Disclaimer: Paramount owns Voyager, Paris and Torres. I own this story.

He was leading his troops all along the shore of Sidon. He hated days like these, when all they were doing was march and march. He hadn't been in any direct battle skirmishes for more than three years , when he had been part of the batallion of soldiers who had to put down the revolt against Rome by a group of Zealots from Tiberias, led by Jude, the Martyr. In a rare show of strength by Rome, hundreds of them were crucified that day. That was even before He came to address His flocks in the hills of Samaria. How Flavius hated then his task of hunting down simple fisherfolk who could no more pay the heavy taxes Rome imposed than breathe the air of Rome.

His horse was snorting impatiently, prancing as he led the rest of the troops on horseback and a cohort of footsoldiers along the sandy shore. The sun was high and he was sweating, wishing they were back at the garrison and under the cool protection of their large tents.

Orion reared once, but he was quick to calm his horse. He smiled. This horse he thought would never take to any rider other than himself, fell as head over heels as he did in love with Eleni. He allowed sometimes that Eleni ride Orion, but always when he was with. There was no guarantee that Orion wouldn't bolt with her. Or throw her. He had seen one too many such accidents to be very careful that he was around when Eleni wanted to ride Orion.

He thought of Eleni. His wife. Married now to him these five months, and everyday he spent in the field, he missed her more and more. He didn't have to wonder what she'd be doing now. Inevitably she would be in the library, slaking her insatiable thirst for knowledge. He remembered the first time she came into the library and stood waiting for his command that she may leave. He sighed. She was still in the old habit of the slaves then. Standing there, a respectful distance away from him.

That was the day he discovered that she could read, was intellectually superior to most of the Roman women he knew. Inevitably it was the boys who received education. It was unusual that Eleni had been one to receive such a gift of knowledge, and that by her own father. That was also the day he initiated the search for her parents when he learned from her that they were still alive, somewhere.

He remembered her tears the day after they were married when he showed her the letter from her parents and his own happiness that he could make her happy. Her parents were already in Alexandria, and Sylvanus, or Silo as he was called for short, already sent them message that he procured a teaching post at the University of Alexandria. He sighed again. He was a happy man. His long years of loneliness even when in the company of women who were glad to be seen with him, had ended. Now he thought, he could not have asked for more. For now, it was more than he could have hoped for.

"Flavius," she said to him not so long ago, "will we leave for Alexandria soon?" There was a hopeful look in her eyes.

"Soon my love. Soon. I await Caesar's acceptance of my resignation."

They were at their usual spot on the other side of the olive grove sitting on the ground and eating dates and figs. He was amazed at how confident she had become, bold enough to initiate discussions with him, assertive, aristrocratic as only learned Greeks were. She had breeding and dignity, with a lot of fire hidden under her apparently innocent exterior. He encouraged her with great patience that she could be bold and take liberties with him. Now it seemed that every day that passed, she became freer, shedding gradually her habit of subservience she was taught as a slave by her former masters.

She had begun to show her temper too, the proud flash of those magnificent eyes, the swing of her head, with her long braid tossing around her shoulders.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave for Alexandria, my love?" he asked her, his eyes in innocent wonder on her face.

"Surely you should know, Flavius. I wish to see my parents again. And..."

"And what, Eleni?"

"And to...to get away from here..." she said softly, casting her eyes away from him.

Putting his finger under her chin he made her look at him, his blue eyes serious:

"Eleni, I'll make sure you never get to meet Marcus Tullius again. I promise you."

He sighed. Marcus Tullius, son of the magistrate. About a month after their marriage, he accosted her in the market of Sidon where she had gone with his mother. He had made lurid comments, and even more lurid suggestions to Eleni, showing little respect for his mother who was with. Both women had been excessively distressed by what had happened, for it seemed that Marcus Tullius wanted to grab Eleni right there in public.

He felt like thrusting his broadsword through Marcus's throat. He severed his old friendship, and knew they would never be friends again. Marcus Tullius spoke with scorn in the way he referred to Flavius that day as a slave lover.

He knew then that his intention to resign his commission was boosted by his former friend's behaviour. He would never allow Marcus within a mile of Eleni.

The patrol spent the rest of the day in the field. By the early evening Flavius was tired and slightly irritable. He returned to his own tent, wishing he had been home, pampered by his wife who would shower him with kisses...

