Nothing is easy, nothing is impossible

The following day the funeral of the woman of Spartacus was held.

A huge pyre was set up in the center of the square and even the owners wore the colors of mourning. They were paying homage to their champion.

Spartacus was destroyed and Hanna found herself reflecting on Thranduil's wife.

He too had lost her, what was he feeling at that moment? Didn't he care? Was it a painful reminder?

Varro handed the torch to his friend, giving him an encouraging look. Azrael was, as always, on the sidelines. The sentence spoken by the master once he discovered the fate of the slave gave him thought. There was more and it was his concern to find out what!

Hanna and Sara found Naevia crying in a corner and decided to understand what posted her before going to do their jobs.

"Everything good?" Sara asked approaching her friend "Yes, I am only heartbroken by the sad fate of the champion's wife!" She replied sniffling.

"Do you think we drink it?" Hanna asked tired that she didn't confide in them "Finally Crixus has declared himself!" she whispered in Naevia's ear.

She withdrew and looked at her terrified "Quiet, we have a mouth sewn!" Hanna reassured her "And we are sure that the Gaul will make it!" Sara gave her hand.

"How can you be sure?" Naevia asked quieter but still sad. "Don't you believe in Crixus?" Sara asked “Of course yes! He is a strong man!” Naevia replied “Then she will heal! If he really loves you he will come back to you!” Hanna said thinking of her loved one.

“We are just fools hoping that our love will be favored by the gods!" Naevia said with a sigh.

“Love makes you do crazy things!" Sara revealed “I agree! Don't worry, we will find a way to make you stay together!" Hanna promised her.

"How?" Naevia asked hopefully "I don't know yet, but I'm not the woman of the angel of death by pure chance. If I want something I get it!" Hanna bragged.

"I have no complaints about this!" Sara commented "Once healed, could Crixus ask for freedom?" she tried to guess "Who knows he could meet Barca who was freed just last night!" she added.

The girls stopped as soon as they saw Naevia whiten in the face of the latest statement.

“Everything good?" Sara asked worriedly looking around. Was there anyone who had heard them?

"No! Crixus must never ask for freedom!” She pleaded in panic.

“Why?" Hanna asked curiously. Her friend looked away refusing to answer.

“Naevia, we have been serving the mistress together recently, but you can trust us! We won't say anything about Crixus or even why you fear freedom!" Sara reassured her.

"It's not the freedom I'm afraid of, but what it would cause to ask for it!" she decided to confess her friend. Naevia took a deep breath of air before continuing "Barca .... he has not been released! I saw Batiatus kill him with his hands!".

The news was so shocking that for a few minutes nobody said a word.

Hanna recovered first "No-it doesn't matter! We will find a way to make you stay together, promised!" she closed the speech before returning to perform his duties.

It wasn't long before they were summoned by the mistress.

“What a mess!" He took care to comment Hanna "Lower your voice!" Sara filmed her.

Work had begun to restore Batiatus' house to its former glory, there was not a part of the villa in order. The hosts were thrilled.

Naevia and the doctor arrived surprising them: Crixus had woken up! While the owner was being updated by the doctor on the patient's condition, Lucretia approached the Gaul.

“It would be inconvenient to come and visit you! But know that my thoughts are aimed only at you! I will send my slave Naevia to take care of your needs! Rest and recover your strength!l The mistress said looking at Crixus with sincere affection.

Hanna and Sara stared at each other knowing that this was an opportunity for their friend.

They followed the mistress with small laughter, which fortunately she did not hear or ignore.





*

Training started again as usual that morning. Azrael had finally rejoined them.

"Divide into pairs!" Doctore ordered.

Milo decided to try his luck by putting himself with the elf, while Atticus opted for Varro, an experienced gladiator.

"Spartacus!" Oenomaus called him "You will fight with me!". Azrael and Milo looked confused.

The Doctore usually wielded the whip, he did not train with gladiators! But as soon as they started fighting, the reason for the sudden change was immediately clear.

The Doctore was not in a good mood "Your bride is dead! It was an unfortunate event, like your escape plan!" He snarled before knocking a blow on the shield of the Thracian "I haven't drunk wine for many years, but a single glass would never have been enough to make me unconscious!" Here's how it went and why the champion had been exposed!

“J'en étais sûr!" (I was sure of it!) Said Atticus, knowing that his father could hear him. He had immediately understood the true intentions of the Doctore the day before: he wanted to stop Spartacus!

“If you want to converse, at least speak an understandable language!" Varro pointed out to him.

“It is only because you killed Theokoles by avenging my defeat that I have not informed the master! Death would be the right punishment!” Oenomaus threatened him.

“Tell him! It does not matter to me!" Spartacus shouted, who had not yet recovered from mourning.

“The next time you try to escape, you'll have to kill me!" The Doctore warned him.

During the break the three began to argue with each other.

“Le Maître nous gênera!" (The Doctore will hinder us!) Pointed out Atticus.

"Petit mais sûr! Cela signifiera qu'il mourra!" (Little but sure! It will mean that she will die!) Milo ruled.

"The pourrait must be a bon allié à la place! Ne pensez plus qu'avec l'épée!” (He could become a valid ally, on the other hand! Stop thinking only with the sword!) His brother, who was against the idea of killing other slaves, took him back.

“J'ai grandi comme ça, qu'attendez-vous?" (I grew up like that, what do you expect?) Asked Milo protesting. "Que vous commencez à utiliser votre cerveau!" (Let's start using the brain!) Replied the other.

