It wasn't long before the silence was broken. The men all started questioning their leader at once. Arthur waited for their voices to die down before addressing his second in command.
"How's your head Lancelot?"
It was the final straw. Bor jumped out from his seat and turned on Arthur.
"Who is this creature, where did you find her? Tell us Arthur, why is she threatening our peoples' lives?"
"She isn't Bor, she had simply said that human kind will turn on itself for the gain of power and our people will suffer at the hand of those who have no care for life"
"But that will always be, I don't see why we should get involved at all, until they threaten our families. We are at peace now with ourselves and the Woad's, we have all we need for a quite and peaceful life. It's what we've been waiting for, for 15 years. Why jump into another fight until its pushing us in the back?"
"Because if we wait, it will be too late." Surprisingly it was Tristan who spoke up.
"And what do you know, you who never had a wish for a family." Roared Bor. "I don't think I even remember you touching a woman! Sure you have nothing to lose, but that's because you never had anything in the first place."
At these words Tristan jumped from his seat, he turned on Bor and hissed in a deadly whisper.
"Are you implying that I am less of a man then you? You with your whore and your pack of bastards."
The men were close to jumping on the table and starting a fight.
"Enough!" Arthur shouted, his voice booming off the walls. The knights were so shocked that even Tristan and Bor who were both in the process of drawing their swords, looked at the knight in surprise. This was the first time that any of them had ever heard their leader raise his voice at them in command. He was a strong believer in equality and always explained every thing to them in a calm and composed voice. Even when fights occasionally broke out between the knights, he would use a hand-on approach to pull them apart. Even Lancelot, who knew Arthur better then anyone, never heard him speak so harshly.
"This is not like you Tristan, to lose your cool so easily."
Tristan hung his head. He didn't know why he reacted so strongly to Bor's words. He had teased him many times before, quite a few times about his solitary life. To be honest with himself, he couldn't remember the last woman he bedded, it was so long ago. Maybe Bor had a point; he had no one to live for.
He looked up at Arthur and gave him a quick nod, then sat down, keeping his eyes on the table.
"Bor, you have no need in bringing Tristan's life into this. He chooses his own pass. It is how he is, and you have never before had a problem with this. I understand the changes we will all have to make in our life are pushing you down, but next time you decide to lash out at someone I'd rather it be me than my brothers, understood?"
Bor looked down at the hilt of his sword for a good minute before he mumbled an apology and fell back into his chair also gluing his eyes to the table.
"This is our new course in life. I know it's different, I can understand your feelings towards the changes and the sacrifices," he paused as thoughts of Guinevere flooded his mind "we will have to make. But we are knights, we are given the honour and respect for our selflessness. It is for us to hold onto the words we have been given. We swore to protect these people when we brought them here. We must think of them and their families before our own desires. This is why we are knights. I need you to see this my way men, or at least try to."
The knights looked at Arthur with understanding in their eyes. They were in this together, and although each was now a free man, somehow there was a mutual agreement between them. They all knew that if Arthur was to ask those who wanted to go, to leave, not a single man would go. As if reading their minds Arthur didn't hesitate to ask those who didn't feel the need to stay, to leave the table. When all remained seated he rose from his chair lifting a goblet of wine.
"I am proud of you men, for your courage and great skill, but mostly for your pure hearts that beat as one in every battle we have faced and are to face still. I drink to you and to us, the great Knights of the Round Table."
The men rose grabbing their goblets and drinking deeply. Bor suddenly looked up at Arthur and shouted
"Rus"
He smiled and together the Knights of the Round Table drank deeply for their future, and for their past.