In the days that followed, as Proximo's gladiator school got ready for the journey to Rome, Ariadne and Maximus' 'relationship' continued, even if the two involved parties had quite a different opinion about it. While the girl saw their encounters as an occasion to share joy and pleasure, the Spaniard considered them just as a brief moment of reprieve from the bleakness of his life, a way to forget the reality surrounding him and to relax and keep his mind sharp. She preferred to think they sort of loved each other, when they rolled on his bed together, even if he continued to take her without a word, with no kisses or caresses, just unbridled lust, and was adamant about never allowing her to fall asleep by his side. He believed instead they were merely using each other for their own needs, with no real care for the other. She used him for satiating her shameful hunger, he used her by pumping his long denied need into her pliant body and each time release brought him freedom in the form of sweet oblivion. They were each other's whores. He said so to Juba - the only one who knew about Maximus' personal tragedy - when the Numidian, happy to see his previously always aloof friend get some relief, commented cheerfully and a bit teasingly about the late night visits of Proximo's daughter. The black man was shocked by the Spaniard's blunt and sarcastic comments, understanding in the end that his comrade-in-arms was still far away from the road of recovery.

As for Proximo, he watched in silence as his daughter seemed to grow more beautiful each day, joy radiating from her inner self like light from a lamp. She smiled often, sang while performing her chores, and on a memorable occasion she even kissed him on his cheek. Being in love was acting like a healing salve on her, but as happy as he was for the girl, the lanista could not help but worry. It was clear for him that Ariadne had lost her heart to the Spaniard, but the man was a slave, a gladiator... One day he might not return from the arena...and then, what would happen to his daughter? Sure, Proximo could have retired the Spaniard from the combats, but the gladiator represented his only chance to make a real jump of quality in his life, perhaps even to get enough money to become a member of the equestrian order, honoured, respected and able to give Ariadne a better life, and he could not let this possibility slip away...not even for his daughter. 

When the door opened that night, Maximus was sitting on a stool, an empty bowl at his feet. He did not turn his head to greet the newcomer, knowing very well who it was. As usual the girl was not put off by his cold attitude and walked into the cell until she was standing in front of him.

"Good evening, Spaniard, did you enjoy your meal?"

Her simple query made blood go to his head and he clenched his hands into fists to control himself, but the mere sight of her smiling face was more than enough to cause him to almost jump at her throat. She continued to look at him full of expectation, waiting for his next move with anticipation, but that night her eagerness irritated him more than usual. He did not want to give her pleasure. He did not care for her at all, just used her as a whore to get his own relief and as a way to forget. He was not making love to her as he did with his wife, but that spoiled brat obviously enjoyed his attention and he could not deceive himself into thinking she was pretending, not after she returned evening after evening.

'But tonight I will teach you a lesson', he though with anger, because, in spite of the relief he got from their encounters, he hated to be considered a stud.

Maximus suddenly stood up and ordered, "Undress." 

Then he did the same, before resuming his sitting position, his legs spread wide to accommodate his already growing erection. The girl obeyed without discussion and when she was naked he barked at her, "Kneel and suck me." He smirked in satisfaction, already savouring her shocked look at his request, because only the lowest of the whores took men in their mouths, but to his surprise, she did not hesitate a second. She lowered herself between his knees, and after a tantalizing caress on his thigh, she bent her head and swallowed him. Almost all rational thinking left Maximus as he felt her tongue and lips working him with expertise, as she kissed, licked and lightly nibbled his member as no one had ever done before, her hand toying gently with his balls to give him even more pleasure. He looked down and when their eyes met, she actually had the audacity to wink at him, making it clear that, far from debasing her as he had hoped to do, what she was doing was enjoyable for her...as it was for him, he thought with a loud moan, as her tongue and lips traced maddening patterns over his taut skin.

