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.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCjoFJi3r5
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI96LaSoPu
Maxentius knew there was no arguing with her, and so instead took the carrier from her hand and insisted he do it himself.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vxZ6Wdv1K
“I think we should go to Rome.” He said suddenly. Ariadne nodded.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD2mJP6snX
“Of course. Of course we shall move to the capital once the wedding is over and the baby..”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3R4rXs8Zj
“No. I mean now, Ariadne.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw10Q41Q2Q3
“Now?” She asked incredulously. To leave now was ludicrous. Before they were even wed!985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJJCM5kODO
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ30CXfMyA
“You are being ridiculous. We are not yet married, it would be improper for us to run away to Rome together!”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk38jZkt4fP
“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.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr78cevMx5
“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.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaQA9A2bXI
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.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCwA7km2fE
“You have a visitor, Livia.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1VZoTgc8M
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.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbM65Z3KnJ
“You look startled.” Livia observed.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMkEQ9YumN
“I must tell you something.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshuhJvOU0E
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsAFRbtxUk
“Somebody? To do what?” Ariadne asked with a raised eyebrow.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcrZ0Duay5
“I was under the impression it was you who was to do the talking, not I.” Livia said with a coy smile.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZRKm8K8tx
Ariadne’s expression faltered, and the lines on her forehead that had briefly disappeared returned.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXOveH3QFL
“Maxentius wants to leave Pompeii.” She said quietly, so as not to be overheard.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4hgp1OBd8
“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?”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg635Iu5Jt
“No, Livia. He wants to leave Pompeii now.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckAXQBC6Ct
“Now? But-“985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsvCXxmiLT
“He will not listen! Not to me. He claims he senses something bad coming. He wants to leave before sunset tomorrow.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNiMy4ef0H
“Have you told your father? Surely he can put a stop to this.” Livia asked, resting a hand on her friends arm.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKCvc678yr
Ariadne shook her head.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIVXVHQxBZ
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnCNoMWwCE
Livia took a deep breath.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8lTlcFJfm
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3pPNiXtTH
“I admire your optimism.” Ariadne said with a worried smile.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBzbfyD3MR
“And your pessimism is not good for you. You will get wrinkles.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUcWmDerpQ
Ariadne laughed a little, and then stopped suddenly.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYYK46PRPH
“Who are you waiting on?”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GguCnQ3PW
“Hm?” Livia said, Ariadne’s voice recalling her from her thoughts.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TFWvcbk4H
“You said you were waiting on somebody. Who?”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniutwyeK6X
Livia shook her head.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbxP04efRc
“A lady never tells her secrets.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlGOWC3QwS
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx3YCkVJ9V
Livia sighed and acquiesced.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH0b8JCHYO
“Marcus was here last night. He took me down to the docks.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q5ktJhwc0
“Here? How did he get in?”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHAv5sDnEl
Livia shrugged.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxom10r8SI
“Perhaps we shall soon receive an invitation to your wedding.” Ariadne teased. Livia rolled her eyes.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvc0tMzB3S
“The day you receive an invitation to my wedding to the gladiator is the day you shall give birth to a satyr!”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG0GxKNG3X
“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.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqJN2cRfBE
“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?”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5luaQuCIY
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc4wFLxcyB
“To where, Caius? Tetraites is not going to let you walk out of here.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrlX0v7lru
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp8NGp8Cno
“I told you, we went to the docks.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHXcxeeKAE
“And that was it, was it?” Caius said with no small degree of sarcasm, raising his eyebrows.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUCsKVUZRG
“That’s all I’m going to tell you. Now will you please sit back down?”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK3o7crj5I
“Not at all, Marcus. I’m leaving. Come with me or don’t, that is your choice.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6z33ROD25
“And when do you plan on leaving?” Marcus said, only now beginning to believe in his friend’s resolve.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kMYti8LLs
“Tomorrow. I will wait until noon for you, but then I am leaving.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaczq6aBRw
“Where will you go?”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0OzhfrfL0
“Naples, probably. It’s not that far.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOwTQf6mXH
Marcus nodded.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3f1vTxwLS
“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.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxDhmUPS3e
“You sound like all those Christians. They’re always talking about the end of the world.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wm0ihs5Pk
“Perhaps they’re onto something. I’m serious Marcus. Don’t take too long considering my offer.”985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNJpH25P91
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.985Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWy4ghb4fF
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.
