Disclaimer: same as before...

Camreyn: The 2nd song is by Toby Keith and Willie Nelson, country singers if you didn't know. There is a fight scene in this chapter. We all know what happens at the beginning of the movie…and I hope you like what happens in the middle of it. I'm glad you thought the chapter was steamy…no one has ever described my writing like that…good compliment considering what happened in that chapter..hehehe…thanks. Oh…and the Romans will have revenge soon…I just thought of a wicked plan that circles in Rhyne's final step of atonement…expect to see it unravel in the next few chapters.

Priestess of the Myrmidon: Hey, as long as people like the story, that is all that really matters, especially since these are not really our stories, in a certain sense anyway…I'm glad you liked that side of Rhyne. I was worried I wrote it a little over the top…well, it probably is a little over the top, but for a story like this (that involves magic and such) I hope it is not too much.

Tracy 137: I think that was one of my best few lines in the story yet. I love how they just come out of nowhere when you are typing. It is such a good feeling. I'm glad you laughed like that. Feels good when you do that to people as well.

Loved the new chapter for 'Heart'…intense and romantic. I love Caillain and Tris…they are so cute and adorable. They are perfect for each other. Most of these stories…including mine and a few of ours have Tris paired with a warrior woman…not that it's bad...but I love it when he gets paired with a normal woman…it is harder to write because of who Tris is…you can't just have them look at each other once and they are instantly in love…it would have to be like yours…lots of watching, talking…I love it.

I think the world would be boring with no dreams or imagination…that is why we are who we are and where we are. And I hate it when people criticize those who have great dreams and a huge imagination…it makes me sick…Emerson was right… "To be great is to be misunderstood."

Anyway, glad you liked the chapter.

Lucillaq: I'm glad you liked it…and the songs as well. I had lots of fun writing the part with the 2nd song. I love what is happening in Black Rose…keep it coming.

Justice Will Rhyne

Chapter Twenty-Grudges

The knights, accompanied by Rhyne and Sparrow, road to the peak of the hill and saw the incoming caravan that held their discharge papers. Rhyne, once again, held a masked smile for her knights. Inwardly, she knew this was the start of it all. Tomorrow morning it would begin. The three marked graves flashed before her again and she closed her eyes to hide her emotion, but it didn't help.

"As promised, the Bishop's carriage," Gawain stated.

"Our freedom Bors," Galahad grinned.

"Hmm, I can almost taste it."

"And your passage to Rome, Arthur," Gawain happily looked to his commander and noticed his dreamily look upon the caravan before them.

Rhyne and Sparrow held a normal gaze, but would not look at the knights in fear that they would ask what was wrong, and it was so hard to lie to them. But Rhyne was doing this for the good of everyone. She had to make them see, but that would come later.

Her thoughts were broke by the sound of screams coming from the trees. "Woads!" Tristan said hurriedly. He would probably like no more than to let the Woads destroy all the Romans down in the valley before them, but they guarded the most precious thing the knights will ever receive. Only if they would see the truth, Rhyne thought.

They raced down the hill and formed the dragon. The lines of Woad and Sarmatian clashed with each other as blood became seed of the land. Rhyne and Sparrow rode side by side through the blue warriors. They killed no one, only if it was necessary. The Woads were their allies after all. They could both feel Merlin's presence in the trees. Rhyne wished Merlin would not have ordered this interception, she knows that he knows they would be here and that the Bishop carried the knights discharge papers. But like he always said: everything happens for a reason. It is all part of Fate's plan.

Though Rhyne and Sparrow hated fighting who they call friends, it had to be done for the greater cause. Rhyne stayed atop of Zyfer battling those she could with the arrows in her supply, and Hawk took out a few that tried to get Rhyne unsaddled. She saw Tristan fire an arrow into the trees and hit one of their archers in the eye. "Show off!" she yelled over to him. He glanced her way and winked. Rhyne suddenly felt a deep rush of pain in her belly, and it spread throughout her body and ran in her veins. She hunched over and dropped her bow. Rhyne clung onto her saddle, but she had no strength left, and she tumbled to the ground. The pain ran deeper than any wound, it was a magical wound. "Guinevere," she whimpered.

She looked up and saw Sparrow and Hawk fighting above her. The pain was slowly disappearing, but would always reside, deep down. Then she felt a hand on her face, and found Tristan staring at her. "Are you okay?" He voice was full of concern.

