©2001 by WILDBEARIES

This story is based on characters created in the film, "Gladiator" and in no way intended to infringe upon those characters or the story of that film. References to real people are strictly the product of the writer's imagination and meant to entertain the reader.
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Ana woke first. She stretched, wincing a little at the sting of her flesh where he had thrust into her, smiling at the memory. His arm was across her middle and she stroked it, enjoying the feel of the hairs along his forearm and the muscles beneath his skin. He mumbled something, his face against her shoulder. "Its almost dawn," she said softly.

Maximus sighed, his breath ruffling her hair. "I must get up soon." He didn't want to, he wanted to lie in his bed with her and renew the pleasures they'd enjoyed during the night. He kissed her shoulder. "Ana, are you - feeling well this morning?"

She smiled, realizing he was asking her so much more than just how she felt. "I am wonderful, sir."

"Maximus," he corrected her, amused.

She laughed softly, "Maximus. I don't know why I want to call you 'sir', even now." She turned to face him. His blue gaze was intense, even in the half light of pre-dawn. "Maximus," she said, low.

He kissed her, pulling her close, naked skin against naked skin. His tongue played with hers, his fingers in her hair, stroking her scalp. When he slid himself into her, it was so gentle, so tender that she wanted to cry. "Ana," he whispered in her ear, "Ana, Ana, Ana." He rocked against her, holding her, kissing her, and then, when she quivered in her release, allowed himself his own pleasure, shuddering as his seed welled out of him and into her body.

"Jupiter," he muttered, panting.

Still experiencing the little aftershocks, Ana could only smile at his smothered oath. She felt much the same way herself, only she was thinking more of Isis than the sturdy old Roman god. She dozed for a short time, waking when he touched her shoulder. "Is it dawn?"

He smiled at her, his tunic and trousers already on although his hair was mussed and his eyes were languid. "Past dawn, time for you to go, unless you want your father to storm over here looking for the ravisher of his daughter."

She got up and dressed reluctantly. He helped her with the stola, arranging the soft folds, stroking her breasts as he pretended he was really only tying her sash. She covered his hands - strong hands - with her much smaller ones. "Maximus, this was something I really wanted. I do not want you to feel guilty or somehow obligated to me."

He turned his hands so he was grasping hers, her slim fingers lost in his grip. "Ana, I understand what you're saying, but you must allow me to do what is honorable. You aren't a camp follower I can just use and discard; you're a well-born lady. I owe you. . ."

She cut in, "You don't owe me anything. This was my idea, not yours. You just, um, went along."

He smiled, "It was my idea as well, I just wasn't going to act on it."

"You weren't?" She looked disappointed.

"No. Not yet, anyway." His eyes were very blue, crinkling with humor as he looked down at her. "Much as I wanted to."

"You wanted to?" she asked, her smile beaming.

"Yes, little one, I did." He stroked her hair, tucking some wayward strands into the filet that bound it. "Perhaps all patients fall in love with their doctors."

"Oh," she said, looking disappointed until the rest of what he had said sank in, "Oh!" Her smiled appeared again, wider.

His soft laugh sounded, and he pressed his lips against the palm of her hand. "And now, let us get you respectably home before someone comments on your being here."

They managed it, thanks to the morning mists that hid them as he accompanied her to her father's tent, and the fact that it was very early. Only the sentries, soldiers with specific morning tasks and the two of them seemed to be about. He took his leave of her at the flap of her father's tent. "I leave for Rome in the morning. However, I will speak to your father tonight."

"Speak to him?" Ana asked, "Surely you can't mean you'll tell him that we, that I - what happened?"

He said, "I'll tell him only enough for him to know that I want you honorably, Ana, that there is no blame to be attached to you."

"I don't feel there is any blame at all," she said.

"You wouldn't," he said with a grin, "but trust me in this - if a well born lady, an unmarried lady, spends the night with a man - even if he is a general - there could be hell to pay if her father finds out."

"That won't happen," she scoffed, but allowed him to shake his head at her in amusement and take his leave of her with a brief, warm kiss. "Will I see you before you go?"

He nodded, "I'll make sure of it." He turned in a whirl of cloak and melted into the mist. She heard his footsteps, firm and sure, then only the morning breeze rattling the tree branches overhead. "Trust me," his parting words blew back to her on the wind.

"I do," she said softly, and went inside to begin her day.

Maximus, meantime, was caught up in the arrangements for his trip to Rome. He had no aide since Cicero's death, and suddenly found himself in dire need of one. Donatus pointed out several likely candidates. "Aelius Lucius has left the army," he commented to Maximus. "His aide has temporarily returned to regular duty since there were no openings for someone with his experience. You might find him compatible."

"Of course, send him to me, I will speak with him." Maximus left the Praetorium and returned to his modest tent on the outskirts of the camp. He knew he should move to the quarters he was entitled to, but truthfully, he was rather enjoying not being insulated from the rank and file, and not having to stand on ceremony like he would have to if he did move.

