From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
   19 December 173   
      
   The morning air was chilly as Maximus gazed through the open window.    
   From his vantage point he could see Palidorus loading the last of    
   their rations onto the horses. The time to leave was approaching    
   sooner than anticipated.   
      
   He made his way over to the bed, a place he was growing increasingly    
   fond of, especially when a certain redhead was lying in it. He sat    
   next to her on the bed and ran a finger down the side of her face.   
      
   "Lucilla?" he whispered. She mumbled something and buried into his    
   side. He smiled and tried again. "Lucilla, it's time for me to leave."   
      
   That received her attention. She looked up at him and pleaded to him    
   with her eyes not to leave.   
      
   "You know I have to leave, Lucilla," he reminded her. "I also have to    
   leave this room by sunrise."   
      
   Lucilla said nothing and sat up to kiss him. She let her lips slowly    
   move over his.   
      
   "This isn't persuading me," he muttered in between breaths.   
      
   "It's not supposed to. I'm simply telling you goodbye," she    
   explained. "You'll write?"   
      
   "Everyday if you want."   
      
   "No," she smiled. "Just enough so I'll know that you're all right."   
      
   He kissed her this time; he had to memorize everything about her.   
      
   "I shall see you in no less than five months time then. It will be    
   warm by then."   
      
   "Will you return to Alexandria after coming to Rome?" Lucilla    
   hesitantly asked.   
      
   "I'm not sure," he told her honestly. "I suppose it depends on the    
   circumstances. I have to return eventually."   
      
   "I realize that, Maximus. I was only wondering." She got up from the    
   bed and slipped her robe on. She stepped over to her dresser and    
   rifled through the contents of her jewelry box. It took her a minute    
   to find what she was looking for and she was relieved when she found    
   it at all.   
      
   By this time, he had stepped over to her. She turned around to face    
   him, the object clutched tightly in her hand.   
      
   "I want you to have this, for good luck during your battle," she    
   told. She tied the necklace around his neck. "My father gave it to me    
   when I was young. It's from the time of Julius Caesar, one of the    
   only coins left. It's always brought me luck."   
      
   His hand went down to the coin, fingering the engravings on it. He    
   was surprised she would give him something with that much meaning.   
      
   "Thank you. I'll be sure to keep it safe for you."   
      
   They stood in an awkward silence, neither one knowing exactly what to    
   say. What was the proper way to go about saying goodbye to your    
   lover? There had to be etiquette involved.   
      
   "I'll look for you first when I return," Maximus told her.   
      
   Lucilla smiled. "You know where to find me."   
      
   He held her eyes for a moment before kissing her thoroughly. He never    
   imagined it would be so hard saying goodbye.   
      
      
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------   
   ----------   
      
   23 Januarius 174   
      
   "Domitius, come tell the boys of your heroic deed today," Maximus    
   said loudly. Domitius shrugged his shoulders. He joined the men    
   around the campfire, his dinner plate held firmly in his hand.   
      
   "It was nothing," Domitius reminded. "Anyone would have done it."   
      
   Maximus clapped him on the shoulder and retreated. He could hear the    
   clamor of the men asking Domitius to tell his story. Maximus smiled    
   and shook his head.   
      
   The night air was bitterly cold away from the fire, but Maximus    
   couldn't feel it. Eventually he became one with the wind and rain and    
   snow. It didn't cause him trouble.   
      
   Off the way, he could see a few men new to his army shaking side by    
   side. They were all huddled in blankets, trying to get warm by a    
   small fire. He could remember when he was young and new to the army    
   and foreign places. He'd had it rough, but he survived. He prayed the    
   young men would as well.   
      
   "My lord," he heard from behind him. "My lord, the mail delivery has    
   come."   
      
   He turned around to face Palidorus. "Is there word from Caesar?"   
      
   "Yes, my lord. He has sent two letters." Palidorus handed them to    
   him. "And there is one from my lady."   
      
   Maximus accepted that letter as well, a familiar feeling constricting    
   at his heart.   
      
   "Thank you, Palidorus. I don't think I'll need you again until    
   morning." Palidorus bowed and left. Maximus tried not to appear    
   anxious but he couldn't help all but running to his tent. He set    
   aside the letters from Caesar; they could be read later. He admired    
   the seal on the back of Lucilla's letter. She never wrote anything on    
   the front but she forgot people cold tell who wrote it by the seal.   
      
   He opened the seal and read:   
      
   My Dearest Maximus,   
      
   Your time away from me has been long, longer than I am accustomed to    
   lately. I pray you are doing well and that your troops are successful    
   on the battlefield. So as not to distract you any further from your    
   objective, I shall end this little note. Remember your promise to me.   
      
   -- Your Luci   
      
   He smiled. He could tell she was dying to write more. She never    
   placed herself first but she didn't have to. She knew she was first    
   in his heart.   
      
   He sat down to write back.   
      
      
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------   
   ----------   
      
   3 Martius 174   
      
   Melania walked side by side with her daughter and youngest son.    
   Melania had noticed the quiet mood of her daughter lately and wanted    
   to cheer her up. Lucilla, however, had other ideas. She preferred to    
   be alone during the time Maximus was away. If she wanted company at    
   all she would go to her father.   
      
   "How is everything with your studies, Camidus?" Lucilla asked her    
   brother.   
      
   "I'm learning about history now but I think it's hard."   
      
   Lucilla smiled at her younger brother's confession. "It'll get easier    
   with time, I promise."   
      
   "I don't want to learn anymore, Lucilla," Camidus complained,    
   crossing his arms and slowing his pace.   
      
   She patted his head. "You have to. You have to learn so you can    
   become wise, like father. And you want to be emperor one day, don't    
   you?"   
      
   "I'm going to be the best emperor!" he yelled with enthusiasm. His    
   youth made Lucilla smile broadly.   
      
   "Then you need to learn or you can't be emperor," she explained,    
   stretching the truth a little.   
      
   The young boy's eyes went wide. "I'd better go learn then."   
      
   He turned on his heel and raced down the corridor, his attendant    
   close behind.   
      
   "He's so gullible," Lucilla laughed.   
      
   "He is pertaining matters of the throne," Melania corrected. She    
   stopped walking to examine her daughter. At the moment, she seemed    
   happier than she had in a while. She was smiling and laughing. Either    
   she was a very good actress or she had cheered up some.   
      
   "You seem happy, Lucilla."   
      
   In an instant, her smile vanished. "It is Camidus. He's so eager and    
   innocent."   
      
   Melania touched her daughter's hair. "It'll be all right, mia tesoro.    
   Waiting is part of our job, waiting for our men to come home safe. He    
   will come back, tesoro. He adores you."   
      
   But Lucilla showed a blank expression.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)