Life of a Gladiator

Alfie Norris 7A February- April MMXII

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One Unfortunate Legionary

Up to the age of eight I lived with my parents. I was a bright and funny child, so they said. I was born on the 2nd of April 35 AD. I was very happy in my hometown with my family until the Emperor Claudius of the Romans arrived and fought us, the Celts. My father, Alric died in battle fighting against the 4 Roman legions all containing no less than 25,000 men. He died on only the second day, trying to defend one of the Romans entry points at Dover. My mother tried to save me; she hid me under a bush in the forest, hoping to come back for me, but never did.

About four days later I was thirsty and so hungry it felt like a rabid beast was trying to rip my stomach apart. I didnt want to move because of the false hope I had of my mother returning to save me.

Anyway around four days after the battle a group of three drunken Roman soldiers were so drunk that one of them actually sat on me. Despite my hunger I was so annoyed that I bit him. Yes, I know it was stupid. But I was feeling a bit rash that day...

Automatically the legionary drew his Gladius (a type of Roman sword) and swiped it around aimlessly. Finally he came to his senses and shouted Quod in inferno sunt vobis faciens?! Which I guessed probably meant. What the hell are you doing?! He grabbed me with his big meaty hands and pulled me towards the chariot. I was terrified; I could feel adrenalin pumping through my body. But I knew that I should go without a fight; if I tried to resist the Roman legionaries would beat me to a pulp.

Thats all I can remember from that day because one of the guards thought it would a good idea to whack me on the head with the butt sword and I blacked out.

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Decimus
I woke up the next day in a daze. There was a huge lump on my forehead from where the guard hit me and it was throbbing painfully. I could feel the beating of hooves on the ground and I knew that I was in a horse drawn chariot. The driver in front of me was a very scrawny, bald man who was obviously delighted with his job of whipping the horse in front of him. The horse itself was a wiry specimen. Maybe once, before the battles it had been beautiful and majestic, but now it was thin, and covered in battle scars. The beefy Roman next to me was eying me suspiciously he looked as though he was expecting me to punch him and jump out of the window any minute. I sat there for hours just staring out of the window and down the long forest path until finally we jutted to a halt. We arrived at a roman fortress, or as they called it Castra. 6

The guards were vultures, eying me and waiting to fly down and eat me. The driver leaned down and whispered words in Latin, I assumed they were some sort password, and wooden gates slowly creaked open.

The horse clopped on, to the centre of the Castra where he stopped. The legionary with the beefy hands, who turned out to be named Claudius, once again grabbed me and dragged me out. When I landed roughly on the muddy ground, I was surprised by the sheer size of the place. It was almost completely made of stone apart from the wooden stairways. There was a watchtower on each corner of the fort housing guards who had obviously not got any sleep at all the past couple of nights. That night I slept in a dark, damp cell. Every so often a rat scurried by. I am not ashamed to say that I cried that night. The loss of my father and probably my mother too was just too much to keep in.

I cried myself to sleep. That morning I was starving, literally. The Romans still hadnt given me any food or water. My throat was parched and my stomach now hurt so much I could have cried all over again.

Finally at around noon an old man walked in and gave me some bread and water. After so little food this felt like a feast. The old man spoke some kindly words in Latin and introduced himself in perfect English. He was named Decimus, he had a withered old face and eyes with a friendly sparkle in them. We talked for what seemed like hours. I described what had happened to my family, how my father had died and I could see he understood. After that he explained to me how his son had died in battle against the Celts and how his daughter was sick and would die soon.

When he explained about his son I didnt know whether to be annoyed or angry, I decided to keep my thoughts to myself. Decimus explained to me how his son hadnt chosen to join the army but was called up to join involuntarily; in fact he would never attend the matches at the Colosseum because he couldnt bear the bloodshed. Decimus believed that he may have even been killed by his own men for retreating. That changed my view completely, I realized that most of the Roman soldiers were just poor men believing lies and following orders. That night I slept fitfully, I dreamt of Alric fighting his Decimuss son. Decimuss son was just about to deal the fatal blow when I woke up, with a cold sheen of sweat on my forehead. I sat; bolt upright when Decimus came into the room. He looked quite shocked. I had obviously screamed during my dream and I was quite embarrassed. He asked me what had troubled me,

I lied, I dreamt about my dad dying, which I guess was half true. He eyed me suspiciously, and then dropped his gaze. He told me about how he had stayed awake the entire night, believing his son would. He was ashamed to admit it because he knew he was dead. That day passed as a blur. I ate; I slept thats all I remember. I spent most of the day mourning over the death of my father and probably my mother too. I still couldnt understand why I had been taken and not killed on the spot.

