One Life's Affect

AN: Yees, I know the title's a little crappy, but hey, I had to think of something quick. Anywho, this story begins at Marius' Estate, and most of this chapter is in the movie, but it's not like I copied the script or something, I added in thoughts and feelings of the knights so don't skip over it.

If you read this, plllleeeease pleeease review. Comments, criticism, I'll take anything. Free cookies for whoever reviews!!

Chapter 1-Marius' Estate

Thick flakes of snow had begun to fall as Tristan hurried back to the Estate. He was not looking forward to relaying what he had discovered.

He rode up to Arthur and spoke right away. "They have flanked us to the east. They're coming from the south, trying to cut off our escape. They'll be here before nightfall." He didn't have to say how difficult it would be to get the family safely to the Wall with the Woads, and now the Saxons to worry about. It had been hard enough with only seven.

"How many?" Arthur inquired, his brow furrowed.

"An entire army." Tristan answered with no hesitation.

"And the only way out is to the south?"

Tristan shook his head. "East. There is a trail, heading east, across the mountains. It means we have to cross behind Saxon lines, but that's the one we should take." He said firmly.

Tristan glanced around, suddenly noticing the large amount of people hurrying about.

"Arthur, who are all these people?"

"They're coming with us." Arthur replied.

Tristan looked at him for a moment, trying to decide if he had heard Arthur correctly. They had been through many trials together and Tristan had never doubted his commander, but he wondered now if Arthur was thinking properly.

He let out a disbelieving laugh. "Then we'll never make it."

A faint noise caught Tristan's attention and he turned his head. He quickly realized it was the sound of a drum beating in the distance. Everyone around them froze and listened.

A couple of Roman soldiers a little ways away turned and snapped at some monks who were building up a stone wall in front of a door leading into an ominous dark building.

This building had previously caught Arthur's attention; this time he would not ignore it.

He drew his sword and moved forward. The soldiers stubbornly blocked the way.

"Move." Arthur growled at them. "Move!"

The other knights moved in, Bors with his sword in his hand.

The soldiers still refused to step aside, though they were beginning to look unsure.

"Move!" Arthur yelled. He hardly ever lost his temper, but these people were testing his patience.

"What is this?" Arthur demanded, pointing with his sword.

"You cannot go in there." One monk said bravely. "No one goes in there. This place is forbidden."

Arthur urged them aside and surveyed the unfinished stone wall which had been thrown together carelessly and looked very unsteady.

Lancelot was beginning to feel very anxious. He didn't understand why they were wasting their time. This wasn't worth the Saxons gaining on them. "Arthur we have no time."

"Do you not hear the drums?" Galahad said restlessly.

Arthur ignored their comments and turned his head to the largest knight. "Dagonet." He nodded.

Dagonet dismounted and took his axe. He agreed with Lancelot; they had no time, but it was better to hurry and get it over with then stand and argue.

Dagonet glanced at the soldiers before swinging his axe into the stone and tearing it apart. He checked the door, but it was locked.

Arthur looked at the soldiers. "Key." He demanded.

"It is locked," One soldier said. "From the inside."

Arthur, not phased in the least, nodded again at Dagonet who swiftly kicked the door in.

As the knights moved forward they were hit with an overpowering stench. At the bottom of a short, dark flight of steps they were greeted by an angry monk.

"Who are these defilers of the Lord's temple?" He spat.

"Out of the way." Lancelot shoved him aside and looked around, his impatience quickly turning to horror.

There were caged cells holding rotting bodies, and corpses chained to the walls.

He turned to Arthur. "The work of your God. Is this how he answers your prayers?" He asked with disdain.

"See if there are any still alive." Arthur said.

A monk grabbed Lancelot furiously as he opened the cells. "How dare you set foot in this holy place?"

Without hesitation Lancelot killed the monk and let him drop to the floor.

This was no holy place.

"He was a man of God." The other monk said, looking at Lancelot incredulously.

"Not my God!" Lancelot snapped.

The knights looked through every cell in vain. It seemed no one had been spared.

"This one's dead."

"By the smell, they are all dead." Gawain said darkly, then turned to the monk. "And you; you even move, you join him." He gestured with the torch he was holding to the dead monk on the floor.

"Arthur!" Dagonet called suddenly over his shoulder. He turned back around and pulled a young boy out of a small cell.

Their luck had turned; Arthur looked into another damp cell and found a young woman still alive inside. Lancelot peered into the neighboring cell and saw another woman, his age, maybe older. Her dark hair was matted and dirty around her gaunt face and she looked weak, but her green eyes were alert and wary.

"Arthur," Lancelot called as he backed away and cut the chains holding the door shut.

He looked inside again and the woman backed away nervously.

"Do not be afraid." Lancelot said as kindly as he could. "I'm here to help you."

She seemed to relax and Lancelot pulled her gently out of the cell. He could feel her trembling slightly as he made his way to the dark staircase.

If there hadn't been the pressing matter of the Saxon army catching up, he would have personally made every monk and soldier in the area suffer. Marius would be last.

Lancelot would never understand this religion, or why Arthur was so committed to it. This God was supposed to be merciful, but at the same time wanted people tortured.

Once outside, Lancelot set the woman on the ground as Arthur called for water. The cool air was welcome and refreshing.

The woman looked weakly around at the knights surrounding her, and then fixed her gaze upon the boy Dagonet was tending to.

"His arm is broken." Horton said quietly, looking horrified. "And his family?"

Dagonet shook his head, a murderous look on his face. He couldn't remember ever being this angry or disgusted. To do this to people, to a helpless child, was unforgivable.

Tristan, who had been silently observing the scene, glanced at the woman beside Arthur and immediately noticed the tattoos on her skin. He looked up at Galahad, sheathing his sword. "She is a Woad." He said with obvious distaste.

Marius suddenly ran over to them, seething, and Arthur stood to face him.

"We should get them to the wagon." Dagonet said to Lancelot as he picked up the boy.

Lancelot nodded, lifting the woman off the ground and following him.

The villagers watched the two men nervously as they walked by. Lancelot tried to ignore their stares as he laid the woman in the wagon; he felt a little guilty for wanting to leave them behind, though he still didn't see how they would make it.

Lancelot covered the woman with a blanket, then spoke. "I have to go now. Dagonet will look after you." He gestured to the large knight covering the boy with a blanket, then disappeared out of sight.

"Did you need anything?" Dagonet asked her.

She shook her head. "You and the others," She spoke softly. "You're knights from the Wall."

Dagonet nodded. "Rest. We have a long journey ahead of us."

The woman nodded wearily. "My name is Reia." She said, and then closed her eyes, drifting off into a restless sleep.

AN: Well, I hope you liked it :) And I hope the woman's name isn't too dumb…I had no idea what name to use..