Now, I haven't felt like I've been as good as I should have been in editing and correcting their papers this year...they have had quite a bit of "freedom" this year in their writing as I've been putting in so many hours myself to language study. I'm pretty proud of my 4th grader and his work though.
This is Gwangi's historical fiction story about a Roman soldier he created that was in Julius Caesar's army. Enjoy!
The Battles of Rome
Chapter I
The Joining
A long time ago, there was a young man in Rome. His
name was Servius Quantius. One day he was walking down a street when he heard
words that surprised him.
“I will help Rome,” said Julius Caesar, “Rome will be
more powerful under my rule, join my army and you will never forget the power
of Caesar.” He seemed irresistible. Then he noticed something, his friends were
there.
He walked up to his friend, Friendius Lossius and said,
“What are you doing here.”
“What do you think? I’m joining Caesar’s army,” he
said.
“You're crazy, just because a guy promises fame doesn’t
mean that he means it,” said Servius.
“I know, but it
won’t hurt to try,” replied Friendius. “Say, why don’t you join. There is going
to be enough glory for both of us.”
“Maybe,” said Servius, “but I don’t aim to get my head
chopped off.”
“Me neither,” agreed Friendius.
So without further ado Servius and Friendius joined
Caesar’s army.
“Name?” said the soldier in the booth.
“Servius Quantius, sir,” answered Servius.
“Friendius Lossius, sir,” answered Friendius.
“Place in society?” queried the soldier.
“Merchant, sir,” said Servius.
“Noble, sir,” replied Friendius.
“Sign here please,” said the solider.
Chapter II
Marching to Gaul
The next week,
Servius and his friend Friendius went with Caesar to Gaul. Servius agreed with
Friendius that it was a little harder than they expected to live in the army.
When Caesar and his army reached Gaul, trouble was brewing. An army of barbaric
(or so Caesar thought) villagers were gathered in a half circle around the
village.
“This seems
harder than I imagined,” said Servius while looking at the Gaulish army.
“I agree,” said
Friendius.
“FORM THE
TURTLE!” ordered a soldier.
Immediately all
the soldiers created a wall and roof of shields. They walked down the hill and
started to move right at the Gauls. The Gauls began to throw spears and rocks
at the Roman legion, but to no avail. The Romans moved closer, and closer, and
closer and the Gauls hadn’t touched them. Then the Roman legion suddenly broke
up and attacked the Gauls. The Gauls, having been so surprised, didn’t fight
with their usual fierceness. It was a quick and easy victory for Caesar’s
troops.
Chapter III
Britain
is an Island
After the
conquest of Gaul, Caesar wanted more land, so he decided to go to Britain. But
Britain was an island, and everyone knew that Romans weren’t good sailors. But
that didn’t stop Caesar. He went right on to Britain and didn’t care if he lost
a few slaves. Friendius and Servius both got seasick.
“I don’t like
this,” wheezed Friendius.
“Neither do I,”
replied Servius.
“LOOK OUT, THERE
IS A STORM COMING!” shouted a soldier.
“BRACE THE
HATCHES!” ordered another soldier.
The storm was a
sudden one. Lightning came from the sky, rain hit the deck, and waves struck
the ship. Then Servius hit the side of the boat and he was unconscious. When he
woke up he was on a beautiful beach, the sun seemed to sparkle like a gem. Then
he noticed a hand, the hand of a Britannic barbarian.
Chapter IV
The
Warlord of Britain
Before Servius could do anything he was hit on the
head with a club. He awakened in a Britannic village. The chief was consulting
with four other fierce warriors about the Roman.
“I think he will escape and tell the Romans about our
hiding location,” said a warrior.
“If we are nice to him, he might tell us where his
army and such are, maybe even teach us about their battle tactics,” argued
another warrior.
“Quiet, the Warlord is coming,” ordered the chief.
Suddenly the door was thrown open and in stormed a
man. He was huge, a giant one might say, and he carried two swords at his
waist. His strength no one could imagine, but most importantly, he was the
Warlord of Britain.
“What do we
have here?” questioned the Warlord.
“A Roman, sir,” reported the chief, “The only problem
is we don’t know what to do with him.”
“Well, why don’t you make him a target?”
A target! Servius was scared; everyone knew that being
proclaimed a target meant being shot at! Servius then noticed a weak spot in
the knot they used to tie him up, it was a Celtic knot. Servius was taught how
to untie a Celtic knot. He went to work
while the Britannic warriors continued their discussion about him. He was
almost finished working his way to freedom when a warrior came in to the room.
