Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Fourth cohort of Gauls, second legion.
Come to relieve the command.
Lutorius Drusillus Salinator,
acting senior officer.
- Where's the garrison commander?
- He left this morning, sir.
Couldn't wait to get away.
The duty-roster,
and the keys to the pay-chest.
- No paymaster?
- We're too small a garrison.
Unfortunately,
that job falls to you.
As you probably noticed,
we've had a little trouble
with the latrines,
but we have someone
working on it.
- Unsuccessfully.
- So far.
- This you're first command, sir?
- It is.
What made you choose Britain?
You have family connections,
I believe.
No.
I've noticed the fort,
it's in a poor state of repair.
We'll need to do something
about that.
Yes, sir. Sure.
Move, move, move.
Get in line, soldier!
Now! Fall in!
Our new commander,
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Where's our newly minted commander?
Probably unpacking his rule book.
You mark my words.
Marcus Aquila is tainted.
Well, you know
who is father was.
The man who lost the Eagle of the Ninth.
Not to mention, 5000 men.
That was a little absent minded.
I heard, he asked to be sent here.
- To this shit hole?
- Yeah.
I'm telling you.
I've marched with the Eagles 23 years.
I know a bad omen, when I see one.
The boy's a bad omen.
Mithras, lord of light.
Please, help me.
Father of our fathers.
Help me lead my men well.
Do not let me dishonour my legion.
Please, help me regain
my family's honour.
Dig in deep, boys.
Your lives depend on
these defences.
You must be answerable
to your instructions!
It's been told,
the grain delivery hasn't arrived.
I want you to send out a patrol
to investigate.
I wouldn't worry, sir. One day late,
is nothing here.
Well, it is to me.
- Send out the patrol.
- Believe me sir, too dangerous.
We've had reports of a Druid
roaming the villages.
Right now,
I would not send out a patrol.
The men, they need to eat too.
Patrol!
Forward! March!
Left, right, march.
Wake Lutorius.
Yes, sir.
- Did you hear that?
- Sir?
I hope the patrol's all right.
It seems I may have got
you up for nothing.
What did you hear?
It's a cattle, most likely.
There. That.
Did you hear it?
Oh, damn the dark.
Should I call the men to arms?
If it's only cattle,
they won't thank you.
Better angry than dead.
Call them out.
But in silence.
Yes, sir.
Soldier, wake up!
Bloody helmets!
Come on, come on!
Move, move, move!
Bring me a torch!
Hold! Steady!
Hold your lines!
- Sir. - Well done. - Sir.
The light of the sun be with you,
brother.
Many more of us
would be lyng there, sir.
Is there any sign of the patrol?
Sir!
I'm not leaving them to die.
Muster fifty of the reserves
and hold them at the gate.
Sir...
Let me lead them.
It was my decision
to send out the patrol.
It's my responsibility
to bring them back.
Muster the men.
Mithras, lord of light,
father of our fathers,
let me not bring misfortune
to my Legion.
Mithras, lord of light,
father of our fathers,
accept whatever sacrifice, that I may not
bring misfortune to my Legion.
On my command!
We form Testudo!
Ready! Open the gate!
Legion!
Dopuble time, March!
Testudo!... Form!
Move forward!
Move forward!
Locking Testudo!
Move!
Hold the circle!
Tight the circle!
Here!
Cut that's free!
Hold the circle!
Hold!
Hold the circle!
Fall back!
Run!
Run!
Father, where are you?
Father.
Rest now.
Lie still, still.
Where am I?
You still in Britain.
Calleva.
Calleva?
Your fort surgeon
had you transferred here.
Two hundred leagues
in a mule cart.
A few are wounded,
so I wonder you didn't die.
I'm your uncle,
in your father's side.
Aquila.
These are not the best circumstances,
under which to meet, but...
Assuming you gonna live,
Oh you'll have a plenty of time
to make your acquaintance.
Don't. Please, lie still.
The patient must rest.
I hope the medicine, he's gonna
give you does you some good.
It smells repellent,
like one of his farts.
My men?
What happened to my men?
Your men were saved.
Thanks to your effort.
Rest now.
Subtitle by HyugA
Marcus.
Marcus.
You have a visitor.
- Lutorius.
- Sir.
The men have been asking
after you.
- And how are they?
- Anxious to know how their Commander fares.
- You have some news for my nephew?
- Yes, sorry.
We have received word from Rome.
For holding the fort
under extreme duress...
The Fourth Cohort of Gauls,
Has been awarded
the gilded laurel.
From today, their standard will carry
its first wreath.
Tell the men,
I could not be more proud.
And that's not all, sir.
