Chapter Text
“You know, Britannia, your little town looks very sweet all dressed up like this.”
“It’s Albion,” the boy snapped in clumsy Latin, “and I’ll have you know Eboracum is a city.” Gallia laughed lightly, putting a hand on his companion’s shoulder only to have it shaken off again.
“Don’t tell me you’re still bitter about that. It’s been over two hundred years since Julius Caesar first came here and gave you that name; you should have accepted your fate by now.”
“Accepted my fate as the subordinate of an empire who hardly cares about my existence? Yes, that sounds absolutely fine. I’ll just lie down and let him walk all over me, shall I?”
“Don’t be so stupid. He’s here, isn’t he? How could you possibly say he doesn’t care about you, you ridiculous little boy.”
Britannia harrumphed and turned away from his companion, screwing his nose up and folding his little arms across his chest. From his position by the river he was near the heart of the celebrations, and many a merrymaker passed by, wearing a felt cap and chattering rowdily. There were boughs of laurel and holly draped over most of the buildings, and bright candles flickered on doorsteps and shop fronts.
“You have so much anger for such a little boy,” Gallia mused with a teasing smile, studying the furious flush on Britannia’s cheeks. He really was a mess, with his choppy hair and dirty tunic. It was a wonder Rome put up with him, really. “I’ve heard of temper tantrums, but I’ve never seen a four year old get so genuinely cross. It’s quite fascinating.”
“Shut up, Gallia. What are you doing here anyway?”
“Why, everybody’s here! That’s what happens when you become the centre of the Empire. I think I saw Egypt earlier, would you believe? She came all this way, from her lovely home that you and I can only dream of, to visit your rainy moors. I bet she’s disappointed.”
Britannia scowled. “I don’t care if she’s disappointed or not. If she doesn’t like the weather, she can leave. In fact, you all can. I don’t want any of you here. I wish Rome would just go back to his stupid city already, if he loves it so much.”
“Where are your manners, Britannia?” Gallia clasped a delicate hand over his mouth, giggling into his palm. “I could be celebrating with Hispania, who’s always happy to see me and doesn’t say such horrible things, but instead I am here with you. And these are the thanks I receive?”
Britannia turned to look at Gallia and found himself faced with wide blue eyes and a pitiful pout. He gnawed at the inside of his cheeks as he gazed upon that face, and then he looked down into his lap, twisting his fingers together. It was true that Gallia had come to spend time with him when he was under no obligation to, and he was sure that he would have had a much better time with Hispania, who was so pretty and friendly and kind to everyone.
Still, he hadn’t asked Gallia to come. He hadn’t asked any of them to come, but now Rome’s emperor was here, so everybody else had come dutifully traipsing after him. And now the wretched man was filling Britannia’s city with people, with soldiers stationed at every street corner. He was always talking of war, war with Britannia’s brother over the wall, and it made the boy’s hands tremble and his stomach twist at the thought of it.
Sometimes it was rather nice to have a friend you could trust.
“Well,” Britannia began, clearing his throat and averting his eyes, “I do actually have something for you.”
Gallia clapped his hands together excitedly, eyes lit up. “What’s this? You got me a present for Sigillaria?”
“Only because it’s tradition! Don’t pull that stupid face at me!” He fumbled in his thick cloak’s pocket for the item and nibbled his lip when his fingers closed around it.
“That is the face one pulls when they are happy, just in case you do not know what happiness is.”
“Of course I know!”
“And I am very happy right now. I did not expect this of you, my little friend, and it’s a very pleasant surprise. Who would’ve thought you could be generous?”
“R-right. Well. Here.” He held out his hand, revealing a small wooden carving. Gallia picked it up carefully and rested it on one palm, raising it to eye level and tracing his fingertips over the tiny details marked out in the dark wood.
“It’s a faery?” Britannia nodded. “Who made this?”
“I did.”
“Really?” Gallia looked astonished. “It’s so sweet! I love it! Thank you very much, Britannia.”
“W-well, I-“
“And now my gift for you.” He leant in, his chin-length hair falling around his face, and pressed fleeting kisses to Britannia’s soft cheeks, which reddened at his touch.
“Stop that!” Britannia spluttered, trying to shove Gallia away from him but not strong enough to succeed. “That’s disgusting, stop it!”
“If you were not so cute I would strangle you,” Gallia grumbled, pulling away from him and shaking his head in despair. “Still, I suppose it can’t be helped. You are still so young, it’s no wonder that you don’t understand.”
“I’m not that young! I’m at least a few hundred years old,” Britannia protested, sliding off his seat so that he could stand up and show off his height. Gallia stood up as well and easily rested his arm on the boy’s blonde head, leaning on him and grinning.
“How big and strong you are, Britannia! You will make a fearsome country one day, I’m sure.”
“You’re right I will! And then I’ll beat you senseless, just you watch me.” Gallia rolled his eyes and removed his arm from its squirming perch, turning the carving over in his hands and peering at its elfin face. Britannia huffed as he returned to his seat beside him and kicked his legs restlessly, dragging his feet over the ground.
“Stop doing that or you’ll scuff your boots.”
“Gallia, when will I grow up?”
The older boy was so startled by the question that it took him a few moments to respond. “What?”
“I’m still so small. You’re bigger and you can help your people, but I can’t do anything for mine. Rome says I’m too young to be on the battlefield, but my people are out there fighting. I feel so helpless.” Gallia stared at him, noting the way his lips were tugged down sadly, and resisted the urge to put an arm around him comfortingly.
“I don’t think you would want to be on the battlefield anyway. It is not pleasant. No place for children.”
“But I’m not a child! I’ve seen it before. My people revolt against the Romans and I have to stand back and watch while they’re killed, because I’m too small to fight for myself.”
“It would not matter if you were on the battlefield or not. Your people are no match for the Roman military, and you would only be crushed with them were you to try and fight. It is safer for you this way, believe me. Even if it hurts to watch your leaders fall and submit, even if the air in Rome feels like it’s poisonous, that is what you must do.”
Britannia turned to him with inquiring eyes, never having heard Gallia speak so gravely before, and found the older boy staring out across the river, his jaw clenched.
“You mean...?” Gallia nodded.
“I was not much older than you when Caesar invaded. He ravaged the land and razed cities full of people to the ground. My men put up a good fight, but becoming a Roman province was inevitable. It seems there is no escape from the world’s greatest power, yet I hated it just as much as you do. Still, what’s done is done. All we can do is watch and hope.”
Britannia’s gaze returned to his lap as he pondered Gallia’s words. It wasn’t fair that he couldn’t do anything, because he felt everything that happened within him. The recent rebellions had torn him to shreds, yet the Roman leaders had still expected him to sit back obediently and cope on his own.
“Come, now,” Gallia said, jumping up from his seat and tugging Britannia up with him, a bright smile replacing his concerned frown, “this is not exactly festive talk, is it? I would like to go and see some more of the Saturnalia celebrations, and I’m taking you with me, whether you like it or not.” He set off for the centre of the city, allowing the joyful atmosphere to weave its way into his lungs.
“I’ll grow up soon, Gallia,” Britannia protested, stumbling as he hurried to keep pace. “Then you won’t be strong enough to pull me around wherever you want. One day soon.”
“Yes, yes, whatever, little boy.”