Azrael was not listening to them. Her attention had been captured by a Roman woman who spoke with Varro. It was his wife. Proof was the son in his arms identical to the father. The woman was destroyed. Another Roman had taken advantage of his companion's absence and raped her.

The elf tried to distract himself by observing the other gladiators who took it out on the one-armed cook. But the idea of the constant danger that girls ran did not leave her mind!



*



Spartacus' fame had reached even powerful Rome. In the entire Republic, all that was done was to talk about the rain carrier.

“There are new recruits!" Hanna exulted "Do you think there will be a future champion among them too?" Sara wondered, thinking of Spartacus.

“But how can you not lose enthusiasm in the face of a custom?" Naevia asked laughing, infected by their euphoria.

Even in the gym below there was joy in the air.

Those were favorable times, both for the owner and his men.

“Les Romains sont convaincus que c'est vous qui l'avez instruit!"(The Romans are convinced that it was you who instructed him!) Milo laughed with that statement. "Est-ce pour cela que le propriétaire est allé au marché chercher un autre gosse pour me former?"(Is this why the owner went to the market to get me another brat to train?) Azrael asked annoyed.

"Non. Sara m'a dit qu'elle chargeait les Romains de vous regarder vous entraîner!" (No. Sara told me she is charging the Romans to watch you train!) Her son informed him.

"Comme, comment?" (How?) Asked the annoyed elf.

They were already taking his blood believing that he had intoxicating powers, he did not accept being looked at as a rare creature.

Even if, on reflection, in that world, he was!

“Les Romains sont convaincus qu'en ayant guidé Spartacus, en lui donnant la bénédiction des dieux, en admirant seulement vous pouvez leur porter chance!" (The Romans are convinced that having guided Spartacus, giving him the blessing of the gods, only by looking at you can you bring them good luck!) Explained Milo.

“Surtout parce qu'ils ne peuvent que faire ça! Observez-le dans arène ou dans la maison du propriétaire!" (Especially because they can only do this! Observe it either in the arena or in the master's house!) Said Atticus laughing.

"Leur fantaisie est très colorée et ne disparaît pas au fil des années!"(Their fantasy is very colorful and does not dull over the years!) Azrael noted ironically. Shouting cries alternating with insults greeted the new recruits.

“And here's the sermon!" Hanna complained referring to the speech with which Batiatus welcomed the new recruits "Shut up!" Sara filmed her.

“Maybe you should consider buying one!" The affirmation of the mistress completely diverted the attention of the girls from the new slaves.

He was offering to Ilizia, wife of the legate Claudio Glabro, to buy one of the recruits to be able to boast this property and increase his honor with his victories in the arena.

“How do I choose?" The Roman patrician asked excitedly.

“Can I offer advice to solve the dilemma?" Batiatus asked before addressing Oenomaus "Master, our revered guest wishes to observe their virtues!" He ordered. Hanna and Sara fixed their eyes on the ground as the gladiators laughed. "Denudatevi!" Cried the Master. Ilizia chose a particularly gifted man.

A Gaul named Segovax. A mighty man who, in the future, could have become a great champion.

Lunchtime came. Crixus was back in force. Not that it was good news, at least not in full.

He was angry that he had been ousted and exciting clashes were announced against the one who had knocked him off the pedestal.

As if he wanted to meet Milo and Atticus’ expectations, Crixus badly pushed a recruit when he tried to take his ration.

"Son of a sow, wait until the real men have filled their stomachs!" Yes, he was the champion of Capua ...... ex champion!

"Crixus, let them eat!" Spartacus intervened in their defense.

“They have to suffer pain and deprivation to become gladiators. That's the rule!" The Gaul answered him.

"It's none of your business!" The Thracian insisted, bringing down a silence full of tension among men.

Azrael watched the two facing each other unable to suppress a smile. Boredom could finally be said to be over!

"Let them eat!" He ordered Spartacus to Crixus.

"Spartacus an indulgent and generous soul!" He mocked him.

The thracian rose from the table on which he had leaned to face the Gaul.

“Don't misunderstand my words! I don't care about the well-being of these men. But you are no longer the champion, come later .... and therefore you don't give orders anymore!" Spartacus said imposing his will as a new champion of the house. “Remember that the one who comes next is attacked from behind. Keep this in mind!" Crixus threatened him before stepping aside.

“Bastard Gaul!" A recruit whispered looking at him with hatred.

“C'est Agron! Un un de deux frères germaniques!”(That's Agron! One of the two Germanic brothers!) Milo began to introduce the new recruits to Azrael.

"Ils sont tous les deux prometteurs!"(They are both promising!) Observed the elf.

“Je pense que nous pourrions les prendre à nos côtés. Dès que l'on trouve le bon levier!" (I think we could take them to our side. As soon as we find the right lever!) Atticus said with a satisfied smile.

That evening Hanna and Sara were released to the gym earlier than usual.

Taken by the enthusiasm, the girls parted while running through the corridors of the gym looking for the elf and their friends who were not in their respective cells.

Maybe they were still in the bathrooms.

"Would that homunculus be the great champion?" A voice attracted Sara's attention, who stopped next to the cell where the recruits were locked up.

Agron, the mallard, had spoken. They were watching Spartacus disappear into a corridor.

“The Romans always inflate the legend, we can easily beat it!" Followed by his younger brother Duro, very confident.

She knew their names because she was well informed about it!

“He defeated Teocoles, and the sky cried to exalt his victory! You would succumb like a pack of pigs to the slaughterhouse!” Segovax replied.

Sara joined the Germanic brothers laughing at that statement and drawing general attention to herself.