They've awarded you,
A military armilla.
For conspicuous gallantry.
And an honourable discharge,
Because of your wounds.
The citation reads
"honour and faithfulness".
Honour and faithfulness.
May I be the first to offer
my congratulations?
It was good of you
to come so far.
Sir.
Thank you, Lutorius.
Stephanos. Leave him.
There's no medicine for that.
Ease him down.
Carefuly.
Fun!
What was my father like?
Your father?
Your father was the perfect Roman,
With everything that that implies.
The man who lost the Eagle
was the perfect Roman?
How the Eagle was lost,
no one knows.
But if your father died
defending it,
He died honourably.
That's what we tell ourselves.
But what if he didn't?
- What?
- What if he was a coward and ran?
And now...
a fight to the death!
It's a slay.
A gladiator and a slave's
never a fair contest.
Never.
Come on. Come on.
Fight!
There's bravery.
Come on!
He's gonna give himself his death.
Look at that, look at that!
Go! Come on!
Come on! Go!
Fight!
Get up! Fight him! Get up!
Get up!
Fight!
Come on!
Fight!
- Kill him!
- Kill him!
Kill! Kill! Kill!
Kill him!
Life! Life!
Life!
Come on, what is this?
Come on, get your thumbs up!
Come on, you fools!
Life!
All of you, life!
Get your thumbs up!
Get your thumbs up!
- Life!
- Come on you fools!
Get your thumbs up!
Life! Life!
Come on!
Let him live!
No doubt that was not expecting.
Why did you save him?
Stephanos!
Stephanos!
I've decided Stephanos
is too old to serve two masters.
I've bought you
your own body slave.
I don't need my own slave.
Marcus.
I should have been consulted.
Yeah, well...
you weren't.
Slave!
His name's Esca.
- I have no use for you.
- I had no wish to be bought.
You should've run.
My uncle wouldn't stop you.
You saved my life.
I have a debt of honour to you.
Against your wish.
No man should have to beg
for his life.
You didn't. I did,
on your behalf, and...
I meant nothing by.
I'm the son of the Brigantes,
Who never broke his word.
My father's dagger is my bond.
I hate everything
you stand for.
Everything you are.
But you saved me.
And for that I must serve you.
- Who searched this wound?
- The surgeon at the fort.
Was he drunk?
Never seen such a mess.
You must have been
in constant pain.
Sent him two hundred leagues
in a mule cart, nearly killed him.
I'm going to have to re-open it.
There's still metal in there.
Well...
I guess, it's gonna be time.
You're gonna do it, right?
- Yeah.
- It'll be over before you know it.
I've the best knives
in the business.
Some wine.
- Ready?
- Ready.
You can go.
No.
I'm gonna need the slave
to hold you down.
- Can't my uncle do it?
- Me? No...
I've grown to hate
the sight of blood,
Especially, the blood of someone
I'm quite fond of.
Be strong.
Quickly now.
Hold him down.
Put your weight on him, slave!
Harder!
Take a deep breath.
When I say "now", let it out.
Now!
Did I shame myself?
Thank you.
There he is.
Spear! Now!
Cut him off!
Turn around!
As I remember it,
they seem to be fond of you.
Marcus.
May I present my nephew,
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Claudius Marcellus
is my old friend,
And the esteemed Legate
of the Sixth Legion.
Your uncle is an old
sparring partner.
Tribune Servius Placidus,
and...
Indispensable member
of my staff.
Ah... Supper's ready.
Boiled eggs and fish.
Don't all rush at once.
If it was my choice,
I'd be a soldier all my life.
However, my father will insist
I go into politics.
Have we met before?
Your name sounds familiar.
Oh, I doubt it.
The Tribune's Club, in Rome?
No, I was only
a cohort centurion.
Ah. Right.
I remember now.
Flavius Aquila... Your father marched
with the Eagles, too, did he not?
He commanded
the First Cohort of the Ninth.
Of course. The Ninth.
Every Roman
remembers the Ninth.
Talking of the Ninth, there's been a
rumour recently along the Wall.
Rumours, rumours.
Britain's full of nothing
but rumours.
They say the Eagle's been seen,
Receiving divine honours in some
tribal temple in the far north.
An Eagle in the hands of the
Painted People, a potent weapon.
One has to wonder
how any Roman could let it go.
If this were to be true,
Surly, we should act.
What would Rome say?
Eagle lost, honour lost.
Honour lost, all lost.
Rome would love to get
the Eagle back,
But politics being politics,
No Senator's going to risk thousands
of lives, on a tainted Legion.
My hands are tied.
Not if you sent one man.
North of the wall?
