The Sun of Austerlitz ( F/M )

[LunaDog]

So, this my latest tale, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a story i wrote some time ago, and i apologise for it contains very little 'rope action' and that is all near the end. For this is based upon a subject that has fascinated me since, as a child of about 10 i saw that absolute masterpiece of a movie simply named 'Waterloo' that was made in the early 1970s. To a large degree historically accurate, it wasn't made in Hollywood, it sparked an interest in historical warfare, and in particularly the Napoleonic period. So, this is the story of how a peasant becomes an officer within the 'Grand Armée' and ends up in bed, not just in it btw, with an Austrian Countess. As the main character is French therefore all ranks etc are spelt in that language. And, although the main characters are completely fictional, some of them are real, as the events of these story take place within historical happenings, campaigns and battles that really did occur. Bit like that series of novels by Bernard Cornwall, again featuring a peasant 'raised from the ranks,' in the British army of the same period, 'Sharpe.'

THE SUN OF AUSTERLITZ

As the smoke started to clear we could see the columns of Austrian infantrymen starting to advance towards us. Suddenly there was a panicked cry of “Fall Back” from the voice of our so-called officer, Captain Pomeroy. And I knew that he was wrong. The line MUST be held here! With my best Sargent’s voice, I shouted “NON! We stand HERE, this ground MUST be held!” The troops all looked at me, then some of the stronger willed ones nodded in assent, and I knew the lads would stand and fight. “Find cover lads, use these walls and trees, break the line and get yourself behind something solid, that’ll shorten the odds!” Again, they responded, and as the Austrians came within range, I ordered my men, for the ‘officer’ had gone, to commence firing. Immediately gaps appeared in their lines, and their return fire was largely ineffective, as my men had obeyed my command and had placed themselves out of harm’s way. Another volley from our ranks gave us a lull, as the enemy pulled back for a while.
But they were far from finished and came on again, and this time they didn’t stop until they had reached our line. And so, the fight became at close quarters, hand to hand as it were. Again, my men had one advantage, they had the better ground, but we were heavily outnumbered. Having to take ‘officer’ decisions meant I had to slightly withdraw from the immediate fight, but I formed a squad of roughly twenty men, and we acted in a trouble-shooter role, diving in at the point where the danger of collapse was greatest. Somehow the line held.

It was now that I had my first encounter with Count Konrad von Höchstetter. As I plunged into one of the gaps starting to form, I came ‘face to face’ with an immaculately dressed Austrian officer, clearly a man of money and social position. But also, a poor soldier and definitely not a leader of men. He seemed to be full of contempt for the fact that he was fighting a mere Sargent, but I soon knocked that out of him. He lunged at me with his sword, missed completely and I simply punched him in his face, then clouted his wrist with the butt of my musket, causing him to drop his expensive and beautiful sword.

At this point bugles and shouts emerged from behind us, it was General Lannes arriving with French reinforcements, causing the Austrian troops facing us to break and run. Including the arrogant officer whose sword I had taken from him, but not before giving me a stare of total hatred. My men almost immediately dropped to the floor with sheer exhaustion, and I did nothing to stop them, I was spent myself. A fact that the General recognised as he addressed us. “You men have done far more than your duty; without your efforts the line would almost certainly have been broken and the battle lost!” When he discovered that I had been in command, I’d simply stated that Captain Pomeroy had ‘dis-appeared’ he commented that the First Counsel would hear of my bravery and leadership.

He kept that promise, as a few hours later I was summoned to First Counsel Bonaparte’s presence. “Thank you, Sargent Barrere, I understand that you played a major part in holding the line today, and that you displayed real leadership and courage. Exactly the qualities I expect from the officers of my army, I don’t care about social position and wealth, I want my officers to be competent soldiers. Due to Pomeroy’s cowardice, if I didn’t know his father so well, he would be shot, I need a new Captain for your company, and I’d like it to be you. Will you accept a Commission from me, you’re just the sort of man I’m looking for?
“Gladly, First Counsel. I will always try to do my duty to the best of my ability for France.”
“Thank You, I know you will. Although it will mean needing to learn to read and write, officers need to write reports and read orders, I’m afraid it will mean going back to school for you.”
“I can read a little, but I’m more than willing to make any effort required to serve you well.”
“Good man. Another thing an officer needs is a good sword, but I see that you already have one. I understand that you captured it in this battle today, therefore it’s yours, you have earned it. May I see it?” I handed it over to Napoleon. “It really is beautiful, well worthy of your bravery today. But I’m going to have to take it from you for a little while I’m afraid.” He saw the look of puzzlement on my face and then laughed. “Because I guess the Austrian gentleman didn’t extend the courtesy of also offering you his scabbard? I’ll have to arrange to have one made for you!” At that we all laughed! Then Napoleon offered me his hand and announced loudly. “Congratulations CAPTAIN Jacques Barrere!” And that is how I became an officer.

