Note from Kanuro5: I'm glad I could get this chapter out. If you are continuing to read this then I want to extend my utmost gratitude. Hope you all will enjoy.
III
Time to Heal
It was three days after the exhibition where Vitus bested Proculus for claim over the stallion Romulus. Today was like any other autumn day in Alesia; a light yet stinging chill that swirled around the city on a sunny day, the flowing business and commerce in the market square, and the hurrying of formation drills of the legion being overseen by Lucius Julius in the barracks.
Outside of the Governor's Palace, Vitus was riding on top of Romulus around the large square in front of the palace. After Vitus had won Romulus, he would spend every waking hour riding, grooming, and feeding the gigantic steed. Once Vitus mounted his horse and with a kick to the side, Romulus would take off faster than an arrow being released.
Now Romulus was magnificent in appearance, but he was truly magnificent when he was galloping. Every detailed muscle in the stallion's body would begin to gently expand out in its wonderful stride. His dark, thick mane and tail would flow majestically in the wind as he began to speed up. His strong, warm hazel eyes remained focused and undaunted from all distractions that were in his way. To match his appearance in his gallop, Romulus had an abundance of stamina that could match his speed and grace.
After the final lap around the square, Vitus gently pulled on the reins and Romulus gently slowed from a gallop to a trot until he finally became stationary. The dozens of onlookers at the square clapped in admiration for Vitus and his noble horse's performance. Vitus smiled at the onlookers and politely waved to them.
He then gently and lovingly stroked Romulus' neck and whispered into his ears with a smile, "That was incredible Romulus. You even surpassed your last lap by at least ten seconds. You are greatness incarnate and I shall honor you as such. We will continue to improve together, but for now it is time for me to retire."
Vitus stayed on top of Romulus as they walked over to the Palace stables. Vitus took a gander at the front of the splendid palace; he thought to himself how lucky he was to live a good life. But a lone figure walked over to one of the windows on the top left side of the palace and began staring out at the square. Although the details of the figure were obscure to Vitus, based off the location of rooms in the palace, Vitus knew that figure looking outside the room was none other than his brother Proculus.
A flood of guilt and shame flowed through Vitus' body, souring his golden mood. After the fight, Proculus remained a shut-in inside of his room in the palace for three days with his body slave Euphatos turning away all who entered, including family. Vitus gently bit his lower lip and lowered his head and headed to the stables regretting his actions he committed against his brother.
The young and beautiful Appia was storming through the palace in search for her husband. She finally approached the entrance to Proculus' bedchambers and was greeted by Euphatos who was guarding the entrance at his master's command. Appia sighed in frustration at the sight of Euphatos still keeping out anyone from entering, but she tried her best to put on a warm smile as she casually walked forward to speak to him.
Rhythmic sounds of wood striking against wood could be heard coming from inside Proculus' bedchambers with a few grunts being let out in frustration.
"Euphatos, has my husband finally permitted visitation?" Appia asked the slave with a glowing smile.
"Apologies Domina, but Dominus still has requested that no one enter his bedchambers," Euphatos replied, refusing to look her in the eyes. Appia's smile disappeared and her face grew serious.
"Euphatos, I have been away from my husband's side for three days and I would not wait any longer! I will be by my husband's side!" Appia raised her voice.
"Apologies once again Domina, but Dominus has commanded me not to let any—"
The clanging of the wood stopped. "Euphatos, you may let Appia enter!" Proculus called out in a huff.
Euphatos bowed his head towards Appia and moved away to the side and allowed the doting wife to enter the bedchambers.
Upon entering Proculus' room, she was overtaken by the musty smell of sweat that filled the air. His bedchamber was a mess; sheets and curtains were spread across the floor while jugs and vases were shattered against the walls. Her husband was wearing the crimson tunic of the Julii as his back was facing Appia. Proculus held a wooden sword and was busy striking a wooden practice dummy that Euphatos took from the barracks at Proculus' request.
The wooden dummy had shown signs of wear as there were large grooves, dents, and nicks made into the wood; all caused by Proculus who was repeatedly striking the dummy for three days straight. As Proculus raised his sword to strike the dummy again, Appia took a moment and saw that something has changed with his fighting style. His stance was more balanced and sturdy unlike the weak stance he took against his brother three days ago. His strikes were no longer powerful and slow; but it was fast yet strong and precise. His movements were quick yet he always took paused when he launched off his wounded back leg. Yet disregarding his bad leg, he had a certain rhythm down every time he would unleash an attack. His style actually began to resemble that of a legionary.
After a few moments of gazing at her husband's back; Appia decided it was best to start off the conversation. She felt the urge to scold him for not seeing her for three days, but she quickly decided against the foolhardy notion.
"I have seen that your form has improved in the past days," she hesitantly remarked, unsure what she said was a good icebreaker.
"I have seen myself to sneak out of the palace to bear witness to the legionaries' training," Proculus replied without turning around.
