The stillness of the night is interrupted by the sound of a single pair of booted feet upon the worn stones of the corridor. Maximus sits in his cell wondering at life and the circumstances that put him here, slave, and gladiator in the empires greatest city. Once a Free citizen with lands and a title, one of the most powerful generals in the Legion, now forced to fight for his life or bleed to death on the sands, laughed at by those who come for the sport. “It shall never happen,” Maximus, vows to himself. The booted feet draw near, at least this is different.
A guard appears at the cell door “You, move over to the wall!” the guard orders. The guard opens the gate and drops chains to the floor. He then backs out and re locks the gate. “Put those on I shall be right back”. Maximus goes to the pile and picks out the shackles; he notices that they are single metal cuffs at either end of twenty feet of chain. Maximus Pauses in thought, it means he has a visitor. He secures the cuffs into place and the guard returns, opens the door, and with a small hammer bangs the pin into place.
Maximus gathers up the chain in his arms and walks out the cell door. He doesn’t try to fight or run, the coliseum is far to well guarded and he bears the guard no malice, he is just doing his job. After quite a walk Maximus is ushered into a large room. The guard opens a shackle on the wall and places the center of the chain inside it before securing it. Maximus is confined to the space ten feet from that shackle, if the chains are pulled taut, his back to the wall.
Maximus looks around and sees two brass braziers in the corners, flames leap and dance upon them providing the soft ruddy bronze light. There is a large wooden x to which one may be shackled and beaten. Sometimes the rich like to purchase a Gladiator and beat them to death to feel more powerful, Maximus worries not, his value is far to high after winning his match today to be used in such a fashion.
The scent of lilacs interrupts his thoughts. He looks up just in time to witness beauty slip into the room. A woman, middle aged but of uncommon beauty stands in the doorway. She wears the finest of cloth and has scented skin denoting great wealth. Maximus continues to sit against the wall. “Do you know who I am Slave?” she barks out imperiously. Maximus looks her dead in the eye, then looks away unconcerned. Unperturbed she continues, “I am Helen, wife to Senator Claudius, president of the Senate’s primary council. I am one of the most powerful Matrons in Rome and could easily afford your life if I desired to take it. Now stand and approach!”
Reluctantly, Maximus gets to his feet, He walks forward until the chain draws tight, then leans forward slightly arms back to either side pulling the chain tight, His muscled chest well defined in firelight and shadow. Helen approaches him and takes a small, stoppered bottle and drizzles scented oil upon his chest. Her cool porcelain skin hesitates just a second before she starts to rub the oil into his chest. “Some Matrons pay exorbitant amounts to be serviced by the most powerful gladiators, I however do not. I get no thrill from making the powerful submit. My orders are followed everyday. ” she quietly states. Working her way down she starts to rub his leg muscles as well. The oils cause a sheen upon his skin that greatly enhances his bronze coloring.