Midnight, 19th August AD79
Livia sat alone in her bedroom. The candle was burning low, its wax pooled around the base of the terracotta holder. It cast strange shadows around her room, causing ordinary things to mutate and malform. Her leather satchel thrown carelessly on the floor, with her tunic slung over the top of it, seemed to create a shapeless mound whose sides appeared to rumble due to the flickering nature of the candle.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ738aDFdfTu
She yawned, and got up to blow the candle out. After doing so, she opened the door to her balcony to let in the cool night air. The stars above her were so bright they almost lit her room as well as the candle. Their soft blue shade was gentler than that of the candle; it did not cause any misleading shadows. It did not flicker and most importantly, it did not melt. No matter how long Livia stood there, the light of the stars would not burn out. Not until they were replaced by the light of the sun, at any rate.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPhPUOfYGZ
She lay on her bed, the thin sheets kicked to the bottom of the bedframe. No matter what way she turned or how much she twisted, sleep evaded her until the birds began to sing and the sky began to turn orange. It was only then that her eyes closed, exhausted, and she was finally able to grasp with thin hands even the faintest whisper of sleep. Like smoke, it was slipping through her fingers and as the sun climbed higher in the sky, her consciousness tried desperately to cling onto whatever remaining moments of rest it had left.
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20th August
She was woken by a banging on her door. Not knocking, she noticed. Urgent banging. Yawning, she got up and opened it. Not to Livia’s surprise, it was her mother.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPN3W0MLpc
“Livia, you must come downstairs quickly.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7oWYfWSzg
Livia opened her mouth the protest, or to at least ask why, but she was cut off by her mother holding up her hand to stop her.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIFkGmgU3h
“Ariadne is here.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73EGCWB2qs
“Ariadne? She was in the hospital only the yesterday, what is she doing here? Surely they cannot have let her leave so soon?!”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ7h4kHFfl
Her mother merely raised her eyebrows.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQRlB4Ugs8
“She refuses to talk to anyone but you. She says she left the hospital as soon as she had woken.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ9YRiuqkA
Without further ado, Livia hurried down the wide staircase and saw Ariadne waiting at the foot of the stairs. Her head was bandaged, her skin was pale and her eyes had dark bags underneath them that hinted at a night of restless sleep. Before Livia could say a word, Ariadne had taken her by the arm and lead her through the house and into the garden. She didn’t stop there; she carried on walking, to the very edge of the garden, to the stone benches that sat next to the high back wall.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH3DcetWkx
Whatever she wanted to say, she didn’t want to be overheard.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7ZmT2mr3Q
“What is this? Why do you need to drag me all the way down here?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpjgPO0DkD
“I know Max told you we’re leaving after the wedding, and I did mean to tell you and I know you’re angry with me, but I promise I’ll come back every single summer, and you can visit us in Rome and stay with us in our house; it’s going to be huge, you know. Max has the favour of the emperor, there is nothing in this world that we can’t have if we want it!” She said without breath.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ698ogBavL
Livia tried not to smile at her friend’s words running into one another as she struggled to get them out in one breath.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdvawdUe7E
“All I wish is that you had told me, not him.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJK1ilWfDZ
“And I am sorry for that. I was waiting for the right time.” Ariadne said, genuine apology in her eyes.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd2hmW57HL
“Then I forgive you.” Livia announced rather grandly. Ariadne smiled, but a hint of sorrow remained in her pupils.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKixJwMz7K
“What is it? Why do you despair?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkReifgvP2
“I came here not only to apologise. I need your help, Liv. I’m afraid I find myself in quite a bit of trouble.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOavjpzfZv
“Trouble? What sort?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmm7gyudst
“I am with child.” Ariadne said, so quietly it was almost inaudible.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgajwC8Zp4
“How is that possible? You are not yet married!”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpign4WglMT
“No but we figured that we do intend to be married, and are betrothed to be so, why should we waste time waiting?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBtf7NeXuH
“How will you tell your parents?” Livia asked. It was not the question Ariadne had wanted to hear, and the fear in her eyes intensified.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIpiYUnvOx
“I hadn’t thought about that. I didn’t even know until this morning when the doctor at the hospital asked me some questions and I realised. I haven’t even told Max yet.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7qeDiHb5Z
“Then that is what you should do. Propose to move the wedding up, at least then you may be able to appear virginal on your wedding day. I suggest a loose fitted wedding gown too.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWMLgJ0rde
Ariadne nodded. She stopped herself from trembling, steeled herself and raised herself from the stone bench.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz18geNlyp8
“That is what I shall do. Thank you, Livia. I do believe I would be lost without you.”
