all of his built-up emotions, safe and finally alone with her. She cried with him — for him, but for the moment, she knew she had to be stronger than he. He needed her — he needed her to hold him, which she would.
CHAPTER FORTY
“He sent me away. He sent the whole legion off just to protect me,” Gaius said quietly as he looked down at the broken clay medallion in his hand.
It was hours, perhaps even days later, he had no sense of time right now. He was alone with Julia, she in his arms as both sat on the floor before a large fire that crackled as its bright flames, which warmed the pair. He was clean shaved and nearly back to normal, or as ordinary as he could be. They didn't have to say much to each other; words weren’t needed between the two, for both knew what the other suffered. They just needed to feel each other’s hearts, that both were alive, still warm and breathing.
They both had cried and allowed their emotions to flow freely without hesitation or judgment as they had embraced, and had made love, and at the moment just wanted to be near the other, for as long as they could extend this time. In a sense, they simply had each other in the whole world, and nothing was going to break them apart at this moment in time, no matter the rules, traditions, and arrangements, or by the force of the gods themselves.
“He did it, so I could come back to you — so I could protect you as I had promised all those years ago.”
Julia pulled herself into Gaius’ arms, closer as he spoke to her as a lone tear ran down her face as she listened to him.
“I went back to Cannae and looked for him, for as long as I could, but I could not find him. I could not give him the rights that he, and all those damn fools deserved.”
“He knew what he was doing,” Julia said softly. “He followed his father like a good son should, and fought to protect his country like every man should.”
“And he died for it. They all died for nothing. They were led by foolish men, even those with the noblest intentions. In the end, we are no safer now than we were before…I should have been there.”
“Maybe so, Gaius,” Julia looked up at him, rubbing her hand over his still youthful features. “But he sent you away, not to save you or to protect me, but because he loved you as his brother. He could not change his fate, and he knew that. Even so, he knew he could spare you a similar end.”
Gaius clutched the medallion tightly in his fist as Julia’s words sank in. He then bent down and kissed her, which she returned with a passion before she rolled over, facing him and again shared the same breath as, he.
“I love you more than life, Gaius,” she uttered softly as she ran her hand over his bare chest. “And I know you will leave again.”
He tried to say something, to deny it, but she stopped him before a word left his mouth.
“Nothing that happens from this point onward will ever change what we feel about each other.”
Julia took the medallion away from him and carefully placed it back around his neck, until it rested against his chest where it belonged.
“You will come back to me when this is over. I know you will. And until that day, I will be waiting for you.”
He kissed her again as he lowered her down onto her back. This would be his moment, the one he would live for — the one that would sustain him and allow him to see the war to the end.
For her, he would come back, no matter what.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
“Gaius,” Claudia greeted Gaius with a wide smile. She was less formal than she should have been with a person of his status, being that she was a slave and he now a general, a legate promoted as commander of the Sixth Legion. He, however, did not care for social edict, least of all when he saw her warm and loving smile. She was his friend, regardless of her class, and he greeted her as such as he embraced her with a long and meaningful huge.
“Claudia, it is good to see that you are well,” Gaius replied as he knelt down and kissed her youthful cheek. He realized that this was the first time that he had seen her cleaned and in proper clothes. She was very easy on the eye, long brown hair and blue eyes. However, Claudia had been raised into slavery, so the only alien aspects about her, were her features and not her accent or manners.
“It does my heart good to see you in better spirits, general,” she grinned, which caused Gaius to blush when she addressed him by his rank.
He stared down at her and smiled, perhaps looking at her a bit longer than he should have. She really did look different, but she didn’t seem to mind his long glare.
“I never got the chance to thank you. I mean, really thank you for what you did for me and the consul.” She looked up at him, who was considerably taller than she. “What you did, I do not think others would have done. I thought I was going to die there. I should have.”
“I did what any good Roman would have done,” he replied, not wanting to take too much credit for what he had done.
In his eyes, the operation was still a failure, to some degree. Calfax escaped. Valerius died as a result of the battle, and hundreds of Romans had been tortured and murdered. He didn’t think he would ever let himself off the hook for that day, what he could have had done differently — acted sooner to save more lives.
“Perhaps, but it was you that saved us. And for that, you have my gratitude, and love.”
Gaius smiled at her, accepting her words.
“Claudia, could I ask you something personal?”
“Of course.”
Gaius hesitated. He thought that perhaps he couldn't ask his question on second thought, but he saw, as she looked up at him, waiting eagerly for him to ask that she want to hear him.
“While you were in the camp…well, it was filled with runaway slaves, many like you, young women. They had their freedom, even for a short time, yet, you stayed with the consul when you could have left him — ran away or joined the slaves if you so wished. Why did you stay with Paullus, despite that it could have cost you your life?”
Claudia crossed her arms as she lowered her head and thought about his words.
“To be honest, Gaius, I did think about it…many times. But I couldn’t…I couldn’t leave, Paullus…I…”
Gaius observed that Claudia had not called Paullus by his title, as she should have. Her words seemed to trail off as her mind returned to those days, now weeks past. She looked as if she was going to say more even though she seemed afraid to continue, but she didn’t have to as Gaius placed his hand on her shoulders, easing her nerves.
“It is okay. I understand.”
She smiled and escorted him towards the rear of the house. When they turned the corner, they walked into a large room. Gaius saw Paullus right away as he was standing near the far corner, near the balcony. He was dressed, shaved and cleaner than Gaius had recalled seeing him, and as he turned and faced them once Claudia had announced Gaius’ presence, Paullus smile with a big grin as he limped over towards the man who saved his life.
Gaius met Paullus halfway, not wanting the man to injury himself further by trying to make the journey to greet his guest.
