Chapter 9925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15EnqorYam
21st August
Ariadne instinctively held a hand over her stomach. Although it had the slightest bump, she was not beginning to show. Telling her fiance had gone better than she had expected; he had frozen momentarily, before beginning to thaw. A smile spread across his face and he was genuinely pleased. He hoped it was a boy. He wanted to name the child Julius.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0SbIFOsqL
Ariadne walked slowly to the racing ground, wanting to catch Livia before the races began. The women sat separately from the men and so she bid Maxentius farewell and found her friend sitting on the stone benches.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RYQgb5vua
“I was wondering when you would arrive.” Livia said casually. Lowering her voice, she added: “How did he take it?”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMypNK8bEbW
“Well. He took it well.” Ariadne whispered. Livia smiled.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa857h94Ofb
“It looks like the green flag shall be the victor today.” She said, raising her voice back to it’s normal level.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOB1ZBGSpf
“How can you know? The race hasn’t even begun yet!” Ariadne asked, her eyes scanning the oval racing ground.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2j9l7tYwR
“No; but green have the best charioteers. And the best horses. You can see by the shine of their coats and the health of their hooves that they are in better physical condition. The other horses have been run ragged, even I can tell that.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCF2uCaPav
Ariadne looked closely and saw that Livia was right, the horses on one team looked far better than those on the opposite side.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzXl8d5uu6
“Then I shall tell my father to bet on green.” Ariadne said and Livia nodded, waiting anxiously for the race to begin.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKSJbWydt6
Since she was a child, she had loved the racing ground. When she was younh, she would sit with her mother - her father would sit near the front; being both a man and a politician, he was entitled to better seats than the women - and clap her hands and hit her feet on the stone floor, cheering for her favourite side. Her mother would bring a small amount of food, usually bread with some jam or butter, and Livia would eat it eagerly, not taking her eyes of the horses running in large circles before her. When it was over, she would go home with the noise of the crowd and the thunder of hooves ringing in her tiny ears.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZhZBilEEU
But this race was different. This race was not to celebrate the gods; It was to appease them.
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Caius sharpened the point on his spear. His darkened eyes gazed around the room he was in; a changing room of sorts. Gladiators around him were strapping on leather knee guards and polishing daggers. Marcus sat with a rather helpless expression on his face.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQRIisFOzZ
“If you keep that look on your face you’ll be an easy target. You may as well hand yourself over to the underworld. I’m sure Pluto will welcome you with open arms, Roman.” Caius said, his tone more harsh than he intended.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYAXSdimtS
“Why does Tetraites put his newest fighter into the arena?” Marcus asked.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikYQDglzx1
“Because he knows there are fighters like me in there to save your sorry asses.” Caius said simply, only half joking.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQrFmjyKcc
Marcus closed his eyes. He was not afraid of the fight, nor of death, he simply hoped that the games would be enough.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCH58R4hin
Tetraites called his gladiators to the entrance to the arena. The sun streamed through the gate. Caius and Marcus stood at the front of the line, looking out into the empty arena that was filling up with people quickly.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB2j4GyL3j
“The deaths that happen, Marcus,” Caius said, looking at the sand floor of the arena behind the gate. “They have to happen.”
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The arena had quickly filled and as the sun rose higher in the sky, they began to grow impatient. The temperature was increasing and growing almost unbearable for those without shade or water.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWKFdBS67O
Tetraites called his gladiators to him, shooting glances at the trainer from Naples who too called his gladiators into a huddle around him.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObeC48IiXd
“You are not usually one for motivational speeches.” Caius said lightly, but the darkness that Marcus had seen in his eyes still remained.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFXQ5NxB7p
“Usually, I do not send nearly all of my gladiators into the arena at one given time.” He tried not to portray his worry, but he knew that if he lost this fight then he would lose the vast majority of his fighters. The losses over the past year had almost crippled him; if he lost this, he knew that he would be ridiculed in Pompeii. His status as one of the greatest gladiator trainers in the Empire was already on the rocks. He knew that if today ended in failure, that title would be lost to him forever. “You are all good men,” he continued. “I believe that you can win this, but know that the people want blood. They do not want a courteous fight. Do not offer your opponent mercy; they will afford you none.” His eyes scanned each of his fighters. Then, placing a hand on Caius shoulder, he said: “Go out there and make me proud, men.” For only a second, he let slip his facade and allowed his gladiators to see their master as a genuine and honest man, rather than the tough and strict trainer they were used to.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6jS7E84yO
Caius nodded.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCAnSRYfgI
“You gave me mercy when I was a child. You took me in and you trained me when I was old enough. No matter how many fights I win, I shall never, ever be able to repay your kindness. If I die today, I will know that I died appeasing the Gods to save your soul.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuLWdqAIKV
“You shall not die, Caius. Because we shall win this match and all of you shall return home and when you do, I shall have the cooks prepare an excellent feast.” Tetraites said earnestly. “Now. Get out into that arena!” He barked, and the men smiled slightly before turning towards the iron gates that covered the arched entrance.
