LOVE AND HONOR: The Mad Emperor (BL)

manicus and his men began their march back to V

a tribute to the falle

, and her newborn baby acc

rest, their triumph dulled into solemnity. T

man boots disturbed the soil wh

ng heavy w

ld the weight of their loss, a gri

se through the ancient trees, a plea

emblem), the lost eagles of the fallen l

towering trees, their only companion

hoo-

orest, a pale light filterin

for transport, their bodies laid upon the large wagons readied before the battl

ck at the forest, when all was

process

ation, their march steady and unbroken

rn journey

ial messenger awaited them,

or Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus,

return to their land and naval military

n asleep after he picked him up, crying-from

the imperial messenger

e made his decision-t

departure would b

cy, the reality of war

days before they wer

a new concern weig

ghtmares and a strange actions-hands balled into fist

stless and irritable, clinging to hi

gone, replaced by e

rs could find

caretakers who watched over

assed, Germanicus

day arrived, ever

dy, he led them fro

oughts remained with his son, wh

n made the journey

through Germania's treacherous te

against the land and its dangers, the ot

was fraught

ed in the shadows, forcing t

ong the way, demandin

d to leave his son behind, his cr

undertaking, involving b

navigate safer routes, only to

the sick child, his condition w

three Roman legions, each boasti

auxiliaries, siege engineers, and ma

ix hundred non-combatants-servants, merc

ds followed the march, addin

oved under his c

ed general, only

stless nights and relentless

d from Germanicus, were

ne. The clingine

his child's eyes, a ch

htly-was gone. Nobody had prepare

command, praising his ability

e column of men across vast distances, through rugge

dership had forged them into a cohesive, di

p for rest, resupply, and military m

to his str

olades, a bitter taste lin

her's

tted keeping Cali

s-he had expected the campaign to

ack down Arminius and his wife, how quickly

e might have se

shed, the suffering

was done. It was t

y, Around M

ning travel, they fina

winter and half a season of sl

g, their bodies worn do

s in full bloom. They c

TRUDG

the recently thawed snow, sq

e, their songs blending with

fternoon sun bathed the land in a te

etched toward the city gate

ght of war, of exhaustio

in front of him, his gaze hol

o watch, their murmurs hus

hey reache

hick to their skin, mingling with the

campaign in 12 AD, he had

he would not yet return to Palatine H

n. He must endur

ir who was sitting in front o

f the port, a calculated smile playing

since Germanicus las

s planning, of battles

throne following the death of Emperor Gai

rian guards lined in per

campaign, a campaign born from the desire to avenge Varu

eatest hu

own from the saddle, and handed his son t

e giving the

ius stepped forward

al courtesy. "Your victories over the Germanic tribes

ent, no more

s tone shifted, hi

honor you and your men!" Not sure how to react to his unc

anicus' shoulder, Tiberius

m to make ready! The heroes of Rome have re

battlefield, struggled to adjust to this warm re

, he hesitated before bowing his hea

eward," he said, his voice steady but formal. He'

s. "Ha! Don't be so rigid, nephew! Cast off

pulled Germa

let's

o the port, leaving the legions a

f hammering from the fabrica workshops, the c

THUC

port, they're working quickly to finish their

all fishing vessels to larger merchant and milit

ered with golden torchlight, casting flickeri

the murmurs of Rome's most powerful men-senators, generals, and gentes

favor with

e the port, Tiberius took his seat at the head of the

Tiberius declared, his

the banq

anicus' eyes scanned the faces

urnius Piso, the governor of Syria

yes locked onto Germanicus as if he h

ney was uneventful?" His voice dripped with

in the air, his gaze sweeping the room, ensuring that

erson he's talking to

mused. "Tell me, did the barbarians even bother fighting? Or did th

tant

eling like he had won a cont

through his nose, shaking

-someone has to talk to the trees!" He threw his head back,

on

ermanicu

b.. Piso swirled the wine in his cup, leaning f

often visited you in Vete

ing Germanicus closely before adding, in a v

tunate y

upward, his smirk deepening, a

sudden

isy hall has become

Piso was notorious for his sharp tong

he. Unsure how will the gene

rowed, his fingers ti

at the mention of his w

son and the emperor's strangely welcoming gestures.

wife's name is not for you to throw around so

s face. 'It sounded so f

the satisfying crunch of his fist

in his eyes, and Germanicus sighed to calm himse

considering Piso's words. Then, with a

your wife, G

smirk f

in his hand, absently stud

salon... seeking comfort in the arms of a

a delibe

ing something, he looked up a

me." Silence. The tension sn

laughter, with some nobles

r. Then, with a sharp scrape of his chair, he sho

p towards Piso, as if in a mo

tepped forward, hand on the hilt

mperor, if he deemed it would lead to a fight, h

ning glance conveying the message: 'You dare not

atch what will happen, will Germanicus put

ed to become the mediator, his theatrical peacemaki

manicus's triumph in Germania!" He r

mer emperor's soul be

m fell

Ro

eir bread in the wi

al

e toast, their voices

h clang of ligula(spoon) and culter(knife)

was the emperor, as all their atten

berius' thoughts revealed his natu

ll, every time, they 'ooohhh' and say 'aaaaaahhhh' his

me drunk, losing their focus on Germanicus

all in, he leane

mured, his voice a l

with words. Germanicus whose atten

r thoughts on the empire's fut

and automatic. "Rome has a brigh

smiling; his expressi

voice taking on a slightly sharper tone. "Do you

id not expect the emperor to ask him like th

and the fevered cries of his son in Vetera, replie

icker of suspicion in their de

ay I be honest with you... uncle?

drowned out by the pe

or heard it l

heavy in the air. "No, my emperor. I am a soldier, no

ine, and added "So no, it do

arply. All of his attentio

of the emperor's change,

s's lips. "Excellent," he declared, his smile

spoke of their imminent return to the Palatin

ly want? Was this a te

n the balance, a delicate thread stre

*********

DE

ighth hour of

weapon

ls in Rome, this is where the

eers/to y

*********

NF

here are 60 legions (each l

r reduced it

time there are

nded 3 legions in hi

ibe, resulting for Tiberius and Germanicus to seek revenge,

*********

ELI

l Varus with his 3 leg

ust, Calig

eft for his Ge

peror Aug

visited Ge

ia, younger sis

gave birth to J

la, took him to Vetera camp. They

nd Dec, weser

nuary came back

Vete

at May