He began to rock his hips in time with her sucking, trying to bury himself deeper into the hot cavern of her mouth and spend himself there, so as to deny her any pleasure, but when he peered down again, to watch her reaction, he saw that one of her hands had slipped down her body and was now caressing her own most sensitive, swollen flesh... The bitch planned to come with him! The thought enraged Maximus and with a hard push he made the girl fall backwards onto the pavement. Roaring in rage he stood up and walked to her, grabbing her by an arm and roughly hauling her to her feet. There was fear now in her eyes and Maximus smiled cruelly, decided to show her once and for all what he thought of her. He dragged her to his bed and pushed her on it, making her small body land on the mattress on her stomach.

"On your hands and knees," he hissed, his nostrils flaring. She considered him her stud? Good, because he was going to take her like a stallion takes a mare, in a position he was sure would prevent her from getting her relief if he wished so...he had never used it with his wife for that very reason.

On the bed the girl had failed to comply, but was now starting to turn around.

"I told you to get on your hands and knees," he ordered again, beginning to lose his patience. His erection was throbbing and he wanted to bury himself in her hot, slick channel at once. But she tried to turn again, pleading in a shaking voice, "Please, don't make me do this...I will do everything you wish, but not this..."

Maximus felt a bout of malicious satisfaction run along his spine; so finally he had found a way to break her. Good. He was going to show her he was not her toy. He was going to show her how dangerous the game was she had been playing till then.

"You will do as I command," he barked as his hand rose and landed hard on the skin of her buttock.

Her reaction was immediate: she turned on her side and curled into a ball, her face pressed against her bent knees, with her arms protecting her head. She burst into tears and between sobs he heard her beg, "Please master...don't hurt me...I will do everything... but...please...don't hurt me...please..."

Maximus remained frozen on the spot, his still raised hand slowly lowering to his side as his eyes became wide with shock as he stared, stunned and dumb at the scene, in the same way, a lifetime ago, he had stared at Marcus Aurelius' dead body. Then realization struck him: he had hit a woman, something he had never done before and thought he would never do. He heard her sob and his eyes stopped on her small, nude body, shame assaulting him as he noticed the reddened spot on her buttock. What had he done? What kind of animal had he become to beat a girl and make her cry? Where had his precious sense of honour gone to allow him to behave in such a way? How could he have wished to give her pain, she who had always been so gentle with him? How could he have used her so roughly time after time? 

He slowly sunk to his knees, almost touching the ground with his brow, his fists pressed against his eyes, as terrible images appeared in front of him: his Selene at the mercy of the Praetorians, begging and pleading with them to let her and Marcus free... crying not to hurt them... Maximus felt warm tears of shame and pain trickle down his cheeks and hastened to brush them away. This was not the moment for crying, he had to help the girl. He had to make up for his mistake, hoping he would be able to do so. He rose unsteadily to his feet, walked to the bed and lay down on it, dragging the small shaking form into his arms. The girl was startled at his touch, but did not try to pull away.

"Shh," he soothed, "calm down.... I won't ever hurt you again, I promise. I am sorry for what I did...shh.." He repeated it again and again, talking softly, as he caressed her back and sides. Gradually he felt her relax, lowering her arms and stretching her legs to press closer against him.

"That's it," he whispered, continuing his caresses, "...everything is fine." Led by a sudden impulse Maximus raised his head from the pillow and kissed her lightly on the cheek, licking away the salt of her tears. The unexpected gentleness of the gesture caused the girl to turn around in his arms to look at him with a confused expression, and it made his heart cringe; how badly had treated her if a little kiss like that caused such puzzlement in her? 

He raised his hand to lightly brush her hair and face with his fingertips. "I am sorry," he said once more, staring into her eyes with all of his sincerity, and he was not referring only to the fact he had hit her. "I will never do it again. Please believe me."

"I believe you," she whispered back with conviction, and her arms slipped around his back to embrace him.  Her action brought a gentle smile to Maximus' lips, the first one he had bestowed upon her since the first night she had come to his cell. He was actually surprised, but also relieved, she was not afraid of him, but seemed instead to have already forgiven his bout of violence. As for himself, he would need much more time to forgive himself, of that he was sure.

