The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter Fourteen: Aurelia

The room had never seemed this quiet before. Surely it always had been. Without Caius there, Aurelia's room seemed deafening with its stillness. She didn't like it. She felt cold, alone, scared. She hadn't realized how much she'd come to rely on Caius to help her sleep.

Their angry words from earlier swirled around her head, jarring her and leaving her remorse. When she'd first joined herself to Caius she'd known somewhere in her head that it could not last. Still the way it'd ended had not been what she'd expected.

Were they really both leaving? Destined to live the separate lives the gods had crafted for them. After everything they'd found in each other, this was how it ended?

Aurelia wiped the tears that were falling down the side of her face into her ears.

This could not be their end.

Letting her feet dangle over the side of the bed, she pushed herself up. She didn't know if what she did was wise. She felt herself doing it anyway, desperate to make sure that she and Caius had another chapter to their story.

She pulled her thin tunic off, standing naked in the room before donning her bed's sheet around her body.

The hall was empty. A small noise from Laelia's room could be heard. Likely she wasn't sleeping well having been left anxious by the day's events. It probably didn't help either that Cato had charged her with watching Aurelia closer over the coming days in case she too was worked up over the events.

With any luck Laelia would fall asleep soon and stop worrying. Aurelia would have to be careful around her the next few days.

Passing Laelia's room, Aurelia reached Caius' door and silently opened it. She snuck in as she had so many nights before. He wasn't waiting up for her this time as a result of their fight. His face was turned away from her to the wall as he slept on his back.

Aurelia didn't pause to think as she shut the door and dropped the sheet around her. The linen pooled around her ankles. She walked to the bed, lying down next to him without a sound. He didn't wake but she felt the instant soothing warmth of his body next to hers, offering a calm she'd been without all day.

Gently placing a hand on the side of his face, she turned it to her. He must not have been in a deep sleep for he merely opened his eyes, entirely serene when she'd done it. He met her face to face on the bed.

Neither spoke, just stared at each other. Aurelia stroked her thumb over his cheek gently, leaning in to kiss him. It was calm and gently, so unlike all the other kisses they'd shared.

He lifted the sheet to allow her in. He was already naked and within a few more movements of her running her hands down his body, his eyes met hers with a perfect understanding.

She hooked her leg over his hip and took him into her, breathing deeply until she relaxed into her side, his arms coming around her to steady her.

They rocked slowly together on their sides, a gentle dance that felt more intimate than any other time they'd been together. She felt safe and loved in those arms, her heart filled with a warmth as she gazed back into his eyes. At that moment, she needed nothing more in her life.

~*~

Aurelia was still on her side curled up against Caius. She pressed her fist to her mouth to keep from sobbing after they'd uncoupled and the thoughts of the future had begun to plague her.

Caius was staring up at the ceiling, one arm behind his head while the other was wrapped around Aurelia's waist.

"I didn't think I'd actually have to marry him," she murmured quietly.

Brown eyes fell from the ceiling to her face, a tight line pressed where his mouth was.

Aurelia knew it was unsuitable talking about another man while she was in his bed, but she had to make sure he knew.

"I thought I could get out of marrying him," she said, fist still pressed to her mouth. "I had whenever my father brought a suitor to dinner. I didn't tell you about him because I was hoping I wouldn't have to."

Caius sighed, his lungs deflating next to her. He averted his eyes back up. "I didn't tell you I was leaving because I only found out yesterday. Your father decided it after that man attacked you. I didn't exactly choose my path either."

Fist pressed to her lips, she hoped to keep the sob that rose up the back of her throat from escaping. He heard the whimper, gathering her to his chest as a few tears leaked out.

"You'll be killed," she whispered with no hope of another destiny for him.

"No." Caius shook his head. His hand came up to comb down the back of her hair.

"You will," she cried. "You can't go." Aurelia felt her fingers digging into his chest, desperate to somehow keep him there, safe with her forever in that bed.

"We can leave. We can run and escape."

Caius was already shaking his head. "There's nowhere in the Roman Empire we could go that we wouldn't be discovered."

Aurelia frowned thinking. "Then we go to Britain of France, even Africa. You know trade is done with all of them."

Caius raised a brow looking as if he were only going through the motions of listening to please her. "And money? How do you propose paying for this great escape?"

"I have more jewelry than gladiators do weapons. I could easily pay for passage somewhere with one ring alone."

She spoke haughtily, more confident than she'd felt all day. It didn't last long as Caius placed a hand on her face shaking his head.

"Running. Hiding. Hoping someone will give you coins in exchange for a necklace so that you can eat. That is not the life you were meant to lead."

Caius sighed, not even seeming to notice her fingernails clawing into him in desperation.

Dipping his head, he placed a gentle kiss on her head. "We have a month until you're to marry and I'm to leave. There's still time for something to change."

Gently he pushed Aurelia's hand away from her mouth, replacing it was a warm kiss that filled her with light and hope. Perhaps there was still something they could do. In Caius' arms she felt only safe. Safe from all that threatened her, even the future. They'd find some way forward safe and together.

Aurelia allowed herself a small smile as Caius continued to stroke her cheek with his thumb.

"You are incredibly wise my gladiator," she said, enjoying as the words made a rare smile grace his lips.

"And you are incredibly beautiful my goddess."

He pressed his lips to hers in a quick but through kiss before pulling her more tightly against him. She sighed nestling into him and closing her eyes, finally able to sleep.

Tomorrow they would figure out the futures that plagued them. Tonight they'd just sleep, secure in the knowledge something could change and comforted in the arms wrapped around them.