Hello everyone and thank you for following this Hetatia's fanfiction (that I do not own, and all the stuff). Please review if you like it.
Another important chapter with an epic historic battle: The battle of Octodure. What's cool about it is that the archaeologists know exactly where it did happen, on the ground of the actual city of Martigny, in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.
Chapter seven: How he protects his borders
As soon as I reached the camp, the centurion in charge welcomed me. His name was Galba, and he was an experienced soldier. He had fought alongside Caesar since a long time. He invited me to share his meal in his huge tent.
"How is the situation?" I asked.
"There were some skirmishes, and many vicus are deserted. Right here, for example, all the villagers disappeared since more than one day."
And he showed me a map of the area. The valley was huge, and the inhabitants had chosen to build a huge vicus, Octodure, in the widest place, where they could control the "Punic Pass" leading straight to my home, just as the main traffic and trading lanes of the area. I remembered the place. Two centuries before, Carthage tried to cross the mountains not far away from here.
"If they want to cross the valley, they will have to cross here." Galba explained. "That's why we chose to establish our camp on the left side of this village. The inhabitants had to live on the right side. But since yesterday, we cannot find any of them".
I really didn't like that. All these evacuations would mean a huge battle was on her way.
"Say your men we could be attacked at any moment. They must stay on guard."
Galba gave the orders to the soldiers and we left in order to recognize the place.
All that silence was scary indeed. It was the calm before the storm. And I started wondering if Galba had chosen the best place to build the fort. We were on the left side of the Rhone's river, near steep slopes. No danger form that place. It was the river we feared the most. Of course, in case of trouble, we weren't far from our own borders. We just had to reach the Punic Pass, but it was on the other side of the river. We had a bridge to cross.
I was certain Octodure would soon be attacked. The place was too important. Would the fortifications be enough?
"We should retreat to a better fortress." I said.
"But…"
"This vicus is like a mouse's trap to me."
And we return to the camp. The sun was setting down. I was so nervous I could not sleep. But there weren't any attack this night.
Finally, at six in the morning, I decided to get up. Some soldiers were awake. They had stood guard all night long. It was still dark but I knew the sun would rise in a few moments. They all greeted me.
"Welcome to Octodure, Lord Rome", "Did you sleep well, Lord Rome?" or "Do you want a glass of wine, my lord? The villagers make a very good one." My fellow soldiers were all so nice.
"So, did you see anything suspect this night?"
"Nothing on the river or the other bank. Oh but… there is a bird for you."
"A bird?"
The soldier brought a magnificent peregrine falcon. He had a letter attached to his leg. Who could be the master of such a creature?
I opened the letter. It was from Belgica.
"The German are about to cross the Rhine again. Since you killed most of my soldiers and half of my population is prisoner in your capital, I can't fight them on my own. You better move you ass and come here RIGHT NOW or I swear I will use your soldiers for human sacrifices."
I sighted. Why in the world did I wish for a cute and dynamic little sister? I had to finish the battle quick before leaving for Belgica.
"Bad news?" Galba said while bringing me breakfast.
"Troubles in the North. The Germans are coming back. We have to concentrate as much strengths as we can there."
"Bad news for us. That's mean we have to give up the conquest of Helveti." Galba wasn't pleased at all. He so wished to be the man who would conquer the land of the fearsome Helvetians.
"Protecting the Gallic sisters is much more important. My help against the Germans is the only thing that convinces them to stay with me. Let's evacuate the city."
"Have breakfast first!" He said while giving me a piece of bread.
I didn't get it. An arrow hit the bread and stuck it in the ground. We turned our heads. The sun was rising and we could now see at least four thousand barbarian soldiers on the steep slopes just behind the camp. When did they arrive there? I grabbed one the men supposed to guard the walls.
"Can you explain me why you didn't see them coming?"
"Well… no-one was expecting them to come from the mountain. We were looking at the valley. Everyone thought they would use the road or the river. It is not like it is easy to move on these slopes full of rocks and small trees."
I sighted. I had to admit I didn't paid attention to the slope either, but that was so stupid. I should have known it wouldn't be a matter for Helveti.
A fire was lighted somewhere on the slope. I could see the man next to it. It was Helveti himself, with his blond hair and his bow. He was… about to shoot a fire arrow.
"SHIELDS!" I shouted.
