Chapter 1
Lysippe led her Amazon tribe for the last twenty-two years when the call to war came from another queen, although this one walked away from her tribe. One year into her reign, Elissa came into her life and Lysippe knew the true meaning of motherhood. Although Elissa was not the child of her body, she was the child of her heart. Now she prepared to take her tribe and her child into an all out battle against the Romans. Gabrielle sent out a call to war to all the Amazon tribes. Lysippe was little more than a child when she met the legendary bard; she remembered wanting to be just like her and travel the world, to experience one adventure after another. It was not meant to be, she was a queen like her mother before her and her mother before her, just as Elissa would be after her death.
Elissa wasn't happy with the decision to help the Warrior Princess and her sidekick. She could not stop the bad feeling she had about this whole situation. It was like an itch under her skin that she couldn't quite reach. She walked proudly towards her mother's quarter, the epitome of an Amazon warrior. There was no challenge too large or small. She easily advanced in the ranks and stood as her mother's second-in-command, there was no challenge to large or small for the Amazon princess. Elissa stubbornly refused to take any short cuts when it came to her training. By right of caste, she would take her mother's place as queen upon her death but Elissa wanted to earn the honor of leading her tribe and worked along side the other girl's her age until she conquered a skill and advanced to the next. None of her sister warrior's resented her abilities; they respected her more because she did not take on airs even though her rank gave her that right.
She walked up to the entrance of the queen's quarters, the sentries straightened knowing better than to appear lax in any way where when it came to their queen's safety. Many of the younger warriors thought the queen should step down and allow Elissa to take the rite of passage but she refused. She was willing to lead her tribe when the time came but not while her mother still drew breath. She nodded her head and went inside, her thoughts still filled with the rumors about Xena and Gabrielle. She could not understand anyone who would turn their back on their people, especially after fighting for that very place. The rumors said the Fates imprisoned the lovers in ice for the last twenty years only to return looking the same. There were whispers they ate ambrosia before their entombment and were really gods. Marching into the royal chambers, she found a maid massaging Lysippe with oils to keep her skin and muscles supple. Elissa's eyes ran over the trim body of her mother looking for any sign of injury. She sighed to see there was none.
Amazons led a rigorous; often times brutal lifestyle and to the outside world, they seemed not to have any real emotions. This was not true. They felt deeply - love, hate, vengeance, sorrow and fear. An Amazon started her training from the time they were weaned not to allow others to see any emotions on their faces or bodies. They knew as women, it was expected and they refused to give outsiders that power. Here now in the privacy of her mother's rooms Elissa showed her worry, doubt, fears but most of all love for the woman who raised her.
Lysippe turned when she heard her daughter enter the room. Her eyes took in the sight of Artemis' gift, for only the goddess could have given her such a wonderful child. Seeing Elissa standing there in full Amazon battle dress, her golden hair fell long down her back with tiny braids holding it away from her face. Rich, smooth golden skin with high cheekbones, red ripe, full lips, and large eyes of a dappled green. Her eyes always reminded Lysippe of forest leaves when the sunlight hit them. Elissa was small for an Amazon but was smoothly muscled, strong, and faster than anyone in the tribe. It was as if the gods made up for her stature by awarding her other gifts. Lysippe couldn't believe this beautiful creature was her daughter, hers to care for, love and train for more than twenty years now. She waved her masseuse away and signaled her daughter to draw near.
"Daughter, what troubles your mind?" She gracefully rose from the table to grab a robe and wrap it around her. She was a tall woman whose face didn't show its age of thirty-five. Her hair was a rich red, which she kept cropped close to her head in curls. Warm brandy colored eyes took up most of her triangular shaped face, she wasn't a beautiful woman, but she was striking looking and not easy to forget. Sitting down on a pile of pillows, Lysippe motioned for Elissa to sit beside her.
Elissa smiled, this was her favorite time, time alone with her mother, not her queen, just a mother listening to her child's worries. Her mother moved so gracefully, she reminded Elissa of the great mountain cats that they hunted for furs in the winters. She curled up next to Lysippe and laid her head in her lap closing her eyes and letting out the breath she wasn't even aware she was holding.
"Why do we go to fight a war that we aren't a part of, mother? Who is this Gabrielle that everyone talks about? Is she really immortal?"
