Aurelia || SERIES ROMANA I

Chapter 99 ~ Domuitio

Full of pride, Gaius watched his son lying next to him on the dining couch and following the adults' conversation with interest. When one of the adults asked the boy something, his answers were well thought out and formulated. Aurelia had prepared him well and for a heartbeat Gaius wished he had never left. He had missed so much and had experienced nothing but blood, pain and death all these years. For the first time since he had subdued the island, he wondered if the military triumph had been worth all the sacrifice.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gaius saw Marcus, one of the guards outside his chambers, enter the triclinium, tap Suetonius on the shoulder and whisper something in his superior's ear. Unobtrusively, the two slipped out of the hall and before Gaius could follow them, Julius nudged him gently.
"Is everything all right, Father?" the boy whispered, and Gaius stroked him reassuringly on the head. Just as he was about to answer, his grandmother pulled him back into the table conversation. The next time Gaius looked up from the conversation, Suetonius was back at his post.
In the peristyle he paused for a moment and raised his eyes. For a blink he thought he saw a figure standing at the window of his chamber. But when he tried to look closer, it had disappeared. It had probably only been the slave girl who lit the lamps. Tired, he rubbed his eyes. Tomorrow he would finally be with her again. Elated by this thought, Gaius strolled back to his rooms. Suddenly he stopped moving and took a deep breath. Confused, he shook his head and hurried on. Marcus and Rufus wordlessly opened the door for him as he turned the corner and as soon as the door clicked shut behind him, he ran to a bowl and splashed water on his face.
The almost soundless rustle of cloth made him spin around with his dagger drawn. Water ran into his eyes, obscuring his vision like tears. A black wig lay carelessly discarded on the table behind her. Her real hair fell like a golden waterfall over her shoulders and the plain dress veiled her body. The features of her face looked more serious, more grown-up, and were even more beautiful than he remembered them. Her sea-blue eyes glowed with love.
"Welcome home," Aurelia breathed and his dagger fell clinking to the floor.

"Are you very angry with me?" she asked softly, drawing invisible patterns on his chest. Sluggishly he opened his eyes.
"Why should I be angry with you, my heart?" he wanted to know, and she lifted her head, frowning. Every night he had tried to recall her eyes and yet his heart skipped a beat when their eyes met.
"I disobeyed your order," Aurelia replied dryly and Gaius laughed in surprise. Her expression darkened. Desperately, he tried to be a little more serious and put on his dignified commander's face. Irritated, she frowned.
"You wouldn't be here if all of Rome wasn't convinced you were within the city walls," he said, stroking her cheek with his fingertips. The little wrinkle of thought on her forehead smoothed instantly. Smirking, he added, "Besides, I've never given you an order and I'm not going to start now."
Her body relaxed and he pulled her closer to him. Slowly her eyes closed, and her hand rested on his chest. Smiling, he breathed a kiss on her hair and closed his eyes happily.
"I love you," she whispered after a while and his heart skipped a beat. How many times had he lain awake at night imagining hearing those three little words come out of her mouth and how many times had he despaired when the sound of her voice faded into his memories. As he answered her softly, he felt his infinite love for her with every fibre of his body.