24th August
“My love, take the weight off your feet. I beg you.” Maxentius said, his eyes cautioning his fiancee. Ariadne shook her head, continuing to fill the porcelain water carrier. His eyes lingered momentarily on her stomach, and the slight bump that was less than noticeable.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOZMj17WlY
“The servants have taken ill. I think it is the weather.” Ariadne said by way of explanation. “If all I can do to help is to get fresh water, I shall do it.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOwpbkoif2
Maxentius knew there was no arguing with her, and so instead took the carrier from her hand and insisted he do it himself.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oC19GBDW3
“I think we should go to Rome.” He said suddenly. Ariadne nodded.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCx9rrHrBy
“Of course. Of course we shall move to the capital once the wedding is over and the baby..”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6Hro4wQ1G
“No. I mean now, Ariadne.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3o4ej6fjc
“Now?” She asked incredulously. To leave now was ludicrous. Before they were even wed!928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoodygQqvf
“Not this moment, but soon. Today, tomorrow… This town makes me feel uneasy, and the shadow of the mountain hanging over our heads is only making this apprehension worse. The god’s are angry with people in this town, and I do not wish for us to be here when their wrath is unleashed.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dF7ScVKV3
“You are being ridiculous. We are not yet married, it would be improper for us to run away to Rome together!”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0uJx3QOYy
“A lot of things we’ve done have been improper for an unmarried couple.” Maxentius pointed out, but Ariadne shook her head. She laid a comforting hand on his arm. She was about to tell him he was being ridiculous, but she observed the worry in his eyes and soon changed her mind.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKhurd8Bfa
“If it is what you truly wish.”
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Livia sat in the garden, as far away from the walls as one could get. Due to her father’s near constant state of drunkenness, his usually watchful eyes had subsided a little in their quest to keep Livia indoors at all times. He had merely nodded his head numbly when she asked if she would be permitted outside. All he could do was mutter something about remaining inside the garden walls. Livia had begged her father to drink the water. It had been cleansed and purified and the priestesses had assured the town that their prayers to Apollo had been answered and their water was no longer contaminated, but still he would not listen. He drained bottle after bottle of the most potent wine Pompeii could offer. Drunkenness was frowned upon most severely among the nobility. - It was viewed as common and something for the lower folk to partake in - but one must make exceptions in certain cases, Livia’s mother had said with her chin held high.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGm3yHIzeM
Livia had not seen Marcus since the night before. They had climbed over the wall just before the sun rose, and he saw her safely inside the house before he retreated back to the garrison.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwijACgOWZP
“You have a visitor, Livia.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeGd2wxrtG
Ariadne stepped cautiously past Livia’s mother, who had taken it upon herself to engage in her husband’s policy of staying firmly indoors at all times. Ariadne stepped over the threshold into the garden as Livia rose to meet her, nodding at her mother as a way of thanks.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDlCgp2bw1
“You look startled.” Livia observed.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFMF0V4hQi
“I must tell you something.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwLnRApOCx
“Speak, then.” Livia said rather curtly. She was aware her voice came out rather blunt, and apologised quickly. “I’m sorry. I am… waiting on somebody.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsto1fyV1X7
“Somebody? To do what?” Ariadne asked with a raised eyebrow.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7cKH0BswN
“I was under the impression it was you who was to do the talking, not I.” Livia said with a coy smile.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9Vo3H7iJ7
Ariadne’s expression faltered, and the lines on her forehead that had briefly disappeared returned.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xkOniUiYW
“Maxentius wants to leave Pompeii.” She said quietly, so as not to be overheard.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLE7uVWhJG
“I know. Do you not recall? He told me." Livia said rather bitterly. A small part of her remained angry that it was Maxentius who had told her they would be leaving, not Ariadne. "He’s a senator, you cannot expect him to remain here. Surely you did not think you would stay here long after your wedding?”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5K1blF6m2
“No, Livia. He wants to leave Pompeii now.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTfPvcWQSQ
“Now? But-“928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCbklE7Kyg
“He will not listen! Not to me. He claims he senses something bad coming. He wants to leave before sunset tomorrow.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3AYL849s5
“Have you told your father? Surely he can put a stop to this.” Livia asked, resting a hand on her friends arm.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJSrYkpB3G
Ariadne shook her head.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4K6yPgyup
“My father already knows. He said that Max is a senator, if he needs to go back to Rome early then so be it, and as his wife-to-be it is only right that I follow.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBGOmVm6Pa
Livia took a deep breath.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9luoK3j97