"She was once the queen of the Northern tribe, Melosa chose her to take the right of caste over Ephiny. From what I understand, they have both died twice and returned before they were entombed by the Fates these last twenty years. I lost track of what was happening with many of the other tribes at that time. I had only been queen for a year when Artemis gifted me with you. I do know that Gabrielle wouldn't ask us to come if it wasn't important to all the tribes. The rumors of the Romans have grown worse over the years, especially the one they call Livia. It is said that she was trained by Ares himself and will be the next in line to take the throne. If that were to come to pass then none of us are safe. It is time that we send the Romans back across the waters where they belong once and for all." Lysippe's voice was strong with conviction but her eyes showed her fear for her child. Too many Amazon's had already lost their lives to the Romans, she did not want to lose Elissa to them as well.
"Then we go to war for our lands as well as others. I will tell you this now, mother. May Artemis protect them if they are not what they seem, I do not have a good feeling about the bard or the Warrior princess. My dreams have been troubled ever since we received the call to arms. I will be by your side to protect your back as I have been since I was old enough to do so. I will not lose you mother not as long as I draw breath. You will crossover to our Lands of Death only when I am ready to be queen and I am far from that day." Elissa stroked her mother's hand but her words hung in the air as if they were living flames.
"You should go and rest, we leave at first light. Elissa, if I should fall in battle then it will be my time and you will need to lead our tribe to victory or safety. Please daughter, you must think of your sisters first and vengeance second. I choose to join this fight no one is forcing me into this fight and I trust Gabrielle. She is a good person and fair-minded."
"I will think on your words mother but I do not promise you anything. I will do as I have been taught by the best - you. The facts will show what needs to be done and then I will ensure that they are done even if it takes my last breath."
Lysippe watched her daughter leave the rooms and wondered if her dreams were warning them not to go. Only a trusted few knew that Elissa had the gift of prophetic dreams, they helped them to win many battles and evade many traps. She hoped that this one time Elissa was wrong and that her dreams were only telling her that they would be facing a dangerous and ominous enemy. A cool wind blew through the queen's chambers causing her to shiver and her heart to clinch in fear.
Chapter 2
Gabrielle paced the tent she shared with Xena wringing her hands nervously. The normally levelheaded bard had not been the same since she woke from her frozen tomb. She thought it was just her shared worry for Eve, they still did not know where Xena's child was or if she was even still alive. They searched everywhere for her but there was no word of her or Octavius. Something nagged at the back of Gabrielle's mind, something that wouldn't allow her to concentrate. It started when Eve was born but in truth, she felt it when Xena brought her back from the Amazon Land of the Dead. Almost as if a piece of her didn't come back with her but went or stayed somewhere else.
The feeling was an itch just under her skin, a prickling of the hairs on the back of her neck, or the feeling that someone is watching you when no one is there. Gabrielle knew that it meant something or someone was coming. Was it an omen, a foreshadowing that she would lose Xena in this war? She didn't think that she could survive it if that happened. She barely survived the death of Hope, even when she knew was evil. Gabrielle paled wondering where that thought came from, she never allowed herself to think of her daughter. No matter what else she was, Hope was her daughter. She had long ago locked those thoughts in the farthest corners of her heart and mind.
Gabrielle jumped when a cool wind blew through the tent causing her to shiver and her heart to clinch in fear. Spinning towards the flap, she expected to find Xena standing there with a smile on her face but no one was there. Goose bumps covered her skin and Gabrielle knew the outcome of this war would change all of their lives more than they ever expected.
That night as she lay safe in her lover's arms, Gabrielle began to dream. She saw a battlefield filled with broken dead bodies everywhere. She searched through the bodies frantically calling someone's name. Her hands were covered in blood and there were bodies everywhere - Amazons, Romans, Greeks, the list went on and on. She never saw the one she searched for and tears fell down her face, even in her sleep. The search continued until she turned over the last body then a scream tore from her lips and echoed throughout the valley. Suddenly, Gabrielle could see the valley from a distance and as far as the eye could see, the only person alive was her.
"NO!" Gabrielle shot up from the pallet sweat soaked her body plastering her hair to her head.
"Gabrielle, what is the matter?" Xena pulled her lover back down to the bed of blankets and hr arms. "You are soaked; did you have a nightmare?"
Her small blonde head turned to the one person she loved most in the world. She drank in the dark fall of her hair, the crystal blue of her eyes, her strong yet lush body bare to her scrutiny. Gabrielle leaned forward to place a soft kiss on Xena's lips. "I will tell you about it in the morning. Right now, I'm awake and you're awake. I think we can find better things to do with our time than talk." With that said, Gabrielle, usually the gentlest of the lover's ravished Xena's mouth, nipping at her lips demanding entrance. Her small hand cupped Xena's large breast' she pinched and teased the nipple between her thumb and forefinger.
