The air of change that seemed to creep into everyone's bones only waited a few months before, it finally came. Arthur summoned them all to a meeting in the roundtable room. Tensions were high as well as anticipation. The grim look on Arthur's face told them all of unhappy news to come, which was new since everything had been so well since Kyla and Tristan had Kieran, but still and eerie silence had hung in the fort. It wasn't hard to guess what was coming either.
They all took their seats and looked expectantly as Arthur leaned over hands on the back of his chair looking at them each individually. " Saxons have massed and they march as we speak with the help of what is left of the rogues to the wall. They have already left four villages in ruin in their path" Arthur explained simply as evenly as he possibly could. They are let out a sigh of recognition knowing it was coming after the massacre to reclaim Lourdes and Guinevere.
"When do we leave?" Dagonet asked simply.
The knights all looked to Arthur. Waiting no question that they would fight for their land, their home and their king. The determination on their features clearly etched to meet war head on. " I have spoke with Merlin and the woads are gathering as we speak, we must gather the cavalry and leave tonight, we need to cover ground under the cover of darkness to gain on them"
Lourdes' brow furrowed as she glanced to her brother and Viviane. "What about the Ravens they will fight with you, the warriors of Avalon are loyal to you as well" She inquired perplexed that Arthur had not mentioned them.
Arthur shook his head gently gazing at his sister, she had endured to much already to ask her to face the Saxon again, he couldn't bare the thought of losing her or any of the women again. " No we have discussed it and feel it best you women stay behind, you will not fight them, we will not chance losing you, any of you again"
Lourdes and Kyla both stood, stunned and offended. " You cannot deny us, our right to fight" Lourdes started at him incredulously. He would not take this away from her. Hoe could he deny her her revenge against the evil men who had done her wrong.
"I can and I have, I will not have you lost to them again. I forbid it" He said simply. Lourdes' eyes narrowed warningly as they glanced at the people of the room.
"You fools will sit around and let him deny you able fighters." She waved her arms around angrily.
"Maybe he is right, Kyla has just given birth not long ago, you still have hang ups from your encounter with them, it could get you hurt" Tristan explained simply.
"War is no place for women" Lancelot shook his head.
Lourdes visibly shook in her rage her fists clenched. " War is no place heartless fools like yourself Sir knight" Her jaw clenched and her gaze when to Arthur's angry one for her words to his knight.
Kyla gaze refused to meet Tristan's as she spoke. "I have never thought we would betrayed by our own people" Her arms folded lightly as Guinevere stood turning her back on Arthur.
"May you rot in your hell for this Arthur. I will never forgive you for takeing my right to justice away, never" Her tone was scathing and low as her eyes flashed piercing his intensly before turning and leaving with Kyla and Guinevere.
"Well that went over like a fart in church" Bors shook his head rubbing his hand over his face.
"It does not matter as long as they are safe" Lancelot answered
"At the cost of their respect they are warriors, and we are denying them their fight" Arthur said gently standing up straight. " Lets prepare to leave."
Lancelot found Lourdes in her hiding spot on the wall, and she ignored his presence, she had felt him approach she knew the feel of him as he was close. They stood in silence for what seemed like hours watching the sun set.
"I may not return. I have a bad feeling about this battle. I feel it in my bones. Something is different, things will change with this battle. Can you not tell me we can have peace between us for my sanity before I leave" he asked gently looking out over the wall.
"I have no reason to give you peace. This battle with change nothing but ruining my respect for all of you. You have no right to take our justice away our right to fight. You fight for our honor when it means nothing to you." She replied her voice was a cool calm tone, clipped and her features tense as she never moved her gaze from the expanse before her.
"That is not true," he started at her angrily. "You have no idea what you women mean to us."
"I have a fair idea exactly how much certain ones mean to you" Her eyes turned to him cold and lifeless except for her contempt and anger.
His brow furrowed confused. "What does that mean, all of you I care about equally." His head shook perplexed by her statement.
"True, Guinevere has your love, Kyla has your friendship, and I have your hate. You care equally but in three different emotions" Her brow cocked lightly in a menacing condescending manner.
Lancelot looked at her his eyes wide. She truly believed those statements. She was disillusioned about each of them as well. "I care about all three of you the same, with admiration, friendship, and awe. I have no romantic feelings for Guinevere. She is my brother's wife, Arthur is like my family, my best friend I would never to that to him. And you…I love you as my sister as my own family…"
That struck her harder then she ever thought possible. Her jaw clenched lightly and she swallowed blinking her eyes a few times to reign herself in." But you saw her first didn't you and it eats you that he won, the first thing you ever cared about. I am nothing to you. I have told you before leave me to my devices. Let me alone." She spat turning to walk from the wall it no longer provided the secluded peace she loved so much.
Lancelot quickly followed grabbing her arm. "I will not let you alone. Not till you explain to me your rage and contempt for me and me alone." He growled at her sternly his gaze meeting hers in the dark her eyes shined like emeralds, they always did when she was angry, and it was beautiful.
"Only in my death will you find you sanity to your answers and peace with me Lancelot." She whispered simply and pulled her arm away turning to leave making her way down the stairs and Lancelot watched growling and kicking the wall in contempt, in frustration running his fingers into his hair. He didn't understand and he wanted to. How a woman could hate one person to thoroughly, he had never done such a thing to deserve it, he knew he had never done anything to her. His lifestyle did not spawn such malcontent in someone. He turned watching her make her way into the fort, his eyes narrowed. "You will give me the answers I seek Lourdes, I will understand you if it's the last thing I do."
