Chapter 34: The Courage of the Boadicea
The wound that Commodus sustained was stabilized for the moment, as were Aislinn's and Samson's. The couple woke every now and again, opening their eyes and scanning to make sure the other and their son was still nearby. Tormod offered to ride ahead and scout the area for any other nasty surprises. Just as Tormod was about to take off ahead, Iain MacCreery came thundering on his mare back to the group. He panted and looked very angry.
"The Captain of the Romans, Maltian did not follow after us. Is all going well?", he breathed.
"Aye. So far so good.", Dhiarmid replied.
"And the fifty that were loyal to Falco, not their empire, what of them?", Iain asked. Quintus and Maximus looked at one another worriedly. "We counted only one hundred men. There was also Maltian, but he is obviously dispatched. That still leaves fifty unaccounted for."
"They must have been the ones that helped the little rat escape.", Quintus growled. "They must still be out there. We should have someone scout ahead after all."
"I'll go with Tormod.", Maximus offered. Tormod nodded and rode away swiftly. Maximus followed not far behind. The two rode for fifteen minutes before spotting the troop of men that had left before the clansmen had arrived. "Assassins, no doubt. Once the Celts were busy celebrating once more, they undoubtedly planned to kill everyone."
Tormod seethed seeing wicked bows and quivers of lethal arrows. They were exactly like the two that had wounded Aislinn. He turned to Maximus.
"Do you think we can afford them a head start on us or not?", he asked. Maximus shook his head.
"Lucius and Lucilla are still at the fortress, so is your mother. I know these men. They are utterly ruthless. The palace guards will fight in proper conduct, but these men will have no trouble stabbing someone in the back.", Maximus explained.
"Has that happened among your armies before?", Tormod asked.
"Worse. It happened to one of our greatest Caesars. He was brutally murdered by senators and advisors.", Maximus said looking quite sternly into Tormod's face. "We have to go back and get help to face them. We'll need all of your brothers and your father to help."
"Aye, let's go back for them.", Tormod said as they turned and rode back towards their companions. The two men flew back to the others as quickly as physical law would allow. Dhiarmid noticed the anxiety in Maximus. He rode quickly up to them and began to speak softly.
"What is it? What's coming for us?", Dhiarmid asked. Commodus, who was laying in front of Seamus, stirred and looked over at the two speaking. He felt much stronger for no reason. He was sure he had lost a substantial amount of blood and had experienced a great deal of pain. He should have been feeling terribly ill, but instead he felt ready to conquer the world again. Aislinn also stirred as she sat in front of Eoin. She turned to check on Commodus and Samson first. Then she began listening intently to her father's voice. Even though he and Maximus were speaking very softly, Aislinn had gained the keen skill to listen carefully to her father and was able to hear him quite clearly.
"Falco's men. There are fifty of them, easily. They are headed towards the fortress. We have to move quickly to get there before them.", Maximus said. "Are there any other warriors that we can use to attack them?"
"All of the clansmen rallied to go with us save ten of the palace guards. The rest went out after what we expected to be a great bloodletting.", Dhiarmid said sadly. "Sorcha will be willing to fight, but even she is still only one. We need the element of surprise and a few more in numbers to fight them."
"We don't have the time to go and get the others, but perhaps we can surprise them.", Maximus said. Aislinn and Commodus both gasped. Commodus filled with uncontrollable rage. Every emotion he had been forced to surpress in the name of propriety came rushing into his blood all at once. He looked and saw the fear on Aislinn's face for her home, family, and new son. He snarled and threw his elbow backwards into Seamus. Seamus was taken completely off guard as Commodus hit him and threw him off of the horse. Commodus grabbed the reigns and began to ride away. Aislinn gasped. She tried to spur the horse that she and Eoin were riding to follow after. Eoin held onto her and tried to hold her still. Aislinn shouted in defiance and tossed her older brother off of the horse as if he were nothing at all. Eoin and Seamus both looked up in shock as the two went riding away.
"What on earth?!", Dhiarmid exclaimed as his daughter and son in law headed off to their deaths. He groaned. "After them!"
"No.", Maximus said defensively. "You and Quintus get back to the fortress and protect Sorcha and the others. The rest of us will go and retrieve them."
