Chronosia
24-01-2005, 10:44
The night had come down; swift and terrible as a black curtain across the skies;and the Northern provinces of Rome shuddered under the vast cold that descended from the North; from the lands of uncivilised barbarians; marauders at the fringes of Roman order....
Marcus Julius had seen many wars; he had fought many battles, raised steel with the greatest of Rome's general; held position in the Senate; and now he was dieing. He coughed, choking as the life ebbed and flowed within; like the tempest tide of the Lethe. He turned, and old eyes; scarred by war; one turned milky white by blindness, fixed upon his son.
Remus Julius looked upon his father with a sad fascination; knowing that even now, his death harkened.
"Son...Word....Word has come from the Senate-"
"It is too late for that now father; it can wait till the dawn."
"I will have no dawn, my son; my child..." he hissed; sighing in pain as the coughs wracked his body again. "You know the cause of this malady; how the stars aligned against the old Julius; but there is hope, Remus; always hope, like the greek firebird from its own ashes."
"Yes....Father" He choked back tears; at only 19, he was the eldest of Marcus' living heirs. "I shall make you proud."
"It was the Gauls..." He whispered; a glint of memory in his eye; "Always the Gauls, and the Germanians; Britannia further beyond that. They lack our Roman order; and it is by the wounds of their long ago steel; that I pass."
And with his gasping, dieing breath; Marcus Julius pronounced Remus as his heir; and leader of the House of Julii.
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A messenger rode north; further than many had ever known; beyond the lands of the Julii; into the savage wastes. But this man was no ordinary mesenger; he served the House of Julii unceasingly, unswayingly; and he had his orders. Ride north they had said; observe the Barbarians; bring back reports..For the glory that is Rome.
Marcus Julius had seen many wars; he had fought many battles, raised steel with the greatest of Rome's general; held position in the Senate; and now he was dieing. He coughed, choking as the life ebbed and flowed within; like the tempest tide of the Lethe. He turned, and old eyes; scarred by war; one turned milky white by blindness, fixed upon his son.
Remus Julius looked upon his father with a sad fascination; knowing that even now, his death harkened.
"Son...Word....Word has come from the Senate-"
"It is too late for that now father; it can wait till the dawn."
"I will have no dawn, my son; my child..." he hissed; sighing in pain as the coughs wracked his body again. "You know the cause of this malady; how the stars aligned against the old Julius; but there is hope, Remus; always hope, like the greek firebird from its own ashes."
"Yes....Father" He choked back tears; at only 19, he was the eldest of Marcus' living heirs. "I shall make you proud."
"It was the Gauls..." He whispered; a glint of memory in his eye; "Always the Gauls, and the Germanians; Britannia further beyond that. They lack our Roman order; and it is by the wounds of their long ago steel; that I pass."
And with his gasping, dieing breath; Marcus Julius pronounced Remus as his heir; and leader of the House of Julii.
-----------------------------------------------------
A messenger rode north; further than many had ever known; beyond the lands of the Julii; into the savage wastes. But this man was no ordinary mesenger; he served the House of Julii unceasingly, unswayingly; and he had his orders. Ride north they had said; observe the Barbarians; bring back reports..For the glory that is Rome.