Xena moaned; she wasn't sure what caused this aggressiveness in Gabrielle but she wasn't going to complain. Her back arched to give her lover better access to her bountiful charms. Gabrielle trailed hot kisses down Xena's neck, laving the shallow hollow of her collarbone. Her journey continued towards her first goal. She kissed around the full outer edge, slowly working her way towards the prize at the center.
When her lips latched onto Xena's large brown nipple, the warrior princess cupped the smaller golden head that nuzzled her expertly. All there years together taught them each other's pleasure points. Xena's thighs fell open to accommodate the small hand that caressed her hidden pearl to a ripe plumpness. Gabrielle's thumb continued applying pressure to the swollen jewel while her fingers delved deeper into Xena's waiting heat.
Once they were both breathing heavily, Gabrielle replaced her fingers with her own heat and the lovers rode each other to a fevered pitch. They fell into each other's arms still entwined together and embrace the warm arms of a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 3
Elissa was unusually quiet on the journey. It was noted by many but none felt the sharp pain of worry as much as her mother. Lysippe knew her daughter wouldn't speak of her worries until she worked through them to her own satisfaction. Elissa's horse followed the others easily guided only by the slightest of leg pressure. Horse and rider were a sight to behold. She wore full Amazon battle gear from metal breastplates to shin guards that gleamed gold as suited her status. The horse was large by any standards and a gift from the King of the Centaurs. He was coal black with one white teardrop on his forehead. Elissa didn't look capable of controlling such a beast until anyone saw her ride; some swore that Centaur magic caused her to become part horse. She caught many unsuspecting enemies on the battlefield while they stood gawking at the sight of her on horseback.
She tried not to think of her dreams; they were a muddle of strange flashes that made no sense. They were filled with emotions of love and hate and vengeance. Her dreams were always clear and precise leading her where she needed to go but now when she needed them most they scared her. Few knew she had the gift of prophetic dreams; they turned the tides for them in many battles. Now, if asked she would happily give the 'gift' back not to see the strange things she saw last night. "Artemis, preserve and keep us. We are your loyal daughters and fight to preserve our way of life." She whispered under her breath, hoping the Amazon patron goddess would watch over them. They rode straight through the day and night only stopping once mid-day for food. A fully trained warrior could go up to five days straight at this pace. A little known trail through the mountains cut off an extra day from their journey. So, by dusk the next day they rode into the camp.
The rest of the army that Xena and Gabrielle gathered from across the lands were about to eat their evening meal. Everyone stopped to stare at the setting sun flashing off breastplates, shields and swords. The last rays of the setting sun bathed the Amazons in blinding lights, which made them appear even more mystical. It didn't matter that they rode for a full day and half; each warrior's back was straight with their heads held high and their eyes all-facing forward. Although to a one, each rider could recite the layout of the camp, who was there and a close approximation of their number.
Lysippe rode straight to Xena and Gabrielle, who stood in front of their tent. Gabrielle's face broke into a happy smile recognizing the young girl in the striking mature woman before her. She ran forward to greet the Amazon queen. Xena watched her lover's excitement at seeing the young girl who Gabrielle always said would do great things. Sky blue eyes searched among the new arrivals feeling someone watching her and caught dappled green ones. At first Xena thought, it was the stare of a curious child; the girl was tiny and couldn't have known many summers. When the girl didn't look away, the warrior princess looked closer. Xena realized she was mistaken; this was a fully seasoned Amazon warrior. If her look said anything, it was that she didn't trust Xena or Gabrielle.
"Elissa, come here daughter and meet Gabrielle." Lysippe motioned for the young woman to join her.
Xena watched the green eyes that moments ago were blocks of ice melt and be replaced with a warm loving look for the Amazon queen. Elissa dismounted the large black horse with grace and agility. She stepped forward but refused to take Gabrielle's offered hand. Xena's eyes narrowed, she was used to people rebuffing her but Gabrielle's warm and loving nature usually won over people easily.
Elissa turned back to Xena and stepped to the side so her back covered her mother's. Lysippe drew in her breath, she had never seen Elissa act this way and wasn't sure how to react. "Elissa, we are here to join Xena and Gabrielle in a united front for a common enemy. You will show the proper respect."
