Re: S.P.Q.R.
262BC Winter
Rome
"Lucius, Iunia come inside! This is no weather to play outside!"
Two pair of tiny feet started running across the battered pavement down the Aventine. Winter had hit Rome more severly than the memory of the young children could recollect, but the prospect of spending the entire day indoors filled them with dread. Of toys they had almost nothing, and the small cottage they dwelled in did not allow for the fantasies of a 10-year old boy and a 9 year old girl.
Their mother did her best, but with their father gone, times have been hard lately. The children started milling about in the house, their joyous cries incurring a reminiscence to better times with their mother.
"Listen sweethearts," the mother tried, "Sit down and be quit for a while, there will be a special treat this afternoon if you do!" Iunia became docile immediately, but young Lucius had more trouble calming down. He demanded to know what their mother had in stored for them.
A knock on the door had both tiny heads swinging that way.
A man entered, a wide grin on his face as he took in the childrens face lighting up.
"Uncle Decius!" the children stormed forward, either cluttering around one of Decius Appius' legs.
"Confined to the house are you now?" he ask smiling of the kids, picking up Iania for a good hug.
"My god you're gettign heavy Iunia. You should stop eating sweets you buy from the venters!" Iunia's face clouded before she figured out she was being teased.
Decius settled down and took in his late brothers wife. They were both widowers; and they only had eachother. The children were the only remembrance Decius had of his beloved brother; best of friends, bravest of men. His own wife had died in child birth, with the tiny sprogg dying not much later.
Ever since his brother died, he had looked after her and Licius & Iunia. Even after almost ten years, a sadness filled him while thinking of Marcus.
He was brutely pulled back to reality when both kids jumped on him, settling on his lap.
"Tell us a story about our tata!" young Lucius cried out. At his age, his days were filled with performing heroic battles with his friends. His sister joined in, battering her tiny fists on Decius chest.
"Alright alright! I'll tell you the story about your father famous battle at the siege of Tarentum" He glanced quickly at Tertulla, who gave him a tiny smile.
"About a year after you were born Lucius, making it 8 years ago, your father was there at Tarentum with the famous Manius Curius Dentatus. You know Iunia, that man on his horse at the square where you buy so many sweets" He eyed iunia slyly.
"Although they had arrived in Autumn, the siege continued during winter, according to your father due a malady which plagued the general.
Probably due to the weather, which was even worse than now.
Which in the end might have been for the better, for by summer our spies inside the city had been succesfull in sabotaging the northern gate during the early morning. Manius Curius, fully in control again, had a long word with your father.
Your father was to be among the first to storm through the gate when it opened. To him became the responsability to form a spearhead of which the whole attack would depend upon. Junior legates are of course way to precious to send in first.
Your father, brave lion as he was, just nodded and assured the general there was nothign to worry about. Tarentum would pay for slaughtering Roman emissaries a few years before, and seeking the aid of Phyrrus when Roman retribution was imminent. This was going to be one for all those fallen in battles against Phyrrus. Just a shame the man himself wasn't there to receive a piece of Marcus Appius' retribution' he said smiling to his general kids."
The actual battle will follow tonight, lunch break is over unfortunately ;)
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Originally Posted by mini
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