Here you are everyone, more!

Thanks for all the replies, this is one of the highest number I've gotten for one posting (since the chapters were put up at the same time).

Chapter 2

Riding back home was a somber event. None of the knights were in any state to speak to each other as was customary after they had lost so many and due to this, an awkward silence descended on them as they drew near the Roman fortress. When Arthur would glance in Lancelot's direction he got the impression that he was wondering what he was going to tell Elena.

Arthur himself was wondering how Lancelot intended to tell her that he was now her new guardian.

He would be the first to admit that among all the knights, Lancelot was probably the one she trusted most. Accolon had spent the most time with he and Arthur and while he had always employed a rather potent degree of stoicism around the child, Lancelot insisted on being her friend. She often ran to him for entertainment when they were at home.

But he would not be able to replace her father.

"Lancelot," Arthur called, looking to the rider of the horse trotting alongside his own. He received no reply, his friend simply continuing to stare off into the distance. "Lancelot?" he said again, this time louder.

Startled from his reverie, Lancelot jerked slightly and turned. "What?"

"I'm wondering how you plan to tell Elena about Accolon," he told him.

Lancelot's eyes returned to their path. "I have not yet decided."

"Well," Arthur shifted uncomfortably in his saddle, "it's just that this sort of thing requires a certain…er…finesse."

This actually coaxed a small smile from the younger knight. "Are you saying I have no finesse Arthur?"

Arthur gave a vague chortle. He knew many women who had met Lancelot would strongly disagree. "No," he said. "Just…break the news gently is all."

Lancelot's smile faded. "I would never hurt her Arthur."

"I know that," Arthur agreed. "But telling her this will, whether you mean to or not."

Lancelot cocked a dark eyebrow. "Then is it possible for me to plan out the conversation in peace?"

Arthur hesitated, then nodded and they continued riding in silence.

Watching Elena run toward them gleefully as they dismounted caused Lancelot's chest to twinge painfully. But it was hard not to laugh at her antics when she spotted him and jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck. When she was smaller she would attach herself to his leg, but she had grown a little too tall for that, only in the past year or so. He almost wished Accolon had left him with a smaller child who wouldn't understand the loss of him.

He lifted her off her feat. "How is my little one?"

"I'm not little," she insisted defiantly.

"No, you're not," he laughed, setting her down again. "If you were you would no be so heavy."

She grinned at him and took a step back, glancing all around them as the others began leading their horses into the stable. "Where is father?" she asked.

Any humor in his gaze disappeared as quickly as it had come. He placed a hand on her back and began leading her back inside the walls. "Come, I need to speak with you."

Keep up all the feedback! It keeps me going! And he'll tell her next chapter, then we'll move into them growing accustomed to each other, then she'll grow up a little faster, cuz I know everyone wants mush, lol.