Agron bellowed and snarled out his anger and frustration as he swung his sword again and again, hacking at the upright wooden post which served as target. It barely stood under the assault and the ground surrounding it's base was now littered with splinters and shards.

"The post stands defeated." Crixus called, crossing the grass to stand at the German's back and Agron could not find in him his usual insult for the Gaul. Indeed an unspoken truce born of shared understanding had settled between them in the two days since Sedullus had committed the most grievous of crimes against Nasir and torn his and Agron's world apart.

Agron did not speak, nor did he cease his action.

"How fares Nasir?"

With an anguished roar, Agron swung his sword one more time with force enough to embed the blade so deep within the damaged wood that it would not be withdrawn without some effort. Effort he suddenly found he had no strength for. He staggered to his side, chest heaving as he panted for breath stolen from him by emotions and drew his hand across his tired eyes.

"I would not know." He mumbled. "He has left me."

Crixus brow furrowed in surprise at the revelation.

"Did he give reason?"

Agron sighed, shrugging his broad shoulders.

"Only that he thought it to be for the best. Beyond that he has not spoken, though I see in his eyes, when he can bear to meet my gaze, that he is hopelessly lost. As I am lost without him." He took a breath to steady his voice. "And I know not what I should do to help him find his way home."

Crixus grunted softly, folding his arms across his chest.

"Naevia was similarly lost upon return from fucking mines, but more of her comes back to me each day. I shall have her speak with him."

"Gratitude. But Naevia has yet done much for us. If she now finds some escape from her memories, I would not seek to have her return to them."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Crixus mouth but did not seek to fully show itself.

"Concern for Naevia is duly noted. But the path home is not an easy one, she yet remains troubled. Perhaps the sharing of experience with one who has endured same might somehow prove to lighten both their burdens. Besides, she has affection for Nasir as a sister to a brother, I would not find myself surprised if she had already drawn similar conclusion."

Agron remain momentarily silent while he considered the Gaul's suggestion. At last he gave a shallow nod and answered.

"It may be that you are correct. Very well, if she is willing then have her speak. Whatever she can do for him, even if it is but a small thing, would see her owed a great debt."

"Faith." Crixus gave a nod of his own and set a brotherly slap upon the German's shoulder. "We may yet both see our hearts returned to us."

It was almost nightfall when Naevia came across Nasir sitting atop the temple wall in a section hidden well enough from view that a guard had not been deemed necessary. No doubt he had sought out this place so that he may be alone with the thoughts that troubled him and kept him from sleep. She understood his need, she herself still found sleep eluded her some nights when memory was sparked by some arbitrary thing, though such nights were becoming fewer due to Crixus' patient and reassuring presence. Nasir however was not ready to accept the same from Agron yet, his pain was still too raw. Naevia worried for him, for them both.

Carefully she climbed the ladder and found a spot beside him to settle herself. She did not speak, just let her eyes wander over to the distant landscape, as Nasir was doing. The support she offered would remain unspoken until such time as he felt need to hear it voiced.

They remained in companionable silence for some time until at last Nasir dragged his gaze away from what lay before them and looked instead to his hands which rested in his lap and asked quietly.

"Is Agron well?"

That Nasir's first words to her were of concern for Agron, warmed her, for surely it meant that the love he'd once had for the gladiator had not been completely destroyed by what Sedullus had done to him. It yet remained somewhere in his heart, undeniably damaged, but still there, living and breathing. There was still hope for them, as there was still hope for her and Crixus.

She did not voice those thoughts though. She thought that Nasir should come to that realisation in his own time if he was to believe. Instead she simply said.

"He grieves for you."Nasir sighed sadly.

"As I grieve for him."

"If that is so, why do you hide yourself away from him? Why do you run from the comfort he offers." She knew the answer already. How could she not? But she knew also that it was important Nasir spoke aloud of his feelings. To keep them inside where they would bubble and fester would only damage him further.

"Because." He sucked in his bottom lip, worrying it with his teeth while he searched for words that would properly explain. "Because he loves me, without condition and would willingly join me in my darkness. Because I love him, still, and I would not drag him with me into such misery. I am broken Naevia. I am not the man I was, I may never be again. I cannot allow him to entertain hope that we could once again be as we were, when I am not certain myself that such a thing is even possible. He deserves better than that."

"What he deserves is to hear from your lips what you have just told me. If you intend to remove yourself from his arms forever, you should at least give reason he can understand."

Nasir shook his head. Naevia could see he was fighting some demon in his own mind.

"It is too painful. To look on him now will only serve to remind me of what I have lost."

Naevia sighed softly and took Nasir's hand in hers, threading her fingers through his so he could not easily withdraw.

"I once thought as you do now, that Crixus was lost to me forever, but he has shown such patience and such tenderness that I find hope blossoming in me once again. We may never be as we were before but I truly believe that in time we will find a new happiness in one another's arms."

For the first time Nasir looked up from his hands and met her gaze. She smiled at him warmly.

"Do not give up Nasir, not while there may yet still be a chance. Do not shut Agron out and do not turn from the comfort he seeks to offer. Speak to him, tell him what is in your heart, good and bad, and listen to what is in his. You may find all is not as lost as you think."

At that she leaned in and placed a small kiss upon his cheek, then untangled her fingers from his.

"I will leave you alone with your thoughts now, and return to Crixus' arms. Promise me you will consider what I have said for more than just a fleeting moment."

He did not answer at once but her knitted brow and concerned stare made lengthy silence impossible.

"Can you promise me that you speak the truth about blossoming hope, that words were not spoken just to coddle?"

She gave him another smile.

"I promise Nasir. I would not speak a lie about something so close to my own heart."

Nasir nodded.

"Then I promise I will give words more than just fleeting thought."

Nothing more was spoken, and as Naevia climbed back down the ladder and returned to her bed, Nasir turned and looked out once more over the land.

Maybe she was right, he thought. Maybe he had given up too easily. Maybe…

Maybe there was still hope.

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