“Sir, there are
Romans in the forest,” reported the warrior.
“Prepare for battle!” ordered the Warlord.
Chapter V
A Leader
Vanquished
Servius worked like mad to untie the knot while the
Britannic warriors got ready for the battle. Apparently the Britannic people
didn’t want to lose this village. Then
the knot fell apart! He was free! He was about to get up when he noticed a
Celtic warrior. Servius realized that the Warlord had built unity throughout
all of Britain, and that every kind of culture on the island was united under
his rule. Servius noticed the importance of killing this man. He lunged at the
Celtic warrior and then he ran! He was in the village street now and saw the
Warlord with two men.
“Stop that man!” ordered the Warlord.
“Yes, my lord,” said one of the warriors.
Servius ran and ran while arrows flew by him. Then he
ducked into the forest, he was just about to escape to the Roman camp when a
hand covered his mouth! He kicked the man and was free. Then, he saw the
Warlord! He was ready to fight the Warlord.
“I know how to fight,” said Servius.
“Oh, I know,” replied the Warlord.
Suddenly Servius jumped at the Warlord, he then grabbed
a sword from the Warlord and struck him. The Warlord staggered back. Servius
didn’t wait to see if the Warlord died, so he just ran.
Chapter VI
The Crossing
After the defeat of the Warlord, Servius, Friendius,
and Caesar’s army went back to Rome. But when Caesar reached Italy, he faced a
problem.
“If I cross the river, the Senate has every right to
kill me,” said Caesar to one of his generals, “On the other hand, if I don’t
cross, Pompey will grow in power and soon nobody could stop him.”
“Sir, a message from one of our troops,” reported a messenger.
Caesar began to read.
“‘My general, why aren’t you moving, we have marched
through Gaul and Britain yet you stop at a river. The troops want action, I
want action. Please do something. You’re faithful soldier, Servius Quantius.’”
“Send this message to everyone in the camp, ‘I know
that you demand action, and I am deciding what to do. Your general, Julius
Caesar.’”
“Very good, sir,” said the messenger.
Suddenly a man came across the bridge and played his
flute. It was a jolly tune and some soldiers started to dance to it. Then he
grabbed the trumpet from a musician and played the battle cry while crossing
the bridge again.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for!” said Caesar.
Chapter VII
Return to
Rome
After that Caesar and his army went through Italy and
continued to Rome. Caesar’s army conquered city after city until he got to a
city called Thelonious. As they stopped to prepare the siege they noticed the
army of Pompey.
“This might be tough,” said Servius as he watched the
army of Pompey go into the city.
“LOOK OUT!” shouted a soldier
Servius and Friendius had just enough time to dodge a
ballista’s boulder. Then arrows started flying everywhere. Caesar ordered them
to return fire. The siege lasted for three months before Pompey retreated with
his army. The people of Thelonious opened up their doors to Caesar and his
army. The soldiers had a pleasant time eating and drinking the food of the
city.
“Ah, this is the life,” said Servius.
“I could stay here for a long time,” agreed Friendius.
Then Caesar moved his army to Rome. He set up the army’s
camp on a hill next to Rome. Skirmish after skirmish took place before Pompey
finally moved onto a ship headed for Greece.
Chapter VIII
Greece,
why Greece?
“Oh, why did he have to choose Greece?” said Caesar in
his tent.
After fleeing Rome, Pompey decided to go to Greece.
Meanwhile, Servius and Friendius were discussing something.
“Hmmm,” murmured Servius, “I wonder why Pompey went to
Greece. There is nothing special there.”
“Maybe for the money?” suggested Friendius.
“You have a good point,” said Servius, “But that is
not enough for Pompey, he wants…” Servius’s voice trailed off as he sat there
pondering.
“A hiding place,” said Friendius
“THAT’S IT!” said Servius as he leaped up from his
bunk.
The other soldiers groaned, for it was late. So
Servius ran all the way to Julius Caesar’s tent and burst in.
“Sir, I have important news!” said Servius.
“Might I remind you to wait and ask my guard to come
in,” groaned Caesar while turning in his bed.
“I know why Pompey went to Greece,” said Servius.
“WHAT!?” shouted Caesar.
“Yes sir, I think he went because of a hiding place.