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“This water, it tastes… strange.” Caius said, sitting down to his breakfast. It was not much. Although Tetraites was aware of what gladiators needed in order to perform well in the arena, he was struggling financially. Too many gladiators were coming in, and over the past year too few had won their matches. Although not all of them were killed, and the ones that were had been replaced by the master of the games, they had to be put through even more extensive training. Tetraites had to hire three more trainers, the best he could get, and they did not come cheaply.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBIccBRGTh
Caius was sitting down to a breakfast of olives, lentils and a small piece of fish. Fish was easy to come by, as Pompeii was near the docks, but with the amount of gladiators Tetraites was taking in recently, the portions of fish had become significantly smaller.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeH1Ghi2hm
Marcus shrugged when Caius held up his water cup.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXLrmBcfu4
“Perhaps it is water from out of town.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRRkMsxqgN
Caius snorted.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqA3RWO3T7
“Tetraites is broke. Can barely afford this much fish, never mind some fancy water from out of town. People like you did this; not paying your debts back.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeHLoOX6de
“Perhaps he shouldn’t have lent me so much and allowed me to gamble.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsmCaDEG2n
“He’s not your mother, Marcus.” Caius said. His tone was chastising, but his face said he was merely joking. “What did you bet on?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPKqGT3k13
“Chariot races.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYlf2NVTD6
“I was hoping you would say you had bet on a gladiator fight. The irony would have brightened my day.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74xdtYFAay
Marcus rolled his eyes, popping an olive into his mouth and draining his own water cup. He resisted the urge to spit the water back out again.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfiJOMf0eb
“I told you it tastes funny.” Caius said casually, not looking up from his plate.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKzzhFLJEp
“It tastes unclean. Are you sure the kitchen staff are not getting the water from the bathing house?!”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwLQMZiK9N
“No, it is from the aqueducts, I’m certain.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i3WZuCD62
Marcus simply shrugged.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDtRGbqUVe
“I’m fairly certain this water is still better than any in Rome. Ours is straight from the mountain springs.” Caius said mockingly, a grin on his face.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZwZMQWPAa
“I do wonder Caius, when you will cease to mock me simply because I am from Rome! Besides, how can we be sure that the mountain isn’t what has caused the water to taste strange?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan93kvOfTk
Caius’ grin fell, and a intense look passed across his face. He was clearly thinking hard to counter Marcus’ argument that Pompeii water was somehow contaminated.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUq0kat69g
Marcus laughed, stood and clapped his friend on the shoulder.
“Well brother, I am going to head down to the arena. I trust I will best you in a fight later?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORbgZcMenq
“You wish, Roman, you wish!”
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Livia was at the market with her father. The heat was not yet unbearable; it was just past ten o’clock and so the sun had not yet reached its full power. Her father was looking at various marble, arduously trying to pick the right one so that her mother would not be angry when they returned.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaDv0o9rPn
“Why does mother want marble again, father?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwirUcPrdK
“She’s going to give it to a sculptor. She wants a magnificent statue of Apollo to go in our gardens; if there is any left after the sculptor is done, perhaps she’ll have a small one made for you. Poseidon perhaps? Or Minerva?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip9JmuBuKO
Livia shrugged.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh3xEMluUv
“I shall let mother decide that. It can be a surprise.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW37baD0cRd
Her father laughed.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTIyaLqcB4
“I know your mother can be rather… excitable, but she means well.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCZCsxVbII
“I know she does.” Livia said gently. “I do need some fabric though, would you mind if I went to the fabric merchant?”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0NS7YoGOi
Her father shook his head, pressing a few coins into her palm and instructing her to be no longer than an hour. She promised she would be back in time, and weaved through the crowds to the other side of the market.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nNPRkC5fX
The fabric merchant was pleased to see her, and immediately brought out his finest silks in the most vibrant pinks and purples.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr5yo63bVI
“I want something for a wedding.” Livia said, looking at the fabrics hanging from the rafts of the wooden market stall.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoyy98W1Ry
“Ah yes, I have heard. Ariadne is marrying the big shot from Rome. Something in pale pink perhaps? It would compliment your eyes.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lPlh9uf0C
Livia shook her head.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQERSUvVfg
“Perhaps a blue?” She suggested. The merchant nodded, and pulled out three fabrics in varying shades - turquoise, navy and a deep, vibrant blue that Livia did not know the exact name of.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtImHLH068
She was drawn towards the turquoise, touching it gently to feel the fabric. It’s quality was astounding; so soft and it seemed that the colour would last a long time.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcb6mq7y25
“When do you need it for?” The merchant asked.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKRCaX4Ng5
“As soon as you can make it, if that is possible?” She did not know when Ariadne was going to move her wedding to, and she thought she had better have her dress ready and waiting as soon as possible.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yt5EzPxEr
Livia paid the merchant and said she would be back within three days to see how the dress was coming along. The merchant promised that if it was finished before then he would have it delivered to her home.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN1vqVMl2M
As Livia was leaving, her father rushed around the corner.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3mTXKrwUB
“Livia I have to go, I have urgent business in Herculaneum.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l0WZbf2VB
Her father was a local politician, and the nearby town of Herculaneum was a sort of holiday resort for the rich and powerful. However, Livia did not sense that her father was headed there on political business.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYzoxPAldO
“The earthquake yesterday hit the town worse than here; I am needed over there to assess the damage.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajRnZ0gebx
“Is it bad?” She asked, fearing she already knew the answer.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIz0wcZR8C
The expression on her father’s face was one of grim truth.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v0mJMetbl
“I fear three lives have already been lost. The messenger that sent me notice was shaken, he could barely speak. Tell your mother I shall try to be home later tonight.”913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqy4eiHVwU
She nodded as her father rushed to find a horse to carry him to the nearby town, praying silently that the mountain stayed silent whilst her father was close to it.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RDwHEIcpX
Gods, she whispered to herself, please keep him safe.
