Chapter ten: How I became a hero.

The boar and I walked all night long, but we didn't catch Germania. To my surprise, he didn't go back to his temporary camp in the plain. He went eastward. Was he planning to take Belgica to his home? There was no way I could let him do that… But the more the time passed, the less I trusted me. Why didn't I catch them already? Belgica was definitively trying to do everything in her power to slow down Germania.

When the sun rose, I took a look at the track the boar was following. It was still only footsteps. But how in the hell was he able to move so quickly with his prisoner? I had to solve that mystery because that strange ability might become a real problem in the future. At noon, I reached a huge orchard. I was tired and hungry. I needed to rest. My four-leg companion did not agree with me. He was more and more nervous. I wished it meant we were about to catch our enemy. But I really needed to rest or I would be powerless against Germania.

I climbed to a tree in order to pick some apples. But just as I was grapping a gorgeous one, I saw people a little far away in the orchard. It was them! Germania had tied up Belgica to a tree and both of them seemed to be sleeping. My wildcat had finally managed to exhaust her kidnapper. That was my chance! I came down form the tree as quickly and discreetly as possible. I praised the boar. "Nice job, bud! We caught them. It is time for an awesome and infallible strategy."

Yes, I had done enough mistakes like that. From that day, I would carefully think before acting and come with such a perfect rescue plan Belgica would start calling me "Big Brother".

A few minutes later, I approached Germania silently, the hand on my sword. Belgica, who had woken up, threw me a tense look. I made her a sign to stay silent. I came closer in order to untie her but just as I was about to touch her, I heard the sound of a sword pulled from its sheath. I dodged the attack of a Germania who was now awake.

"Good, a true duel between men!" I shouted.

"You are not welcome here." He said.

"We are still on Belgica's territory. It's upon to her…"

"Shut up!" He tried to cut me again. I warded off his sword and attacked right away. I had to take him away from Belgica. Like this, the boar could free his mistress while I took care of my enemy.

This time again, we were on equal strength. How was that possible? I should have been far much stronger since I had conquered the Gallic sisters.

"Is that me or you did some training since our last battle?" I asked him.

"You talk far too much."

"Chatting is a national sport at home." I answered. "Rhetoric is the first subjects which we teach at school. Everyone can learn it: nobles, merchants, poor people, women and even slaves"

"Thanks for the warning. I will be careful to never go in such a noisy place."

And we exchange numerous blades' strokes. My plan worked. Far away from us, I could see my new bud eating away the ties of its mistress. She could run away… But after that… what should I do? If I didn't defeat Germania, he would just catch her again. And it didn't look like I was about to win either.

"I get it now. You came here alone." Germania grinned. That kind of smile on his face was the scariest think I had ever seen in my life. I was even too scared to tremble.

"And did you ever wonder why we went this way, straight to the East?"

I had a bad feeling about this. He continued: "Did you think we stopped in this orchard because we were tired?"

"Actually, I was wondering why it didn't happen sooner. This night, I understood that you were abnormally tough. If you're about to reveal me your secret, please go on!"

"What an idiot!" Belgica complained a few meters away. Her boar growled in approbation.

Germania and I fought again for two minutes, but after that, they all started to hear the sound of horses, many horses. Germania grinned again.

"They are right on schedule."

"You…" Belgica was using her nation's power to identify the newcomers. "800 horsemen of him just crossed the Rhine a few kilometres from here. They will be here in a few minutes… just as…" She had a surprised face. "How the hell did you do that?"

"What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Germania attacked me again. He was different than two minutes before. I understood that orchard was supposed to be a meeting place for his army and him. But somehow, I fell stronger as well. It was like I was surrounded by friends cheering me. My nation's power was also active. I could feel my army was also nearby. But how did they found me? I had crossed half Belgica's territory in one night without warning anyone.

The fight continued. Three minutes later, a barbarian cavalry appeared in the orchard. Germania was confident is his victory. He didn't notice their arrival hadn't change anything in our balance of powers. I had to play on that until my own cavalry arrived.

