The Emperor's Daughter

No Door: Aurelia & Caius

Aurelia was use to no choices. She was a woman at the mercy of the men in her life. Now faced with two equally terrible choices, she wasn't sure she liked the option of choice.

From where Caius stood she could tell he was ready for whatever she choose for him. He'd accept the choice she made for him with a straight back and fearless eyes. He was ready. She was not.

Tears slid down her face making her vision even worse seen through the red veil.

"Pick a door Aurelia," her father commanded.

His eyes, Cato's, Caius', and the crowd of the Colosseum were on her, anxiously waiting. She couldn't find her voice. Couldn't find her strength –or weakness- to curse Caius to either his death by lion, or his unhappiness with a wife he didn't want. She couldn't find it in herself to do it.

"Sister, pick," Cato commanded glaring across at her.

Aurelia looked down at her love, her heart torn in her chest. What if she simply didn't choose? Her father and brother couldn't force her. They may have been punishing her but they couldn't really if she refused to let them. If she didn't point to a door, well maybe they'd find another way to punish her and Caius, a way that wouldn't result in his death or forced marriage.

Caius waited, his eyes on her face. He understood her hesitancy, how could he not? He also knew she took a great risk in defying her father and brother.

Deciding for her, he bowed to her, trying to convey to her that it would be okay. If she wouldn't do it for him, he would. That choice though was not going to be a door.

A board had been left in the arena. Caius suddenly sprang for it, taking it up as a shield before he ran into the middle of the arena.

The sudden surge of movement made the emperor call out to the gladiators surrounding the arena. "Kill him!"

Caius was ready, his hand twisting the sword ready for attack. He knew the gladiators would surge towards him and damn if they didn't. They seemed as ready for carnage as the crowd who were all cheering on their feet with the change of events.

Evander was leading the pack, barreling towards him with a righteous glee in his eyes as he came down on Caius' makeshift shield. Caius fell back a few steps, the force of Evander's blade stronger than he'd anticipated. He braced his back leg, gripping the round chain that had been hammered into the back of the board. He shoved forward, forcing Evander back multiple steps.

"Why are you even fighting? You know you'll not win," Evander yelled noting the other gladiators closing in on Caius in a tight circle.

Caius looked up at the royal balcony. He was fighting for her. Fighting so that she might be spared the pain of seeing his life forced onto a path he did not want. He would not regret it, even if it meant he died at the end of Evander's sword.

Aurelia was watching, her mouth agape. She'd thrown back her red veil. It haloed her in a fiery red orb, blowing softly when a breeze blew and stirred her gold hair with it. Fiery red and wheat gold, she was a fire that made him burn with a longing he wouldn't soon forget or regret.

He smiled at her, confident that whatever happened would be alright. The gods and goddesses had seen them through this far, they'd see them through to the end as well.

Near the edge of the circle Romilius joined the men. He did not stay on its edge, walking purposefully to the middle where he met Caius.

"Go back," Caius growled. "You'll die here."