No Roman could survive
up there.
- Has anyone ever tried?
- No...
But that's the point, militarily...
To try, would be to fail.
How do you know?
One man can hide
where an army can't.
No one would even know
he was there.
- It's too risky.
- Quite right.
The loss of the Ninth
was humiliating enough,
without adding
another pointless death.
Marcus.
Marcus.....
You can't let the likes of him
do this to you.
He has no notion
how you and I, lived our lives.
Ever since I can remember.
All I've ever worked to be
was a soldier, like my father.
I know.
I can still see him now,
riding away for the last time.
I can still feel
how proud I was.
My father...
Centurion of the First Cohort
of the Ninth Legion,
Can you imagine anything
more magnificent,
Than to be a soldier?
And to serve Rome,
- With courage and faithfulness.
- But you did, son.
For what? For what?!
- An honourable discharge?
- That's fate.
That's in the hands of the Gods.
When I made Centurion,
They asked me...
Where I wanted to be posted.
I knew the answer
before they'd even asked.
Britain.
This is where my father
lost the Eagle.
This is where I was going
to win so much glory,
That no Roman would ever dare
bring up his name again.
And what all I do now?
What all I do? I sit, and I listen to
some silk-arsed politician's son,
Pisses on our family's name!
I will not sit in some villa,
for the rest of my days,
Rotting and remembering.
If I can't win back
my family's honour,
by being a soldier,
Then I'll do it by finding
the lost Eagle.
You can't.
No Roman can survive
north of the wall alone.
- You can't.
- Then I'll take Esca.
I can use his knowledge,
he speaks their language.
- Esca?
- Why not?
Because he's a Britain.
He may not be
from north of the wall,
But he's a Britain.
And he will slit your throat
the minute you're alone.
- He wouldn't do that.
- How do you know?
- He gave me his word.
- His word?
He's a slave.
He says what he says,
and he does what he does,
Because he has to.
Once you be on their territories...
If I'm wrong...
Then I'll die.
And that's how it should be.
Where are you heading?
North.
Didn't they tell you,
this is the end of the world?
Just open the gates, soldier.
See you in the afterlife, Roman.
Who did this?
Rogue warriors.
You know, sometimes, I...
I dream that I'll...
find my father alive up here.
And that he survived
in some hidden place?
Is that why you're here?
To find your father?
No.
We're here to find the Eagle.
How can a piece of metal
mean so much to you?
The Eagle is not
a piece of metal.
The Eagle is Rome.
It's a symbol of our honour.
Every victory,
every achievement.
Wherever the Eagle is,
we can say that... Rome did that.
You wouldn't understand.
How could you?
My father was Cunoval,
Bearer of the Blue War Shield's
the Brigantes.
Lord of five hundred spears.
Seven years ago,
you took our lands.
And we rose against you.
My father and two brothers died.
My mother also.
My father killed her before
the Legionaries broke through.
He knew what they would do to her.
She knelt in front of him
and he slit her throat.
Rome also did that.
The Highlands.
- Which way?
- It's up to you.
in a single glen.
There are thousands of glens.
You could search for months
and still find nothing.
North.
Whoever we meet,
let me do the talking.
If they find out you're a Roman,
they'll kill you.
And me.
Don't look.
There's three Rogue warriors
behind you, across the river.
How many behind me?
I don't see anyone.
They're there.
Are you ready?
Next time, don't hesitate.
Stay back.
He remembers seeing
the Legion march north.
But they never
came back this way.
He must know more than that.
He says not.
- Ask him again.
- No.
What're you doing?
Enough!
Enough!
Enough!
Enough!
No more games, no more lies!
Ask him where the legion went.
Ask him!
Kill him!
Kill him!
- Do it, now!
- Chin-strap scar.
Only a Roman helmet does that.
He's a Legionary.
What's your name?
What's your name?
I'm called...
Guern.
My name...
is Lucius Caius Metellus.
First Cohort of the Ninth Legion.
How did you survived
up here for so long?
My tribe is called
the Selgovae.
They took me in, made me
one of their own.
I have a woman, two sons.
My life is here now.
I don't trust him.
- He's a deserter.
- We don't know that.
He's still a Roman.
He was a Roman when he ran.
I don't know what your...
father's orders were, but...
All I know...
Is that we had it coming.
Why did they have to come north?
There's nothing here
worth taking.
Couldn't they be satisfied
with what they had?
They always have to punish and...
push on, looking for more conquests,
more territories, more...
wars.
Just tell me what happened.
When the order came for the Ninth
to march north, it was autumn.
Worst weather they had in years.
For weeks we marched,
no sign of them.
