I've been Challenged Once, Given Coffee Twice

A Fight for His Life

A raging crowd cried frenetic on the colosseum's terraces. Shivers ran up my spine as I thought of my beloved husband about to enter the arena.

"You don't need to fear 'amica mea'. If you really trust your husband you have nothing to worry about. He will fight for his life and you two will be free to go." I veered to face the hideous man. His eyes filled with lust were fixated on me. He tried to touch my hair but I stepped back in disgust. "You will be mine in a few minutes. You could had made this easier for both of you..."

"I'll never be yours" I forced my tears back.

"That's about to be seen... Come on." Caius Aurelius, emperor of Rome, grabbed my arm and made me sit in the balcony designated to the caesar imperator to watch.

The crowd rose from their seats and screamed excitedly. The iron gates opened in the lower level and I saw my husband dressed in a gladiator bronzed armor walking into the arena. Tears ran down my face.

Maximus, the general of the Roman Empire Legions wielded his shield and sword, clanking them against each other high in the air making the multitude to roar in the stands. In the other extreme of the Colosseum, a second set of gates opened abruptly to a thundering sound. Maximus stood up straight after spotting a chariot hauled by three black stallions emerging from shadowy dungeons in tremendous speed.

The horses neighed fiercely slashed by the furious rider's whip. The cart raced in circles around my husband. The chariot charged towards Maximus yet he didn't give a step back, instead he planted both feet steadily and waited for the strike.

The warrior in the cart spun his spear in the air and the audience silenced with expectation. I was unable to move or breath staring, frightened to death, paralyzed by anguish how the chariot advanced. Maximus didn't move an inch. He just waited with his shield and sword in hands.

"Why? Please Maximus! Get down!" I cried in a whisper. Caius Aurelius smiled wickedly. My husband would be crushed by the cart and stallions if he didn't move. The chariot was almost on him. The horses galloped yet he remained immovable.

It was the horses, him... Maximus, the horses... My hands gripped to the seat's arms and I closed my eyes! "No!" I screamed.

"No my dear, you're going to watch!" The emperor hauled me to the edge of the terrace, forcing me to watch.

Maximus had the chariot on top, but in the last fraction of time, in the very last moment when I couldn't decipher if he was already under the horse's hooves, he moved asides, a quick turn and striking his sword he hurt badly one of the horses. The animal fell to the ground taking with it the other two beasts. The cart collapsed, crashing on its sides.

The mass cheered frenetic when both the rider and the warrior were expelled and fell a few meters behind my husband. Before the warrior recovered from the fall, Maximus ran, and stabbed stabbed the he man's chest until blood gushed out his mouth.

My husband turned around, triumphantly, raising his arm to the air pointing to Caius. Maximus lifted his thumb up and then twisted around his hand making his thumb point down. I smiled. The powerful imperator lost. He had to keep his promise and let us free, or suffer the consequences.