Warning mentions blood and death.

***

Ana hardly recalled seeing Acacius collapse on the dusty ground after his last tournament. She bolted from the stands, ignoring Lucius' calls after her as she fled. All Ana knew; she had to reach him before someone else did.

A few minutes later, Ana was dropping down beside Acacius' unconscious body. She longed to sit and weep, but now was not the time. He needed proper medical attention. A guard came over, poking and prodding Ana in her left shoulder, trying his best to frighten her away.

Luckily before Ana could completely lose her temper, Lucius appeared, ordering the general to be taken to the palace, where the royal physician would attend to him. While the guards rigged up a board, to carry Acacius upon, Lucius drew her away.

Her instincts kicked in and immediately, Ana was pushing and shoving at the emperor, screeching loud enough that the entire crowd seated in the Colossum, could have heard her.

Lucius would have none of it. He firmly grasped Ana by the arm, briskly walking away from Acacius and in the opposite direction.

"Where are you taking me?" Ana demanded.

"Back to the palace."

"But Acacius.." Ana protested.

"Will be properly looked after," Lucius assured her as he continued to guide her in the direction of the palace. Ana briefly wondered where Lucilla had disappeared to. Probably back to her private quarters, possibly concocting another devious scheme to rid herself of Acacius. And possibly Ana herself.

Bitch. This was all her doing.

Ana's emotions raged wildly, a bright white light blinding her behind the eyes. She knew, should she come across Lucilla, she wouldn't be able to control herself. Fortunately for Lucilla, she was nowhere to be found.

Lucius and Ana reached the palace, he marched her straight inside, taking her to her room, announcing that Acacius would be brought in shortly, as well as the royal physician. Ana opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a single word, the emperor slipped away, leaving her alone.

Furious, Ana screamed at the top of her lungs, her hands snatching for anything that she could dash to the ground. She only managed to smash the potted jug, used to hold the water to wash with, before two guards came in, hauling Acacius' unconscious body and an older man, whom Ana took was the physician.

She stood perfectly motionless, in the middle of the room, the broken pieces of clay, scattered at her feet, as she watched, eyes wide, as the guards depositing Acacius upon the bed, quickly leaving as the physician sat down and began examining him.

"Would you mind getting me some water, young lady?" The physician asked Ana. She stared down at the broken jug, realizing that would have been useful right about now. She'd have to go in search of another. She sighed wearily, agreeing and went in search of another jug.

Luckily she found one, by asking one of the servants in the palace. When Ana returned, Acacius had regained consciousness and she nearly dumped the water out, in a wild attempt to get near him.

Ana set the jug aside, rushing to the other side of the bed, dropping to her knees, tears filling her eyes as she reached out for Acacius' hand. He smiled tenderly her.

"I..I...thought..you might not make it," Ana murmured, gently caressing his still bloodied fingers. Acacius chuckled weakly before hissing in pain as the physician roughly patched him up.

"Be careful!" Ana snapped. The physician cast a mild glance at Ana before continuing his bandaging of Acacius' wounds.

"The general has been injured far worse than this, madam," the physician said. Ana only scowled. He finished, ordering Acacius to stay in bed for a while and leaving some kind of liquid in a small bottle, informing him it was for the pain before taking his leave.

Once the physician was done, Ana gingerly climbed into the bed beside Acacius, aching to be in his arms. He struggled to sit up, gently shifting Ana so she was carefully propped up against him. She smiled, taking a wet cloth and began wiping away the blood and muck from his face.

"Thank the gods you're still here," Ana said quietly. Acacius only nodded. Ana frowned. She longed to know what was going through his mind.

"What is it? Please. Speak to me." Acacius chuckled, gently taking her hand and kissing it.

"I'm too weary for a decent conversation." His voice was rough and hoarse. Ana reluctantly moved from his side, to fetch some wine. Acacius thanked her, drinking deeply, clearing his throat. Ana watched him anxiously. He winked at her.

"Fear not," Acacius said at last. "Your champion will prevail." At his words, Ana's temper flared. She scowled.