“Do my words amuse you?" Segovax asked her. The girl was frightened to death before realizing that there were bars to divide her and keep her safe from those thugs "No, it's you who make me laugh! You should admire someone else and not the latest arrival!" She decided to be impertinent to the end.

The thracian had been in that house for barely a year!

“Spartacus is an example for everyone! The slave who sets the arena on fire!” She replied, not masking the annoyance of having to face a woman.

“Get out of my sight b....." that letter was suspended and Sara realized that someone had reached her behind when she saw everyone's eyes looking beyond her with terror.

She turned and smiled: Azrael was incinerating, one by one, all the men in the cell! "The angel of Death!" One of the recruits stammered, whitening as he watched the imposing elf.

"And he!" Duro said nudging his brother as if he feared he wouldn't see him.

Azrael put his hand on Sara's shoulder, squeezing it against him, giving a further fiery look to the slaves in front of him.

The girl laughed and rested her head on his chest looking at the men too. It was the practice, to make the new slaves understand who she was, for her safety!

The elf went to his cell followed closely by the girls, Milo and Atticus who also showed hatred towards the recruits, staring at them with hatred.

“Azrael, the angel of death!" Agron said incredulously that he could finally see him. Even if they were only slaves, the story of the legend had reached their ears several times.

"I died of fear!" One of the men confided.

"That's because you're a female!" Segovax mocked him, but he shared the thought of the one who had had the courage to express it.



*



The following morning a certain mallard was looking for trouble.

“You are crazy? Stop staring at him! " Duro warned his brother that he hadn't taken his eyes off since he saw the elf.

“The legend cannot be true!" Agron contested “He's in chains! This is an opportunity to prove my worth!" He said before he strode towards the elf.

"Master!" Hanna shouted realizing that the situation would not remain calm for much longer!

She and Sara had been watching the workouts with interest until then!

But the reckless one had had a bad idea!

"How dare you turn to me like this!" The filmed Batiatus outraged.

Atticus was thrilled that day. They were having a threesome to prepare for a similar moment in the arena.

If fighting two opponents had become simple, then one would have presented itself as a walk.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw one of the mallards approaching ignoring everything and everyone.

The young man stared at his father with pride and a thirst for power!

The Master did not seem to have noticed anything, distracted while giving instructions to another recruit!

That carelessness allowed his father to trip him over the chain that was always between the feet.

“Quelles pensées envahissent votre esprit qui vous rendent si distrait?" (What thoughts crowd your mind that make you so distracted?) Asked Azrael with a smile on her face.

“Non, rien! Remarquez juste un imbécile qui va vous attaquer par derrière!”(Oh, nothing! Just notice a fool who is about to attack you from behind!) Replied Atticus remaining comfortably lying on the ground, leaning on his elbows.

The elf looked at him confused, but immediately afterwards his eyes widened when his portentous hearing perceived the enemy approaching together with the cry of the master who called the attention of Oenomaus "Master! Stop them!". He dodged the first blow, turning to do it, to be able to see it in the face.

Agron, the mallard.

With a strong blow of the wooden sword he deprived his opponent of his and hit him in the face with the shield, making him capitulate to the ground.

He would have continued to rage on that madman if Atticus and Milo had not jumped on him, landing him, thanks to the combined weight.

“Combien de temps devrions-nous attendre? Ne vous enchaînez pas et la liberté viendra plus tôt que nous ne pouvons espérer!" (How much longer should we wait? Don't let yourself be put in chains and freedom will come sooner than all we can hope for!) Milo tried to calm him down.

“Si vous voulez maintenir votre réputation, vous pouvez vous allonger!" (If you want to maintain your reputation you can lie down!) Atticus tried to distract him as they got to their feet.

“Qu'est-ce? Oh shit!”(What? Oh shit!) Said Milo understanding what was about to happen.

The two were so busy talking to each other that they didn't realize they were right under the chain tied to the elf's ankle.

Azrael only had to pull her to stretch out completely, hitting the two children hard between the legs!

All the gladiators laughed at seeing the two men collapse in pain on earth.

“Vous êtes un damné infâme!" (You're a damned infamous!) Hanna yelled from the balcony trying to refrain from laughing "Arrêter maintenant!"(Stop it now!) She managed to say going serious .... for five seconds, then laughing with Sara.

Azrael stared at the happy girls on the balcony and had to resort to all him self-control to remain serious and appear deeply annoyed.



*



Spartacus was finally alone.

Sitting in the bathrooms he thought about the latest events. He loved his beloved Sura terribly and now firmly believed his words: she would be the only woman he would ever love. What was he supposed to do?

Follow her into the underworld or embrace the fate chosen by the gods she didn't believe in?

He felt lost ...

He felt a sudden squeeze on his neck and then saw in passing a hand that wrapped the rope a second time around his throat!

He threw himself backwards, gasping for air, in an attempt to stun the attacker. Spartacus managed to get to his feet and threw an elbow at the intruder who held him firmly from behind.

But the lack of oxygen made his punch extremely weak and the stranger was not at all affected.

They both fell to the ground rolling on top of each other before the thracian found himself lying on top of the enemy which made the deadly grip.

Spartacus felt his arms begin to tingle and his vision became more and more confused.

But before giving in to the darkness, a cry preceded the release from that hold.

Someone had come to his rescue.

Crixus had managed to take the intruder by surprise and although he had been thrown on the floor with too much ease, he had saved Spartacus, diverting the attacker's attention from the champion.

The other Gaul attacked him, intending to kill him.

He grabbed one of the blades with which the gladiators shaved their beards and used it as a weapon managing to injure the other in the leg.

