I would like to first off apologize for the time span it took to write this chapter. There was a lot going on that I wanted to write and it wasn't always easy to put it into words, so I hope I did an alright job. Secondly, finals are quickly approaching in college life so I fear that the next chapter will also take some time to write up. Please bear with me, thanks so much. You guys are amazing!

Chapter 10

The Path to the Legions Home

The carriages made their way through the briars and glens of the misty island. The three royals remained in the coach as the soldiers, who were all mounted led the way up and down the hills and round about the trees. They rode through the countryside, north, to Caer Legionis the stronghold of the Bear of Britain.

As night came to the island the carriage found themselves at the villas of prosperous landowners. Most of these landowners considered themselves 'Britons with Roman lineage'. They had been given or bought their land during the Roman occupation of Britain and Arthur had allowed them to retain their land and whatever titles they already had. But he warned that these titles were not to be used amongst the native Britons, their titles were for reputation only.

The Roman party would not remain at these villas for long; merely the night in order to have a soft bed and the ability to give the horses a rest for the night. These landowners were ecstatic to have the Emperor of the Roman Empire in their homes and Caesar was always a gracious guest. Yet he was anxious to reach Caer Legionis.

They arrived at their last villa before reaching the Caer in mid-May. It was the home of Aleyn ap Gwyr. His grandfather was a Roman Senator, Naevius and had been given land by Nero, Cassius's father. Naevius's son Gwyr was able to keep the land and Gwyr's son Aleyn left it open for people who wanted to work the land. He was a landowner but never made the workers pay to live on his land, but he was entitled to five percent of any food that was grown. If it were a bad season then not only would the workers not eat as well, neither would Aleyn. The people who lived on his land adored Aleyn.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Aleyn said as he was introduced to Caesar and his children. They all were gracious to one another as they were led into the home. It was nothing more than a larger version of most of the shack the rest of the country lived in. This home was made of large stones with many a room. As they were walking in Anera saw her father having troubles walking. Taking him by the arm she helped in walk though the large home. "We have an entire feast in your honor Caesar."

Caesar tried to acknowledge it but he was so fatigued by the journey that he was unable to speak. Seeing this, Anera spoke up before it was visible that Caesar couldn't speak. "I think we will just spend the rest of the evening in our chambers."

"Very well my lady," Aleyn said in a sad tone a bit disappointed that Caesar would not be eating him.

Anera helped her father up the staircase to his immaculately designed room. She set him down on the bed. "You are one of a kind Anera," her father was able to say as he got comfortable on the bed.

"As are you father," Anera said smiling back. She sat down next to him on the bed.

"Please don't call me that," he pleaded as he waved his arm.

"Why should I not call you that? You are my father," Anera told him flatly.

"What do you consider a Father? I am a man who barely raised you, had you sent to boarding schools in Illyrium since you were old enough to walk. I am a man who sent you away to marry a Greek prince who brought you nothing but sadness. Are these the deeds your children will remember me by?" Caesar wondered.

"Antonion brought me more than just sadness, he brought me some joy intermixed with times of despair, but these were not faults of his own but rather my own faults. Throughout the two years we were wed I questioned my own feelings about him when his feelings were clear. My uncertainty brought about my own despair," She put her hand on her father's. "Besides you will be judged by the deeds you accomplished for Rome. You made the empire a paradise in which to live."

"A paradise the Britons wanted no part of…"

"Then they will be the ones missing out on the joys of the Empire." She looked into her father's eyes and saw in them a sadness she had never yet seen before. "But these are not the reasons that bother you the most are they? There is something deeper that you will not tell me."

He looked her back in the eyes, "There is something else you need to know but I am too fatigued to tell you this now. It will wait for a better time."

"Of course," Anera said as she got up off the bed. She gave her father a kiss on the forehead and made her way towards the door. Looking back at her father she smiled.

Anera left the room and was destined for her own when she almost collided with Sir Hector. "Lady Anera!" He said as he steadied himself.

"Sir Hector, what a pleasant surprise," Anera said as she put her hand on his arm to help steady him.

"It is my Lady. How was your journey?" He questioned.

"It was long and uncomfortable but this is what my father wants and so I am willing to oblige."

"Ah, this is because you are a loving daughter," Hector said with a slight chuckle.

"And how is your daughter? I would love to hear about her," Anera said smiling. She loved hearing about children; she couldn't wait for the day to have one of her own.

"My Lady, she is the most beautiful girl I have seen in all my life." Hector's smile could have lit up the night sky.

"That is the smile of a father," Anera said laughing.

"If I may question my Lady: what happened to my dear friend Antonion?" Hector's smile disappeared and instead a sturdy face appeared.

