The atmosphere in the Golden Hall was great. After their victory in Helms Deep, the King threw a feast in honor of the dead.
The Elves left after the battle to report to Imladris. Their losses was a big damage to their morale.
Now that the mourning part was over, everyone is getting drunk off their asses.
One in particular was the Fellowship's resident Centurion.
"Centurion Titus."
Titus took one last sip of his drink before turning to the King.
"Yes, King Théoden? What can I help you with?"
"Would you mind sharing a story of the feats you have accomplished in your world?"
Titus brought a hand to his chin as he thought about his answer.
"Well, I have one. But half of this story is accomplished by my brother."
"Do tell."
~Line Break~
The glare of the sun was no match for the glare Marcus had.
"What is the meaning of this!?"
Titus ignored his brother as he looked at the bandits that surrounded them.
The bandits weren't the ones that shocked the duo. Bandits were easy enough to kill. No. It was the fact that the guards their uncle gave to them as escorts, drew their blades and joined the bandits surrounding them.
Their uncle, Cassius, who ruled their Empire south of Ashfeld, sent them on a mission to investigate mysterious disappearances happening in the northern borders.
The two brothers gathered two of their most trusted Centuria and marched north.
Their uncle gave them six of his best soldiers as personal guards. The brothers were suspicious at this.
When they were young, their uncle was declared Caesar after their father, who was nominated to be the next ruler, was assassinated at their home in the middle of the night.
He ruled through fear and corruption. Anyone who spoke against him were executed. Women who refuse him were raped and murdered by his personal guards. The Senate were torn in half about this. Half of them opposed his rule while the other half, those who support him, benefitted from this. Everyone was afraid to go up against him.
He didn't care for his family. It was a known fact that he was the one to send the assassin against his father, Lucius. But everyone feared him too much to call him out on it. When his sister-in-law, Aurelia, died when she gave birth to Lucia. Marcus was left to take care of his siblings. Their uncle barely gave a damn about his brother's children.
Titus maybe a whoring and drunken arse, but he was good at heart. He respects his soldiers and allies. He may fight for glory but he would never risk the lives of his men if he could help it.
Marcus too, would never risk the life of his men. But he also knew that sacrifices must be made.
Their soldiers love them, their enemies fear them. The people adore them. They were a disturbance in their uncle's rule.
"Your uncle paid a hefty price for your heads. Once the two of you are out of the picture, all the power of House Valeria will go to him and his heir." Said the Bandit Leader. A lecherous grin made it's way on the man's face.
"He also said he'll give us your sister as a... trophy for a job well done."
Laughter was heard from the group as the Centurion brothers narrowed their eyes in disgust.
"Ohohoho, I can taste her little cunt already. Haha-"
The Bandit Leader was cut off as two Pugios buried themselves in his forehead and neck.
The others looked on in shock as the body fell to the ground before turning their eyes at the brothers.
Marcus and Titus still had their arms outstretched after they threw the daggers. Lowering their arms Marcus glared at their opponents.
"How would you like to die?" He asked menacingly.
"Quick and painless? A quick swing on the neck. Off goes your head, hm?" Titus continued.
"Or slow and painful? Should I cut off your limbs one by one and leave you bleeding on the ground?"
The bandits and guards were disturbed by this before charging at the two. Ten bandits, well nine now, and six guards. Fifteen in total.
Titus let out a sadistic grin as he jumped at the first bandit and stabbed his Gladius in the man's neck before kicking the body away.
'One down, fourteen to go.'
He thought before grabbing a guard by the collar and repeatedly bashed the pommel of his blade on the guard's face. He bashed him one last time before he slit his throat. He ducked from a swing and kicked the attacker's knee, breaking it.
He grabbed the attacker by the collar and stabbed his blade up the bandit's jaw.
'Twelve.'
Meanwhile, Marcus punched one in the gut and kicked him away. He parried an attack from one guard, a Conqueror, he realized, then stabbed his blade on the man's chest before giving him an uppercut that sent the guard flying.
"Incredibilis!"
Titus finished the Conqueror off when he jumped high and buried his blade on the man's heart, killing him.
"Infirmus!"
'Eleven.'
Marcus threw his Gladius at the bandit he kicked away as he saw him sneaking up on Titus. The blade hit the man in the foot and caused him to scream in pain.
Titus heard this and turned around before uppercutting the bandit. Titus's hit was strong enough to break the man's neck, effectively killing him.
'Ten.'
Marcus dodged a swing from a guard, this time it was a Warden, and sent three quick slashes that connected. He dodged a heavy swing and stabbed the Warden in the chest.
