A/N: So I haven't uploaded anything in a long time, but I believe I am finally getting back into the game. This is one of the better pieces I have written lately, full of romance and drama set in the world of the movie Pompeii of which I own nothing (except a bluray/digital copy but that's beside the point). I am merely taking artistic liberty with the characters the writers so lovingly supplied to us.

Please be patient and non-judgmental as you read the rest of this author's note.

This story has a similar premise to one already existing on this site. I have discussed at length with the author of that story, and they have given me their blessing to upload it here anyway. I am not plagiarizing their story, as mine will being going in a different direction and be a bit darker, I believe. You can ignore this story if you wish, but I hope you won't because I am extremely proud of it.

Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy the story.

Edited: 5/31/18

Chapter I: A Look as if in a Dream

She was grateful to Ariadne for pulling her away from that awkward conversation, but Cassia wondered what had gotten into her friend. She was acting very strange as she pulled Cassia along.

"Look over there," Ariadne jerked her head to indicate the direction she meant.

Cassia looked up and her breath caught in her throat. There was the slave that had been finding his way into her thoughts since the day before, standing on a short pedestal, put on display as entertainment for the ladies. A few were fondling his arms, or caressing his chest. Heat rose on Cassia's cheeks as she thought to herself,

What would he feel like under my fingers?

The heat suffused her complexion even more when the trainer forced him to turn and his eyes caught hers.

Cassia quickly looked down at her feet, embarrassed by the thoughts running through her head; she barely heard what Ariadne was saying to her. She glanced back up at him through her lashes, a small smile formed when she saw he was still looking at her. Trying to keep her thoughts under control, Cassia kept looking at her feet, but the power of his gaze kept pulling hers back.

The Pompeiian girl was sad that he was here though, it confirmed what she had speculated when she first saw him, that he was a gladiator bound for the games on the morrow. Cassia was worried that he would die before she even learned his name.

Suddenly a mad thought struck her.

What if I bought him?

As his owner, she would be able to keep him from fighting and dying in the arena, could keep him near her, get to know him.

As soon as that thought hit her though, her father came and swept her away to the balcony, saying her presence had been requested by a guest. She kept eye contact with the slave for as long as possible, watching his expression fall a little as she walked out of his sight. Cassia was less than thrilled to discover the guest in question was Senator Corvus, the main reason she had left Rome. She left as soon as she had spent as much time with him as she could bear and was out of the room and making her way to where the gladiators were on display.

She walked up to the portly man, Graecus, master of the gladiators, picking up Ariadne again on the way. She kept asking what had happened, but Cassia waved her off, she did not want to think about the Senator at the moment.

"Master Graecus," he turned to face Cassia, a wan smile on his face.

"Lady Cassia, I do not normally have the pleasure. What can I do for you?" His voiced oozed grossly in her ears, and she suppressed a shudder.

"You own this man, correct?" She asked, pointing to the slave who was still staring at her, though now it was mostly in confusion.

"Yes, I d-" Cassia didn't even let him finish.

"Would you be willing to sell him to me?" The expression on his face was shock and confusion. She briefly glanced at the slave in question and saw that his gaze had hardened, and he was looking at her with disgust. She kept the hurt from her expression and channeled it into determination as she glared Graecus down.

"My lady, he is but a savage who has been nothing but a gladiator his whole life, I am told. What need would you have of him?" He was looking pompous now, seeming to have found a way out.

"I have seen the way he is with horses. My horse trainer, Felix, disappeared last night during one of the tremors, and my horse came back without him this morning. I wish for this man to look after my horse." Cassia looked at the slave again, a pleading look in her eyes to try and make him understand.

"I am afraid this man, known only as the Celt, is set to fight single combat against my champion, Atticus, to close the games tomorrow, my lady. I cannot spare him." Graecus bowed slightly, not wishing to meet Cassia's burning gaze.

"I can assure you that you will be well compensated for what this slave is worth, you will find someone to take his place in the arena, I am sure of it." Cassia could see that it would be difficult to persuade Graecus, he was unmoved. "Shall I fetch my father, then? I am sure he will listen to me, if you will not." She had turned and was about to tell Ariadne to fetch her father, when Graecus gently took hold of her arm.

"I am sure there is no need for that, Lady Cassia. Let's discuss a price shall we? I have heard you brought many goods back from Rome." He led Cassia away, and she could feel the burning eyes of the Celt on her back as she walked. She glanced over her shoulder and caught his gaze with hers. It was almost as if his eyes were speaking to her. The look in his eyes was one she could immediately understand.

