A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words


Disclaimer: I own nothing except my Ocs.


I am soooo sorry for not updating sooner, school's been hectic, but I was also disappointed to only see three review, which is also prehaps why it took me so long to update, I didn't have the initiative.

Reviews plus initiative equals updates!!!! So please REVIEW!!!!


Skay: lol, yeah, Half Pint was something new I decided to use, wanted to make her seem more part of the family, in a way.

Samantha: Only time will tell...hahahahahahah (sorry, lol)

Greendoggie: I love your ideas, keep them up! Thank you for the reviews! Always look forward to them!


Justice had been relieved beyond belief once they found the old dirt road coming from the forest. She felt safer on a worn path then new ones, the way she felt about nearly everything in life. It only took a matter of a half a day to reach Marius's estate, and when she did she didn't find what she was expecting to see. A wall separated the village from Marius's mansion. The poor villagers were all living in grass huts that looked like they couldn't stand through the next storm. The villagers themselves were so incredibly thin, looking unhealthily undernourished. They were all under dressed for the weather, and it nearly brought tears to Justice's eyes when she saw a young girl huddling before a fire to gain warmth, being dressed in only a dress. This all spoke out clearly to her about Marius's character, and that he was a man of no honour, and not an ounce of humility. Her Father and Marius had much in common, too much in common as Justice would soon realize. They reached the wall and, the guards cut them off by closing the gates.

"Who are you?" The guard asked as Justice looked up disdainfully.

"I am Arthur Castus, Commander of the Sarmatian Knights, sent by Bishop Germanius of Rome." Arthur introduced. "Open the gate" The villagers began to gather around as the Knights all observed them, some with pity. Suddenly a familiar voice broke through to Justice.

"Justice Germanius?!" Asked a bewildered woman. Through all the dirt and grime, Justice had trouble recognising the woman. She dismounted and looked at the woman closely, as the memories soon came flooding back to her.

"Nani Sophie?" Justice asked, using the name that she would have called the woman as a child. Justice looked just as bewildered as the woman.

"My, child, have you grown!" She exclaimed excitedly as Justice enveloped her in a tight hug.

"Dear God, I missed you so much!" Justice exclaimed as she parted from her.

"I missed you too, child. What are you doing here?" She asked, still slightly in shock.

"I could ask you the same thing." Justice asked in an even tone.

"It is a very long story. Perhaps later, I can tell you." She stated with a smile, but Justice could see the grief in her eyes. Nani Sophie had been a Nun when Justice was a little girl, and had also aided in Justice's up bringing. The years had seemingly been kind to her. Her face held little to no wrinkles in her old age, and her hair was still a raven black with only wisps of gray in them. Suddenly a man came striding from behind the wall, followed by his many guards.

"It is a wonder you have come." The man Justice expected to be Marius, stated. What Justice found slightly disturbing, was how Sophie tensed with fear. Justice moved her out of Marius's sight and grabbed her hand in reassurance. "Good Jesus. Arthur and his Knights." He stated as he went to touch Galahad's horse. Justice didn't know if it was by Galahad's will, or the horse's, that it backed up fearfully. Justice directed her attention to her, as she gently rubbed her neck to calm her. Galahad looked down at her with an unreadable expression, and Justice once again diverted her eyes to the ground. Sophie looked on in confusion, till an all knowing smile planted itself on her face. "You have fought the Woads. Vile creatures." He stated as Justice smirked.

"Not as vile as you." She couldn't help but think. Suddenly, Marius looked at her wide eyed.

"Justice Harmony-Lynn Germanius?" He asked, sounding very surprised. Justice winced at the use of her full name.

"Yes." She answered hesitantly. How did he know her? For she knew nothing of him. He strode up to her, eyeing her up and down in what could be only seen as amazement. She could feel all the Knights, and Sophie, tense as he reached out to fondly caress her cheek. None seemed as tense though, as Galahad. He threw Marius a menacing look, that Marius failed to notice.

