Pax Romana (Ancient Rome x Germania)

(This is a thread Ancient Rome and I were thinking about... We honestly would like it if it were just us. But, feel free to comment on any aspect of the story you'd like... Without further delay, here is Pax Romana!)

How long will it be...? the blond barbarian wondered as the legionnaire's horse pulling the thick iron chains binding him forced him across the Rubicon River. How long will it be before I see my beloved lands again...?

"Stop here!" his captor yelled, holding up his arm to halt his troops. "Remove your armor!" The command was direct towards his troops. It was Roman law that no soldier, Roman or foreign, was to cross the Rubicon River lest they had the fullest intention to march on Rome which was suicide.

"Si, Captain Octavius," the soldiers saluted before they quickly stripped themselves of their armor.

While his captors were paused, he cast a forlorn glance behind him to the distant smoky-gray mountains that walled him and Rome from each others lands. His sky-blue eyes filled with deep sadness as his heart ached longingly for the forests he was born into and ran when he first could walk... And what of Gilbert? What of his young son?

A sharp tug on his shackles jerked the German warrior forward and face-down into the dirt. Apparently, as in his private yearning, he had stopped while the Roman soldiers only wanted to proceed. The entire legion broke out into a fit of laughter as Germania fell to the ground, stirring up dust where he landed.

"C'mon!" the mounted legionnaire, a Captain Octavius, gave another pull at the chains, jerking the prisoner to his feet. "Get walking, savage..."

"Nsu..." Germania muttered under his breath as he reluctantly obliged, marching silently behind his enemies...

With a heart as heavy as lead, he bit his lip and thought with great despair... I will never see them again... Never. With a final backwards glance, he allowed himself to hem one glimmer of silver lining to his dismal situation. But, at least my presence in Rome will keep them all safe... So long as that is so, I'll surrender any and all happiness. He bowed his head as he trudged along the dusty road. Any and all... Everything...

---

The blazing sun crossed the sky, beating down on the captive noble with little remorse or mercy. As the legion neared Tiber River and the city of Rome, Germania, despite his less-than-ideal physical state, held his head high. Like hell he was going to appear like some whipped dog before the Romans... No, never- Not the Germanian Tribes of the North.

So, when the gates of Rome opened for them and him, Germania was as graceful and as firm as the mighty trees that made up his beloved Bavarian forests. Even if he was going to be Rome's slave in body, it would be a cold day in Hell if he was going to surrender his dignity and soul to any man in this world.

...Brace yourself, Germania thought as the legionnaires neared the palace where the man who stole the barbarian's freedom was probably lounging comfortably, indulging in his spoils of conquest. Steel blue eyes narrowed with predatory blood-lust at a window where he imagined a harem would be. You may chain a lion but you would be fool to expect it to be broken for you so easily...!

(Woo! Your turn, Ancient Rome!)

After prying Germania's clenched jaws from the digit Rome so foolishly neared his mouth, the soldiers yoked the Germanic barbarian in a locked stockade, leashing him to an even thicker chain which the Roman Empire himself now held. With a dubious grin, the Roman pulled at Germania's chain, dragging him into the palace himself. That smile quickly ebbed as he felt a sharp tug in return, forcing him to a halt as he now had to struggle against the leash. Turning about, the Roman faced a resisting German, who had dug his heels into the ground, defying all control Rome had over him.

Rome laughed, a bit edgy from the German's previous offense. "Now, come on, il mio piccilo barbaro." he cooed. "Be a good little slave and come inside."

At the word "slave", Germania narrowed his crystal-blue eyes and glared at the Roman with deeper hatred. Desperate to free himself, Germania pulled away, tugging at his chains and wrestling with Rome's hold, which he didn't want to admit, was solid as a rock. Eventually, Germania had to halt his resistance for a while.

As he rested, Rome smiled victoriously before trying to turn on his heels once more before he heard a dull "Wumph" and the force that suddenly tugged on the chain made him fall face-first into the paved street. When he sat up and dabbed at the blood from the scrape on his forehead, Rome looked over his shoulder to a, for-once, smiling Germania, who bore a triumphant glow, as he sat on the ground, giving Rome the challenge of having to drag his dead weight into the palace.

"Du bist am Zug," Germania challenged. "Your move, Roman."

In the swift motion of Rome hoisting him over his arm like that, Germania emitted an uncharacteristic yelp, unable to register what had happened until his vision was bird's-eye view to the cobblestone pavement and he was bouncing in time with the Roman's steps.

