text: I looked to the emperor as he sat upon his throne in the balcony that encompassed the arena. My opponent standing feet away from me as we awaited the single word that would begin our battle. "Begin," the emperor said with a wave of his hand. Immediately he was upon me, a hulking man with a trident and a net. The first thrust of his weapon was fast, but not quite fast enough. It glanced off of the top of my shoulder carving a gash that would surely scar. Another to add to the collection. I raised my shield and quickly batted the the pole-arm to the side and moved in to close the distance between us. I couldn't allow him to keep me at bay. As i stepped pass the lethal range of his trident I sent my sword jabbing towards his gut. He made a quick step backwards but the point of my Gladius had bit in no more than an inch, just a sting to a man such as this. With a quick twirl of the mans trident I found myself again being pushed back do to my lack of range. I was frustrated, angry that I couldn't pass the Retiarius's guard. I fucking hate those that practice the style of the Retiarius. We circled each other like caged beasts and in essence that's exactly what we were. Animals forced to fight as people paid to come and watch us savage monsters. Give them a show and get rewarded. Don't...and well you die. The sweat pooled at my brow, thankfully not dripping into my eyes as it caught on the inner lip of my helmet. An aggressive thrust again came towards me and I stepped to the side to avoid the three sharp prongs. *Shit.* I saw it but it was too late, I had committed to the side step. With his other hand the Retiarius whipped his net at my moving feet catching my left foot. He grinned as he ripped my feet out from under me sending me sprawling to my back. *Move, Move.* I rolled quickly to my right as the trident slammed down where I was previously positioned. *His leg is over extended, that's my opening.* I quickly, from the ground slashed at his knee as I rolled to my feet still tangled in his damned net, but my aim was true and my Gladius split his knee cap in half. He fell to the floor with a scream that pierced the heavens as he clutched his knee and dropped his weapon. I shambled as quickly as my tangled legs would allow. Moving behind the Retiarius and pulling his head up by his hair, my blade firm against his neck I looked towards the emperor who leaned over the rails with his thumb positioned towards the side. "KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!" The crowd roared deafeningly. The emperor looked around the stands of the coliseum and nodded in agreement and with that he turned his hand to the thumbs down position. I swiftly pulled my blade across the mans throat and as he gargled his own blood the crowd cheered louder. They are the monsters not I. After undoing the net at my feet I walked over to the northern part of the arena, the closest to the balcony where I stood with my sword across my chest in salute. The emperor saluted me in return and nodded his head as he turned and moved to make way to his seat and that is when I saw her. The love of my life who i had thought i would never see again. She was sitting at a seat next to him and i was frozen. Motionlessly staring at her as she smiled and sipped a glass of what I could only guess to be red wine. Her favorite. She turned her head and met my gaze, her eyes narrowed at me, the went wide as the realization struck. She dropped her wine and it spilled on her white dress staining it the same color as the blood that stained the sands. "Gladiator! Move it!" a guard called to me from the gate snapping me from my shock. I made way to the wrought iron gate and found myself at my small cell. I don't really remember walking there. I was a prized fighter in the eyes of the emperor and as thus was allotted my own cell away from the other gladiators when we weren't training. As I doffed the few pieces of armor I wore my brain racked itself of what had just happened. It felt fake, like a dream i would soon wake up from. The last time I had seen Ophelia was years ago, the day i was drug off in chains for a murder i didn't commit. The only reason i was allowed the option to become a gladiator was because of my noble status. My family was a low tier noble house. Often forgotten about and hardly known but Noble none the less. *How is she here? How? How? How?* I thought to myself as I sat on the small bed, tears beginning to well in my eyes. The blood from my wound streamed down my chest and pooled at my feet but still my body felt numb. I must have sat there for hours because when the guard knocked on my cell door sliding open the small slit to look in it was dark. "Dascus, you have a visitor, " he called in to me. The slit was slid closed and the jingle of keys was audible as he unlocked the door and a figure walked in wearing a dark cloak that shaded the wearers face. The cell door was closed and locked again. The figure walked closer and pulled down the hood. There she was before me the one i had though to never see again. Soft curls fell around her face and on her lips was a sad smile and from her beautiful eyes fell a tear that even in the dim light sparkled like a diamond. "I never thought I would see you again, How are you here? Why?" I said to her, my voice breaking and body shaking from the emotion that swelled within me like the black storms that rolled off the coast. With that she rushed towards me and my muscled tensed from reflex but she gently cupped my face in her hands and kissed me lightly, the way the wings of a butterfly get caught on the wind. The wound on my shoulder began to close as I tightly embraced her and that's how we sat for some time. I was lost in her touch, in her smell. Like honey and lemons. "My father wishes me to marry him" she said as i felt her sob in my arms. She sat next to me on the bed and leaned her head on my shoulder my arms still embracing her fully. "Ophelia, he is a monster you cant marry him," I said softly. *You were meant for me.* I thought to myself as I closed my eyes to hold back the flood of tears. **There is another version i have that is longer with an alternate ending.