Marc Antony’s Woman
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine.
Author’s Notes- This covers the last bits of Chapter 19 (the bits worth covering), but it’s also a little bit filler that I thought was needed to make the story flow. I combined Cassius’s romance and unromanced scenes to come up with what that fit his relationship with Portia.
Summary- Portia enters the arena and faces her judgement.
Rating- PG-13
Chapter Eleven- You Bleed Just to Know You’re Alive
A few more days passed and at night I trained with Syphax, Euthymios, and Cingerix. I learned from all three men, plus I was also enjoying the chance to get to know my brother again, though I was starting to suspect it was not just my presence that had my brother returning to the barracks night after night.
Finally, the day before my fight, I had more visitors.
I was sitting on my cot, waiting for the day to pass, when I heard footsteps and I looked up to see two familiar faces.
Lena and Cassius.
My heart leapt at the sight of them. I wondered how they had managed to get in to see me, it wasn’t like I was allowed visitors, but then each had their own influences.
“Portia!” Lena exclaimed, embracing me, “I had to see you!”
I hugged her back, taking comfort in her presence.
As soon as she released me, Cassius pulled me into his arms, burying his face in my hair. “I’ve been worried sick,” he told me, “I’ve been trying to get away down here since your sentencing it wasn’t easy.” He looked at Lena, his arms still around me, “but between Lena and I, we had enough influence to find a guard who would turn a blind eye.”
“I’m glad,” I told him, smiling up at him, though while I was touched by the effort, his visit didn’t have the same effect on my spirits that Antony’s had, my heart didn’t speed up at the sight of him.
“I brought you something,” Lena said after a moment, drawing my attention back to her. “I know it must be hard to remember now, but you are not powerless. You can still cast your spell over the crowd, we all saw it at the sentencing, and I know we can see it again tomorrow. A lesser woman would seduce them to her side or rally them to her cause. You can do both.”
Lena gestures and a guard stepped forward, carrying in an ornate set of armor, one obviously designed for a woman. It was flashy, but practical and delicate at the same time. It was perfect.
“If you wear this, you will remind everyone who sees you that you are not just a warrior,” she continued, “you are Portia, the greatest courtesan in Rome.”
The guard retreated after I took the armor from him, letting Lena help me into it. I noticed that Cassius’s eyes lingered on my body as Lena helped me dress, but I didn’t comment. Now was not the time to antagonize Cassius, but I was not sure I wanted to encourage him further because there was no hope in it, I knew that.
Cassius had been an ideal first patron and I genuinely enjoyed his company at times, but he was also a means to an end. Even now, he had rallied the crowds to me, and his hatred for Caesar was just growing with every day. If I got out of this alive, I would need Cassius, but I did not love him.
“It’s so light!” I exclaimed once Lena had helped me into the armor. “It feels no different than a dress.”
“You never fail to take my breath from me, Portia,” Cassius said with an admiring glance, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“The smith I used is the best in Rome,” Lena told me, glancing at Cassius, I assumed that it was the same smith Cassius had commissioned to make my father’s armor, “It may not weigh much, but it’ll protect you as well as any man’s armor.”
And it also looked good, which was just as important. I looked like an avenging goddess in this. But wasn’t that what I wanted? I need to prove that I had the favor of the gods and how better than to look the part.
“I’ll be able to run circles around the other gladiators and look amazing while doing it.” I told her with a smile and then I paused. “But why are you doing this?”
Lena looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Wouldn’t it be best for the scholae if you cut all ties with me?” I asked quietly. It was what I’d expected, actually. Lena had several girls to worry about, not just me. My actions had been reckless, I knew that, and I didn’t want anyone getting hurt in the fallout.
“You are one of my girls,” Lena told me, “besides, I believe that you will rally the crowds to you and that public opinion will be with you. I have not given up on you, Portia,” she gave me a pointed look, “even if you do act without thinking.”
“The same goes for me,” Cassius added, “I will support you in every way I can.” He sighed. “I wish I could get you out right now–”
“I know it is impossible,” I told him, cutting off, “it is ok, I understand. I will have to take my chances in the arena.” I gestured to the armor. “But now I have a better chance than I did.” I smiled at Lena, “thanks to you, Lena. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
Not just for the cost of the armor, but for the gesture, and despite her words, I knew that she was taking a risk standing behind me, visiting now and I appreciated it more than I could ever say.
Lena smiled, “repay me by staying alive.”
She motioned me forward and helped me out of the armor and back into my awful dress, drawing me close for a final hug before she and Cassius took their leave, Cassius also drawing me into a final embrace.
I watched them go, thinking of what they had said, about how I needed to win the crowd. My brother and Syphax had given me the tools to survive in the ring and Lena had provided what I needed to look the part, and I’d never had a problem getting people to do what I wanted. So hopefully in the morning, the combination would be enough to save my life and earn me my freedom.
**
I should have known that Caesar would employ whatever means necessary to ensure my defeat.
As the poison set in and I was dragged into the ring, I wondered briefly if Antony had known what Caesar was planning. It was a fleeting thought though, washed away with the paint of Loucasta’s senseless death and also my effort to stand upright as the fight commenced.
And then, things quickly changed, the fog that had consumed me lifted, and I was able to stand and fight. I knew it was my mother. She had done something. I don’t know how I knew that, but I did.
Once I had control of my body again, I concentrated on using the techniques that I had been taught, my armor protecting me from stray blows, and with Syphax at my back, we quickly regained control of the fight.
I let myself look up at Antony and saw pride in his eyes as he gave me a quick, approving nod, and decided that while he knew Caesar intended for me to die in this arena, he was very grateful that I did not and that was enough.
Soon there were only Syphax and I left and Caesar made a statement to that effect, about which of us would be the winner and I knew this was my moment.
“No!” I declared, directing my statement at the crowd instead of Caesar, standing so they could see me in my full glory, “I will not allow Syphax to die for me, we have both won this day.”
Syphax had suffered too much me, I would not take his life and the cheers of the crowd made me confident that I would not have too. They would not demand more blood this time at least, because I had given them a good enough story.
“So long as the people love me… So long as your people love me, I will never stop!” I declared proudly, which caused the crowd to cheer even louder.
“Let her live… Let her live…”
I saw Antony lean over from his place beside Caesar and whisper in his ear. No doubt advising Caesar to go with the will of the crowd, because Antony was good at capitalizing on the whims of the masses. My mind came back to the question of whether he had known about Caesar’s plan to poison me. It was possible, but I didn’t think it was likely. After all, he had no reason to want me dead and every reason to want me alive.
Caesar stood and the crowd hushed instantly.
“The people have spoken. The gods have shown their will.” He said solemnly. “Portia has proven her valor and purity of spirit. By the sword and by her sacrifice. She and Syphax the Slayer have earned their freedom today!”
I looked at Syphax, we had done it. We were both free. I would never be able to repay him for what he had done for me, but at least he was free now. We both were.
And more importantly, the crowd was on my side. Rome loved me. The power play between Caesar and I wasn’t over, I had made a misstep, but I would still seek my vengeance and I would find a way to use the love of the people to my advantage.
Caesar had gotten this far by being beloved by the people. Now I was claiming their love for myself, more than that I had to believe that I could also lure Antony from his side… That Caesar would fall but Rome and Antony would be mine.
**
