“He sent me away. He sent the whole legion off just to protect me,” Gaius said quietly as he looked down at the broken clay medallion in his hand.
It was hours, perhaps even days later, he had no sense of time right now. He was alone with Julia, she in his arms as both sat on the floor before a large fire that crackled as its bright flames, which warmed the pair. He was clean shaved and nearly back to normal, or as ordinary as he could be. They didn't have to say much to each other; words weren’t needed between the two, for both knew what the other suffered. They just needed to feel each other’s hearts, that both were alive, still warm and breathing.
They both had cried and allowed their emotions to flow freely without hesitation or judgment as they had embraced, and had made love, and at the moment just wanted to be near the other, for as long as they could extend this time. In a sense, they simply had each other in the whole world, and nothing was going to break them apart at this moment in time, no matter the rules, traditions, and arrangements, or by the force of the gods themselves.
“He did it, so I could come back to you — so I could protect you as I had promised all those years ago.”
Julia pulled herself into Gaius’ arms, closer as he spoke to her as a lone tear ran down her face as she listened to him.
“I went back to Cannae and looked for him, for as long as I could, but I could not find him. I could not give him the rights that he, and all those damn fools deserved.”
“He knew what he was doing,” Julia said softly. “He followed his father like a good son should, and fought to protect his country like every man should.”
“And he died for it. They all died for nothing. They were led by foolish men, even those with the noblest intentions. In the end, we are no safer now than we were before…I should have been there.”
“Maybe so, Gaius,” Julia looked up at him, rubbing her hand over his still youthful features. “But he sent you away, not to save you or to protect me, but because he loved you as his brother. He could not change his fate, and he knew that. Even so, he knew he could spare you a similar end.”
Gaius clutched the medallion tightly in his fist as Julia’s words sank in. He then bent down and kissed her, which she returned with a passion before she rolled over, facing him and again shared the same breath as, he.
“I love you more than life, Gaius,” she uttered softly as she ran her hand over his bare chest. “And I know you will leave again.”
He tried to say something, to deny it, but she stopped him before a word left his mouth.
“Nothing that happens from this point onward will ever change what we feel about each other.”
Julia took the medallion away from him and carefully placed it back around his neck, until it rested against his chest where it belonged.
“You will come back to me when this is over. I know you will. And until that day, I will be waiting for you.”
He kissed her again as he lowered her down onto her back. This would be his moment, the one he would live for — the one that would sustain him and allow him to see the war to the end.
For her, he would come back, no matter what.