Gaius Julius was walking around in his castle when he received the message from his good friend Lars Porsenna.

Lars wrote that an dacian army has entered etruria though etruria is neutral to the conflict. and that the eutruscans army is away.

Gaius Julius remembered the Etruscan help in the past and immediately mobilized the ligurian army and ordered it to etruria to aid his etruscan friends.

Gaius Julius wrote a letter to Lars Porsenna.

Dear Lars
In your times of trouble i will honour our mutual prottion pact. The Ligurian army is marching towards your lands to help you protect your provinces from any intruder. I hope we can make it in time. I will keep you informed.

Greetings your friend Gaius Julius

Pontius was discussing the engagement in Asia Minor with his wife, while the warriors were building the camp. After few minutes of debating, he did see the King walking straight to him and Sabina. Be silent! The King arrives! He speaks hastily to her. Lars Porsenna arrived, looking from one to the other. He asks about the discussion between Sabina and Pontius. Pontius answers viscerally in his commotion.

My King! We stay in a lousy wilderness, full of barbarians and want fight the Phrygians, who are warlike people. This may be a long war, far away from home. And this while the Dacians are moving happily from one edge of Etruria to the other. And why? Because we leave it unprotected for to help the Pharaoh. Porsenna, Sir, how will it come to an end? I and the majority of the army want to break off this engagement in the east and move home as fast as can for to protect our families and lands.

It was out now. Rage and worryness let him speak so open. After he ends, he comes to the conclusion to walk on very thin ice, to struggle with his King. But he felels very much better now.

QUOTE:
To Lars Porsenna

Dear archon of Etruscans

Allow me to pay you respect to your brave warriors who have fallen because you ordered them to attack us. Now they have all died in your service and for what? Dacians were not happy about killing their friends , you stroke first and that's all that matters.

If you wish to solve this problem order your troops to stand down , and I will order the army to move to oyur capital for negotiations between Dacia and the Etruscans. If you don't tell your palace guards to stand down all of Dacians including Zamoxlis will die of arrow fire , and our brethren in Dacia won't look at that with to much heart.

So I suggest that we negotiate also peace with the Romans or something else in your wonderful palace.

Humbly
Ban Moroplovac
Protector of Dacia

Porsenna heard his nobles allegations with serenity. And he was knowing that not all was wrong, he said. After pontius had finished his speech, he contemplates a while about before he answered.

Pontius, I know it is the sorrow about our homelands that make you speak so harshly. Let me explain. If we did'nt put a stop to the Phrygians, we can forget our trading routes to Egypt. Much of our prosperity we take off the market of the Pharaoh's lands. We have to protect this market. If we allow that Phrygians may interrupt these routes and/or loot the Egyptian provinces, our trade with Egypt will come to collapse. Furthermore, I gave my word to help to protect Egyptian provinces and to fight side by side with Egypt. I can't break off this campaign. And our way home would take a long time. Far too long for to protect our provinces betime. Have trust to our friends, the Ligurians and Celtiberians. Last messages made clear that they are near to Etruria and will protect our lands.

Some days after these talk, both armies move straight to Beydili province, an area that was the home of some barbarian tribes. The weather became winterly and it began to snow. After a frozy night both armies continued their march. After midday a heavy snowstorm occurs and the warriors walked nearly blind forward. The Snowstorm raged for some three days in which the Etruscans moved among exertions. During the night the storm calmed down and the dawn was very cold. Many warriors had frostbites. In daylight there was nothing to see from the Egytian allies. Where are we? The army moved slowly forward, but all villages and farms were abandoned by their inhabitants. Nervosity widespread during the warriors. Porsenna sent some cavalrists out for to scout, where the army was and where the Egyptians were. Things became dramatically as some of the cavalrists came back with the message that a large Phrygian army are only a few hours behind them.

Fortunately a group of Egyptian scouts was reaching the improvised camp. They had been sent two days ago for to find the Etruscans. They gave message, that Egyptians camped in the Beydili province, while Etruscans had to be lost and entered the Phrygian Smyrna province.

Porsenna saw only one chance. He convenes his wife and nobles and explained his plan.
"We are heavily outnumbered by the Phrygians. Do you see these heights east of our camp? Our infantry shall gain a foothold there at the crest, while our cavalry, the strongest part of the small army shall fight delaying on the right flank. The youngest warriors shall act as the campguard and protect it. The camp itself have to act as the cover of the left flank. We can not win and will suffer a defeat, but we can fight persistently to slow down the Phrygian army. If we can hold our positions until night falls, we can escape under cover of the darkness and retreat to Beydili, where the Pharaoh will await us. The Egyptian scout will lead us. And the infantry shall hold it's ranks close, to minimize the losses! My wife will lead the cavalry, I will lead the infantry and Germanicus the campguard. May the gods be with us and prohibite a desaster. Good luck all!"

The preparations for the battle are beginning.