This did not frighten Crixus who blocked the hand that held the blade, before lifting Segovax's arm and going under it, turning on himself, finding himself behind the opponent, to give him a powerful kick that made him end up with his face on the ground.

Segovax ran out of the bathrooms accompanied by a strange noise.

Maybe it was the knife he still held in his hand, Crixus ignored him on his knees when the wounds protested for that excessive effort.

“Why ... did you save my life?" Spartacus asked that destroyed, had remained lying on the ground “In the school we are all brothers! And a champion deserves an honorable death in the arena!” Crixus answered him.

Segovax ran through the corridors in panic.

By that time they should all have been in their cells. That piece of dung had ruined his plans!

He knew exactly what the punishment would have been for having attempted the life of Spartacus, but perhaps by turning to another legend, the mistress would have granted him the same freedom!

He went to a specific cell and fortunately the key to open it was in the deck. He clicked the lock and after a quick sigh he opened the door.

The surprise effect was essential, so he immediately aimed at the elf by throwing himself at him.

The girls screamed as soon as they realized what was happening. Azrael intercepted him giving him a powerful punch that made him land on his back.

But thanks to a backward somersault, the Gaul immediately returned to its feet. They stared at each other for a very long time.

The noise of voices and the footsteps of the approaching guards again gave way to the clash.

The Gaul advanced jerking left and right in an attempt to confuse the elf, but for Azrael it was no problem to understand where he was going.

Humans had a bad habit of looking several times towards their final destination, revealing their intentions in time.

They both grabbed their arms waiting for the other to give way.

As soon as the Gaul realized that he would not be able to do it, he kicked the elf's side and in response he pushed him so hard backwards that he fell to the ground.

Azrael anchored himself to the ground starting to slash his opponent's face while he defended himself as best he could.

Suddenly, Segovax's right arm stretched towards the belt he wore at the waist.

The movement was faster than Azrael expected and could not do anything until she felt a pain in her side.

He looked down and saw that a knife handle protruded from the side of his abdomen. When the blade was removed, Hanna and Sara started screaming again and the guards arrived at that moment.

Two men grabbed the wiggling elf by the arms, while a third tried to keep the Gaul at bay.

Azrael pushed them both to the ground and with relief he saw that the girls had taken refuge on the bed and despite being terrified, they were fine.

He wasted no time and grabbed the jug containing the wine they were consuming, crushing it on the head of a guard.

The helmet he wore was not enough to cushion the blow and the man fell against the stunned wall.

The second, getting up, put an arm on the bed making the girls scream.

He looked at them as if he was annoyed by their screams. Perhaps it was the momentary danger, perhaps his anger or instinct, that set Azrael off to attack.

He was on top of the man in a second, landing him and once stuck he started hitting him wildly.

“Careful!" Hanna's warning cry came at the same time as the blow on her right shoulder.

The elf gritted his teeth, making a snarl and reacted by turning around abruptly, hitting the enemy with a powerful punch with the unharmed limb.

Taken aback, Segovax could not compensate for the momentum given by the blow and ended up crashing into the head wall, passing out.

Azrael leaned against the bed with the upper torso, breathing heavily. The head was too heavy to hold it up and lay flat on the covers.

He heard the voices of the girls calling him, but it was all very confusing. He had aimed well .......the Gaul.

Sara, as soon as she saw Azrael collapse, wasted no time and took a blanket to dab the wound in the shoulder from which too much blood was leaking!

“Get him out of the way! We have to spread it!" She ordered her friend, pointing to the Roman on whom the elf had practically sat.

It was more difficult than he thought, but Hanna eventually succeeded.

They spread Azrael on their back trying to be as delicate as possible.

He breathed quickly and seemed tried by the clash.

Hanna pressed her hands to the wound on Thranduil's side as Sara tried to keep him awake by giving him light slaps on the cheek.

"Hey! Azrael look at me!” Sara said with excitement, taking his face in her hands but not seeing any answer in her gaze "Can you hear me?" Churches.

"What happened?" The Master's voice made them jump and shout in unison.

“Call a doctor soon!" Sara said to the other guards who arrived, worried that Azrael would not answer her.

“Do you want me to die? Get moving!" Hanna screamed furiously when she saw the men standing still staring at the scene.

"I can help?" The Master immediately offered himself.

Sara seemed to think it over, before replying "Put pressure on your shoulder!" She said guiding Oenomaous’ huge hand to lie on the floor, resting the elf's shoulder on his palm, so that the pressure exerted on the wound was greater.

"The fabric is soaked in blood!" The Doctore observed "He is losing too much!" He said worried.

A lament that made everyone take a blow came from Azrael who began to get excited.

“Ça va, c'est nous!"(It's all right, it's us!) Sara reassured him happy to see her beautiful blue eyes staring at her with confusion.

“I-Il fait ... froid!"(I-Il fait ... froid!) Whispered Azrael starting to tremble.

The fear felt by those present was replaced by relief as soon as the doctor arrived, who didn't waste time and started working on the patient.



*



Batiatus was furious “I leave my house only for a few moments and a slave tries to kill Spartacus and injures Azrael! I wonder if it is a coincidence that it is precisely the recruit of Ilizia!” Hanna and Sara felt anger increase when they realized that the attack had not happened by accident.

The cursed one!

Did he really hate Spartacus so much? And why attack Azrael as well?

If she believed in the gods, the idea of hurting him should not even have touched the anteroom of his brain!

“And he would have managed to deprive Spartacus of life if it hadn't been for Crixus! His glory is not tarnished. His time has not yet come!" Lucretia pointed out that she was the only one in a good mood in the face of that unfolding of unexpected events. "Send a message to Vibius, Crixus is no longer on sale!" Batiatus said to Ashur.

