Of course, its mary suish…but comeon on, deep inside we all love the fics that deal with "what if"…and who knows, maybe you'll find something unique in this tale of long ago
Rome was not safe anymore. My father Nicoteles knew this was certain, and that times were changing fast. Corruption plagued the Senate, the Church was evolving to fit the ambition of mankind. My father and his friend Pelegius spoke often in whispered tones of the dishonesty and bribery that pursued "in the name of the Father". The term Christianity lost its true meaning to many, and became a source of power.
I was seventeen when Pelegius was killed, murdered by the order of Bishop Germanius, excommunicated because of his beliefs. My father believed our family was next. Instead, the Pope ordered us to go with the Bishop to the land of Britain to bring back his prize pupil Electo. Father despised Marius but was one of Electo's mentors. Father knew that leaving his three daughters in Rome was not a good idea, so we were brought along, under the protection of a man named Leon.
During our long journey, Leon taught Marciana, Domitia and I a few hand to hand combat tricks (away from the eyes of Bishop Germanius), as well as the use of sword. "You do not know what is out there in that savage land," he recited the fifteenth time one day while practicing. We were now aboard a ship crossing the channel from Gaul to Britain. "Nicoteles and Germanius may not think it necessary, but I've been there. And there's no use protecting the weak. The weak always suffer in the end. You will be strong." So he claimed.
As high ranking Roman women, it was uncommon to be schooled in history, geography, arithmancy, or anything else, really. It was uncommon, but not unheard of. Father took great pride in schooling us, perhaps because there was no male heir in the family to take over. This was one of our many secrets.
The night before we docked on the British Isle I knocked on my father's door. "Come in!" he barked. I opened the door to find him hard at work, scribbling down notes on a parchment of paper.
"Oh, Arria, come in child." He softened when he saw me. I smiled slightly, a bit worried by his nervous gaze. "What is it, my dear?" he questioned warmly, desperately trying not to show his concern.
I quickly shut the door, and peered about before speaking. "Father, I don't know if speaking to you is the right thing to do. Marciana said I was being paranoid, and Domitia said not to bother you, but-"
"But what?" he enquired, strangely peering about as well.
I continued. "I don't feel safe here. The Bishop whispers too often with his guards, often looking at my sisters and I with smiles. There is conspiracy father, I can smell it." I was always bold with my father, my sisters always scolding me afterwards, but he never seemed to mind my frankness. I noticed the first traces of gray beginning to form on his beard as he smiled.
"Arria, you would have made a great general…or spymaster…or senator even. Ahhh, if you had only been born a man." He gently touched my cheek with his hand. "You are a quick learner, and quite perceptive. I, too, feel uneasy around the Bishop and his men, but our orders are from the Pope to go with him. I doubt even Bishop Germanius would dare go against the Pope." He ended, signaling me to leave. Even though he spoke encouragingly, fear still lingered in my mind. A chill went through my spine as I peered out the bow. A deep fog settled on the British Isle, the mist enwrapping its wings around us.
We were on the southern border, about five days walk to Hadrian's Wall, where we were supposed to give a man name Arturius Castus his instructions on rescuing Marius and his family from the Saxons. Marciana fanned herself in the carriage, gazing bored out the window. Domitia was asleep on my right, snoring lightly. The carriage stopped. I was the first to get out, thinking we were taking yet another break. We were on the outskirts of one of the many forests, a stream just north of where we sat. I stretched and walked over to where Leon stood, puzzled.
My father was off his horse, discussing something with Germanius. I was about twenty yards away. Out of my peripheral vision I noticed the guards nearest me walking closer, their hands leaning towards their sides where their swords usually sat on their belts. "Leon.." I whispered. He did not reply at first. He turned to face me, slipping me one of his daggers. I put it away before anyone could see.
He turned back around, the guards drawing nearer. Ahead of me, Germanius slapped my father across the face. I jumped. They were slightly within earshot.