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The majority of the gladiators from Naples fought with spears, and all of them were steel with long, sharp points. Caius glowered at them menacingly. Marcus wanted to speak to his friend, to ask him for last minute advice, but he knew that Caius would not hear him. Caius was immune to everything around him and the only conceivable thought in his mind presently was ‘kill’.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO7JPv2vFw
The first man to make a move was a young man from Naples. Sensing that Caius was the toughest out of the lot, he made his way for him. Caius defended himself impeccably; the man barely got to within a foot of Caius before he was dead. Caius’ spear moved so fast Marcus did quite realise what had happened until the man fell to the ground and Caius was wiping the blood off his face.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoCoSv7chq
It scared Marcus, to see the lack of emotion on his friend’s face. To see how easily Caius kicked aside the man’s lifeless body in order to attack another. To see how quickly the bodies piled up around him.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NM8A8gnpN
Marcus did not have the time to dwell any longer, for he was set upon at that moment by a man twice his size. He moved backwards, his feet moving swifter than he ever thought they could. The man looked menacing, with a scar spanning the whole of his left cheek and no small amount of bruises on his arms. Marcus did not have time to think of his next move before he was forced to duck; his opponent had thrust his spear forward with as much force as he could muster and it merely grazed the top of Marcus’ head. Raising his hand, Marcus felt blood, but knew that he had narrowly missed a killing blow.The gladiator opposite him stood in anger, for he was sure that the blow would have met its mark. Without waiting to consider his next movement, Marcus took advantage of his opponents momentary lapse in concentration to thrust his spear firmly through the leather armour and straight into his stomach. He fell to the ground in agony, but Marcus had not the time to feel guilt.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFc2SOwxwa
His eyes scanned the arena, and he saw that Caius was fighting two men at once, needing no aid from anyone else. The other Pompeian gladiators also seemed to be winning, though a fair few littered the ground near those from Naples.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRjaXhTBNd
When there were only six from Naples remaining out of the original fourteen, the organiser of the games stood up. Caius halted, his dagger only inches away from the neck of a Neapolitan.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3lcyQsonl
“Enough blood for today, gladiators. I do believe the god’s are appeased.” He said, looking up at the cloudless sky. Marcus breathed a sigh of relief, and Caius moved his dagger away from the gladiator and offered him his hand to help the man up off his knees. The Neapolitan looked up in thanks to Caius, who could offer only a small smile. He had not yet broken his arena mindset, and so stalked back inside as soon as he was able, leaving the other gladiators (Marcus included) to stand before the population of Pompeii and listen to their cheers.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeUj8jcahD
Marcus felt exhilarated. Coming so close to death and yet escaping gave one an incredible rush, and as he glanced up into the crowds and saw Livia among the ones clapping eagerly, he could not think why Caius had taken such a dislike for the glory one receives in the arena.
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“You thought he was going to die, didn’t you?” Ariadne said gently.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGi4TaMrGE
“He came close.” Livia said rather bluntly. “Besides, what makes you think I care for him?”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSd10i6AA5
Ariadne smirked.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3QgohFAig
“Nothing.” She said simply, with a shrug. She began to walk away and then turned to face her friend with a larger smirk on her lips. “Except that I could practically feel your heart stop when that Neapolitan grazed his head.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgre3vFwmOE
Livia shook her head, laughing slightly, before catching up to her friend.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFPDR3MJe6
“Perhaps I should pay a visit to Tetraites. I will be able to see if Marcus is alright that way.” She suggested, no small amount of hopefulness in her tone.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBuLLpWZf4
“I rather think that would raise some eyebrows, my dear friend! Besides, I want you to help me pick the fabric for my wedding dress, and you simply cannot abandon me during my hour of need.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFF3GkKIOj
Livia laughed, weaving her arm through Ariadne’s.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPeR5y4JoX
“You are right, I could not possibly leave you, especially not in your condition!”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡargGXrwtTa
Ariadne hit her friend on the arm, and shushed her.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrmtC9fbgI
“You are the worst secret-keeper in all of Pompeii! To think I should have you as my closest friend and the only person I can share my secrets with! Oh to be so unlucky!!” She laughed.
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“How did I do?” Marcus asked Caius that evening. Caius shrugged.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Snp3rATMr
“You survived.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8kKFAj8B8
“Well, yes. But did you not see how I-“925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb73S2XrJcv
“Marcus, friend.” Caius said bluntly. “I do not wish to speak of battle.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjsautfm9u
Marcus nodded.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLN9hWOsX6
“I see. Then let us discuss lighter matters!”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewJS1AEZ6p
“Such as?” Caius said, glancing up and looking at his friend in interest.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRKIyPuszL
“Such as the woman cheering my name today in the arena.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W1zNAUEBy
Caius snorted.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAxMCzcGL0
“To cheer your name would be social suicide for her; no husband would ever have her. She may have cheered for you Marcus, but she was not cheering your name. There is a fine line.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR3lrlsAWO
Marcus scowled for a moment, before shrugging it off. It was true, after all.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIJA7PIcGh
“Ah you are right. But she was worried for me, I know it. I saw it in her eyes.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8aDqPJ1jR
“In her eyes? She was miles above you! I am amazed you could see her at all, never mind make out what was in her eyes!”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonhI8roBeE
“Are you determined to thwart my every statement?” Marcus said lightly.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskINke63xa
“I am determined to set you straight when you are clearly delusional, my friend!”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J9JDCKVkg
“I shall show you, Caius. I shall show you that the lady cares for me.”925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW5hesiXnR
“And, pray tell, how?” Caius said, leaning back in his chair like a teacher looking at a pupil.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSyyt8yv65
“I shall sneak out. Tonight.” Marcus said energetically. “You shall help me! I have a plan.” He demanded.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtVvYfuOq9
“I shall do no such thing!” Caius said, feigning outrage. He paused for a second, and then leaned forward. “What do you have in mind?”
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A/N - Pluto was the Roman name for the God Hades.925Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDheEZYtn1f
Also the quote ‘the deaths that happen, have to happen’ is from a TV show called Da Vinci’s Demons.
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