There was a movement outside his tent and one of the footsoldiers bearing a scroll, entered.

"My lord," he addressed Flavius who had been sitting on a stool, cooling himself with a goblet of wine. "This has come for you. It bears the seal of our great Emperor Tiberius," he continued with a slightly awed air.

"Thank you," replied Flavius as he half rose from the stool to take the scroll. The soldier waited until Flavius addressed him again. "Dismissed," he said quickly, in a hurry to read this important intelligence from Rome. Breaking the seal, he read:

son of the illustrious Aurelius Parisius,

Flavius sighed with happiness. He doubted seriously that the enlightened Tiberius would have been as congenial had he not been the son of Aurelius Tomas Parisius. At last. He only had to serve this month out and he would be free to take his family back to Alexandria with him. No doubt his mother would be happy, and so would Eleni be. Perhaps there, under the sun and happier surroundings of Alexandria, she would... he sighed again. Perhaps it was too early to wish for the child they both longed for.

************

"I shall miss you, Flavius," Eleni said that night as they prepared for bed. She had been sitting at a low dresser where she was brushing her hair. She spoke without looking at him.

"Where am I going Eleni, without you?" he asked as he unstrapped his sandals. "You know I will finish in three week's time."

"That is what I mean, Flavius," came her retort as she turned to look at him. She rose from the cushioned stool she was sitting on, and sat next to him on the bed. She traced lazy patterns down his hairy chest, parting the fold at the top of his tunic. She heard his low groan, and sliding her hand down to his thighs, felt his arousal.

"I shall miss seeing you in uniform - the gold breastplate, the panels on the skirt, your plumed helmet, the red toga..."

"My love, did you fall in love with my uniform?" he asked, knowing where her easy banter was leading to, eventually.

"That too, Flavius. It was, after all, the first thing I saw when I looked at you..." She shrieked as he tickled her. But she was quick, and grabbed him round the waist and held her mouth for him to kiss. Only too happy to oblige, he embraced her, felt her body soft and warm against his own. Her lips red and parted as he kissed her. She moaned as his tongue darted into her mouth, and he pressed her gently back against the bed.

"I want you, Eleni, my love..." he murmured.

"My Hermes...my love," she crooned as his mouth covered her breast and she closed her eyes, wondering if she'd ever tire of Flavius' lovemaking.

It was a long time later they lay in each other's arms, sated and happy. Her hand rested on his chest, her long hair fanned over her. He kissed her forehead, noting absently that all the scars have finally healed. There was not a trace of them anymore.

"Eleni..."

"Hmmm?"

"Are you happy, my love?"

"Need you ask me, Flavius Tomas Parisius?"

She raised herself on her elbow, looked down on him, her fingers caressing his cheek. There was a softness in her gaze as she saw his own love in his eyes. For her.

"You may look like my Hermes I always dreamed of Flavius. Or Eros. Or Apollo, or Adonis. Handsome as all of them. But they didn't have your heart, Flavius. I love you."

He gathered her in his arms and hugged her most convulsively. No, it didn't matter anymore that they would wait for children. As long as he had his Eleni...

"I wish though we could be blessed with a child, Flavius," she sighed, her face buried in his neck.

He made her look at her then.

"Everything in its time, my love."

She nodded, content to put her complete trust in this man who took her to his heart without condition. It wasn't long before she drifted to sleep. With Flavius still lying awake long after she fell asleep.

*************

A week before Flavius was due to leave his garrison, they had been in battle maneuvers far outside the town of Sidon. That was when it happened. Both Flavius and his second-in-command were on horseback. In the distance, about a hundred metres away they saw Marcus Tullius's horse rear as he whipped it, willing it into obedience. Flavius was still thinking that Marcus treated his slaves and animals alike, when they saw the horse unseat his master, throwing him thunderously to the hard ground. Marcus's helmet snapped off his head, rolling away into the dust.

"No!!!" Flavius screamed.

They rushed to where Marcus fell, but was not quick enough to prevent the stallion from kicking Marcus against his head. Twice. Flavius was down even as Orion was still moving at high speed and within moments he was at the side of his old friend, whose skull appeared bashed in. Marcus was still awake, still breathing heavily, but Flavius could see the end was near for Marcus Tullius. He lay there on the ground, with Flavius bending over his battered body while Marcus's horse sped off into the distance.

