Ileana stood next to Gawain leaning against the fence with her arms crossed that he and Bors were sitting upon sharpening their weapons. She stared angrily at her commander as Arthur entered. Galahad rode his horse around him in circles. Ileana wore a pair of dark brown breeches and a matching vest of soft leather that made her chest rise. Her dark leather riding boots rested on her feet. Her black braid was hanging in loose curls down her back.
"Quit acting childish love," Ileana said to him as she continued to glare at Arthur, "He must of already of beaten himself enough within the night about making his knights wait for their freedom."
Galahad glared at him before going and helping her ready their gear for travel.
"Galahad, Ileana," Arthur said causing the male knight to glare where his lover was glaring, "I am truly sorry for what I am causing you to forestall."
Ileana glared at him as Galahad went back to his task. Ileana smiled after noticing what Galahad was wearing.
"I hope you remembered what you being in a kilt make me want to do to you," Ileana said lowly that he and Gawain could hear her.
Gawain spat out the wine he had been drinking.
Germanius came in and stared at the knights that all but ignore him. Dagonet pushed passed the small bishop and glared at him before joining a now standing Bors. Galahad's arm went around Ileana's shoulders as he turned around.
"My holy secretary Horton will accompany you on your journey," Germanius said making Horton walk forward.
"Jols find him a horse," Arthur asked their friend.
Gawain threw his knife down next to him. Galahad's grip on Ileana's shoulders tightened as the Roman secretary stared at her.
"God speed as you fulfill your duty to Rome," Germanius commanded.
"You have no right to command us bishop," Ileana spat, "we follow Arthur, not Rome. Our duty was repaid yesterday, on our 'last' day of service. You are on spent time now."
"Do all of your knights speak so out of turn," Germanius asked Arthur making all of the knights stare at him with more hate.
"No, neither does she," Arthur said defending the female knight, "but considering you are keeping her from her homeland and marriage. I believe that her anger is justified along with all of my knights. I am shocked that the rest are being so silent."
"Then get them home," the bishop replied.
The bishop left as Arthur nodded at his men.
"I know that my actions last night are not worthy of your trust," Arthur said, "but ready yourselves, for we enter hell itself for our freedom."
The knights began to ready themselves with their armor. Ileana and Galahad helped each other put on their armor, sharing gentle kisses periodically.
"Get a room," Lancelot said as he strapped his swords to his back.
"Can't dear brother," Ileana said as Galahad and she shared another brief kiss after Galahad helped her secure her dark leather scale mailed chest plate, "We have places to be."
------------------------------------------------
Ileana rode next to Galahad as the rode through the woods. She held onto her bow ready in case of ambush.
"You are tense love," Galahad said.
"We are in Woad territory," Ileana said, "I am only being cautious."
It had began to rain not long after they entered the forest, riding hard towards the Roman estate. Arrows began to direct them along the forest path by the Woads until they were surrounded in a clearing.
"What are you waiting for," Gawain hollered.
"Why do they not end it," Ileana demanded.
"Inish, Devil Ghosts," Dagonet spat.
"Why would they not attack," Galahad asked as Ileana grabbed his arm.
"Merlin does not want us dead," Arthur answered as they found a way out and continued on.
Arthur and his knights made the rest of the way to the Marius estate without any other delay. Ileana stayed as close to Galahad as they rode as she could. Even if being one of the knights she still was afraid if he even left her sight that he would disappear. Over the last 15 years they had all learned one valuable fact. Life was too short not to hang onto the ones that you care about.
Arthur ordered the guards above the gates to open them. The other knights looked around them still slightly paranoid about the earlier ambush. A short plump man came out to greet them with arms open wide. He tried to touch Galahad's horse who moved away from him without his rider's help. Marius' gaze fell upon Ileana who moved so that hers and Galahad's legs were pressed together.
"Our orders are to evacuate you and your family to safety," Arthur said to Marius.
"That's impossible," Marius said with a creepy smile at Ileana, "So this is the infamous Ileana of Sarmatia, the Sarmatian Fury."
"Already taken," Ileana said as she rested her hand on one of her swords.
"Such a pity," Marius said holding out his hands again, "But a woman's place is not within cavalry of any kind. It is with-"
Ileana pointed her sword at the Roman's throat before anyone could utter her name. Ileana glared at him.
"If you dare say it is with being only a bed warmer to her lover than be ready to lose your head," Ileana spat.
"Who ever your lover is I pity him," Marius spat back.
"Then be glad that he is not threatened by the fact that his lover is a fellow knight," Ileana said, "and has been close to me since we came to this forsaken land."
"Sheath your sword Ileana," Arthur said, "That's an order!"
