The Last Battle

Through the past five years, I have been worrying about my army. We slowly were beginning to deteriorate, and I feared that these five years of peace would end us. I decided to go to war in Caledonia. We have won the battles, but it has cost us plenty of money and men fighting with the Scottish. I decided that we were finished fighting, and we began a journey from Caledonia to Eboracum. We have finally reached Eboracum, and all of us are happy that we have finished fighting the battles for now. Most of the men are beginning to become lazy in my eyes. They do not work as hard as they could half of the time, but I, myself, am starting to weaken also.

I have much feared this serious condition of mine, a disease that causes certain parts of my body to swell and become painful from time to time. Also, my large toe swells periodically. Right now, my body is very sore, and I barely have the energy to walk, or to tolerate the pain. I have returned to Eboracum, and now I think that I need to let my body rest, and let my men gather their strength before we go to war again.

My two sons, Geta and Caracalla, are here with me, and they are also in need of rest. I have summoned a few of my men to go and retrieve for me the finest doctors they can find. Back in Rome, Galen has been of much help to me. He comes from Pergamon, where he studied in Alexandria. He then moved to Rome about four years ago. He has since become very famous for his medical works and cures. Although I do not have Galen here with me, I know that these other doctors who my men will bring back for me will be of some help. I hope that they will find some kind of cure or remedy for my swelling body. I hope that the doctors can stop the pain before too long, because we may then return to war.

* * * * *

My soldiers have brought back two doctors to try to cure my ongoing pain. So far, they have given me many remedies. They have brought food with them as well as herbs and oils to try to help and heal me. The honey, fresh vegetables, wine, fruits, and meat that they brought with them have not touched my lips in months, and each one fills my soul. These wonderful tastes seem to give me more energy, but then I weaken shortly after, and I begin to ache and swell again.

I have become bed ridden, and have had to take off my rings and jewelry. The swelling could possibly get so bad that my rings would be stuck on my fingers, and come off only after I am cured, which I have started to think will not be for another few weeks. Caracalla, Geta, and the doctors check on me frequently. Many of my men seek me and ask when we shall resume fighting. To them, I cannot answer. Now, I just lay in bed for long periods of time, sleeping or watching the shades of light and dark change on the tent wall. Even to move in my sleep hurts me so.

* * * * *

Night has come. Behind me I can see the shadows emerge, and the sun has moved so that it gives off no more rays of light. Since the hours pass more quickly at night than during the day, I shall wait for this dark period to end the time I spend thinking of the forthcoming day. The night time will be shorter, as compared to waiting for the sun to sink below the horizon. The hours do seem so much longer when I am awake at night, but go much faster while I sleep. I shall long for rest again when daylight comes. The next time my doctors come, I should ask them to close the tent flap so I can sleep more.

I begin thinking. I wonder how my wife is doing, and how everything is back in Rome. I wonder how I ever got this disease. Maybe my father had it, or someone else in my family did. Maybe it is some kind of disease that is spread from person to person. Will it kill me? I raise my hand to my face to see if I can still see anything in the darkness, and all I see is an outline of a hand with thickened fingers. I think I want to write a letter tomorrow to my family and tell them what has happened, but how will I? I could have Caracalla or Geta write one for me, but I will not. As much as I love my family at home, I'd much rather sleep and recover more quickly so I may return.

As I sit here in the darkness, I try to remember the first time that my body ever swelled and became sore. I think it was about five years ago or so that I began to realize that something was wrong. It was my toe that first began to hurt, just enough so that I could not walk on it very easily.

Right between the time that I wake up and open my eyes, I can feel the warmth of the sun's presence. My eyelids become transparent to the brightness, and I open my eyes to welcome the morning. I feel refreshed, but then as I stretch my body, I remember that pain's presence is with me. I raise my palm to my forehead, and my hand quickly makes the transition from cold to hot. I am feverish, and I must be getting sicker.

The flap of the tent opens wider, and my sons enter. "How are you feeling today?" Caracalla asks.

"Not very well, I'm afraid. I think we will have to put off the next battle to a later time unless I recover more quickly. How are the other men holding up?"

"Everyone is holding up well, Father." Geta replies.

"That is very good to hear, sons. Can you please get me one of the doctors? I think I have to be examined again."

The room gets brighter yet again when my sons open the tent, and then the room becomes darker when the tent flap is closed. Soon after my sons have left, the doctor enters.

"What seems to be the problem? Have your joints gotten worse?" he asks me.

"I am afraid so, and now I believe I have a fever also. What can you do to cure this?" I ask. I think that he can sense the fear in my voice.

"Let me get the other doctor, and we will go get something to soothe your fever and joints." He exits like my sons, and I lie on my bed, waiting.

"Commander, are you awake? Commander, do you hear me?" I hear whispering above me. I open my eyes slowly to see my two doctors standing above me. My sons are standing next to them.

"Father, you fell asleep for a while. The doctors have prepared herbs for you, and have placed a cool, wet towel on your forehead. They have massaged your body to try and release the aches and pains throughout it. They rubbed healing oils on your body to help you. Do you feel better, Father?" Geta says to me. I look around, and I see that they all have worried expressions on their faces.

"If anything I feel worse, but I hope I will get better soon." I say, my voice very quiet and scratchy. I feel weaker than I ever have before, and I feel like I have had all of the energy drained from my body.

I feel the wet towel on my forehead, and I can feel a bead of the water drip down the side of my face. Suddenly, I begin to remember the very day of my marriage to my wife, and the birth of our sons sometime after. I remember fighting in the numerous battles throughout my eighteen years as Roman Emperor. I remember all of these important events right before I forget them, and I stare around inside the tent. After I look around I feel as though this is the last time I will ever see my surroundings, and I finally close my eyes forever.

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Katherine B. '03, Germantown Academy