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.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlwfzPQpZi
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBix63Cgt3t
Maxentius knew there was no arguing with her, and so instead took the carrier from her hand and insisted he do it himself.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsZeY2c67W
“I think we should go to Rome.” He said suddenly. Ariadne nodded.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzDMvLWTYF
“Of course. Of course we shall move to the capital once the wedding is over and the baby..”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzTrDq4dch
“No. I mean now, Ariadne.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71sKB85wmE
“Now?” She asked incredulously. To leave now was ludicrous. Before they were even wed!959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbSRF2Oip8
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt7xoQjXEY
“You are being ridiculous. We are not yet married, it would be improper for us to run away to Rome together!”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcctdlJzhLm
“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.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqnRbKmnqG
“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.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9egFtAOUPK
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.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX6SseHkWj
“You have a visitor, Livia.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzoYjo2h5X
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.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikZxbVKaXx
“You look startled.” Livia observed.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq62yFiQxLu
“I must tell you something.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwwvJgnKaD
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiHe3LTzTW
“Somebody? To do what?” Ariadne asked with a raised eyebrow.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq7MoOgZLc
“I was under the impression it was you who was to do the talking, not I.” Livia said with a coy smile.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5rOB0Hn5W
Ariadne’s expression faltered, and the lines on her forehead that had briefly disappeared returned.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHdgY3UtZK
“Maxentius wants to leave Pompeii.” She said quietly, so as not to be overheard.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlN0X7TIDZ
“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?”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3jA83K3Cn
“No, Livia. He wants to leave Pompeii now.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygyK74row0
“Now? But-“959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9ZT6s4HmI
“He will not listen! Not to me. He claims he senses something bad coming. He wants to leave before sunset tomorrow.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWl85GOZ9x
“Have you told your father? Surely he can put a stop to this.” Livia asked, resting a hand on her friends arm.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwfWV0EuML
Ariadne shook her head.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡait41PiwFM
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPGq5BRaQh
Livia took a deep breath.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7hpGmKSKq
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkiuvt1tr7
“I admire your optimism.” Ariadne said with a worried smile.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmI0VRF9DY
“And your pessimism is not good for you. You will get wrinkles.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla3yOK6qrf
Ariadne laughed a little, and then stopped suddenly.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi0nTlJfJC
“Who are you waiting on?”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh0VSoNytz
“Hm?” Livia said, Ariadne’s voice recalling her from her thoughts.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVazCHzOMO
“You said you were waiting on somebody. Who?”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12whGKwwVm
Livia shook her head.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpHvuiPXhh
“A lady never tells her secrets.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdwLb2ApEE
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQX3vWDPBb
Livia sighed and acquiesced.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoQXZ3MLWu
“Marcus was here last night. He took me down to the docks.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8pRVUaMHq
“Here? How did he get in?”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EED2aBepi
Livia shrugged.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxncz2MCckI
“Perhaps we shall soon receive an invitation to your wedding.” Ariadne teased. Livia rolled her eyes.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH6fRTOnW2
“The day you receive an invitation to my wedding to the gladiator is the day you shall give birth to a satyr!”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQQZeW3mCn
“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.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYj9cjq68s5
“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?”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTjlBDLwtm
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1U3odlSo1
“To where, Caius? Tetraites is not going to let you walk out of here.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82zYHMrZ0D
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm42BmsQvGI
“I told you, we went to the docks.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunwYiP6NTN
“And that was it, was it?” Caius said with no small degree of sarcasm, raising his eyebrows.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTDUZXz6fD
“That’s all I’m going to tell you. Now will you please sit back down?”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPu2RCP5tm
“Not at all, Marcus. I’m leaving. Come with me or don’t, that is your choice.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡietkoJdrT6
“And when do you plan on leaving?” Marcus said, only now beginning to believe in his friend’s resolve.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOpXxj76YL
“Tomorrow. I will wait until noon for you, but then I am leaving.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wLvpPRsVS
“Where will you go?”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuAN6zJbke
“Naples, probably. It’s not that far.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ309tDG2Cwm
Marcus nodded.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKMwknQD7h
“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.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjwunIkbtT
“You sound like all those Christians. They’re always talking about the end of the world.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzmq6RPBwC
“Perhaps they’re onto something. I’m serious Marcus. Don’t take too long considering my offer.”959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTrhcNYJqt
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.959Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mz2xftTGD
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.
