| TOTAL WAR ROME |
The day continued on, but with a gloomy atmosphere that surrounded the men, and most notably her - Estelle - who rode a horse ahead of everyone else.
No one dared to console the commander, not even those within her inner circle, even Numerius who rode at the far back kept his distance but still remained somewhat near.
It was a horrible day, and despite only the loss of a few good men, Estelle couldn't help but feel that their deaths weighed heavily on her conscience. When she has believed she have become accustomed to 'this' life, there was always something that proved to her how wrong she was.
Doubts soon began to cloud her mind and judgment, as she let whispers taunt and mock her, before among the voices - someone or something else spoke - until she was snapped from it by Gandalf who rode next to her.
"I spoke to an old friend, Radagast the Brown, and Beorn - a skin changer - where your injured can be left to be tended. These friends are honest men, commander."
Gandalf spoke more softly than he would normally, waiting in silence as he rode beside Estelle, who finally let a word out from those quiet lips.
"Thank you, Gandalf." Estelle turned her head from the path to Gandalf and gave a small and weak smile as she returned her gaze back again to the path ahead. 'That would be good enough.' Gandalf hoped as she would get a hold of herself and her bearings, especially when the injured still counted, it should ease the weight on her to an extent at least.
With that, Gandalf slowed his horse as he rode beside the others, where Numerius asked him what he had talked about with Estelle. When Numerius and Gandalf had an understanding, the tribunus made sure to relay an order to the praefectus and to the centurions, before Gandalf spoke to Thorin and his company before he departed.
"Radagast has asked for my help in a task; which I have requested him to investigate earlier, but it seemed it is a problem that seemed too much for good Radagast. Meaning I must depart, but I will meet you and the Romans a bit later on - perhaps in Laketown - and!"
Gandalf made sure that Thorin and his company would remain in Laketown for him, before proceeding to the Lonely Mountain. Then with that, he set off.
TOTAL WAR ROME |
When the legion and Thorin's company eventually left the woods and to open plains - at the center stood a cozy house - Numerius ordered the praefectus and their centurions to make preparations for camp.
However, due to Gandalf's advice and fair warning, Beorn - who resides in these territories - would not tolerate the destruction of the animals and the trees. With further explanation, Numerius and the other praefectus are quick to understand, especially Cicero who seemed adamant to learn from the skin changer, Beorn.
But it was also because they were new to these lands, and the enemy with the orcs was already enough. If it was just any others, neutral or so, it was wise to make needless enemies. Yet the safety of the men was still the thing he had priorities about. Though that too was mentioned by Gandalf, that so long as they were in the open field a orc would not dare set foot when Beorn was near.
It was loud when men and dwarves talked and set camp, as Estelle dismounted her horse and approached a large door before she was accompanied by Thorin.
With the tribunus busy at setting the camp, and preparing a pyre for the dead, Estelle didn't want to bother an important preparation. Therefore, alongside Thorin, she opened the door and pushed it open. There as tall as the large door was, Beorn had a wary look at him before he recognized the armor on Estelle.
It was certain that visitors would soon arrive, as Beorn expected it when Gandalf informed him, though through experience - Beorn have become wary of strangers - and so although he expected them, he was still on guard.
"Would you be Beorn?" Estelle began with her eyes so dim of light it made Beorn flinched as he recalled to dark, and darker times. That experience and look of loss.
"That would be, stranger." But Beorn replied nonetheless and he collected himself before he stared at Thorin.
Beorn was silent as he eyed the strangers, and in the distance, the sound of others could be heard, he then spoke, "There are medicinal herbs nearby, as Gandalf mentioned, and harvested meal though not for the many."
Then without hesitation, with such a gloomy expression, Estelle said in a tired tone "I heard that the trees here are not to be lumber. But would it be possible to gather a few for a pyre - to send off our dead - here on your land?"
Beorn shared the feeling, as did Thorin who remained silent still, and after a few moments Beorn agreed as he let them take the trees and logs that were either dying or were dead. To Beorn's agreement, Estelle could only let a small smile yet again form before she turned back and out of the house, leaving only Thorin with Beorn.
"So you are the one they call; Oakenshield" Beorn began as Thorin's company joined in behind Thorin. He went on and continued "Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"
With the mention of Azog's name, Thorin leaned against the tall door frame as he looked to Beorn for an answer, "You know of Azog?" to which the skin-changer eventually did after he poured himself a drink.
"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the orcs came down from the north, the Defiler killed most of my family. But some he enslaved, not for work, but for sport. Caging skin-changer and torturing them seem to amuse him."
Beorn explained as he laid out what had happened to him and his people, the torture and intense suffering they had to experience as he walked aimlessly in his home with the drink in hand. Then a question erupted from him - curious Bilbo - who began, "There are others like you?" to which Beorn replied solemnly.
"Once there were many..." Beorn said curtly, before Bilbo shot another question, "Now?" to which he replied in anguish. "Now there is only one." Though Beorn continued on without wanting to linger on the topic anymore. "You need to reach the mountain, before the last day of Autumn."
"Before Durin's day, Gandalf has mentioned it." Thorin understood what Beorn was getting at as Beorn made it clear. "Which you are running out of time."