Dhiarmid was about to argue when Samson let out a loud cry. He shook his head. He really didn't like the idea of leaving the fate of his only daughter in the hands of simply her brothers and Maximus. Still, there was really no other alternative. He looked directly at Maximus and nodded. "Bring her back safe, Maximus. There'll be more than hell to pay if she dies."
"Take care of Samson.", he ordered. Dhiarmid nodded to Quintus and the two rode off towards the fortress. Maximus turned to the four brothers. Seamus climbed on with Cailen and Eoin climbed on with Tormod. "Strength and honour!", he shouted. The brothers shouted back in Gaelic. The five men on three horses went bounding out towards what would be a very strange battle.
Aislinn didn't know what her husband was doing, nor did she care. She only knew that Maximus had just told her father that there were assassins over this way. Not only that, but there just so happened to be fifty of them. Commodus was probably going to try and take them all out by himself. Aislinn shook her head silently thinking about how impetuous and bull-headed her beloved was. She had to get there quickly before he got himself killed. 'So help me, if he's already dead I'll kill all of them then bring him back and hurt him!', she ranted to herself. Aislinn rode right up beside her husband before the troop of Romans could see either of them. She grabbed him and pulled him, still on horseback, into the woods besisde her. "What in the name of everything sacred do you think you are doing?!", she whispered urgently.
Commodus straightened himself up and looked at her very sternly.
"I am going to end this, Aislinn. Falco might be dead, but his men will still be a threat to our family and our people.", he said. Aislinn frowned. "I won't let anything happen to you or Samson again, Aislinn. I have to do this."
"Then we will do this together, Commodus. That is what marraige is all about; unity.", she said. He nodded slightly and looked at her intently. Aislinn was incredibly beautiful even now. Even with disheveled hair, pallid skin, pale lips, and plain clothing Aislinn was magnificent. He knew he might die in the next few moments. He grabbed Aislinn by the shoulders, lifting her off of the horse. He kissed her firmly, passionately. The atmosphere around both of them exploded in a thuderous boom. Their souls collided in a torrent of heat and flew towards the heavens. Their entities were both so high that they couldn't breathe. Suddenly, they felt themselves plumit down; spiralling and careening into the earth. They both landed hard, crashing into one another's arms. They breathed heavily and tried to regain their senses. Commodus pulled away from her first and sped off towards the marching assassins. Aislinn remained a little dazed for a moment, but then spurred off after him.
The troop was nearing the castle. Quintus and Dhiarmid were only minutes away, but had caught a glimpse of the men. They only hoped that Maximus and the brothers would be able to stave them off long enough for the rest of the guards to rally together. Dhiarmid arrived first by a second. He jumped from the horse, still holding Samson, and ran inside. He stormed into the throne room. Quintus bounded after him as quickly as he could.
"Sorcha!", Dhiarmid called. The fromidable queen met him partway. They embraced for a moment. Sorcha looked down at Samson then back up at her husband.
"Where is she? Where is Aislinn?", Sorcha said desperately.
"She arrived in time to dispatch Falco. There are fifty Roman men that escaped. They're headed this way! Commodus and Aislinn rode off to deal with them. Our sons and Maximus are not far behind.", Dhiarmid said in two breaths only. Sorcha looked very distressed.
"Our clansmen and the others, what of them?"
"They are guiding the rest of the troop that was with Falco to the border. They are too far away.", Quintus added. Sorcha took Samson from her husband for a moment and looked softly into his eyes. She smiled. She looked back up at the two men. "They are not far, highness. We must move quickly."
"Take the lad to Lucilla. Dhiarmid guard the fortress at all costs.", Sorcha ordered. Dhiarmid decided it best not to argue about this. He took Samson and headed off towards Lucilla's chambers. Quintus stared at Sorcha for a moment. The queen smiled brightly. "Come, Roman. We must rally as many able-bodied warriors as we can."
"But my lady, all of the men have headed off for the border.", Quintus argued as they walked towards the door leading outside.
"Aye, all of the men have run off. Now we call on the warriors that feed the lifeblood of our clans.", Sorcha said proudly as she opened the door.