Rhyne nodded and he helped her stand. "Yes. There is no wound, I will explain later." She took Titan from her back and stepped into the skirmish. She found herself next to Lancelot as he decapitated a man in a scissor motion with his twin blades. Rhyne saw Sparrow off to the right of him. She just laughed and whistled at him as he did so. Rhyne and Lancelot were fighting back to back. "Don't you think that was a little unnecessary?"

"No, not really?"

"It was gross!"

"Hey! You didn't seem to have a problem with it when we were against the Saxons!"

"That's different!"

"How!"

"It's the Saxons! These are Woads!"

"It's doesn't matter!"

"It does!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"YES!"

"NO!" Rhyne heard Hawk growl from beside her and then felt a pain in her arm. "OWWW!" Rhyne found a dagger cut on her right shoulder, across her dragon. "Shit! I can't fix that! Lancelot! It's your fault! You ruined my dragon!"

"My fault!" He yelled as he cut the Woad down who cut her. "How is it my fault?"

"Because it is!"

"That's not a reason!"

"Damn straight it is! You were not allowing me to pay attention!"

"Children!" Bors came over. "We are in the middle of a bloody fight! In the name of the Gods what are you bloody arguing about?"

"He started it!" Rhyne pointed over to Lancelot accusingly.

"You were the one that came over to me!"

Rhyne was about to argue back but Bors stopped her. "Alright, alright! I don't want to know! Bloody save it for later!" Rhyne and Lancelot shared nasty glares as Bors went a different direction into the fight. Hawk was giving Rhyne an annoyed look with a shake of his head. She rolled her eyes at him.

It was over just as soon as it had begun. Rhyne took a strip of cloth from her saddlebag and tied it around the cut on her shoulder. She rode over to the carriage, where the knights were gathering. Hawk trotted up beside Arthur who was facing half a dozen Romans on horseback. One near the front saw the wolf and was loading his bow. Instead an arrow landed between his horses' two front legs and it spooked. The Roman found Rhyne with an arrow aimed towards him as he began to calm his steed. "I don't think so. The wolf is a friend." The alarmed Roman nodded his head and slowly put away his bow.

"Stand down," a heavily accented voice came from the back of the mounted Romans. They parted like what Rhyne remembered as the Red Sea in the Christians Bible to an older, shorter Roman in Legion armor. To Rhyne, he didn't look like a soldier at all, but he did seem familiar to her somehow. She could not recall why.

"Arthur. Arthur Castus," he said merrily as Arthur approached him. "Your father's image. I have not seen you since childhood."

"Bishop Germanus. Welcome to Britain." Rhyne laughed at Arthur's sarcastic remark. "I see your military skills still have use of you. Your device worked." The soldiers were carrying the dead decoy from the carriage as the Bishop dismounted.

"Ancient tricks for ancient dog."

Rhyne snorted. "Something worse than a dog if you ask me." She said it rather loudly and the knights sniggered. Arthur gave her a glare as she just shrugged to him. The Bishop looked at her and she gave him a mocking nod of the head with a wicked smirk on her face.

"And these are the great Sarmatian Knights we have heard so much of in Rome." His gaze fell on Rhyne. What business does a woman have on horse? They're not good for anything, except making children. She has a mouth. I might have to get rid of this one. "I thought the Woads controlled the North of Hadrian's Wall."

"They do. But they occasionally venture south. Rome's anticipated withdrawal has only increased their daring," Arthur stated.

"Woads?" a scrawny roman asked.

"British Rebels who hate Rome," Gawain said with daunting air around him.

"Men who want their country back," Galahad snapped at the man who cowardly snaked backwards. Rhyne laughed at her fellow knights.

"Who leads them?" the Bishop asked disgusted.

"He's called Merlin. A dark magician, some say," Lancelot said, as if trying to scare the Bishop.

"No more dark than I," Rhyne called from the end of the line of knights, next to Tristan. Rhyne looked at the Bishop with the demeanor of a partly trained Priestess. Blood streaked her face and armor, but her eyes sparkled like gems. She was a demon to him, but there was something about her eyes that was familiar. He cautiously looked over her body and a glimmer at her neck caught his eye. His eyes glazed with fear as he knew the necklace she wore. He then began to pray that she would not recognize him. She would have to be disposed of.