"The Pope did not think you were treasonous, but I knew all along you and Pelegius conspired against Rome. Now all will hear of your attempts to murder young Electo and the necessary deaths of your family that I had to order." He opened his blade and before my father could blink, the sword protruded from his back, his look one of surprise and sadness. My sisters screamed from the carriage, apparently witnessing it all from their window. Leon leapt upon the guards nearest us, as I stood by, too shocked to move.
"Arria!" He screamed in between fights. "Get the horses! Get your sisters!" Reality came back to me and I nodded, running towards one of the guards who held two horses by him. He drew his sword and I ducked out of the way. Before he could turn around I plunged my dagger into his side, yelling as I did so. Fear struck me hard, I shook all over, my body not wanting to take another step.
Somehow I worked up enough energy to mount one of the horses and ride towards my sisters carriage. The Bishop opened the carriage door before I could get there, screams from inside growing louder. Leon tried tackling three guards at once, but a fourth snuck up behind him, slitting his throat. He sunk to the ground silently, my eyes gasped in horror, not knowing what to do. Four of the Bishop's guards advanced on me. I couldn't go forward. I backed the horse up as they plowed at me. For a moment I saw the Bishop emerge from the carriage, wiping blood off his face. The screams had stopped. So did my heart. Tears stung at my eyes. I was truly alone now. The guards continued to rush towards me, there was no where else to go but into the trees. Two on horseback pursued, as I heard Germanius yell, "Kill her! She must not get away!"
Racing the horse as fast as I could, I led the two riders on a hunt deep into the forest. They were trailing but twenty feet behind, urging their mares forward. My eyes were blurred because of my tears, my heart pounding with fear. A moment later an arrow whizzed past my ear, hitting the tree beside me. My horse reared, the reins no longer controllable. I couldn't hold on, and soon I felt myself out of the mare's back and unto the ground, hitting my head on a log in the process. My eyes blurred for but a second as I watched…I think…blue men racing towards the guards? I attempted to get up, but found it difficult. I leaned over on my back, edging along with my elbows. I stopped. In front of me stood an old man, his skin blue, bizarre paintings across his arms and face. As I peered, mesmerized by his look, I soon felt a sharp stab against the back of my head, and his face was the last thing I saw.
I awoke in the dead of night, that same eerie mist surrounding me. I was next to a fire, with about five men staring wide eyed at me, their hands ready to draw their daggers and knives. They left as that same elderly man came to sit next to me. Their leader, I decided.
Surprisingly, he spoke not of his own language. "You are Roman?"
I simply nodded. Memories flooded back to the day before. Or has it been longer? My father…my sisters….dead.
He continued. "Why were you being chased like a savage from those other Romans? Are you pagan?"
I shook my head. It was too soon to speak. He realized this, but stared intently at me. "My men want to kill you. I wanted to hear your side first. You must speak."
Apparently I had no choice. I soon found tears beginning to run down my cheeks once more. "We were betrayed. We were sent here to rescue a boy, and we were betrayed by the Romans."
"Who is this 'we'?" he questioned, his face like stone.
"My father and sisters. The Bishop killed them. They went to kill me, because they do not want our beliefs in Rome." His face was still ice cold. I could not tell what he was thinking.
"What do they want from Britain?" he questioned, his eyes narrowing.
"They say thousands of Saxons…you know these people? They say the Saxons have come to take over Britain. We came here to save a Roman family before the Saxons reached them." My eyes darkened. I raged within, longing for revenge. I felt guilty…I sensed something was wrong, I should have shouted something to Father.
He knew, something inside my head replied. He knew we would be betrayed, but there was nothing he could do.
"What is your name?" he finally asked.
I gulped and took a deep breath. "Arria. The last of the family Gaius."
He sighed, looking at his hidden comrades from afar. "You have been helpful to us, Arria. I must discuss your future with the others." He left me for about an hour, just as the sun began to make its way up the sky.