Commodus and Aislinn rode as quietly as possible. Aislinn was beginnning to feel faint. The adrenaline that had been generated by her fear of losing Commodus and Samson had been used up in his kiss. It was a good way to end things, but Aislinn really wasn't ready for this to be over. She began to feel the world around her shrinking into darkness. She tried to keep herself awake, keep breathing heavily and shouting inwardly to jar her spirits. Nothing worked. Aislinn slipped peacefully into unconsciousness. Commodus turned as he heard Aislinn drop. His heart sank. He rode over to her and leapt from the horse, kneeling beside her. He cradled her head in one hand and held her to his face. He checked for breathing. She was still breathing softly. He checked for a heartbeat. Her heart beat as loudly as ever. He smiled a little. Aislinn was still alive. His smiled faded instantly when he felt something cold at his throat.
"Hail Caesar.", a familiar voice snarled. A few more vocies laughed behind him. He stood, slowly, holding Aislinn tightly to him. Maltus stood behind him with a shimmering blade at his throat. Commodus gulped. He felt truly defeated. Aislinn was incapacitated and he was being threatened by someone who had already done away with his father. Commodus fought bck the urge to shout angrily at the heavens for this terrible injustice. Aislinn groaned and shifted. "She's awfully strong compared to the squirming little tart we dragged out of the river. I'll bet she won't survive another arrow launched at her heart."
The rest of the men laughed. Commodus gently set Aislinn down, stood, turned, and then punched Maltus sqaure in the face. Maltus landed a few feet away. The men snickered and watched Maltus get up angrily. Before he could completely rise to his feet, Maltus took another harsh blow to his face. Commodus was able to ignore the terrible pain in his hand as he felt release of the anger and sorrow from his father's death and the role in the empire he had been forced to play. Maltus struggled to stand once more only to meet a third angry fistful from Commodus. Instead of trying to get up once more, Maltus laid sitll and called for the men to hold him. Four men took hold of the angry young man until Maltus stood. This was a few seconds longer than most would expect since Maltus was still reeling quite painfullt from Commodus's expression of disapproval. Maltus walked up to him, wiping the blood away from his lips and nose. He looked at Commodus directly. He smiled slightly. Commodus gathered his strength in anticipation for the man retaliating. Maltus turned to the rest of the men and ordered them to pick up Aislinn and hold her. The men obliged. Commodus filled with even deeper anger and frustration as the men away from him took Aislinn into their hands and stood her up as best they could. Aislinn stood between them with her head dangling in unconsciousness. Maltus walked over to her and hit her as hard as he could three times. Commodus fought madly to lunge at Maltus, but to no avail. The traitorous soldiers that held him had not recently been wounded as he had. Maltus turned and smiled.
"Let's get to the fortress as Falco commanded. I'm sure the Boadicea would like to see her daugher one last time, and Lucius needs to see his uncle one last time as well.", Maltus sneered. Commodus struggled like a frightened cat. Unfortunately, the presence of claws was vital in a cat's struggling. The men began to cart Aislinn and Commodus away.
Maximus and the others watched this from a distance. He turned back to the four brothers.
"Should we attack now?", he asked. The four shook their heads. Claude was still in the background feeling very out of place and upset. So much was happening to two of his dearest friends. He had managed to keep from being sent back to the castle with Dhiarmid, but he was still helpless to do anything at the moment.
"Nay. We wait until the fortress is in front of them. Then we'll be behind them. There'll be no escape. Fifty Romans may seem like quite a bit to you, but we have greater strength even in our small nembers.", Tormod said. The others nodded in agreement. Maximus gave a quick nod as they headed after the group more silently than their companions had been able to accomplish.
The troop of Romans ascended the hill towards the fortress. Maltus smiled triumphantly as he noticed how abandoned the fortress looked. They would catch the Boadicea and whatever fools served her, completely off guard. Revenge was sweet. They inched closer to the walls. Marching methodically and very ceremoniously for such a vile campaign. They were but a good fifteen feet from the citadel.
"Turn around, you Roman sporrans!", a loud voice shouted from behind them. Commodus, who had been led at a sword's point, turned a little and smiled. Aislinn was still unconscious, especially after the trauma she had suffered at the hands of Maltus most recently. Behind the troop of Roman soldiers, standing at the top of the hill, were all five men. Claude rushed up to join them. The four brothers were in full Celtic battle-gear, and Maximus was in basic attire that he had brought with him from Rome. The fifty men began to laugh disdainfully at the six-man army that stood cahllenging them.
"Do you really think six men can dispatch fifty trained legionares?", Maltus said with a laugh.
