The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter Sixteen: Aurelia

Vesta was the goddess of the home and protector of life. It was her who Aurelia honored with her red veil. A red veil, the color brides wore for their weddings, a wedding Aurelia would be forced to after the gladiator's fights in the arena.

It felt odd, false even to be there and not have Caius enter the floor. Perhaps that was a good thing though. Her father had yet to tell her what he had planned for Caius. She knew to be fearful though.

Sitting in one of the sella regia chairs between her father and Cato, she looked out onto the arena floor, watching as a gladiator thrust his sword at his opponent, clashing blades with his opponent's. Aurelia knew from her time with Caius that it was a chaotic move, one made from anger and not strategy. The man was asking to be killed.

She pulled at the necklace lining her neck. It was heavy and tight, much like its matching bracelets. She'd been trussed up that morning for her wedding. Jewelry, a chaplet of roses crowning her head, the red veil, a new white tunic, and the hasta caelibaris. Aurelia felt ridiculous, on display for everyone –especially for Avitus who'd be waiting for her back at the palace for their wedding.

Avitus had promised Aurelia that as soon as they were married that afternoon, he'd take her safely away to his home. He wouldn't risk more thieves assaulting his wife.

Aurelia said nothing. Her heart had broken the moment Caius had been dragged away and now she felt nothing. Perhaps that was how women survived marriage. By feeling nothing, they simply moved through life as the wives and mothers they were expected to be. The men were happy and got what they wanted and the women...well there was a reason the temples of the goddesses who watched over women were always stocked with offerings.

She sighed, her thoughts darting back to Caius. Where was he? Perhaps her father had simply sent him west as a solider instead of a general. Aurelia could accept this if it were true. Banishment would be easier to accept than if something truly horrid had happened to him.

Cato's wife was absent from the arena again, but Aurelia knew she'd be at the wedding. If Aurelia could get her alone she might be able to ask her what she knew of Caius. Aurelia had already accepted her fate to Avitus, but she leave Rome without first knowing what became of Caius. She'd be leaving the city and her heart with it.

The sella regia chair her father had been lounging in creaked as he stood suddenly and walked to the low pillars that shaded the royal family's seats.

The fight had ended and the gladiator Aurelia had predicted would lose was being carted off the arena floor.

The emperor raised his hands, silencing the cheering crowd who instantly gave him their attention.

So, this was it. Her father was about to announce her wedding. Her fate was forever sealed.

She let her head fall, eyes focusing on the ring on her index finger that she twisted.

"A most grievous event has befallen my family," her father began, giving Aurelia pause.

This was not how she expected him to announce her marriage. What was he up to?

"My poor daughter, pure and kindhearted as she is."

Aurelia huffed an annoyed breath into her lap, the red veil before her face flapping in her wake.

"Was set upon by a thief. A thief who was once the great gladiator you knew as Caius."

She felt her hands suddenly ball into fist in her lap. So, this was what he wanted, to turn the people of Rome against Caius. What good would it do though if her father meant to banish-

Two lines of armored gladiators were marching into the arena. Between them was a lone figure stripped of everything but a grubby brown tunic. His hands were bound with chains that swung heavily in front of him. He kept his head up though, his eyes hard and trained before him, not afraid, not groveling, just accepting of whatever was to come next.

Caius had told her once that he'd rather die in the arena rather than live a life he didn't choose. This though, this he didn't chose and she wouldn't have chosen it for him.

The crowd was booing and hissing as Caius made his way into the arena. Their once reverent gladiator now reduced to the thief Aurelia's father painted him out to be.

"He will be either punished today, or be given mercy as decreed by my daughter." The emperor looked back at Aurelia, smiling as his words from the night before swirled in her head. Worse things than death? What could be worse?

Terrified, Aurelia watched as the gladiators stopped Caius between two of the wood doors that would open whenever a fighter was up against one of the animals. They filed off, surrounding the arena floor in a circle like watchful guards, swords, tridents, daggers, and nets at the ready. Was he to fight off all the men? He'd never survive.

Aurelia launched herself from her seat, unable to help herself as she threw herself against the railing next to her father, her eyes watching in terror as the scene unfolded.

One of the gladiators came forward to Caius. Even from where Aurelia was she could see the sneer on the man's face –Evander. He unlocked the chains around Caius' wrists and tossed a sword at his feet. Keeping a cool demeanor, Caius retrieved it going to walk to stand between the two doors. Evander said something which had Caius instantly throwing his arm. His fist connected with Evander's face, spraying fresh blood onto the arena's dirt floor and exciting the bloodlust in the crowd.

Aurelia expected a full out fight from Evander who seemed a man easily enticed, but he merely smiled, the blood coating his teeth in an awful red. He left to take up his place a good few feet from Caius. In fact everyone was keeping a good distance away. That was never a good thing to see even gladiators wary of what was to come.

Her father addressed the crowd again. "She will pick a door for him and he will accept what she chooses for him. Death or mercy."

Fear prickled Aurelia's spine as the crowd cheered again. What was behind the doors? And why was her father allowing her the choice? Even the mercy sounded ominous.

On the arena floor Caius had turned to look up at her, his face set to accept whatever choice she made for him. His eyes were hard, shoulders tight and he radiated the air of a gladiator. She saw in those hard eyes though the man she loved and a soft voice that formed in her head as if he were standing right next to her telling her it'd be alright regardless of what she chose for him.

Tears formed in her eyes. She was glad for the veil that shielded her face –he wouldn't be able to see her cry. Her father saw them though and turned to her.

"Behind one door is a lion. Behind the other is your servant who Caius will be made to take as wife. You will choose which one he goes to." Her father leaned in then and whispered into her ear which door held which fate.

Aurelia dropped her eyes, crying more profusely. Neither door would make her happy. Likely neither door would make Caius happy either. If she choose the lion, well at least Caius would die the gladiator's death he'd wanted. And if she choose Laelia, then he'd live –though the thought of picking Caius' bride was a deep sliver in Aurelia's heart. There was a reason her father had chosen Laelia and not a random woman; he wanted Aurelia to suffer, to be able to picture the woman that would be in Caius' bed every night for the rest of her life.

It was cruel and was indeed worse than death.

"What will happen to him if I pick his bride?" she asked, needing to know everything.

Cato came up on the other side of her, looking bored by her inability to choose. "They'll marry. He'll still board the ship to the west and fight. It's currently in the port waiting for him to leave."

"And Laelia?"

"She'll go with you to Avitus' house after becoming Caius' wife. If Caius survives and returns, she'll return to him here in Rome. But you will stay with Avitus."

Aurelia returned her eyes to Caius waiting patiently in the arena. He frowned seeming to understand her sorrow though he couldn't make out much of her face.

"Chose Aurelia," Cato hissed glaring down at Caius.

She swallowed, her heart breaking completely as she raised a shaking finger and pointed to one of the doors, hoping desperately that Caius would forgive her for it.