The Meeting
Author: Samantha Worthington
Summary: This is a King Arthur fanfic. Galahad/OC. Galahad and the rest of the knights are on their way home to Sarmatia, after years of service to Rome. On their journey, they meet a group of Egyptian soldiers. Galahad falls in love with the General of this army. This is a three part fic. Thanks to I Fancy Hugh Dancy for the inspiration for this story! P.S, this is the first fic that I have let anyone read, so please take it easy on me!:0)
Rating: E for now. It will change eventually! Feedback is greatly appreciated!
Character list:
Galahad
Arthur
Tristan
Lancelot
Guinevere
Bors
Akil - meaning intelligent in Egyptian
Vanora
Katherine
Badru - meaning born under the full moon
Nailah - meaning successful
Mukamutara - meaning daughter of Mutara
Chapter 1
The knights of the Round Table had finally won their freedom, after spending the last seventeen ears serving Rome and protecting Britain, they where on their way back home to Sarmatia. The Sarmatian knights, now just a handful, where known across the land as great, noble warriors, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristan, Sir Galahad, and Sir Bors along with their Roman commander, Sir Artorious Castus or Sir Arthur and his bride Lady Guinevere.
The small group had headed east a short time after Bishop Germinus delivered their discharge papers. The knights headed to Sarmatia and Arthur and Guinevere to Rome.
"The first thing I'm going to do when I get back is mark a piece of land and marry a beautiful Sarmatian woman!" Tristan replied.
"A beautiful Sarmatian woman!" Bors laughed, "Good luck there!" He gave the others a look, and then grunted like a bull. They all broke out into laughter. It felt good to be carefree again!
"What about you Galahad, what will you do?" Tristan asked.
"The same as you, I suppose!" He shrugged, "Or I might even consider traveling on with Arthur and Guinevere!"
"To Rome?" Guinevere asked surprised.
"Well, there's not much left in Sarmatia for me anymore and I would like to see if Rome is everything Arthur says it is!" He replied.
"My friend, I hope it has not changed much since I last saw it! It was a beautiful world before I left, the ocean as blue as the sky, the food, the wine..."
"And the women!" Bors added with a chuckle.
"Yes, and the women" Arthur agreed, ignoring the look Guinevere gave him, "My friends, you are all welcome to join us if you like. Start fresh in a new land! You can never know what it will hold!"
They had traveled most of the day, staying close to Hadrian's Wall for protection from what was left of the Saxon army. They where still murdering and pillaging as they made their way back home.
They set up camp just as the sun was setting, "We are making good time!" Tristan replied, pulling his steed next to Arthur, "We should reach the Sarmatian boarder ahead of schedule!" This made the men's hearts skip a beat, for the thought of getting home was the only thing on their minds!
"So lad, it is Rome for you then?" Bors looked to Galahad, who nodded, "Will you stay awhile before you continue on your way?"
"Yes, a month or so, then I will join you Arthur." The young knight replied. "I have some business to take care of first." He looked at the ground, a sad look on his usually cheery face. The others nodded solemnly, " Gawain wished his ashes to be sent down the Vistual River. We spent our childhood on that river and that's where he said he wanted his final resting place to be!"
There was silence for a moment, "To our fallen brothers!" Bors lifted his mug of ale in a toast.
"To our brothers!" The others raised their mugs and drank to Gawain and Dagonet! They drank and shared stories of the past until each fell asleep, curled up around the fire.
They awoke the next day and continued on their way east. They traveled mostly in silence, every now and then Lancelot and Bors would get into an argument over the paternity of Bors and Vanora's eleven children. Vanora was the one woman Lancelot wanted but could not have, but it didn't stop him from trying!
"Lancelot, he's going to slice you in half one of these days!" Galahad warned. Lancelot just laughed as Bors considered the idea.
As the day went on, their path led them away from the wall and into the mountains. Arthur had wanted to camp close to the wall in hopes that the next day they would make it through the mountain pass, but the men where anxious to get home and every mile counted.
They settled in a wooded area, not far off the path. Galahad had wandered off after they had set up camp. Like he did most nights since they departed on their journey. He just wanted sometime to talk with his brother, he had lost his closest confidant and friend out of the group.
"Brother, I wish you where here, I have so much to tell you, too many ailments I just can't seem to correct!" He held his head in his hands, "I should have been by your side, to protect you the best I could, damn the Saxons!" He sat for awhile longer, "Should I stay or should I go?" He contemplated to the wind.
"Galahad?" Bors spoke unusually low as he entered the clearing, he knew what the young lad was going through, having lost Dagonet, his younger brother, months before. He knew that there was nothing that could be said to ease the pain. "Chow time!"
"I'll be there in a minute!" He replied, leaning back against the tree. He waited for Bors figure to disappear into the trees before he moved.
The entire group where so exhausted from their travels that after they ate, they fell fast asleep. All but Tristan, he would stand watch. He was a good scout and a good knight.
Galahad awoke with a start, taking a breath and a quick look around, he remembered now where he was, on his way back home, not on a battlefield, not on that battlefield! He had been plagued by nightmares since Gawain had been killed, it was the same dream each night, but each time he tried a different tactic to save his brother, but every time he failed.
"Are you alright my friend?" Tristan asked wearily, his hawk Saira perched on his shoulder, watching, listening tentatively, "Another dream?"
Galahad nodded, avoiding having to relive it to Tristan, he replied, "Tristan, go, get some rest. I'll take watch from here!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, rest my friend!" And he clapped Tristan on the shoulder. Taking up Tristan's place against a tree, he rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to unsheathe it any second.