly, braking the spell.
Mira turned to move away in finality; Spartacus stopped her, bringing her back to stand close to him. "My love for my wife was all that kept me alive in the ludus. Her death is what drove me to seek my vengeance upon Glaber." Spartacus lightly stoked Mira's arms as he spoke. "The love I feel for you Mira is much different than what I felt for my wife." Spartacus paused watching the emotions wash over Mira as he spoke. "I have only known one type of love in my life. It is difficult to recognize something when you have only one example to cling to." Spartacus moved closer, placing his hands on either side of Mira's face, leaning his forehead to Mira's, breathing in deeply.
Much more to come...