The End of a Dynasty

by David Adkins

  She grinned and stood up and I stood up facing her. I put my arms around her and I kissed her long and deep, not caring one jot for my new found reputation.

  Teasing me, she slid out from under my arms. “I am going to the school to tell my father some good news and then I will return to Tibur. Until tomorrow night, Lucius, at my villa gladiatrix,” she said.

  “Until tomorrow night, Corelia,” I replied.

  I wandered around the streets of the great city for the next few hours because I did not wish to return immediately to the hustle and bustle of the palace. The world would never entirely know how Domitian died or exactly who was responsible for bringing the Flavian Dynasty to an end. I wanted to take in all that had happened in the past week, for my life had also changed dramatically in so many respects. I was now a senator and an aristocrat and I would probably soon have a wife who was still, even in retirement, one of the most famous women in Rome. It was a lot to absorb and I needed a while to myself to study the path forward. The city was as noisy as ever but I shut it out and considered my future. It all looked good and best of all my future, most likely, was with Corelia.

  Epilogue

  Tibur – Autumn AD96

  Much of the next day was spent in further discussions with the Empress and Drucilla about the future running of palace business, in which I would have a considerable input as Nerva’s time at the palace would be limited and he did not wish to concern himself with such mundane matters. The Empress would, of course, take the lead in this and I had to make it clear that I intended to spend a lot of my time at Tibur and that I would delegate much of this work to Drucilla and Maximus who would enjoy increased status.

  It was late afternoon when I set out for Tibur to attend my dinner date and I arrived in the early evening at Corelia’s villa full of hope and expectation. My mind had been in some turmoil since my meeting with Corelia on the grassy bank of the Tiber River. I had little doubt she would say yes to my marriage proposal but I should have insisted on an answer there and then, and my mind would have then been completely at rest.

  On arrival I was shown by a servant into the triclinium where there was a table set out with fruit and drink and three couches. Everybody stood as I walked into the room and Corelia came across and took my arm. She guided to me to one of the couches and then sat down next to me. Hylas and Aria sat on one of the other couches and a man and a woman I did not know sat on the third. “I thought you were not going to come,” smiled Corelia serenely.

  “The Empress detained me on palace business. It is all rather chaotic there at the moment after recent events,” I explained.

  “I should first introduce you to two good friends who are staying with us for a few days. They have come all the way from the grand city of Aquileia to be with us.”

  “I have passed through Aquileia and it is indeed a fine city,” I offered.

  Corelia continued. “This is Solanus Fuscus and his wife, Kotys.” They both smiled warmly at me.

  “I have heard much about you both,” I said.

  “I hope it was good,” Kotys replied.

  “I have an announcement to make,” said Corelia smiling. I thought it a little strange that she did not introduce me to them. They all smiled in return anticipating, as I did, some very good news. “I am to be the wife of a senator and aristocrat,” she declared. The news was indeed good.

  Solanus and Kotys looked surprised and Aria looked dumbfounded. Hylas on the other hand smiled and winked at me. “Congratulations,” he said.

  “Who is this senator?” asked Aria, raising her voice slightly.

  “It is Lucius Vicinianus and he is sitting at the table with us, Aria. I am to be the wife of a senator.” She turned to me. “I accept your proposal, Lucius. I needed a day to think about it, though my answer was never really in doubt because I love you.”

  “Why did you need to think about it?” I asked.

  “Being a senator’s wife brings with it responsibilities and I am also damaged goods, but you know that and it does not seem to bother you.”

  “You are not damaged, you are perfect and I love you,” I said with feeling which received spontaneous applause from around the table.

  “I still do not understand,” said Aria.

  Hylas answered his wife. “Parthenian is the nephew of the Empress. His family, an old aristocratic family were disgraced in the time of the Emperor Nero and had all rank and possessions taken from them. It seems our new Emperor has restored them and now he is Lucius Vicinianus.”

  “You knew all the time and did not tell me,” she accused.

  “He only told me a few days ago,” Hylas was on the defensive.

  “Wait till later, when we are on our own,” warned Aria, smiling. She turned to Corelia. “My dear friend I am so happy for you; so happy for both of you.

  “As are we,” said Kotys.

  Solanus nodded agreement. “We go back a long way, Corelia and I have much to thank you for. I wish you both a similar happiness to that which Kotys and I have enjoyed all these years.”

  “Now that is out of the way,” declared Corelia. “Let us eat and drink and be happy. My life has changed so much for the better and I want you all to share this joy with me.”

  The fruit and wine was followed by pork and venison dishes and we all talked of days gone by. We talked of the adventures of Solanus and Kotys in Dacia and Thrace and of the time spent in the east by Hylas and Aria. Then I told them of the great battle against the Sarmatians in which Lazyge women fought alongside their men folk, and Solanus talked of Tapae.

  I pondered over his description of the Battle of Tapae. “Domitian told the Lazyge that Roman armies were invincible but a Dacian Queen who was with them had the temerity to remind him of the defeat at Tapae.”

  “Who was that Queen?” asked Solanus.

  “Her name was Andrada,” I remembered.

  “Andrada once saved my life,” said Solanus and he remembered Andrada while I remembered Arite. but these people and these events were all from a different place and a different time.

  Hylas then spoke. “While you are talking about fighting women it is worth remembering that we have three of the best sitting at this table. Kotys, Aria and Corelia have all fought at the Colosseo and so I propose a toast.” He held up his cup of wine. “I propose a toast to the three beautiful gladiatrices at this table.”

  “Enough of this,” said Aria. “You men could go on with your stories and toasts all evening. I am tired but not too tired to teach Hylas a lesson for withholding things from me.” She kissed him on the lips. “Come husband, it is time for us to retire.”

  “I am tired too,” yawned Kotys grinning at me and Corelia.

  “In that case we had also better retire to our chamber,” said Solanus.

  Both couples left the triclinium and we were alone. I kissed Corelia on the lips. “You have made me very happy.”

  “Will you join me in my chamber?” she invited.

  “I most certainly will,” I replied.

  I followed her to her room. Once inside I took her in my arms and kissed her again. “Wait a minute, Lucius,” she said. “Close your eyes and turn around.” I did as I was bid.

  A few seconds passed. “You can turn round and open your eyes,” she encouraged.

  I needed little encouragement. I turned around and she was standing by the bed completely naked. I stared at her in awe for she was total perfection and I loved her so much. “You are so beautiful,” I gasped.

  “You once saw me like this when you should not have done. but now it is alright for I am to be a senator’s wife. Is that not so, senator?”

  “It is,” I gasped with adoration.

  “Do you still like what you see?”

  I nodded eagerly and ran to her trying to shed my clothes as I did so. We toppled over on to the bed and she giggled as my last bit of clothing fell to the floor. I had waited so very long for this moment.

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