"Tristan, ride ahead and make sure the path is clear. Rhyne, you go with him," the two nodded at their commander and rode off side by side over the hill.

"So you said you would explain," Tristan asked of her.

"Yes, sometimes I get pains beneath my stomach, instead of a vision."

"And what do they mean?"

"That something bad is coming."

They stopped after a short ride ahead on the trail and dismounted their horses, knowing the danger was behind them. Both let their horses graze while they were waiting for the caravan to catch up. Rhyne lay flat on her back in the grass, while Tristan climbed a tree next to her. Rhyne breathed in deeply, taking in the fresh air of the trees, compared to the dust and horse smell of the Fort. Hawk came through the thickness of the trees with a rabbit in his mouth and lay beside Rhyne, and began to pull its skin apart. Meanwhile, they heard a screech from above, and Tristan's hawk, came soaring from the gray skies. She landed next to Hawk. The two animals regarded each other. The two humans watched them closely as they bowed their heads to each other and Hawk allowed her to take a piece of the dead rabbit, devouring it on the spot.

"Did you see that?" Rhyne asked wildly up into the tree Tristan sat in.

Tristan nodded, amazed as well from what he just witnessed. "They must have made friends before?" Rhyne nodded with him. The wolf and hawk ate the rabbit together and then went off into the forest again. Rhyne stared into the sky, watching the clouds move east. Tristan watched as her spirit soar with the wind. "You are more at peace here than I have ever seen you," he stated almost sadly.

"Tris, nature is part of me. I gave myself to it, and so it granted me a gift."

"Gift?"

Rhyne nodded and moved her arms across her chest, as he sees her do when performing magic. She closed her eyes. Snow started to fall. It stopped after a moment. The clouds moved away and showed the sun. The snow melted away. The clouds returned and rain began to pour. Rhyne opened her eyes and stood in the rain. "The rain has always been my favorite, so it tends to fall when I am happy."

"Is that why it has rained so much since you returned?"

"I would imagine," she smiled. They heard slight pound of hoof beats in the distance behind them. Rhyne crossed her arms and the weather, as it was before, returned. Tristan jumped from the low branch and walked over to her. Rainwater still dripped from their hair, down their faces.

"I love you," he whispered. Tristan brought his lips over Rhyne's and kissed her soundly. There lips did not part until the caravan came into sight. They whistled for their mounts and fell in line with the rest of the knights.

"Hey, did you two see that weather?" Gawain asked them from behind.

"This place can never make up its mind on what it wants to do," Lancelot called annoyed.

"Yes," Tristan replied simply, exchanging as small glance with Rhyne, and they both smirked. Rhyne raised her brow. Tristan read her mind and gave a slight nod. Rhyne crossed her arms about her chest and rain began to fall once more.

"Bloody Hell!" they heard Bors yell from behind them, followed by curses from each knight.

Tristan and Rhyne were trying their hardest not to laugh as Sparrow came riding along side her mother, giving her a questionable look. Rhyne simply nodded and could not longer contain her laughter.

"What are you so happy about, you harpy!" Bors yelled from behind her.

"Dear Bors, you know I love the rain."

The knights stopped in a line on a hill that looked over the Fort and all breathed deeply. "Tonight, I'm gonna drink till I can't piss straight," Bors claimed.

"Don't you do that every night?" Gawain asked with a chuckle.

"Well," Bors said thinking. "I have always had trouble pissing. There is too much of myself to handle down there." The knights rolled their eyes. "Really. It's a real problem. It's like-"

The other knights finished for him. "Like a babies arm holding an apple." They all sighed as Bors nodded proudly.

Rhyne shook her head. "I have been gone for far too long." She sighed. "I think I liked Bors better before I left."

"And why is that?" Bors asked.

"Because. Once your balls dropped all you do is compare your dick to other men's and whenever you see a woman, all you can imagine is how she looks naked while fucking you." The knights roared with laughter, for many had not heard her talk so vulgarly before, that was for Bors or Lancelot to do. Bors just sat there, with his insulted sulk on his face. Rhyne yelled over the laughter. "In fact," and they quieted. "I think that pertains to all of you." There was a little laughter before they actually caught on to what she said. The two women looked at their faces and began to laugh themselves, leaving insulted sulks on all their faces. "You guys take everything far too personally," Sparrow said between breaths as she followed her mother forward.

