Salvatoria: The Memoirs of Lucretia Aurelia

ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ ᙭II: ᗩ ᑕOᒪᗪ, ᗪᗩᗰᑭ, ᗰIᔕEᖇᗩᗷᒪE ᑭᒪᗩᑕE

August 7, 52 B.C

Londinium, Roman Britain

Two years. Two years I have been stuck on this... shit stain of an island. Britannia is, as I have properly discovered, ill-visited by the sun and haunted by rain. My husband has graciously called it Neptune's Piss Pot. The only things that grow here are mushrooms and discontent. I miss my home. At least my husband has remained here with me, and we welcomed our first child into the world. We named him Marcus Licinius Crassus III, taking after his family lineage.

My only regret is that my son was born in this ass end of the world instead of in the warm, blissful lands of Italy. The Briton is a beast seemingly untameable. Our ships are ruined, my men are tired, and I have found myself seduced by the ways of these... ritualistic druids. This is... in a way, my home now. I know the language of these people. I have a primitive understanding of their culture.

I have subdued a decent portion of south-eastern Britain, though Caesar rarely sent forward what we needed. We received a third and fourth additional legion, and a supply convoy from Gaul every two months. I had brought low many kingdoms of might and majesty, regardless. I had conquered the Trinovantes, Iceni, Durotriges, Catuvellauni and Cornovii, and founded the city of Londinium, where I essentially governed from. After my son was born I led my beloved fourteenth west, where we fought more tribes, and discovered the western edge of the island. To the west-northwest I could see something, another island, vast. Could there perhaps be a place more god-forsaken and miserable than Britain?

I deserve a fucking triumph.

I correspond infrequently with Caesar - just enough to know what I miss back at home. He crushed Ambiorix and wiped out his tribe. Gaul was at peace, a tense peace, for a year and a half before the Arverni revolted against Caesar. Led by a man named Vercingetorix, Gaul had been in chaos.

But Caesar never requested my assistance, Labienus wrote to me that he had the situation handled, just as he had against Ambiorix two years prior. From what I had heard, Caesar crushed several Gallic armies at Noviodunum and Avaricum, so I knew the war against the rebellion would soon be won. Or so I thought. The night was young, and the soldiers were resting for the night. My husband massaged my shoulders, reducing the tension. I would do the same for him. Two years of mutual misery in this place brought us closer together. My brother, Marius, had returned to Gaul with Caesar.

Yet, to my surprise, a visitor soon arrived that I had not expected. Titus Labienus. We greeted each other warmly. My husband stood behind me.

"Lucretia, a pleasure," The man, warm, and bright said, "My, you look unwell. Have the Britons worn you out?"

"..." I was silent at first, "Worn me out? Titus Labienus... worn me out... hmph," I tapped on the table I sat behind, "By Neptune's nipple, do you know how much it rains in Britannia?"

"I would not, this is my first time stepping foot on the island. You have done marvelous work. Caesar is proud-"

"Is he now? He should be when he left me here to fucking rot-"

"Lucretia," My husband's grip tightened, "Do not get angry at Titus, or rather do not expel your anger towards Caesar at him,"

"Your husband speaks with wisdom and conviction," Titus nods, "It is a shame his father could not see him now,"

My father in law and brother in law invaded Parthia last year. He failed, and three legions were destroyed.

"Regardless," I continued, "I would rather take another war with the Gauls over this... pit. Worn me out? Titus, These Britons are not like our usual foes. They are-"

"A simple people," Labienus interjected, which really ticked me off, "Bad pottery, bad teeth, and their food is dreadfully boring from what I've seen and heard... but I came here for a reason,"

"And what is that reason?"

"I have a letter, from Caesar, and I implore you do not... disdain him despite the current outlook,"

Labienus handed me the letter, and I read it to myself. I snorted upon completion, and handed it to my husband. He too found it amusing.

Lucretia,

I am in danger, I have beaten Vercingetorix time and time again, but yet he perseveres with the spirit of a Roman, but the tenacity of a Gaul. Even the loyal Aedui have been convinced to join his banner. I hate to ask this of you, to drag you away from completing the subjugation of the unruly Britons, but I require you, your skill, and your four legions to march to Alesia to assist myself, Labienus and my new trusted lieutenant, Marc Antony. Alesia is the capital of the Mandubii, a tribe teetering on remaining loyal to Rome, or falling to Vercingetorix. He is a cunning commander, having even defeated me at Gergovia, as much as I hate to admit it. I have surrounded him within Alesia's walls, and while I could definitely secure victory with a prolonged siege... but there is worse news. Vercingetorix's allies are arriving, trickling in, trapping me against the Gauls. I implore you to make haste for Alesia, please Lucretia... I cannot state how important you and your legions' arrival will be to ending the rebellion.

Ever Best,

Julius Caesar

I tapped on the table, and took a hefty drink.

"Selfish as always,"

"Caesar needs your help,"

"And yet, he wants me to abandon my conquests to go and preserve his. For two years we have subdued this island, and the druids... celts... picts... whatever it is they call themselves. My darling husband has - as you have not failed to notice - appeared to have gone a little... native,"

I was referring to the fact that his hair draped down to his shoulders, and he grew out a beard. My own hair had grown close to twelve inches.

"To destroy this enemy we must... somewhat become it. Caesar has not become like the Gauls in the slightest. He's a foreign invader, and so they will keep rebelling,"

"I fail to see how this applies to his current predicament," Labienus replied.

My husband spoke up now, "Gaius... Julius... Caesar... is an arrogant asshole, who demands we leave Britain, and everything we've accomplished, because he isn't able to subdue the Gauls. You tell us not to disdain him... but how can we not?"

"I understand but... should you not act at all, Alesia shall fall, Gaul with it, and Caesar shall perish," Labienus sighed, "And you shall be trapped here in this shit-stained cur of an island - with no hope of rescue,"

"Then with those legions my husband and I shall conquer all of Britain - then Hibernia beyond it, and we shall rule it, teaching them our ways, and our language. I was left here to solidify the Roman position," I slurped from my mug, "Instead, I came, I saw, and then I conquered these lands... Caesar will not receive my help. I will not abandon my island, for that is what it is,"

Labienus stood up, "A shame, a great shame... I'm sure your... allies in the Senate would be pleased to hear this,"

"Take your leave, Labienus, we have nothing more to say,"

He left the building, and gathered his detachment to make his way back to the harbor at Dubris. I leaned back in my chair, and looked up at my husband.

"Did I make the right choice, Marcus?"

"I don't know... did you?" He smiled dimly, "Your choices are yours alone,"

I thought for a minute. While my relationship with Julius Caesar had many ups and downs, and he had hurt me many times... he was still just a man. He had taken me in when I was cold, alone and scared. He shielded me from the wrath of Pompey. I had saved him from the Unelli when nobody else would or could... I couldn't just let him die at the hands of Vercingetorix. It was not a justifiable, fitting end for Julius Caesar.

"Marcus, ready my fourteenth... I shall go to Alesia,"