"It was a long time ago and I have created many memories since then and therefore I don't have perfectly clear memories of that time. I don't remember an exact date of my birth, we didn't keep time the same as we do now. I know I was raised by powerful women, priestesses of a sort. I was raised to take the mantle of the high priestess when I was old enough. I was destined for greatness they would say. I remained level headed even as my powers grew. The first clear memory I have is the time the Romans had come to our little world in the North."
***
~ 60 B.C.E
Hattie emerged from the water, her hair clinging to the back of her neck. A summer breeze crossed her wet body and she let out a shiver. Several priestesses walked over to her with her dry shift and were waiting for her.
Hattie slipped the shift over her head and it cascaded down her body. Another woman came to her back and deftly put up her hair. Hattie mumbled her thanks and just like that she was ready. She scanned the faces looking for someone and let out a sigh of relief when she noticed her mentor's face in the back.
Hattie once again thanked the woman and walked up to another high ranking priestess, her mentor. Just before she could speak Neta spoke first, "what did you see?"
"They are coming. It is inevitable. One day we will be conquered and our way of life turned to ash."
"When?" Neta spoke, her voice wavering.
Hattie looked at the older woman opposite of her. She, like the rest of them were hoping they could remain hidden from the outside world for all of their days. That they could be safe from the Romans who in a few short years would conquer Britain. "I did not receive a date, but it could be within months or years. Either way it is coming and soon."
"There is nothing we can do?"
Hattie reached for the woman's hands and clasped them within her own. They bowed their heads together and lightly bumped their foreheads, "nothing. The Roman's will conquer all of Britain. Holding out will only increase our casualties. The end result is still the same. I am sorry. If we surrender we will retain our knowledge, our world and place of worship will just look different."
Neta nodded she understood, but that didn't mean she had to be happy with the results.
Around 4 years after Hattie had come from the water with the prophecy ... it came true. Even Hattie who had seen the future did not have the particulars of what would happen.
Hattie covered her eyes with her hand to shield them from the sun. She looked out over the rock unto the angry waters below. She was absorbed in her thoughts and the crashing waves masked the sound of the men approaching.
When she felt something envelope her she quickly whipped herself around and turned and faced a Roman officer. Behind him was a legion of men. Hattie wanted to scream out, but his hand was firmly placed over her mouth with no option to call out.
Hattie searched his face moving between him and the legion of warriors behind him. This was the beginning of their end she thought sadly to herself. Why did it have to be like this? Why? She couldn't help but think to herself.
The man slowly removed his hand from her mouth when it appeared that she would no longer cry out. Hattie just stood frozen in place blinking with a somewhat dumbfounded look. She was after all still young and mortal. There had to be a reason, right?
The man turned from Hattie and began communing towards his army in a language unfamiliar to her. Hattie thought for a moment and then whispered a spell suddenly with the ability to understand and speak their language.
"....Search the area. They may have scouts that lay in ambush. Once the area is secure we will set up camp here and claim this area for our emperor."
The man in front gave a slight bow and if he spoke it was nothing that Hattie could hear.
The man that captured her, a general of some sort, turned his attention back to Hattie. But Hattie spoke quickly and on behalf of the safety of her people. "There are no scouts in this immediate area. We have no army. We are peaceful and worship nature. We are made up of priests and priestesses, the elderly and young children." Hattie spoke maintaining an even tone. She wasn't lying. They would mount no defense. Because even with an army they would have lost dearly and would have been wiped from the face of the earth. Their culture and knowledge would be lost. By surrendering they could still live on and their time would come again.
"You speak our language?"
Hattie nodded, "yes." She thought that apparent with what she said...but maybe not?
"What I meant is how?"
Hattie took a deep breath using the pause as a time to come up with the reason why she knew their language, but nothing came to her. Should she come up with a lie or tell the truth?
"Because-" However, before she could say anything more some of his men emerged from the forest holding some of the elderly priests captive.
"We found these men lurking in the forest. Should we torture and kill them?"
"No!" Hattie shouted. "They are elders performing their rituals in the forest. They were not lurking, they were praying. Please."
She held the forearms of her general, "please." she whispered more meekly.
"Let them go, these people are not fighters. They carry ceremonial knives, not daggers."
Hattie watched as the men were thrown to the ground. She let go of the general and rushed to the men to make sure they were okay.
The general gripped onto Hatties arm, "you are coming with me." As he led her to his tent that had been put up by his soldiers.