"Damn Lucilla!" She cried, all that earlier frustration boiling forth. "You have to refuse her, Acacius! I shall not witness your death!"

Acacius sighed, finishing the wine and setting the empty cup aside. Ana had a suspicion that the true reason for Acacius fighting in these games, was because Lucilla had threatened her, indirectly, through Acacius.

"I...can't." Acacius voice was barely inaudible.

"She threatened me, didn't she?" Ana demanded. Acacius looked away, refusing to reply.

"No need to be coy," Ana added. "She already threatened me directly, when you were fighting." Acacius whipped his head around, scowling.

"Did she?" Ana nodded, the smug satisfaction returning as she recalled how angry she'd made Lucilla.

"Why so smug?" Acacius asked warily.

"I dealt the bitch a low blow of her own." Although still in pain, Acacius seized Ana by shoulders, gazing wildly at her.

"What did you say?"

"Acacius..."

"What did you say?" Ana stared at him.

"That it must have been disappointing that her..lover wasn't here..to fight," she replied in a small voice. Curses flew from Acacius' lips as he released Ana.

"She deserved it!" Ana snapped. "Forcing you to fight in this forsaken war! You owe her nothing!"

Acacius scowled, shaking his head. "That's where you're wrong, Ana. And now, we may both end up paying for Lucilla's revenge."

****

Lucius paid Acacius a visit, seeing how he was faring. Ana sat beside him the entire time, body tense and coiled, eager to wage war against the emperor, should he insist that Acacius return to the arena, putting his life on the line once more.

"I was told your wounds were not fatal," Lucius said as he entered the room, once Acacius had granted him access. Acacius nodded. Lucius studied the general for several minutes before continuing.

"You fought valiantly today, Acacius," Lucius continued.

"He was nearly killed," Ana spat out. Her temper still hadn't cooled from earlier. Lucius nodded.

"I can grant you leniency, should you seek it," Lucius added. Ana looked at Acacius. He'd never accept. His pride wouldn't allow such.

"What of your mother's opinions?" Acacius questioned the emperor.

"Her vengeance had been quelled," Lucius responded. Ana frowned. She didn't believe that for a moment. Especially not with how..catty Lucilla had been towards her. Immediately she stiffened. Was that Lucilla's ploy all along, to have Ana be the next victim in the arena?

Acacius felt Ana's entire body stiffen and reached out to take her hand. Lucius watched, appearing bored, but the alertness in his blue eyes told Ana another story.

"Forgive me, my emperor," Acacius said. "I do not wish to offend you or your mother, but I'm curious as to why the sudden change of heart?"

"I've answered your question," Lucius replied. Acacius dropped his proper formality.

"She wants..Ana, doesn't she?" Acacius thundered. "She shall not have her life! Do you understand me? Your mother will have to pry Ana from my cold, dead arms first!"

Lucius sighed, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache creeping up the side of his skull. Oh, how he longed for those simple days, so long ago, before the Romans attacked, killing his..wife.

"Acacius, Mother has nothing personal against Ana. You're acting out of fear, not reason."

"Do not tell me that!" Acacius' face was bright red with fury. "She's jealous! Because I refused her, all those years ago! That's what this is truly about! Not vengeance over Maximus' death, but because I spurned her!"

"How can you be so certain?" Lucius asked.

"Because I know your mother, boy," Acacius growled. "I know her far better than you do."

While Lucius hated to admit that, Acacius was correct. Lucius himself scarcely recalled his mother from those years ago. He thought he knew her. However, he'd also considered his mother a kind and compassionate woman.

Sadly, difficult situations can alter people's dispositions, molding them into something that was quite different from their original personalities. Was that what had happened to his mother? Had losing everything, more or less, warped her into this unreasonable person? It had certainly seemed to have.

Lucius sighed again. He wasn't certain what to say to Acacius. What could he say?

"You're the emperor," Acacius murmured, his earlier rage dissolved. "You must find a way to discourage your mother from wanting something she cannot have."

Lucius nodded. But he had no plan to do. Nothing he think of that would resolve this insanity.

"I shall find a way, Acacius," Lucius said at last. "You have my word."