Following this Victory at Marengo and also that of General Jean Moreau at Hohenlinden the war of 1800 came to a successful end for France, and a sort of peace descended over Europe. When war officially broke out again in 1803 the Grand Armée found itself camped at Boulogne, gathered for an invasion of our deadliest enemy, England. Meanwhile on the 2nd of December 1804, First Counsel Bonaparte became Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, to jubilant celebrations. However, while our Army was the finest in the entire world, our Navy was no match for that of the English, rendering the planned invasion impossible. And behind the scenes England poured gold into the coffers of our Continental enemies so that together with Austria and Russia the ‘Perfidious Albion’ formed the Third Coalition. Which meant leaving Boulogne and matching Eastwards. Incidentally I had attended to those studies required of me, I had learned how to read and write and had by now earned my position as a Major in the Huitième Régiment de la Ligne.

As usual our Emperor caught his opponents completely napping, and we were able to surround a large Austrian force at the City of Ulm, forcing their Commander General Mack to capitulate, without a shot being fired! But we still faced a significant force consisting of the remainder of the Austrian main field army combined with the army of the Czar of Russia.

And our first encounter with the Czar’s force led to the death of our Colonel, as he bravely led an attack on a Russian artillery position. However I was able to complete the task, and that led to a rapid withdrawal by the Russians, removing a blockage that had impeded our progress. And it led to another meeting with Napoleon. “I understand that you have distinguished yourself again Barrere. Five years ago, I took a gamble on you, I believed that despite your peasant birth you possessed the ability to lead soldiers in the field and lead them well. It seems that I was right. And I need to find a new Colonel for the Huitième Régiment de la Ligne. I can of no man more suited to the task than yourself. So once again, congratulations, Chef de Bataillon Jacques Barrere! I will need every good man I have, for we have a major battle ahead of us.”

By late November it was clear that the French were not in a good situation. Our lines of communications were dangerously long, and the Emperor really needed to bring the enemy to battle. But we were not despondent, we trusted him totally, and as usual, he applied his genius in a brilliant strategic manner. For he had carefully selected his choice of ground, just to the west of the town of Austerlitz. This field was dominated by the Pratzen Heights, a major piece of high ground, which the Emperor deliberately allowed the Austro-Russian Army to occupy. He then asked to meet the rival Emperor’s appearing to be attempting to sue for peace. This had exactly the desired effect. Brushing aside the wise counsel of his experienced Marshall Kutuzov, the Czar was desperate for battle, to be the man who defeated Napoleon.

Yet again the Emperor indicated to the Austrians and Russians that his right flank was weak. He planned to entice them to leave the Pratzen Heights and charge upon said right, when he would then ascend the Heights and cut their army in two. And they fell straight into his trap, it could almost have been him directing their forces instead of them. As they moved more and more men off the Heights to attack our right flank, he timed his assault to perfection, Marshall Soult’s IV Corp seized the Heights in the decisive move of the entire battle.

But what it did mean was that the men comprising of the French right flank had a long and hard day ahead of them. And that’s exactly where the Huitième Régiment de la Ligne was positioned, to be precise within the village of Sokonice. Together with the neighbouring village of Telnice this was to be the foundation of our defence on this side of the field. I spent the day before the battle supervising building as solid fortifications as we could using what we could find to hand. A few carts were overturned in the gaps between buildings, wood, bricks and any other materials being used to construct as solid barricades as we could. I also tried my very best to ensure that my men were well fed and were as comfortable as possible for the night. Although the Emperor did a tour around his encampment and was no doubt greatly encouraged by the high morale amongst the Army in general and my Régiment in particular. He personally spoke to me and I made a solemn promise to him to do my duty to both himself and to France to the very best of my ability.

As soon as light made its appearance in the following morning the Austro-Russian Army started to manoeuvre. We could see the troops streaming down from the Pratzen Heights, as no doubt could Napoleon from his location on the Zuran Hill. No doubt to his delight, but obviously I now faced a stern test. One I was determined to face up to. And we did, my men proved as resilient as I had resolved to be and we beat back attack after attack. The cover afforded to us did prove to undo much of the enemy’s numerical superiority, but it was still extremely challenging. As often in a major Battle the smoke started to prove a real problem, not only the smell was making it difficult to breath, and also vision was greatly impeded.

