OK people, this chapter is pretty…well…crap, really. I've only just written it so at some point I will be re-writing it, but since I haven't posted anything for a while then I thought I should just post this chapter as soon as possible to keep your interest up! He he! Oh yes, and I have re-posted the story that comes before this –'Chance is a Fine Thing' up in separate chapters as it was all in one before so must have been pretty hard-going.

And a note- I think I have written it repeatedly (forgive me if I haven't made it clear enough) but Lancelot and Iseult are NOT married, and never have been so far. Now that's all over, on with the story.

Chapter 6: The Parting of Enemies

"What?" Arthur said slowly. Lancelot stood, rooted to the spot, staring into his friends eyes and hardly breathing. Iseult stood back, melting into the furniture. Arthur took a few steps forwards and then stopped, staring into Lancelot's eyes.

"What happened?" he asked Lancelot with a deadpan face, praying to his God that Lancelot would not betray him willingly; that he wouldn't sleep with his own wife when Arthur himself should have been keeping an eye on him for Iseult. Lancelot steeled himself.

"She…kissed me, and that's all. I never…She kissed me and that is all that happened, Arthur, you know I would never do anything to harm our friendship. I don't know what happened; I was talking to her in the forest and then…the next moment she was kissing me, and I sort of, woke, like I had been dreaming, and I stopped it from going any further."

"And just now?" Iseult whispered from the corner of the room. Lancelot glanced at her, then looked away; slightly sickened that he had to explain himself to her after what she had just admitted to. Iseult felt a part of her die when she saw the expression on his face.

"Now? She asked me to kiss her again to prove that I didn't lo…feel anything for her. Then that feeling came over me, like I had no control." Arthur's face lightened a little, glad that he had not been wrong about him. He stayed silent for a moment, both men staring at each other. Eventually, Arthur spoke.

"I believe you Lancelot, but you must understand that I am still angry with you, and it will take a while for me to fully forgive you. Iseult wanted me to watch you on this last journey, but I didn't keep true to my word, and now I share the consequence of my actions with her. Iseult, I failed you and…where is she?" Arthur asked, looking round the hall. It was empty. Arthur turned and realised that in stepping forwards, he had left the way open for the girl to get out. The door creaked a little as the breeze pushed its way through.

"Damn her," Arthur cursed, and pulled the door open and ran through into the empty corridor. Lancelot followed, if only out of loyalty to him, rather than wanting to prevent Iseult from leaving.

Iseult was in her rooms, throwing together what little she owned into a leather saddle-bag she kept under her bed. Bebhinn stood with the child in the corner, cautiously watching her.

"Madam, has something happened between you and the Sarmatian?" she asked. Iseult paused to smile briefly through hot, angry tears that she hadn't noticed falling; she'd been crying so much today.

"Which Sarmatian?" she sighed to herself. "Oh, so many things," she continued so that Bebhinn could hear her. "We both deceived each other from the day we met and so…and so it was bound to fall apart one day, I suppose." Bebhinn looked at the saddle-bag and then back at the girl.

"So you're leaving us?" Iseult nodded at her. "Madam, where are you going to go?" Iseult finished packing her bag and then looked up at her.

"Back to Iceni lands and my people. I have deserted them too long; me and my brother. We will return, and forget about Sarmatians, Sarmatia…even the words will be forgotten." She looked at Bebhinn and was about to ask her something when she heard running footsteps and Arthur and Lancelot burst through the door. Iseult turned and looked at them impassively.

"Oh, you noticed I'd gone, then? How kind of you to bother," she told them bitterly, turning and gently taking her son from Bebhinn's arms as he was beginning to make a fuss. "Hush, hush, it's alright," she whispered to him, smiling as he looked up at her and gurgled.

"Iseult, I forbid you to leave this fort." Arthur told her. Lancelot stayed quiet.

"Forbid? You forbid me to leave this fort? I think I have the right to do whatever I please, Arthur, since-because of certain people's…principles, for want of a better word- I belong to no-one. I belong to no-one except my child and the Iceni people."

"All the same. I forbid you," Arthur reiterated. Iseult stared silently at him, forcing herself to be quiet and not to speak back. Already she had a plan formed in those 10 minutes since she had decided she would be leaving, and no-one was about to stop her. She turned and sat on the edge of her bed.

"He has a name now. Do you wish to know it?" she asked Lancelot. He said nothing immediately. "Come, Lancelot, I know you can't bear the sight of me now, but you can at least answer 'yes' of 'no'."

"Yes," Lancelot answered to quickly.

"His name is Taron Phelan. Phelan means 'wolf' in the common tongue." She paused for a moment. "Arthur, you know by past experience that if I want to, I can leave this place. I will find a way.

"Then I will just have to make sure that you don't then," Arthur told her.

"Oh, a challenge. I wonder-how many men can you post to watch my door without having to tell them what's going on?" Arthur frowned, then turned, walked past his friend and then out the door. Lancelot stayed, and looked at Iseult with a scowl on his face. Iseult glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"You meant it, did you? When you said you prayed that he was mine?" he said quietly, still eyeing her with suspicion and a certain element of disgust. Iseult's eyes flickered away for no more than a second before answering.

"Of course I did. What would be the point in lying to you now?" she sighed. Lancelot stared at her for a while, then spoke.

"I can forgive you, Iseult. We've both lied to each other, but now we can start again. There's still a chance that…Taron…is mine," he told her. Iseult shook her head.

"Lancelot, I'm leaving. I've caused so much havoc while I've been here. It would have been better if you had left me in that cell. Everything is too complicated now and it's getting out of hand. When I left before, you shouldn't have come to find me-then none of this would have happened. Goodbye Lancelot, and…I'm sorry." Lancelot didn't answer as he slowly and pointedly shut the door, leaving Iseult, Bebhinn and Taron alone in the room. Iseult turned to Bebhinn.

"We have a plan to sort out, you and I, and quickly." she told her.