He pulled the blade with enough force to send the Warden stumbling forward before kneeing him in the face, sending him sprawling on the ground.
Marcus walked menacingly towards the downed knight as the Warden raised one arm in surrender, while the other was holding the wound.
The Centurion cut off the knight's outstretched hand and buried his Gladius in the Warden's neck.
'Nine.'
Titus pulled his Gladius free from a bandit's chest before spinning the blade in his hands. He them made slashed the bandit's knees before stabbing his blade into the bandit's mouth.
'Eight.'
He punched the body off his blade and turned to the remaining bandits and guards.
"Anyone else?" He asked before throwing his Gladius on the ground, with the blade burying itself in the earth.
He cracked his knuckles and smiled as he saw the fear in his enemies eyes.
A body was thrown in front of them as Marcus rolled his arm.
'Seven'
"Still think you can win?"
Unbeknownst to the remaining bandits, the loyal soldiers that Marcus and Titus gathered, were silently readying their Pilas.
Marcus whistled.
That was the last thing the bandits heard before they were impaled by javelins.
Two surviving guards struggled to get up but was surrounded by the soldiers.
A shieldwall blocked any chances of escape.
"What should we do about them, sir?" Asked Optio Claudius.
Marcus stared directly in the eyes of the guards. His mouth set in a frown.
"Crucify them."
Claudius nodded and ordered the men to do their task.
Titus saw a scroll fall from one of the guard's belt and took it.
His eyes widened at the scroll's contents.
~Line Break~
"Your uncle has gone too far!"
The brothers watched Quintus, Titus's Optio, as he paced around in the tent.
"He's right. His rule cannot go on. He must be dealt with!" Claudius added.
Marcus sighed and rose from his chair while Titus kept fingering the Pugio in his hands.
"I'll address the men. Claudius gather them for me, would you."
Claudius nodded and walked out the tent.
"Form, you filthy slobs! Form!"
Marcus ran a hand through his hair and walked out. He saw his soldiers lined up and their full attention on him.
"My uncle, Cassius Valerius Corvus has formally declared that Marcus Valerius Felix and Titus Valerius Felix as criminals and enemies of the Empire!"
The cries of outrage filled the camp.
Marcus raised his hand and the soldiers stopped speaking.
"He also declared that anyone under our command or have dealings with us are also criminals."
"But I will not stand by and let this... monster rule any further! Will you march with me? To the Great City. To end this monster once and for all!"
Shouts of agreement rang throughout their camp.
"Tomorrow, we march to the Great City and end this tyrant's rule!"
~Line Break~
"With a force of 200 loyal and determined soldiers, Marcus and I marched through the Great City."
"Cassius sent the Empire's army against them but Lucia convinced half of the Empire to fight against Cassius's rule. She was the most optimistic and philosophical out of the three of us but she was also a Centurion. She fought for the Empire using her knowledge Words and Sword."
"For three days, a bloody civil war consumed the Empire. The streets were filled with the bodies from both sides. The war left the Great City aflame. It's citizens were not spared."
"It was on the fourth day did Marcus, Lucia and I finally killed Cassius and ended the civil war. We freed our home from the hands of a madman."
"Those who were against Cassius's rule, gave Marcus rule over the Empire. He was only 27 when they gave him that power. After that, a wave of executions followed. All those affiliated with Cassius didn't receive any mercy from the Empire. Her citizens mocked them and cheered as their bodies fell to the ground, dead. Justice spread throughout the ruined Empire."
"Soon, Marcus brought all effort into rebuilding the Empire. When it was done and the Empire flourished again, he stepped down as Emperor. He ruled for four years. His last decree was that the rule of the Empire will not be handled by the Emperor alone. A council was made to balance the power."
"The Council consisted of four leading Political Families. The House of Cornelia, Julia, Junia and Valeria. The House of Valeria was added by the senate after the deeds done by Marcus."
"Our new Emperor, Gaius, was a man with a golden heart. One that should've ruled the Empire years ago. Lucia was his most trusted adviser. Marcus was his most valuable and loyal soldier and I was his greatest friend."
"To this day, seeing our Empire rise again and see her Glory was the best moment of my life. To think, I was part of making it possible. One of my greatest achievements." Titus finished before drinking the whole mug of ale.
"So... You just told us that you and your siblings killed your way to power." Rin said as she raised an eyebrow at the Centurion's story.
"A little bit, yes. It's how it works against some Emperors and crazy people. You have to kill them to stop them. Easy enough to understand." He replied with a shrug.
"Hn. Whatever."
The Aramusha just went back to drinking.