Author's note: The main character in this story was born around 76 B.C. The story ends around 58 and 59 B.C. (counting backward to O B.C. or the birth of Christ. Then there is about a 33 year interval for Jesus' life (however you want to take that, depending on how you look at things I guess) and then O A.D.)
~*~
"It is a girl, Andraste," murmured Cadman to his wife Andraste,
cheap ugg boots USA, who had just given birth to their first child. The midwife had left the two alone with their child, who gurgled soundly in her father's arms. Cadman handed the child to Andraste, who cooed and smiled at the babe.
"She is strong,
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"Yes," Cadman admitted gloomily. The tradition of their particular tribe of Celts in central Gaul was that the firstborn son in each family was to be trained by his father and listed in the Army of Gaul. Cadman had always dreamed of the day when he would hold his first child, a son, in his arms, and the day when he would first begin to teach that son the warrior ways of his people. Now the day of his first child's birth had come, and the moment of joy had been lost with the realization that he did not have a son; he had a daughter.
"So, our first child is not a boy," stated Andraste simply. "Who is to say that the next child will not be male? Your dream of fatherly glory and pride for a son is not shattered entirely. Do not fear, love."
"I will be old before long," muttered Cadman, lowering his voice so as not to disturb his child, who was quickly losing herself to sleep. "Let us hope that a son will come before my time is gone."
"What shall we name her?" wondered Andraste, changing the subject entirely. "Unless you wish to continue on calling her 'our child' for the rest of her life?"
"Of course not, darling," chuckled Cadman in a sudden change of mood. "You said she was strong. We will give her the name Bridget, for it means strong. It will be in honor of your first words to her that we name her Bridget."
"Wonderful," Andraste whispered,
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~*~
Eighteen years passed since the birth of Bridget. Andraste had given birth to five children after Bridget,
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Cadman taught Bridget everything he knew. He taught her lessons and tactics of war that only those of their tribe knew. Before her eighth birthday Bridget could handle a bow and quiver with ease and skill. Daggers became Bridget's favorite weapon after the bow,
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Bridget had always been scared that she would never get the opportunity to use her knowledge of battle and warfare. But her time came. Eight years before Bridget's eighteenth birthday, Julius Caesar began to invade the southern borders of Gaul with his army, which he had been given at the price of his daughter's hand in marriage to the consul of Rome at the time. He was quite successful at invading Gaul. Bridget's kin in the south were retreating, taking up temporary residence in welcoming tribes in central Gaul. Over the years Bridget's tribe had become bigger due to the retreating southerners, many of who had lost their homes and families to Caesar. As Celts moved north, Caesar followed.
Weeks after Bridget's eighteenth birthday, Caesar began to run rampant on the villages just south of where Bridget and her family lived. Their village and several others nearby decided to retreat to the fortress of Dorral, which was not far north. They had learned that the forces of Gaul were gathering there to try for one last stand against Caesar. Immediately, the five tribes and villages in the area south of Dorral began to make haste for the fort, where all hopes would be tried and the future of the Celts of Gaul would be decided.
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