You're no different from the rest of them.

Just as she had finished negotiating prices with Graecus, the ground began to shake beneath their feet. Cassia heard a woman scream, plates and pottery smashing; she looked back over to the Celt and he seemed more anxious and confused than afraid. He glanced at her, and she thought she saw concern, but his gaze was drawn to the window that he and the other gladiators were placed near. It was then that she heard the frantic whinnying and neighing of the horses.

Cassia ran to the window and saw the grooms struggling, trying to hold the stable doors closed. One of the horses must have broken its lead in its fright. She looked up at the Celt. He glared down at her, almost as if he was daring her to order him like all the other masters and trainers. She stared right back at him, not caring about the scrutinizing looks she was receiving. Another frantic horse cry distracted them from their staring match.

"You do not have to go, but I fear the poor beast will hurt itself otherwise." Cassia glanced back up at him as she said this. He nodded his head and she led the way to the stables. She ordered the grooms away, after they informed her that it was Veras who had broken loose, and let him into the stable alone, as he had requested. The noble girl waited until the whinnying had died down before she went in. What she saw stunned her for a brief moment.

The Celt was sitting atop and riding Veras as if he belonged there.

"How did you do that?" Wonder and amazement laced in her voice.

"I asked him." He said this as if it was the simplest task in the world to calm a frightened horse about to bolt, and then hop on its back like he had done it a hundred times.

"You could ride, before you were a gladiator?" Cassia asked.

"I could ride before I could walk. My people were horsemen." He replied as he slowed to a stop in front of her. Cassia pet and rubbed the beast's nose as she stared up at the man.

"Were horsemen?" An inquisitive tone in her voice.

"My family were butchered by the Romans." A chill crept into his voice that hadn't quite been there earlier.

"I am so sorry." Cassia swallowed thickly around the emotion that statement brought upon her.

"Sorry? What would a Roman know of such things?" He asked, almost imperiously.

"I am not a Roman, I am a citizen of Pompeii." She replied determinedly.

"Then why do I see Rome's eagle everywhere I turn?" He leaned forward on the horse, his intense eyes focused on her.

"I am no part of that!" She nearly shouted as she said that. Cassia realized her behavior and quickly took hold of her temper, occupying herself with the horse in front of her. "After a year in Rome, I hoped never to see that eagle again. Yet here it is thrust into the soil outside my home. My father believes he can bargain with those animals." She shook her head slightly.

"My father," he spoke more gently now, and Cassia looked up, struck by his tone. "He would have killed every last one of them." The noble girl wasn't quite sure how to respond to that, so she settled for just gazing at his face. She was drawn into his eyes as he stared right back.

"Why did you buy me from him?"

"I do not like the idea of men killing each other for sport." She turned around and asked over her shoulder, "Are you unhappy with having been taken from the life of a gladiator?" Evading his real question and walking to sit on a bench. He followed her, getting off the horse.

"I haven't really known another life, but I wouldn't say I'm unhappy with the change. This is the first time in many years that I have truly felt like a Celt." He crouched on the ground in front of her and looked up at her face, Cassia turned away. "You never really answered my question."

"Like I said, I do not enjoy the games at the best of times, but I felt worse at the thought of seeing you fight in them tomorrow." She was struck by the thought that she didn't even know his name. She stood up and walked back to her horse, rubbing his nose affectinately. "I feel even worse yet, for I do not even know your name, except that you are called The Celt. Though, I am sure you have learned mine by now." Cassia looked down at her feet for a moment, but then glanced back up as she heard him walk up next to her.

"I have, my Lady Cassia." He bowed to her, but she could see the insincerity and mockery in the gesture. Though she knew any other woman in her position would feel offended, Cassia could feel the small smile that formed on her face. At the same time, she did not like to hear the honorific coming from his mouth. It made her think of Senator Corvus and all the other men that flung themselves at her.

The smile left her face at that thought, and he looked at her confused.

"I would feel more comfortable if you would call me Cassia, just Cassia." He looked puzzled, but nodded at her all the same. "What should I call you? Other than the Celt, of course." She took a step toward him, the distance between them closing quickly as he stepped towards her also.

"My name is Milo." He moved as if to brush her face and Cassia was prepared to step into his touch, when her father entered the yard. Cassia took a few quick steps back, flushing from the neck up. Milo just stood there for a moment, a little dumbstruck at what he had been about to do.