Neither the Austrian or Russian troops lacked courage and soon it became clear to me that our position in Sokonice would have to be abandoned, the enemy had broken through in the ground between the two villages. But in many ways our task had been completed, we had forced the enemy to commit vast numbers of its force here. Because we could hear that Soult’s assault on the Pratzen Heights had commenced, and judging by the direction the sound of fighting was coming from, said assault appeared to be highly successful. Together with the news that Marshal Davout’s III Corps had reached us and was just behind, it was time to leave the village, in order to join Davout’s men and fight on.

I had issued instructions on how to withdraw before the battle had commenced, and was delighted when my men responded, we withdrew in good order, constantly facing the enemy and continuing to fire at them, causing them to halt, and not close on us as we retreated. Then I heard an Austrian Officer screaming abuse at the unfortunates under his command, accusing them of cowardice and the like. Suddenly I knew I’d seen this man before, it was my old 'friend’ from Marengo, Count Konrad von Höchstetter, determined to wipe out my force. I halted my men, we fired a volley at his, reluctantly, approaching troop, many of whom fell there and then, and then he recognised me.

Suddenly Davout’s cavalry sped by on either side of the two opposing infantry forces, and his men began to panic. I shouted to him to surrender, but he simply sneered. “I, Count von Höchsetter does not surrender to a mere Sargent!” However, another, more junior Officer ordered his men to lay down their weapons, getting a tirade of abuse from the Count.
At this point Davout himself appeared, and perhaps realising that the game was up Höchsetter tried to surrender to him. But our Marshal was no fool and guessed the arrogant Austrian’s intention. “Non Monsieur, I will not accept your surrender. It is Chef de Bataillon Barrere who has defeated you, so it is to him that you must surrender to.”
“I will not capitulate to a Sargent, I need to speak to a real officer, such as yourself!”
“I think you have discovered today that Chef de Bataillon Barrere is a highly competent and extremely skilled proper officer. So, again it is to him you must offer your surrender. And if you refuse again, I give full permission to Barrere to kill you!”

The junior Officer, a Captain, then intervened. “Sir, on behalf of the men I accept that is was the Chef de Bataillon who is the victor here. We are more than willing to surrender to him,” again to a tirade of abuse.
“I accept,” I told him, “I will speak to you Captain in a minute when I’ve dealt with this arrogant pig! Sir,” addressing Davout, “do I have your permission to kill him myself, with the very sword I won from him at Marengo?”
“Yes, I grant you that right!” Davout replied. “Yet again you and your men have done far more than their duty to the Emperor. This battle is now won, your men are exhausted, when you’re finished with this idiot, you and your men can rest, get some food inside them! We’ll deal with the pursuit; you’ve been fighting all day!” With that he rode off.

Facing Höchsetter, who was possibly beginning to realise the gravity of his situation and that he was going to die, I sneered at him. “Yes, at Marengo I WAS a mere Sargent, I am the son of a pig farmer, a peasant. But in our Emperor’s Army one gains promotion through ability not mere possession of money! I have become a Colonel because I know what I’m doing on the battlefield, unlike you I have earned my position! And my men are fully aware of my abilities, they trust and respect me and my decisions because they know that I respect them too. And none of them has ever let me down! Can you say the same of your own? By the way, in my opinion they have fought well, they’re not cowards, but just very poorly led! You think you’re better than me? Well, this is the second time I’ve beaten you, twice I’ve defeated your forces with my own. And on a personal note, last time I took your sword, and now today I’m going to take your life with it! As a soldier I’m so far ahead of you, I’m vastly superior to you, wouldn’t you agree?” This last comment seemed to enrage him, as I had hoped it would, whereas I was completely calm and focused, for instance all of the above speech had been delivered extremely calmly and I had not raised my voice at all. He rushed at me, completely off balance and it was child’s play to disarm him of yet another sword! Then I fulfilled that earlier promise and plunged what had been his sword into his mid-riff and he collapsed, seconds from death. As he lay there, dying, I then looked him in the face and said, “I’ve taken your sword, then your life and now I’m going to take your wife! I’m going to shag her senseless and she’ll be screaming, not with pain but with pleasure! I’ve proven beyond any doubt that I’m better than you on the battlefield, and now I’m going to prove to her that I’m vastly superior to you in bed too!” And he died with a look of total anguish on his arrogant face, just as I’d hoped!