With that, their conversation continued on, as Thorin and Beorn conversed and discussed, until ultimately he, as well as Beorn, reached an agreement of cooperation. With mutual hatred for the orcs, Beorn could lead them far, as far as he could in Mirkwood before he would go no further. Furthermore, Beorn had warned Thorin of a dark, and darker things; Fell things, that have taken root in Mirkwood and to beware.
Among other things, Thorin and Beorn soon ended their talk, before Thorin and his company found a large and big pyre for the dead that were killed in their journey here. With a sense to pay respect, Thorin makes his way to the center of the pyre where he could see the distinctive armor and helmet of Numerius, and Estelle.
TOTAL WAR ROME |
With the night fast approaching, and the orange skies turning to dark, soon what light remained was gone.
But just as the last ray of light from the sun vanished, the legionnaires with their torch walked to the unlit pyre, as Estelle walked to the center of it - to her right was the pyre of deceased Romans, to her left were the same - as a voice started; her voice, as she began addressing the valiant soldiers of Rome, her Legion.
"Soldiers. Legionnaires of the Seventh.
Though I stand before you as a new commander, lacking the seasoned experience of those who came before me, like my father; Marcus Julius Cornelius, who formed this legion. Know that the weight of this moment and the depth of this loss does not elude me.
Like them, our fallen, I would gladly give my life as they have - to protect - and shield the next man as would he.
Like flames, let their life and death be the fuel to keep us lit.
Let the fires that consume these pyres serve as a beacon of remembrance, illuminating the path on which we are forced to tread. Let us carry on their memory, and their death reminds us of the cost of our duty.
May Pluto grant our dead afterlife, and death; peace to them to whom have suffered the fate and harshness."
With her speech concluded, the legionnaires that were tasked to the pyres set it aflame, and soon the fire roared as the wind picked up. It was a quiet night and a much silent supper when the men returned to their tent, and to their meal.
What would normally be loud and a feast to honor the dead, the tone of their commander allowed them to show, and express sorrow and grief than what would have been joy and laughter.
Among the legion of men, the dwarves watched in silence as they watched the pyre blaze with light. Then with a look of resoluteness, Estelle pulled from the scene and away as she retreated to her tent.
TOTAL WAR ROME |
When the numbers of men eventually declined in watching the pyre, speaking a few words of prayers, and being in the presence of their comrade for the last time, the dwarves retreated to Beorn's shed to take refuge there.
However, Thorin remained watching as the pyre slowly burn out, before he turned away and headed to an isolated, secluded spot to be alone, as he spend it in deep thought. Something that he has often turned to, ever since the loss of their home, their king, and his father. He turned to deep thoughts as he wondered about the countless and endless possibilities that could have changed the outcome. His mind wonders fruitlessly.
As he found himself several distances away from the campfires that kept the area lit, he walked further until a fire's light dimmed and could reach no further. That was before he saw a giant boulder, alone in an open field to which he approached it in a small walk - not fast to get to it quickly - until he reached it.
With a slow and tired turn, he leaned his back against the boulder as he looked to the night sky, the moon was a shining bright beacon surrounded by complete starry night skies. As he dwell in the tranquility, an interruption took his attention by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Cautious as to who it was, Thorin remained quiet until he recognized the voice, a drunken voice that drink to be relieved of the heavy burdens and to wash the sorrows away. It was Estelle.
"I have failed them... Father... I do not know if I am worthy to lead your men..." her voice was tired and her body was drained to exhaustion as Thorin took a peek over the boulder, her shoulders were slouched as she reached a smaller boulder than where he was. Before she leaned her head against it and hit it weakly with her fist.
"I... I failed them... How... Just how am I expected to lead these men... back home?" the voice soon strained, as an unmistakable sob began to cry out as her shoulders began to tremble, and her lips quiver.
But among those words, she turned to mention about the dwarves, especially Thorin who has been listening quietly and sharing in her grief. "But... the dwarf I met... Thorin... Who has lost his home and many of his folks, yet he... He leads them to retake it... As his men follow him... He is a brave and strong leader..."
Then it went quiet before the sounds of snore indicated she have passed out from the alcohol.
Moving away from the boulder, he walked to the commander who was knocked out, and as he got closer and the moon shone brighter. The commander wore no armor and it was the only time he has saw the legatus without a helmet that concealed most of the commander's face. But now.
With long raven hair, milky skin, and rather voluptuous figure, it was the chest area that caught Thorin by great, and surprising shock. As Estelle breathed calmly and deeply, as she slept away with only her uniform, Thorin was quick to avert his eyes.
However, Thorin couldn't simply leave the discovered commander here, and so he took wool that was wrapped, and that kept him warm from the cold weather onto Estelle as he covered the woman's body.
He may not know the whole context, but the reasons all pointed out that it was being kept a secret, like how she was always seen wearing a helmet that nearly concealed her face. The armor she wore was secured and tight, but big and bulky to the eyes, and especially since most of her orders were yelled at by her second-in-command.
Though he may not know the whole context, it would be wise not to speak of it with anyone, as who was he to be the person to speak of it when it was not his to tell. Therefore, swearing himself to secrecy, he went on ahead to carry Estelle back to the camp - before Numerius and her officers panicked at her absence - and it was then when a realization crossed him.
She was rather light to carry.
TOTAL WAR ROME |