A young centurion, fair haired, with light blue eyes, came to see him before his midday meal. "Tribune Donatus sent me, sir. I understand you've need for an aide?" He stood by Maximus' map table, shoulders back, fairly tall, slimly muscular, obviously a cavalryman. "I am Drusus Marcellus, sir."

"Drusus," Maximus murmured, amused at the young officer's attempt to take in everything about his tent without appearing to do so. He gestured to a vacant chair, "Clear those folios away, and sit down. I'm not going to stand during this, I'm afraid I still tire rather easily."

"Yes, sir," Drusus answered smartly, sitting down, holding the stack of folios and maps on his lap, unsure where to put them. When Maximus pointed to a bare spot on the table, he set them there.

"So you were aide to Aelius Lucius? For how long?"

"Two years, sir. Until he left."

"I have need of an aide, due to some rather odd, um, circumstances."

Drusus nodded, "I understand. I would like the opportunity, sir."

He seemed agreeable, so Maximus arranged for him to take up his duties as aide that same day. "Oh, and we're leaving for Rome in the morning, so I'll need you to pack for yourself as well as for me. Can you do that?"

"Oh, not a problem, sir!" The young man's eyes were shining as he took off at a dead run to fetch his things. Maximus stood in the doorway, looking after him with an amused smile. He remembered the enthusiasm he had felt when he'd been chosen to work for General Claudius. He had no doubts that Drusus was feeling much the same.

When his new aide returned, Maximus instructed him on what to pack, then went to speak to the head of the stables to arrange for horses. He was well acquainted with the horse master, who had served in the same capacity for as long as anyone could remember. "I have need of a dependable mount, Caius, but doubt any horse that is available could compare to Argento or Scarto."

Caius nodded, looking thoughtful for a moment, before his smile widened beneath his wizened cheeks. "Come with me, General," he led the way down the rows of stalls, most filled with the big cavalry mounts of the officers. Maximus patted a few friendly noses as he passed, unable to resist the large brown eyes watching him walk past. Caius stopped in front of an end stall. "Here, what do you think of this fellow?"

Maximus saw a flash of shining black hide, then a white star in the center of an intelligent face, and started laughing. "Scarto!" he exclaimed. The horse snorted loudly and nudged him in the chest so hard he almost fell on his backside. "How did he get here?"

"I brought him from Germania," Caius said proudly. "It seemed a shame to put him down, which is what they wanted when nobody could ride him. I only wish I could have brought Argento for you also, sir."

Scarto was nuzzling Maximus, looking for treats. "I don't have anything, boy, wait a bit and I'll bring you some carrots or an apple." He looked at Caius, "Where is Argento?" He had wondered about his horses, agonized over them in fact, never thinking to see either of them again.

"Commodus took him," Caius explained with a scowl. "I have no idea where he is now, since….well, just since."

"I see," Maximus nodded. Argento could be anywhere, no doubt was being ridden by some Praetorian officer or even the new emperor, although he had heard Pertinax was afraid of horses. "Well, never mind, Caius. I'm pleased to have my bad boy back." He opened the stall door and led the horse out. "If I could borrow a bridle?" he asked.

Caius grinned and fetched him one, offering a saddle also, which Maximus refused. "No, I just want to renew acquaintances. I'll return him shortly."

Caius nodded, bending to give Maximus a leg up. "Once I would have disdained that," Maximus said with a grin, "but now - I thank you." He gathered the reins, squeezed Scarto's firm sides and cantered off, swiftly kicking the horse into a gallop once he cleared the perimeter of the encampment. His red cloak flew behind him like a banner. The stableman nodded again. Sometimes things had a way of working out.

Maximus galloped the horse he had raised from a tiny foal, reveling in the feel of the wind in his hair and the strong, sure hoofbeats on the road. He galloped for a mile or so, then turned the horse off into the grass. They cantered down a hill, eventually walking alongside the river, both of them cooling out. He patted Scarto's shiny black hide. "I missed you, boy. What have you been up to since I left you in Germania?" The horse snorted and shied in mock fear at a sparrow, tossing his head. "Yes, perhaps you're right, I don't want to know," Maximus murmured. He clapped his heels to the horse's sides and they galloped up the embankment and back onto the road to the castra.

He moved off the road to allow a unit of foot soldiers to march out the gates, then trotted the horse inside the camp at a more sedate pace, as befitted a general. He decided to see if Ana was occupied with medical duties and turned the horse toward Erato's tent. He was in luck. She was in front of the tent, enjoying the brief late autumn sun while she folded clean bandages and put them in a basket. When he saw her, he kicked Scarto into a canter so that he pulled up with a flourish, making the horse rear. "Good afternoon," he called, grinning down at her.

Ana spilled her basket of bandages, the neat cylinders rolling on the grass before she could catch them. She scrabbled after them, eyes on Maximus' laughing face as he sat his magnificent black horse, obviously showing off for her. "No saddle?" she chided him. "Do you want to fall off?"