Turning to the Austrian Captain, who was offering his sword to me I informed him, “Captain I accept the surrender of your men and yourself. I meant what I said about the bravery of them, you have fought well and did your best. Do you give your parole?”
“Yes Sir. I am Captain Mayer, and I give you my word that neither my men or myself will attempt to escape or cause you any trouble. And you Sir, just as your Marshal has said have proven yourself an opponent to whom I wish to salute!” With that he raised his sword in a gesture of total respect. “But tell me are you really the son of a peasant?”
“Yes, Captain I am. But like I say in France now, people are judged by what they achieve, not by how much money their parents possess. And I accept your parole, you may keep your sword, I have already gained a fair collection from your former Commander!” That produced a great deal of laughter, from the Austrian troops as much as my own, showing their utter contempt of him.
“Thank you, Sir. I can see now why your army is so successful, men like you would be held down in ours, but your leaders are using talent like yours instead of suppressing it.”

For successful the Grand Armée had been today. Following the capture of the Pratzen Heights Napoleon then defeated both parts of the Austro-Russian Army that he had split in two. Our losses were fairly small, although many of my Command had fallen because of the intense action they had taken part in, whereas vast numbers of the enemy were dead or captured. It had been a magnificent Victory, possibly the Emperor’s finest triumph to date. All on the First Anniversary of his Coronation too! He was absolutely delighted, inviting myself amongst many of the senior Officers to dine with him that night at Austerlitz Castle. At one point he addressed me directly. “I understand that you have distinguished yourself again Barrere, just as I knew you would. And I believe that you encountered your ‘friend’ from Marengo again, using his own sword to take his life this time?”
“Yes Sire. I understand that he is, sorry was, a Count by the name of Höchsetter.”
“That is correct. I’ve received a request to allow his body to be taken to his home, I have agreed and wish you to deliver it if you please.”
“Of course, Sire. I will gladly obey.”
“Thank you, Barrere. I have here a written order from Francis I of Austria to grant you free passage in this task. And there’s no need for you to rush back, I will be seeing the Austrian Emperor shortly to discuss terms, which as you can guess will NOT be favourable to him!”

So, the next day twenty men, a cart carrying Höchsetter’s body, Captain Mayer and myself set off for Schloss Höchsetter. As we rode Mayer asked me “did you mean what you said about shagging the Countess?”
“Non, of course not! I wouldn’t force myself on any woman let alone a Countess, she’s just lost her husband. I might not have been born a Gentleman, but as an Officer of France I intend to try to act like one. I just said that to send that pig to his grave full of regrets.”
“Well, you see, if you thought his men despised him, that’s nothing compared to the hatred that Countess Liesel has for him! She was forced to marry him very much against her will, he treated her abysmally acting like a complete tyrant and bully towards her. Believe me when she discovers that he is dead she will be overjoyed, and full of gratitude to you when she finds out that it was YOU who killed him. It is highly likely that you will end up in her bed if you wish, although if you do, please don’t tell her that I said so!”
“Of course not, you need have no fear of that. I’ll bear in mind what you have said. Although I will not make any move in that direction, but if you’re right then I may accept any advance that she makes.”

After a few hours we reached the Schloss. Mayer spoke to the staff, then I was admitted to the main building in order to meet the Countess and deliver the news of her husband’s death. At the sight of her my breath was taken away, for she was far younger than I had expected and utterly beautiful! “Madame Countess, I am Chef de Bataillon Jacques Barrere of the Huitième Régiment de la Ligne, and I regret that I have to inform you that your husband, Count Höchsetter, was killed in the recent Battle of Austerlitz.” She immediately rushed to me, took my hands and with a look of hopeful delight on her face she exclaimed, “Monsieur, please tell me that you tell the truth! Is that pig really dead? Can my life begin again?”
“Yes Countess, I can confirm that he died by my own hand.”
“Thank you SO much Monsieur! You have truly given me my life back; how can I ever repay you?” Kissing my hands as she spoke, demonstrating to me that Mayer had been totally correct about her hatred for her former spouse! “Monsieur, would you do the honour of dining with me tonight? Do you need to return to your army today?”
“No Countess, I have been permitted to take some time, so I will be delighted to accept your kind offer, but I must insist that my men are cared for. It is winter, would it be possible for them to be able to bivouac somewhere warm and dry? Would it also be possible for them to have some food?”
“Oh, how different you are from Konrad? He never cared for his men at all, whereas you put their welfare before your own. Of course, they can sleep here in this hall, it’s plenty big enough. And they will be fed a decent meal. Could you see to that please Mayer? Come Monsieur, we will retire to my private quarters.” Taking my hand, she led me away, and I’m sure a saw a wink of ‘I told you so’ from Mayer’s eye!