"Hold still, Marcus, you are bleeding," Flavius said to him as he cradled the dying man's body in his arms.

"Flavius..."

"Please, Marcus, do not speak. You will tire yourself." He knew it meant little, but he had to speak soothingly to his old friend.

"Flavius... please...forgive me. I...was not a good man...."

"Marcus..."

"No...I - you have a heart, Flavius, such as He spoke of."

"Who, Marcus?"

"He who died. The Messias. I...was...there...I gambled for his robe, Flavius. He spoke of..."

"Love, and everlasting peace, Marcus?"

"Yes... he said God is..."

"The God of all people... Yes, Marcus. I heard Him too. You will have peace Marcus."

"It is my last, Flavius," he spluttered as blood seeped from his mouth.

"Do not speak so, Marcus. We will get help..."

"No - ! Flavius, you are a good man, with a good heart. Such...as ...I could never have. Promise me you will take care of a slave for me..."

"Marcus?"

"When I bought her, she was tied to her mother, by her hand...Her mother was already... Flavius...she was dead. The slave... she..."

"What, Marcus?" he asked as he saw Marcus slowly fading, his life ebbing from him.

"I swear by God Almighty, I never...touched her. Forgive me, Flavius...your love for your Eleni...I was jealous...of you..."

"What happened to the slave, Marcus?"

He spoke with difficulty, his speech slurring, but there was a fevered looked as he pleaded with passion:

"She - she has been abused, Flavius. Take her please, into your home and your heart. Love her. She has touched me..."

"Marcus... how old - "

"Promise me..."

"Yes..." Flavius said as Marcus Tullius Decimus closed his eyes for the last time, under the Sidon skies, away from his ancestral home in Rome.

************

It was a solemn Marcus Tullius Decimus the Elder, Magistrate of Sidon who faced the son of his old friend, Aurelius. Marcus had died in his arms. The old man was sad, but he knew that Marcus paid the price for the wild life he led. He sighed. He was himself responsible for indulging his son's whims, making him dissolute and irresolute. It pained him, but he was a proud old Roman, one who had once been in the battlefield with Aurelius, father of Flavius. He understood. It is the way of war and battle.

"You want to take the slave Marcus left in your care, Flavius Tomas?"

"Yes, my lord, and also to buy her freedom. She will be raised in my household, in the care of my mother and my wife," Flavius said firmly.

Flavius wanted to get this over and go to the house of Marcus, on the other side of the town. He had spoken to Eleni the previous night, and her words he'll not forget in a long time.

"Flavius, you did not know me when you rescued me, yet your heart spoke of the great love such as only He spoke of. You took me into your home and your heart. And I know by now, your heart can never be too big to take another. We will take her, Flavius, and love her."

He sighed.

"So be it," the Magistrate's words broke into his thoughts.

"I thank you, my lord Magistrate."

Marcus gave the older man a compassionate look, then turned on his heels and left the house.

****************

"Eleni."

"Yes, Flavius?"

"This...child. She has suffered." They were on horseback, with Eleni sitting side-saddle this time. She looked up at him, for Orion was a huge stallion, much bigger than her Zaïde, whom she loved to distraction. His eyes were very blue, and even as he was squinting in the sun, she could still see the colour. His hair shone golden. He was so handsome she thought. Yet so kind.

"I know, Flavius," she said softly, frowning a little as he looked at her.

"Like you did..." he whispered. There was a look of compassion in his eyes, yet also...shame...

She stopped her horse, forcing him to bring Orion to a halt.

"It is over for me, Flavius. You taught me to believe in myself, and not be afraid anymore."

She was wearing a long thin scarf which covered her hair, her eyes were wide and never wavered from him. Her words conforted him, but she could see the underlying anger.

"I have recovered Flavius," she assured him. But she could see it was little help. How could it be when only last night...last night she... had that nightmare again. And she knew it was the knowledge of Marcus's slave that started her thinking again about her old life. The dream was almmost inevitable.

She had screamed and woke up, drenched in sweat. It took the rest of the night for him to calm her and comfort her again, like he did in that first week.

"Flavius, please. Look at me," she pleaded. When he did at length look at Eleni, she said:

"I know you feel angry about the treatment of slaves and my love, you do what you can to alleviate their situations. You do so much more than anyone could expect. And I love you so much, Flavius for the goodness that is in you. Now, will you give me your beautiful smile?"