They were riding along the wall, ready to be let in the gates. Arthur rode ahead of his knights, amusingly listening to their conversations of home.

"I don't like him, the Roman. If his here to discharge us why doesn't he just give us our papers?" Galahad asked annoyingly.

"Is this your happy face?" Gawain asked leaning towards him. Galahad finally chuckled. "Galahad, do you still not know the Romans? They won't scratch their asses without holding a ceremony," Gawain insulted.

"Why don't you just kill him, and discharge yourself after?" Bors asked chuckling from Gawain's statement.

"I don't kill for pleasure," Galahad answered in disgust, "unlike some," he said looking at Rhyne and Tristan riding on the other side of Bors.

"You should try it some day, you might get a taste for it," Tristan stated simply.

"It is part of the life we all chose, Galahad. It has become us," Rhyne added.

"No, no, no. We never chose it. It was forced on us, unwillingly," he said to her harshly.

"Sarmatians are born for war. Because we have that power it is our duty, our responsibility to humanity, to protect the weak. It falls on no other but those who live by the sword." She silenced all around her. She never held so much wisdom before she was taken from them, and she returned wiser then them all. A few of them nodded in agreement, as Galahad defeated, trotted forward.

"I often thought of what I would do," Gawain said trying to ease the tension. "What will home mean after this? I have been in this life longer than the other. So much for home, it's not so clear in my memory."

"Speak for yourself!" Bors said with a shudder. "It's bloody cold back there, and everybody I know is dead and buried. Besides I think I have…a dozen children," Bors guessed.

"Eleven." The three knights around corrected him blindly.

"You listen," he gathered their attention. "When Rome leaves here, we'll have the run of all this place. I'll be governor and Dag will be my personal guard and royal ass kisser, won't you Dag!" he yelled back to Dagonet who looked unfazed.

Rhyne began to laugh. "Bors, remind me to leave when that happens. It's scary seeing you as governor!" Some of the other knights chuckled. "Besides," she continued. "I think you are already qualified as governor. Your lot can fill a whole village, and I fear one day it could fill this whole fort!"

The knights erupted in laughter, even Arthur, who was listening from ahead the group. The screech of Tristan's hawk quieted the group and her knight whistled with his arm outstretched. The hawk landed gratefully. Rhyne called over to Gawain. "And what of you Gawain?"

He thought for a moment. "When I get home I will find a beautiful Sarmatian woman to wed," he answered proudly.

"Beautiful Sarmatian woman?" Bors questioned. "Why do you think we left in the first place?" as he made a mocking mooing sound. It received a hard kick from Rhyne and a small thrown rock from Sparrow. "Oww! Vixens!" The women just laughed as Tristan and Rhyne fell to the end of the group. Lancelot came trotting next to Sparrow. "And what of you, Lancelot? What are your plans for home?" Bors asked, still rubbing the spot where the women kicked him. Sparrow listened intently for his answer, as did Rhyne from behind.

"Well, if this woman of Gawain's is as beautiful as he claims, I think I shall be spending a lot of time at Gawain's house. His wife will welcome the company," he said was a thoughtful tone, trying to be serious.

"Yes, and what will I be doing?" Gawain asked a mock anger.

"Wondering at your good fortune that all your children look like me," Lancelot jested with a grin. He let the joke have a laugh for a moment and then looked at Sparrow who was looking at him attentively. He pulled her in front of him on his saddle. "I don't know, boys," he said loud enough for the laughter to quiet down, never taking his eyes of a curious Sparrow. "I just might already have a wife. And I will go wherever she goes," he said in a quite serious tone, one the knights had only heard when talking of battle, and life and death. Never when it came to a woman. The knights shared a few looks, and even got the attention of Arthur, who looked back to his best friend with surprising shock. Marriage and love has always been a forbidden word for Lancelot, even he would admit that. But this woman he held in his arms did something to him, every time she looked at him, every time they touched, or kissed, or when she spoke, or sang. He would swear there was a spell on him, but he knew better. He knew he was falling in love. The notorious Lancelot, known as the man who could catch any woman under his grasp, was falling in love. Go figure.

