Servius and
Adelia knew that their time had come.
As dawn broke on the fateful morning of March 15, 44 BCE, the two slaves
were fully awake, adrenaline coursing through their veins. Holding Adelia with a conviction he had
never known, Servius felt his dreams of freedom on the cusp of fruition. Adelia, his love, was the catalyst,
spurring these emotions that Servius never knew he possessed.
“You
heard the meeting last night Servius,” stated Adelia. “The deed is to take place at between ten and eleven am,
just down the hill at the Theater of Pompee. We cannot make our escape unless we know the murder has been
completed.” With their modest
knapsacks at their sides, holding the few belongings that they possessed, the
slaves headed toward the Campus Martius, putting themselves in position to
witness what promised to be the cruelest of treachery.
No
more than a couple hours passed before Servius and Adelia situated themselves
in around the Campus Martius. The
beautiful gardens and fountains of this public square seemed out of place when
considering the violence that was to come. Waiting patiently, they looked for telling signs that the
murder was close. Servius spotted
the first one.
“Gladiators,
Adelia! Gladiators! It is too bad that they will not have a
chance to fight! They are only a
farce, an elaborate trick. Your
master is could be as smart as he is treacherous.” Servius’s heart pounded. It was the first time that he had truly comprehended his
witnessing of something of such magnitude, such consequence. Servius heard Adelia’s breath quicken.
“There
he is!” she said, trying not to speak too loudly. “Caesar is here! Oh what a fate awaits him!” Met by a senator that neither slave
could name, he was led into a room adjoining the east portico of the Theater of
Pompee. Shortly thereafter,
upwards of 50 senators appeared as well, grave expressions presenting
themselves with ubiquity.
“There’s
Servillius Casca,” exclaimed Adelia once more. “He attended every meeting that we witnessed.” The senators waited outside theater, as
Casca entered. Five tense minutes
passed before a yell from within stirred the blood of both the slaves.
“Why,
this is violence!” cried a voice that was unmistakably Caesar’s. Shortly thereafter, another shout
echoed across the Campus Martius.
“Help, Brother!” The
senators pulled out their daggers and rushed into the theater. Servius and Adelia knew that Caesar
stood no chance. He had been
ambushed, just as the senators had planned. With an assurance of what was to be ensuing chaos, the two
slaves gazed at each other and shared a kiss.
“Time
is of the essence, Adelia. We must
go now, if ever.” With a life of
freedom awaiting them, the fugitive lovers set off, leaving behind their lives
of servitude, and an assassination for the ages.
