Dreams of Death and Danger

[qos]

The first part that I remember is looking up-close at a Roman helmet on the haft of a sword that had been driven into the ground, as if it marked a grave. There were letters on the edge that I'm fairly certain spelled the name of the man who had worn in. The first name was V-something (Valetinus? Valencicus?) the second name was Publicus, or something similar.

Then the perspective pulled back. There was a group of Roman soldiers on the edge of a small town with about a dozen residents of the town. The commander -- a general? -- was angry. My impression is that the enemy had recently been in/through the town, and in his opinion the townspeople had not done enough to resist or combat them. I don't think he considered them "collaborators" but he was furious and scornful and considered them cowards.

I remember three of them: a fat man with black hair, well dressed, who I assumed was a merchant; an equally well-dressed woman with blonde hair, average build; and a black-haired woman wearing a dress of all white (not shining, more like undyed cotton) with a white apron or smock over it. She was perhaps in her early twenties, with a serene face.

The townspeople were put in a row, with a row of soldiers facing them. Then the general gave the order: Disembowl the pathetic fools. Immediately the soldiers plunged their swords into the stomachs of the townspeople, who fell immediately. But when they fell, I saw that the soldiers now looked like their victims except that they now held swords.

The dream changed a couple of times. I was in my hometown but several years in the future, as a scary new regime was coming into power -- perhaps even aliens. I was with others who weren't quite a rebellion, but weren't happy about what was going on either.

The dream changed again, and I was standing on a road in a rural neighborhood. There was an airport shuttle bus arriving, and perhaps I was supposed to be on it, but it didn't quite work out. So I walked alone down the road, which quickly became a city street, then everything was black around me. I kept walking forward, unable to see anything. I heard a car pull up next to me, on my left, heard at least two people in the car, knew they were going to attack me, and that it was too late to run. But then I felt a new presence coming up to me from the right, a protector. The energy felt like it was probably LM. The dream broke and I woke up.

I can't quite express how vividly the general's words are staying with me. The language is so different from anything that's usually part of what I come up with myself or what I read.

Comments

[watcher457.livejournal.com]

wow. that's a bit chilling, the general.

interesting dream though. i did notice (mostly because it was an overall theme) that you're strongly resisting something.

i wish my dreams were so pointed (no pun intended of course)

[(Anonymous)]

Publis is a praenomen (first name) whereas Valerius is a nomen (second name).

Publius Valerius Laevinus was commander of the Roman forces at the Battle of Heraclea in 280 BC, in which he was defeated by Pyrrhus of Epirus.

The Greeks of Rhegium who wanted to join him [Pyrrhus] were massacred by Roman soldiers under the command of Decius Vibelius, who was proclaimed as ruler of the town.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Heraclea