"You left the palace? How have you escaped sight from your bedchambers? No person has witnessed your absence?"
"I am more clever than most would say I am. I studied with earnest on the form of the First Cohort and have mirrored their skills and prowess to near perfection." Proculus began to once again strike the wooden dummy with precision.
Appia grew impatient, "Can you at least grace your wife with the presence of your face when you address her?" she hissed.
When Proculus reluctantly turned around, the sight that greeted Appia was hardly what she was expecting. His former cream colored face was now a patchwork of color; his nose was swollen and bruised across the bridge. Around his former black left eye, the dark, blossoming patch of purple was beginning to regress to a yellowish red. Another bruise shadowed his jawline in a bluish black hue as his now purplish, lightly swollen lips began to gain its earlier pinkish color.
"Please inform me if my face has graced your presence?" Proculus sarcastically said as he took a bow and extended his arms out for emphasis.
Appia slightly covered her mouth in horror, slowly approaching her battered husband, staring in disbelief. She gently reached out and touched his bruised and scarred face, only for her hands to be brushed away by Proculus.
"Oh Proculus, your face!"
"Three days ago my face was uglier than Vulcan's ass," he chuckled as he gave her a pained smile, "The medicus has earned his coin and made substantial improvement with the reconstruction of my once beautiful face."
"Improvement? Your face is damaged!"
"Recovery will not come overnight, despite best wishes," he disappointingly stated.
Appia once again gently placed her delicate fingers on his scarred face and ran her thumb across the cut on the bridge of his nose. Her thumb could feel the string of stitches and remains of dried blood across the bridge.
"This cut seems deep . . . will it—?"
"Scar," Proculus bluntly finished her question. "The cut was deep, to the bone. But once recovery is complete, it will most likely become a noticeable scar."
"What would possess Vitus to act like that?!" She growled in anger.
"Do not place fault with him," Proculus begged, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"But his fury brought this outcome on you, and you do not find fault in it?" she asked in disbelief.
Proculus sighed as he gently limped pass Appia and sat down at the edge of his bed, rubbing the stitches on the back of his bad leg, "I cannot blame him for the way I acted."
Appia looked down at her husband with foreign eyes, trying to contemplate why her husband was acting so different. If any person wronged Proculus in any sort of way, Proculus would go off on a temper tantrum for days on end cursing the wrongdoer. But here, he was passive and calm. From the look of the room, he may have had a tantrum as soon as the fight was over, but now he was completely at peace.
"What has happened to you? This is not like you at all, to forgive one who wronged you so," she asked with concern.
Proculus began sucking his teeth in thought of his past interactions with his brother. He snapped out of reminiscing and looked up at his devoted wife, "No, I have wronged him many times in the past; such stances were that because I was the elder brother and play childish, brotherly tricks upon him. But . . . my previous insult has caused him much unfortunate grievance."
Appia walked to the bed and sat down next to Proculus, "Proculus, what did you spend Vitus' 100 denarii on to aggravate him so and why?" she asked in a tone that sounded reluctant to find out the true answer.
Proculus brought his head up to his face his wife's questioning, yet compassionate face. He took a pause to gather his thoughts. Could she handle the truth? She deserved it but could she handle it? Proculus already knew the answer to that.
"I . . . I took the coin and had it donated to ease the suffering of the children of past wars with Rome," Proculus lied.
"You donated your brother's coin?" Appia asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Indeed. I was reading upon scroll of how my Father put down armed resistance when he conquered most of the land. With fathers and mothers dead, the parentless youths have no one proper to raise them. I decided to take my brother's coin to give them a better life, and thus demonstrate the generosity of the Julii. I thought my brother would understand my intentions, but . . . absent understanding bears results you see on my face."
Appia was stunned with joy, for years, she wanted to form a charity to help the orphans and those devastated by the war with Rome, and for her husband to be so generous was unbelievable. She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him in a loving hug.
"Oh Proculus that was the most thoughtful act you have made. I just wished that you did not need to turn to theft to procure this generosity."
"I am aware, a small price to pay to ensure a better life for those of less fortune than us," Proculus said, still surprised that his lie worked.
"You are a wonderful and blessed man, Proculus. The Gods truly have great things planned for you."
"The Gods?" Proculus scoffed with a smirk in disbelief, "The Gods have never held any great things for me."
"How can you say such things? The Gods have blessed you beyond fortune," the loving wife replied, laying her hands on his shoulders.
"Yes, I will remember that," he said dismissively, not wanting to engage in another theological debate with Appia.
Appia cupped Proculus' face between her hands and gently turned his head to face hers. She leaned in close to his face and gently planted a sweet, loving kiss on his swollen lips. Once she parted lips, she brought her face close to his and locked eyes with him until their foreheads were touching each other.
