The Sister Revolution

"Heya!" The sound of a sword slicing against a tree was heard over and over again. Maximus has been practicing his swordplay and form during the time his father was stationed in the Northern Provinces, he wrote regularly to his father while he was away, asking him how everything was to how he could improve in his swordplay as well as archery.

A little away's from Maximus sat Balbina, the servant for the Ordayus family, she silently observed him while he practiced, making sure if he ever got hurt, she was there to help him.

"HAAAAA!" Maximus took another swing at his imaginary opponent...who was the tree. Maximus pulled his sword out of the tree who if was an actual human being, would be dead, and looked towards Balbina.

"You know Balbina, you don't need to be here, i'll be fine, you worry too much about me."

"As i should Maximus, it would be entirely inconvenient for your father to come home to only find out his only son died in a training accident while i was at home doing nothing." She explained

"I'm way more careful than that Balbina, i'm not a screwup, i wouldn't die from a small cut."

"i am talking more of you tripping and landing on your own sword, it would also be highly dishonorable...to die by your own sword...so humiliating." She put her hand on her face to cover it up, as though it already happened.

Maximus gave a chuckle at that. "You really think i would go so far as to fall on my own sword and cause dishonor to my family...er father?"

"I'm not saying you would, i am just saying that it would be awful if you did, that is all."

"Mmm hmm, sure." Maximus gave her a jokingly skeptical look before going back to his training.

                                           Somewhere in the Northern Provinces.

"Cohort's! Aim! Fire!" Regulus exclaimed while on his horse and pointing his sword at the wooded area in front of him and his men.

The Cohort's did as they were told and let their pilum fly. Shouts of pain could be heard from the wooded area as man after man fell to the pilum that seemed to scream 'Certain death for anyone who is in our way!'. The battle against the Cimbri was going well and the Romans knew they had certain victory as Cimbri charged for the Roman line but only meet death by Roman sword and spear.

"Hold that line! If we lose by a bunch of savages i will kill you myself!" Regulus yelled as he slew a Cimbri man that charged for him.

The Cimbri retreated back into the forest for a moment and the Roman's had no idea if they retreated or were regrouping for another charge...it was the latter. The Cimbri retreated only for a moment and regrouped to make one last final and desperate charge.

They charged at the Romans with their axes and swords held high and battle cry's roaring from deep within their throats, and speaking of throats, when the Cimbri finally met the Roman line, throats were slit, guts were well...gutted, and arms were lobbed off as the Romans had the advantage from the higher ground on the hill they were on.

Behind the Roman line and down the small hill, was a village, a fairly small one at that, the Roman's told the villagers to go to the next town for safety but asked the men of said village for men as the extra manpower would help, some men accepted and some men didn't, the men that didn't join them wanted to go because they were too scared. As for the men that joined the Roman ranks they wanted to help fight to keep their family's safe as well but also to get revenge on the Cimbri who raped, murdered, razed fellow Roman villages, with also some with family in said raided villages.

Roman's fell but only a few, villagers fell due to lack of training, armor, and weapons but fought to the last breath and to take as many Cimbri scum they could with them.

The Cimbri fell one after another in an almost futile attempt to kill the Roman's, who were better equipped, and trained.

                                                          10 minutes later...

The last of the Cimbri soldiers fell as the Romans started to go on the offensive. Regulus looked bloodied and most of it not his blood, but he did have a few cuts here and there and one of them big enough to heal into a scar but other than that he came out unscathed.

Regulus gave a long sigh then ordered his men to take a body count, starting with their own deceased first then counting Cimbri deceased second.

"I should get this bandaged." Regulus said thoughtfully.

"Uhh Regulus sir..."

"Hmm?" Regulus looked up from his cuts to come face to face with a villager who must have overheard him.

"May i see your wounds sir? I am a fairly decent healer, i learned from my mother before she passed." The unknow villager hesitantly asked.

"If you would please." Regulus gave a nod. The villager asked Regulus to follow him to his home.. They made it there and the villager immediately started to bandage Regulus's wounds.

"Thank you for this uhh...."

"Tiberius sir."

"Ahh thank you for this then Tiberius."

"Think nothing of it sir." Tiberius gave Regulus a smile and nod, and Regulus returned the gesture with a nod as well.

"Well that does it, just be sure to change your bandages regularly, maybe every morning or so." Tiberius put the last touch's before stopping.

"Thank you again Tiberius, your help is very much appreciated." Regulus put his hand out, Tiberius returned the gesture and shook hands.

"No...thank you sir, if it weren't for you and your men we would have surely died. Please...have a safe journey back or wherever you are going next."

"It was my pleasure and thank you for those kind words Tiberius, i am going to see how many of my men have lost their lives today as well as the Cimbri scum, i shall see you Tiberius, and thank you again for this." Regulus gestured to his arms as he said that.

"Think nothing of it sir, and i hope those brave soldiers that fell, will have a warriors funeral."

"They will.....It was nice meeting you Tiberius." Regulus made his way outside.

"As it was nice meeting you sir."

And with that Regulus checked with his men about how many of his men died that day. In total the number of dead Roman soldiers were 38 out of 160 men and the Cimbri that were dead totaled to nearly 240, today the Romans had a glorious victory but they still have a job to do and were going to meet the rest of the regiments even more north than they were now.

What happened today was by chance, Regulus's men encountered a Cimbri raiding force on their way to meet the other regiments, but were stopped mid journey to save a small village by a raid party. When the Roman Cohort's arrived the Cimbri were slain easily. The village men that did survive the battle were resting and waiting for the next day to go and get their own families as well as to tell the other's of how many and who they lost.

The Roman soldier's bid farewell to the village and set off to meet the other regiments.

Regulus pulled out his sword and with a great and loud voice, said. "Forward march!" The sound of metal clanking and feet stomping the earth was heard throughout the forested area. Animal's scurried about, not knowing what was making that noise or what shook the ground so.