I've been listening to the Gladiator soundtrack and it inspired me to write some more for this story so enjoy :)

Chapter Quote:
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
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Chapter 3

Kiara 

I strolled through the gardens with Zelina and Penthea.  The former explained the workings here, saying it was quite similar to that of Athens and that it shouldn't be too difficult for me to adjust.  The news was welcome for it had been one of my many worries.

"When will our wedding take place?" I inquired, wondering if she knew anything about that.

"Funny you should ask that.  I've heard that they may be postponing it," Zelina replied.

"What for?" I dared not let my hope that this wedding might be cancelled show through.  Had there been some falling out?  Would I be able to go home?  Would I possibly be allowed to marry Agathon after all?

"I'm not sure to be honest.  I've only heard rumors about it from the other workers."

"Your highness!" A voice called out.  The three of us turned around.  Julian strode over to us in full armor.  The sight of the general was welcome.  He always seemed cheerful whenever he spoke to me.  Whether that was his regular demeanor or if he just was pleasant to me, I didn't know, but it was sincerely appreciated.  We gave each other the proper formality greetings before he said, "I've been instructed to escort you to the throne room.  Your presence and Kyrian's is both requested by your parents and his.  Zelina, Penthea, I must ask that you do not accompany us.  King's orders."

"Understood.  Princess, we will meet you in your room after the meeting is done," Zelina said.

"I will see you soon, and how many times do I have to tell you to call me Kiara?" I mused.  The servant smiled.  Both girls curtsied and left.  Julian held out his arm and I looped mine through his.

"Do you know what this summoning is for?" I asked.

"Yes, actually, and I'm not sure if you will consider it good or bad news.  I guess it could be seen either way.  But I'm not allowed to say anything.  How are you today, your highness?" Julian responded, looking down at me.  He was as tall as Kyrian and almost, if not as handsome, as Kyrian.

"I'm doing well.  I'm enjoying my last few days of freedom before Alcina takes me into training on how to become a 'proper Thracian princess.'  What about you, sir?"

"Do you want the truthful answer or the answer that won't bore you?" he laughed.

"Truthful one," I said immediately.

The Thracian warrior sighed. "There's been a sighting of the Roman army heading towards one of our newly captured territories.  Kyrian and I are heading out soon to meet them with an army of our own.  I'm afraid you'll have to be away from your prince for a while."

"I can manage.  You'd be surprised by how independent I am.  How long will you two be gone?"

"About a month, maybe three weeks depending on how fast we ride and how long the battle takes.  Reports are that the army is small, less than three thousand, but we're not taking any chances.  We're taking ten-thousand men.  It should be an easy win, but we're still cautious.  Actually the caution comes from my part.  The strength mostly from Kyrian."

"You will win," I told him. "I'm sure of it."

"You have a lot of faith in people you hardly know," he pointed out.

"I've heard too many stories about the two of you to believe otherwise." Julian smiled at me as we reached the throne room doors.  Upon entering, I was greeted by my parents first, then Kyrian's father.  My future husband was still not there.  Agathon was there, but since he was my father's right-hand man, it was no surprise.  Just as Julian's was Kyrian's, Julian was able to remain here as well.

"Would you like to wait for Kyrian to arrive before we tell you the news or would you like for us to tell you now?" King Alkis queried.

"Wait for Kyrian," I answered. "If he's to be my husband, we shall hear news together."

"I'm here!" The Thracian prince announced, jogging into the room. "Apologies, there was a tiff in the practice arena I needed to take care of."

"Glad you could make it.  Well, I guess we should get straight to the topic of discussion: your wedding has been postponed," Kyrian's father announced.

Both my fiancé and I were speechless.  The first thought in my mind was the possibility that something had fallen through, that I wasn't going to marry him, and that my chances of marrying Agathon had increased.  The second thought was what had happened to cause our parents to postpone it?  Surely it was something serious?

"May I ask why?" Kyrian piped up.

It was my father who answered. "Seeing as how the two of you were quite against this marriage, we thought it might be a good idea for you two to get to know each more before you two tie the knot.  After all, Kiara, you will be expected to bear children quite soon after." I felt sick at the mention of it.  My eyes flitted to Kyrian; we made eye contact, blushed, and looked away from each other.  At least I wasn't the only one embarrassed and uncomfortable by the comment. "Furthermore, Kyrian will be leaving for a month to stop a Roman attack on one of Thrace's holdings, therefore he won't be here for about a month.  With him leaving in two days, that's hardly time to plan a wedding.  You two will be given five months to officially acquaint yourselves, which we expect you to do so.  This marriage is still on, just postponed.  I suggest you both make the most of it."