"I show my respect to all those who deserve it. I will take the others and set up camp but I will not leave you here unguarded mother, do not ask it. Phoebe, Celaneo and Eurybe come; you will be staying with the queen until she is ready to return to our camp. We will be setting up where we agreed." Elissa turned to leave but stopped. "You should shore up the east side of your encampment. There are any number of places that a spy or enemy could sneak in if they choose." With that said, she jumped back on her horse and led her tribe out with a thunderous battle call and the pounding of horses' hooves.
Gabrielle looked from Xena to Lysippe in shock. She never thought she would see the day that someone would tell Xena how to lead and had an even wilder war call than her lover. Did that sound really come from that tiny golden woman-child?
As if she read her thoughts, Lysippe answered. "Do not let my daughter's size fool you. She is our best warrior and to a one my tribe would lay down their life for her. She has rescued more of her sisters and negotiated more peace treaties than any in our tribes thought memory. You will have to forgive her rudeness though, she does not trust easily, especially when it comes to my safety. She will come around once she gets a chance to know you."
Xena didn't think the young Amazon would be coming around anytime soon. She wasn't sure what it was about Elissa but she reminded her of someone. Xena decided to look at the supposed holes in the east boundaries. She gave Gabrielle a look and the bard nodded at her. Gabrielle opened the flap to their tent and invited Lysippe and her guards to enter.
"Only I may enter with Queen Lysippe, Celaneo and Eurybe will guard the door." The one called Phoebe announced in a no-nonsense response.
"Aren't they tired? They can come inside and rest while Lysippe and I visit. She will be safe, I promise," Gabrielle smiled, kindly.
"Elissa would have our heads were she to check on our queen and find us lax in our duties. We are not tired; the journey was not a long one." The refused to say another word and took up their posts.
Chapter 4
Livia flopped back on the bed with a Cheshire smile on her face. Ares rose on his side to trail his hand along her nude body. It was finely boned and covered with toned muscles. Her face was a perfect oval with large blue eyes and long auburn hair. Ares found her a suitable replacement for Xena, although no one could ever truly take the warrior princess' place in his heart, Livia would do - for now. She was a bloodthirsty little minx. Ares enjoyed how easy it was to whip Livia into a berserker rage and send her out on a rampage, everything the God of War needed to fuel his own powers.
She smirked to herself; she loved having sex with Ares. He was a wonderful lover. Someday he would make her a goddess, after he helped her become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Livia planned to make all heads turn to this small isle then she would return to Rome in glory and take the throne. She didn't care how many she had to slaughter to achieve her goal. The power of glory burned through her veins along with her lust for Ares. Her eyes roamed over his beautifully muscled body up to his equally handsome face with its snapping dark eyes and black hair. Livia licked her lips then trailed them down his body to engulf him in her mouth. She sucked him down her throat hard enough to hollow out her cheeks, taking him to the brink of pain, just the way he liked it. Ares' eyes rolled and he thrust into her waiting mouth. They both moaned but stopped when they heard Augustus Caesar call out for Livia. Ares reluctantly orbed out with a sigh.
He orbed into his palace and called out for Discord. The dark haired minor goddess appeared in a flash of red light. "What do you want, Ares? I am working on something and want to get back to it. There are plenty of opportunities for me now that Xena is gathering an army. She is always pissing people off." Discord could have bit her own tongue for mentioning the warrior princess. Damnit, she was never going to snag the God of War for her own, now that he knew that Xena was back.
"What did you say?" Discord jumped out of the way of the lightning bolt Ares sent at her. "Tell me where she is, NOW!" The palace shook causing Discord to fall to her knees.
"Would you just chill out, already. Don't tell me that you are still hung up on her." Discord grimaced at him at the thought of Ares with Xena.
"DISCORD!" Ares advanced on the petite goddess, who crawled backwards.
"She and that little blonde of hers have gathered an army. They are going to fight your little protégé, Livia. I'm surprised that you don't know about it, you are the God of War, aren't you?" With that said, Discord disappeared.
Ares sniffed like a bloodhound then disappeared only to appear next to Xena on the east side of their camp. "It is true, you're alive. They said that you were dead, I never should have believed them." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
Xena jumped away from him. "Ares, what are you doing here?"
"That is a good question since everyone knows that he is Livia's lover or do you still share his bed as well, Xena." Xena spun around to find Elissa leaning against a tree watching her. A golden eyebrow rose in question and her eyes were colder than the tomb that Xena just left.