It was short after midday, as the Phrygian army arrived. In the meantime Etruscans had finished their preparations for battle. The servants of the baggage train had loaded all the supplies on nundreds of mules. They moved some two miles away straight to Beydili, protected by a small group of warriors. So the retreat could be arranged fast, because the warriors could run unburdened by the supplies.

The Phrygians halted for a short while. Then they had gone into battle from open march. They outnumbered the Etruscans by more than two to one. Enthusiastic yelling, the Phrygians attacked the Etruscan infantry in the center of the battleline in a common run up the hills. The first impetus had been repelled easily by Etruscans. The upcoming Phrygians were exhausted from a force march and climbing up the heights. They moved back to their initial position. An hour later Phrygians started the second attempt to shock the Etruscan infantryline. Porsenna let to gather the wounded warriors from the first attack and sent back to the baggage train. He knew to loose the battlefield and would safe as many warriors as possible.

Queen Ishabell sent a column to attack the camp on the Etruscan left flank, while the main body of the attack moved up the hills again. A fierce combat began but the infantryline withstood. Mainly because Porsenna changed the lines as often times as possible, so that the warriors could rest for a while before they were sent into battle again. Different to the left flank. Excited messengers of count Germanicus came to demand support again and again. But there was no reserve left, that Porsenna could send. So the collapse of the left wing was unavoidable. Germanicus fought as long as being several wounded. The last defenders of the camp picked the lifeless body of the Etruscan counsellor and fled hastily towards the center. Porsenna saw the collaps of the army but fortunately for him had the Phrygians began to plunder what was left in the tents of the camp, bringing precious time for the Etruscans.

At this point, as the camp was lost, but the center prevailed, Queen Ishabell led personally the second wave of Phrygian troops up the heights to reinforce her bravely fighting warriors there. She moved up and the Phrygians pressed the Etruscans hardly. They were pulled back and for few minutes it looked like that the center would break. Wherever Ishabell fought Etruscans were slayed. Porsenna saw the moment had come to go into battle by himself. He took the standard and walked into the first battleline, searching the Phrygians Queen. His effort let his warriors stand and fight withstanding again. Queen Ishabell found him first. She beared down on him, sitting on a horse, swinging her sword. Porsenna noticed her almost too late. He parried her first strike, but before he could counter her, she stroke again and this time he could'nt parry her sword. She hit him hardly on the left side of his hip. Heavy wounded the King broke down. His warriors safed him while defending the furious Phrygians Queen. The standard falled down, too and his warriors became panicked seeing the standard down. "The King is dead and all lost!" many began to cry. Porsennas noble Sabina bound him on his horse and said: "My King, you must go away from here immediately!" "Take the standard and rally the warriors. Fight until darkness will fall and retreat then immediately and fast to the destination of our rallypoint. Hurry up and avoid this awesome Queen!" He answered. Two loyal warriors led the King from the battlefield. Sabina took the standard and had done her best to rally the warriors and carry on the fight.



At this moment, Queen Fineae noticed the crisis in the center. The Etruscan cavalry had no action since hours and were rested and belligerent. The Etruscan Queen moved up to the head of the squadrons and led a horrible charge into the flank of the Phrygian army. The effort of the cavalry, repeating charge after charge into the mass of the Phrygian warriors saved the hard pressed and panicked infantry from a desastrous collapse. The battle lasted for some hours and dawn falled upon the field. Yard after yard the infantry had been pulled back by the sustained Phrygian warriors, who keep in sight the victory. The cavalrists fought a grimly but desperate fight. The infantrists were extremely exhausted, many wounded, but brave fighting behind her noble Sabina. Sabina and Pontius the Samnite fought back to back until broke down several wounded. Their closest warriors saved them.

After darkness had fallen the warriors began to retreat. Most of the Etruscans took wounded comrads to preserve them from being prisoners. Queen Fineae let swarm her cavalrists out for to slow down the Phrygian pursuit and skirmish the foremost Phrygians. Wounded, Fineae managed to escape as the most of her cavalrists, too.

For some days, the defeated Etruscan army had to move restless until they arrived the Egyptian Army in Beydili. Finally they could rest for a week. It would a defeat, but no desaster and King Porsenna offered a beautyful white Bull to Jupiter, who saved the army.

Some messages arrived at the Etruscan camp in Denizli after an adventurous journey of the couriers. They are sitting around the fire now, telling their adventures to some of the warriors.

King Porsenna, as good as cured, was reading about the overhasty attack of the militians of Appenino, while Dacians seemed to move peacefully through the province again. He read Ban Moroplovac' letter to him and the message of his governor of Verona about the banishment of the Dacian army. The governor also told him about the efforts of the Ligurian and Celtiberian armies.

After contemplating about all of these news, some good, some bad, Porsenna take his quill and begin to write some letters.

QUOTE:
Dear Ban Moroplovac

I got message about the overhasty attack of the militias of Appenino. So I notice that the devastating of this province is not your blame. Your move to Verona must been seen as preparation for an attack by my governor there. So he had done his obligation to led the guards to an attack on you.

We had no disputes before you approached in Etruria. So I am willing to conclude peace with Dacia as long as no Dacian armies enter Etruscan provinces again.

