III

NOT A LADY LIKE THE OTHERS

I FOUND a way to save Rome.

This was what Caecilia told her father when she came back home. He was waiting for her in the courtyard, while Lucilla was in her room.

It was late, and they were both tired. Acacius had spoken to the senators and managed to convince them to help him. Caecilia had kept Geta and Caracalla busy with the celebrations.

For this reason, Acacius had sent his daughter to rest with the promise they would talk about it in the morning. And the next morning came slower than either of them had expected.

«We need to talk.» Caecilia said, after taking a deep breath, the moment she sat down to breakfast. Acacius and Lucilla were already there,  around the table, waiting for her.
«I'm listening.»

«There is a gladiator, Macrinus' gladiator. I saw him fight yesterday.» Caecilia began, trying to find the right words. It will be difficult, she repeated to herself. But I'll make it.
«You think he's...»

«I'm sure of it.» Caecilia interrupted Lucilla. Then, she turned to her father. Because she knew he was the one who was hard to convince. «I saw something in his eyes, father. He's the right man. Trust me.»

«I trust you, Caecilia.» Acacius told her, taking his daughter's hands in his. «But I think I'm afraid to listen to your plan.» he said then, almost in a whisper. He knew her very well, so he also knew what her next words would be.

«I need to get into the Colosseum.» Caecilia told him, in the fastest way she knew. Because she knew her father wouldn't accept it. He would stop her from doing what she was planning.
«No.»

Acacius stood up and moved away a little. But Caecilia did the same, following him under the gaze of Lucilla. The daughter of Marcus Aurelius was watching and listening saying nothing.

«Please, father. It's the only way.» Caecilia begged him. Acacius didn't look at her, knowing that if he looked at his daughter, he wouldn't have the courage to order her to let it go.
«It's too dangerous.»

«No one knows she's your daughter.» Lucilla intervened, receiving a look of thanks from Caecilia. The girl had loved Lucilla since the first time she met her. She felt understood, especially because Lucilla was just like her.

«No one, except one.» Acacius muttered, turned to his wife. He knew how Lucilla thought, so he couldn't count on her support.
«Ravi was my mother's friend. I trust him. He won't tell the truth to others.»

Ravi. That name. A gladiator. Marcus Acacius had learned about him years ago, thanks to Caecila's mother. He was her friend, her daughter was right. But she had lost so much to save him.

For this reason, Acacius didn't want his daughter to think she could count on Ravi's help. But he also knew her mother would have wanted their daughter to do so. «I'll demand that my men follow you.»

«No, I must be alone if I am to go unnoticed.» Caecilia replied, her tone was firm. She had to do it alone, without help. She would have accepted it, if only it didn't jeopardise her plan.

Before Acacius could reply, a maid interrupted their conversation. «Lady Lucilla.» she said, in a whisper. Caecilia noticed she was almost afraid to say the next words. «The emperors have summoned you to the palace.»

A confused and curious expression crossed Caecilia's face. What did Geta and Caracalla want from Lucilla? What did she do? She had fo find out. «I'm coming with you.»

Acacius would not allowed his daughter to go with his wife, because he wanted to go in her place. But he also knew that, whatever happened, Caecilia had a better chance of making Geta see reason.

«Be careful, you both.»

≫ ──── ≪ • ◦ ❈ ◦ • ≫ ──── ≪

«Try to understand your father. The Colosseum is not a good place for a woman.» Lucilla suddenly spoke, after being in silence for all the travel, as they walked to the palace. They were just arrived, but they weren't entered yet.

Lucilla knew what that meant. She had lost the love of her life in the Colosseum, years ago. She loved him and watched him die because of her brother.

«I know, but I have to. I understand my father, but I know you understand me.» Caecilia replied. Lucilla told her what she did, years ago. She fought indirectly to save Rome. With the help of Maximus Decimus Meridius.

The conversation ended the moment they entered to the palace. They couldn't speak freely as they would like. Geta and Caracalla could heard.

«Caecilia.» Geta greeted the girl as he noticed she had accompanied Lucilla. «Lady Lucilla.» Geta did the same to the daughter of Marcus Aurelius, bowing and waiting for her to offer him her hand.