“Then you shall have to go to Rome. It will only be for a few days Ariadne. Once Maxentius sees his worries are without foundation, he will bring you back. And you shall have to return here for the wedding anyway. You will be away a month, at most.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cI18cgHpJ
“I admire your optimism.” Ariadne said with a worried smile.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXg4za5gQ0
“And your pessimism is not good for you. You will get wrinkles.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t5gDlUKB0
Ariadne laughed a little, and then stopped suddenly.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQIrkBG2sy
“Who are you waiting on?”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx3qyN1zwd
“Hm?” Livia said, Ariadne’s voice recalling her from her thoughts.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1H05WzwAP
“You said you were waiting on somebody. Who?”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcPn67yCUn
Livia shook her head.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz4mAjYodo
“A lady never tells her secrets.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmJXtdOKBl
“Not to the general public she doesn’t, but to her closest friend she does.” Ariadne pointed out. She practically stamped her foot like a child. “Livia I told you about Max and I. I doubt your secret is bigger than mine.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgf4rrx7Iz
Livia sighed and acquiesced.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UbnXMdGML
“Marcus was here last night. He took me down to the docks.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQeqA4e9jN
“Here? How did he get in?”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kiEVGg82t
Livia shrugged.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8dUtfJLIZ
“Perhaps we shall soon receive an invitation to your wedding.” Ariadne teased. Livia rolled her eyes.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbi8tzafUB
“The day you receive an invitation to my wedding to the gladiator is the day you shall give birth to a satyr!”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxKlK4nE59
“Livia! Don’t joke about things like that!” Ariadne laughed, giving Livia a soft nudge with her shoulder. The pair of them laughed until they felt the ground beneath their feet shifting slowly. The pebbles on the ground began to leap and it wasn’t until Livia looked up towards the house that she saw the magnitude of the event. A small crack was travelling up the rear wall, and the shaking underneath their feet growing ever more violent.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41q2dIEEtI
“Perhaps Max is right to want to leave Pompeii.” Livia said to Ariadne, her attempt at humour to lighten the atmosphere failing miserably to hide her concern.
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“Caius, for the love of the Gods, will you calm down?”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jImhIDjbG
“No, Marcus. I want out of this city. I can no longer count how many times I’ve felt the ground move beneath me over these past few weeks. If you had any brains left at all you’d come with me.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfF6HDydY9
“To where, Caius? Tetraites is not going to let you walk out of here.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF17Jl0KVV
“Then I’ll sneak out of here. You know how easy it is, just look at last night - which, by the way, you have yet to tell me about.” Caius said, pausing tying the laces on his sandals for only a second to look up at Marcus with an expectant look on his face. “I helped you get out of here, you can at least tell me what you did.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0ktmJgB0H
“I told you, we went to the docks.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnRHwPiSEo
“And that was it, was it?” Caius said with no small degree of sarcasm, raising his eyebrows.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR5aYtsQHS
“That’s all I’m going to tell you. Now will you please sit back down?”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL9uKxilYU
“Not at all, Marcus. I’m leaving. Come with me or don’t, that is your choice.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH1eJFzAWc
“And when do you plan on leaving?” Marcus said, only now beginning to believe in his friend’s resolve.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNZk1Rns5S
“Tomorrow. I will wait until noon for you, but then I am leaving.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JBlil0BBp
“Where will you go?”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL3cAAll7d
“Naples, probably. It’s not that far.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa91sTfR444
Marcus nodded.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOWz2UHrQB
“Think about it, please.” Caius said earnestly. “Something bad is coming, Marcus. I can feel it in my blood. Take this chance to save yourself.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEgTPQqxJh
“You sound like all those Christians. They’re always talking about the end of the world.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIGsTsOgyu
“Perhaps they’re onto something. I’m serious Marcus. Don’t take too long considering my offer.”928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsVeOw8ldv
And with that he was gone, stalking into the refectory in search of food. Marcus ran his hand through his hair, considering his options. If he were to take Caius at his word - and Caius was rarely wrong about anything - then Pompeii was about to fall to its knees imminently. If he were to take Caius up on his offer, it would mean freedom. Safety and freedom - but to leave would mean fooling Tetraities, spitting on the respect and kindness he had been shown in Pompeii, and above all else, it would mean leaving Livia. He doubted he would be able to get word to her that Caius was leaving - and he would probably end up going with him - and even if he did manage to inform her, he highly doubted she would leave with him.928Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkYzHgChDu
As the mountain grumbled menacingly in the background, Marcus was faced with a choice. He made his decision rather swiftly, and before he had a chance to change his mind he was leaving the gladiators’ sleeping quarters and on his way to finding Caius.
