A/N The beginning of this chapter will be similar to the timeless warrior by Anaklusmos14. I think that it is a great story one of my favourite stories. I also know that the timing of the two events are in the wrong order but this is a story so I am sorry if you do not like it. There is a fault with the army. Can any of you spot it?
Chapter 10
Perseus' POV
I was walking round Athens. I was taking one last look at the free city. The Romans were here. They were outside the city. I walked into the house of the Athena parthenos. Kneeling in front of the statue was a hooded figure. I smiled and said, "I did not know that the mighty goddess Athena was one of the vain goddesses."
Athena got up and turned around. "Hello Perseus, it has been many years since any of the Olympians have seen you." She said.
"Indeed Milady. I have however been in contact with some of the gods. Just not the ones that your father deems important." Athena grimaced at that. "Are you paying your last respects to your city." I asked.
She nodded slowly. "I assume you know of the other aspects of the gods." I nodded. "Well my family spend most of their time in the Roman form now. My Roman form pretty much makes me into a minor goddess."
"Yes," I agreed, "The new forms of the gods are not good for you. Therefore as you are one of the goddesses that have been kind to me that is not good for me either. Since the Romans are starting to take control of Greece I guess that you will be having to spend more time with you roman family."
Athena frowned at the thought of it. "My family have abandoned me to the fate of being a minor goddess."
"What will you do?" I asked.
"I will have too bare being reduced to a minor goddess alone without any support. I have always been a strong woman for the family. I will just have to continue it."
I went up to her and brought her into a hug. She stiffened. I was about to pull away when she returned it. We stood there for a minute and then she pulled away.
"Why did you do that?" she asked.
"Do what?"
"Hug a maiden goddess."
"I do not care if I die. All of my friends are dead. You were sad so I comforted you. I believe it is being nice."
She smiled, "Thank you Perseus"
"No problem." I replied.
I turned and left. The romans were coming. I could not stop them so I watched as they took the heart of Greece.
That was when I realised just how much I hated the Romans. They had taken my country as their own. They had killed thousands of Greeks and they had disrespected one of the few Olympians that I actually liked.
387BC near the river Allia
I looked at the quickly arranged phalanx in front of me. The Romans were ready. They had a huge weakness. The centre of the battle line was formed of the richer romans. These were good soldiers. They were well equipped. However on the flanks of their army were the levies. These troops were barely trained and had very little equipment. If we could exploit that weakness then we had a good chance of defeating them despite being outnumbered. I looked at the warband around me. They were all good troops. Barbarians from Gaul yes but they were far better men than the Romans.
I turned to the leader of them Brennus. "We shall be feasting in Rome tonight, my friend"
He grinned at me, "Aye, we shall feast in Rome."
"The weakness is the flanks," I said, "If we attack those with more of our men we shall be able to break them and then we can wheel in on the centre." He nodded in agreement.
"Go where you want my friend, we shall win."
I smiled at him and went to the left flank. I looked around at the men. They knew that I was an incredible fighter. There was no other way to win the favour of Barbarians if you were not one. The respected me for that.
I looked left at Brennus. He turned to the man to his left. I knew what this meant. I put on my Corinthian helmet,(A/N this is the stereotypical Greek helmet with the plume on top.) The man raised his army. He then put the war horn he carried to his lips.
The men behind me surged forward as a heaving mass of men. It was made to look like a mindless Gallic rabble. Exactly what the Romans would expect. The plan was simple, destroy or rout the flanks, the middle would be isolated.
I picked out a man on the edge of the phalanx. He was so badly equipped that he had no helmet on. Even he noticed the Greek among the Gauls. His look of surprise was the last look he had as I through a javelin. He fell to the ground unrecognisable. The romans lowered their spears. I smirked. With my last step I slammed my foot on the floor. This created a minor earthquake which put many of the Romans of balance. I used this spring to propel myself above the soldiers. One looked up in fear and saw what he thought was a Greek demon flying towards him. I landed impaling him on my sword. I swept forward killing three more before they could draw their swords. The next one was ready. It did not save him. I feinted with a jab to his chest and with a speed faster than he could follow beheaded him. I swept through them with such rage that they started to run to get away from me. These men were not warriors, they were farmers and craftsmen. As their entire right flank fled in fear many of the Gauls followed. I heard the rumble of hooves as our light cavalry chased after them. I however turned my attention to the centre of the Roman army. I roared a battle cry and charged.
2nd August 216BC (Near Cannae)
I was walking around the troops. They were confident. Rightly so. To the casual observer we looked like Romans. This was because we had taken equipment from dead Romans, from the previous battles the General Hannibal had won. They had been two crushing defeats for Rome and we were confident in another. We were on the far side of the Carthaginian army. Most of the troops were lying down. There was a slight mist in the air. I walked around the stationary bodies of disguised Libyan infantry. Hannibal's plan was genius. Have them force the Gauls and Iberians from our centre backwards. Make them leave themselves open to attack. Make them believe that we are on their side. When they are strung out in pursuit we shall crush them from all sides. The Libyans on the other side will replicate us. The Gauls and Iberians that they were chasing will turn around, and our superior cavalry will hit them in the back. It will be a massacre. We watched the beginnings of the combat. I waited for some of the Gauls to start to flee and gestured for my troop to rise. We were covered by the mist. We watched as the foolish Romans arrogantly made their own trap. I waited for the horn to sound.
When it did we charged. When the Roman soldiers realised that it was us charging their faces changed to fear. They knew they were done for.
A/N This pattern will continue for at least the next chapter. I am sorry if you do not like it to much but it is one of my favourite topics. Thanks for reading. Please comment if you have anything to say. I am sorry this chapter took a few days.
ME