A/N: Summary. AU: AD 114. German frontier of the Roman Empire. General Quintina Fabrinus has gone with her legion across the Rhine River into enemy territory, but when diaster strikes will Quinn die along with the rest of her fellow soldiers? Or will she be saved by an unsuspecting Jewish girl? Follow Quinn's journey as her honour is tested, and the lines between friend and foe become blurred
This chapter is a tester chapter. I'm going to write the rest of this fic regardless. Just wanting to get people initial's reactions and thoughts. This fic has been researched to an extent, and as a student of Roman history I hope I don't disappoint. If there are any errors it's probably for the sake of the story and intentional, but note that isn't an invitation for other history lovers to go picking the story apart looking inaccuracies and errors, because obviously that's not the point of the story.
So without further delay I hope you enjoy chapter 1 of what will probably end up being a 40-50000 word fic.
IV. Id. April. 867 AUC. Consular year of Q. Ninnius Hasta and P. Manilius Vopiscus Viciillianus. 16th year of Emperor Trajan. (April 10th AD 114).
Journal of L. Quintina Fabrinus. Legatus legionis of the Legio VI Victrix. (General of the 6th Victorious Legion).
Springtime has truly come upon us. The last of the winter snows having melted less then a month ago. I reside currently in the provincial capital Colonia Agrippina, of the Germania Inferior Province. I am here in a last ditch effort to personally convince Governor Susanius Sylvester to allow for more troops to partake in a military campaign across the Rhine River and into Germanic Tribe territory, as currently all previous letters on the matter have gone unanswered. The need for such a campaign comes in light of scout reports that large movements of tribespeople are converging on Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The second largest city in the province with over 10,000 people residing in and around its walls, and host city to the nearby legionary base Vetera II, home of the 6th Legion, my soldiers, my home. May the Goddess Fortuna be with me.
Quinn sighed, putting down her pen and covering up her inkwell. Running a hand through her shaggy hair, the 32 year old waited for the ink on the papyrus to dry so she could file the entry away with the others.
'Quinn? Are you ready to go?' A voice from the other side of her study door called out.
'Yeah, I'm ready. Come in.' She replied.
The door opened to reveal her long time companion and slave, Kurt Hummel.
'Oh for the love of Apollo, Quinn, you had one job. One little job, which was to get ready on time, it's almost midday for goodness sake.' The Greek man admonished, entering the room.
Getting up, Quinn turned around to face her already immaculately dressed friend. Arching an eyebrow, she gestured to her self. 'How am I not ready?' She asked.
Her friend looked at her sceptically, taking in her simple crimson tunic and brown trousers.
'Yeah-no. Go change.'
Indignantly Quinn huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. 'And why do I have to do that?'
Smiling sadly, Kurt took Quinn's hand and patted it lightly. 'Because sweetie, important people who meet other important people have to look the part.' He said, as if speaking to a child.
Quinn snatched her hand back and glared. 'I could have you killed Hummel, just remember that.' She threatened, before storming out of the room.
Kurt rolled his eyes, following behind at a more leisurely pace. 'Zeus knows how many times I've heard that before.' He muttered.
GLEE GLEE GLEE
'Come on Quinn, we've got to go. Get that pretty behind of yours out here.'
'I don't want to! I look ridiculous.' She whined.
'Quintina Fabrinus, if you don't get out here right now, so help me Ares I'll come in there and make you!'
Quinn snorted. 'Hah! As if you could.'
Kurt looked around, noticing Quinn's five imperial Lictors waiting patiently. Each one carrying with them the fasces, a bundle of sticks adorned with the head of an axe, the symbol of Quinn's imperium, her power.
'Well, I've got five lovely looking gentlemen out here that would be more than happy to do it for me.' Said Kurt, looking to the stoic faced men.
'They're my bodyguards Hummel. They'll do as I tell them.' She replied, still not showing her face.
'Well I think they would be very willing to change sides since their supposed leader is acting like a petulant child.' Kurt replied harshly, his patience thinning.
'Ugh. Fine, I'm coming, I'm coming. Gezz, keep your toga on.' Quinn replied, making her way out onto the street.
'There. See, you look positively glamorous.' Kurt said, gesturing to her outfit, which comprised of Quinn's ceremonial muscled cuirass, a purple cloak, and red plumed helmet. The cuirass had gold and silver patterns adorning it, including a prominently featured lion on the chest plate, the symbol of the Fabrinus family.
'No, I look ridiculous,' Quinn assured, straightening up her helmet and making sure her sword was secure, it too was ceremonial with gold patterns on the grip and a lions head for the pommel. 'I'd rather wear my real armour, or what I had on before.' She grumbled.
'Yes, yes, you're upset, we know. Now considering how important this meeting is for you, how about we hurry up and get to it?'
With a sigh, Quinn replied. 'Fine, let's go.'
