Disclaimer: I don't own anything, as Sega/Creative Assembly have the copy rights, except original characters.
Please review. I like to improve my skill as a writer. Also inform me if it is not historically accurate (obviously, some characters are made simply for plot advancement and such).
My first, fledgling attempt. Hope you enjoy.
219 B.C. - The Second Punic War – Part 1 – Battle of Saguntum
Prologue:
Narrator-
A cry of despair rose out from the mass of red-shielded men, dripping in sweat, as the Carthaginian commander, Hannibal Barca himself, entered the gateway. Protected only with sheer metal plates, the rather clumsy looking commander rallied his troops forward.
"Onward, men! Fight to the death! Well, I mean, not that-" He was cut off as a hail of arrows clattered amongst his infantry.
Horses whinnied, blood-soaked men bellowed war cries at each other, and dozens of missile troops exchanged sling bullets and arrows, some clattering off armor, others finding their mark, signaled by a scream. Blood flowed like wine at a festival.
It was a scene from hell, and it was also Hannibal Barca's first battle against Rome and her allies. However, he was a long way from Rome, and he had to subjugate the defenders of the wall and gateway before getting that far.
As his Iberian infantry swarmed the walls with ladders, the people of Saguntum fought with ever-increasing ferocity. As each man got off the ladder, he was brutally stabbed through the leg or arm and thus incapacitated. The lucky few who were not dispatched in such a way had to hack madly through a determined mass of locals wielding deadly falcatas and longswords. Even as the first tower was taken, the gateway conquered, the Saguntumians raced to the city center and attempted to make a stand, not dissimilar to the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. However, the locals weren't Spartans, and the Carthaginians lightly armored Persians.
Hannibal, as he rushed his horse through the soldiers, was suddenly brought down by an arrow, and the infantry rushed to the leader's side.
"I'm fine, just a scratch." He then winced as he looked at his flank. It was a bloody mess, as the arrow had narrowly missed his vitals, but a great volume of blood flowed. His close friend Hasdran rushed to Hannibal's side.
"Keep fighting like we did in battle school, and I may have to save you a couple more times," Hasdran joked, as he lifted Hannibal to his feet.
"Oh? I believe I was the one to knock you down all the time in battle school," the faltering commander replied as he tried to steady himself.
As Hannibal got to his feet, his men roared and fought with greater vigor and energy. Hannibal and the now mounted Hasdran led the charge into the city center. The war cries of the doomed locals became softer and less enthusiastic.
Balan-
I witnessed Hannibal, our beloved commander, go down. My heart dropped to my knees, and many around me cried out in despair. I hacked my way through to the commander, and could perceive Hasdran, the commander's ally and friend, help his friend up onto his horse.
Knowing our well-deserved victory was at hand; I stood up quickly and saw the two leaders ride on. Shouting out in a terrible joy, I joined the rest of my comrades in charging head-on into the fray and cutting down all in our path, and trampling them to death. Make no mistake, the locals were vicious fighters and gave better than they took. I was wounded a second time in this battle by a falcata-and-shield wielding berserker. I dove under his blows and struck him down at the legs. By then, he and I were the only two people still in battle. We grappled furiously; hands and feet were our only weapons. I then reached for a dagger, even as he throttled me. I grabbed it, and as blackness began straining at my sight, I ran him through his lung, and he fell back, blood trickling out of his mouth.
The commander came up to me, gleaming in blood-stained silver armor. His face was impassive, but I could see a slow trickle of blood flowing down his flank. My legs were shaking, and not due to any weakness. His grey eyes surveyed me with a kind of respect, and raised his voice.
"You fight well, a skill I lack. Your battle is one well fought."
I was dazed by the words and could only stammer, "Ah, err, th-thank you Commander."
Nodding his head regally, he left the scene, with many a head turned at me.
Narrator-
Hannibal sat down, heaving a big sigh.
"How many dead?"
"Not too many, considering the numbers we have. Only a thousand," Hasdran said, trying to comfort his friend.
"Not too many? I don't think there is such a word, Hasdran, and mind you, a thousand is a thousand, regardless the numbers of men we have."
"You, not we. Your father and the Senate made that very clear," Hasdran said, his cheeks reddening at the mortifying scene in which old Hamilcar had raged at the young soldier for using "we" when fleshing out the proposed invasion into Italy.
The old man had called Hasdran, "One of common blood, not a worthy friend or ally of my son!" Fortunately, Hannibal stepped in, along with his brothers, and escorted the leader out, still seething, before he could alienate the capable young officer.
Hannibal noticed this, and comforted his now fuming friend.
"Come now, my father meant no harm. He's simply prejudiced, that's all."
"Against me?"
"Against those not of noble blood."
The very thought of Hamilcar was depressing, so Hannibal changed the subject.
"So, what do you think my fighting skills," he said in a jesting voice.
"I'm not in the mood."
"Aw, come on, I know you want to.., so what do you think?"
"Fighting skill? Yes, you've got some, if fighting means getting shot off your horse!" Hasdran grinned, despite himself.
"Oh, so now who's in the mood for jokes, eh?" Hannibal was relieved as his friend's moody, irritable side had disappeared.
"At any rate, we had better mobilize, and quickly. The Iberian tribes hostile to us are not to be trifled with," said Hannibal, pulling out his map.
"Now, if I attack here, passing the Ebro…."
Hasdran could see the strain of the recent battle still on his friend's mind, but it soon faded as the two planned out a route to the Alps…..