Gaius Atilius Albus

**Bjorn** · July 12, 2012, 11:57 PM

GAIVS ATILIVS ALBVS

A boy that had to become a man before what would usually be considered best. Gaius Atilius Albus was the son of another Gaius Atilius Albus, married to a Cornelia, who served Rome as a Centurion of the Third Cohort, Legio XVIII Gemina Firma, under the command of Legate T. Atilius Regulus, nephew of Maximinius Atilius Regulus, and died in the battle of Secos, in the Cotysian War.

G. Atilius Albus had three sons and one daughter. Tiberius Atilius Albus, Appius Atilius Albus, Gaius Atilius Albus and Atilia. But of all his sons the one he only truly loved was his third. He never really could explain why. The lad was so young, was 9 when his father died, but he would say that See these eyes Tiberius? See them Appius? The eyes of your brother has the spark of Alba. He won't be a drunken idiot like you He would say to Appius. Or an ingrate like you, Tiberius. and all the brothers could do was look down and nothing say. That created a strong bitterness among the brothers, but the worst was when G. Atilius Albus put in his testament that all his property would go to his third son, and not his first, leaving for the other two petty estates fit for second and third sons... Only for Gaius was the Domus of Alba. That ended up consolidating the hatred among the brothers and they hardly ever talk or meet.

Gaius created a wall around himself, a wall of fake strength, of fake pride, and he made it part of himself. His only wish was to be the man his father would want him to be, and that was what he was going to do. Let his brothers rattle in the cage that is their lives, he would not let them savour his dispair. But he was dispaired... He was young when it happened. But he remembered it well...

Mother was weaving some cloth near the window. The sight of her weaving generally relaxed him, so he would sit by her side and watch as she did, and she would hum a sweet and calm melody as she worked. But there was something in the air that day.

A slave came in, saying Domina! A soldier is outside... he... said he wanted to see the lady of the house. He actually smiled, he remembers it like it was yesterday... he actually believed in his inocence that it was his father coming, and that the soldier was just going to tell his mother that father was short to come... His mother knew better. She looked at the slave with opened eyes, and they exchanged a look. She then dropped her weaving tools, a tear crossing her face. She got up and looked at Gaius. My son, you must come with me... Follow your mother, for it will be the last time she gives you an order. And still without understanding he followed her, puzzled by her strange words. What happened? Wasn't father coming?

The man that came to give the news was of a reasonably high rank, but at the time he didnt really know anything about that, he just found him rather smug looking, with a long noes and a square face. You have brought him? Well, I thought it be wiser for you to have told him, but so be it... he said, seemingly unconfortable with the whole thing, but not in an exagerated way, but like a man that has done this far too many times and was just sick of it. Atilius Albus was killed in battle in our last battle. He faught bravely, and we won the war, but his wounds were too powerful and he sucumbed to them... His mother did not cry, but nodded. Gaius said nothing, but looked shocked at the man, horrified with what he had heard.

What? No... you are wrong. My father couldn't have died. He is the best soldier in Rome! Said Gaius, dumbstruck. The man simply sighed, and said No man's invincible, and neither was your father. I served with him, he was a goo- - NO! barked Gaius. You're lying! Mother, tell this man he's lying! Where is my father?! Whe- - That's enough! the man ordered loudly, his eyes serious and a frown on his face. You're a man now, it is time you start acting like one. Death comes to all, no use denying it. Mourn for your dead, son... He said, then he nodded to mother and left. Gaius just stood there, still fuming, still unbelieving. NO, it was a lie!..... it had to be a lie.... no....

It was only later that he would discover that he inherited the ancestral house of his father, and not his older brothers. 5 years have passed ever since that day and Gaius is now 14. He acts tough, always trying to fill the boots of his old man, hide his fears, hide his sadness... only time will tell what will await him...