But Lucilla didn't gave it to him. She simply smiled ironically. «Do you kiss the hand of your prisoner?» she then said, her tone of voice revealed all her nervousness.

«You are a guest of the emperors, my lady.» Geta replied, looking at Lucilla. Then he turned to Caecilia, and looked at her too. But differently. «You both.» he whisper, his eyes fixed on her.
«A guest.»

«You are guarded for your own protection for your protection.» Geta said, ignoring Lucilla's ironic chuckle at his words. «And enjoy many benefits.»

«Why am I here?» Lucilla finally asked. She was tired of waiting for the emperors to get to the point of that conversation. Even though she knew she wouldn't like what they said.
«My brother and I have a proposal to make.»

«In your father's time» Geta began to say, after Caracalla's words, walking behind the two ladies. «An Emperor who lacked a son would adopt one as his heir.» he then said, looking at Caecilia for a moment. He knew she understood.
«What is it you want?»

«Adopt us.» this time Caracalla was the one to speak, catching the attention of both women. «As your sons.» he continued, after a moment.
«For which you would enjoy much great and benefits.»

«And you have no children of your own.» Caracalla emphasised, moving slightly in his chair. «Your son died, did he not?» he asked Lucilla. Caecilia noticed her stepmother startle at those words.

She knew her story. Lucilla had told her, years before. She had a son, Lucius, but she was forced to send him away from Rome to protect him. She saved his life, but she lost him. Forever.

«You are past childbearing age.» Geta spoke, after a while. Caecilia glared at him, but he didn't notice. It wasn't a nice thing to say to a woman.
«Though not undesirable.»

Caracalla's words, spoken almost in a whisper, made Caecilia shiver and Lucilla startle. «Please. I need some time to consider this proposal.» the daughter of Marcus Aurelius told the emperors, before they could say something.

«We have only day before the games begin.» Geta remind her. Just one day. Then, Rome would become a theatre of an entertainment show that Caecilia and Lucilla had never liked. «Your presence would bring even greater glory to General Acacius.»

«My father does not seek glory. Glory finds him.» Caecilia almost muttered, making Geta turn toward her. That moment he realised he had used the wrong words to try to convince Lucilla to watch the games.

Geta knew how much Caecilia cared about her father. He wouldn't have spoken that way because, after all, he knew Caecilia was right. Marcus Acacius was a man like no others.

He married Lucilla, the daughter of Marcus Aurelius and loved by the people of Rome. But he gained glory through his victories in war. He was already loved when he married Lucilla.

«He only fights your wars to protect me.» Lucilla said, before Geta could reply to Caecilia. She knew that her husband was pleasing the emperors to save her. He loved her, and he couldn't lose her. «And to serve Rome.»

«The games are tomorrow. So she has a day to decide, right?» Caecilia looked at Caracalla for a moment, then turned to Geta. She could convince him more than his brother. And she did.

Before Lucilla and Caecilia left the palace, Geta caught their attention. «Caecilia.» he uttered, leading the young girl to turn to him. «Can I talk with you for a moment, please?»

Caecilia looked at Lucilla for a moment, who reassured her with a little smile. «I'm wanting for you at the entrance to the palace.» the daughter of Marcus Aurelius told her, before she left.

When they were alone, Caecilia's attention was all on Geta's figure. She noticed his restlessness, his mood had suddenly changed. «What's happening?»

«I know you don't like the games that my brother and I had organised but...» Geta paused for a moment, undecided whether or not to continue. «I would appreciate it if you sat down with me tomorrow.»

Caecilia knew Geta for years, so she knew something was wrong. «What's happening?» she continued to insist. A couple of times she had seen him that status, and every single time it was only about one thing. His brother.

«Caracalla is getting worse. His illness is reaching his brain and...» Geta was forced to stop, or he would cry in front of Caecilia. His bother was sick and there was nothing he could do to help him. «I need someone I trust with me.»

«I will be there, with you.» Caecilia told him, without hesitation, offering a hand to reassure him. Geta smiled at her, thanking her with his eyes.

He was so in love with Caecilia, and he needed her and her support especially. She had helped him so many times doing nothing. Her only presence helped him.