Looking back at the entrance she indicated for the servant that was standing there to close and lock the door to House Fabrinus, one of the largest residential buildings within the capital, taking up an entire block.
Steeling herself, Quinn started to head towards the Governors palace, a building that resided north-east of the forum, lying adjacent to the eastern wall and thus the Rhine River. Before becoming a capital the building was the city's Praetorium, a place exclusively for military business and administration. Now it housed the current governor of the province, one Susanius Sylvester. Who for reasons that Quinn couldn't fathom, was actually appointed willingly by the Emperor to the position.
'Maybe he was drunk at the time?' Quinn thought.
Quinn and Kurt walked side by side through the streets, each flanked by two lictors with the fifth holding up the rear. The local populace scrambled to get out of their way as the group headed towards the forum, fearful that with a mere flick of her wrist, the General could have anyone of them beaten and thrown in jail.
Making her way up the main road towards the forum, Quinn made sure to keep herself on the elevated footpath, the last thing she needed was to be run over by a cart or step in ox crap. The group eventually made their way to the forum, which served as a large open space within the city. It functioned primarily as a market place, but also contained a basilica, where legal trials were held and official business deals were made, in addition the forum held the cities council chambers and a temple to Jupiter, a common feature in all forums across the empire. Walking under a stone archway, Quinn entered the huge rectangular space. The market place was a buzz with activity as venders stood behind their stalls underneath the colonnaded edges of the forum. They sold everything from linen and perfume, to produce, including the latest from the spring harvest, which for this time of year mostly consisted of green vegetables and very little in the way of fruit, much to Quinn's dismay.
'At least I'll always have bacon.'
They made their way to the other side with relative ease, only having to deal with one particularly brave merchant trying to sell overpriced jewellery to the general. The man's insistence that Quinn buy his silver brooch was met with a quick punch to the gut by the closet lictor. As the merchant remained doubled over in pain, the group swiftly exited via the north east entrance, passing to the left of the temple of Jupiter. Once outside, they made their way carefully across the main road that joined the north and south entrances of the city, as carts and carriages filled with goods and people made their way up and down the wide two way street. Quinn took a moment to truly stare at the well worn grooves that were forming in the stone that paved the street, wondering just how many carts and carriages must come into the capital everyday from all across the province and beyond. 'How many thousands of miles must they have travelled?'
Quinn knew she could turn around right now and find clothing or perfume that would have come all the way from Antioch in Syria, or find blank rolls of papyri from Egypt, wine from Campania. The size of the empire was something that Quinn couldn't even begin to comprehend, how could she? It wasn't like she could just go stare at a map, for maps of that nature just didn't exist. The monumental task of trying to make one was far too great.
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Quinn blinked out of her revere.
'Quinn? Are you okay?' Asked Kurt, sounding concerned
Quinn turned to her companion, smiling reassuringly. 'Yeah, I'm fine. Just felt really small all of a sudden.'
Kurt smirked. 'With the size of your ego I find that impossible to believe, oh great Master Quinn.'
'I do not have a big ego,' she said through gritted teeth, before continuing on towards their destination. 'And seriously, Master? I haven't made you call me that since before I joined up.'
Kurt smiled wistfully. 'Ah yes, pre-army Quinn was something to behold, wasn't she?'
The General groaned. 'Oh please spare me the memories. I mean, seriously, was I really that conceited?'
'Conceited barely begins to describe it, my dear. You were the perfect nobleman's daughter. Staunch in your belief that the whole world was at your beck and call. Well. Except for all the extracurricular activities.' He finished, smiling.
Smiling back, she replied. 'Yes, I highly doubt reading up on military history and tactics, whilst learning advanced swordsmanship was what my Father envisioned for me.'
'Maybe so, but your Father is proud of you. He may not have encouraged your career path, but he did everything he could to help it along. Without his extensive political clout you would have never of been a Quaestor, Military Tribune, Praetor, or have been selected by the Emperor for your current position.' Kurt reminded.
Nodding, Quinn agreed. 'I guess so. But I still get the feeling he'd of preferred it if I'd of stayed at home, waiting around till he found someone for me marry, as was my sister's fate.
'Well you have to look at it from his point of view, Quinn. I mean nobody expects their little girl to run off and join the army at eighteen, and end up staying there for the next ten years attempting to emulate the actions of nobles from times gone by. You know, when you Romans had a proper republic.' He added derisively.
As the group turned a corner the governor's residence came into view, its imposing size differing greatly from the other buildings around it. Meanwhile Quinn rolled her eyes at her companion's latest comment. 'Kurt, we've already had this conversation. The transition to the Empire as we know it was a necessary step in maintaining peace and order. Otherwise we'd still be at war with ourselves and in the company of endless amounts of death and bloodshed. Emperor Augustus saved Rome and the Empire from ruin.'
Kurt shook his head in disbelief. 'Fine, fine, whatever helps you sleep at night.'
