"You cannot keep this up forever!" Rome screamed while running through fire to his horse. His men were broken. The strong empire jumped on his horse, his cape flowing through the wind mixed with fire and black smoke, the latter choking a few Romans to death. "I will have what belongs to ME!" His voice boomed through Gaul's ears as he raced off, leaving some men just to die.
Gaul turned around. They did it once more. She protected her family from the madman. She no longer cared how brutal she would have to become. Her green cloathing was stained with Roman blood, and her wild blonde hair stuck to her face, covered in mud. Rome was getting stronger by day, and she could not keep her sons and their family safe for long. She walked to a big farm, ducking by the entrance to dodge the straw roof. Her entire family was there. Her first son Burgundy. His body age was now around 28, his red-brown hair and built reminding her of that one night with Rome. He was slightly taller though, and had a ring beard and striking blue eyes. His hair was lighter as well. Her son France, still just a teenage boy. The poor child hugged his knees, while Fryslân, Burgundy's wife, held the boy to her chest, singing in a language mixed between Germanic and Scandinavian that was making Gaul's blood boil. She still couldn't see why her son married a Germanic tribe, one so small and rebellious, she thought everyone would be better off if they just gave her to the Romans, being a landmass both Germanics and Romans longed for.
Gaul ignored her own feelings and looked at the little girl in Burgundy's arms, quickly picking her up. "How is my brave little Netherlands doing?" The young girl was a brave one, her people fought like beasts, earning the name 'Lion'. She held the child up, earning a gleefull laugh from the child who's body age couldn't have passed three. Gaul smiled at the sight of her granddaughter, her muddy face and her blood-stained shirt did no longer matter. Hell, if she would die, then it would better be to save such a beautiful little lion. Gaul's teeth were showing, that's how much she was smiling at the thought of this young girl grown up. This kid would make it.
Burgundy coughed and Gaul looked down at her eldest son. "Mom, can I have my daughter back now?" the younger nation looked tired as he stood up. "It was a long day, and Netherlands must be exhausted. Her little sister and brother are already in bed." He gave a sly smile. Gaul put the small child down, the girl slightly dissapointed at the loss of contact, running to the bedroom. It was then that realisation hit Gaul. "Little brother?" She asked, startled. Burgundy and Fryslân smiled to her and to eachother. "Mama, Fryslân had another baby. His name is Luxembourg." Burgundy's tired act was nearly vanished at his pride, his tired eyes full of emotion, shining brightly at his mother. Gaul swallowed. She missed the birth of her grandson. She was so obsessed with getting Rome out, she forgot about the pregnancy. "But how did you..." she started and pointed to Fryslân, who's already flat stomach grew bigger in a yawn. "I gave birth all by myself." The female nation spat out, harlequin green eyes flashing angrily for a moment, before she got back to her usual teasing yet manupilating self. They heard a cry of a small child, immediatlly recognizing it as Belgium's. The youngest daughter of Burgundy hated war, unlike her elder sister. Fryslân stood up, her blonde braided hair following her as her gladiator gear did not even cover much up as well. "Francis, tu aides moi." She said. "It's tu m'aides.." France stuttered and the Germanic/Scandinavian tribe gave him a glare, her eyes piercing straight through anyone's soul. The young nation did not hesitate a moment longer and ran towards the bedroom of the small ones.
Gaul looked at Burgundy. "How long?" This startled Burgundy. "What mama?" he asked gently as he pulled a chair of bones, wood and skin of a bear for his mother, letting the old nation fall back to the chair. "How long can we keep this up?" Burgundy's eyes flashed with anger, while he cooked the soup, with meat and peas and potatoes. It was called pea soup, it tastes amazing, yet it looked like vomit of someone who ate a tree filled with half-torn pigs. "As long as it needs. He won't get us, just like Germania." He winced at the last part of the sentence he accidentally threw out, knowing his mothers hate towards the Germanic. "No." She simply said. "Over my dead body, Burgundy. OVER MY DEAD BLOODSTAINED CELTIC BODY, WILL HE GET ONE HAND OF MY FAMILY'S LAND."
Quiet. Everything was completely quiet for once. Burgundy stood still, Gaul was thinking, no war was going on right now, no children were screaming, nothing. Just silence.
Untill.. "Oma Galië? Papa Boergöndië?" Both nations looked up at the door. Little Netherlands stood there, wearing her fur nightgown, holding a chocolate chip bunny with long ears and a heart-shaped spot on the back. "You are screaming so hard, you scared Miffy..."