"There were reports of the infidels rising up in Syria again and Antonion wanted to be a hero. Unfortunately there were no heroes on the Roman battlefield. Our legions were decimated and my father received the letter that Antonion had been killed. His body was returned to us by sea and we had him buried in his family's home in Athens. I then put his brother Spada on the throne and returned to Rome," Anera looked to Hector who seemed to have a sour look on his face. "I am sorry you never received my letter."

"As am I, I was a bit embarrassed that I did not know. I hope you understand it is not out of disrespect."

"Of course not Sir Hector, on the contrary it is I that should be a bit embarrassed that having not received a reply I did not question it."

"Very well then, we are both embarrassed," Hector said trying to lighten the moment.

They walked along the gardens that were very sad looking as the moon shone over them. They spoke about their own lives and how they had changed since they last spoke. In the time span of about two years Hector had married and had a daughter where as Anera had gone through the ordeal of losing Clodius (of which she obviously wouldn't mention to Hector) and the loss of Antonion. They had been walking for the better part of an hour where they found themselves walking into Lucius and Galba.

"Lucius, how are you?" Anera said as he kissed her on the cheek.

"I am well sister, how are you?"

"I am fine."

"And father?" Lucius said with a worried look on his face which surprised Anera.

"He is fine just a bit fatigued. We shall give him a nights rest and let him recover his strength." Anera explained. Looking over to Hector her eyes lit up, "my apologies. You must think that I have no manners! Lucius, brother this is Sir Hector of the Knights of King Arthur. His father is one of the original Sarmatians." Anera said this with the utmost amount of respect that she could but Lucius just glared at him as if Hector was an insect that needed to be taken care of quickly.

"It is an honor to meet you my lord," Hector said trying to look past Lucius's attitude and show him a solid amount of respect.

"And you as well," Lucius said with the look still evident in his eyes. "Well sister like father I am going to retire. Pleasant dreams," he said as he kissed her on the cheek and looking to Hector he said: "have a good evening Sir Knight."

"My thanks my lord," Hector said as they watched Lucius and Galba leave towards the house.

"I feel that I am obliged to apologize for my brother. Ever since we have arrived here in Britannia I feel that there is something wrong with him as if he is hiding something."

"Do not worry about your brother my Lady," he said shrugging off Lucius's attitude. "But here in Britannia many secrets are made and kept, perhaps that is what this island is doing to your brother."

"Perhaps but it still worries me," Anera said as she noticed Gaius come up behind her. "Ah, I see that my loyal protector has come to tell me that it is time I retire as well."

In fact that is exactly what Gaius had come to tell her. He said in a delicate manner that he had been instructed by Caesar to come and collect her for bed. Anera left with a quick good-bye and left to her room.

"I hope that anything you remember from your childhood you will keep to yourself," Gaius asked.

"There is nothing that I can tell her? It's not my place," Hector asked. He was a bit angry at the lack of decorum that Gaius had just showed.

"Let us keep it that way eh?" Gaius wondered.

"Of course," Hector said.

Gaius turned and followed Anera up the path to the house. Hector returned to the large hall where the other knights were sitting at a few tables with some mugs of mead in front of them. They were laughing up a storm but when Hector walked in they became silent and watched their oldest brother walk towards them.

"Well?" Paris finally asked.

"Well what?" Hector said as he sat down and a mug of mead was place before him.

"Did you see her?" Aggs questioned like a school boy questioning the teacher.

Hector merely nodded as he looked deeply into his drink and took a sip.

"Oh she looked like the angels of the blessed savior," Gwalchavad admired.

"Stop it!" Hector was quick to scold them.

"Why do you say this brother?" Paris shot back.

"We are not the only people here who know who she is and we are not to be the ones to tell her anything –" Hector quickly stopped when he saw his fellow knights stare at the entrance of the room. He turned around and saw Anera standing in the door way, he quickly scalded himself and tried to think of what he could say to her.

"Tell her what?" Anera questioned as she walked up to the knights. All of the knights remained silent. They knew that Hector would answer her question and they didn't want to have four different answers for her, they stayed quiet.

"I was speaking of my wife, Iona. I didn't want anyone to tell her that I was injured a few weeks ago in a small skirmish to the North, I wouldn't want her to worry," Hector lied. He didn't like lying to Anera, although she had no idea who he really was to her he felt as if he was lying to a sister.

"Of course she would worry, the duty of wife is to worry about her husband," Anera smiled. The knight smiled back, "please don't keep it from her too long."

"I will try not to my lady," Hector said.

"Is there anything we can get you?" Paris questioned quickly trying to change the subject.

