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STRENGTH ~ LOVE ~ HONOR
A TRILOGY
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by D. Hazel c2002 |
by C. Palmer c2001 |
by D. Hinson c2001 |
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"My Heart and My Strength" |
Where does a woman's duty lie? |
"The day is over.." |
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Every generation has its heroes. On May 5, 2000, we met a man who in pausing to admire a robin perched on a tree limb endeared himself to us in a way we wouldn't fully realize until later… much later.
Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North and General of the Felix Legions would become our hero.
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PrologueMy name is Selene Cecaelia Meridia and I am the wife of a soldier of Rome. Still. Always.
My father was a farmer and I grew up in a happy loving home. As a child I was free to run wild in my father's fields. I knew nothing of politics. I knew nothing of the Roman Empire… or Caesar.
I was nearly 14 when I ran terrified to my mother afraid I was dying, she told me I was a woman now. She tried to make me understand that this new thing was a blessing, for it meant I soon would be married, I could only think of it as a curse. Married women were old and didn't have any fun and I wept for the carefree days of childhood. I was heartbroken and my first impulse was to run away but a woman's duty is to her family and so I put away my short tunics and dressed in attire more fitting my new status.
One day my father informed me my wedding would take place the following year. I was to marry the son of my father's cousin. My father told me my fiancé had recently gained the rank of Centurion and as such could now enter into a legal marriage. Up until that day, I had not known I had a fiancé and now I was to prepare for a wedding to someone I had never met.
Maximus Decimus Meridius and I were married on a glorious day in Junius. Marcus Aurelius was enjoying the eleventh year of his reign and we thought he would live forever. I met my husband for the first time on my wedding day, as was the custom in my country. His face was stern and unsmiling as my father placed my hand in his. We recited our vows to the assembled guests and then turned to face each other. I trembled in the presence of this man dressed in a magnificent uniform of crimson wool. His cuirass of burnished bronze was simple with only a wolf's head decoration adorning the spot directly over his heart. The wolf gave me comfort but I could not lift my eyes to those of my husband. Time seemed to stand still until he placed a single finger under my chin and with almost no pressure lifted my face to his. The stern look was gone as I met blue-green eyes sparkling from an inner fire. His left eyebrow lifted as if in question and the Cupid's bow that was his mouth was transformed into a smile that could only come from the gods. All doubt and fear were gone as I met his smile with one of my own.
I surrendered my heart to Maximus on that day and I did not cry when we learned he would soon return to his Legion and to his Emperor. I would do my duty to Rome and to my husband. I did not weep because he was leaving the seed of his child within me and I knew he would return.
He always did.
»« Epilogue
My name is Selene Cecaelia Meridia and I am, and always will be, the wife of a soldier of Rome.
I was with my husband as he said his prayers that last evening in Vindobona.
and even when he thought he had lost me, I was there.
I remained quiet until those last dark days in Rome when I understood he needed to experience peace and although I never blamed him for what happened, I gave him the forgiveness he felt he needed. I felt a peace come over him and with a final tender kiss, he was able to give himself permission to live.
Maximus, my heart, my love. I was with you in the arena where I gave you the last essence of my being. And now… with the healing of your body and the healing of your heart, I can truly say goodbye. You have found love again. Lucilla, his heart is with you now. Keep it safe. I held his past… you hold his future.
Strength and honor… and love. Always love.
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