"Yes, father," I said, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible.

"Yes, sir," Kyrian repeated, bowing his head. "Thank you."

"You're both dismissed," King Alkis remarked.  I walked out as calmly as I could, but once out of sight of my parents and Kyrian, I bolted.  I didn't know where I was going, I just knew I wanted to go to the stables.  I wanted to see Arsen.  I wanted to groom him; it calmed me down, allowed me to think rationally.

Somehow I managed to get there without coming across anybody.  Arsen was chewing on some hay when I saw him.  He nickered softly, as if sensing my distress.  It wasn't that I was upset about the marriage being postponed; it was the idea of bearing children so soon that made me ill.  It scared me.  I wasn't ready to be a mother yet.  Did Kyrian even want children?  Would he be a good father?  These kinds of thoughts raced through my mind as I grabbed a comb and began detangling Arsen's mane.  I didn't hear the footsteps approaching the stall until someone cleared their throat.  It was Agathon.

"Are you okay?  I saw you running," he explained.

"I thought no one saw me..." I grumbled.  Knowing it was useless to hide my feelings, I explained, "I'm not upset about the whole marriage being postponed.  In fact I'm glad that I have a chance to get to know Kyrian better, but what my father said about the whole 'bearing children' thing... it makes me sick to think about.  I'm not ready to be a mother, let alone have children with a man I'm being forced to marry."

"Your father is giving me the option to stay here and become your servant or go back with him."

"What are you leaning towards?"

"Obviously I want to stay with you.  I've practically grown up with you, watched you become the woman you are today, fell in love with the woman you are, but you are not mine, and the thought of not having you belong to me kills me."

"I belong to no one, Agathon.  I may get married, I could be captured and made a slave, but I'm not an object.  I'm not a prize to be won.  I'm a person.  Physically I may belong to someone, but my heart will always be my own, no one else's."

He smiled at me. "Does Kyrian know how spirited you are?"

"No, but I'm sure he's figuring out or will.  He's smart."

Agathon came up behind me.  I turned to face him. "Kiara, I can't watch you marry him.  I'm going to go back with your father.  I'll stay until the wedding, and I'll be there to help you every step of the way, but I can't stay here afterwards and see you become another man's wife.  I lied to you and myself a few weeks ago, saying if I thought I could help you rule, I'd marry you in a heartbeat.  In truth, I'd marry you in a heartbeat no matter what the circumstances."

I hadn't realized that I'd been backing up until my back hit the stable wall.  Agathon placed his hands in my hair, touching his forehead against mine.  My heart sped up but I tried to keep my breathing calm.

"I'll miss you," I breathed, knowing fully well that I should not kiss him, not now that I was engaged to Kyrian, but the temptation.  Oh the temptation was practically irresistible...

"I'll miss you too.  And Kiara, if I did stay, if you did not want your children to be Kyrian's, I would gladly-"

My eyes snapped up to his, knowing where he was going with this. "Agathon, he and I are both blonde.  If you and I had a child together, the chances of it being blonde are slim.  Then Kyrian would wonder who was the father and I know he'd trace it back to you.  You would be executed and I would be banished if the Fates were kind.  No, I will bear only Kyrian's."

"I understand, my princess," he whispered.  Giving me a kiss on the forehead, he said, "I must go.  If you need me, you know where I am."

I listened to him walk away, calming my beating heart.  What was I getting myself into?  With Kyrian gone and Agathon here, we could always sneak around... but the idea was repulsive to me.  I was worried about Kyrian being unfaithful to me.  I didn't want to be the same way.  I was not going to a hypocrite.

"Kiara?" I jumped from surprise.  Kyrian stood there, looking almost shy.

"Kyrian," I said, curtsying.

"You don't have to curtsy to me when it's just the two of us.  You're going to be my wife, we shouldn't have those formalities."

"As you wish."

A pained expression flashed briefly on his face. "I wanted to speak with you about what your father said."