The group finally made their way to the palace's entrance, the archway leading to a massive courtyard the made up the middle of the complex. The soldiers on duty jumped to attention at the sight of a commanding officer. Quinn paid them no mind as she strode purposefully into the courtyard, where sitting off to the side being attended to by several servants was the governor herself. The General felt overcome with embarrassment in her apparent state of overdress, as she took in her counterpart's clothing, which she would later learn was a "Tracksuit." Quinn gave the signal for her lictors to wait outside as a sign of respect to her superior, Kurt however followed in behind maintaining a respectful distance. Meanwhile the Governor's eyes were fixed to the other side of the courtyard, where some kind of acrobatic display was occurring. Quinn stood a few paces away from the Governor as the woman started to shout into a conical shaped object, the likes Quinn had never seen before.
'You think this is hard! Try auditioning for Helen of Troy and being told their going in another direction. That was hard! Now hit the bathhouse, I'm sick of the smell of failure.'
As the group of girls in strange uniforms headed inside, the Governor finally acknowledged Quinn's presence.
'What do you think of them, Fabrinus? I call them Cheerleaders. Hand picked from the best acrobat troupes in all of Greece, each one costing the treasury five-thousand Denarii each! They'll be preforming at the gladiatorial spectacle I'm holding on the calends. It's going to be so enormous, Nero himself would be envious!'
Doing the best to keep her tongue in check whilst in the face of insanity, Quinn managed to form a neutral response.
'Yes, I'm sure he would be.' She replied, doing her best to smile.
'No doubt about it! My Cheerios are going to be the talk of the Empire. Now, what brings you to my city, Fabrinus? I thought you were busy chasing filthy barbarians about downriver?'
At this Quinn shifted into full politician mode. 'Well your Excellency, as I've already said in my numerous letters to you-'
'Letters? What letters?' She interrupted. 'Eukleides!'
'Yes, master?' An old Greek man replied, walking towards them with the aid of a staff.
'Legate Fabrinus says she sent letters to us, do you know anything about this?'
'Yes your Excellency, you said to file them under "Junk Mail." Eukleides replied.
Quinn did the utmost to keep her temper in check at the news, letting her fingernails press into the leather bracers encasing her forearms, as she kept her hands behind her back. Wanting nothing more than to whip out her blade and behead the bitch of a woman in front of her.
'Junk Mail you say? Well isn't that a delicious turn of events. Well Fabrinus, since you came all the up here, might as well say your piece.'
Clearing her throat Quinn restarted her speech. 'Well your Excellency, I have come here to request troops to be immediately sent to Colonia Ulpia Traiana, as I have it on good authority that the tribespeople are massing a large army that will overrun Traiana and Vetera. It is my hope that with additional troops we can venture across the Rhine and scatter their forces before they are at full strength.'
The Governor crossed her arms as she addressed the General. 'And where, Fabrinus, are these troops going to appear from?' She asked, mockingly.
'I was hoping that with your permission, that legionaries and auxiliary units from the I Legion Minervia in Bonna, could possibly help reinforce the expedition.'
The Governor snorted. 'You can't be serious. You want me to allow you to take troops from Bonna to help you on a fool's errand? What happens if Bonna is attacked, hmm? The river would be cut off and goods from the rest of the Empire would cease to flow.'
Quinn narrowed her eyes. 'Well I'm quite sure the Emperor would be severely disappointed if one of his Imperial Governors let half of her province fall into ruin, wouldn't you say Governor Sylvester?'
'Oh please spare me, Fabrinus. The only thing the Emperor cares about is obtaining booty and glory from his current crusade against the Parthians in the East. Besides from what I've heard, he's bogged down in Armenia, trying to secure the loyalty of the different peoples as he turns the land into Rome's latest Imperial Province. So I hardly think he has time to care about a few barbarian raids in this gods forsaken place.'
Quinn pursed her lip, her frustration mounting. 'Okay, then what about Governor Figgins in Germania Superior, surely he could be convinced to lend some troops from the XXII Legion.'
Sylvester chuckled. 'Oh come now, Fabrinus. You're grasping at straws here. You and I both know that Figgins wouldn't spend a single cent unless the Emperor himself asked him to. Face it Legate, you're out of options.
'Hmm, beheading is starting to sound like a good idea right about now.'
Look Quintina, let's cut the bullshit. We both know that it is well within my imperium to prevent you from taking any action with your Legion. But we both also know that if I do that, you'll go running off to papa Fabrinus, who'll use his mystical political influence to give me a hard time, which frankly I don't care to endure. So here's the deal, you can take your Legion and only your Legion, no Auxiliaries. Do I make myself clear?'
Quinn couldn't help but glare furiously at the Governor, her hand gripping firmly at the hilt of her sword, the temptation rising. 'Crystal.' She replied, through clenched teeth.
Swiftly turning, she made her way quickly out of the palace grounds, her cape billowing as she went.