Suddenly, they just
appeared out of the mist.
We can hear them, picking the men
off at the back, one by one.
Finally, we just stopped trying to find
open ground, and we turned and faced them.
Those last few days
in the Legion,
I've never been so frightened.
We fought back to back.
No sleep, pissing where we stood.
They came as if like animals.
This is the killing ground.
All the northern tribes were here.
But their worst....
Were the painted warriors
of the Seal People.
They hacked the feet
off the dead.
So their souls couldn't walk
into the afterlife.
They used those stones
as Altars, to kill the officers.
They ripped their hearts off
while they were still alive.
We could hear them
being sacrificed.
And my father?
What happened to him?
The last time, I saw your father,
He was surrounded by
the warriors of the Seal People.
Did he die fighting?
Did he die fighting?
I don't know.
I ran before the end.
A lot of us did.
- You coward.
- No.
You weren't here.
You don't what it was like.
Who has the Eagle?
They say the Seal People
have it.
How do I find them?
He knows.
He's Brigantes.
They fought here.
You always knew that place existed,
didn't you?
We've wasted weeks
searching for it.
And all this time
you could have told me.
Your tribe was there.
And they butchered
my father's men like dogs.
Your father came to kill!
He came to punish us, cause we were
not bowed to the name of Rome.
Yes, I've heard of this place.
To me and to all my people,
- it is the place of heroes.
- How dare you?
You're still my slave!
And you'd be dead in a ditch
without me!
I saved your miserable life!
No! What's happening?
No! Esca?
Esca?
Esca! Esca.
HyugA
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Marcus... Flavius... Aquila.
Marcus... Flavius... Aquila.
Esca, what's happening?
You're my slave.
I've seen many Romans...
Kneel.
Get on your knees!
Do it!
When I get the chance,
I will kill you.
Marcus!
Marcus!
Marcus!
It's time.
We have to do this now.
It's our only chance while they sleep.
I thought I'd lost you.
Quickly.
There's no time now.
Let's go.
We have to go now!
Where did you get
my father's ring?
What did he say?
We have to go.
Esca.
If he wakes them, we're dead.
And you know it.
- He has no reason to protect us.
- Do you trust me?
He won't betray us.
- How many days to the wall?
- If we ride hard, four, maybe five.
They'll never catch us on foot.
- Have you seen them run?
- Come on...
You're wounded?
- Why didn't you say?
- It's nothing.
It's your bad leg. Sit down.
- We don't have time.
- Just sit down.
In the cave...
The chief.... what did he say?
Come on,
there's no time right now.
They're coming.
Half a day behind.
The wind always lies.
No fires.
It's too risky.
I'm not eating that.
I'm not a savage.
Then die a Roman.
You've lost a lot of blood.
You need to keep
your strength up.
Eat.
It's time to go.
They can take shortcuts
that the horses can't.
Come on, keep going.
Come on!
Come on!
No!
We need to stick to the river.
They'll double back soon enough.
- Rest.
- We can't.
You need to rest!
Marcus!
You need to rest.
Come on.
Come on.
- I can't go on.
- Yes, you can.
You just need to rest.
Take the Eagle.
If you find horses come back.
If not... just keep south!
Make sure this
gets back to Rome.
I'm not leaving you here.
Do not dishonour me.
- Take it.
- I came this far with you,
I won't leave you now.
Esca, I order you.
Take it.
I swore an oath of honour,
Never to abandon you!
If you want me to leave,
Set me free.
Give me my freedom.
You're free my friend.
- Take it.
- No.
I will return.
Legion! Halt!
Your father's Legionaries.
You were wrong.
The dead can live.
My shame would not allow me
to tell you this before,
but I watched your father die.
Whatever anyone tells you,
he was not a coward.
He stood his ground,
to the very end.
I saw it.
The last Roman to hold the Eagle
was your father.
The order, sir.
You've honoured
my father's memory enough.
- You don't have to do this.
- No.
When I ran from your father,
I ran from myself.
Give the order, sir.
Prepare to defend the Eagle!
Esca!
Let us remember the men who fought and die,
in the name of honour.
Romans and Britains.
My father and yours.
Fathers...
Brothers...
Sons...
May peace and honour
follow you.
May you know no more strife.
May your souls take flight...
and soar.
With the Eagle of the Ninth.
For my father.
My dear boy!
I congratulate you,
Rome congratulate you.
Your family's
good name is restored.
The senate will want
to reform the Ninth,
Perhaps they can reward you
with its command.
I don't know
how did you do it.
- With only a slave to help you.
- He's not a slave.
And he knows more about honour
and freedom, than you ever will.
So, what now?
You decide.