The girl's eyes brightened at the sight of his smile and she replied with a shy grin of her own before she pressed her face against his neck and stood still, breathing in the manly scent of his skin. How many times she had longed to do so! And now she was finally able to do it.  He continued to caress her back and buttocks, soothing the reddened skin, until a question formed in his mind: when the girl - Ariadne, he corrected himself - had begged him to stop, she had called him 'master', but why had she done so?

Proximo had been a slave.... was it possible his daughter had been one too?

"Ariadne?" he called softly, the first time he had used her name.

"Yes?" came the muffled reply.

"Why- why did you call me 'master' before?"

Ariadne raised her face to look at him and whispered, "What...what you asked me to do was something my former owner used to do to me...and he was always very violent. I guess that for a while I forgot where I was." She flashed him a reassuring smile that stunned him.

"You were a slave?" he asked.

"Yes, I was a slave till two years ago, when my father finally found me and bought me. I thought you knew it, everyone knows it."

Maximus shook his head. How badly he had misjudged her, thinking she was only a spoiled brat in search of dangerous entertainment! Poor little creature, how she must have suffered to react in that way to him! He tightened his arms around her, wanting to beg her forgiveness for how he had treated her but not knowing where to start.

Another long silence followed, before Maximus broke it again with a question. "Why are you coming to me? I know I've not been gentle with you..."

Ariadne stared at him with great seriousness, "Because I love you, Spaniard. Since the first time I saw you and your desperate eyes talked to me, I understood there was something special between us...You have always been the only one to treat me with respect and gentleness in this place," she smiled sadly. "You don't know what it means to be considered a whore by everyone, even your own workers, and then find someone who treats you simply like a woman..."

"But I treated you like a whore in these last days...." Maximus exclaimed, guilt consuming him, remembering his brisk, cold behaviour during her visits.

"I gave you reason to think I was one...and I never resented you for it. I just wanted to be allowed to be with you, it did not matter at what price."

Ariadne's passionate declaration made his heart twist in his chest. His liking for the girl was being returned, and he was actually happy he had not been mistaken in his first impression of her, but now that it was clear she was in love with him, he found himself again prey of doubts and guilt. He did not love her. Yes, he cared for her - and liked to bed her because of the mental relief it brought to him - but it did not seem enough for her.... she deserved more.

Maximus licked his lips and murmured, "Ariadne, I appreciate your words very much but... I don't love you nor can I ever love you."

"I know." she said softly but firmly.

"What?"

"The desperation in your eyes- you are not only regretting the loss of your freedom...you mourn for someone you lost, don't you?"

Maximus nodded slowly, not trusting his voice.

"I was certain of it." Ariadne sighed and then she looked into his eyes with a glimmer of hope, "But perhaps...you care for me...a little?"

"More than a little. You are the only good thing in my life." He replied seriously.

"Then it is enough for me." She said with sincerity, then smiled and raised her head to kiss him. It was the first time she had tried such an action and when their lips touched and moulded together, he opened his mouth to invite her exploration, as he pulled her to lie atop of him and his caresses, from soothing were becoming more intimate and passionate. He wanted her, but this time they were going to really make love. Ariadne sensed something was different from the past, and her usually passive hands began to touch him in return, in a tentative discovery that made Maximus moan aloud. He rolled them over and came to rest atop of her, his knees and left arm supporting almost all of his weight as his right hand explored her warm, willing flesh and his mouth continued to savour her sweetness. His resolution to give Ariadne pleasure made him forget everything outside her and he welcomed the peace it brought to his mind...

"You are beautiful, Ariadne," he whispered in her ear as his hand trailed down along her body, settling over the mounds of her full breasts and he began to toy with her little nipples, giving attention to them until they stood erect for him. Ariadne moaned, digging her fingers into the muscles of his upper arms. Maximus smiled softly at her reaction and continued his assault to her breasts with his lips and tongue, sucking and licking them with tenderness; tonight it was going to be her night and he wanted to make it special.

