Tibi welcomed her. She led Dora to a table near the smallest of the garden’s three fountains. “I’ve looked forward to our meeting.”
“Not half as much as I have, I promise you. So many rumors about Alexius and his bevy of women, but not once did he bring a woman to the thermopolium to meet us or share a meal with him. The day he does…” She clapped her hands. “I had to go to the market. That will teach me to stay home, no?”
“He never brought anyone before me?”
“Not one.”
Tibi smiled, remembering that he’d told her he only brought special women to his Greek oasis.
“I have something for you.”
“My panther?”
“Come and see.” Dora smiled.
Tibi followed the small woman into the entryway. A cage made of wood slats sat near the wall with a healthy black panther inside it. “He’s big, no?” asked Dora. “His eyes opened the day after you left. We think he must be seven or eight weeks old by now. He’s bigger than Iris, but she’s such a good mama she keeps feeding him.”
Tibi sank to her knees on the cool tiles beside the cage. “Is it safe to let him out?”
“Certainly. He’s a good boy. He thinks he’s a little king to be held, fed and played with all the hours of the day.”
Tibi undid the latch and allowed the cub to come to her on his own. “Did you name him?”
“We call him Pest, but you’ll find something better, no doubt.”
“He thinks he’s a little king, you say? Then I think I’ll call him Rex.”
Dora laughed. “Be careful. Alexius is Greek. Greek men think they are the only king in their house.”
Dora visited a little longer before having to return to the thermopolium to start preparations for the evening guests. Alexius arrived home from the Forum within moments of Dora’s departure. “You just missed her,” Tibi told him. “She is the kindest lady. She even brought Rex back to me.”
“Rex? I’m the only king in my house.”
She laughed.
“I’m serious.
She laughed again and told him what Dora said about Greek men. “Come here and see him.”
She took Rex from his cage, pleasantly surprised he let her hold him. He hissed at Alexius. Unconcerned, Alexius picked up the cub by the scruff of his neck. “She’s mine. Don’t forget it…Rex,” he sneered. “And we’ll get along fine.”
Laughing, Tibi wrapped her arms loosely around Alexius and grinned up at him. “She told me something I think will amuse you.”
He put Rex on the floor and gathered her close. “What is it?”
“She said I’m the only woman you ever brought to meet them.”
He shrugged.
“You said you’d brought a hundred ‘special’ women there.”
“No, you said that.”
“You let me think it was true.”
“You seemed to want to believe it. I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
She caressed his cheek. “You’ve never disappointed me yet.”
“Give it time.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “I’ll give you all the days of my life.”
He kissed her softly on the lips. “Good. That’s exactly how long I need.”
Epilogue
A week later, Tibi, Velus, Sergius and Leta awaited Alexius outside the gladiator entrance of the Coliseum. Rex was asleep in his cage on the elaborate silk pillow his aunt Adiona had given him. Because Pelonia and Adiona insisted their children be kept far away from the “Den of Torture,” as Pelonia referred to the amphitheater, their friends had decided to join Tibi and Alexius’s small band near the city gates.
The roar of the mob signaled the unchanging nature of Rome, but as far as Tibi and Alexius were concerned, nothing was the same. In the week since their wedding, all their wants had fallen into the place.
With a prayer of thanks for all her blessings, Tibi lifted her face heavenward and relished the sun’s warmth on her face. Today they embarked for Umbria and the future they’d thought unattainable, but that the Lord had made possible.
“The task is done.” The wagon swayed as Alexius climbed into the driver’s padded seat. He picked up the reins and released the brake with his foot. “The school’s charter has been returned to the Emperor. My men are released from their oath, and I’m officially no longer a gladiator or a lanista.”
To Tibi, he seemed free, buoyant even, as the wagon began to move. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Perhaps not,” she said, “but no matter what, you’ll always be my champion.”
He leaned over and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “And have no doubt, agape mou, you will always be my everything.”
Questions for Discussion
Due to a childhood filled with pain, Tibi’s self-worth is very low. How were you treated as a child and how does that treatment affect you today? If you were damaged, how has Christ made a difference in how you see yourself now?
Tibi ran away from her father’s threats. Her sister saw her act as rebellious. Alexius views her as courageous. The Bible teaches we’re to honor our parents. How do you see Tibi’s actions? Was she right to go against her father? What would you have done in her position? Why?
When Tibi first went to the Colosseum, she learned the gladiators were different than she believed them to be. Have you ever had preconceived notions about a person based on her occupation or circumstances and later found out she was more like you than you realized?
Alexius grew up in a happy, loving home, fairly insulated from tragedy. When tragedy struck, he reacted with violence. After he came to Christ, tragedy struck again, but he was able to react differently because of his new faith. Have you faced tragedy? How did you react? Were you a Christian? If not, do you think you would have acted the same or differently if you’d had Christ in your life?
Alexius had given up hope and accepted that his empty existence was all he’d have until the Lord changed him. How did your life change once you accepted Christ into your heart?
Because of her cousin’s example, Tibi believes in Christ. She resisted dedicating herself to Him because she knows her father will disapprove. Before you become a Christian, was there a person in your life that kept you from committing yourself to Him? Now that you are a Christian, how has your relationship with that person changed?
Alexius had seen the work of the Lord in the lives of his friends, but he feared his anger would keep him from being a true Christian. Once he gave his life to the Lord, he and his needs changed because the Lord was able to work in him. Was there something in your life that kept you from dedicating your heart to the Lord? After you became a Christian, how did that matter change in you?
Both Tibi and Alexius came to faith through the examples and testimonies of their friends. Was there someone in your life whose testimony and example helped influence you and bring you to the Lord?
Tibi and Alexius both needed acceptance, which they found in each other. But it wasn’t until they gave their hearts to Christ that their lives were complete. How did your life change once you accepted Christ? How did your new beliefs affect your relationships with your loved ones?
Alexius struggles with anger. All of us have an issue that we struggle against. What is/was your issue? Have you given your issue to the Lord? Did He help you or is He in the process of helping you overcome it?
For legal reasons, Alexius and Tibi believed they’d never be able to marry, but in an answer to prayer, a way appeared. Have you prayed for something you thought was impossible that the Lord helped you accomplish? How did He provide for you?
ISBN: 9781408951439
The Champion
© Carla Hughes 2011
First Published in Great Britain in 2011
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