A Paradise Lost

Saving All My Love For You

King Romulus lead Queen Raya towards the Colosseum. He brought her to the podium which was located on the first tier on the northernmost side of the Colosseum. It was a seat reserved for the most elite Romans including the emperor and royal family.

The 200 warriors of Queen Raya were lead by the Roman soldiers to sit together with the spectators.

“We call this place Coliseum. This is where we train our soldiers to fight. We call the men who fight inside the arena as gladiators. A gladiator is a man trained to fight with weapons against other men or wild animals in an arena. The gladiator depicts bravery, courage, strength, potentiality, capability, sacrifices, defeat, surrendering, struggle, and entertainment.”

Queen Raya was horrified to see men fighting each other like wild beasts. It didn’t look like an entertainment to her at all. It looked like torture to her. She thought that the scenario she saw in the port of Rome was already the most inhumane thing in the world wherein men and women were compressed inside the cage like animals sold to be butchered. Seeing gladiators fight like wild beasts was the most evil thing she ever saw in her life. She flinched when one gladiator stabbed his sword inside the mouth of his opponent. The pointed edge of the sword that was stabbed inside his mouth went out at the back of his head and he died instantly.

The crowd cheered loudly. It was obvious that they were enjoying the show. It seemed like it was just an everyday scenario to them. Well, not for Queen Raya. She felt like she was about to faint. She wanted to go back to her ship and never come back to Rome again.

“I hope you are enjoying the show, my queen.” King Romulus interrupted her thoughts.

Queen Raya wanted to stab King Romulus’ mouth with a sword. She wanted to push the sword inside his mouth until its edge would come out at the back of his head for allowing his people to be tortured that way.

“Are you okay, my queen.”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I would like you to meet my wife, Romina. Romina, this is Queen Raya from the kingdom of Maharlika, the land of gold.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Queen Raya. I’m glad you took the courage to visit our country. I hope you are enjoying our show.”

Queen Raya wanted to strangle Queen Romina with her emerald necklace for her mercilessness.

“Ahmad, is there more evil in this country than gladiators torturing each other to death?”

“Yes, my queen. They call that place, the underworld. The scenario is just the same with the gladiators but it’s more cruel. Even Jupiter will hesitate to put his cock inside that place.”

“I can’t imagine how evil that place is.”

“Do you want to visit the underworld?”

“No, thank you.”

The crowd cheered louder. She didn’t notice that a fight between gladiators just ended. The mob were demanding something she couldn’t understand. She saw King Romulus standing up.

“Ahmad, what does the crowd want?”

“They’re demanding to kill the gladiator.”

“What?! What should the king do?”

“It will be up to him whether he will let him live or die.”

“Oh, please, Yahweh, let him live! He doesn’t deserve to die that way. Not even animals deserve to die that way.”

“As an honored guest, I would like Queen Raya from the kingdom of Maharlika, the land overflowing with gold and diamonds, to decide whether she will let the defeated gladiator to live or die.”

Queen Raya was glad and nervous at the same time after hearing that the life of the defeated gladiator would be in her hands.

“Please tell me what I need to do.”

“Just raise your right thumb up if you wanted him to live or raise your right thumb down if you wanted him to die.” King Romulus instructed.

Without hesitation, Queen Raya raised her right thumb up. She wanted the gladiator to live. She didn’t care at all when the crowd shouted disapproval against her. She didn’t understand them anyway.

King Romulus dismissed the mob. That was the last battle of the day.

“Ahmad, why are those ten men pointed their weapons against the fallen gladiator?”

“It was a 10 versus 1 gladiator tournament.”

“That’s unfair!”

“He is the undefeated champion among all gladiators. They are giving him more difficult opponents to test his limits. That was the first time he fell in the battlefield.”

“Obviously, he would really be defeated since the battle was 10 versus 1.”

“Hi, Queen Raya. Your visit is just in time. Tomorrow will be our Gladiator Championship Day. We will be witnessing a historical battle between two champions.”

“Ahmad, I wanted to leave this country now. Tell her thank you and we need to leave at once!”

“Come on, my queen. You cannot refuse their queen’s offer.”

“What will happen if I will refuse to her offer?”

“It will severe your friendship.”

“I don’t care!”

“It will be rude to refuse on her offer. You will be creating enmity between them. Remember, they are conquerors. They might attack and conquer your country someday and hoard all the gold and precious stones you have. Just make sure that your military defense is stronger than theirs so that you can defend your country against them.”

“Fine. Tell her, I’ll see her tomorrow.”

“Thank you for accepting my invitation. You will never regret witnessing the historical battle between our undefeated champions. You will surely enjoy the show.”

“Thank you!”

Queen Raya was trying to fight the urge to strangle Queen Romina. She wasn’t please at all on what they’re doing to their people. She regretted for not leaving their country after she saw the slaves being caged like animals.

Queen Raya attended the Gladiator Championship  even though it was against her will. As usual, she was seated in the podium together with the royal and elite families in Rome.

King Romulus stood up and introduce the two undefeated gladiator champions to the mob.