He caressed her breasts for a long time, losing himself in Ariadne's blissful moans, and enjoying the attention her small hands were giving to his back, shoulders, neck. When her hand slipped between them to caress his erect manhood, Maximus groaned aloud, but allowed her only few strokes before pulling her hand away, kissing her palm and settling it back against his chest.

"That's enough..." he said hoarsely, trying not to lose his control because he wanted to do so much more. Ariadne understood and flashed him a grin, which seemed to say, "Do as you wish, but don't make me wait too long," and he nipped at her breast in playful answer. His hand began to travel lower on her pliant body, caressing her flanks and belly, till they reached the juncture of her thighs. Parting the curls and the damp skin, he used the tip of his middle finger to coax the swollen bud there. Then, he slid it along her slick opening and inserted it in her wet, warm, welcoming sheath. Ariadne gasped in surprise. Maximus rotated his thumb against the fevered bud of her womanhood, then gently thrust his finger in and out, teasing her with hints of what would soon happen.

Ariadne moaned aloud, and her hips flexed involuntarily as she tried to ride his finger and Maximus allowed her to do it, the sounds of pleasure she was making caressing his ears and stirring his own blood. When a new gush of wetness dripped over Maximus' hand, Ariadne spread her legs even wider and pressing against him in dire need, she begged, "Now..."

Understanding they had both reached the end of their endurance, Maximus lowered his body on hers and guided himself to her damp sheath, pausing to allow her some time to adjust to his presence, wanting her to savour his slow penetration, so different from the way he had taken her before. His hard member then slid deep inside her, stretching and filling her, as he took care to angle himself to be sure to stimulate all her most sensitive places. Ariadne answered to his ministrations by grabbing his bottom, trying to pull him even deeper inside her.

Maximus' tongue invaded her mouth in a way that mimicked the thrust of his hips, taking her breath away, until he felt her writhe and then stiffen under him, as her muscles contracted around him and her fingernails scraped his back, and he swallowed her cries of ecstasy.  He struggled not to lose his control and as soon as she quieted down, he began to move again, first gently, then harder, causing Ariadne to moan in delight despite her own satiation.  He gave a low groan, thrusting upward with powerful motions, impaling her again and again on his turgid flesh, as he approached his orgasm and his movements became arrhythmic. When he felt himself get ready to spill his seed, he slipped his fingers between them to rub her centre once more, sending Ariadne over the edge once again, and he followed her few seconds later, his joyful cries mingling with hers.

Maximus collapsed on her small form, sweaty, spent, and in peace with himself, as he had never been after their preceding rough couplings. He felt her hands caress his hair and shoulders, and heard her voice whisper 'I love you.' His heart twisted in pain as he remembered another feminine voice telling him the same words, and he actually felt guilty for not being able to reciprocate, but he pushed those thoughts resolutely away. He then rolled to his back, taking her with him, and tilting her head to look at her eyes, a mute question in his gaze. Ariadne eagerly nodded to him, barely able to believe he was finally going to let her sleep at his side, and they both reached out to pull up the folded blanket that lay at the foot of the bed to cover their sweaty bodies. His cot was small and not very comfortable, but they did not mind it, as for the first time in years, Maximus fell asleep in the arms of a woman, a little smile on his lips.

The late afternoon sun filtered inside the house from the open window, its beams no longer hot but pleasantly warm, accompanied as they were by a light breeze coming from the desert. Outside, in the training compound the activities had almost ceased, as the gladiators and the servants prepared to return to their quarters, and spend their next to last night there before the departure for Rome.

Inside her bedroom, Ariadne was folding her clothes, putting them on her bed in orderly piles, ready to be put inside the travelling chest resting near the wall. As her father did not predict ever returning to Zucchabar, the bed was now covered by tunics, pallae, cloaks and all of Ariadne's belongings, but since she was not going to sleep on it, she had no reason to rush to clear it.

