For Old Times Sake

Atia who was in the process of placing another bite in Antony's shoulder froze mid-action at the slave's words.

"I must be delirious...I thought that eunuch just said that foreign bitch was your wife."

"You are not delirious love, you heard correctly."

Atia stared at him in disbelief, "But you're married to Octavia..."

"Of course I am married to Octavia, and I am in love with you." He stroked her cheek gently.

"Well then what in the name of Jupiter is this idiot talking about?" She swatted his hand away.

"My dear please calm your self...Cleopatra likes to believe herself in control of everything and everyone, and so the only way to get her to do business with me was to agree to her demands."

"I can't believe you married that...that...whore." Atia finished weakly. Tears were welling up in her eyes and she was doing everything in her power to keep them from erupting down her cheeks. She didn't want to admit it, not even to herself sometimes, but she truly loved Antony."

"Atia please, don't insult me, it was a pagan ceremony only...it meant nothing. I'm still as Roman as I ever was."

"You say that and yet your eyes are smeared with charcoal, tell me what decent Roman man would do that..."

"Now you listen here..." Before Antony could finish the slave cleared his throat. They had both forgotten he was present. "What do you want?" Antony barked.

"Just to repeat that your wife is still waiting, and to remind you that patience is not her strong suit."

Antony swore under his breath, "My dear, will you please wait here well I go deal with whatever problem SHE wants me to fix?"

"If you expect me to wait docilely in your bed while you go and fuck her you are mistaken."

"Atia please, I am not going to go and fuck her, you are being childish, she obviously needs my help with some matter of state, we are spouses in name only."

"You swear?" She was being won over in spite of herself.

"Of course, why would I want a mouse when I have a lioness?"

She protested mildly but soon allowed herself to be kissed.

"We shall continue this when I return." He winked at her and exited the room.

For a few minutes Atia remained in the bed but soon her curiosity got the better of her and she got up, dressed, and exited the chamber. She soon realised that she had no idea where she was going and that it probably wasn't a good idea to go traipsing aimlessly around the Egyptian palace. She was about to return sulkily to Antony's room when she heard raised voices coming from down the hall, naturally she followed them.

Once in front of the room she recognised Antony's voice, without even thinking twice she opened the door slightly and peered in..

She saw Antony and Cleopatra but contrary to being intimate they seemed to be in a blazing row.

"WHICH IS IT?" The foreign bitch screamed.

"WELL OF COURSE I NO LONGER LOVE HER..." The voices dimmed as Atia turned and ran in the opposite direction she had no desire to hear another word. All she wanted was to get out of there as quickly as possible, but she was forced to hide in a side chamber as what appeared to be a nursemaid scurried by with two small children in tow.

"When can we see father?" One of them wailed.

"Helios I have told you many times that your father Marc Antony is a very busy man and he certainly does not have time to see you whenever you want..." There voices dimmed too as they continued down the hall.

The tears that Atia had been fighting for so long poured down her cheeks. She sank to the floor and wept silently and bitterly for a long time. Antony having children by another woman, especially that woman, was the one thing she couldn't bear. After she smartened herself up a bit, she quickly exited the palace. To her surprise she saw Octavia sitting on the one of the litters outside.

"Well it's about time..." She exclaimed.

"What in Jupiter's name are you doing out here in the sun?" Atia asked.

"I barely saw Jocasta for two minutes when Posca came in and said that SHE wouldn't like it and that I had better return outside."

Before Atia could respond she heard the door open and spun around. She saw the solider Lucius Vorenus followed by many foul looking Egyptian guards.

"Well I'm glad to see you haven't went foreign at least." She said as good naturedly as she could.

"Madam I have been given strict instructions by Marc Antony to see you and your daughter back to your ship and make sure you set sail as soon as the tide allows."

"He turns away the Mother of his child?" Octavia asked in disbelief.

"Well that's wonderful but we're not going..." Atia added.

"I have been authorized to use force if necessary."

"You would man handle women of the Julii?"

"No...but these men here," he gestured behind him to the fierce looking men, "have no such qualms."

This was the last straw for Atia she attempted to rush past Vorenus but he grabbed her.

"ANTONY COME DOWN HERE YOU BASTARD!" The desperation in her voice was plain.

"Madam please..." Vorenus controlled her with little effort.

She turned and began making her way back to the ship. She didn't look back. In her head over and over she heard Servillia's final words..."Curse her...send her nothing but bitterness, let her taste nothing but ashes...Curse her...send her nothing but bitterness, let her taste nothing but ashes..."