The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter Seven: Aurelia

The thick black veil was supposed to have offered her some anonymity, to hide her, and keep her calm. It could not though, with one word her father had taken that from her.

"Aurelia?"

She felt her father's eyes on her along with her brother's, and his. She didn't think he'd be at the Colosseum, didn't think he'd be fighting or made to fight Evander. Less of all had she though he'd be summoned by her father to stand before her as her subject and he her gladiator.

He was supposed to have gone to the temple, not be now bowing to her.

"My lady," he said. His eyes sought hers through the veil, clear recognition in them.

Cato frowned, his head moving from her to Caius. "Sister, do you not wish to thank your champion?"

"Ye-yes," she stammered out, her heart racing desperately, hoping her brother couldn't see the flushed heat of her cheeks. "Thank you."

Caius' face remained calm and stone-like. He was clearly better at hiding his surprise. "Of course my lady."

He father nodded pleased. "Caius, my son and I have agreed that my daughter needs protecting after what happened. We have chosen you to be her guard."

Both Aurelia and Caius seemed to jolt with life at this announcement. This was the guard her father had spoken of?

Caius frowned, clearly displeased in spite of his hope to appear the dutiful servant. "What of the arena my emperor?" he asked sounding genuinely displeased at the idea of leaving the blood and carnage behind.

Aurelia shifted in her seat, annoyed with him suddenly and turned her face back in the direction of the arena which was still in the process of arranging for a new match.

Had Caius not seen the dead bodies of the criminals her father had fed to the animals? Did he not feel the pain of the cuts in his own flesh? He could escape it all by becoming her protector. She didn't see how he could falter at such an offer.

"Your focus is on protecting my sister now," Cato said waving the scene before them like it was nothing. Aurelia saw it in Caius' eyes though; he did not think it wasn't nothing. The arena was the life he knew. The life he'd vowed himself to. The death of a gladiator was what he'd expected, not an endless life of follow a girl about.

"Brother I don't think-" she began seeing Caius' face.

"You need a protector," Cato cutoff. "He will protect you," he said in a strict voice that dared either her or Caius to object to what had been decided for all.

Cato smiled knowing she could not object further. "Go ready yourself. Father said you wished to visit the goddesses' temple today. Your new guard will meet you outside the Colosseum and escort you." He turned back to Caius, a hint of challenge in his eyes. "Correct?"

Caius had returned to his stony stance, seeming resigned to the fate he'd been given. He bowed dutifully.

There was nothing else left to do or say. Her father and brother had decided her fate as much as they had Caius'. She nodded to them, passing by Caius without looking at his bowed face and disappeared into the tunnel that led off from the royal's balcony.

She would need to meet Caius out front as her brother had told her, at which point she supposed she'd have to ask his forgiveness for not telling him who she really was. It was bound to be an awkward walk to the temple.