Gaius wanted to say more, deny what Paullus was saying that he believed more men, all men, all good Romans would have had done the same. He saved his arguments and allowed Paullus to continue.

“But since you did save a consul of Rome, you should be rewarded. I would like to offer it myself. Name it, anything, and it shall be yours, Gaius.”

“Consul, you’ve already granted me the Sixth Legion. What more could I ask of you?”

“Those were Valerius’ wishes. And frankly, there is no one else that could command the Sixth at this point. Regardless, I would request that you ask for something, anything that your heart desires.”

Gaius glanced over at Claudia. She stood near the far corner, a big smile on her face as she listened, seemly sensing his uneasiness.

“Your friendship would be all that I ask,” Gaius stated.

“Bah! That is already yours,” Paullus replied as he sat back down and stared at Gaius for a long while. Clearly, he wasn’t going to let him leave his house until he made an honest request.

After a long moment of silence, Gaius actually laughed as an amusing thought crossed his mind. Paullus smiled and ask, “What is so comical?"

Gaius shook his head as he remembered the first story that Valerius had told him many years ago.

“Nothing important, sir only that my father, a very long time ago found himself in this same predicament when he stood before a superior officer who said he would grant him anything he wished.”

“Oh? And did that officer do such?” Paullus asked.

“Yes, yes he did.”

“And may I ask what that was?”

“My father asked for my mother.”

Paullus looked confused as Gaius elaborated on the memory.

“She was a slave and property of the camp prefect. My father and she had falling in love prior, and he wanted to marry her. Of course, the prefect was not too keen on letting her go, but he felt compelled to comply, nonetheless.”

“Well, I do hope that you don’t ask for Claudia. I would have issues parting with her. I do not think I could get dressed in the morning without her there to help me figure out which arm to put through my tunic first,” Paullus chuckled, which caused Gaius to glance over at her. He saw that she was blushing.

He noted that she would have been a fine prize, and if he asked, Paullus probably would give her over to him. Even so, at the moment, as he had told the brief story about his father, Gaius knew what he had to ask for. It was the only thing in the world that he truly wanted. He knew, however, that his words were about to cause a great deal of pain to the man who sat across from him, and that scared him a great deal. Not because he feared what Paullus might do or say, but that he actually liked the man, a great deal and the thought of hurting him pained him greatly.

“Consul,” Gaius’ voice grew serious as he stared back at Paullus. “You ask what I want — what you want to reward me for my services. Then, I ask only one thing.”

“Ask and it shall be yours?” Paullus said enthusiastically.

“I want you to release Julia of her marriage vows.”

Paullus’ expression changed suddenly. He was no longer excited at the prospect of Gaius’ request as he looked at him for a long while, not saying a word, almost as if he had not heard what Gaius had asked for.

“What do you mean?” Paullus stuttered.

“Varro, her father is dead. The political and financial gain you would have attained no longer has meaning.”

Paullus stood to his feet and stepped away from his chair. His back was to Gaius as he placed his hand to his forehead, seemly lost for words.

“You asked me what I desire the most, consul. It is she. I love her, and I always have,” Gaius added, now standing to his own feet. He felt like he had dug himself a hole that he could not get out of. However, he had said what he needed to say.

“And she loves you, I suppose?” Paullus asked, not facing Gaius. His words sounded cold and bitter, almost to the point of rage.

“She does,” Gaius answered truthfully.

“Have you shared her bed?” Paullus asked, his words becoming colder.

“Sir?” Gaius was hesitant to answer.

“Answer me!” Paullus cried out as he turned sharply and faced Gaius.

“We have.”

Gaius felt sick, suddenly, when he watched Paullus expression of frustration and anger change before his eyes. He seemed weaker and sad by this realization as he stepped further away from Gaius.

Gaius felt like he was betraying the man — tearing out his heart right then and there. He desperately wanted to say something that could ease the consul’s mind, but he knew that no words could.

“Why…why her? I would have given you anything, Gaius — armies, wealth and power. I would even promote you as the next consul of Rome if you so asked. I would have set you and your descendents up for generations to come. Why her of all women?” his words weren’t spoken so much as statements, but almost as a bribe.

“Because, there are no other women, there never has been. I’ve loved Julia my entire life, and she loves me. She is all that I crave in this world, nothing more. I do not make this request likely, but I need her as I need air. The blood in my body aches for her. I’m nothing if she isn’t with me, in body and soul.”

“You know what she means to me! I’ve confided to you what I’ve never spoken to anyone before, and this is what you do to me!”

“I do not mean to create mistrust between us. Your friendship does mean a great deal to me.”

“Do not — ” Paullus wasn’t able to finish his sentence as his emotions had gotten the better of him. In his still weakened state, he fell into a coughing fit as he dropped to his knees. Both Gaius and Claudia tried to rush over to him, but Paullus raised his hand and cried out, “Don’t! Both of you get out of my sight! NOW!”

“Master…” Claudia tried to say as she looked on, a few feet behind Gaius.

“I said, leave me!” Paullus cried again as he spat out a mouthful of blood. He had exerted himself in his anger, but Gaius’ words had hurt him more than his still healing wounds, that much was painfully clear.

Gaius turned away from the consul and placed his hand on Claudia’s shoulder. She was already beginning to tear as she desperately wanted to run over to Paullus and help him, but Gaius urged her to leave him be.

“I am sorry, Paullus. I truly am,” Gaius said before he left him alone, who now rested his back up against the wall; his hands over his face.

“Take care of him,” Gaius then said to Claudia once the two were outside.

“I’m sorry, Gaius,” Claudia tried to say as she wiped away her tears.

“No. You have nothing to be sorry about. I did not mean for any of this. I just had…” He couldn’t even finish his own words. He felt it best that he should leave. “Be safe, Claudia,” and then Gaius left.

Gaius stood among a dozen officers. This was only the second time he'd stepped foot inside the Senate house of Rome. The last time it had been when the war with Hannibal had started and back then, which seemed like a decade ago, the Senate was confident in its resolve and its ability to crush the upstart warlord who had taken a tattered army of barbarians across the Alps, and crossed into Italy; however, a great deal had been lost since that day — whole armies, tens of thousands of lives, both military and civilian alike — more than the Republic had ever sustained in its long history. Lesser countries would have fallen under similar circumstances, and in fact, only days prior the Senate was debating whether or not to call for terms with Carthage.

Rome would have given up much of its territory — everything gained in the last war and then some, yet the Senate did not give into its fears and instead turned to another man to guide Rome from the crisis.