"Oh no, thank you Sir Paris. My father needed a cup of water and I have been the one to bring it to him lately so I want to make sure that he feels comfortable so I decided that I would bring it to him," Anera rambled on. She had come down not expecting that the four knights would be there. Seeing them gathered around a table, a quick memory flashed of seven knights gathered around a few tables in a small tavern. They were men she had never seen before but their warrior apparel told her they were Sarmatian knights and while there were six visible knights laughing and singing her eyes were drawn to the darkness of this quick vision. She didn't know what she was looking at in the darkness for the spilt second she saw this vision. The knights must have seen something different in her eyes for they were giving her worried glances.

"Are you alright?" Hector wondered as he got up from his chair and stood next to her.

"Oh yes I'm fine, thank you. I was wondering where I might find a cup of water for my father. I forgot that he needs one before he goes to sleep."

"Right this way," a servant came over to her and with a gesture of his hands led her away.

She left the room and the knights continued to sit and drink in silence. They realized how lucky they were, that Hector was a quick thinker. But they now felt awkward that they had lied to Anera. The night continued to pass and the morning came quickly.

The entire Roman party was anxious to leave. Cassius wanted to speak to Arthur quickly. Caesar knew that his time was coming to an end and he had much to do before he passed into Elysium. The Roman caravan left early in the morning for the Caer that was known to the world to be paradise.

As they crested a familiar hill to the knights they Caer came into view. The white washed walls made the fortress look like a diamond in the middle of rolling sea of green grass, brown trees, and curving streams. There were flags of vibrant colors that stood proudly in the light wind that was blowing from the west. And knights of high honor that stood on the rampart shouting orders to open the gates for the Roman party to have easy access into the city.

The sight took the breath away of the Roman visitors. Even Caesar and Gaius' breaths were taken away as they looked up on the Fortress of the Legions. Lucius looked at the Caer in a way that worried Anera she wasn't sure what was going on but she could see in her brother's eyes that he was plotting something. As for Anera she looked at the Caer but all she felt was a deep pain her heart. She closed her eyes and when she opened them as she felt the carriage begin to move again she saw a single knight on an ebony black horse galloping into the fortress before the caravan. There was familiarity to the way the rider sat in the saddle but she ignored it, there were the deep pains she was feeling in the pit of her stomach that were bothering her the most.

The caravan made their way into the Fortress and was welcomed by banners flying all over the city. There were little children running the streets shouting welcoming phrases and women who were holding up flowers to the Roman soldiers that were riding with Caesar. Knights had mounted their gallant steeds and made a uniform barrier throughout the streets, not only to keep people in line but to keep the streets clear for the carriage to get through. The last thing they wanted was for a child to get caught underneath the carriage.

The caravan made their way through the city and up the large hill in which the Hall of the King was placed. Arthur in his fluttering red cloak stood next to Guinevere who was wearing a pale green dress made her look like the Celtic Queen that she was. They were surrounded on Arthur's side by Bors, his children and Galahad. On Guinevere's side they were surrounded by Gawain, his son, and many of the other knights that had been able to attend the welcoming of Caesar.

Caesar was escorted out of the carriage but Arthur stepped down off of the stair and embraced Cassius as soon as his feet touched the ground. Years of battle had made Cassius seem years and years older than Arthur when in fact they were only separated by four years, Cassius being older.

"Ah, dear Arthur… I can not explain how good it is to see you," Cassius said his voice exhausted.

"Caesar, I feel the same way in seeing you and your family," Arthur said. Both knew what he meant alluding to seeing Anera.

The people had gathered around the entrance of the Hall but were kept a distance back by the mounted knights. Almost all of the people knew who Anera really was or at least had the small idea of who she was. But all were told they were not to speak to her unless they knew her lineage would not come up in conversation. Yet Anera knew something was wrong as soon as she stepped out of the carriage behind Lucius. The crowd grew silent as she stepped out of the coach but as soon as she started walking up to Arthur and Guinevere the crowd began to talk amongst themselves.

Anera walked up to the King and Queen of Britannia with a feeling as if she were not strangers to these people that she had never met before. In fact when she looked into the eyes of Queen Guinevere there were tears in her eyes. Yet even as she walked up and held her head up high she felt familiar eyes staring at her the entire time. She looked around subtly and not seeing anyone at a quick glance stopped looking.

Coledac drew himself deeper into the shadows of the Palace wall, the last thing he wanted was to be seen. Hate was quickly filling his heart as the Princess of Rome walked up to his Queen, his hand felt the hilt of his gilded dagger.

I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter and I look forward and anticipate your reviews. I respond to all reviews and love to hear them please send me what ever you think..good, bad, or indifferent and even some suggestions you might have. Thanks so much!