"My dear, you were so young when I last saw you. Didn't even reach my knee! Now look at you, all grown up!" He stated as he continued to caress her cheek. She began to feel unnerved as she slowly backed away, so as to not offend him. Arthur, noticing this, spoke up.

"Our orders are to evacuate you immediately." Arthur stated, gaining Marius's attention as he walked back out in front of Arthur's horse. Justice sighed in relief as she wiped her cheek on her sleeve, feeling dirty for some reason. Marius looked around and back at Arthur in disbelief.

"But that...that is impossible." He stated as Arthur chose to ignore his babbling.

"Which is Alecto?" Arthur asked.

"I am Alecto." Yelled a boy from a top the wall. He looked to be no older then Justice. Justice squinted, looking up at the boy and her eyes widened. He was the same boy she used to go to school with, till he had to come back home! She had no idea he was Marius's son! Justice blushed as some memories she wished could lay forgotten began to run through her head. She looked up again to see Alecto raising an eyebrow at her, and she blushed a deeper red, looking towards the ground again. Galahad noticed this exchange with too much interest for his liking, as something boiled up from the bottom of his stomach, something he really didn't recognize.

"Alecto is my son." Marius stated protectively. "And everything we have is here in the land given to us by the Pope of Rome."

"Well, you're about to give it to the Saxons." Lancelot stated coldly.

"They're invading from the north." Arthur stated as Sophie gasped in fear from behind Justice.

"Then Rome will send an army." Marius stated, already bringing Justice's blood to a boil. What did he think they were here for?! A tea party?!

"They have. Us. We leave as soon as you're packed." Arthur stated, as Marius stood defiantly.

"I refuse to leave." Marius stated stubbornly as Arthur gained a dangerous look in his eye. Marius then looked around to the villagers who had gathered around them. "Back to work! All of you!" Marius yelled as the guards began to fall out and shove the villagers back. Suddenly, one of the guards grabbed Sophie by her hair and pulled her away from Justice.

"No! Leave her alone!" Justice ordered as she heard her poor Nani Sophie scream in pain. Justice rushed forward, only to be caught by some of the other guards, and thrown back. She grunted as she landed on the ground, hard. The one guard that had stayed behind laughed as she looked up at him, glaring.

"Are you all right?" Dagonet asked her gently, while she was still glaring at the guards. She nodded, still looking for Sophie as she slowly got up off the cold, muddy ground.

"Where did she go, Dagonet?" She asked in a worried voice, as he too looked around.

"They pulled her off towards the gardens." Dagonet stated as Justice looked in the general direction. She soon saw Sophie hunched over the garden, tears stains on her cheeks. She made to go see her, but Dagonet stopped her. "Wait, we don't want to cause any more trouble. I promise that you'll get to talk to her again before we leave." He stated as he looked down at her in sympathy. He guided her back to Jupiter as she remounted, followed by he on his horse. Arthur seemed to have taken this last scene of violence very badly, as he was currently towering over Marius.

"If I fail to bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land." He stated, sounding deadly serious. "So you're coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way to Hadrian's Wall myself. My lord." He stated dangerously as he redirected his attention to Marius's wife, Fulcinia. "Lady, my knights are hungry." He stated as she seemed to ask permission from Marius before heading inside.

"Go." Marius ordered with a flick of his hand. He then followed his wife and son back to the house.

"Come. Let us go, hm?" Bors stated as Arthur began to observe the brick building, leaning against the wall. Justice looked at it too, and her face paled. It looked exactly like that place back in Rome. She began to shiver involuntarily as she thought of the darkness, the complete and utterly terrifying darkness. Arthur's attention was then caught by an elderly man that Justice hadn't seen before. He was being held up by shackles, and looked to have many lashes along his back. Justice looked on, mortified as Arthur grabbed Excaliber and headed towards the poor man. All the Knights looked annoyed as they readied the weapons incase of a fight. Justice was about to dismount when Galahad shook his head at her.

