It was the end of all pretense, and the beginning of something so great, so new, that all who took part felt themselves as gods on earth. The eagle had hatched. With triumphant beak, sharp and ready, the egg shell of toil and planning crumbled away to reveal an Eagle. It spread its wings and took noble flight.


An eagle flew overhead, and then another. They circled the advancing columns of tens of thousands. Pola marked them well. Even he was sure it was a sign from the gods. Like a man possessed he watched their flight as if every dip and glide had special meaning.


Men from every part of the world marched past their leader and looked on with complete wonder. Surely this man, who had caused so much to happen by sheer force of will, surely he was a god? He never rested. His bearing was more than kingly. And the lady which rode at his side, the beauty with rarest red hair. Juno and Jove they whispered. Grown men shed tears and prepared to do anything for them. And they knew that they would willingly make the same sacrifices for them, for Rome, for all peoples who honored them with their loyalty and life.


Now Legio III marched by, now Legio I Imperator. Pola hailed them with arm outstretched. Every cohort which passed hailed him back with a unified cry.




They marched to old Illium. The birthplace of the Romans. It was a fitting place for the Emperor of the Trojans to found a new nation, a unified empire, and a fitting place to wed is love, his Empress.


It was all so carefully planned, willingly so by Bithynians, Romans, Greeks and Pontics. Pola wanted them all to take part. The entire city of Illium, the people who currently lived there, were moved nearby with promises of honor and compensation. For here would be a new capital. On the ruins of old Troy, a great new city would be built to honor the Empire and its people. It would honor the Trojans, Aeneas and Magna Mater.


But today, the ruins still stood, and the great temples and colonnades were a ever growing collection of sketches of Pola and architects who flooded to him by request. Today tents and great podiums would have to suffice, for they would house nearly 300,000 soldiers, civic leaders and people of all walks of life would celebrate the marriage of Favonius Cornelius Pola and Maria Gratidiana. They would celebrate the coronation of their new Emperor and Empress.


In full view of all people and soldiers the marriage took place. Pola had worn a deep purple cloak and the armor of an Imperator. At his side stood Quintus Tullius Flaminius, with a purple sash running across his chest, signifying a great new role in the Empire. Also all his Legates and Tribunes stood near as well as leaders from every province and ally. Maria wore a wedding dress of primrose, made of pure Oriental silk, embroidered with gold, silver and emeralds. Her sheer veil was the color of yellow flame. Beautiful ladies from across the world stood by her side. The collection of the world's most noble was a sight probably unlike anything ever seen before. When a full thousand musicians sounded the triumphal music, there was no one who was not moved. Some of the ladies had to be carried away by handsome nobles, so taken by the spectacle.


After the ceremony, Pola addressed all who had gathered. He wore the Crown of the Trojans and the Sword at his side. Maria stood near, radiant diadem on her head, looking on her Pola as he spoke:




"TROJANS!" A great cheer thundered for minutes. Pola raised his arms for quiet and it was given immediately.


"Trojans! Today is the greatest day of our history! Today is the foundation of a new and glorious empire! Today we shall celebrate the unification of the world's peoples under ONE rule. Under the rule of the Trojans, our new Empire will bring peace, glory and prosperity greater than that of Darius. Our exploits will be greater than that of Alexander! It is told by the gods! Written in stone and foretold by prophesy!"


"I take this Sword, that which was swung by Aeneas! I cut my hand, and as Jupiter as my witness, and every god as my witness, I swear it to you all that each of you will have a new place in this Empire. There will be no man or woman or child wanting. There will be no bloody proscriptions, no merciless hate. These things have no place in the Empire of the Trojans. Wisdom and love will be the guiding principles. Those who flock to our cause and recognize our supremacy will find clemency and profitable enterprise. Under the rule of One, the Trojan Empire will know greatness!"


"Brothers, and sisters, father and mothers! This is but the heady beginning! We have work to do. A cancer rots our loved home, mother Roma. We must stamp out all dissention where it offers itself, for while there is hate and contradiction there can only be evil and strife. We march for Rome! We march for glory, and the conquest of our birthright! Celebrations we will have in Rome!!"




With that two huge elephants marched up to the dais trumpeting their call. They both kneeled as if paying respects to the Emperor and Empress. These would be their mounts to victory.


"You don't expect me to get on THAT do you?!" Maria whispered to her Pola.


He laughed, "Do not worry my Empress...see how they bow in admiration to you? They are highly trained and will not fail us. Come, it is for these people. They need us to be greater than life itself. And it is now time to march to our destiny."