He looked long at her, then broke into a smile, albeit a watery one.

"Come, he said, let's move with these two horses."

*************

Flavius and Eleni entered the house of Marcus. There were only the slaves now, going about their duties, and uncertain of their future. But Flavius, speaking to the oldest, a man who had been with Marcus many years, reassured them.

"You have by virtue of being the property of Marcus Tullius, been inherited by his next of kin, who is his father. The elder Marcus is a kind man. He will give you your freedom and see that you are cared for."

"My lord," Juba said, bowing deeply. "We know of the Elder's kindness. We are happy to remain in his employ." Juba looked to a woman who entered the room and bowed deeply before Eleni and Flavius.

"My name is Judith, my lord. You have come for the child." She looked at Eleni, long. "Follow me, please."

She took them through to the slave compound, and in a little darkened room, they stood. There was not much light, but they could see a bed, a low stool. The bed stood a little away from the wall.

"Where is the child?" Eleni asked, even as she knew already where she could see the little girl, tucked on the floor behind the bed. Hadn't she done that herself so many times?

Judith pulled the bed away from the wall, exposing the little girl sitting huddled against the wall. She cowered the moment she saw Flavius, trembling violently. Flavius closed his eyes and felt the tears. Picturing this little child, only about four years old... He tried to suppress his burning anger. And he thought that Marcus Tullius at the last showed compassion when he took this little girl into his home.

But it was Eleni who coaxed her, won her confidence as she spoke softly to the child in Greek, who spoke for the first time. The intense fear they had seen initially in her huge blue eyes gradually lessening. She took the hand Eleni held to her, then stood up slowly. Eleni bent and picked her up, holding her close, never once losing her composure, becoming distressed or showing anger. She simply held the little girl in her arms, crooned to her, caressed her hair, wiped the hair from her face. Long brown hair like Eleni's. And all the time Eleni's voice was soft, comforting, yet strong. Speaking in low tones, the child nodding from time to time, the wary look slowly fading. Her eyes were huge and very blue, Flavius noticed idly.

Flavius realised with some blinding clarity that Eleni had done this before. Soothed other children, girls, some even younger than herself. With practiced ease Eleni calmed the little girl, and pointed to Flavius. he was still standing in shocked silence, watching this little tableau playing before him. And only now could he understand the full import of what Eleni and other children like her had suffered. And he thought, not without some pain, will continue to suffer. The child looked now at him, smiled tentatively, then said:

"Hermes..."

He smiled.

"What is your name child?" Flavius asked.

"Marcena, master."

Flavius touched her hair, she flinched only slightly and felt comforted by Eleni's arms around her.

"Marcena, I am Flavius, and this," he touched Eleni's hair, "is the lady Eleni. Would you come to live with us and be our little daughter?"

Flavius held his breath, watched the emotion play on the child's face. She looked at Eleni, then at him and again at Eleni. She put her arms around Eleni's neck and buried her face in Eleni's luxuriant hair. It was enough, Flavius thought as they left the compound and walked into the house again, where Judith met them.

"Our master Marcus Tullius found her at a market at Tarsis. Her mother was already dead, sire. He bought her and brought her here. He...was kind to her, master. Like I have never seen him with anyone. I think he was touched by something or Someone. He...I could see the child had been..." she paused, not wanting to speak. Was not her own ordeal over now?

"We understand, Judith. But now," and he looked at where Eleni was now sitting with Marcena on her lap, talking to her in a soothing voice, "now, we're taking our daughter home with us."

He walked to his wife, took her hand, and watched in fascination as little Marcena raised herself to touch his face, her tiny hands going over his eyes and his cheeks.

"Are you my Papa now?"

"Will you have me, my little child?" he asked, his heart much lighter now, although he knew the road to healing for little Marcena, now their daughter, was far from complete. But he had the kindest, most loving wife in the world who would help this rudderless child find a haven with them.

"Can I love you?" she asked again.

"Oh yes, Marcena. Love me all you can. Like your Mama here."

He picked her up, walked with her outside into the sun, and after Eleni mounted Zaïde, he lifted her up to sit in front of her new mother.

Flavius mounted his magnificent Orion, and thanked God that He brought another woman into his life with whom he fell in love the moment he saw her.

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