Outraged, the German attempted to kick and writhe but his efforts proved fruitless as he struggled with Rome wrapping a firm arm about his legs and his hips being completely pivoted on the Roman's powerful shoulder. Punching at the Roman's back proved to have little effect as it only resounded metallic thuds at his fists rapped against Rome's armor.

"Bastard! Son of a bitch! Let me go!" Germania cursed. "Put me down, damn it!!! Do I look like a sack of potatoes to you?!"

As soon as the Roman ducked under an alabaster, pillared threshold, he unceremoniously dumped the Germanic barbarian onto a pile of pillows from all corners of the ancient world.

"See...?" the empire grinned, dopishly. "Comfy, no?"

Germania didn't reply- He only continued to glare viciously.

I'm doing this for my people, he mentally coached himself. I'm doing this for my people. Wodan, help your servant and help me retrain myself from killing this bastard!!!

(This description fails!! DX)

Hours passed and the sky outside the balcony of the Roman's bedroom took a explosive orange hue. His heart ached with longing as he began to wonder whether his people were under that same vermillion sky, praying to Thor and Wodan that he would return home.

Feeling a pang of hurt shock his heart, the Germanic warrior clutched the silvery Mjolnir pendant tied about his neck on a leather black cord- the only token he had left of his home now.

Just as a teardrop pearled at the edge of his eyelash and spilled down his face, that damned Roman ran into the room with some food...

Hungrily, the Germanic soldier tore into the food offered to him. Most of it was very strange and unusual to him, but he was far too hungry at that moment to care. Once the morsels of food were tucked away, he snatched up the vase of water and quaffed it down to wash the alien food down his throat.

Rome blinked at him in utter disbelief...

(At least you didn't bring me the stuffed jellyfish... Why the hell did Roman's eat that?! Just because they could?)

Just as the Roman's hand slapped his back, the water the Germanian was gulping down went a little faster than before. "ACK!" he coughed and sputtered as he attempt to save himself from drowning. Once the coughing fit subsided, he glared daggers at the clumsy Empire responsible for his mishap...

"Why, you---!"

Once the Roman was well out of sight, Germania sighed irritably. "Damn it! That's it!" He stood up from his seat and snatched up the sheets off of the large nearby bed, tearing it to shreds and tying the pieces together into a makeshift rope. Looping it around a pillar on the balcony of the bedroom, he knotted tightly before tying the other end around his waist. "I'm running away..."

Peering over the edge of the balcony railing, Germania felt a little woozy as he realized he had to be at least three stories up! But, then he shook his fear as he realized the rope he made had to scale at least half way down and 1.5 stories was a survivable leap. Taking a hopeful breath, Germania perched himself on the railing before readying to jump, until someone caught him, slipping a cloth over his mouth and making him lose consciousness.

When he came to hours later, he wobbly tried to stand up until something tugged at his neck. The barbarian looked down to discover he was leashed to a pillar. "Heheheheh..." Growling, Germania glared at the owner of the voice who was perched on the edge of his bed with the usual grin.

As the Roman neared him, Germania's body attempted to lunge forward and attack his captor, but to no avail as the leash held a vice-grip around his neck. Having the need to breathe, the barbarian had little choice than to pull back and relax the chain holding him. Now, it was more apparent than ever: Germania was the prisoner of the Roman Empire.

Glaring at his captor defiantly was all the German warrior could do. Never before in his life had the blond felt so helpless. Sighing in defeat, all the German warrior could say was: "Ich verstehe, große Rom," which meant in his native tongue, "I understand, great Rome."

(Hmmm.... Oi, Rome, how 'bout a Colosseum battle soon? )

Germania snickered at the lackey's sycophantic disposition. In all honesty, it was far too comical to watch. The general who had conquered him was bossed around by an idiot like Rome... This was all too perfect!

"Hey, römische Wache," Germania snickered in his native tongue, purposefully lacing a mocking tone into his voice. "Ist Küssen der Arsch ein Idiot Geschmack so gut? Oder wollen Sie einfach nur genießen Demütigung?" He followed his snide statement with a hearty laugh.

(For those of you curious, I said, "Hey, Roman guard, does kissing the ass of an idiot taste that good? Or do you just enjoy humiliation?" Sorry, I haven't been on, but it's National Novel Writing Month, and I am super determined to finish this bitch!!!)