Y/N'S POV-
He finally speaks after minutes of ogling my body and face when I finally put the stola he gifted me on
G- "No words can express your beauty.."
I smile and intertwine my hands with his. Geta is wearing a matching white and gold tunic. His face is painted a shade of white with dark eyeshadow around this eyes
Y/N- "One last thing" I place the golden laurel wreath ontop of his head "Fit for royalty"
G- "Have you ever thought about whether you would want to be part of that?"
Y/N- "What royalty??" I chuckle at the thought.. I mean me of all people??
G- "Maybe an empress perhaps..." he looks me in the eyes seriously but his words gag me and i am rendered speechless
Emperor Caracalla interupts our conversation thankfully. He looks unusually happy
C- "You two are sickening" He walks over and kisses me on the forehead "But you do look extremely beautiful" I smile at his comment
Y/N- "Thank you, Caracalla" He moves back but stays extremely close
C- "thou is not undesirable.." Geta walks over and puts his arm out for me to take. He looks extremely jealous of how close we were stood and annoyed at his comment
G- "It's a very important day.. the gods will decide Acasius's fate"
C- "Relax brother.. it's time. We must go" and with that we all leave to walk to the colosseum. When we arrive I am unusually nervous. I'm used to being the one in the arena and not the one watching it. What will people think when they see me??
I need to come up with some kind of plan to help Acasius. I swore that I would and I never go back on my word. I could really use Hanno right now. He is the leader, not me. Geta notices that I am unusually quiet and he can obviously tell how tense I am. He slips his hand into mine and squeezes it tightly
G- "We do things together, right?? The people love you and so do i"
It takes me a minute to comprehend what he just said.. Did he just say he loves me?? The doors open and we are greeted with the loudness of the crowds. Before we enter i whisper into his ear
Y/N- "I love you too..."
?- "Please welcome your emperors- Geta and Carcalla!!" The voice booms and echos around the arena. When we enter the crowd claps louder
?- "And who is that with Geta?? It looks like Y/N! The gladiator" He walks us to the front and raises our conjoined hands into the air. I could have swore the crowd got louder when people realised it was me but i didn't think they could possibly get any louder than they already were.
G- "See?? They love you" I smile and wave to the crowd. Am I so evil if I like this life?? Is it such a bad thing? Maybe I don't and it's all just the adrenaline talking. It's hard to tell. Both the emperors take their seats and Geta motions me to come and sit next to him..
Everything was fine.. good even until Lucilla enters with guards and is chained down to one of the seats behind. It it not enough that she has been sentenced to death? Does she seriously have to watch her husband die too?
?- "For his treason against the lives of the emperors, an enemy of the people, Marcus Acasius!" The crowd suddenly changes and they start chanting his name. The people love him. If Acasius is to die in this arena.. there would be an uproar.. revolt even. Acasius comes out from one of the gates carrying a single sword. He looks so strong even at a time like now. So confident
Y/N- "I don't think this is a good idea" I look back to Lucilla and see how devastated she looks. I can't imagine what she is feeling. Caracalla retaliates
C- "Of course it is.. the traitor will finally die" he chuckles at his own words but
Geta tries to reason with me
G- "Why do you think it's not a very good idea?"
Y/N- "He's a hero of Rome.. no matter what he has done. Lock him up for his crimes but don't let him die tonight. If you do the people will never forgive you. You think one plot to otherthrow you is bad? Imagine thousands" He considers what i said but it's too late.
Soldiers step into the arena and the battle starts. It's not long however before Acasius wipes through them. He's the general for a reason. That's when it hits me.. they are going to get a gladiator in here to fight him- Hanno...
Y/N- "Who are they getting to fight him?" I ask but get no response. I repeat my question again but this time more angrily "Who are they getting to fight him?!"
G- "Your poet.." I can see the guilt in his face from not telling me. I try to bolt out of my seat but Geta grabs my arm before I can get any further
G- "Where are you going??"
Y/N- "I need to help him.. he can't fight Acasius.. he cant"
G- "No Y/N.. please. I can't lose you.. I-Â love you" His words are like a bullet to my heart but I listen to my head instead and shake him off. When I go to pass Lucilla's seat she grabs my stola with her loose hand
L- "Aelia.. please help him. Your the only one" i stop and look at her confused. Why does she keep calling me that?! I crouch down beside her chair so I'm at her level
Y/N- "I will do everything i can.. I promise"
L- "Please be careful.. I can't loose you again" I don't have time to question what she meant as I'm already half way down the stairs ready to reach one of the gates..