At the same time, Caecilia needed an excuse to see the gladiator and she found it with Geta's proposal. But it wasn't just that. Because she really wanted to be there for Geta. Why? She didn't gave herself an answer. She just knew that was what she supposed to do.

But now, she had something more important to do than think about why she wanted to help Geta. She had to save Rome.

≫ ──── ≪ • ◦ ❈ ◦ • ≫ ──── ≪

A guard opened the cage, allowing Caecilia to enter. The gladiator was looking at the ground, but looked up when he heard the guard close the cage after a few seconds.

He noticed a girl, the same girl he had looked at the day before. Why was she there, in his cage? What did she want from him? «This is not a place for ladies.»

«What can I say? I'm not a lady like the others.» Caecilia replied, shrugging. Hanno smirked, shaking his head and then looking down. That girl was so... interesting? He didn't know how to define her.

Caecilia didn't speak anymore. She was waiting for every move of the gladiator. And Hanno knew it very well. «What are you doing here?» so he asked, without curiosity. He just wanted to end that conversation as quickly as possible.

«I wanted to personally wish good luck to the strongest gladiator of all time.» Caecilia said, but that wasn't the answer the gladiator wanted. Nevertheless, he decided to reply.
«You trust me.»

«I bet on you.» Caecilia corrected him, getting closer to him. The cage was not too big, but there was more space between them. «If you win, I win.» she then whispered, pointing first at the man first and then at herself.

«Frank woman.» Hanno said, a smile came out of his mouth. He began to find it interesting to talk with her. Maybe. He didn't know her.
«Do your best, Hanno. And good luck.»

Hanno. She called him with his name. Caecilia held back a little smile, she probably noticed the change in expression on his face after her words. «Do you know my name?»

«I told you. I have my way of finding out.»
Before Hanno could say anything, someone interrupted their conversation. «Who are you?» the man said, entering the cage. Caecilia recognised him immediately. Ravi.

Hanno stood up, getting closer to Ravi. «She's a friend, Ravi. It's okay.» he tried to calm down his new friend. He didn't know because he had a serious expression on his face. That girl was just a girl and Ravi didn't seem a man who search to discuss.

«He knows. He's just teasing you.» Caecilia said, without interrupting her exchange of glances with Ravi. At those words, Hanno became more confused than he already was.

Ravi approached Caecilia, then hugged her. Suddenly. He knew her very well, after all he was her mother's friend. «I haven't seen you in a long time. And I didn't expect to see you at the Colosseum.»

«I missed soldiers' stink.» Caecilia joked, releasing the hug but still looking at him. She liked him, just like her mother had before her.
«Why are you here?»

«I needed to talk with him.» Caecilia answered, pointing at Hanno behind her. He had sat down again and he had no intention of getting up. He just wanted to rest.

«I wonder how your father let you come here.» Ravi replied, after a while. He didn't hate Acacius, even though the general hated him. But how could he blame him?

«I can be convincing when I want to.» Caecilia shrugged, making Ravi smirk. He suddenly remembered the time spent with her mother.
«Just like your mother.»

Hanno could have asked her who her parents were, but he didn't. Because he didn't care. If he had only known who Caecilia's father was, he probably would have cared. A lot.

«I'll leave you alone.» Ravi said after a few seconds, looking at his friends in front of him. «It was nice to see you again, kiddo.» he then whispered to Caecilia, before hugging her.

After Ravi had left, Caecilia turned to Hanno. «So... I'm a friend to you now.» she murmured, after a while, holding back a little smile. She wanted to smile, because she noticed how ready he was to protect her before.

«I only said it to save your life.» Hanno replied, sitting down again. He didn't care about that girl, he didn't know why he had tried to justify her a moment before. If only he had known the truth, he wouldn't have done it.

«I don't need anyone to save me.» Caecilia muttered, crossing the arms over her chest. The expression on her face suddenly changed, becoming serious. She hated when men spoke of her like that. She wasn't supposed to be saved.

«So what do you want from me?» Hanno asked, looking at her so intensely that forced her to look away for a moment. «Because I know you want something from me.»