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III
The Auction, For Me
I got my answer. The Romans dragged me out of my room and into the open. They would sell me. As a slave. The bidding started. 1 Sesterius one big man called. Two called another voice from the back. Even Claudius joined in. 20. 30.

It even went up to one Denarius when Decimus called out the final bid in a strong voice Two Denarius He shouted. The other man shook his head in despair and walked away. The man who was selling me called out, for any more bids then, accepting that Decimus had won called out, going once, going twice and sold.

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The legionaries hauled me up and handed me over to Decimus, who gave me a wink. He gave my seller the money and we walked off. I started to walk towards the gated when Decimus stopped m e. He

pointed to a horse drawn carriage with a magnificent white steed and I almost fell back in amazement.

The chariot was normal enough pulled by two horses one black, but the other... Decimus explained to me how he was a blacksmith, but his son also loved horses. This was his sons horse and, before his son left for the war he gave it to his father and made him promise to look after it.

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For the remaining half of the day we rode endlessly through the dirt roads of my homeland. Decimus and I talked about many things. We discussed war, and peace, and horses. In case you didnt realize before I love horses. My father would let me groom his steed, Barley daily and I loved it. I learned how to control the horse and feed them. I would always talk to Barley and reassure him, even when my friends didnt treat him well. The sudden stop of the chariot brought me out of my dream. We were at Dover. I could see the white cliffs towering over me and feel the steady ocean breeze on my face. We unloaded everything from the carriage, including Decimuss belongings. When I had finished unloading, I suddenly realized the huge Roman boat towering over me. Decimus explained, over the cawing of the gulls, that it was called a Quinquiremes which looked a bit like the picture below.

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A gruff man with a dark toga appeared from around the back of the boat. His breath smelled of rotten fish and his face was covered in warts, is this really the man who will be rowing us back to Italy in that huge ship, I asked myself. He didnt even look as if he could row himself from one end of the pier to another. We jumped aboard, along with the man holding our possessions, and to my surprise a crew of around fifty men followed us. They werent legionaries, only sailors, all wearing exactly the same uniform.

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The gruff man shouted something to Decimus and Decimus placed four gold coins into the mans hand. Almost immediately, the man shouted something out in Latin. All fifty of the sailors scurried off to their positions, and we were off. The man showed Decimus and I to our rooms, where we settled for the night.

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IV
A New Life
I woke up, to the early morning sunrise, and of course the man yelling at his sailors. I got up wearily; every part of me ached from my night. I had only caught a couple of hours of sleep, the rest I spent imagining my new life with Decimus. I could hear movement from Decimuss chamber, and a few moments later he groggily walked into my room. He looked as if he had got even less sleep than I had. We looked at each other silently, for a few seconds with mutual understanding, when a thin soldier entered my room. He carried a tray with some bread and some water. I ate them hungrily and so did Decimus. I laughed when he looked up, his face covered in crumbs.

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Later, I was sitting towards the front of the boat with Decimus. We had been talking about the voyage but now the conversation had turned to what would come after it. As I already knew Decimus was a blacksmith but I didnt know what kind. Now he explained that he made weapons, not that he wanted to. He told me that every other option had been taken. He was the only one in his village who made weapons, so he was well known. He told me that I would be his apprentice and he would teach me his ways. I was so happy. He added that I could ride the white horse whenever I wanted. And with those words we sailed forward, to Italy, my new life.

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V
Ten Years Later
I woke up, as usual, to the sound of Decimuss voice, calling to me. As usual, I woke up at sunrise, ready for a days work. I rushed down the rickety stairs of the blacksmiths house, into the workspace. Decimus was busying himself, forging the iron blade of a Gladius, one of his favourite things to make. I watched him in awe how he deftly shaped the blade with his variety of tools. I watched him, for what seemed like an age, until he spoke up. How did you sleep he asked, not looking up from his work. As usual, I didnt sleep very well; I had had a nightmare that night. Only, I couldnt remember what it was about, my memory was fuzzy. All I knew was it was bad. So I answered simply, fine. Taking the hint I got to work I got to work packing away the various shields, spears, daggers and 18

swords and spears into the coarse bag. I swung it onto my shoulder, and in my daily routine, walked down to the market to sell. That day passed by, as a blur. I sold all but one dagger from my bag to the haggling citizens of Rome. I was sweating steadily under the sweltering as I walked back to Decimuss house towards mid afternoon. I passed through the streets that I knew so well, for I had lived in Rome for ten years and came up to the door of the shop. I knocked on the door, no answer. I knocked again patiently, and then waited. Finally I could hear the footsteps coming towards the door. The door opened a crack and Decimuss scared whisper came from inside. Who is it? He asked. Its me, your son, I replied. Relieved, he opened the door and let me in. I was frightened, because I had never seen him so scared in my life. Sit down he told me. I sat down obediently, and he told me the story of what had happened that day.