Sparrow looked a little shocked to hear him say that, and was speechless for a moment, but did not want to be caught that way. "So," she grinned. "I've hooked the unhookable knight, captivate the uncaptivateable, and made the arrogant, humble. Does this mean that I made the one man who says he will never bow to another, bow before me? Does this mean-" but she was cut off by his defeated voice.

"Okay, okay. Stop rubbing it in," he sighed. But he knew she wouldn't.

She leaned closer to him, putting her arms around his neck, and spoke in a whisper only they could hear. "Does this mean I have stolen the heart of the man who always said that it would never happen?"

Lancelot smiled at her, and gave a slight nod. "I love you," he whispered, and their lips connected with a feeling they had not yet sensed.

They road into the Fort leading the caravan of Romans, trailed by a group of children wishing to be like their heroes. The knights rode into their personal small courtyard, followed by the bishop's carriage. Jols greeted the knights, taking the reins of Arthur and Lancelot. They all dismounted and the knights stood before their steeds as the Bishop was saluted by the other Roman soldiers. "Bishop, my quarters have been made available to you," Arthur stated generously.

"Yes, I must rest," he replied, leaving the anxious knights behind, not bothering to say thank you. The knight's shoulders slouched knowing their freedom would have to wait for later. Tristan and Rhyne led their horses into the stable and began to groom them from the hard ride earlier that day. Jols put each of the knights, and Sparrow's horses into their stalls, and left the stables, giving the two some privacy.

They spent the next hour in companionable silence. Their horses were a few stalls apart, and the two shared a few glances here and there. Rhyne knelt down to pat the sleeping wolf, but when she stood, Tristan was no longer in Isolde's stall. "Tris?" she called over, but was only greeted with a horse neigh. Rhyne looked around for a few more seconds, she was about to turn back to Zyfer when she felt two arms go around her waist. She stifled a small gasp, but instantly recognized the presence. "By the Gods! Tris!" Rhyne put her hand over her heart. "Shit," and she took a deep breath. "You love doing that to me, don't you?" She could sense his smile. Rhyne gave herself a wicked smirk and slammed down onto his foot with hers. Tristan tried to lean back to get off his foot, but the wall of the stall was too far away from him. He took a step backwards, but Hawk was now underneath him instead of stable ground. He fell backwards, over Hawk and landed flat on his back with a deep grunt.

Rhyne started to laugh as Hawk mumbled annoyed to Tristan, moving to the other side of the stall, laying back into another sleep. Tristan lay on the ground, letting the pain pass for a moment as Rhyne continued to laugh. "What the Woads or Saxons wouldn't give to see you now," she stifled out through her amusement. "The infamous silent and mysterious scout of Arthur Castus. Many believe to be the most deadly and scariest of all. And here you lay, flat on your back by the hand of a woman." Rhyne began to laugh even harder. "Who is smiling now, love?"

She closed her eyes as a new fit of laughter came on. Big mistake. Tristan kicked her legs from beneath her and her voice turned to a scream. It then abruptly stopped as she came in contact with the ground. Rhyne lay, looking up at the ceiling, groaning, as Tristan had done. "Okay," she breathed. "How about a truce?" Rhyne did not see him nod, but knew he did. They each sat up slowly, facing one another. A smile passed onto her face. "What would I do without you?"

Tristan looked upwards for a moment, and then answered with a serious tone. "Probably grow into an ugly, mean old hag who would enjoy picking on children and vow to kill all men." Rhyne stared with her mouth open, offended. She was speechless. Tristan held a straight face for as long as possible, and then let a smile creep onto his face.

With relief, Rhyne reached over and punched his chest. "That's a horrible thing to say! You are lucky I'm the only one that will put up with you!"

"Yes, I am lucky to have you," he said sincerely. She smiled at him affectionately. "But than again, I think I would be the only one crazy enough to deal with your temper." He had no time to respond as Rhyne pounced on top of him, and they continued to roll across the floor of the stall. In the depth of their playfulness they heard a voice enter the stables.

"Rhyne…Tristan…is that you?" It was Lancelot.

"Yes!" Rhyne managed to get out from her short breaths.

"Well, where are you?" With a little struggle they stood and appeared in Zyfer's stall. They were covered in dirt and straw was everywhere. Their were a few pieces sticking out of each of their hair, and some stuck in between little cracks in their armor, which they had not yet removed. Lancelot gave a devilish grin. "Do I want to know?"