"I don't know what he is doing here, not that it is any of your business, girl." Xena's voice went hard; she wasn't up to a hostile Amazon and Ares at the same time.
"Who is your friend, Xena? I thought you were still with your little bard; you do have a thing for blondes. The name is Ares." He swaggered forward with his best smile and bowed in front of Elissa.
"I know who you are." Elissa's voice went husky and Xena's eyebrow rose in surprise. Ares' smile grew deeper and a twinkle lit his eye as he began to rise. Quick as a snake Elissa's foot lashed out smacking Ares in the chin and sending him back almost to Xena's feet. She stalked forward to stand over the God of War and glared down at him. "Were you by Livia's side while she slaughtered my sisters of the northern tribes? Did you whisper in her ear while you fucked her of the best way to chop the head from small children or how to put the women and old ones in the fields then set them on fire? You are no God of War, she does not wage war, she has a thirst for blood worse than the Bacchae and I curse your name. May Artemis hear my oath, I will make you pay for the part that you have played in all that has come to pass and will come to pass. Do you know what prophetic dreams are Ares? I have had them since I was a little girl and all my dreams come to pass. Before we left our lands, I dreamed that it was my destiny to ensure the person or persons," she glared at Xena, "responsible for the acts leading to this war will be punished. Be afraid Ares, be very afraid, for more than just the gods protect those with the inner site and well you know it. But, if you would like to give me a try I would be more than happy to kill you now."
Ares paled; a special force, one that even the gods feared protected those with the gift of prophecy. "I think I will be leaving, Xena and I can catch up another time." He blinked out of sight in a flash of light.
"Sorry, I scared your lover off, well really I'm not. I see you found the holes in your line; I wasn't sure you would check." Elissa shrugged her shoulder then turned to go. "So, I decided to shore them up myself. My mother should be finished talking with your bard by now. I will go and escort her back to our camp."
Xena's eyes narrowed and lunged at the smaller woman. "Oh no, you don't."
Surprisingly, she wasn't there. Xena felt a tap on her shoulder and spun into a right cross to her jaw and the fight was on. Xena threw her own punch, hitting Elissa in the mouth. She spit out blood then grinned with the red marring her teeth. It wasn't long before a crowd began to grow and started cheering. Gabrielle heard the cheers and knew that Xena was in a fight; Lysippe had a bad feeling she knew who Xena was fighting. The old friends looked at each other and rushed out of the tent to find their loved ones battling it out. What surprised many was that Xena didn't seem to ever get the upper hand of the much smaller woman. Xena did a full forward flip in the air only to be met mid-air by Elissa's foot. The Amazon princess met the warrior princess with a flip of her own and landed on her feet. They continued to exchange blows and kicks for several more minutes until Lysippe called a halt.
Elissa stopped immediately, Xena wasn't quite as quick to answer to the Amazon queen's voice. The other Amazons stepped forward to defend their princess. Elissa jumped to her feet from her place on the ground after having her feet swept out from under her. Xena put her hand out to show that she was willing to let the fight go. Elissa looked at the outstretched hand as if it were a snake and gave a loud whistle. A huge black horse thundered through the camp causing people to jump out of the way.
She jumped on the horse as it thundered by leaning close to Xena. "You don't mind if I borrow this do you?" Elissa asked as she snatched the chakram from Xena's waist and rode several yards away and did something that Gabrielle had never seen. She used the chakram as if it belonged to her, with a flick of her wrist it whirled out in a slicing arc missing the top of Xena's head by mere inches. It cut the flag off the top of their tent then flew back to Elissa's hand. A look of envy crossed her face as she stared at the beautiful weapon then sent it back to its owner, none too gently.
"You can have it back. If you are going to lead then you should learn that your personal life isn't your own until after the battle is won." She applied pressure to the black's sides causing it to reared up then take off like a shot.
Lysippe looked from Gabrielle to Xena then walked up to the warrior princess. "You should learn some control, Xena. My child though she can be wild knows when she has to stop. I have seen her stop within a hair's breath from killing an enemy when a victory has been decreed. If you are not the right person to lead this army then you should step down and let another take your place. I don't know what it is about you and Gabrielle that has set Elissa so on edge but I know my daughter and it is not a minor thing. There is more at work here than meets the eye. Gabrielle, I am glad that we had a chance to meet once more. I only wish that it was on better terms." Lysippe bowed her head regally and walked away with her guards following close behind her.