“I'm afraid the deal can't be...." he tried to deny him "I'm going to hit it! If he raises questions he will deal with me!” The master replied.

Gratitude was one of the few qualities that that man possessed!

"Master .... the elf is seriously injured!" Oenomaus emerged from a corridor freezing the girls with a simple sentence.

Hanna looked at her hands, still stained with blood, terrified at the idea of losing her loved one!

“How is it possible?" Quintus asked shocked.

“He was defending the girls from the guards and the Gaul took advantage of it!" The Doctore recounted by quickly exposing the facts.

“Gods of heaven! Can't die! It is the oracle of the gods, losing it would be an unforgivable shame!" Batiatus worried putting his hands on his head and starting to walk nervously in the round.

“You!" He yelled at Hanna and Sara "Stay by the elf's side! Don't leave it except to go to the bathroom!" He ordered and the girls obeyed, for once truly grateful to their master. Oenomaus followed them.

"And here comes the snake disguised as a female!" Quintus growled seeing Ilithyia arrive, who had come to attend the recruits' trial.

“Didn't I miss the final exam?" She asked excitedly, taking the mistress's hands in hers.

“Deleted unfortunately! Due to a very serious event!” Lucretia replied looking at her distressed.

"Spartacus and Azrael have been attacked!" Quintus explained trying to keep calm. "Attacked?" The Roman patrician asked, looking shocked.

"From your recruit, Segovax!" He went on to explain his wife.

"What a great misfortune!" said with displeasure.

"Yes, but for your man!" Specified Quinto heading for the balcony. "

“I'm sorry, but we had to punish him in an exemplary way!" Lucretia confided to her before appearing with her friend.

The Gaul had just been crucified and his body was covered with wounds caused by the torture to which he had been subjected.

“Is Spartacus still alive?" Ilithyia asked, surprised to see the gladiator watching Segovax with contempt, standing in front of him, in perfect health.

“Already!" Quintus tone answered.

“And Azrael?" Ilithyia asked curiously.

“He didn't even touch it!" Batiatus lied.

“Torture did not loosen the language of that infamous dirt! Did he not confide anything to you during your meeting last night?” Lucretia asked even though she knew the answer.

“No, that's a mystery!" Ilithyia admitted, looking very upset.

In the square, the general attention was diverted from that dying madman.

Crixus approached the thracian confident that he had returned to what it had once been.

"I will regain my champion position!" He said holding out a hand to Spartacus.

“I accept the challenge with pleasure!" He replied tightening his grip tightly and girding the beginning of mutual respect, born thanks to that fate.



*



Spartacus entered the infirmary afflicting himself at the sight of the two girls who wept, hugging each other in a consoling embrace.

The elf was lying on a cot that looked tiny compared to his size.

The thracian remained to observe him for a long time. He had never seen him so vulnerable and believed that it would never happen.

Azrael had always had a very fair complexion, but was now extremely pale, more than normal.

Two black circles surrounded his eyes and he was so still that he looked dead!

The doctor had managed to stop the bleeding, but there was no certainty that it would survive! After a very long time, Spartacus approached

“I have never seen him favorably..." he began "... but know that my thoughts are for him! And I don't lose hope that it will recover!” He tried to encourage them.

"Are you here to kill him?" Hanna asked sniffling "Why should such madness come to mind?" The champion asked in shock.

"Fame?" The girl asked taking a hand from the elf in hers.

“It wouldn't surprise us if someone tried just to increase their glory...." Sara confessed.

Spartacus sat on a stool on the opposite side of the bed where the girls were "It won't happen!" He said "I promise you no one will dare to hurt him!" He promised before getting up.

“Why are you doing it?" Hanna asked confused.

Azrael had never had any kind of relationship with other gladiators other than his children!

There was no debt to repay to force the thracian to protect it!

Spartacus stopped in the doorway "I don't do it for him!" He admitted "I could not be happy with my bride ....." he remembered ".... I don't want others to feel my same pain!" He trusted before going out.

After two days spent hoping the situation had remained unchanged.

Indeed, Thranduil was burning with fever .....

oenomaus entered with a sad smile on his lips.

“How long have you known him?" He asked curiously.

“Just over ten years!" Hanna replied by dipping a cloth again in cold water and then placing it on Thranduil's forehead.

"So when you met him, you were just little girls!" The Doctore noted.

“What would you like to insinuate? We were young women ... and then love only blossomed after a long time!" Hanna answered piqued.

Sara gave a strangled verse, barely holding back a laugh, which turned into a slight cough when her friend turned to look at her, red with shame.

“How did you manage to approach him?" He kept asking Oenomaus.

“Do you ask these questions out of simple curiosity or to have something to use against him?" Hanna asked fully showing her distrust.

"It was our previous master, Barahir, who sent us to his cell to satisfy him!" Sara told by omitting many details and slightly changing the story.

“Did you already speak his language?" Oenomaus asked happily that he was able to get answers.

He did not like having to mistake the master's curiosity for himself, but he would always carry out the orders without batting an eyelid.

But Batiatus was right, with him perhaps, they would open more.

“Do you have to give a speech when you sleep with someone? No, because I missed this!” Hanna cheekily answered. Oenomaus laughed “It is no coincidence that I chose you. You are strong and have a lot of character!" It was not he who spoke, but a petite figure hidden just before the entrance, who timidly stepped forward.

"I know you! You are Arudne!" Hanna said hoping she got the name right.

“Ariadne" Wrong, as usual!

