Chapter Text
The swords clashed in the arena. The sounds of pain were as swift as the wind which was exchanged for the roar of the crowd. You watched from the crowd as the two great beasts went head to head in battle. Your father was roaring with laughter as the battle was seeming in his favor. He was the owner of the Ludus that trained the gladiator. You watched, wide-eyed like a rabbit as you watched the show below. Swords clashed together as the dance continued. You jumped at the enemy fell to the ground with a sickening sound. You watched as your father rose to the edge of the balcony. He raised his arm up to hush the crowds before speaking.
“Thank you for coming to these games! Now we will judge the loser! Live or Die!”
The crowd roared. The sound was almost deafening. You looked down on to the sand to see the fallen, withering on the ground. You looked up to see your father’s thumb turn downward. The winner rose to the occasion and you heard the crowd cheer for blood.
“To your champion, He with no soul! He refuses to die! Your gladiator, Golelt!”
Your gaze slowly turned to him. The gladiator named Golelt held his weapons high as cheers came all for him. He was a satyr. His ram-like horns curled greatly on both sides of his head as dark black hair fell like a river from his scalp in a braid. He was incredibly handsome in the face with bold, foreign features with dark eyes. His skin was golden-brown from the sun’s ever harsh rays. His muscles looked sculpted from clay as they were ever so defined. Pieces of metal were hammered together to provide scarce armor but nothing towards his lower limbs. They were flat-like as all satyrs with black curls and hooves. He was escorted from the spotlight in a moment’s notice. Your father turned to you with glory dripping from his very brow.
“See, daughter! This is what my line will show for! My legacy will be written in the stars. When I marry you off to a man of name, he will take all this and continue it further. You will want for nothing! “ Your family stood up from the balcony and you followed suit. The two of you walked away from the arena in perfect health, unlike so many others. Your father kept his rambling up.
“Since the season to start marrying you off will be upon in soon, I have decided to give you a gift. You will be my newest gladiator’s Domina. He always passed the test to be a gladiator and won in the area. He is the perfect choice for you to practice on. “
You frowned at the thought. “I don’t know how to feel about that. “
“Be grateful! This is a chance few women get.”
The two of you left that discussion only to come back to it a few days later. He led you by hand down into the abyss of the underneath. You were not allowed down here before so everything you were taking in was new. It was dark and dimly lit. The walls held no color on them, the floor was not as in clean shape as you were used to, and the air was almost musty. He led you down a hallway which leads to several different places. You saw a public bathing room, cells, the Medicus, and then what opened up into the training room. It had benches with a roof on top of that which what you assumed to be the kitchen. Everything else was out in the sunlight. It was where the true reason you came here was. There were over twenty men with your family’s guards walking around, fighting each other. Your father barked an order and the satyr came forward to stand in front of the two of you.
He was more handsome in close quarters. He had gold jewelry in his goat ears and in his nose. His human torso had a few scars litters across his skin. You blushed and looked at your feet, suddenly aware of your own staring.
“Golelt! This is my daughter. You will know her as Domina. She is who you will fight for. You will win for her. You will do your best for us. “ Your father nudged your forward. “Don’t be shy.”
You stumbled in front of the gladiator and looked up to meet his gaze. You saw indifference and felt uneasy. He suddenly moved which startled you completely. He got upon his knee and kneeled, bowing his head. “Domina.” He stood back up and you stared with wonder. “I will bring you great joy in the arena. All I do will be in your name.”
Those words rang in your ears. He fell back amongst the rest of the men but those words would haunt you. They chased after you in your dreams. They followed you to your studies. You were like a school girl. Your sisters teased you endlessly about being able to be around the rough men. One particular night eating after supper, you grew the courage of a lion. You picked yourself off your couch and gathered yourself, asking one of the servants if you looked alright before heading down the stairs. You went alone, your bravery a badge for you. You told the guard to let you past the gate that led into the underneath. They asked if you were sure. You told you were and a guard led you towards the cells. You assumed your father had given all the guards instructions about your new prospects in life. You stopped in front of a cell where the guard unlocked it. The satyr came forward with a questioning look. The guard commanded him to get going and the group went towards the training area. The moonlight filled covered the sand. The guard left you and the satyr alone as you wandered forward. You suddenly felt very out in the open.
“I am surprised you are here, Domina.” His voice was so silky. It felt lightweight in your ears and so easy in memory.
You looked at him. “I felt bold this evening. I grew curious since our first meeting.”
“You are much bolder without your father if I may say so. You even hold my gaze this time. “
You were flustered by this. “I do not speak with brutes on a daily basis!”
“Nor men?” He jests.
You waved your hand at him. “I did not come to be made fun of.”
“Nor did I mean to offend. “ The satyr’s tail wagged. “Why did you come?”
“I needed to know more about you. Why are you here? Where did you come from?”
The gladiator thought for a moment, staring at his hooves before making eye contact.”I’m here for my brother. He wanted to volunteer his life to make money for the family. He’s too weak. I chose to come in his place. “ Golelt looked towards some far off destination before pointing. “I come from across the seas. Grass will meet your gaze until the world ends. I did not know of thirst till I came here. You have dirt. You have dust. Sometimes, you have mud. I like the mud the best. “
You laughed and hid behind your hands. “There is some good land here. We just do not live close to that. “
He nodded and smiled. “You should laugh more. I fear your face may turn to marble and crack like the status in your house. “
“I laugh!” You shouted.
“I have seen the look on your face when you are with your family. Your face is like this. “ He frowns and brings his brows together. “You look like a mad grandma.”
You gasped and swatted your hand at him. “I do not!”
“Your suitors must like that face, hmm?”
You blushed. “You are a shameful brute.”
“But yours nonetheless. I fight soon, you know? The first under your command. Does this news excite you?” The satyr comes closer.
Your heart skips a beat. “Another fight?”
“Yes, Domina. I go against another great man soon. “
“Are you sure?”
He nodded and tilted his head. “You are not one for the games, are you?”
You hold your hands in front of your stomach. “They make me uneasy. The gods fill my head with dreams. I see things.”
“The gods grant you gift. Oh, so lucky.”
“Sometimes, I find not. “ You pouted and looked towards the moon. “I must leave. You train by the morning sun. “
He smiled at you. “I will dream of winning, Domina. Thank you for everything. “