Marcella's Gladiators : Part One: The Marriage

Marcella is betrothed to the wealthiest man in Rome, who makes his money hosting gladiator games. Amadeus is a veteran gladiator in her husband's stable. He is too clever for his own good, but brings in the crowds with his showmanship. These two's stories entangle with each passing day.

Marcella sees this marriage as an opportunity to prove herself, since she is married to a stranger. She takes it upon herself to learn the trade of running the arena. Marcella struggles with being a good wife and her own person. She struggles separating her camaraderie with Amadeus with the heartbreaking truth, that every fight he may die. And is Amadeus truly her friend or is he manipulating her for his own desire to be a freeman? The line between dominas and gladiator becomes blurred.

But each new day of her married life, she falls more in love with the daring, scandalous life her husband leads without enough thought to the consequences.