Ariadne giggled and then blushed as she thought about why she was not going to sleep there and, as it had been all during the day, her mind returned to what had happened the evening before in the Spaniard's cell. She remembered how his behaviour had changed, from the angry and cold man who had ordered her on her hands and knees to the gentle being who had kissed and caressed her with such tenderness so many times during the night. Ariadne simply knew the real Spaniard was not the demanding, controlling one, but the giving, sweet one, and she was happy his true self had finally come to light, making her love him even more. Sure, she had always liked to be taken by him, even when he had been rough, but to be taken with gentleness and care, as she had daydreamed, had been so much better...and then he had allowed her to spend the night with him, curled by his side, her head resting on his chest, his heartbeat soothing her and keeping away the nightmares that often troubled her sleep. The only thing marring that perfect moment was the knowledge that the Spaniard did not love her, but Ariadne hoped that might change in the course of time and she was more than willing to wait for him. And in the meantime- a naughty grin appeared on Ariadne's face as, her steps light as if she was dancing, she picked up more clothes to fold, wanting to finish her task quickly, her blood already running in her veins as she once more thought about the Spaniard and the way they were going to spend the evening.

"Have you ever been to Rome, Spaniard?" Ariadne asked quietly, her head resting on Maximus' chest. It was the third night they spent together as real lovers, making love and talking to each other, and the last one they would spend in Zucchabar, since the gladiator school was going to depart for the Capital the next day.

Maximus shifted in the bed and answered, "No, I have never been to the Italian peninsula. What about you?"

"I was conceived in Rome, but I have never seen it because I was born in Bonomia...And then I left Italy when I was sold in Greece, many years ago."

"Oh." Maximus was curious about her past, but knowing how certain memories were still painful for her, he refrained from asking more questions.

However Ariadne seemed to read his mind because she said, "My past is not so scary when I am here in your arms..." she lightly kissed his chest, and his arm tightened around her back.

Something in her tone made him think perhaps she needed to speak about it, and thus he said, "I would like to hear your story." 

Ariadne nodded and began to talk, in a calm, quiet tone, "My mother and my father met when he was fighting in the Colosseum. She belonged to the editor of the arena and worked as a cook for the slaves and the gladiators. They met as we did, while she took food to him. Mother told me it was love at first sight." He felt her smile against his skin, before she went on, "Since father was considered a very good gladiator he had more freedom than the others, thus he was able to arrange a meeting between himself and my mother. They stayed together for four months.  My father was putting aside enough money to buy his own freedom but promised my mother to use it to purchase her and freed her. However, before he was able to do anything, her owner died from a stroke and all his slaves were divided like his other properties among his heirs." Ariadne stopped to swallow hard, "They didn't even have the chance to say goodbye to each other. One day they were together, the next my mother was sent to Bonomia without my father knowing what had happened."

Maximus tightened his embrace in silent support as she took a deep breath before continuing, "I spent my first years of life on a farm, where my mother was a cook. Then we were sold again...and again, and always in different places, until the day - I was ten years old - we were separated...and I saw my mother for the last time. I was sold more than once, until I was purchased by a merchant from Illyrium..." Ariadne shivered and Maximus realized she was speaking of the man who had brutalized her.

"Shh," he soothed, "He is no longer here...he cannot harm you anymore..."

"I know...but sometimes I wake up in my bed, afraid my new life is only a dream and that I am still in his hands..." Maximus felt her shake and caressed her back gently, until she calmed down and went on with her story. "My father found me after I had spent two years with that man and bought me, taking me away. He had found my mother three years before, and they had spent some time together, loving each other and looking for me, until she died because of a fever. On her deathbed he promised to find me...and he did. In the beginning I considered him like he was just another master, but in the course of time I began to relax.... and to understand what he really was for me." She smiled, "I know it might be difficult for you to believe it, but actually he is a gentle man...at least with me. We...we don't talk very much. We are both silent types and I think he feels guilty for not having found me sooner...I tried to tell him I don't consider him responsible for what happened, but he can be so stubborn..."

