Salvatoria: The Memoirs of Lucretia Aurelia

ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ III: TᕼE ᖴIᖇᔕT ᗷᒪOOᗪ

April, 58 B.C

Near to Geneva, Allobroges Gaul

Caesar had marched the only available legion up into Gaul to halt the Helvetii migration. The situation got worse when the Helvetii created a crude confederation with other neighboring tribes. The Talingi, the Latubrigi, Rauriki, and most terrifying of all, the Boii. They numbered 368,000 men, women and children which was more than a threat.

Luckily, Caesar had obtained a good casus belli. The Aedui, one of our Gallic allies, had requested Roman support in defeating the Helvetii. The Helvetii and their barbarian allies had plundered the Aedui lands, and thus, made themselves an enemy of Rome. Yet, the mood was tense, for the Gauls were fast approaching.

Caesar had me staying in his tent, with a guard outside at all times. My job remained simple at best: If Caesar needed pleasing, I pleased. Was it degrading? Absolutely. Was it necessary? Absolutely.

Once we were across the Arar River, Caesar destroyed the bridge. Right now, I was pretending to be distracted while Caesar discussed with his centurions about an offer from the Helvetii he had just received.

"They want us to let them pass through Roman lands to Gaul..." Caesar muttered.

One of the centurions laughed, "They aren't serious right?"

"I think they are,"

"Well I for one say it is preposterous! We can't let them pass through Roman territory! They'll savage our lands!" Another centurion stated.

"They promise they won't attack," Caesar added with a smile.

All the centurions laughed, but I kept writing, not allowing them to know I overheard them. But I was taking notes in my notebook. Of Caesar's strategies, how he thought, how he fought. It was necessary to ensure I knew how to counter him in the future, when he inevitably saw my usefulness had expired.

"They won't attack, that's hilarious,"

"We can't trust them general,"

"I am aware, I do not trust them,"

"Then what are your orders?"

"Respond to Divico. Tell him I am considering his offer. We shall see how much time that will buy us,"

"Very well general,"

Was the Helvetii leader stupid? This was an obvious ploy for time-at least I would see it as such. But then again, I'm twelve... what do I know? I'm no general, no politician. I'm just a girl. How much time can Caesar buy? Only time will tell...

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15 Days Later

May, 58 B.C

Well. I guess Divico was stupid. Caesar was able to buy fifteen days from the Gauls by 'considering' their request. Romans are inherently more intelligent than barbarians, and this just goes to show that. During these fifteen days, Caesar blatantly fortified the river banks, making a five meter high steep embankment, with wooden spikes and walls, with his legion fortifying the defenses. Any intelligent leader would clearly see that Caesar was going to refuse their offer, and that he was preparing to defend. But no, the Gauls failed to see it.

Then Caesar refused Divico's offer. I had watched as some of the Gauls had tried to cross either way, but were prevented by the legionaries, who threw javelins and shot arrows at them, preventing them. Thus the Gauls retreated away, to take a different approach to complete their migration, thus ending the war before it really became a war. That meant we were going to return to Rome now, and I would be back home. I hadn't really found a way to prove myself to Caesar, apart from having sex with him. It only added to my uneasiness.