From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
   *** **   
      
   4 Augustus 174   
      
   The months at sea had been endless and uneventful. Maximus spent much    
   time with his men on deck playing cards. They soon tired of it though    
   as Maximus was a master at cards.   
      
   So he would spend his time looking out over the sea, thinking of his    
   love back in Rome. She was ever present in his dreams at night; a    
   comforting image.   
      
   Now here he was in Alexandria, miles away from the only person who    
   brought serenity to him. And miles closer to the person who made him    
   want to seek out Medusa.   
      
   "Maximus, you've returned," said the voice of Octavia from behind him    
   as he sought out Pharaoh Ptolemy.   
      
   He groaned angrily but only loud enough so Palidorus next to him    
   could hear. "I have this woman," he muttered lowly to Palidorus.   
      
   "I shall go seek out Pharaoh and bring him to you,' Palidorus said,    
   trying to save his lord from this woman. He left before Maximus could    
   say otherwise.   
      
   "No, don't leave me with…" but Palidorus was too far away to hear his    
   pleas.   
      
   Octavia stood in front of him when he turned back around. He started,    
   but did not let her see it.   
      
   "Octavia," he said with false cheeriness. "How have you been?"   
      
   "I have been well. You look wonderful, Maximus," she noticed. He did    
   look different. Happier, maybe? "How long has it been since we last    
   saw one another?"   
      
   Maximus shrugged. "I'm not sure. I've been so busy with other    
   matters."   
      
   She nodded. Of course, he was a busy man. She made the move to step    
   closer so Maximus put his hands behind his back. He didn't want this    
   woman touching him. He only wanted Lucilla's hands on him.   
      
   If Octavia noticed this, she didn't' say or do anything. "I missed    
   you, Maximus."   
      
   "Thank you," he said. He certainly couldn't tell this woman what she    
   wanted to hear. "My heart was missing Alexandria so I decided to    
   return for a short while."   
      
   `Where is Palidorus?' He discreetly peered over her shoulder.   
      
   "You're not here to stay?" Octavia sounded disappointed. "Are you    
   ever going to choose a wife, Maximus? It's about that time."   
      
   "Well, uh, I'm, uh," he stuttered, "I'm not really the marrying kind.    
   I'm more of a, a uh free spirit."   
      
   "But Maximus," Octavia protested. But she wasn't able to finish.   
      
   "Maximus, my boy! Welcome back to Alexandria?" Pharaoh Ptolemy XII    
   greeted warmly. He was followed by several attendants, some closely    
   watching the generals every move. Though Ptolemy trusted the native    
   man, others knew where his allegiance truly laid. Maximus did favors    
   for Ptolemy but he fought wars for Marcus Aurelius.   
      
   It was no doubt Maximus was relieved to find an escape from Octavia.   
      
   "Greetings, Pharaoh. It is good to be back in my homeland." The two    
   men embraced quickly. While he didn't consider Ptolemy like a second    
   father to him, like he did Aurelius, they were still good friends.   
      
   "Is your business in Rome finished?" the old man asked.   
      
   Maximus nodded. "For now. I wanted to return home for a little while."   
      
   "Eager to return to the harvest?" he asked the general. "Or are you    
   eager to finish the harvest to return to a woman in Rome?"   
      
   Maximus couldn't help his faint smile. "I'll never tell, Pharaoh."   
      
   "Ahh, I can see right through you. You have a woman waiting for you    
   in Rome."   
      
   "Perhaps, perhaps not," he evaded. "Even so, I am back to stay for    
   however long."   
      
   "Then we shall make your time worthwhile."   
      
   *** **   
      
   "It feels wonderful to be home, Palidorus," Maximus said out loud to    
   the man. He looked around the expansive estate, a smile growing on    
   his face as he took in the familiar sights.   
      
   "It does feel wonderful, my lord, though a bit warm," Palidorus    
   mentioned. It had been years since they had spent a summer in Egypt.    
   Normally they were on campaign or in Rome. The weather was breezier    
   due to the river and reservoirs. Egypt was just downright scorching.   
      
   "We'll have to head over to the docks later," Maximus suggested. "The    
   breeze across the ocean will feel nice."   
      
   "Looking for ships on the horizon, my lord?" Palidorus questioned,    
   being bold enough to ask. He busied himself with the unpacking of    
   their things.   
      
   Maximus took a moment to answer. He looked out his window. Palidorus    
   knew he was looking for something. Or someone.   
      
   "Perhaps I am," Maximus finally said. He put his hands behind his    
   back and continued. "Perhaps my mind is still in Rome. Perhaps I    
   haven't left yet."   
      
   Palidorus nodded. "I noticed you gave her your grandmother's ring.    
   The two of you must finally be serious."   
      
   Maximus smiled but tried to hide it. "Yes, we uh, finally decided to    
   give it a try. Everything was different about this trip and… it just    
   felt right. Perfect."   
      
   "Octavia will be sorely disappointed," Palidorus mentioned, knowing    
   how his master felt about the woman. For as long as he could    
   remember, Octavia had had her sights set on the younger general. But    
   Maximus never showed interest.   
      
   Except once. Maximus had been going through a particularly rough    
   time. One of his best lieutenants had died of a battle wound and    
   Maximus was beating himself up over it. His master had had too much    
   to drink one night and Octavia had been aware of that but she still    
   wanted to take advantage. Palidorus had interrupted before anything    
   could happen that he knew Maximus would regret. The day after,    
   Maximus had received the call of duty from Aurelius. A few months    
   later, after the journey across the sea, Maximus had met the    
   beautiful Lucilla and had forgotten all his worries and never gave    
   Octavia another thought.   
      
   Maximus proved his point by brushing off the mention of the older    
   woman.   
      
   "I could care less of Octavia. I don't know why she has her sights    
   set on me. I've done nothing but ignore her for the last six years.    
   Shouldn't she realize that there's someone else in my life?"   
      
   "Perhaps she doesn't want to accept that," Palidorus    
   suggested. "Perhaps she needs to see the evidence first hand."   
      
   "I don't think Lucilla would ever visit me here," he mused. He smiled    
   at the mention of her name. Palidorus noticed.   
      
   "I don't think I've ever seen you like this, my lord."   
      
   "I know. It's sickening, isn't it?" he joked. "She makes me change    
   but in a good way. She makes me want to be a better man, to… be more    
   careful when I enter the battlefield. I make sure I have all of my    
   armor and that it's on tightly. I make sure I have all of my weapons.    
   I watch my back so I can live to see another day with her."   
      
   He grew more and more wistful as he spoke about his lover. It was    
   obvious the effect she had on him. He grew depressed when he was away    
   from her for too long, though. And grew elated when he saw her again.    
   She was the basis of his sanity and he was fairly positive she was    
   aware of it.   
      
   *** **   
      
   5 Augustus 174   
      
   `To the loyal general Maximus Decidus,   
   I am on my way to Alexandria for the winter season. I thought I would    
   take a vacation for myself before I grow too old to travel any    
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)