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VI
Midnight Visitor
Decimus poured two bowls of hot lentils for us to eat, a staple food here in Rome. I ate the entire bowl in less than a minute, hungry after working outside in the sun. Decimus ate more slowly, thinking over what he was about to say, I guessed. Finally he chewed on his last mouthful and explained.

Son, I have been keeping a secret from you lately he said. I have not been paying the rent. We have had too little income to feed ourselves and pay the landlord He explained. 20

While you were away, he paid me a little visit He smiled ruefully. He came to tell me that because I have not payed the rent he will take something precious of mine as pay He said, sad. That night I slept fitfully. I imagined Decimus being hauled away by two men, or all of his possessions loaded into a sac and being taken away. Suddenly I woke up to the sound of heavy footsteps downstairs. I wondered if it was Decimus, but when I listened I could hear his husky breathing in the other room. Then my attention went back to the footsteps, which were now coming up the. My pulse quickened. The footsteps stopped at my door, and I felt as though I would burst. Then the door flew open and a man walked in holding a sack. I grabbed the dagger that I always kept by my bed, but the man swiped it away effortlessly. I think your father

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owes the landlord some rent he said. Oh well, I guess you will make nice pay He chuckled. He grabbed me in a headlock and threw me into the bag. Decimus cried out from the hallway. He tried to fight the man with his sword but the man simply countered the strikes with his own. Then he swiped, missed, but knocked Decimus off balance and hurried away, with me slung over his shoulder.

I was terrified, but the worst thought was Decimus. Because I didnt see the battle I didnt know whether Decimus was dead, or alive, this thought make me feel both guilty, for not fighting back hard enough and angry, with the man who may or may not have brought him down.

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VII
Me Being Sold, Again
I was inside the bag for what seemed like days, struggling and squirming. At one point I was hauled into the back of the carriage, could tell because of the sound of the horses hooves. But the worst part was I was sitting next to my captor the entire time. I only got a brief glance of him in the dark. All that I could make out was the fact that he was tall, at least a head taller than me and well built. The only aspect of him that I was worrying about then though, was his smell. He stunk of rotten haddock and obviously the word bath, was not in his vocabulary. I persevered for half a day next to this man when I finally felt the carriage come to a stop. A pair of hands pulled the rough sack off of me and the fresh air felt like heaven compared to the stale air of the bag, but my happiness was short lived. I realized where I was, the 23

market. I suddenly got a flashback, from when I was Eight. When I was sold to Decimus. I could still remember the terror that came to me when I thought about what would happen if I was sold to someone who I didnt know, and if I would have needed to work for them for the rest of my life.

The sound of Decimuss landlords voice woke me from my trance. I glanced at him for a moment, only for him to look back at me and smile with mock dismay. He was obviously rich; I could tell by his coloured toga, he was the kind of person who cared little about anyone other than himself. Then I looked at the buyers, who were obviously eager to buy me. I tried to look as discouraging as possible, yes I know it sounds stupid, by sucking my thumb.

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Nevertheless the landlord started the bid at one sesterius. One man, whom, scarily was wearing a sword on a belt shouted Two. Another voice made it go up to three, then four, five and six. These bidding's went on for an hour or more whilst I was standing there in the blistering heat, think and considering what i would become. I was just going over the possibility of becoming a cleaning lady, I know, but your ind wonders when youre scared when the lawyer abruptly shouted Sold. The man walked over gave the man what looked to me like at least five denarius. Why would that man be willing to pay so much for me. I looked at him again, then realized that he was the man who had had the sword hung onto his belt. He smiled at me, revealing rows of crooked teeth and then shouted something in Latin. Having lived in Rome for ten years, I had picked up the

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language and I think the translation of what he said was, get a move on you scabby slobs! Somehow, I didnt think we would get along too well. A row of around ten boys and men walked towards me in single file. I realised that they were all dirty, unshaven and hadnt had a change of clothes in their lives. The man took the pride of whipping a few of them before walking along next to them, all the while shouting rude remarks. I stood there in shock for a while, not quite understanding what to do, but somewhere at the back of my head a voice said, go and walk with the boys, that cruel man owns you now, you have no choice. So in a trance I followed the marching parade of boys and the man with the whip.

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