Someone in the camp rang the alarm bell and all the soldiers who were awake ran to take their weapons. A shower of arrows beat down on the camp. A lot of unprepared soldiers were wounded.
Damnit! We were a perfect target for them. We didn't have a chance.
"Galba! We have to secure the cavalry! We must escape!"
After only ten minutes, the camp was on fire and a hundred Romans were lying on the ground, dead. The enemy had stop shooting. We heard war cries. The Helvetian's infantry was charging. "TO THE WALLS!" I shouted. "DRAW YOUR SWORDS!"
The battle seemed to last forever. The sun was high in the sky and we were always struggling for our lives. A soldier beside me began to despair.
"It is no use, my lord. We are so few and them, so many… we should surrender."
"We are going to die!" Another man cried.
They had a point. Right here, stuck in these walls, we were doomed. I called Galba.
"Prepare the cavalry. We are going to risk everything and make an exit. We will contain the enemy's infantry in order to help the others evacuation."
He nodded. Twenty minutes later, to my command, the main gate opened and we charged. The barbarians did not expect that and we easily broke their ranks. In a few minutes, we managed to secure the exit and all our wounded soldiers. Galba was leading them to a fortress on the Leman Lake. I stayed behind with the cavalry to protect the rear. The barbarians didn't follow us. It seemed they were fine with just driving us out of their land.
I sighted. It hasn't been the kind of battle I expected. I couldn't even duel with Helveti. Instead, I had lost half a legion and had to retreat. Well, I should be glad I saved the other half.
"Don't run away, you coward!"
I turned my head, just to see an arrow passing a few centimetres away from my ear. Helveti had finally decided to pursue me alone on his horse. His horse riding sucked but his shooting was worthy of Appolo and Diana. I hesitated to call my horsemen, but since he was alone, I figured it had to be a battle between nations. I faced him. He shot a new arrow. It touched the belt of my saddle. I fell to the ground. My poor horse was also hurt. I couldn't escape anymore. He came down from horse. I could see he was a very straight man who looked for a fight where each fighter had equal chances. I started to like him.
"Helveti, let's settle it. If I win, I want you to allow me to build Roman forts alongside the trade road to Octodure and the Punic Pass."
"If I win, you will never put a foot in my land ever again."
"Fine with me."
My blood was boiling. I so enjoyed that kind of fight. I ran to him, sword in my hand. He managed to shoot one more arrow before I broke his bow. That stupid arrow still managed to hit my left shoulder. I pulled it out and tried to strike again. Helveti protected himself with an iron sword… wait… The Helvetians had iron weapons? Since when? The Gallic sisters all used bronze weapons, exception for Belgica and her scary axe.
Helveti tried to take advantage of my lack of attention to hurt me. He scratched me and I came back to my senses. In a few seconds, I took the advantage. I hurt him several times. He soon reached his limit.
"Helveti, you know, it is not that I want to invade you but we really should have a new kind of diplomatic relationships. You really are the best in archery and no-one knows the mountains as well as you do. If you agree to use theses talents for me, I am ready to…"
"You haven't yet won! Don't you feel anything?"
Now he said it, I felt a little weird. I had a growing headache and nauseas. Could he…
"You poisoned you arrows! That's cheating! Just when I thought you were a straight man!"
"I will do everything in my power in order to protect my land!"
"I will still win before the poison get me."
And I moved my sword again. I managed to disarm him. He tried to run. I caught him by grabbing my arms around him. And then, I felt his chest was soft… soft as…
"Wait, are you a…"
But I couldn't say anything more. He made a headbutt and I collapsed. My lasts thoughts were "Helveti… are… you… really a…"
Octodure and the Punic Pass are more well-known today as the city of Martigny and the Great St-Bernard Pass. If you have the luck to visit those place, there is a very interesting Roman museum in the city and as you climb the pass, you can walk on the old Roman road (and you really should visit the Great St-Bernard Hospice and his cute St-Bernard dogs).
Why that last mystery about Helveti? I must admit I am a huge fan of the episode where Japan imagine Switzerland in a dress and I always wondered what would his reaction be if he knew what Japan was thinking… My dear Helveti will avenge his/her son.
Belgica has a peregrine falcon because I think they are the coolest birds in the world (yes, cooler than Gilbird)! And a couple of these falcons make their nest in one of the towers of Brussels'cathedral every year.
