Hero of Rome

Cleopatra

The news arrived just as Cleopatra was finished with her breakfast and walking by herself in one of their gardens. She had such awful dreams the previous night, of Maximus being betrayed. The sacrifice Caesar performed on him in her dream made her sick. Or maybe it was just pregnancy. Probably both. Seeing Maximus after her dream had calmed her, but she had pleaded with him to stay, to not return to the Americas. The gods were speaking to her, showing her omens of what was to come if he continued.

The gods were right.

Cleopatra fell to her knees at the world update the System delivered.

Maximus’s sudden death stirs rumors throughout Rome—how did the great warrior fall to a mere captive? Some claimed the guards were in on it, or maybe someone loosened the ropes just enough. Either way, it was clear: Rome’s co emperor didn’t quite die in the blaze of glory he was hoping for.

There was no word to describe the searing, agonizing pain she felt as she read the message again and again. For a moment, while the tears drenched her face, she thought this was still the nightmare she endured that night. That this couldn’t be, shouldn't be, after everything they went through. It was only when Livia the Huntress found her alone in the garden that it hit her with full force. Then, it became impossible to breathe.

“Cleopatra?” Livia said, panic in her voice as Maximus’s wife began to heave. Cleopatra’s eyes showed that she was not there, but somewhere far away in her soul, reeling from loss. While she began to moan and gasp for air amidst her wailing, Cleopatra grasped at her growing pregnant belly.

Livia had lost many in her life growing up. There would be nothing she could say or should say to comfort her. The only thing she could do was hold her grieving friend. Livia wrapped her strong arms around Cleopatra, letting the woman bury her face in her shoulder which soon became drenched with misery.

Titus, her husband, rushed into the open garden, pausing inside the colonnade with one hand on it for support. He too looked shocked, his face drained of color as his eyes met Livia’s. Titus looked down in defeat after glancing at Cleopatra. The widow of Maximus was confirmation of the System news.

Maximus, their friend and Rome’s savior, was dead. Now only Caesar remained. If the System’s suspicions of Maximus’s death were true, that left everything up in the air, including their lives.

One week had passed since the death of Titus’s best friend. The funeral took considerable time to prepare and Caesar would have to return promptly from his successful conquest of the Gauls. Not only that, but Maximus’s body was far away across the ocean. It would have taken till the following year if they had to wait for the ships Maximus had begun to be completed and to make the voyage there and back. Titus could not sit still for that and offered a different solution following the tragic news.

Titus and Umbra took to the skies that very day to retrieve his body. It was the only way it could be done. Umbra was similarly in shock and said nothing as Titus commanded him for the task. As they traveled across the endless blue waters, he reflected on the events following the announcement of Maximus’s death.

The first day was still a blur for him. As soon as he had seen Cleopatra weeping in Livia’s arms, his mind filled with red rage. His spirit was so angry that he took his warhammer and walked without purpose or thought to the Domus Aurea. The golden palace of Nero still had the giant statue of him at its front. Over one hundred feet high, the wicked reminder of Rome’s former Western Emperor burned as a mockery to Maximus. The fact that it still remained angered him. Maximus was the only hope that Rome had to become what it was meant to be: a light for the world. Now, if Maximus’s suspicions of Caesar were correct, it would resume to an age of tyranny once again, just like this statue of Nero resembled.

Titus was not an angry man. He preferred the stoic approach to tragedy and hardships. However, that day he was very angry.

With a mighty roar, Titus smashed his magnetic warhammer, Paxbreaker, into the feet of Nero. Again and again he hammered away at the colossal statue. All of the loss, all of the toil, all of it was without purpose with Maximus’s death. Soon his hands had turned numb from the absolute pulverization of Nero’s legs. Citizens and slaves had gathered around him in awe to watch him work. Once the statue wobbled, they all ran away, just in time for it to fall with a deafening blow.

Even though Titus had brought the statue of tyranny to its knees, he felt none the better for it.

When they arrived in New Rome, the Centurion to Maximus greeted him with a somber expression. Neither this Lucius or the other leaders of the fortress spoke much as they guided Titus to Maximus’s body.

Maximus lay still in his tent upon his bed. A white linen sheet lay over his face. Titus could not bring himself to pull back the covering. When Lucius finally did, Titus closed his eyes after one look.

His friend’s face had no color to it. In Maximus’s hands gripped the little necklace of Cleopatra that he had made. His men had dressed him in his black armor, leaving his golden pilum and sea shield beside him.

“Give us a moment,” he said, waving the others away.

When they were alone, Titus crumbled to his knees and held Maximus’s cold, lifeless hand.

“Brother,” he whispered, closing his eyes that stung with tears, leaning close to his former friend. “I will find who did this to you. I do not believe this was accidental. I will avenge you. If it was Caesar, then so shall my hammer not have peace until it has crushed him.”

Titus stayed with Maximus for a long, long time.

When he found the strength to stand, he carried Maximus’s lifeless body out from the tent, along with the golden pilum. He kept his warhammer close to him and his eyes peeled at Lucius in particular. There was nothing but sorrow in the Centurion’s eyes. Such feelings could be felt for two reasons.