Even Sara recognized her, she was the girl won at the game by Batiatus against their former master Barahir!

In the past she was the personal slave of the daughter of a wealthy merchant of Pompeii. Since they had arrived in that house they had not frequented much, more engaged in waging war with Diona and attracting Naevia's sympathy.

“I have to go follow the workouts!" Oenomaus took his leave.

“What do you want?" Hanna asked with the usual politeness "Lunchtime has long gone, I just thought you might be hungry!" The girl explained herself.

"Just thinking!" Hanna said grabbing a bowl full of soup and starting to devour it. "Thank you!" Sara decided to express gratitude from both.

“It is sad to see that Naevia is now happy while you are not!" She tried to break the ice Ariadne so as not to get stuck in that awkward silence.

“What do you mean?" Hanna asked with her mouth full "Crixus was about to be sold because of his slow recovery, but after saving Spartacus he was able to stay!" The other replied.

“Yes, we knew that!" Hanna informed her.

“Do you also know that Ilithyia killed a Roman patrician? Licinia, Marcus Crassus’ cousin!” Lunch went sideways to both friends.

“That's a snake! Before I doubted my judgment, now I'm sure!” Hanna said.

“Do you know why I freaked out?" Sara asked, dying to know the whole story.

Hanna was not of the same opinion and decided to ignore them to refresh the red-hot forehead of the elf again.

“The mistress had promised her Crixus, but she found herself in bed with Spartacus!" Ariadne replied whispering and looking around fearful that someone was listening.

"No okay ....... the Romans will only talk about this for weeks ... months! Legate Claudius Glaber's wife in bed with the man who was about to ruin him!" Hanna said then burst out laughing.

This news was a bomb that could not ... should not be ignored!

"Licinia has seen everything...." ".... and she has taken the witness out of the way! Clever!" Sara concluded.

Ariadne took the empty bowls and hurried to the door but before she could get out she heard Hanna's voice "You can visit us whenever you want!" She turned and saw Hanna gently stroking an elf's hand clutching it in his "So let's not go anywhere!" She said with a distressed look.



*



After just one day Azrael had woken up and Hanna and Sara found themselves singing Sia's "Never Give up", followed by modern dance movements, in front of a very confused elf.



And I won't let you get me down

I'll keep gettin' up when I hit the ground

Oh, never give up, no, never give up no, no, oh





Thranduil still looked very confused and Hanna decided to postpone the celebrations. "Hi!" He whispered stroking his cheek gently, feeling the lump in his throat increase. He was safe!

Sara was too focused on doing somersaults and turns, leaving them a little intimacy. Thranduil would have gladly succumbed to darkness again, but her tears forced him to keep awake.

“Qu'est-il arrived?"(What happened?) He asked, still not feeling lucid.

"Tu ne te souviens de rien?"(Don't you remember anything?) Asked Hanna worriedly. He seemed to think it over, then the memories came back like a hurricane.

“Ca va?" (Are you okay?) She asked, not sure that he had managed to make the enemy harmless.

He tried to sit up, but the wounds sent him stabbing pangs that only allowed him to move his limbs just before giving in.

“Calmez-vous, sinon vous risquez de rouvrir vos blessures!"(Calm down, or you'll risk reopening your wounds!) Hanna warned him by placing a hand gently on his chest.

“Le coq maudit a obtenu ce qu'il méritait!"(The cursed Gaul had what he deserved!) Sara said once she had calmed down enough to sit on a stool to the right of the elf, in front of her friend.

“Ils l'ont torture à mort!" (They tortured him to death!) He told with a vein of complacency.

“Un peu de satisfaction car ça t'a presque tué!"(A little satisfaction since he almost killed you!) Said Hanna, unable to mask her anger at the mere memory of what she risked losing.

She was roused from his thoughts by his gentle hand caressing his.

She looked him in the eyes and felt the anger diminish in that loving look.

Peter Jackson was wrong. It was not the cold sovereign they had seen in the film!

He was a noble, strong and kind elf who had stolen her heart.

Hanna bent over to steal a small kiss. Their noses rubbed against each other and a smile was enough to remove any doubt. It would have been all right.

Thranduil heaved a big sigh, before falling back to sleep and the girls hugged each other. Happy now that a heavy weight had slipped from their hearts.

But if the situation had improved for them, a tragedy had taken place within the walls of the villa.

The owner had organized a sumptuous ceremony for the son of the magistrate Tito Calavio for the transition to adulthood.

Crixus and Spartacus, as represented by the old and new glories of Batiatus’ house, were ready to perform a duel in honor of the young Numerius.

But unexpectedly the boy had requested that Varro be the champion's opponent.

The enthusiasm of the young gladiator had broken as well as his life when Numerius had decreed that the loser go to the underworld. Spartacus had been forced to do something horrible: kill a friend!

“It is not easy to see a friend you have loved, lie lifeless!" Oenomaus said seeing how the champion observed the lifeless body, ready to be returned to the family of the deceased.

“He didn't deserve it! His life broke ... on a boy's whim!” Spartacus answered full of pain.

“Varro has left this gladiator world and will be remembered for it!" The Master encouraged him.

"No, he was a good father, a devoted husband, a true friend among the enemies!" Spartacus corrected him, unable to hold back his tears.

The following day Hanna and Sara were happy to see Atticus and Milo “Aren't you dead yet? What a pity!" Hanna welcomed them, busy changing the elf's bandages. "We will not die until the Romans are overwhelmed by our revenge!" Milo whispered. "It's true?" Azrael asked “Ne parlez pas la langue du Romains! Ils pourraient vous entendre!”(Don't speak the language of the Romans! They could hear you!) Sara shouted with excitement.