"Just wrestling," Rhyne said simply, elbowing Tristan in the ribs. In return he shoved her a little. Then she elbowed him again, and he shoved back. This went on for a minute or so before Lancelot spoke again. "Okay, okay. Arthur wants us at the Round Table," he left chuckling to himself, and mumbled something neither of them heard. As soon as his figure disappeared, Tristan and Rhyne went through yet another fit of laughter. It came out until their stomachs could not longer handle it, and then stood regarding each other. Rhyne began to pick out the pieces of straw from his hair. "You are a mess," she chuckled.

"So are you," he combed out the straw from her red locks. They shared a kiss, but before it got deeper she stepped back.

"Come on. We can't go to the meeting looking like this, and we still have not taken our armor off. Plus you have to help me stitch my wound. Come." Rhyne took his hand and started to lead him back to the room.

"Now you are the one that's punishing me," he stated disappointed, while being dragged off.

Tristan walked in the Fortress Hall with an arm wrapped around Rhyne's shoulders, and Hawk trailing behind them. They seemed to be the last to show up. Both bowed their apologies to Arthur and took their seats with the wolf jumping into the seat next to Rhyne. He stood. "Fifteen years," he said sincerely. Arthur let that sink in for a moment. "For a good part of our lives we have suffered in a way that many have the luxury of never knowing. But we were not so lucky, being born into a life or a family we never got to choose." He took a deep breath. "But here we are, thrust into a country what many call hell." The knights agreed with a few comments. "We began as Roman and Sarmatian. Knight and Commander. And now, I think it is safe to say that we have become more than any of those. We have become brothers. Brothers in the closest sense." The knights looked around at each other and smiled, and then Arthur continued. "If I was to walk through Hell, there is no one else other than those at this table that I would want beside me."

The knights welled with pride and Lancelot stood. "And we would follow you without question," as he raised his goblet. The others raised theirs as well. Lancelot looked at his fellow brothers and then at Arthur. He smiled and sat with a respectful bow to his best friend.

Arthur almost succumbed to tears at the loyalty of those he has bled beside and led for over half of their lives. Bors on the other hand could not stop himself from crying. These men made Arthur the man he is, and always will be. If they never accepted him as their brother, believed he could lead them to freedom, follow him through fire and brimstone no matter how many of their comrades fell under his command, he himself would have died long ago. "Thank you. Thank you all for standing beside me." He took a deep breath and continued. "Let us not forget we are the fortunate ones." All the knights rose, along with Rhyne and Sparrow. "Let us raise our wine to those gallant and extraordinary men we have lost, but who will be remembered for eternity." They all raised their wine forward. Before drinking, all poured a little to the floor, for their passed brothers, and then took a drink themselves.

The moment was filled with sadness, until Bors decided to make it more cheerful. "To Freedom!" as yelled over the somberness while raising his goblet, and the others followed.

"To Home!" Galahad raised his goblet.

"To Love!" Rhyne yelled over the other voices. They all looked to her and uttered their agreement. Tristan and Rhyne held each other's as they drank, and kissed as they sat.

They began to reminisce and talk of their futures when a sudden creak of the opening doors ceased their laughter. Horton, Bishop's squeal of an assistant, entered the room. As soon as he saw the sight of a very unorthodox table he stopped in his tracks and spoke as if distracted. "His Eminence. Bishop…Gnaeus…Germanus."

The Bishop entered the room and had the same reaction. He eyed the table before him as Rhyne heard Horton whisper to Jols. "A round table, what sort of evil is this?"

Jols smiled and replied, "Arthur says for men to be men they must first all be equal."

"Bishop Germanus, welcome to our table," Arthur greeted him happily.

The knights stood with Arthur, strongly against their approval. The only one who didn't was Rhyne. She stood to no one whom she did not respect, and a bishop of the Roman Church was at the top of her list. There were only three Romans she respected: Pelagius, Arthur, and his father. She didn't expect to be adding anyone to the list anytime soon. Arthur knew the knights only stood for Arthur's sake, not the Bishop's. He didn't expect the knights to respect any Roman. That is why they are in Britain. And when he saw Rhyne sitting, with a defiant look on her face he held no grudge, and knew she would never stand to any Roman, even if he wished her to hold back her hate for them.

