Tears rolled down her eyes as she lay helpless and the poison working its way into her body. It was the physical pain that made her weep, for mentally she was far from breaking down. Didius sat by her bed side. He had never felt so helpless in life. Life had been such a bliss until yesterday, when Leora drank the potion which had been adulterated with the strongest poison any mortal could ever dream of. The Royal doctors were horrified when they checked her condition, a few whispers into Emperor Commodus's ears and he knew that fate in sometime would snatch away the most precious thing in his life, his daughter.
The crowds adored her, the senate thought highly of her, even Commodus's enemies spoke exceedingly well of her. What had she done to deserve such an end leave alone an end. As his mind clogged with such overwhelming thoughts he quietly moved outside so as not to disturb the silent conversation between his beloved and the boy whom he had handpicked as his successor. Just before departing from Leora' chambers he looked at both of them,what a beautiful picture they both made. Why...Why..Why does this have to end like this...He was enraged at his own helplessness.
"Don't lose heart Julianus, You know that the last 20 months of my life after our marriage have been the best ever. Just like a dream that I always wanted to live, where love and happiness was what preceded everything." saying that she managed a weak smile. Even in adversity her courage stood out. How many knew that beneath those tender and beautiful features lay a resolute and undying will. And even in death the fragrance of which didn't fail to enchant people around her. His eyes met her's with a forlorn look in them. He knew that tomorrow's sun would change every single thing in his life. Life as he knew would end the moment Leora's heart stopped beating. She would take quite more than a chunk from his life.
He made an attempt to speak but the words died down in the throat, he was choking. However he hadn't cried yet. He had maintained his composure for he wanted to show her that he still had the hope that she would survive this and they would grow old together. For he thought that tears rolling down his cheeks will break Leora and weaken her further. Only if he had realized that She was the one who was more composed than all the other people in the room. Even in death she wouldn't fail herself.
"I have loved you with all my heart, my dear", He finally spoke, voice quivering. She shifted her head from the cushion to his lap. He felt the tenderness of her cheeks, which were wet from the tears. This was it, he couldn't hold back those tears any further. He started sobbing like a child. At one point he contemplated falling on his own sword, to escape this misery. His heart wrenched with almost physical pain. The burden would be too big to carry all his life, he thought. And then he went numb, there was void, he couldn't comprehend anything around him. For a moment he thought that he had gone insane. But the moment her hand reached out for his, he was brought back into reality, to sanity, to his dying love.
He had lost all sense of time and reality, till the royal doctors arrived and requested him to move out of Leora's chambers. They realized that the end was now near, and Leora had every right to end her life with dignity. She would have to be left alone, for the doctors had seen that how painfully life ended when people died of poisoning.
He was reluctant at first, but when he realized the nature of the request he couldn't disagree. He reached out for her and hugged her tightly so as not to let her go. He kissed her, as if wanting to tell Leora that even in death his heart and soul had loved only her, no one but her.
With great efforts, he dragged his feet out of her chamber. Standing at the door he gazed at her with his tearful eyes. He wiped off the tears as he couldn't see Leora's face clearly. His eyes captured of what was the last living moment of Leora he would see.
After 3 hours the doctors had the message send to the Emperor. The chief doctor had confirmed that Leora was dead. Though the Emperor was expecting the news to arrive, he slumped back into his chair, when the guard actually told him of it.
Didius was sitting in the garden when he was made aware of it. He just nodded his head when the guard broke him the news. His eyes were no longer wet. Leora had died the moment he had left the chamber. There was still time before he could mourn her death in solace. It was only after he left Leora's chamber that the question nagged him that who had adulterated the potion from the doctors?
For others it was a mystery, but form him it was clear as a crystal. He needed to start right way to avenge the death of his beloved. There were a lot of things to be done... A long road ahead he thought, but the only one he had...
to be continued...
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