I fear you may have tipped your hand too soon on this clip -- what is a great idea may get shouted down by the temp execution. I, for one, love the way the music sets the scene. I think there is a phrase or two that gets too upbeat, but I never realized before how much Laura sounds like a Star Wars piece.
A problem for me is that I know Laura so well that it takes a moment to get used to. You are a music wiz-- I bet you intend to create a piece for this scene that doesn't quite use the full Laura theme? Anyway, that might be a suggestion.
But I believe the romance beat here should be the dominant feeling. The threat of death, the thousands of blood thirsty spectators, the hopelessness of the situation all mean less than "she loves me! We're in love!" The many emotions of this scene should combine to create its complete and bitter-sweet tone -- but romance should and will come first if you have a strong musical theme like this.
It's quite like the Princess Leia confession just as Han is being carbonited. That's a scary scene, but it was the romance of it that most characterised it-- that was its dominant quality. All the good-guy/bad-guy story issues came second.
The music, even as temp as it is in your clip, really makes the arena come to life for me. The spectators and the march to the columns both feel more real-- because our point of view is anchored by the music; we feel it through these lovers. That was missing before.
Good work!