The Germanic cavalry soon surrounded us. Belgica and her boar came closer to us to avoid the horsemen. The girl had no weapons to protect herself. I was the only one who could protect her against eight hundred barbarians. It sure would be pretty though.

Belgica seized a big branch and used it as bludgeon. I was glad she was on my side this time. I whispered her: "Hold on as much as you can. My army is coming." She nodded and we started a hopeless but epic fight. I focussed on beating Germany. My fellows got rid of every mortal trying to interfere in our fight.

We stood like it for twenty minute. During this time, Belgica managed to steal a fine harmer and did far much more damages. She could blow up a horse in one strike. I couldn't avoid wondering what she would do with my civilised weapons when she would have full recovered. She would definitively be my stronger warrior and an impassable wall all by herself.

As we started to reach our limits, I heard the familiar sound of my own cavalry. I was always happy when it saved the day but why in the world did it always appear at the last minute? When he realised what was going on, Germania shouted new orders. I could see Caesar doing the same. The Roman cavalry was deployed on three lines. They were far much more than the Germanic, at least three times more. I turned my head to look at my enemy. He tried to hide his fear without great success. Somehow, it didn't make me happier. I felt kinda sorry for him, since his defeat was unavoidable.

I didn't remember which army charged first, but the next minutes were awful. Horses were running everywhere and I did my best to protect Belgica from everyone. She could so easily be hurt in such chaos. After less than one hour, the Germanic lines were annihilated. Some of them retreated to the Rhine and crossed it. Germania was one of them.

"Good, with such a defeat, we won't see him soon." I said, satisfied.

Belgica came closer, blushing.

"Hmmm, you idiot… thanks."

That was such a cute reward.

"How did you manage to follow me?"

"That's your boar. He followed your track and I followed him."

"He did? I mean, you trusted him?"

"Of course. Well, it was weird at first, but the boar looked so confident and ..."

Her face was redder. She was quite adorable now. We heard someone calling us. Gaul was there. Just as I thought, she had accompanied the cavalry.

"Thanks the Gods, you're alright!" She said after hugging her little sister. She turned toward me.

"Okay, we gonna say you saved my sis."

"Hey, I did save her! And by the way, how did you find us? I didn't warn…"

"What, you followed us all on your own?" Belgica wondered. "You're such an idiot!"

Gaul smirked. "I found you thanks to the power of love and I led your army here."

"Power of what?" Belgica and I asked together. I was not reassured. Gaul often talked about the fact "Love" gave her strange powers. I won't be able to escape her tonight.

"Lord Rome!" Caesar and some members of his general staff also arrived.

"It was a total victory!" Lucius Cotta said, delighted.

"You sure made us run." Quintus Sabinus added.

"What do we do now? Do we pursue them in their territory?" Another one asked

"Good point." Caesar intervened. "Are we going to wait they come back or shall we bring the war to them?"

"What?" Belgica's became white. "No! You can't…"

Gaul took her sister.

"You are still in a state of shock. Just come and rest."

"Gaul, they are about to invade Germania."

"They are just going to punish him. Don't you want to revenge yourself? They attacked your villages and tried to abduct you."

"Gaul! Open your eyes! Don't you…"

"Time to rest, sis." And my girlfriend took her in a neighbouring village. I was grateful for it. Maybe Belgica would not have approved of the punishment Caesar had in mind.

Just as the two Gallic sisters left, some soldiers brought us some prisoner. I recognised a wounded Tencteri and the other was a young boy looking just like him. Maybe he was one of his brothers. When Caesar understood he had captured Germania little brothers, he grinned. "Good, I think we need to do an exemplary judgment."

At that point of the "Gallic Wars". Caesar said that 800 perfidious horsemen attacked the Roman camp while some other Germanic tribes were trying to negociate. He added they had no chance against the 5000 horsemen from the Roman cavalry. In the Gallic Wars, Caesar said he let a lot of prisonners go. But some of his contemporaries (his enemies at Rome) said that on the contrary, he was very cruel. He would have made execute two whole tribes.

I have a request for all the british who read my story... Which kind of creatures would Britannia summon in order to create a storm? (how that, i spoiled the next chapters?) I am lacking knowledge concerning that bestiary.