For Her Trust

“You broke your promise! We trusted you and you still broke it!” Arya cried out.

“I didn’t have a choice. Please, please understand!” Victoria pleaded.

“I’m telling Olivia how you betrayed us! Not that it would ever matter to her, after you told him!” Arya said through gritted teeth, feeling her tears splash her skin. 

“You! Don’t! Care!”

“Arya! No! I- I just- Stop! Wait!”

It was too late. Arya stormed off into the blackness of the night to wake Olivia.

***

Victoria had found Arya alone in an alley. She had whispered to her and asked why she was alone. Her parents were gladiators, fairly common in Rome. They had perished in battle. Sadly, that was also very common. As a part-time nurse and teacher, Victoria had seen her share of cases like Arya. Children that never saw their moms and dads again. But, what surprised her was not Arya’s unusual minty-pink blend of hair, her ability to talk at such a young age, or her sliver lips. No, what surprised her was that Arya, whom she had named after the Great Fighter, sat next to a happy, cute olive-skinned baby, Olivia, that clapped her hands and drooled on her black hair when she got close. Victoria fell in love with how brave the two girls seemed. She took them back to her interconnected houses. Olivia was happy and Arya was content. Perfect. Victoria smiled.

***

Present:

“How am I supposed to make the decision to save Olivia? I can’t let the emperor kill her…” Victoria stared at the connecting gates in her house, longing for one more chance.

***

She was lucky to own two houses, or any house at all. When she took in the girls, she already knew what would happen. Arya and Olivia were doomed to fight in the Arena. They would likely never survive. That they probably would never reach adulthood. Victoria still took them in. She became a mentor, an almost mother to the girls. She guessed that Olivia and Arya were cousins, since they looked different and acted different in every single way. Olivia took a bold, brave, and goofy road. Arya was quiet, strong, and used to lashing out with strong emotion.

Recalling that, that was probably why Arya was so mad and distraught when she came back from yet another win.

She was an amazing fighter, light and graceful like a deer, but her blows were hard and unyielding like a wolf. Arya quickly moved from fighting dogs to adults. Every time, she won. Her opponents often underestimated her, and that was their crucial mistake. She rammed into them, swiped at their feet, and stabbed at them with her sword. Other times she swerved and dodged the clumsy blows that her foolish opponents used. Victoria had prepared her well, as she had been to many battles and wanted to keep Arya alive.

***

Present:

Victoria glanced at the moon. What could she do? She had told him, and now it was her fault. All hers. Not his. Blinking away tears, Victoria slinked out into the quiet streets.

The huge Roman Arena was bigger than big, and larger than life. It had so many seats for all the bloodshed and terror happening. Every match was a gory and glorious one. The oohs and aahs only amplified the bloody fighting. Dull groans also escaped as the warriors chopped and swung at each other, from losing a few limbs to losing lives. The ever present emperor was seated in the most elevated spot, above all the fighting. He loved fighting, down to the last slice. He also enjoyed observing executions.

Do I save her? Or do I watch her die?

***

Arya burst into the house, her arm still bleeding from her last, successful fight.

“Why?!” 

Victoria gave a start as Arya fumbled her helmet and smashed it into the floor.

“You should be happy. You won.” 

Victoria fixed her steely gaze at Arya. Arya returned the gaze equally, her bright green eyes clashing with her golden armor.

“I- Victoria! I don’t know how, but-”

Arya choked and gasped. She struggled to tell her mentor what happened.

Olivia and her were hanging around the banks. They waited here every day for Victoria. Today, however, Olivia felt restless.

“Ugh! It's so boring! Why can’t Victoria hurry up!”

Arya glared at Olivia. She knew that making a ruckus would get them noticed and put them in such a heap of trouble that Victoria would most certainly box her ears. Just thinking about the painful feeling was enough to make her wince.

“Why don’t we have some fun?” 

“No! Stop Olivia-”

Arya grasped thin air as Olivia twirled into the bank. She jumped and weaved around Arya, only stopping to fall on the floor in laughter as Arya ran after her.

This is why she got chosen as an entertainer! Arya belted in her mind disparagingly.

Olivia smirked as she snatched the glistening bars right off the table.

“Stop it! STOP IT!” Arya was hysterical. Did she just steal all of the gold bars and put them in her bag?

“Haha! C’mon, he’ll never know!”

“Victoria will-”

“Don’t tell her! Or him!”

“Him? Him?! Of course he will know! Victoria might not but he- Ugh, let’s just get out of here. Follow me.”

Against her will, Arya felt a smile blooming on her face.

This will be fun, even if Victoria does box my ears.

***

“Why are you looking so nervous? Olivia is gonna die because- because someone told him what she did!” Arya forced out the words.

