B-14 - Erulisse - Knives in the Morning

[engarian.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: B-14 – Maglor in History – Death of Cesar
Format: Ficlet
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Characters: Maglor
Pairings: None
Word Count: 846

Summary: Maglor, making his living selling pottery and wine, lives on a street near the Theatre of Pompey. Because of the shop's location, he is one of the last Roman citizens to see Ceasar alive.





Knives in the Morning



I awakened early that morning, rolling out of my wrapped blanket. Temperatures are still a bit cool in the mornings, but I know I will miss the cool mornings in a few short weeks. A cogere has been issued and the Senators are gathering near the Theatre of Pompey. I imagine them talking quietly in small groups while proceeding slowly through the gardens towards the curia. There is time. Usually Senate sessions began with a dawn sacrifice to the Gods, but the time for this meeting has been set to begin at mid-morning.

I have my fire built up and my wares out for the Senators and other possible customers to view. I have already sold two pierced goblets with metal insets to Minucius who promised to return at a later date and order several more. This sale alone pays for my food for more than a week. I also sold several pottery mugs, filled with heated watered wine. Thus far I am well pleased with sales today.

There. A small group of people is walking up the avenue coming towards me. From the stripes on their tunics and togas it is apparent that these are men of status. Glancing closer at the group, I identify Caesar walking briskly towards the Theatre. I see him stop abruptly for a moment, it appears as if he is responding to a comment from one of the other men accompanying him, and then he continues walking briskly down the street, passing in front of my store. He turns the corner heading for the Theatre gardens and the Curia and I return to my potter's wheel.

Suddenly cries of “Assassin!” and “Caesar has been cut down,” come to my ears. My survival instincts, highly honed after all this time, are telling me to lie low and be prepared to leave quickly. The Empire is perched upon Caesar’s standard, but if he has fallen, civil war could be quickly fire up the populace. I feel that the wisest thing for me to do would be to pack up my store and leave Rome for a week or two, or maybe longer.

I ask my next door neighbor to watch my store for me while I run towards the Theatre to find out more information. I run up towards the corner and, turning it quickly, I see Caesar’s bloody body lying on the lower portico steps, his toga and tunic showing rents where blades had cut through the fabric to the body beneath. I don't dare stay in the area. I wasn't responsible for his death, but don't want to be arrested because I happen to be close by either. The Senate meeting has been cancelled and everyone has left the Curia. I hear a voice in the next street declaring loudly “Quirites, in libertatem vos vindicavimus”.*

Running back to my shop, I advise my neighbor to lock his doors. I have a small estate in the countryside, a house and a vineyard where I store my larger items and my harp. I'm thinking that country living might be indicated for a while. The city can be very uncomfortable and dangerous if civil war breaks out and mobs gain the rule. I load up my hand cart with my potter's wheel and my goods. I keep very little actually inside of the city's walls, so I pack quickly. Taking the handles into my hands, I move out into the street, locking the shutters behind me.

-0-0-0-0-

Much later I heard that Caesar’s body laid undisturbed where he fell for more than three hours before it was gathered up for cremation. The Roman citizens, who loved their popular leader, mobbed his funeral pyre, adding more and more fuel and causing a blaze that damaged part of the Forum. Mark Anthony, always an orator of great power, made a rousing speech at the funeral, trying to build his power base thinking that Caesar left much of his estate to him. In this he was wrong, Caesar left most of his estate to Octavian, his grand-nephew.

I also heard more specific information about the assassination itself. Apparently more than sixty Senators had been involved in one way or another, but Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Minucius, Rubrius, and a few others had actually organized Caesar’s death. Cimber had presented a petition to Caesar that stopped his forward motion into the Curia, and Casca was the first to stab him with a knife. Eventually he was stabbed more than twenty-three times. After hearing some of the names responsible for Caesar’s death, rioters attempted to attack the homes of Brutus and Cassius, but after a hard-pitched battle they were finally driven back.

Yes, I said to myself while sitting down with a glass of wine, there was certainly something to be said for country living. I looked over my peaceful vineyards and smiled.


A/N
* “Citizens, we have restored you to liberty!” Latin translation and supplementary question/answer sessions on Roman policies and government were supplied by Clodia Metelli. I bow in her direction and send full thanks to her.

Comments

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

What an eye witness to this piece of history!

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Larner. Personally I would feel much more comfortable outside of Rome at this point since Caesar's death led to five civil wars and a lot of really despotic Emperors.

- Erulisse (one L)