"Cassia, your presence is required to farewell the guests. It has been a trying evening for us all, please do not disappoint."

"Of course, Father, I shall be there in a moment." He nodded and left. She turned back to Milo, only to see that he had gone to take care of Veras, stabling and brushing him down for the night. Cassia watched him for a brief moment before walking over to him. She laid a hand on his shoulder and applied a light pressure, asking him to turn and face her.

"Yes, Lady Cassia?" She frowned at the honorific but let it go for now.

"I was wondering if you would care to follow me. I feel like I could use a little protection." Milo looked at her quizzically. "You see, my father invited almost every suitable bachelor in the city, who, over the course of this night, have either asked for my hand or asked if they could accompany me back to my bedchamber." His eyebrows rose at this. "Having a former gladiator as a bodyguard might be enough to deter them from asking anything else inappropriate while they are leaving."

"As you wish." She smiled at him, and he, briefly, returned the gesture, following her back into the villa.

Cassia stood next to her parents as they said farewell to their guests. Her mother had raised an eyebrow when she saw her daughter's 'shadow'. Cassia had waved her off whispering, "Later, Mother." She had then made one of those faces that every mother makes at their daughter at some point in their life when men are involved. Her father barely even noticed he was there at all. Milo appeared a little uncomfortable just standing there, a little ways behind Cassia, but not as much as when he was put on display earlier in the evening.

Several of the unmarried men who her father invited took one look at Milo, who glared at anyone who came too close to Cassia, only nodded briefly at Cassia and walked, as quickly as they could politely get away with, out of the villa. Cassia almost laughed out loud as she saw one of them men, who had been trying to get her to spend the night with him, gulp and not even nod, he just ran.

Unfortunately, the last guest to leave was Senator Corvus, the real reason that Cassia had asked Milo to act as her bodyguard for the evening. Cassia had hoped that having a gladiator standing next to her looking intimidating would deter him from speaking to her. Unfortunately, the senator was not so easily frightened. He didn't even seem to notice Milo at all, or her parents for that matter, as he walked straight up to Cassia, taking her hand. She felt Milo stiffen behind her, his breath coming in short bursts, as if he was having a hard time remaining calm. Proculus, the senator's second in command, noticed this and stared at him in confusion.

"I hope to see you tomorrow at the games, Lady Cassia. I believe I have a proposition you will not be able to refuse." His smile turned a little sinister as he bent to kiss her hand, and Cassia had to suppress a shudder of disgust.

"We will see about that, Senator Corvus." Cassia replied, ice in her tone. She wanted the Senator gone as soon as possible, and not just because he repulsed her. Cassia wanted to ask Milo what was causing him such distress. The Senator's sinister smile stayed in place as he spun on his heel and made for the gate.

"I hope to see those ledgers tomorrow, Severus." He didn't even turn his head to look at her father as he said this. Cassia finally turned her head to look at Milo. He shook with a barely contained rage, his eyes, filled with animosity, firmly fixed on the retreating backs of the Senator and Proculus. Cassia stayed outside, telling her parents she needed some fresh air after her encounter and that they should go inside. Her mother whispered in her ear as she walked by.

"I would like to hear the story behind this in the morning, Cassia." The girl nodded and then waited for her mother to fully enter the villa.

Cassia put a hand on Milo's arm, and he started, jumping out of reach and pulling his fists up. When he saw who she was, he instantly dropped them and looked guilty. He mumbled an apology and sat on one of the steps, keeping his head down, looking at his hands. She walked to stand in front of him. He stubbornly kept his gaze on his hands.

"We can talk now, or we can talk tomorrow, but I do want an answer for your actions." His head shot up, a betrayed look in his eyes. "I'm not upset," she assured quickly. "Just a little worried, and confused." A relieved expression passed over his face and he let his head fall once again. They remained there, in silence, for a few moments until Cassia decided he would need a little time.

"I think we should talk tomorrow after a night's rest, don't you think?" She hesitantly laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked back up at her, grasping her hand and pulling it from his shoulder.

"I can agree to that." Then he stood up and kissed her hand. Cassia flushed and shuddered again, but not out of disgust and she definitely did not suppress it. Milo smirked as he walked back to the stables, leaving Cassia sitting on the stairs alone in her thoughts. She remained seated and stared at her hand for a few moments trying to compose herself, before she went inside.

What neither Milo nor Cassia knew was that they had been watched, the entire time, by two separate parties with very different motivations.

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