Mark listened patiently. It wasn't as if he hadn't heard the story before, although the part about her First Death was something he hadn't been aware of. Hearing it from the one who had been there and witnessed the crimes against her daughters, though, that was a little different. When he had heard of those events, he had thought those Romans had been too heavy-handed, but what did he know...just a centurion at the time.
"The thing is, I can understand your anger and grief. I can even understand why that anger would provoke you to rebel against Rome. Others did so, and often for less reason. But I get so tired of hearing how evil the Roman Empire was, crushing the rights of those who it conquered. We gave you cities, roads...baths, trade, and all you could ever moan about our bullying ways. We even let you keep your gods. Rome wasn't perfect, I admit, but I don't recalling seeing yours as a great utopia either." There was a tired bitterness in his voice. Arguments of the brutality of Roman rule, but little recognition for the good it did bring.
He sighed, collecting his thoughts before telling his own story. And after drinking down some of his beer, he started. "Oh, I remember right to the point I passed out and they gave me this." He rolled up his right sleeve, exposing 'Hadrian'. "Well, they made an example of a centurion in a lesser cohort. Some example. My century was ambushed while on patrol, all of them except for myself and my optio were killed or burned alive. We were taken to the Druids, bound and beaten. I thought we were going to be a sacrifice, especially when they killed Gaius and I would be next. But no, they saved his blood, mixed it with other things and forced me to drink it. Maybe I passed out then, I don't know, but the next thing I remember is being staked to the ground being held in front of me...and then somehow in me."
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Date: 23 Jun 2008 11:45 pm (UTC)"The thing is, I can understand your anger and grief. I can even understand why that anger would provoke you to rebel against Rome. Others did so, and often for less reason. But I get so tired of hearing how evil the Roman Empire was, crushing the rights of those who it conquered. We gave you cities, roads...baths, trade, and all you could ever moan about our bullying ways. We even let you keep your gods. Rome wasn't perfect, I admit, but I don't recalling seeing yours as a great utopia either." There was a tired bitterness in his voice. Arguments of the brutality of Roman rule, but little recognition for the good it did bring.
He sighed, collecting his thoughts before telling his own story. And after drinking down some of his beer, he started. "Oh, I remember right to the point I passed out and they gave me this." He rolled up his right sleeve, exposing 'Hadrian'. "Well, they made an example of a centurion in a lesser cohort. Some example. My century was ambushed while on patrol, all of them except for myself and my optio were killed or burned alive. We were taken to the Druids, bound and beaten. I thought we were going to be a sacrifice, especially when they killed Gaius and I would be next. But no, they saved his blood, mixed it with other things and forced me to drink it. Maybe I passed out then, I don't know, but the next thing I remember is being staked to the ground being held in front of me...and then somehow in me."