"No saddle, and I won't fall off." He jumped down, leading the horse up to her. "Meet Scarto. I bred him myself. I had no idea he was here in the camp until just a little bit ago."

Ana was diminutive beside the large horse, yet he dipped his muzzle down to sniff her hair delicately, so she decided to be brave and pet him. His nose was like velvet, only warm, and she laughed when he snorted and blew, tickling her hand. "He is beautiful! I'm so glad you found your horse!"

Maximus thought she was charmingly lovely, standing beside his horse, stroking his gleaming black hide with her small hands. He smiled indulgently, hoping he didn't look like a fool. "I have an aide now, too. Drusus Marcellus, do you know him?"

"I do," she answered with a smile, "His family was in Alexandria for many years - I know his sister Drusilla very well. They're originally from the north of Italy, up in the mountains."

"They must have suffered in Egypt, then, given the heat there." It was very similar to Zucchabar, Maximus thought, where he had been told the very rocks had been known to burst into flame from the heat. He hadn't actually seen that himself, but he had experienced the climate first hand. He didn't care to go back.

"I believe they did. Drusilla is as fair as her brother, she could not go about at all in the day time for fear of burning her skin." Ana had picked up all her stray bandage rolls and stood, holding them in her basket, happily chatting with Maximus.

He reached out and lightly brushed her cheek with his fingers, "I'm sure you had much the same cares there." Her skin was like porcelain, and with her brilliant azure eyes, she was no doubt in as equal need of protection from the sun as his new aide's sister.

Ana leaned her face into his palm, smiling, then jumped back guiltily when her father, Erato, came striding out the front of the tent, on his way to the hospital tent to check on a patient. Erato looked sharply between his daughter, who was looking very guilty, and General Maximus, who also looked a little red. "General," he greeted his former patient with a respectful nod.

"Doctor," Maximus responded, nodding in return. "I would speak with you when you have a few moments, this evening, perhaps?"

"I will stop by your tent in an hour, if that's acceptable," Erato said, then hurried off to check his patient.

Ana's heart was beating erratically. "Must you speak to him tonight?"

"Don't look so stricken," Maximus teased her, "I'm going to discuss some things about my journey with him, and then, if I think he's amenable, I may bring up my feelings for you."

"You have feelings for me?" She gazed up at him.

"Oh, yes, little Ana - I should stop calling you that, shouldn't I? You are far from the little girl I first met ten years ago, trailing at your father's feet, always getting into mischief. I seem to recall skinned knees, freckles and tangled scarlet hair."

"That would have been me," she admitted. She stepped closer to him, still stroking the horse's neck. "If you are going to discuss feelings with my father, I should tell you that I have feelings of my own."

"Do you now?" He smiled at her, eyes twinkling. He leaned closer, speaking for her ears alone. "What feelings would those be, Ana?"

Gods, she thought, his voice was warm honey pouring over her! "Oh, feelings," she said coyly, laughing when he put on a mock scowl. "Nice feelings."

"Feelings, perhaps, of fondness?"

She nodded.

"Feelings of affection?" He stepped closer.

She nodded again, almost nose to nose with him.

"Feelings of love?" he breathed, bending to take her mouth with his in a long, deep kiss. He slid his tongue inside her mouth and stroked her with it. "Honey and fire," he commented, breaking off the kiss with a smile.

Ana blinked, her senses reeling. "Y-yes," she answered when she had her breath back once again. "Feelings of love. I think I loved you from the moment they carried you into my father's tent and I saw your face."

"So you prefer me unconscious," he teased her, laughing softly.

"Hmmm, mayhap," she teased back, pretending to have to think about it. "It could be that I just enjoyed taking advantage of your infirmity to look at you naked." Her cheekbones reddened as she said this. Maximus thought it particularly charming.

"I'm sure you took every chance to do just that," he agreed. "I only wish I'd been less ill and more awake to appreciate it."

They laughed together, then the evening trumpets blew, and he realized he had to return Scarto to the stables and return to his tent to see that the packing was done to his satisfaction.

"Ana, I'll be gone very early tomorrow. I want you to know that I intend to ask your father's permission tonight to marry you. I'd like to know if that prospect frightens you or if you'd be agreeable to my asking your father for you."

She could hardly speak, her heart was pounding so hard, but she did manage to nod, her eyes glistening like star sapphires. "Yes," she finally whispered. "I would be agreeable."

He squeezed her hands and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Good, then I will do that." He jumped onto Scarto's back, feeling healed and rejuvenated, leaning down to touch her hair. "Until I return, little one, I'll keep your face here, in my heart." He touched his chest briefly, smiling at her, then spun the horse and galloped off, turning back to wave an arm in farewell.

"Until you return," she murmured, biting her lip to keep from crying. "Can I possibly be so happy?" There was no answer, but she thought that perhaps she could.
 

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Copyright 2001 by wildbearies