"Just like you, my lady," Maximus said to lighten the atmosphere. 

"I suppose so."

They laughed briefly together, then she asked, shyly, "Would you...would you like to tell me about your past?"

Maximus breathed heavily, "I would prefer not to. You see, your life got better since your father found you... but I cannot say the same for me. And my past is still too close to me...I am still living it..."

"I understand. I did not want to cause you bad memories...It's just I would love to know your name...It does not feel right anymore to call you Spaniard..."

Maximus bit his lower lip; she was not asking for much...but was he ready to reveal his real name? Was he ready to hear it pronounced by another feminine voice? To hear her cry it while she climaxed? On the other hand, she always asked so little for herself and gave so much to him, and he could not deny her, "My name is Maximus."

He felt her shift in his arms and slide up his body to kiss his bearded cheek. "Thank you, Maximus."

'I like how she says it', he thought, before turning his head to kiss her on the mouth, slowly and thoroughly. Soon they were making love again, forgetting everything in the warmth of their embrace.

The timbers of the boat groaned and creaked as they rolled ever closer to Rome. The sailors on deck had shouted warnings of a storm just before the sun had set. So far they had avoided the rain, but the angry swells of the nearing tempest toyed with the little craft, churning its inhabitants like fresh cream.

The tiny cabin Maximus claimed -officially because Proximo wanted his star gladiator to stay in a safer place than the decks, but in reality because it enabled Ariadne to spend her nights with him - had no window, rendering the ceaseless rocking even more disorienting as, in one movement, he felt the cot beneath him veer wildly to the left. Then, just as suddenly, the floor beneath him seemed to drop.

It amazed him that Ariadne could sleep through it all- not that he wasn't pleased. She rarely slept soundly. In the days since she had begun to stay with him till dawn, there were fewer than a handful of nights that she had slumbered peacefully through. She was haunted by nightmares- of what, precisely, she couldn't remember, but he knew that it had something to do with her past.  Once again, Maximus' skin flushed with guilt as he remembered the night that she had called him 'master', ashamed that his actions could have become so debased and depraved. Ever since that time, he had tried to erase the past, and yet she was still haunted by the dreams.

Beside him, Ariadne began to shake and whimper- the first sign of another onslaught, and he tightened his grip around her waist.  It always happened this way. She was calm and still. Then, suddenly, her body tensed, like a soldier anticipating a blow. She would whimper then, seemingly afraid to cry aloud.

"Shhhh...shhhhh," Maximus gently shook her awake. "You are dreaming...shhh.."

Slowly, the brown eyes opened, disoriented at first, then flooded with relief.  The girl took a deep breath, and then snuggled more closely against his chest. "Thank you," she whispered in the silence.

The Spaniard answered with a soft kiss at the nape of her neck. "It was nothing. You would do the same for me."

"You never dream." Ariadne reminded him.

Maximus was struck by the truth.

"But you will." The young woman continued ominously before he had fully considered the thought. "Someday, when the shock is gone. You will dream."

"What are you talking about?" he shifted in the darkness, wishing that there was some light so that he could see her face. He had to resort to groping, tofeeling out her delicate features and tracing the thin line of her lips with his calloused hands.

"I was telling you, warning you, that the dreams will come. For a time, when my father found me, I slept in peace... but the dreams started, after I found you."

"When you found me?" Once again the Spaniard felt a wave of shame. "My treatment of you caused these dreams to start?"

"You misunderstand." Ariadne's small fingers closed over his own, leading them away from her face and against the curve of her hip. "They started when things got better...they started when the healing began." Her fingers moved up along his forearm, to his shoulder, at the place where the SPQR tattoo used to be. "A scar."

Maximus shivered in premonition.

"You cannot run from your past forever." Ariadne predicted coolly, "Sooner or later, when you are strong enough, it will come."

He could only nod in the darkness, before lowering his head against the pillow and closing his eyes, trying to fall asleep once again, even if his mind could not stop wondering if he would live long enough to return to dreaming.