Let The Games Begin.

Justification

     "Oh! I am SO mad!" I shout, pacing in front of the library doors, trying to collect myself before I retrieve Ajax. At the end of the hall to my left, I hear some hesitant footsteps. 

     "Lady Integra," the distant voice growing nearer asks, "Are you okay?"

I glance up, not expecting the voice to be that of Marcellus. "Yes, yes, quite alright." I mutter, waving him off. 

     "You don't sound as such." He is much nearer now. When I look up again, he is right beside me, and we are nearly nose to nose. "I'm not sure what's going on but from the way you've been acting, I'm going to assume going through with it is not worth it."

     "Why are you still here?" I ask. The words come out much harsher than intended. I can see the hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. Just that-" I pause, sighing, "Just that you came here with the intent to marry me and I've stood you up twice. You know very well if roles were reversed, my advisors would be encouraging me to leave. For the sake of your heart, you should probably consider the same." I keep his gaze for a second before looking down at the floor.

Staring daggers into me, he clenches his jaw and then parts his lips to speak. "I haven't left because for one, I don't want to. I'm not partial to being made to do things I don't want to do, so even if you demanded my departure, I would have to be physically removed. Secondly, I know whichever shenanigans you're pulling will be much easier with someone you trust to confide in."

Glancing away, I retort, "I don't expect you to trust me. Not after all this time and my broken promises."

A gentle laugh escapes him as he reaches for my hand. "Honestly? I do expect as much. This is the most amount of freedom you've had in your whole life and you're enjoying it so much that you're on the verge of abusing it. I understand. I'm in that same spot right now. My father, emperor of Rome, has fallen ill. I took his first day off the throne, under a regent, to leave the country and come meet this riveting princess I had heard so much about." He pauses, glancing from my eyes to my lips and then back up. "I don't blame you, Integra. Honestly, I don't. But if you continue in this heinous manner, I won't support you either." Quickly stepping closer, he presses a kiss to my cheek, pats my hand resting in his and continues past me down the hall. 

Stunned, I turn and watch his figure disappear down the hall, with a sharp turn to the right. Subconsciously, my hand rises to my cheek, a goofy smile on my face. And then the horrid thought crosses my mind: Did my mother pay him to dissuade my actions? I curse, pushing the thought from my mind. She couldn't have. I banned her from reaching the outside world. The thought of having the power to banish my mother is becoming sweeter and sweeter by the minute. 

Taking a deep breath, I raise both of my hands and shove the library doors open and immediately regret it. The library is crawling with magistrates. I grimace and try to back away quietly but before I can even turn around, they've moved from swarming Ajax with a flurry of questions to swarming me, dragging me into the library.

I've met the senate magistrates before. By heart, I know all of their names and faces. Once, they came to my mother to plead on behalf of someone they had wrongly accused, and was sentenced to execution the next day. She only relented with the proper showcase of evidence and then, the man was released. 

Shoving me around from one person to another, each drowning me in one question after another, I finally shout, "ENOUGH!!" at the top of my lungs. The entire room freezes. Quickly, I step into the nearest chair and then step again, onto the table. Loudly, I command, "Everyone find a seat and be quiet or no one is getting a peep out of me!" I square my shoulders, smoothing my hair. Taking my sweet time to smooth my chiton, I motion for Ajax to come sit in the chair behind me, away from the magistrates, who are still standing around, gawking at my boldness. I cross my arms, making sure to make eye contact with each of them. One by one they each take a seat, looking up at me.