Once we had reached her own private rooms the Countess offered me as glass of wine, which tasted delicious. She sent for some food and invited me to sit at her table. “Thank you, Countess,” as I accepted her invitation.
“Ma Chéri,” thankfully as like most of the Upper Classes within Europe the Countess spoke fluent French, “we are in private now. Please call me Liesel. Tell me, do you have a wife and a, I believe that they are called Chateau, back in France?”
“Oh non Countess, I’m sorry I mean Liesel, non not at all. I am the son of a pig farmer.” Her eyes appeared to widen in sheer desire, clearly with the fact that I was from peasant stock I had enflamed her passions and I began to believe that Mayer had been correct about ending up in her bed after all! “In France nowadays a man is judged on his abilities and what he does, than on his parentage. For example, when I first encountered your husband and took his sword from him, at the Battle of Marengo, I was just a Sargent.”
“Oh course you are the ‘little Sargent!’ You won’t believe have many times I heard the pig refer to you and curse you as that. As I have wished to meet the man who had caused him such pain! Did you kill him with that same sword that you had won from him that day?”
“Yes, Liesel I did. It was my actions on that day that earned me promotion to become an officer”
“Well, when we have eaten, I’m just going to have to take you to my bed!” Which caused me to laugh, as I recalled my words to him as he lay dying. But of course, Liesel was unaware of that and must have thought I was mocking her. “Monsieur,” the formality was back, “I ask you not to make fun of me!”
“Liesel please, I was not mocking you at all, please believe me! It’s just that as your husband was dying, I promised him that I would shag you, and make you scream with pleasure. I didn’t mean any offence to yourself; I said it to cause him anguish. Please, it was the irony that I was laughing at, not anything you have said, and I apologise unreservedly.”
She understood. “Well then,” with her also laughing by now, “if you made such a promise to a ‘Count,’ as an officer it is your duty to fulfil said vow, wouldn’t you agree Chéri?”
“Yes Liesel, it will be both my duty and my pleasure to honour that promise!”

So having eaten we went straight to her bed. Where the release of years of oppression made itself shown as Liesel displayed the utmost energy and enthusiasm, together with a very high level of skill, so the shagging was up to most exciting standard! However, as we lay panting after one particular shag she turned to me with a wry smile on her beautiful face. “Tell me Chéri, do you sometimes get tired of the stress of command? Do you wish sometimes to not have to think of and care for others, as you clearly do, but just let somebody else take the initiative and be able to relax yourself?”

“What do have in mind, Liesel?” For clearly, she had some inner desire she wished to enact. “Why don’t you let me take charge here? If you agree, I intend to take you as my prisoner, to tie you securely to this, my, bed and then subject you to my complete sexuality, to expose you to its full power! With you helpless in my hands and unable to stop me in any way, as you will just have to surrender to whatever I choose to do to you!” And I found that what she was proposing really did appeal to my libido!

“Liesel, I accept with your request completely, yes it will be utterly exciting to be subject to your sexual desires. I willingly surrender my body to you my Dear Countess Liesel!”

With that she left the bed, returning with four silk ties in her hands. It wasn’t long before I had lost my freedom, as Liesel tied both of my wrists to the solid upper bed frame, then completing my spread-eagle bondage by also attaching my ankles to the lower frame. And all four of these bonds were totally secure, she had tied the bonds with skill, there was no way of escape for me. So now I belonged to the bed of Liesel Höchsetter, and therefore by default to my stunningly sexy, Austrian Countess, captor herself. Which the delicious and thoroughly dirty smile on her face told me that this was a fact that she was all too aware of!

She laid herself on top of my bound body, holding her lips tantalisingly just out of reach of my own, by her design of course! “And now my brave Chef de Bataillon, you are now mine to command. You are totally in my power, utterly in my hands and completely under my control. I now can and I will do exactly what I want, how I want and for as long as I want to you now, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me! So, what is it I want from you? Nothing more and nothing less than cold, hard, raw SEX! Oh yes Chéri, until I decide otherwise, you only exist to provide me with SEX! SEX! and more SEX! I’m going to keep you at it again and again and again, as I shag you absolutely senseless until can take no more and have to beg me to stop and for mercy. Of which I shall show you none whatsoever, as I demand even more SEX from you and shag you yet again!”

Now those lips met mine as Liesel initiated a long and very passionate kiss which seemed to last forever! When she finally finished, she produced a silk scarf, “and while you’re being shagged by me you will see precisely nothing!” A statement that soon became true, as she tied it around my head, covering my eyes and reducing my world to utter darkness just as she had stated! “So, you wanted to cause the ‘Count’ anguish as you sent him to his, most deserved, fate, did you? Well, how much anguish do you think he would have felt at the thought of rather than you shagging me, to my great delight it will instead be,” Pausing to kiss me again, then finishing,

“ME WHO IS SHAGGING YOU!”