Everyone knows that Greece is full of scholarship, so a big battle would
destroy some of it.”
“You are brilliant, uh…?”
“Servius Quantius, sir.”
“Yes, you are brilliant Servius Quantius. Now I know
how to get him.”
Chapter IX
Egypt,
Here I Come
After that Caesar had Servius promoted to optio and they
marched to Greece to fight Pompey. After he got to Greece he sent Optio Servius
Quantius and a group of soldiers to skirmish with a group of Pompey’s soldiers.
“What happened to you?” questioned Friendius.
“Julius Caesar promoted me to optio because of my help
and loyal services to him,” replied Servius.
“Whoa, that must give you some pressure,” said
Friendius.
“Not a lot, but you’re right, it does put some
pressure on me,” said Servius, then he whirled around and ordered, “Be quiet.”
Soldiers were moving by. A quick victory was won. Soon
afterwards Servius was given a lot of battle orders and was getting closer to
becoming a centurion. Eventually a major battle happened and Pompey had to get
on a boat and go to Egypt. Then Caesar followed him in his boat. When he got
there he was given a very nice welcoming committee. Centurion Servius Quantius
was at his side.
“I have come to get Pompey,” said Caesar.
“We do not have Pompey,” said Ptolemy.
“But we do have a gift,” said an adviser.
“What sort of gift?” said Servius suspiciously while
putting a hand on his sword.
“Nothing that would hurt the glories Caesar,” said the
adviser.
“Open it,” said Caesar.
Soldiers appeared carrying a basket. They opened it.
And on the inside Pompey’s head sat soaked in salt.
Chapter X
Egypt, a
Beautiful Place
Caesar stood there surprised at what was in the
basket.
“Do you like it?” asked the young Ptolemy.
Caesar said nothing.
“He would like to recuperate from the shock of it,”
said Servius
“Very well, the Pharaoh Ptolemy will now have a rest,”
said the adviser.
The adviser, the Pharaoh, and all the guards left
them. Later that evening, Caesar was in his room when a person came in.
“I have a gift for Caesar,” he said.
“Caesar has had enough gifts for one day,” said
Servius.
“It is a gift from my Queen, Cleopatra,” said the
slave.
“Queen Cleopatra!” said Caesar.
“Yes, and she would like that you alone see this
gift,” said the slave
“Very well,” said Caesar.
So Servius and all of Caesar’s generals left the room.
The slave unrolled the carpet (which was the gift) and in the carpet was Queen
Cleopatra! After that Caesar and Cleopatra spent a lot of time together. But
then disaster struck. An army who hated Cleopatra was on the march to
Alexandria! So Caesar got his army together and fortified the city and got
Servius to lead a part of the army into battle, but while fighting, Friendius
got wounded.
“You’re going to live,” assured Servius.
“I don’t know,” said Friendius.
“What do you mean, ‘You don’t know?’” asked Servius.
“The doctor says it is a shoulder wound,” said
Friendius weakly.
“What is so bad about a simple shoulder wound?”
“The bad thing about a shoulder wound is my arm can’t
move, I may die from blood loss.”
“Can’t the doctor do something, like put it in a
sling.”
“It’s too bad off to tell, maybe in a few days…”
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN A FEW DAYS!?” interrupted Servius.
“There is too much blood.”
After that Friendius lay back, when he died we may
never know, for a few days later Friendius was taken to a boat and sailed to
Greece where he was buried as a war hero.
Chapter XI
The Assassination
After a little while longer, Servius went back to
Rome. He had a lot of money from his pay and plunder, so he was well
established in the money department. He had everything he ever wanted, except
his friend was now dead. A time passed while he was in Rome before Caesar came
with what was left of his army (the people who didn’t leave to go back to
Rome). A while later Caesar was given the offer of being king of every
territory outside of Italy. He asked Servius to stand outside while he went in
to become king.
“I have come to be your king,” said Caesar.
“King of the Underworld!” shouted a senator
A blood fest occurred while many senators attacked
Caesar, stabbing him in vital spots. He had just enough time to say…
“Et tu, Brute?” Caesar gasped, while Brutus was
raising his knife to stab him and kill him.
***A sequel to “The Battles of Rome” will be published later in 2015.
Stay tuned and contact your local publisher to hear the exciting conclusion to
Servius Quantius’ adventures following the death of his beloved General,
Caesar.***
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