"I don't think so Justice. You've caused enough trouble for one day. Stay here." Galahad ordered and she sat back down on the saddle with a glare. She looked to Lancelot, as he was nearest to her, and gave him look that clearly stated "a little help?". Lancelot just shook his head and smirked as Justice glared at the Knights' backs as they galloped away.

"Who does he think he is?! Ordering me around like I'm some sort of child!" Justice thought angrily as she watched the action from a distance. She let out a dejected sigh as she patted Jupiter on the neck.

"Well, you still love me, don't ya girl?" Justice stated as Jupiter neighed in response. She saw a small man approach Arthur, as if in awe.

"Sir, you're famous. You're Arthur aren't you?" He asked rather quickly as he matched Arthur's strides. Justice suddenly had an idea.

"Galahad said stay here, right? Well, if Jupiter won't stay still, then I'll have no choice but to go where Jupiter chooses." Justice thought evilly as she kicked Jupiter's sides lightly. All Jupiter did was snort though.

"Oh, you evil little...COW! Nice time to show your stubborn side!" Justice thought angrily, her plan ruined because of a stubborn horse. "No carrots for you." Justice mumbled as Jupiter just seemed indifferent.

"I'm Ganis." The man continued. "I'm a good fighter and I'm smart. I'd serve you proudly." He boasted. As Bors began to journey out to Arthur, a man stopped him.

"Are you from Rome?" He asked excitedly as both Galahad and Justice had to snort back a laugh. Even if she was a good distance away, her hearing was exceptional.

"From hell." Bors stated dangerously as the man quickly laid off.

"Sir." Ganis stated, trying to grab Arthur's attention.

"Who is this man?" Arthur asked as he pointed Excaliber in the old man''s direction.

"He's our village elder." Ganis stated, his tone softening a bit.

"What is this punishment for?" Arthur asked as everyone became reluctant to answer him. "Answer me!" He demanded angrily.

"He defied our master, Marius." Ganis answered. "Most of the food we grow is sent out by sea to be sold. He asked that we keep a little more for ourselves, that's all. My ass has been snappin' at the grass I'm so hungry." Ganis ranted. "You're from Rome. Is it true that Marius is a spokesman of God and that it's a sin to defy him?" Justice looked at them in a disbelieving manner. How could they actually believe a man like Marius?!

"Fear." Justice reasoned. "Fear of that man made them all the more gullible to Marius's deceitful lies." Justice knew personally how bad fear could affect someone, how it could control even the most stubborn of people. Arthur took a look around, and then back at the villagers. He then pointed his sword at them, giving his next words all the more power.

"I tell you now." He stated dangerously as the crowd backed off slightly from his sword. "Marius is not of God. And you, all of you, were free from your first breath!" With a mighty swing, Arthur cut loose the chains that held the poor man. He crumpled into a heap on the ground as Arthur turned to the villagers. "Help this man." He ordered. When Justice saw no one step forward, she was about to dismount and tend to the poor old man herself. That was until Galahad shot her a look as if to say "stay put." Arthur then once again called out. "Help him!" That was when a few villagers stepped forward. Arthur backed off as he continued to speak. "Now hear me. A vast and terrible army is coming this way. They will show no mercy, spare no one."

"Wow, way to lay it on thick, Arthur" Justice thought as she saw the villager's terrified faces. She spotted Sophie and gave her another look of reassurance, which she returned with a smile of her own. Arthur then continued.

"Those of you who are able should gather your things and begin to move south towards Hadrian's Wall. Those unable shall come with us." He then turned to Ganis. "You serve me now. Get these people ready." Arthur stated as people began moving out. Justice looked back at the stone building as a coldness set in her body. Something was off about that place, and she had a good idea what it was. Her stomach clenched in fear.

"Never again, shall I enter that darkness. Never again will I become a victim." She thought as she clutched her arms around herself. She had to tell Arthur.