Hello this is my first Eagle fic please please please review, tell me any mistakes or suggestions or feelings you have about this, thanks :)
Leaves swirled like tempests as two horses charged through the forest, they and their riders merely a blur. The horses stop in a small clearing, lather dripping from their flanks. Marcus and Esca dismount and lead their horses to a stream to rest. "Yet another race won for the barbarian," Esca jokes, raising his hands to appreciate his audience's applause. Marcus smirks and drops to the ground, massaging his leg good-naturedly, "Ah yes, the cheating barbarian, who takes advantage of poor cripples," Esca laughs and drops beside Marcus, helping him to massage his leg. His face grows sober and he looks Marcus in the eye. Marcus shivers, even after all they have been through together Esca's eyes still send pure, heady excitement coursing along his body. "I am sorry," Esca says "I should not have gone so fast." At this Marcus' desire evaporates. He growls and shifts his leg away from Esca's gently soothing fingers. "I was simply joking, do you really think me that much a cripple?" he demands. Esca pulls away, taken aback. He wants to love Marcus, but sometimes he fears that the wide gap between their ways can not be breached. Strengthening his resolve, he takes a deep breath. "Marcus," he says gently, "you know that was not my meaning." There is a moment of hesitation between the two as Marcus closes his eyes. When he opens them he is smiling, "It is I who apologize, Placidus will insist on being always where I least expect him. We met at the bath house yesterday morn, and still, there is just something about him that puts the ache in my leg." Esca narrows his eyes at the mention of Placidus, "This is our weekend and it is good, do not let him invade even these woods." At this Esca jumps up and offers his hand to Marcus. Grinning, the man take's his hand and stands. The lovers roll out their kinks and mount their horses, riding until dusk.
Esca awakes to the smell of roasting meat. Groaning, he props himself up on his elbows and looks up, where a couple feet away Marcus crouches next to the fire, slowly turning a make shift spit. Marcus doesn't miss Esca's amused snicker and looks up to wag a stern finger at Esca's tousled head, "You don't serve with the legionaries without coming away learning how to cook, I'm not some helpless politician." Esca throws his head back and laughs, "That you are surely not, my friend!" He moves to sit up but freezes for merely a second. He hurries towards Marcus and leans close to whisper into his ear, "There is someone running through the brush, arm yourself." Following Esca's finger he unsheathes his sword and stands at the ready, tensed for action. Esca conceals himself behind a tree, prepared to wrestle his captive to the ground. The rapid footsteps grow closer and the ragged breathing of one who has run a long ways too fast can now be heard. The runner rounds the corner and in one fluid motion Esca has their quarry felled, arms pinned behind their back and Marcus stands with gladius poised at the person's throat. "Please.." they manage to choke out, "Don't."
Marcus and Esca meet eyes in start, their prisoner is a girl, a slave girl from the look of her ear. She is thoroughly tattooed, designs swirling down the side of her face and neck, continuing down. Haunting blue trails surge down tan arms. Her long blonde hair is tied back into a complicated braid. Esca soon discovers the stone braided into it's end as she whips her head back and forth furiously. Marcus lunges forward and the tip of his sword pricks her neck. The girl stills, eye's spitting fire as Esca ties her hands tightly around a sapling. Dropping his sword, Marcus stumps over to the fire and prods the burnt meat, "You, madame, have made me waste a fine breakfast." His words are wasted however, for Esca and the girl are locked in a staring contest.
Esca gives Marcus a look, and the large roman walks off to try and salvage his breakfast. "So Brigante, how is it you became such an obedient slave?" she sneers angrily. Esca raises his eyebrows, "I am no mans slave. What is your name oh daughter of Boudicca?" The girl bares her teeth in a snarl, "I am Keita, if you are no slave, then free me, you well know what happens to to our people if I remain in captivity." Esca frowns, "How could you be captured? The descendants of Boudicca guard her spear in the far north, no roman goes there." For a moment, consternation flits across her face but then she snaps, "This is none of your business, release me and I will be on my way."
Esca merely shakes his head, "Stay, we will hide you if your captors approach and you can have a meal at least." Keita looks as if she will refuse but the smell of newly roasting meat makes her stomach grumble and she inclines her head in a nod. Esca has rounded the tree and begun to cut her bonds when Marcus runs over and stays Esca's hands. "What are you doing?" he asks frantically. "This girl is someone's property. We can not just allow her to steal herself." As Esca's eyes darken dangerously Marcus scrambles for words, "Esca, you know I think slavery is wrong, but I can not help the laws, what if every Roman just chose which was okay to break or follow? We'd have chaos." Esca glowers up at Marcus, "We Britons may not have so many great written laws as your precious Rome but there are some things one does not do. He holds up a finger to cut off Marcus' reply, "Marcus, I broke faith with my own people when I helped you steal back your father's eagle, I did that because I love you. The spear of Boudicca and her descendants that guard it are a symbol of hope for my people, I must help this young sister return to our homeland and you will come with me."
REVIEW! thanks :)