Let The Games Begin.

Threats of War

Back at the palace, I give orders to house the young woman and keep her healthy. We will discuss her departure after the child had been birthed. Turning back to the hoplite captain who had escorted me inside, I ask if there has been any progress on where my mother is. 

     "None, miss." He says, watching the young woman as she is dragged away. "I have a string of men stationed from here to Turkey and we've not heard anything. Not even from Lucas. I'm quite frankly beginning to fear the worst."

     "That they're dead?" I question, ambling to the throne.

He waits for me to turn around and take my seat before he shakes his head. "Your mother is much too smart to be taken out so easily. I'm afraid she may have killed Lucas, or had him killed and still gotten away."

     "Hm." I rest my elbow on the arm of the throne, my chin resting on my closed fist. "What I don't understand is why she didn't flee straight to Rome where my uncle is, conducting business then again, that's where the Emperor is. If Marcellus sent word to his father while my uncle is there, a war could be started in minutes." Before he can answer, I call out to the hoplite standing guard and request they call for Marcellus and Ajax. He nods, disappearing down the hall. "You're dismissed." I say to the hoplite captain. As he turns to walk away, I raise my voice. "You never told me your name."

He pauses, his body tensing. Instead of providing an answer, he continues out the door and disappears into the garden. A few minutes later, Marcellus and Ajax appear around the corner. 

     "About time. Come close." I command, standing. I ignore the butterflies in my stomach at the sight of Ajax. "I have some news, and I decide to involve both of you." As normal, Marcellus is avoiding eye contact with me. "We, being Marcellus and I found letters in my mothers room documenting conversations between her and his father, as well as between her and my uncle. I have sent them off to be inspected, as well as two small vials of liquid that I found in her nightstand-"

     "When you inappropriately rummaged through her stuff in a fit of unbridled rage." Marcellus interrupts, glaring up at me. "You really should learn to control your temper."

I stare at him blankly, partly stunned at his boldness. After finding my voice, I say "I did not ask you to chase after me, and in fact I have been enjoying you staying away from me, you putrid two faced rat. If you don't want to be here and help cure this injustice I will not stop you. But you will not stay here. Go back to Rome and stay there for all I care." Ignoring the mixed reaction on his face, I turn to Ajax and say, "Meet me in my room. I have something else to say to Sir Tiberous."

Ajax nods, wasting no time to disappear from this conversation. I wait until he is out of sight and count the seconds it would take him to be at my door before I descend the dais. Pausing beside Marcellus, I clasp my hands behind my back and lean close. Lowering my tone, I say, "If you ever step foot back in Greece, I will consider it an act of war. I will hunt you down, and become your worst nightmare. I will kill your men, and take your crown. I'll have your head put on a pike, and I'll put it over there," I nod, gesturing to the empty wall behind us, "so that every day I sit on my throne, I will be reminded of my first conquest." Standing upright, I add, "Get out of my country. Never return. I will never marry, and especially not you. You have fully lost my trust by operating behind my back. Any thought of happiness I imaged with you, the few that they were, is now nothing more than the bitter aftertaste of the foolish girl I was."

Not waiting for a response, I saunter past him. Turning to walk down the hall, I glare at him one last time and then disappear. When I approach Ajax, I push past him and rush to my desk, pulling out writing supplies. 

     "Why the rush?" Ajax asks, sitting himself down opposite of me. 

I start scribbling down all that I had just said, in case it ever came back to haunt me. I heard Ajax, but I want to get it all down while it's fresh in my memory. A few moments later, I answer.  "I'm sorry. I heard you, I just needed to write this down first."