Julia was on the balcony, while Paullus was standing behind her, his hands resting on her bare shoulders as he spoke, low, but loud enough that Gaius could make out his words.

Anger boiled in the pit of Gaius’ stomach. It nerved him to see Paullus’ careful embrace around Julia. He didn’t seem to be the titan he carried himself as around the Senate. Here, with her, he was tender, seemly lighter in her presence. Gaius knew what that felt like — he longed to be like that around her once more.

“Do not fear, my love. I shall return in due time. The campaign will not take more than a few weeks, at the most,” Paullus spoke in mid sentence.

Julia seemed to listen to him, but her gaze was kept far beyond. Even here the jubilation in the forum could be heard, as thousands gathered to see Paullus and Varro’ vast army.

“Are you so certain? Other men have gone, seeking a confrontation with Hannibal, and have not returned,” Julia spoke in a tone of fear.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Julia. The Republic has never gathered such men as the troops your father, and I will be leading into battle. We outnumber the barbarian three to one. I don’t think even Alexander the Great would have dared match iron with Rome’s new legions.”

“And when Hannibal falls, what then?” she asked.

“I suppose I’ll be going to Africa, with the men to finish what Carthage started. Fear not, I will return in plenty time to be married to you, when the gods see it favorable, and have blessed this family and the legacy we shall create, together.”

“I fear, Paullus this army of boys and old men might not hold as well as you, and my father believes. I fear, Paullus…” Julia’s words trailed off as she seem unable to truly express what was on her heart, nor was Paullus hearing any of it.

“Hush, my dear. It is not your place to think such things, not when they are well beyond your understanding.” Paullus’ tone was hard, but he held himself from speaking further, not before he steadied himself.

Paullus grabbed Julia and urged her to turn and face him.

“Or is it my abilities that you question?” he asked with a broken heart.

“I know nothing of military tactics or your abilities to lead men into battle. I only fear for my family — my father and brother’s safety, and others, dare to me.”

“Such concerns are not called for. The gods are on our side. I will not allow Hannibal or his ragged army to come within sight of Rome’s walls. By Jupiter’s sword, I swear it on my life!”

Paullus looked down at Julia, tilting her head slightly higher with his hand so that he may look into her eyes.

“When this is over, I shall return a hero, and then we shall be man and wife. That I promise you with my last breath, my dearest Julia.”

She managed her best smile, and if Paullus had known her better, he would have seen that she had lingering doubts that could not be overturned with a few careful words.

Paullus knelt down and kissed Julia softly on the lips. As he did so, Gaius fell back behind the cover of the door, his heart racing, and his face flushed with bitter jealously.

As Paullus pulled away from Julia, he did not see Gaius as he briskly walked down the hall, heading for the front of the house, and out into the courtyard.

Julia stayed where she had been, her sight once again fixed outside.

Gaius tried to steady his breathing as he glanced around the bend one last time. He wanted to leave. He couldn’t recall why he had come to see her in the first place, and now regretted that he had ever come at all. However, before he could step carefully beyond the threshold, Julia spoke.

“I know you are there, Gaius. Do not pretend otherwise.”

Gaius sighed heavily before he stepped into view.

“How did you know I was here?” he asked.

She smiled. “From the smell of your armor: the scented oils you use. You smell better than most men, I must say.”

Gaius blushed. It hadn’t been the first-time someone had said such to him. Now that he knew it gave away his position, he might have to reconsider his daily routine.

“I have not seen you for a while, well, at least privately. Why have you not come sooner?” she asked as Gaius joined her.

“I am sorry. I have been busy preparing my men. I would have like to see you more. I should have made a better effort,” Gaius answered, a bit flustered, only telling half the truth.

“You do not need to make apologies, Gaius. I understand the life of a soldier better than you might give me credit. Your presence this afternoon is a wonderful surprise. That is all.”

“I thought I should come and say goodbye before we march from the city this evening. I wanted to see you.”

Julia took his arm and wrapped it around her own, glancing up at him with a warm smile, which Gaius hadn’t realized how much he missed, until now.

“Then, it brightens my day that you made the time to see me.”

Gaius did not reply nor was she expecting him to. They both enjoyed these quiet times together without the need to fill the empty silence with unneeded conversation.

“Is it true what they are saying?” Julia broke the silence after a momentary pause. “Is the army truly as large as they say, and as powerful?”

“It is perhaps a bit embellished. However, it is the largest force Rome has ever fielded, and more are still expected to join us,” Gaius answered.

“Will it be so easy to defeat Hannibal, do you think?”

“No, I doubt it will be,” he answered honestly, a rare sentiment that he wouldn’t share with anyone else.

Julia directed her attention high into the sky, watching as a group of birds flew over the city.

As Gaius looked at her, it seemed her mind was lost in another time as an odd smile, one that reminded him of the girl she used to be, crossed her face.

“Do you remember when we were children, and we used to play in my father’s field? You were the brave hero — never a villain, and you were on a quest to find and save the princess from one of your stories. Even then you gave your all, not at any time straying from your quest, regardless of the danger.”

“I do remember,” he answered with a smile. His mind at no time left those days far behind. Some days, when the world was hard and brutal, he would escape to those fantasies — reliving his youth with Antony and Julia, wishing those times would never leave.

“It was only games, played by young children who thought nothing of the world or their place in it. I know that now. However,” she looked up at him, clutching him tighter in her grip. “I knew when I was with you, I was safe. Not just from practical dangers, but from anything. I knew you would never surrender under any circumstances, and that gave me hope.”

Julia’s eyes filled suddenly with sadness as she reached up and touched the side of his face, staring for a long while into his deep brown eyes.

“You promise me, Gaius, the day you left home that you would grow up strong, so you could protect me from the monsters of the world. I fear, no matter what my father or Paullus says, the coming days will be dark. Terrible things are going to happen, and I’m frightened, Gaius. I’m fearful what may happen to you. Just promise, even if it is a lie that you will come back for me.”

Julia drove her head into his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist, waiting for his answer as she demanded once more, “Promise me!”

Gaius was silent as he held her, afraid to speak. However, like he did when he was a boy, he swallowed his fears and said what needed to be said.

“I swear it, my love. I swear I will always be here for you.”

Late July

Gaius’ attention was focused as he came within a hundred paces of his target, a pair of men on horseback racing away from him as quickly as their animal could run, impaired by its heavy load. One of them frequently glanced back, yelling at the other to push the horse faster, which was impossible.