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.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c0wERB1yt
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bJtGZ3gpl
Maxentius knew there was no arguing with her, and so instead took the carrier from her hand and insisted he do it himself.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFoDIAiKpr
“I think we should go to Rome.” He said suddenly. Ariadne nodded.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rlVcG0veJ
“Of course. Of course we shall move to the capital once the wedding is over and the baby..”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYuvFOZxE7
“No. I mean now, Ariadne.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD773OsmXW
“Now?” She asked incredulously. To leave now was ludicrous. Before they were even wed!926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2MKauYxCN
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9dLf4h9nS
“You are being ridiculous. We are not yet married, it would be improper for us to run away to Rome together!”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK85wQBQcb
“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.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv2BgMA7js
“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.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7njKcZmeCt
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.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNyvSf3Ynh
“You have a visitor, Livia.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nLxBy8FmI
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.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOVOm8KSUR
“You look startled.” Livia observed.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgne6ubMkKW
“I must tell you something.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3UNTaf1Dj
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuCmlJXRwN
“Somebody? To do what?” Ariadne asked with a raised eyebrow.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwyfbC4hbd
“I was under the impression it was you who was to do the talking, not I.” Livia said with a coy smile.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jHK7WtZr5
Ariadne’s expression faltered, and the lines on her forehead that had briefly disappeared returned.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAU1cbx6HF
“Maxentius wants to leave Pompeii.” She said quietly, so as not to be overheard.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGPSQ0orAn
“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?”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg66iX5IhF
“No, Livia. He wants to leave Pompeii now.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdhNgRUdgy
“Now? But-“926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaL2ldGl6U
“He will not listen! Not to me. He claims he senses something bad coming. He wants to leave before sunset tomorrow.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaazbanSuCI
“Have you told your father? Surely he can put a stop to this.” Livia asked, resting a hand on her friends arm.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HVO4F2AnI
Ariadne shook her head.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXdDqqTOiA
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp6A7x6zK2
Livia took a deep breath.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvndhntabNV
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU0hZQQIUM
“I admire your optimism.” Ariadne said with a worried smile.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqdNegXOYW
“And your pessimism is not good for you. You will get wrinkles.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y3j3G6XTC
Ariadne laughed a little, and then stopped suddenly.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfWQPQO3Eq
“Who are you waiting on?”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l9SzzzpXf
“Hm?” Livia said, Ariadne’s voice recalling her from her thoughts.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aUQ46VrpC
“You said you were waiting on somebody. Who?”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrYEROijpl
Livia shook her head.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp26Mx0FMtI
“A lady never tells her secrets.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsvIif7R5y
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WoOibzJS5
Livia sighed and acquiesced.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP9KqV0hft
“Marcus was here last night. He took me down to the docks.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ2F4uhoHX
“Here? How did he get in?”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrzNDWHv8B
Livia shrugged.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9UMZ2YzIA
“Perhaps we shall soon receive an invitation to your wedding.” Ariadne teased. Livia rolled her eyes.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLxWFOO7bw
“The day you receive an invitation to my wedding to the gladiator is the day you shall give birth to a satyr!”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpz0Hq4sWA
“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.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFj1E9qYT5
“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?”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6bJCAR6wC
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq8aiiLlAQ
“To where, Caius? Tetraites is not going to let you walk out of here.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPrP9dNrDh
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRq4sdPy12
“I told you, we went to the docks.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2xUqGvI1b
“And that was it, was it?” Caius said with no small degree of sarcasm, raising his eyebrows.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5w1PJI5qr
“That’s all I’m going to tell you. Now will you please sit back down?”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn7WQY8LsC
“Not at all, Marcus. I’m leaving. Come with me or don’t, that is your choice.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCZQ3tta0c
“And when do you plan on leaving?” Marcus said, only now beginning to believe in his friend’s resolve.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkugiNG1oEW
“Tomorrow. I will wait until noon for you, but then I am leaving.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOcCMSGees
“Where will you go?”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrEqCHGdWM
“Naples, probably. It’s not that far.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt7cIkFbiA
Marcus nodded.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIer2Zed9q2
“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.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyYVfMFxXB
“You sound like all those Christians. They’re always talking about the end of the world.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKleAN6vR0
“Perhaps they’re onto something. I’m serious Marcus. Don’t take too long considering my offer.”926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VrpAilhDA
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.926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtZ2BTlWbL
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.
