:If you're very good, tomorrow night I'll tell you the story of emperor Claudius who was betrayed by those closest to him, by his own blood. They whispered in dark corners and went out late at night and conspired and conspired but the emperor Claudius knew they were up to something. He knew they were busy little bees. And one night he sat down with one of them and he looked at her and he said, 'Tell me what you've been doing busy little bee or I shall strike down those dearest to you. You shall watch as I bathe in their blood.'
Lucius Ceionius Commodus, the future Lucius Verus, was the son of Lucius Aelius Caesar, the Emperor Hadrian's first choice as a successor. He was born December 15 A.D., 130. His mother's name was Avidia. He did not add Aelius or Aurelius or Aelius Aurelius to his name until after the adoption.
And the emperor was heartbroken. The little bee had wounded him more deeply than anyone else could ever have done. And what do you think happened then, Lucius?:I don't know, uncle.:The little bee told him everything. Inspecting the gladiators through the bars, Lucius notices Maximus and motions him closer. Amused, Maximus complies:Gladiator, are you the one they call the Spaniard?:Yes.:They said you were a giant. They said you could crush a man's skull with one hand.:looks at his palmA man's?
A boy's.Lucius smiles, and points to the art on Maximus' armor:They have good horses in Spain?:Some of the best.points:This is Argento, and this is Scarto. They were my horses.
They were taken from me.:I like you Spaniard, and I shall cheer for you.:They let you watch the games?:My uncle says it makes me strong.:And what does your father say?:My father's dead.:Master Lucius, it is time.:I have to go.:Thy name is Lucius?:Lucius Verus, after my father.