Xena looked at her lover trying to gauge the effect of the day's events. Gabrielle wasn't sure what to think but after all, they had been through, she would stand beside her lover no matter what. She put out her hand to Xena, who walked forward to take it. They walked into their tent allowing the flap to close behind them.
Chapter 5
Elissa slept in her mother's tent that night, not wanting to be far from her. She lit candles and said prayers to Artemis to protect her mother. Lysippe watched her and said a prayer of her own. Mother and daughter wrapped in each other's arms and went to sleep. Elissa soon fell into a dreamscape, which terrified her. She was trapped in a dark place that she could not escape and was screaming her mother's name but no sound came from her lips. She saw a woman with dark auburn hair and large blue eyes in Roman garb leading row after row of Roman soldiers. She knew it was Livia. She saw flashes of Xena, Gabrielle, and Livia then she watched Xena kill Artemis. Elissa woke up screaming. Lysippe grabbed hold of her shivering child who tried to talk but her teeth were chattering so much that she couldn't get the words out. She clung to Lysippe so tightly the queen could barely breath but that was the least of her worries.
"Please Elissa, tell me what you saw. What has you so upset, daughter?" She held Elissa away from her so she could see her face and her concern grew. Elissa's eyes were pure white, Lysippe watched the color slowly start to return. "Lissa, please." The queen begged.
Her mother hadn't called her that since she was a little girl. Taking a deep breath, Elissa tried again to gain control and tell her mother about her dream. "I saw Xena and Gabrielle with Livia then I saw Xena kill Artemis. I do not know what it all mean mother but this I know they are tied to Livia. I fear the rest means only death and sorrow for our tribe, for all Amazons." Her voice was a mere whisper but it caused Lysippe to shiver.
On the other side of the camp, Gabrielle shivered in Xena's arms. Her teeth chattered and she couldn't seem to get warm no matter how close she curled next to her lover. Xena was growing worried about Gabrielle, her dreams seemed to be more troubled each night. It wasn't like Gabrielle not to share her worries but she wouldn't talk about her dreams no matter how much Xena asked.
Gabrielle couldn't stop the feeling that the something missing she had felt for so long was almost in her grasp. She just didn't know what it was or how to recognize it but she knew that it was close, very close. Strangely enough, it felt the same way she did when she carried Hope - a feeling of utter completeness. Maybe it meant that Eve was close, that they would find her as soon as this battle was over. She felt that Eve was as much her child as Xena's.
"I can't explain it, Xena, something big is coming and soon. I think we are going to find Eve." She smiled up at her lover, who pulled her close and wrapped more furs around them both.
"We will find our daughter together, now go to sleep. We go to war tomorrow. The sooner this is over the sooner we can find her." Xena kissed Gabrielle gently.
~~~~~
Livia shivered in her bed while she tossed and turned caught in a nightmare. She saw herself being ripped from someone's arms and felt lost and scared. There was blood on her hands and the rush of guilt was overwhelming. Augustus Caesar woke up concerned for his young lover. He intended to take her as his bride on their return to Rome. He was tired of this isle and its savages. They had them under control and he could leave one of his lieutenants in charge.
A knock startled Livia from her nightmare and Augustus from his travel plans. "Enter."
The captain of his Praetorian guard entered the Roman Emperor's private bedchambers. "Caesar, our sentries have returned with word of a large group of warriors gathered no more than one league from here."
Before the emperor could say a word, Livia jumped nude from the bed unmindful of her nudity. "Where are the sentries? Bring them to me immediately." The captain didn't move or say a word. His eyes drank in the sight of Livia's nude body as she paced the room in a fit of temper. She stopped when she realized that the soldier hadn't left to do what she ordered. "What are you waiting for? I gave you a direct order, now move before I remove you permanently." She growled causing the captain to make a hasty retreat.
Octavius hid his displeasure until they were alone. "Put your close on, Livia. You are to be the Empress of Rome one day, you should learn to act the part at least when others are present."
She looked at him shocked at the censor in his voice. Livia was always forgetting that Octavius, now know as Augustus Caesar was the nephew of the great Julius Caesar and was more than he seemed. "I am sorry, my lord. I was angry that anyone would dare to raise arms against Caesar."
"I know you better than you think I do. Livia, you want to punish those who you see are daring to raise arms against you." He dressed and walked out of the room leaving Livia visibly shaken by his words.
Does he know about Ares? Is he going to replace me with another? I cannot allow that to happen. Perhaps it is time for Caesar to die like his exalted Uncle. There are those who are better suited to rule, who are not afraid to take what they want.
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