At this, I felt my face redden.  I didn't want to speak about this, but I knew there was no way around it, so I approached it with humor.  Chuckling, I said, "My family has a knack for embarrassing me."

Kyrian stood next to me and began brushing Arsen's side while I continued to comb my horse's mane.  An understanding smile appeared on my fiancé's face. "I can relate.  My father has a nasty habit of that as well.  I don't want to make things any more awkward between us, but about what your father said, about having children right after we get married... I don't want you to feel pressured by that.  I won't let your father or mine pressure you into doing so.  I can't stop this marriage, but I can make it a little more bearable for you."

"Do you want children?"

"At some point, but not as soon as our parents want us to.  I'm not ready to be a father yet."

I smiled at him. "Another thing we can relate to.  I'm not ready to become a mother."

"I'm glad we're on the same page then.  Another thing... I won't force you to have children with me.  And if you want children but don't want mine, we could always go with Agathon's plan."

If it hadn't been for Arsen standing in front of me, I'm pretty sure I would've collapsed from sheer panic. "You heard all that?"

"I came to brush my horse.  I heard you two speaking.  I did not mean to eavesdrop, I promise." An uncomfortable silence followed for a few minutes.  I didn't know what to say.  I felt horrible. "Did he kiss you when he left?"

"Just on the forehead.  Even if he tried to kiss me on the lips, I would've stopped him.  He is not my fiancé.  He is not my future husband.  The only man I'll willingly let kiss me is you.  My feelings towards you, positive or negative, will not affect my faithfulness to you."

"What are your feelings towards me, if you do not mind my asking?" Kyrian questioned.

"Certainly not negative, I can assure you.  I don't know you well, Kyrian.  It's hard to judge someone after only knowing them for a few days." Facing him, I added gently though, "But from what I've observed, you're a good man.  And please, forgive me for what happened between me and Agathon.  I had no idea he was-"

Kyrian took my hand in his, shocking me into silence. "I promise when I get back, I will spend all my free time getting to know you and allowing for you to know me.  As for the matter with Agathon, he has been in love with you for years, and you him.  I cannot change that, but if you two do become lovers, just make sure you two are not caught.  It will mean death for him and banishment for you."

"Are you condoning this behavior between us?"

"No.  In all honesty, I wish he weren't here.  I fear he will prevent us from knowing each other better.  But I told you earlier that I can't stop this marriage, but I can make it more bearable.  If... if having him here as your lover will make you happy, then so be it."

"You are not like most princes, Kyrian of Thrace," I commented.

At this, Kyrian laughed. "It drives my father mental."

"Your offer is appreciated, but I will not do that to you.  I will find other ways of being happy.  Grooming my horse, for example, is one of those ways.  I'm strong.  I will be okay.  Agathon will go back with my father, I will make sure of it, and he will not prevent me from getting to know my future husband."

"He certainly fell in love with a wonderful woman.  I cannot blame him for being in love with you."

"Don't tell him that.  He might think he has a chance with me," I joked.

My fiancé chuckled. "We wouldn't want that.  I must be off.  There are preparations to be made before I leave." He brushed a strand of hair out of my face. "Are you sure you'll be all right with me gone?"

"Yes, I will be fine.  I have my parents, I have Penthea, I have Zelina, and I have Agathon.  I will be fine.  Plus Alcina will be teaching me the ropes around here, so I'll be quite busy."

"I suppose you will.  I will not see you after this.  My job will keep me out of the castle.  Another reason I wanted to speak with you.  I wanted to say goodbye."

"It will seem like no time at all before you're back.  I've never really been good with saying farewell to men going off to battle.  My mother always told my father and brother to be careful, but I feel like that doesn't suffice to say to my fiancé."

Kyrian smirked. "What would suffice, my princess?"

I thought about it for a moment, looking up as if the gods would give me an answer.  Slowly, I replied, "Just... just come back to me, okay?"

"Okay." He paused before leaning towards me and kissing me on the brow. "I will see you in a month."

"I look forward to it."

The prince slipped his hand from mine and disappeared.  My heart ached.  I wasn't sure what from though.  His kindness had been touching so maybe that was it.  And if he remained to be the man he was just now once we were married, then perhaps, just maybe, I might fall in love with him.
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I really wanted Agathon and Kiara to kiss because I'm actually kind of shipping them at the moment but I still love Kyrian too much to do that to him.  SO, please review :)