“I- Uh- We-”

Shooting Victoria a suspicious glance, Arya slumped on the floor. She seemed to give up. Victoria heaved a sigh of relief. But the next thing that came out of Arya’s mouth was so shocking, she had to sit down.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

It was not a question, it was an answer.

***

“So what if you still have time?!”

Arya roared at Victoria, who sputtered and did not reply.

“Answer me!”

Spittle flew from her mouth as she burned with hate and confusion. Arya knew that she, the girl that Victoria had rescued, was destroying the fragile bond that her mentor had weaved. Olivia had always loved Victoria, but with herself it was harder to reason and see the light in Victoria’s ways of teaching and trusting. Yes, Arya loved her, but that would not stop her from pouring all her anger into a boiling pot and then throwing it at the person who might as well have condemned Olivia to death and chopped off her head.

“I knew everything from the start, Arya. I did what I thought was right. We still have time, and I can tell him that-”

“STOP SAYING HIM!!!”

“Alright, the emperor. I can tell the emperor to spare her.”

Victoria disdainfully looked at Arya. She had never heard or seen Arya act like the angry, fuming girl she is now.

“Like that would stop the emperor!!”

“It will!”

“What about your promise? To never try to kill us?” Arya sneered, disfiguring her breathtaking beauty for a pair of heartbeats.

“I didn’t try to kill either of you!”

“Does reporting to the emperor make any difference from just going to Olivia and lopping off her head?!”

Victoria glared at Arya.

“It is the middle of the night. Mind your tone.”

“But the promise-”

“I will stop him.”

“You still betrayed Olivia and her sweet little heart. By trying to kill her because all she did was try to have a little fun in this terrible city.” Arya hissed and a singular tear fell from her face.

“I-” 

“You broke it.”

“I did-”

“You still broke it.”

***

The blaring horns rumbled and tensed the air, screeching at the resting gladiators to “Wake up and get ready for battle” just as Victoria concluded her desperate thoughts, making her decision in the process, and walked towards the arena. As the reporter of the thievery, she could decide if she wanted to kill or leave the culprit.

Why did I ever bertary Arya’s trust? I abide too closely by the rules. I have to fix this. Even if the last thing I see is a glinting blade coming towards me.

“We have come to escort you.”

Breaking into a run, Victoria leaped into the air and pumped her legs, anticipating a sword. Instead, she froze in her tracks as Shilly glided and Chilly slid toward her. They were the emperor's fortune tellers, granted special powers and destined to tell the future. They were also the emperor's daughters and escorts, leading people to the arena for judging and offering.

“Can you unfreeze me?” Victoria harrumphed at Chilly.

“My ice powers are deadly and precise, but yes, I can and may.”

Chuckling as she swooped from the sky and glided over her sister, Shilly overtook Victoria and flew over the road to the arena and yelled “Come on, our father is not a patient man!”

Victoria got lost in her rising thoughts again as she was, unbeknownst to her, pushed along the road by Chilly.

Can I save her?

Will I save her? 

I could fail.

What if I do?

I could give up.

No. I have to do it.

For Arya.

And Olivia...

I must save her.

To Victoria’s immense dissatisfaction, she was already at the arena, Shilly and Chilly nodding at her.

“We are here.”

“Thank you.”

As Shilly and Chilly went up the walkway to meet their father, Victoria saw Arya and Olivia walking with the warrior escorter, Roger. Olivia was leaning on Arya, tears coming out thick and fast. Arya seemed to be keeping up an relentless flow of loving words. She caught Victoria beginning the painful march towards the arena. Arya felt sorry, despite the fact that she might never see Olivia again. Arya stared at Victoria, catching her eye, and she shared a look with her mentor, her teacher, and her friend. Even if she did betray her, she had been so nice to Arya, and Arya was grateful that Victoria had cared for her. Still, she wasn’t ready to say sorry. At least not yet. 

Victoria accepted the half sad, half hopeful look that Arya, about to enter the arena clad in armor, was giving her, albeit happily.

I hope she can forgive me after this whole mess. It’s just sad that I- No, I can still do it. I hope that I can…

Shilly passed by her. Victoria’s gait then shifted as she began to walk fast, boosted by the silent encouragement Arya was giving her.

“This will be a happy one...”

Victoria started striding towards the arena, giving off confidence and hopefulness, her feelings stemming from Arya and Shilly’s murmuring. She stepped into the colossal arena and basked in the light.

“...now the accuser will tell us her decision!”

Victoria winced at the mention of ‘accuser’ but regained her composure and smiled at the emperor, who had announced her grand entrance.

“ Great Emperor, I have made my decision. The accused will be-”

Tell me what do you think Victoria’s decision was!