A/N: Apologies for the length of time since the last update. My muse temporarily deserted me in favour of playing PS3 but she is back now :D

As was his way when he found himself troubled, Agron threw himself into training, practising with both his sword and shield until he was near fit to drop. Naevia watched in concerned silence from the early morning shadows, each heaving breath and pained grunt that echoed across the empty courtyard serving to further fuel her concern.

The sun was only just risen, the rebels just now beginning to wake from their collective slumber and yet here was he, flushed from exertion, glistening with sweat and panting heavily. He had been at this for some time already, that much was obvious. She wondered if he had been out here all night and if that was so, what of Nasir?.

Crixus had told her of Nasir's visit of course. At first her heart had smiled, for it seemed that her friends might soon find again that which they had both feared lost but it had been three days and three nights since and a distance appeared to have settled between them. She could only conclude that this distance was the thing that now troubled Agron so deeply.

She continued to watch, while her mind puzzled over what could possibly be the cause of the distance but she could find none that made sense. She would have to speak with him directly if she was to help.

One by one, the other rebels began to filter into the courtyard. Agron offered no more than a cursory nod or a laboured grunt to anyone and eventually he tossed his sword to the ground and stalked towards the water butt. He thrust his cupped hands into the cool water, scooped up what he could hold and splashed it upon his face, shaking his head fiercely to rid himself of the wandering droplets. When he turned Naevia was there, holding out a cup of clean water from the table which he accepted with the same nod and grunt he had afforded everyone else.

"You seem troubled this day." She said as he downed the contents of his cup.

"The upcoming battles weigh upon my mind." He offered as his explanation, avoiding her all knowing gaze."

"As it weighs upon us all. But I do not think that is all that troubles you. There is something else, something of a more… personal nature." When he did not answer she pressed on. "Something to do with Nasir perhaps?"

He turned his back then.

"You are mistaken." He half mumbled, half hissed. "There is nothing else, just the battles."

"Agron, you are not good with such falsehoods, your eyes give you away. That is why you have turned them from me is it not?"

"I told you, you are mistaken. Your imagination…"

Naevia folded her arms across her chest and declared fiercely, refusing his excuse before it could be fully formed upon his tongue.

"It is not my imagination, but your own body that tells me you have been practising with your sword since before even the birds awoke. It was not my imagination, but your eyes before you turned them away that told me you feel a pain deep within your very soul." Her voice softened with her next words. "And it is not my imagination that sees how lost and alone Nasir appears of late."

Agron tensed visibly at that and she reached out a hand to touch his shoulder, the slight tremble beneath her fingers a silent confirmation of which they were both aware.

"Hold your tongue woman." He snapped with more venom than he had intended. "I feel shame enough for ten men as is, I do not need more heaped upon me by you."

She frowned hard. What could possibly have happened to make the gladiator feel such shame? She would not, now or ever, believe that Agron could have done something to hurt Nasir but she conceded that it was possible he had done something he perceived as hurtful.

"Agron." She said gently. "Whatever has happened may not be as terrible as you think. Let me help. I beg you, share with me what troubles you."

"I do not deserve your help."

"And what of Nasir? Does he not deserve my help?"

At once Agron realised he had been bested. Naevia had been clever , turning his words around, knowing he would deny Nasir nothing, no matter how dear the cost to himself. His shoulders sagged and a deep, ragged sigh fell from his lips as he resigned himself to confession.

"We…" He began. "I… There was a kiss."

"A kiss?"

"It meant nothing to him, just a show of gratitude but…"

Still he would not turn to her so she circled him slowly, coming to still at his front and looking up at him through her lashes. The pain and self loathing she saw etched into his handsome face made her heart ache for him.

"It was something more to you."

At last his eyes met hers and he nodded guiltily.

"Much more, and for that I despise my very being. I promised him I would never ask for more than friendship, and all of this time I have been able to push aside my passion for him, to pretend that it was no longer felt…" His voice cracked. "But one simple kiss, the briefest touch of his lips and my body has betrayed us both. I cannot deny to myself any longer that I yet hunger for him as desperately as I ever did, but I will not pursue desire, I will not force myself upon him ever. Even so, I fear he knows of my betrayal and has lost his trust in me. He fears me now, I see it in his manner. He cannot bear to be near me, he cannot even look at me and the blame for that lies at my own fucking feet."

As she stood there now before Agron, going over in her mind what Crixus had relayed to her of Nasir's words, she began to understand what had happened between her friends. There had been a kiss he had said. A kiss that while innocent in intent, had sparked something in both men, something that had given them both cause for alarm. A new flame borne from the smouldering ashes of what once had been, startling in it's intensity, lacking a release and all the while flickering in the wind of memories, a mere breath from being extinguished. It seemed so clear to her, as one who had so recently felt that flame herself.

If only she could make them see, make them understand.

"Perhaps you are mistaken." She offered, knowing even before she had spoken that her words were in vain.

"I am not."

She allowed a small sigh to escape her lips. It was as she suspected, Agron was so mired in his guilt that he would not hear reason.

"Then you must make apology."

"Words of regret will not ease his fears, nor will it renew his faith in me."

"That does not mean attempt should not be made. Go to him Agron. Tell him of your true feelings and beg his forgiveness. Tell him those feelings would not fade despite all effort to make it so and assure him that you will no more act upon them now than before. If you are truthful he will understand, he will believe you."

She held his gaze, her hand upon his cheek halting any further attempt to turn away. At last he let out a breath and acquiesced.

"Experience has made you as wise as you are compassionate. You are right, as always where Nasir is concerned. He deserves the truth. I will speak with him tonight." He told her.

Her smile was warm.

"I am glad, for it pains me to see the two of you parted."

"I cannot promise that after tonight we will not still be parted but I pray the Gods will be merciful and at least allow friendship to be salvaged."

He embraced her then, a gentle squeeze and softly spoken words of gratitude before he took his leave. Naevia watched his retreat and whispered beneath her breath.

"Be brave Agron. Do not let courage falter."And she knew that tonight she would offer a silent prayer of her own to the Gods, for her friends.

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