"There is no one able to hear me ..... now yes!" Azrael replied, turning her gaze to the door. Two guards entered carrying an unconscious Spartacus.

They laid him on a bed far away from where the elf was and the doctor began to medicate a deep wound, inflicted during the performance, which had become infected.

The more they passed in days, the more Azrael returned to strength. In the meantime, a new slave Mira had arrived who seemed to have tied a lot with the champion, who assisted the doctor to take care of the thracian.

That afternoon Hanna had fallen asleep at the elf's side while Sara rested sitting on a stool resting on the bed with her torso.

Spartacus awoke with a start but Mira was immediately at his side "Don't worry! The fever has finally passed!" She reassured him.

He looked around, staring at another man sleeping on one of the infirmary beds.

“Go out and tell me if someone comes!" He ordered her "There are lovers...." "Do as I said, please! They won't hear anything ..!" The thracian interrupted her.

Mira decided to obey. Spartacus lifted the sleeping man's shirt, lying on another bed. "What are you doing? What do you want?" He asked, frightened, waking up suddenly. "Tell me how it went! Speaks!" Cried the thracian.

Azrael opened his eyes, aroused by the screams “My woman! Sura! The slave you carried from Naples! Tell me what happened to her!” Spartacus insisted.

“We have been attacked ...." the poor man tried to say, finding himself in difficulty because of the arm pressed on his neck.

"And where is the wound you suffered to defend Sura?" The mad thracian of pain asked. "I only carried out the orders!" He tried to justify himself.

The slight movement of the elf aroused both girls who lost all signs of sleep in record time, once they noticed what the champion was doing.

"Who gave the order to take her life?" Spartacus shouted "Who ?!" He shouted. "Bat...iatus! Batiatus!" Those were the last words of the poor fool who had faithfully served an honorless man.

The noise from the door lowered the girls who pretended to sleep.

“What have you done?" Mira asked in shock.

“Help me fix it and never tell anyone about it!" He said before being caught by Hanna's green eyes staring at him.

They stared at each other for a time that seemed very long, before the champion approached her threateningly.

Azrael sat up suddenly glaring at the thracian.

“They saw everything!" Mira whispered in his ear, noting with surprise that Sara had also awakened.

“I don't care if he protects you..." Spartacus said to the girls "... say a word and you will be the first to die after Batiatus!" He said shocking his partner.



*



Finally Azrael had completely recovered.

Mira hated them but this was a detail of little importance.

Hanna and Sara were busy following Naevia, who suddenly became shy and reserved towards them.

Had being away for a few weeks pushed them away? No, there had to be more! Legate Claudius Glaber had attempted to humiliate Spartacus by fighting him against seven men at the same time, but had been forced to change his mind when he had landed them all with ease.

But that little satisfaction had been replaced by terror when the mistress discovered the relationship between Crixus and Naevia, driving her slave out of the house.

They had finally met together after a long time and that evening they would never forget her.

“Patronage?" Sara asked "Having the protection of a legate will help the master to climb the social ladder!" Hanna cleared all doubts.

“Is it true that if a slave kills his master, all slaves are killed?" She asked putting her friend to the test again.

“Yes! This is why it is better if we stay united! Only the Romans will die!” Milo answered instead of Sara.

“Once out we could go find Naevia!" Atticus assured her.

LWe should have protected her!" Sara protested distressed “And how? We didn't even know that the master had given it to Ashur!" Hanna tried to console her.

“Now Crixus also has something to lift his sword for!" Said Atticus satisfied.

The cell door was opened, Spartacus entered staring at the angel of death with an indecipherable look.

Hanna and Sara were alarmed, but they were not the only ones since Thranduil remembered well the last threat made by the Thracian against them.

“I'm not looking for a fight" He tried to ease the tension "Your presence says otherwise!" Atticus yelled as he stood up, aware of what had happened.

"The flames will soon burn!" Spartacus said blocking everyone on the spot.

“What are you talking about?" Milo asked excitedly and sure he knew the answer.

“I'm not talking about anything!" The champion replied "This nothing sounds like an escape plan!" Atticus was also very interested in the turn that the speech was taking. Spartacus saw malevolent smiles paint themselves on the girls' faces, followed by the elf once they had translated his words.

“Tell me how nothing can elude Batiatus’ guards!" Milo provoked him.

“There is only one way: kill them all!" Spartacus announced.



*



“The noble house of Batiatus gives thanks to the gods for the blessings they wanted to grant them and also for the presence of the most esteemed citizens of all Capua. Join us to celebrate the patronage granted to me by the Legate Claudius Glaber” began the Batiatus speech.

The gladiators were arranged neatly in a row on the square, ready to delight the guests with a magnificent show, in honor of the celebration.

Everyone was in chains, Azrael had been handcuffed to both his arms and legs, with chains that limited his movements, but if Spartacus had managed to convince that stubborn of a Gaul, it would not have been a problem.

“He apologizes but commitments to the Senate prevented him from being here with us, but he wanted to be present by entrusting his words to his delightful bride!" The master said and Ilithyia began to read the speech prepared by her husband.

“In honor of this glorious day, two legends will face off in a battle to the death. Mercilessly! Here is Crixus, the indomitable Gaul!” Applause accompanied the release from the gladiator's chains “And who will dare face it? Spartacus the killer of the shadow of death!" Batiatus introduced him.

The clash began, with no holds barred. The Gaul still believed he could conquer freedom!

But just as the challenge seemed at its peak Crixus hesitated.