"You will do great things in the future; you just need to believe it and to allow your father to see it. Once proper opportunity presents itself, seize it with both hands and future glories will fall into your possession like the rain! I know you Proculus, you hold hidden potential and strength that can rival Hector himself. I believe in you, I love you. I know you can do anything you want. Even if the Gods do not hand anything to you; then you must seek the treasures of the world for yourself. The world is yours; greatness awaits you, now you must seize it!" Appia inspiringly told him.
For a moment, Proculus was dumbstruck. Then Appia witnessed a certain fire burning in his eyes, as his heart was stirred underneath his breast by her passion-filled speech.
"You are right Appia!" Proculus triumphantly said as a newfound energy pumped through his blood, "I can be great, I will my make greatness known so that even my father will see it!"
Appia smiled proudly at the sight of her husband brimming with passion. "Then what will you do with your greatness? How will you be remembered?"
"I . . . I am Proculus of the Julii and I will not be ignored. Mark my words Appia; I will lead this family to greatness. I will one day rule the Julii and forge a kingdom—or even an empire on top of it!"
Appia hugged her inspired husband and tenderly kissed his cheeks. "I believe in you Proculus, and I will never stop."
"Has a man ever been so blessed to have a loving wife such as you?" he asked with a charming smirk.
"Never. Because there exists no man that stands equal than the one before me," she sultrily whispered. "Now let us go to the baths; you will need to look presentable when you leave."
"And can I trust that you will accompany me?" he whispered in a soft yet strong seductive tone.
"Of course, it has been far too long since we have last bathed together," she whispered back as she nuzzled her face against his' amorously. The young married couple gazed into each others eyes and could recognize the love that existed between them.
"Apologies Dominus, but you have a visitor," Euphatos announced as he entered the bedchambers with his head bowed. Vitus entered the chamber with his eyes glued to floor, not wanting to witness the uncomfortable embrace between his brother and his wife.
Appia quickly brushed herself off and worriedly exchanged glances between Proculus and Vitus, nervous to see if the brothers would come to blows again.
"Brother," Vitus uncomfortably started off, "I . . . I would want to offer my apologies—"
"There will be no need for it," Proculus cut him off. "I understand that I have wronged you deeply in the past, with this insult being the worst of the wrongs."
Proculus stood up to walk over to his brother and looked at him with genuine eyes, "Vitus, you are my dear brother and I will not lie, no matter what petty insults or wrongs I may inflict on you, we are still brothers."
Proculus extended his hand out, "And that is why I offer my most humble apologies for the stealing of your denarii; and I recognize that the possession of Romulus is proper reimbursement for my crimes. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" he sincerely asked of his brother.
Vitus studied the battered face of Proculus, and for the first time since he could remember, Vitus could see that he was indeed being honest with his apology. The sudden honesty brought a smile to Vitus' face as he extended his hand forth and shook his hand.
"Apology forgiven," Vitus answered with a proud smile. "Now let us look past this and turn grateful eyes towards glorious future."
"Let us do so," Proculus smiled back
Appia stood to her feet and rushed over to the brothers and hugged them both; elated that this brotherly feud has come to an end. She passionately kissed Proculus on his bruised cheek, and then lightly kissed Vitus on his cheek. Vitus' cheeks flared up in a splendid color of red.
"It lifts heart to see you two put aside your quarrels and to reform bonds as brothers once more," she affectionately smiled.
"Does that mean you have forgiven me?" Vitus stammered as he began to blush harder.
"Well, it did pain heart to see you hurt Proculus as you did, but upon proper explanation from him, I am willing to overlook it."
"As am I," Proculus spoke up, patting Vitus on his back, "It is a shame for me to admit it but I somewhat . . . deserved such treatment, it has opened my eyes to what I was and how I can better myself in the future."
Vitus broke a confused smirk, "I . . . I am glad that you have changed."
"All owed to you brother, now if you excuse me I have a bath to attend."
Proculus gently limped out of his bedchambers with Appia amorously wrapped around his arm helping him to walk straight. Vitus remained in Proculus' bedchambers and saw them off with a smile on his face. But it quickly evaporated once they were out of sight.
Vitus took a look around the room and observed how disheveled the room really was. As the state of the room as my witness, Proculus has not changed, Vitus thought to himself.
He did recognize that Proculus was genuinely sorry for stealing his brother's money; but one acknowledgment of a crime did not change one's character. He knew that Proculus didn't change. He was still the same lazy, short-tempered brother that he always knew. The apology was most likely to deceive Appia into thinking that everything would revert back to normal. But nothing would ever go back to normal. Vitus knew it, and Proculus knew it too. They would move on from this, but sadly their relationship was already too strained to build upon it for the better.
Hmm, this chapter I don't really like all that much, just because I simply feel that I rushed through it.
But anyway, I enjoy your patience if you are waiting to see the war. I can assure you that next chapter is when they legion will march to war.
Thank you for taking your time to read this fic!