"The others want you dead, but I have convinced them that on our raid on your Roman soldiers tomorrow, you will raid them with us. They think you will die. I however, am not so sure. You will either get your revenge, or you will die. Either way, you leave us." I could only nod, taking it all in. "We go now."
The Picts were fast runners, and I could barely keep up if not for the archers behind me that will strike if I lag behind. By nightfall I could here the horses of the Romans. I learned we would strike them the next morning. One of the Pict women gave me thoughtful clothes to wear- a devilishly revealing top and bottoms that fit both my legs. Still, it was definitely more comfortable than my tearing robe. My dagger, which was taken away from me, was now returned. I doubt they trusted me with it, but still, I was but a youthful Roman girl, what could I possibly do?
That night I couldn't sleep. My father's death raced through my head nonstop. My sisters' screams drowned my mind. I tossed and turned, writhing at the thought of Leon's throat being slit. Everything I had was gone. All that remained was rage. I wanted it all to end. I wanted to die. I wanted vengeance.
I vomited early in the morning, exhausted yet still angered. I held tight to my dagger as we walked to the edge of the forest. I watched as one of the guards dressed up like the bishop and entered the carriage. I smirked. "Your games won't work" I whispered into the wind. Suddenly screams erupted as the Picts charged the Romans, I with them.
What little defense Leon taught me I used, dodging swords and racing through the now various individual fights. Germanius was at the back, fighting off two Picts at once. I couldn't get closer without going through one of the guards. Looking towards the east, I watched as seven knights flooded unto the battle scene, one in Roman armor. My eyes narrowed as hatred towards all Romans seeped through my mind. The Picts, now aware of the new intruders, started fighting them as well. One of the Romans advanced on me, luckily a Pict stabbed him through the back before he could get to me. I stood stiff, not sure what to do. I couldn't fight well, I wouldn't make it to Germanius. Suddenly one of seven new fighters was getting close. He had two swords out, killing the Picts left and right. I gulped, unsure of what to do. His eyes met mine for a split second, he looked confused, then continued fighting. One of the Picts, an older, ferocious looking one, stared me down and came at me. Apparently I wasn't popular among them, especially now that their leader wasn't there to prevent them from killing me. I backed up as he advanced, then dodged his knife by inches. I swung out with my dagger and he easily got out of the way of it, punching me in the ribs as he did so. He flipped me in the air and I landed on my back, aching. Before he could drive his knife through me I kicked him in a soft spot. He toppled over and I stabbed him. He didn't move. I breathed heavily, not believing I was still alive. The fights were dying out, only a few Picts were left. They would not win. And I couldn't run. I was stuck. Suddenly I saw a Pict advance behind the knight that had stared at me. He did not notice him. Not knowing what else to do, I ran up behind the Pict and stabbed him in the side before his dagger reached the knight. The knight turned, and gave me a look of surprise.
I was scared, and was about to turn and run when I felt something painful go slightly into my lower back. Germanius whispered in my ear, "Nice disguise, but I'm no fool. You are not going to ruin me, little rose." I stared forward, straight into the eyes of the knight. His eyes widened in shock. My eyesight began to blur, but I saw his sword stare inches from Germanius' throat. I still stood, partly held by the hair from the Bishop's hand.
"Lancelot!" The Roman knight yelled. "What are you doing?" All fights were over. The Picts were dead.
"This girl saved my life and this guard tried to kill her."
"That guard is the Bishop." The Roman knight turned to Germanius. "Release her." He unhooked my hair from his fingers, and I felt myself sliding to the ground. Before I could hit it, a bald, built man with an axe caught me. I felt the blood rushing out of me, my life ending….with Germanius but a few feet from me.
The knight called Lancelot took me from the bald guy and gently put me upon his black gelding. I tried speaking but found it too painful. Darkness enveloped me, and I thought I was about to join my sisters and father.