"I was given to understand there would be more of you," the bishop stated, trying to hide his disapproval.

Arthur was a little shocked, knowing that Rome knew how many knights were left. "We have been fighting here for fifteen years Bishop," and he continued on gently. "There were once many more of us." Arthur noticed Germanus looking at Rhyne. "Rhyne is an old friend of ours, Bishop. She has recently returned to us from a very long absence, and brought her daughter back with her, Sparrow." Arthur motioned to both the women and the Bishop seemed a little shocked that there was a second one. He had not noticed her before. Though she did not have a presence as the other one did.

The knights held stern looks. Every time their eyes looked at the bishop they were red with defiance. "Ah, of course." The bishop walked over to Arthur and took a seat next to him. His servant began to pass around goblets of wine, and the knights wondered what was wrong with their wine, but eyed the gold gleefully. "Arthur and his Knights have served with courage to maintain the honor of Rome's Empire on this last outpost of our glory. Rome is most indebted. To you noble knights. To your final days of service to the Empire."

"Day, not days." Lancelot corrected before the bishop motioned for all of them to sit.

The knights almost had to contain their laughter. They were basically kidnapped from their homes. Why would Rome care about how they defended Britain? "Now why would a Bishop, of all people, trek across the entire Empire to hand a band of Sarmatian slaves their discharge papers?" Rhyne snapped back.

Germanus glared at Rhyne and was insulted to be spoken to by such a low life, even more so that it is a woman. But seeing Arthur's ideals on equality, and how he made no action to stop her, he hid his anger and put on a fake smile. "I volunteered. It is a rare opportunity to meet such legends and heroes in the eyes of Rome. It is a pleasure to come here myself."

Hawk growled at him, but Rhyne silenced him quickly. "Hawk," he looked at her as she shook her head. "I will deal with him myself," she whispered so only she, the wolf and Tristan could hear. Rhyne and the other knights, of course, did not believe a word of this, but all except Rhyne, put on mock smiles and went along with it, just to get it all over with.

The bishop continued with his speech. "His Holiness has a personal interest in you. He inquires after each of you, and is curious to know if your knights have converted to the word of out savior or…"

But before he could finish, or Arthur could even explain Gawain burst out. "I will pray to any God, Goddess, or Devil that means our freedom!"

The other knights cheered and Rhyne just laughed at the Bishop's sudden discomfort. Bors spoke next. "I don't really mind Christianity. I remember seeing a statue of that Virgin Mary once. Beautiful," he boasted.

The other knights nodded. "Yes, quite pretty," Tristan agreed. Rhyne smacked him in reply. He just shrugged and she hit him again.

The other knights told their agreements as well and finally quieted as they were getting refills of wine. Horton looked absolutely appalled and crossed himself before saying a silent prayer. Germanus felt disgusted, but hid it with a smile of toleration. Arthur looked like an embarrassed parent and offered an apology. "You must excuse their behavior Bishop. They have retained the religion of their forefather's and I have never questioned that."

"Of course, of course," he looked disgusted again. "They are pagans. As was Rome once. And some would say Rome was better for it."

Rhyne voiced her opinion once more. "Aye they were. There was no persecution. Except towards the Christians of course. Maybe if you were one back then, you would truly understand what it's like to have your life taken from you."

The Bishop stared at her for a moment and decided to ignore her comment for the time being. "For our part, the Church has deemed such beliefs 'innocence'-"

He was cut off yet again by no other than Rhyne. "Innocent," she spoke with pure revulsion. "Do we look innocent to you? Do we look like children who are so ignorant that we have not yet been educated in the ways of your God? Ways that seem so right that they force young boys from their homes into slavery, that they see themselves as having the right to take away all people's homes and force them in serving one man who has never laid eyes on their country." The Bishop was silent. "And they are people who treat women like they are nothing. When in fact women are the ones who should be worshipped because do not your own stories say Eve was the one who picked from the Tree of Knowledge? It seems women were the only ones who were smart enough to want to be intelligent, to want to live a non-perfect life where you suffer and earn what you have. That is why the Goddess will always hold sway and never truly die."