I never will renew the non agression pact with Dacia. Your movements through Etruria in contrast to our declaration seeded mistrustfulness.

Awaiting your answer

Lars Porsenna
King of Etruria

A half a year was gone since the battle of Smyrna. The months was filled with some campaigns, victories and defeats. Burnu had been conquered and Smyrna looted. But the Phrygians are known for their skills in combat and defended their provinces as good as possible.

More dangerous than the loss of warriors was the loss of morale of the Etruscan warriors, fighting for near a year far away from home in very hard battles. The time was near to end this war, because Porsenna could free most of the Etruscan sailors, rowers and traders, enslaved by the Phrygians, in Burnu, what was his major intention to fight the Phrygians. He sent them home as the ten Phrygian maidens for to serve in Jupiters temple, weeks before.

Some meetings with the Pharaoh about moderate conditions for peace negotiations followed. The war seems to result in a draw, so whether Egyptians, nor Etruscans can demand any reparations.

After the last meeting, Porsenna picks his pen and writes a diplomatic message to Queen Ishabell of Phrygia. After signing and sealing the papyrus, he is sending a female warrior with it to the Phrygians encampment in Smyrna.

QUOTE:
Dear Ishabell
Queen of Phrygia

Since a long time we are campaigning in your lands as an answer of your attack of Egyptian provinces and our trading routes. After many battles, from where not only one was a decisive one, I mean that it is time to end these fruitless actions. We all fought to a bloody draw and whether we nor you can win this war.

If we will sign the peace, it will last for a minimum time of two years (AE time)

Whether Egypt, Etruria, nor Phrygia have to pay any sum of silver or to cede any one province. The status quo ante will be the target of this treaty.

Tell me your decision about, please.

Greetings

Lars Porsenna
King of Etruria.

Respected Queen Ishabel,

I believe you know the reason why my armies plundered your lands and took control of Burnu. Your previous act made us do all this and for what? Neither Phrygia or Egypt won. Simply this way we can fight for hundred of years and nothing will happen. So it would be best if we can conclude some kind of agreement.
As my dear friend and ally King Lars Porsenna said earlier this war goes nowhere.
I suggest the following terms:

1. Neater one tribe will pay silver to another.
2. We all conclude peace in term of 3 years.
2. You will get your province of Burnu back.
4. No more trespassing to another tribe borders.
5.If you wish to battle us,we shall meet in unsettled province and fight.(after the peace of 3 years expires)

As you can see we do not see you as our Enemy but as our neighbor. We have our revenge for lost provinces and now we are satisfied. Let us make peace Queen Ishabel, let us give our people time to recover from this god forsaken war.

With the most possible respect

Pharaoh Lucius I Verinus

Fineae set in her bedroom and felt the warm and cosy mattress.

She was happy to be back at home after the long time of war in diffent countrys.

As the ship arrived at Appenino, she got out of the ship, kneed down into the sand and kissed the beach.
The Ligurians gave the province back to Etruria and to Sabine, it's owner.

She and King Lars visited the kings family at Clusium and after a little break they wanders back to the Capital of Etruria in Verona.

Fineae's and Lars' children celebrated a big wellcome-back-feast and Fineae was glad to see them again. As the were fallen asleep she sat on her mattress and watched Lars. She seems to be sad somehow. "Do you think the peace would last?" she watched him insistently. "Do you think we have done all the fighting fopr years? Or will we go on the next battles in time?"

She stood up and went to the windows and opend it. She stared out of the window and breathed out hard.
She looked at the houses of their folks, at the plants and listend to the lovely sounds of the night. Never ever should be a war in her own lands. Never ever should anybody be hurt by any foreign warriers. But who could tell her for shure that that really coud not be?

Her own province was near Appenino. Appenino had been attacked by the Darcians. It just had been a short step for attackers to harm her own province too. Appenino and also the battle at the Phrygians told her the results of such an attack. She was said about what she had seen. She hates war, but now she really knows why. The people who suffer the most are these people that never starts the fights. The poor are just the pray in this games.

She started to cry. "Please tell me that there is peace now! Tell me, that our people are save now!" she whisperd soundlessly.

Back in Verona, what a feeling. Sabina took a look over the young green plains and hills around Verona in this early spring. Herds of goats are feeding the young plants and the first blooming trees are delighting her heart. Back from the sandy and rocky lands of the Phrygians.

Her baby and first son of Sabina and Pontius lay in her arms. She had him born while on sea, travelling home. In an emotion of happyness, she hold him over her head, showing him the beautiful land, the birds and goats.

Her next step was to visit Claudia Vulcas nana. Her two year old daughter crawled over the floor, fascinated by an insect, while his nana was sitting at a hand-loom. Sabina stood silent for a long while, until she grabbed Claudia Vulca and huddled her daughter to her breast.

After some minutes, she registrated Pontius behind her, laying his hand on her shoulder. She spinned her head to look in his eyes, while her tears dripped down to te floor.