Ileana glared at him. She did as she was instructed.
"Galahad take her to the back," Arthur told the youngest male knight quietly.
Galahad nodded and lead her to the back of the group.
"Pestilent Pig," Ileana spat after they were at the back.
"You shouldn't antagonize him," Galahad said, "Within the month we will be back in Sarmatia being wedded."
Ileana smiled as Galahad pulled her head closer and kissed Ileana's forehead. She smiled and laughed at him.
"I'll wear that dress that you like so much when we get back," Ileana said quietly so that only he could hear, "If you wear what you wore to training the first day we were together."
Galahad's head perked up at what she was insinuating. He looked at Lancelot.
"Can we hurry this up," Galahad asked, "Your sister agreed to wear a dress. A Roman dress!"
Lancelot looked at them when their attention was drawn to Arthur who had dismounted his horse and walked up to Marius.
"If I fail to bring you and your son back," Arthur said, "My knights can never leave this land. SO you are coming with me even if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way to Hadrian's Wall myself. My Lord, My Lady my knights are hungry and in need of rest."
"Go," Marius said to his wife after taking her hand for a second.
Ileana dismounted and stood next to a now dismounted Lancelot and Arthur.
"I don't trust him," Ileana said.
"No surprise there Ileana," Arthur said with a smile at the female knight.
"I share her feelings towards this man," Lancelot said glaring at Marius' retreating form.
"Keep an eye out," Arthur said before ordering Tristan to scout the area after a rest.
Galahad walked up to Ileana and took her hand. She looked at him and smiled.
"Come," he said, "let us go for a walk while we have time."
---------------------------------------------------
Galahad and Ileana arrived back with the others when Tristan arrived.
"Arthur who are all of these people," Ileana asked looking at all of the people packing and moving out.
"They're coming with us," Arthur answered.
"They'll never make it," Tristan said.
They looked around as they heard the Saxon drums in the distance. They watched as two monks began boarding up a small building.
"Arthur," Ileana said nodding at the building.
Arthur looked where she was looking. He ordered Dagonet to break down the stones that were guarding their path after he asked the monks what it was. They were met with a wooden door that Dagonet broke down. Arthur looked back at Dagonet, Lancelot, Ileana, and Gawain. They entered with their weapons drawn as Tristan and Galahad guarded the door with Bors. They went down to hear a man praying in Roman as they entered what looked like a torture room.
"Who are these defilers of the Lord's temple," another monk demanded.
Ileana looked around at the sight that met her and Lancelot. Dead bodies were chained to the walls and in cells. Ileana stared in shock at the state of the bodies. Lancelot ran a monk through while they began to search through the gates at Arthur's orders. Ileana and Dagonet found a small boy named Lucan. They took him back out. Ileana went to the side of the building and began to vomit up the rations that she had eaten during their last brief rest. Galahad walked over too her and pulled her hair out of the way and rubbed hher back.
"Are you well love," he asked as she looked at him.
"Help me to my horse," Ileana asked.
Galahad did as she requested as Arthur came out with a woman. Horton gave Arthur some water for her and Dagonet some for Lucan. Galahad gave Ileana her wineskin to rinse her mouth out with.
"…They are all pagans," Marius shouted trying to get them to stop helping them.
"So are we," Ileana and Galahad said.
"What was seen down there no one," Ileana said, "and I mean no one should have to see let alone whatever sick things Lucan had to watch them do."
"They refused to do the task before them," Marius spat, "They deserve to die as example.
Arthur stood angrily.
"Because they refused to be your serfs," Arthur yelled angrily.
"You are a Roman," Marius said, "You understand! And you are a Christian! You! You kept them alive!"
Marius hit his wife with the back of his hand. Arthur punched Marius and took his sword to his throat. Marius ordered his men to stop saying that he and his knights would be punished for what they have done.
"If we do not arrive at the wall," Ileana said with an evil smile, "you will be. Think on that if you plan to hinder this journey, for I will do it myself."
Ileana sat on her horse with the reins in Galahad's hands.
"Can I lead my own horse," Ileana asked, "I am fine."
"You got ill," Galahad replied looking at her with concern.
"The state of those people were atrocious," Ileana said, "Some of them were opened and rotting."
"I can now see why you would get ill," Galahad replied.
"I will be fine," Ileana tried to assure, "I'm just a little tired."
"Will you go and rest in the caravan with the girl and boy," he asked.
Ileana shook her head sleepily. Galahad motioned for her to join him in front of him on his horse. Ileana did as he wanted and rested her head on his chest.
"Keep me safe loyal knight," Ileana asked.
"Always," Galahad replied, "Now rest Ily."