Ancient Romance

Written by Michie | Illustrations by Jeanine Lee | Layout by Dana Dixon, Shay Suban

It was thought in Ancient Rome that if gay soldiers fought with their lovers that they would fight harder to protecttheir significant others, giving the Roman army a better chance at winning. The following is a short historical fiction, aromantic story of two Roman warriors heading to war and fighting together valiantly.

Aurelius drew his sword and with a quick glance at his love, Cato, he rushed forward with a bloodcurling cry. Hurling his full body at the enemy coming ahead, his sword sliced open the opposing soldiers armor with ease, taking down men with a single precise stroke. His skill, his valor, would keep him alive.

With a nervous step forward, Cato followed his soul; shield clutched against his body knowing only one true thing – he had to protect Aurelius if something were to happen. He rushed forward, spear in hand and fought by his lover’s side. Both men, becoming stronger purely by the knowledge that the other was there and that each other’s life were condemned to the sand inside a broken hourglass.

The men around them began to fall more quickly. Their century had been taken by surprise, and the unespecting enemy army continued to grow in numbers. Yet, Aurelius and Cato stood strong, maintaining few wounds through battle. The sun had finally gone to sleep, and the stars took over the night. The drums continued; the battle cries louder than ever.

Then, the sky rained fire upon the men. Dozen upon dozens of lights came crashing down and while holding his shield above him for protection, Aurelius left himself open for attack. An invading man slashed towards Aurelius but was stopped by a dagger slash from Cato. The man fell to the ground with a thud, and Aurelius lowered his shield to stare at his heroic partner.

Through grasped breaths, Cato affirmed his forever promise, “I will always protect you.”

But the fire still rained from the sky, and Cato fell to his knees; an arrow protruding through his chest, and blood pouring from his mouth.

For a moment, the world was silent as Aurelius watched Cato take in his last breath. A weight dropped in his chest knowing he could do nothing, absolutely nothing to keep the last sand of time from falling through the cracks in their story. He swelled with anger, crying towards the sky in complete and utter fury, cursing the earth, the gods, and the heavens for what they had done.

Aurelius threw his shield over Cato. The Romans were vastly out numbered, but Aurelius refused to let anything more happen to Cato. With sword in hand he fought with a fire in his heart brighter than the sun’s light on a mid summers day. While the men around him shouted “FOR ROMA! FOR THE CITY! FOR THE GODS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH,” Aurelius could only believe in his spirit for his love.

“FOR CATO!” He howled “FOR MY SOUL! FOR HIS HEART,” and he fought, and fought... and fought... protecting his lovers body until the number of enemy soldiers vastly overtook the Romans, and Aurelius had been struck down too many times. His sword began to splinter, becoming duller with every blow.

At last, a final strike to the mid chest caused Aurelius to come crashing down to earth. He lost grip of his sword, bleeding out, gasping for air, a taste of iron lingering in his mouth. He dropped a few feet from where Cato was laying, and with his remaining strength, pulled himself over to him, barely being able to, but succeeding in grasping his loves hand.

Staring at his lover, he rejoiced in the life they spent together. The family they created; the joys that they shared; their walks through the meadows in search of a quiet place to lay their heads after a long days work. He recounted the melodies the two would whistle to each other, and he began to hum, drowning out the noises of war. Softly he sung his lullaby to him and his other half. Slowly binding their souls once again as the world went black and silent.