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.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJj6yNqp7X
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJDadYsgvk
Maxentius knew there was no arguing with her, and so instead took the carrier from her hand and insisted he do it himself.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlSEMSoJ0i
“I think we should go to Rome.” He said suddenly. Ariadne nodded.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNrxS0IyBP
“Of course. Of course we shall move to the capital once the wedding is over and the baby..”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoesjX3NQK
“No. I mean now, Ariadne.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2z6bhOQkg
“Now?” She asked incredulously. To leave now was ludicrous. Before they were even wed!986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeqtcMZsmY
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgtJctpcDV
“You are being ridiculous. We are not yet married, it would be improper for us to run away to Rome together!”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneSvX0e1I1
“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.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX2ymFZX02
“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.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7i3Cax5C1
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.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13rwAJIZaQ
“You have a visitor, Livia.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLnZqr58Cl
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.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkPmC3ahP4
“You look startled.” Livia observed.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e12uxZa4r
“I must tell you something.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ364TKFof1M
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtVDTdlNtC
“Somebody? To do what?” Ariadne asked with a raised eyebrow.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha4VCNx6nh
“I was under the impression it was you who was to do the talking, not I.” Livia said with a coy smile.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1m5Fr3M7i
Ariadne’s expression faltered, and the lines on her forehead that had briefly disappeared returned.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPrZuQNdzq
“Maxentius wants to leave Pompeii.” She said quietly, so as not to be overheard.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON3Ojx7s7D
“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?”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVNyXrK8X9
“No, Livia. He wants to leave Pompeii now.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y6xnjlUsG
“Now? But-“986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO3EeVxOMy
“He will not listen! Not to me. He claims he senses something bad coming. He wants to leave before sunset tomorrow.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfylg488Ch
“Have you told your father? Surely he can put a stop to this.” Livia asked, resting a hand on her friends arm.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91QTKIsYnJ
Ariadne shook her head.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1EUvPonU2
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MXcBmvR3M
Livia took a deep breath.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0CJKtcoA0
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Ge56b4mD
“I admire your optimism.” Ariadne said with a worried smile.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrAQpHerwE
“And your pessimism is not good for you. You will get wrinkles.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dcG8pHISh
Ariadne laughed a little, and then stopped suddenly.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFpcvqyoiU
“Who are you waiting on?”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoyeA2SXhn
“Hm?” Livia said, Ariadne’s voice recalling her from her thoughts.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0DHWWzXmL
“You said you were waiting on somebody. Who?”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak8Kag2lwo
Livia shook her head.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpmXFLqkCe
“A lady never tells her secrets.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFG7x806W0
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBJfqz67SG
Livia sighed and acquiesced.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YDQW5wWRQ
“Marcus was here last night. He took me down to the docks.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMqsMPkNTw
“Here? How did he get in?”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLqysJFNvH
Livia shrugged.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeNctR2NVU
“Perhaps we shall soon receive an invitation to your wedding.” Ariadne teased. Livia rolled her eyes.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBPrDzT2N8
“The day you receive an invitation to my wedding to the gladiator is the day you shall give birth to a satyr!”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoudURWDrxJ
“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.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyg1gokTuf
“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?”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo8GaiTR2k
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5yL62RUnD
“To where, Caius? Tetraites is not going to let you walk out of here.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B4g9o2dQp
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNOTFZR7tW
“I told you, we went to the docks.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImlxoCuKzz
“And that was it, was it?” Caius said with no small degree of sarcasm, raising his eyebrows.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxrJYd7u14
“That’s all I’m going to tell you. Now will you please sit back down?”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p3HbuM3Md
“Not at all, Marcus. I’m leaving. Come with me or don’t, that is your choice.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WbPHYoy8N
“And when do you plan on leaving?” Marcus said, only now beginning to believe in his friend’s resolve.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3cdFZjD0w
“Tomorrow. I will wait until noon for you, but then I am leaving.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfrpWGdS8n
“Where will you go?”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ohr6on8ju
“Naples, probably. It’s not that far.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h69ZiM23a
Marcus nodded.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnvilJR9co
“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.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXGZiXBrFX
“You sound like all those Christians. They’re always talking about the end of the world.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLALOHSdqK
“Perhaps they’re onto something. I’m serious Marcus. Don’t take too long considering my offer.”986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8foNVWsCCo
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.986Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6OWtGcSpk
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.