Azrael narrowed his gaze, Spartacus was right: the masters had drugged him for the clash, sentencing him to death!

“They want to kill you!" He whispered the thracian to his opponent "If you rely on them you will never see Naevia again!".

A glance between Crixus and Spartacus was enough to understand!

The Gaul had decided!

Hanna, Sara and Mira had slipped away from the balcony thanks to the large number of guests who allowed to mask their absence.

They went to the door that separated the gym from the villa.

There was a guard because of the protection of the legate, so they pretended to be there to take a drink and drop a jug, obtaining weapons with the shards of the amphora.

It was Mira who brought the first blow to the man's throat, followed closely by the other two who struck intent on killing him as soon as possible.

After completing the first part of the floor, they headed to the porch that overlooked the clearing where the clash was taking place.

Azrael saw them, covered in blood but smiling. Not happy, determined!

The time had come!

Spartacus also noticed it and took a run for the imposing house.

Crixus lowered himself holding the shield over his head, creating the first step towards freedom.

With a primordial scream Spartacus jumped going to cling to the railing of the balcony, sinking a direct blow to Batiatus’ chest.

The whip of the Doctore stopped the blow, allowing the Roman to escape, followed by the guests.

Crixus cut the rope that hindered the thracian, allowing him to go into the villa, and then scream at his companions "Let's kill them! Let's kill them all!" This was enough to start all the gladiators in the attack.

The guards present managed to put up a strenuous resistance which proved in vain when Atticus freed Azrael.

The angel of death used the chain to remove the sword from a guard by piercing it from side to side before moving on to the next.

He stopped a man about to kill a gladiator, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him in weight, then with the sword he pierced him to the heart making him die with the terror imprinted on the features of the face.

"Thanks!" Said the one who recognized him as Duro.

He ignored it and threw himself into the fray. Atticus and Milo ran to protect the girls when they saw them attack a guard. Those two were crazy!

Oenomaus stopped Crixus furious "What are you doing?" Horrified he asked "Spartacus has opened our eyes!" The Gaul replied "The thracian is a cursed bastard!" The Doctore replied shouting “This house is cursed! Batiatus had his bride killed and the mistress sentenced me to death because I fell in love with Naevia!" He explained to him in an attempt to make him reason.

“This house represents my whole life!" Oenomaus said more to himself than to others "They stole your life! With lies and deception!" Crixus screamed back.

The Doctore surrendered and decided to let them do chasing Ashur who had lied to him! The owner had killed Barca, as claimed by the lovers of Azrael and he was sure that the Syrian was the main cause of his friend's death!

The elf joined Hanna and Sara who, without the threat of the guards, had started doing a kind of victory dance on a table!

“We're not done yet!" Milo informed them, before chasing the others who were heading for the stairs leading to the villa.

Ilithyia was fed up. He had had to grant Batiatus the patronage under the compulsion of Lucretia.

She and her husband had been blackmailed because of her mistake with Licinia. It was time to settle the score.

Instead of calling the guards, he ordered that the exit be blocked, so that all his troubles were taken out of the way by a handful of rebel slaves!

“Friends, there is no need to be alarmed!" He tried to reassure Batiatus "At this moment the guards are already taking care of...." he was interrupted by the screams of the gladiators who entered the villa.

The noble lords began to run from all sides in a desperate attempt to find a way of salvation, few tried to fight the slaves.....

“Gods in the sky....." Lucretia whispered when she saw Azrael, without chains, slaughter one of the last guards still alive "Let's go away, run away!" Batiatus said grabbing her hand and dragging it into a corridor, followed by Numerius and his mother.

Hanna shattered a jug on the head of a nobleman, finding nothing else to say apart from "How much good wine is wasted!".

Sara's scream made her turn and saw her curled up on the ground while a Roman was preparing to hit her with a candelabrum.

But he couldn't help but threaten her because he was knocked down by Azrael.

The elf killed him by breaking his neck with a powerful kick.

Thranduil raised the girl and as soon as Hanna joined them, they headed for the main hall where they all seemed to have gathered after that massacre. Screams made them stop.

“It's Aurelia! Varro's wife!" Hanna said pointing to the woman who had just avenged her husband's death by killing young Numerius.

Someone collided with the elf and he was quick to point the sword at the wretched man's neck.

To stop he just realized that it was the girl who often came to see him when he was injured.

“Ariadne" Sara welcomed her with a warm embrace. "

“What is happening?" She asked terrified "Oh, right! We didn't inform you!” Hanna apologized "We started a war against the Romans!" She explained.

They reached everyone else and saw the thracian, in the center of a hall, kill Quintus Lentulus Batiatus.

"I did it because it was right!" The champion began to speak “We have suffered too long because of the Romans! It won't be like that anymore! I will no longer witness the death of a brother for the fun of the Romans! I will never see a breath broken because of them!" Spartacus said looking at Aurelia who seemed to have finally understood that he would never want to kill Varro.

“I know not everyone wanted it! But now it is done and there is no going back! Go your way or join us ...... and together ...... we will make Rome tremble!" Spartacus shouted, supported by the excited shouts of everyone else.

The hour of revenge had arrived!

Notes:

Love blossoms and is hindered!
Spartacus' fame grows!
Revenge also feeds the actions of the Romans.
Who appreciates Ilizia?
Did you think I forgot Ariadne? No! Who remembered it?
Getting their relationship into a difficult situation will make it special!
Spartacus knows he must favor Azrael's support, but he does not try to forge a bond!
It's right?
What do you think?
War is just beginning!
Comments and suggestions are welcome!
See you soon,
X-98
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