Caecilia couldn't reveal the plan so easily, not that moment at least. She had to wait. She knew Hanno was the right man to save Rome, but she had to have a proof. «Your victory, tomorrow, in the first game.»

He took a step forward, getting closer to her. Only a few centimetres separated them that moment. «Are you playing with me?» he whispered, face to face. He didn't know whether to be serious or tease her.

«I already told you. I'm not the enemy, Hanno.» Caecilia replied. She tried to be serious, but Hanno could notice hesitation in her voice. Why did totally she convince him?

«But you want something from me, and it's not just my victory tomorrow.» Hanno was insisting, and Caecilia would tell him the truth right away. But she couldn't, so she was forced to lie.
«Win tomorrow, and I'll tell you.»

Caecilia tried to take a step back, but Hanno shortened the distance again. «What if I don't win?» he was just curious now. That girl was insisting so much with him when there were many gladiators stronger than him.
«You do.»

«Why are you so sure about that?»
But Caecilia didn't answer him. She just smiled, then she came out of the cage. She left Hanno with his own thoughts, before Ravi returned to him about an hour later.

≫ ──── ≪ • ◦ ❈ ◦ • ≫ ──── ≪

Hanno needed someone to heal the wounds he had received in the fight against Vicen the day before. Ravi was a healer, the healer of the gladiators who fought in the Colosseum.

«So... are you friend with her mother?» Hanno suddenly asked him. He tried to stay silent, pretending not to care. But he couldn't. He wanted to know because he felt it was something else in that story. And in fact...

«Was.» Ravi whispered, continuing to clear his wound. «She died in childbirth.» Hanno swore he heard his voice tremble for a moment «She was a true friend to me. She...» Ravi paused for a moment, unable to continue with a firm voice. «... saved my life.»

Hanno wanted to know how and from what or who Caecilia's mother had saved his life, but he understood that was a sore point for Ravi. So he decided to say nothing.

Ravi knew Hanno would want to know more about that story. And, at the same time, he also knew Caecilia had came to Hanno for a specific reason. He didn't know what it was, but he knew that she had a plan. Her mother would have done the same.

«Caecilia's mother was easily a slave, like me. The first time I met her was here.» Ravi began, catching Hanno's attention. The older gladiator finished stitching up his friend's wound, but he didn't move from his spot.

«In the Colosseum?» Hanno spontaneously asked him, and Ravi nodded at his words. He understood Ravi decided to tell him the truth. «I didn't think women could fight in the arena.»

«She didn't fight.» Ravi corrected him. Caecilia's mother was not a fighter in Rome, but he thought she would have been able to become one of it. She had the right attitude. «She was a healer.»
«Like you now.»

Ravi nodded again at Hanno's words, but this time a smile escaped his mouth. Thinking about his friend and the reason why he had decided not to leave Rome, and especially the Colosseum, made him smile. «After her death, I decided to take her place.»

Ravi finally stood up. He had finished his job and he had to leave the cage before someone could get suspicious. After a long time, he saw in Hanno someone who could become his friend. So if he have could, he would have spent more time with him.

«Be careful with her, Hanno.» Ravi advised Hanno, getting closer to him again, and began to look at him seriously. He had to advise him. That was not a stupid game. Not anymore.
«Is she dangerous?»

«Geta is interested in her.» the healer replied and Hanno laughed at his words. He shook his head in amusement, before correcting his friend.
«So she's in danger.»

He was joking, but he understood what Ravi meant. One of the emperors had feelings for Caecilia, and whatever the emperor wanted, he would get. Geta would kill him if only...

«Sleep well, Hanno. Tomorrow it will be very hard.» Ravi recommended him, interrupting his thoughts, before getting out of the cage and leaving him alone.

He would sleep, and he would do very well. Because he would dream about his revenge... against Marcus Acacius.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

More interaction between Caecilia and Hanno, but also a little interaction between Caecilia and Geta.

BUT FINALLY I introduced Ravi. He's a character who has a few scenes in the movie. Despite this, I loved him since the first moment I saw him. So I decided to include him in my story and make him an important character in Caecilia's mother life.

I hope you like it, see you soon! :)