Arthur never thought she would outbreak like this. "Rhyne-"

"No Arthur, I want an answer," she waved him off. "Of all the years we have looked death in the eyes, and fought for your precious Empire, and of all the brothers we have lost and all the scars that are present on our bodies, do we at all look innocent to you?"

"Rhyne!" Arthur stood with an angry face. "Silence! If you can't handle that, you can leave."

Rhyne looked between Arthur and Germanus a few times leaned back into her chair. She took a deep breath and suddenly gave a perfectly passive face, as if nothing had happened.

The conversation turned back to the matter at hand. "You Arthur, your path to God is through Pelagius. I saw his image in your room."

Arthur spoke with affection. "He took my father's place for me. His teachings on free will and equality have been a great influence. I look forward to our reunion in Rome."

Tristan noticed an awkward glance between the Bishop and his servant. Tristan looked next to him to Rhyne and knew she saw it as well. And the Bishop continued. "Yes," he said impassively. "Rome awaits your arrival with great anticipation. You are a hero. In Rome, you will live out your days in honor and wealth." He continued after his servant placed a box in front of him. "Alas, we are all but players in our ever changing world. Barbarians from every corner are almost at Rome's door. Because of this, Rome and the Holy Father have decided to remove ourselves from indefensible outposts, such as Britain. What will become of it is not our concern anymore." He shrugged. "I suppose the Saxons will claim it soon," he said as if it was an afterthought.

All the knights uncomfortably fidgeted in their seats, sharing glances with one another. "Saxons?" Arthur questioned.

"Yes," Germanus said. "In the North a massive Saxon incursion has begun," he said looking across the table to the knights.

"Saxons only claim what they kill," Lancelot said with a grudge.

"And only kill everything that crosses their path." Gawain said empathically. "It would take an entire legion to defeat them."

Galahad shook his head. "It's a shame really," he said sadly. "All those years of war and the Woads still don't get their land back. It is just taken by someone else."

Bors took an even sadder tone than Galahad. "And I doubt the Saxons will take me as governor. Damn them!"

Even though the Woads were technically their enemy, the knights never believed in the cause they were fighting for with Rome. How their land was taken from them was unjust, like what happened to the Sarmatians, except the Woads had enough in number to rebel against their adversary. This was wrong taking the Woads land and then leaving it for the Saxons. It was the act of a coward and an unjust man. But of course that is Rome in a nut-shell.

"Indeed," Germanus replied with no care at all. "Gentleman," he opened the case and revealed six scrolls. "Your discharge papers, with guaranteed safe conduct throughout the Roman Empire." He let that sink in for a moment before speaking again. "But first, I must have a word with your commander." He paused for a moment at the stern faces of the knights. "In private."

"We have no secrets," Arthur explained.

Once again Germanus damned Arthur's ideals on equality. But it didn't matter; they would be crushed when he reached Rome. The Bishop slammed the case hard, snapping the knights out of their revere, letting them know it would be his way. Lancelot finally stood and raised his goblet. "Come," and all looked to him. "Let us leave Roman business to Romans." He took a drink and set it back on the table.

The other knights stood as he wrapped his arm around Sparrow's shoulders and made their way to the door. Tristan intended to take the gold goblet with him. He put his other arm around Rhyne's waist and made for the door. When she felt the wolf not following them they both turned back to their seats. He was still sitting in the chair that was next to her. His eyes were nailed to the Bishop and his teeth were bared. "Little Brother," Rhyne called. It didn't faze him. "Hawk." Still no answer. "Hawk, she called in a stern voice. He finally looked to her as Rhyne was shaking her head. "Come on," she waved him on. The wolf looked back at the bishop for a moment then finally followed Rhyne and Tristan out the door.

"Are you two okay?" Tristan asked a little concerned once they were outside.

"Yea, yea. We're fine. It's just a problem that needs to be solved."

"Be careful when messing with a bishop, my love," he said.

"Oh no, Tris. He should be careful messing with me. And you all should feel the same."

"Well, that is hard to do when he has our freedom in his hands."

"That's true. But when you all realize you already are free and that we have the power, none of that will matter."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked a little confused.

Rhyne inwardly hit herself. "Nothing, Tris. Nothing. Soon the future will reveal itself." He decided not to question her anymore. He knew her magic, and trusted her with the secrets of the future.

How is it? Like the part with Rhyne and Lancelot? And where do you think Rhyne and the Bishop know each other from?