"Who?" Gaul looked confused at her grandchild. Oh. The bunny. The little girl always played with that animal, tracing it down the entire village. Gaul smiled sweetly at the girl and walked through the room, the floor of clay sticking to her boots because of the rainy season. Gaul kneeled to eye level. " Im so sorry Netherlands." "I was not scared, mister Miffy was!" The young girl held the bunny in an awkward way, but to Gaul's surprise the bunny did not harm the child. She took the bunny and put up a childish voice. "And I am so very sorry mister Miffy! Can you ever forgive me?" Netherlands laughed and grabbed the bunny. "He forgives you." She smiled sweetly, the bunny's feet dangling close to the ground, yet the chocolate chip ball of fluff lay his head lazily on the girl's ,not quite animalfriendly, arm. Gaul put her granddaughter and her bunny in the small cradle next to Belgium's and Luxembourg's and watched her fall asleep. She then walked to the newborn. He was gorgeous. His skin was still red pink, with just the smallest amount of blond hair. Gaul smiled and went to bed.
The next day was no different. The massive wooden gate kept intruders out, Francis went exploring through the forest, which led to freedom. It was a secret passage of Gaul, they could get out, but no one could get in. Burgundy helped Gaul prepare the men over twelve years old to fight, the other men went hunting and trading and the women took care of clothing and children. Fryslân was here an exception, but Luxembourg was not old enough to stay without his mother. Gaul watched Netherlands and Belgium play with the bunny as it hopped around, until Belgium was so tired she went to her mother and baby brother to sleep a little. Netherlands played on. As she should.
Everything suddenly changed when she heard the sound of the alarm horn. A stuffed sound from a hollow horn of a bison sounded and everyone quickly went to safety or their battle stations. France ran in, ten men quickly closed the heavy gate after he entered. "Maman! Romans! They want Burgundy's children et moi! Maman!'
Gaul turned from caring mother to 'barbarian' in less than a second. She called for the skilled men and the strongest women to follow her. Burgundy and Fryslân were there as well, probably giving the young children to the younger females of the tribe. France was there as well, yet still clumsily holding his sword. They went with a wooden stairs with at least five hundred men strong, even more waiting downstairs. Gaul pulled herself up, peeking over the immense wall. And her heart dropped.
Thousands. The Romans litterally came with thousands of men. He usually had an army a little bit smaller, and not so heavily armed.
Speaking of the Devil, there he was. Rome was sitting on a beautiful horse, a Friesian horse, galloping through the soldiers who stood in perfect squares, awaiting in a silence that was so thick that Gaul could nearly smell the sweat on the would-be-fearless Romans. Gaul was getting angrier at his act per second.
"Why are you here?" Gaul's voice was strong and secretly she was proud of herself. "For your beautiful children!" The Roman Empire gave a toothy grin, which made Gaul sick beyond reckoning. "I heard the little ones are quite valuable, and not to mention very pretty. Just look what kind of horse your granddaughter possesses." He stroked the Dutch horse and murmered something into his ear. The thought that the horse was a part of Netherlands made Gaul tighten the grip on her blade.
"I know you barbarians don't see that value, but rest assured, your way of 'living' will not be harmed if you give me the children.' Rome wants vile? Rome gets vile. " My dear, sweet Rome," Gaul let her hair tangle on the blade she was leaning on,"I can also use words of affection to persuade my enemy when I think they are to be persuaded, yet you and your precious 'army' do not comprehend my true intentions. I may live simple, yet out of us two, there is only one barbarian. And it's not me." Her voice broke at the last words as she raised her blade,signing her men that the negotiation was over. "I brought Germania's troups as well, Gaul! You cannot win!" Gaul thought for a short moment, the army was only slightly bigger than usual. "Check the back gate." She cooed her eldest son as he took France along. "Bonne chance maman!" France yelled back and waved scared at his mother. "Fryslân, I hope you are ready to kill of your fathers people." The tall woman nodded once and Gaul saw the Germanic nation growing furious at her father for trying to steal her children.
They fought like lions for hours. The gates did not open untill Rome himself was forced to open it, Germania aiding him. "Coming Gaul!" Rome spat as Gaul was fighting of children of the two assailants, who climbed ladders. She first fought of a teen boy with black hair and fair skin, with a mole on his face. Then she fought of Spain, a friend of her son, yet determined to get stronger, and he was doing surprisingly well. "Not so fast. " Gaul turned in shock as Fryslân threw steaming oil over the wood, Germania quickly removing Rome, yet the now burning liquid killed quite some unfortunate Romans and Germanians. "TRAITOR!" Germania boomed over the crowd and Gaul smirked. The girl was not so bad after all. They could now easily force the armies out. Burgundy and France returned. "No sign of trap at all!" both informed. "The battle is over! I'll get my nieces and nephew! " France chirped happilly."But that does not make any sense. There were more Germanics than Romans, while, the Roman Empire has way more men power." Burgundy frowned. "You don't think they found the secret passage, do you maman?" "No way in Hell, for the Gods wouldn't be so cruel to people who simply seek freedom." Gaul countered her son, her religion strong.
France came back running, his breaths short and his eyes teary. His smile was gone. And so was Gaul's hope that this battle was over. Gaul did not expect what came next.
"Netherlands is gone."