Along time ago there lived a slave named Marcellus. He was born a slave in Rome. He never knew his mother for she died before he was 3 months old. The master of the house who he was going to work for ( when old enough ) assigned him a nurse to him since he had no mother.
Years went by. He became a slave and worked as a stable boy. Sometimes he would sneak away on top a hill for it had a great view of the Colosseum, and he liked to watch the gladiators fight. He had no idea that one day he would be in that same ring fighting to the death.
More years went by. He had changed from stable boy into working in the field. One night the nurse who had brought him up came to him.
"There has been something that I have kept from you for a long time," she said.
"What is it," he asked.
"It is something about your family you never knew before."
"Go on," Marcellus said.
"You know that you were born a slave, but you never knew your parents. Your mother and I were best friends. So she would tell me everything. One day she came home from the market, and said she had just seen a new bunch of slaves being brought in. Among them was the most hansom she had ever seen , and as fate would have it he ended up here."
"So was he my father?" Marcellus asked.
"Yes he was, but a few weeks before you were born your father was taken to train to become a gladiator. Your father was very good he won all of his battles. But one day a soldier reported that there was talk of rebellion among the slaves. They accused your father of being the leader. Later that week he was crucified."
"All right but how did my mother die?"
"One night a few weeks after you were born she planned an escape. She found out that they were going to take you away from her. So that night she snuck away with you. She got as far as the courtyard, but was seen by a guard. The master of the house had her killed, but took pity on you. He said that if you were to live you would be a slave at his house."
"So that is why I am here?" he asked.
"Yes that is why. I thought I should tell you now for I may never see you again."
"Why do you say that?"
"You are a strong young man, and in very good shape."
"So."
"I have gotten news that trainers are coming to recruit gladiators," she said.
"That does not mean I will be chosen."
"But chances are you will be chosen."
That was the last time he saw his old nurse for he, as was predicted, was chosen. He was taken to a camp to start his training, and later(after his training was complete) would be sold as a gladiator.
Marcellus knew not to make friends at the camp for he might have to fight them to the death in the ring.
One day he heard talk of a man coming to buy gladiators. Marcellus had done very well during his training and felt he was ready for anything.
The man came the next day and chose about twenty men. Marcellus was among them.
He was taken to the Colosseum for his first fight. He was very coordinated, and killed his opponent without a scratch on him. He won all of his battles and was on his way to the tournament round. He was to fight Jaradocis who had won the same amount of battles as Marcellus.
The next day they met at the Colosseum to battle. It started out with Marcellus stabbing Jaradocis in the arm, and then Jaradocis slashing Marcellus' leg. The battle went on for about an hour each person cutting or stabbing each other.
It all ended when Jaradocis stabbed at Marcellus. Marcellus dodged the sword and chopped off Jaradocis' hand. He then picked up his opponent's sword. And with one sword stabbed Jaradocis and with the other chopped off his head.
It would have been a happy ending, but Marcellus had lost so much blood during the match that he only live about three minutes after his victory.
THE END
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