"You think that's a challenge, try this!", another voice announced from the fortress. The gates and doors opened revealing at least two-hundred angry women. Some were old, some were quite young, and some (like Sorcha) were right in the middle and ready to thrash the Roman enemy. Maltus stared at this in disbelief. His shock was doubled when each of the women held up a weapon. Not a frying pan, a rolling pin, a pitchfork, or a spade; but a full weighted broadsword. Maltus felt his entire being shrink in front of this sea of raging estrogen. "Kill them!", Sorcha yelled. The women shouted madly and ran at the troop.
"Retreat!", Maltus screamed. Too late, the entire female population of this section of the highlands was on them, and none too gently. Swords swiped, heads fell, blood sprayed, and the band of Celtesses dispatched all fifty men in but a brief five minutes. Having been introduced to him aforehand, all of them knew better than to attack Commodus. He was the only body left standing. He looked around in a mix of awe and terror before rushing over to Aislinn. He picked her up and held her. She opened her eyes for a moment.
"What happened?", she muttered. He held her very close to him and smiled.
"It's all done. All of them are gone, Aislinn. We're safe, all of us.", he said softly. Sorcha walked over to the couple and drew a sword out of a nearby corpse. She looked down at her son in law and smiled brightly.
"Dhiarmid told me what you did for your son. That was the penultimate form of courage and love.", Sorcha said with pride. "Your sister and nephew are with Samson. Let's get back so that you can tend to Aislinn with them."
He smiled and nodded in agreement. She reached down and helped him lift Aislinn. They carried her back to the fortress. The brothers, Maximus, and Claude also walked into the fortress. Maximus was amazed, the brothers were very amused, while Claude was quite terriffied. It was no wonder Aislinn had proved such a challenge to Commodus, the women of her clan were hardened warriors as well.
Commodus and Sorcha carried Aislinn to hers and her husband's room. Sorcha ordered Commodus to lay down beside her as she sent for healers. Commodus didn't notice his sister and nephew coming into the room to fuss over him. He only saw Aislinn. Her eyes closed softly. He wondered to himself if she had lost consciousness from the wounds she was already suffering, or if it was the intensity of his kiss. He chuckled to himself thinking that a powerful young girl like her, who had obviously been raised with other powerful men and women, could be brought to her knees by the power in his love for her. Aislinn smiled in her sleep and jarred awake when Samson was brought into the room to feed for a little while. The small family held onto one another tightly. Aislinn held Samson tenderly while Commodus placed his arms lovingly around his wife and son. That was an incredible thought still, a wife and son. Life was wonderful.
Four years later, Aislinn walked away from the crib holding their one year-old daughter, Sorcha. Aislinn was already well pregnant with their next child. She cooed and rocked the girl as she walked over to Samson who sat at the table in the small drawing room with a few wooden figures. He stopped playing long enough to reach up and kiss both his mother and baby sister. Aislinn smiled. Commodus walked into the room and looked at all of them happily. Samson jumped up and stood beside his chair.
"Daddy, I'm invisible!", Samson yelled. He had developed the habit of trying to imitate what he heard in his mother's stories. Commodus laughed and set down the satchel he had taken with him on the long hunt. He knelt and looked at his son.
"Really? I can still see you.", he mused. Samson laughed and shook his head. "Yes, I can. And if I can see you... then..." Commodus inched closer to the giggling little boy. Samson ducked behind Aislinn's skirt still peeking out at his father. "...then I can... get you!" With that, he snatched the boy up into his arms. Samson squealed as his father growled playfully and swirled around with him. He stopped and faced Aislinn. Both quieted as Aislinn and baby Sorcha approached. Commodus bent down and kissed his daughter. Then he stood and kissed Aislinn gently. She smiled back very brightly. Aislinn still found it difficult to think that this man, this brave and tender man, was her beloved. Just a few years ago they had both wanted nothing more than to knock the stuffing out of one another, but now they held each other with a tenderness that caused the others in the room to sigh softly in acknowledgement. "The hunt was good. It will be a very good winter."
"Aye. We have been blessed.", Aislinn said patting her belly slightly. Commodus smiled bigger and held her closer. Aislinn leaned into him and breathed deeply. Commodus had explored every avenue of courage at her side and at the side of their growing family. The two felt their souls swirling uncontrollably in a warm sea of contentment. Courage and love were the same thing for them, and they had never been braver in their lives.