Summary:
After proving his courage and loyalty to Rome, Marcs Flavius Aquilla is sent to the high cold North of the Barbarians. To enlarge the Roman Fire and to surround Britain. Soon after their arrival in this strange, cold land Marcus meets his new enemy. Large men with long and thick braids and beards, with horns on their heads and deep roaring voices. They are led by the new chief Metall. Driven by hate, blood thirst and a short temper, Metall gives the Romans one surprise after another. But Marcus refuses to give up that easily, but so does Metall.
A/N: I do not own 'The Eagle', or any characters used in 'The Eagle'. I just thought of this story and I could use 'The Eagle' with it. Besides, I am not a history genius, so I make mistakes. I know the Romans never reached Scandinavia, but they do in my story (:
Prologue: Roman Fire and fierce winds
The wind blew hard as the waves pushed the Roman boat. Still, as a true Roman would befit, Marcus Flavius Aquila hardly moved a muscle and stood his ground. He tried to pierce through the thick fog, but still saw nothing. He wrapped his thick cloak around his shoulders and shivered. He had been told the North was cold – but this cold? Marcus had never expected such freezing cold. Then again, he had no clue what he could expect.
After Marcus had returned the Eagle to the empire, he had spent months in the warm Rome. Until the letter had come for a new mission. A new mission to spread the Roman Light, the Roman Fire, as the general had called it. Marcus was send as second in command, with the legendary Centurion Caius Servius Occido, who had also known Marcus' father. They were told the weather was cold, the landscape was snowy and icy and the people who lived there were more animal than human, that barbaric. There was no King, no Emperor, but clans with chiefs. There were five large chiefs, who had the most power and the largest clan in the southern region. And the most feared of them was Borg det skremmende, Borg the terrifying. It was up to Caius and Marcus to make 'arrangements' with Borg and the other chiefs, or to conquer them by force. That was all the information they received, and the promise of a guide and a translator. Now Marcus thought of it again, he wondered why he had left his warm and comfortable villa. Then he remembered: he did not have a choice.
'There!' Marcus followed the pointing finger of the guide. After a long gaze he finally saw what made the guide so happy – a shore! A shore which after 2 miles into hills, which became high snowy mountains, covered with clouds. All of the sudden screams filled the ship.
'Fire! Fire in the water!' a young soldier yelled. Immediately everyone ran to port side, only back off as quick as they came with their hands before their mouths.
'What is that?' Marcus asked, shocked.
'Burial of a King,' the translator gasped. Marcus looked passed the black smoke. He could see a human figure, lying on his back on some sort of bed in a small boat. Around the burning human, there was a horned helmet, two swords, an axe, three daggers, several bracelets ,a shield and a stick which could have carried a flag. A few long braids still decorated the face – the head and the chin.
'Why burn your king and push him into the sea?' another soldier asked softly.
'It's the highest honor-' the translator wanted to explain, but Caius interrupter him.
'Barbarians,' he sniffed and shook his head, 'Prepare to go to land.' Marcus looked at the man. Long face, short brown hair with greying temples and wise grey eyes – he had nothing but respect for this man.
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