Umbra shivered at the sight of Titus as he approached. The Pegasus remained silent but bowed his head in respect as Titus climbed on with Maximus.

The sea of Romans around him were similarly silent in respect for their fallen emperor. There was a look of restlessness amongst Lucius. He looked as if he wanted to say something to Titus, but the man kept himself quiet.

“What is it?” Titus said, having zero trust for the man.

The older Centurion pursed his lips for a moment before speaking. “We just want to know what Caesar’s will for us is now. The natives are falling to disease, and there is much conquest to be had. Will you request for Caesar?”

Titus felt his stomach tighten. The Centurion was definitely guilty. “I’m sure he will be most pleased to lead you.”

Without another word, Titus and Umbra launched to the skies.

While flying over the ocean, Titus leaned in close to Umbra’s ears. “I need you to keep a careful eye on Cleopatra and my wife. I have a feeling Caesar is up to something, and it could be our turn next. Will you stay with the women at all times?”

I don’t know, Umbra thought to him. When you put it that way, that I’ll be in terrible danger—

“I will give you wine every night.”

Deal!

Titus shook his head, mystified by the Pegasus’s rather human appetite and desires.

Caesar had arrived several days later, sending couriers ahead to begin funeral processions and for all festivals, business, and political activities to cease for the next nine days. At first, when Titus, Umbra, Cleopatra, Livia, and Decimus awaited the now sole emperor of Rome, Titus expected to see a smug look on the man. There was no more competition for Caesar. Maximus had seen to it that the cult, Huns, Gauls, and tetrarchy were all toppled. Caesar was unstoppable now. There would be nothing Titus could do if Caesar returned and decided to have them all executed on the spot, which is why Umbra stood nearby, concealing Paxbreaker on his side and ready to take off with Cleopatra and Livia. Decimus, his father-like figure stood beside him, crossing his beefy arms that he had earned from decades of forgework, ready to pummel the Romans to death should the need arise.

So, when Caesar arrived at the palace and wept bitterly at the sight of Maximus’s cold and perfumed corpse laying on a stone pedestal in the mansion, Titus felt dumbfounded. Cleopatra made eye contact with him, similarly perplexed.

Caesar moved past his Praetorian Guards and grasped Maximus’s hand, raising it to his lips and kissing it. “Maximus, first of Rome. We… we will honor you.”

Before anyone could respond, Caesar gently embraced Cleopatra. “We will avenge him, I assure you. Those savages will rue the day they bit the heel of Rome.”

Caesar then saw to it that the funeral procession was completed a few days later.

On the day of Maximus’s funeral, the autumn skies were a dull gray. A cold wind whipped at their faces as they descended from the palace for a public procession. Maximus’s body had been dressed in clean imperial robes and laid on a lavish bier decorated with flowers and greenery. On his head lay his golden wreath. In both of his hands, he held a book that looked like his Infinite Tome to represent his love for knowledge and history. Titus had deliberately stolen away the Pilum of Mars and the Infinite Tome and given them to Umbra to hide in Maximus’s former hideout in the mountains. If it was Caesar who orchestrated Maximus’s death, it would be foolish to leave the weapons and gifts of the gods lying around.

Caesar, Cleopatra, Titus, and Livia walked behind Maximus’s procession while professional mourners, senators, musicians, and Rome’s elite followed them. All of Rome came out to see their short lived emperor be carried through the streets by soldiers. To Titus’s surprise, books were raised in the air all throughout the masses in honor of Maximus. At the sight of this, Cleopatra reached out to grab onto Titus as her body broke down in tears. Caesar turned to look at her, and again, he showed only compassion.

Truly, this could not be Caesar’s doing. Titus sighed in frustration. He didn’t know what to think anymore.

When they made it to the Rostra in the Roman Forum, Caesar gave a rousing speech for Maximus. He waxed eloquently and with fierce passion the tremendous sacrifices Maximus made for Rome. The people roared with approval numerous times in his eulogy. But at the end of the speech, Caesar said something Titus was not expecting.

“The New World will feel the stamp of Rome in Maximus’s honor. We have already made tremendous progress thanks to Maximus, and we will expand our might for his glory. Though we shall be two lands, we shall be one! And though Rome, like Romulus and Remus, shall have not two fathers, but one!” Suddenly, Caesar took Cleopatra’s hand by surprise and lifted it to the sky for the crowds to see. “Nor shall Rome have two mothers, but one! As Maximus ascends to the gods today, we shall honor him with one, unified Rome!”

All of Rome exploded with cheer.

Cleopatra could not think anymore. She was already distraught by seeing her husband’s beautiful face so lifeless and cold. Now, as they lay him on the pyre upon Campus Martius, and lit it with fire, Caesar again spoke to the crowds, whipping them up into a frenzy. The image of one father, one mother, one Rome burned in her mind as Maximus’s body melted in the flames.

Caesar could mean only one thing when he spoke of one mother. And his repeated, determined gaze at her during the funeral only reinforced it.

Caesar was going to force her to marry him.