For the love of Rome

Chapter 6

Maximus POV

She looks as radiant as the sun this morning, decked out in gold, even her horses bridle is laced with gold, a stark contrast to his pure dark coat. He is truly a magnificent beast, with the dished face if the rarest Arabian bred stallions imported from the far reaches of our empire. She has fine tastes, this one. But he is spirited. Wild almost. I can tell that she has an incredible bond with him, that she is the only one who can handle him. He even tried to bite me, the rascal.

She is riding at the front of the caravan (A/N caravan: a group of travelling horses, camels, people etcetera.) alongside my brother, lucky bastard. They are in deep conversation and my heart pangs in a way it never has before. I had hoped she would hate him so much after that night, but she seems infatuated, giggling constantly. I don't know how much longer I can bear it, but I know that I must. This is larger than me. All the other girls I could steal from my brother if I so wished for they did not matter, but this girl matters and I cannot steal her this alliance with her father is necessary for Rime especially after the outbreak of these riots. Rome needs stability, there are too many people in power, they need a supreme power to rule. This alliance will give them that. I have always done what is best for my city, I will always continue to do so.

I am jerked from my reverie by the procession coming to a sudden stop. One of the carriages seems to have malfunctioned. Fantastic. At least it's at a nice location. We are in the middle of an empty field with a stream and willow trees so at least we can be sheltered from the intense heat and the horses can have a drink. I hardly even noticed the distance we have travelled I was so caught up in my thoughts of Aurelia. We are quite a ways from the city already. I look at Aurelia, who seems relieved by the interruption in our journey.

I pull my horse up alongside hers, albeit a safe 2 metres away, and ask, "Not looking forward to returning to your summer home, princess?"

She seems startled.

"Not looking forward to reliving memories." She replies vaguely.

What memories could she possibly want to avoid? What could possibly haunt her? I am shocked by the sudden realisation of her keenness to ride with Cassi today; distraction. I am sickly relieved by this. At least it is not genuine affection that spurred her interest in him today.

"May I enquire as to what these memories may entail?"

"You may certainly not." She says haughtily. It was worth a shot.

"How long do you think we will be delayed by?" Cassius asks me.

Drat I had forgotten about him. Everything else fades away when I look at Aurelia.

"Until it is fixed I assume."

"Why now I'm shocked!" Aurelia says with a dramatic eye-roll.

"I'll go see if I can help." Cassius says before turning his mount around and heading towards the carriage.

Aurelia blurts out suddenly, "My grandma died last time we were at the farm. That's what I want to forget. If we do not stay there without her then she can still be there in my imagination, but being there without her will make it all too real."

"I-I didn't know... I'm sorry I asked. Do you want me to 'accidentally' damage the other carriages?"

"No that is foolish, thanks for offering though. I have to face it sometime. I just wish she could still give me advice sometimes. I could really use her wisdom right now."

"I understand. Sometimes I just wish I could still have my old horse master around. He passed away years ago though. He always helped me when I needed it, helped me with Cassius and with the army, he always had the best strategies for a problem. But even now he's gone I still know him and his convictions and I always ask myself what he would do in situations before I make a decision."