Two

"Let us not forget where the fortunate ones, lets raise our wines," The speech sounded so familiar, every words was given with honor, passion, and courage. And only when Arthur spoke did is sound more than a few words meshed together. In that hall, it was a verse, repeated daily to ensure all Knights take each day as their own, and make it better than before. Lana smiled at those homing words, the smells and voices of the seven men inside made that comforting blanket tangible. With the dark black cape she wore on her shoulder blades, dragged over the floor, like a broom was silenced. She watched the men drink their wine, and celebrate their coming freedom. Seeing Arthur lift his arm, she smirked and a strand of hair crossed over her eye.

"Look at this," Lana finally decided to announce herself, and when she left the darkened position, she noticed how silent the knights became, and how quickly their eyes hit her. "..All of my favorite men in one room. Aren't I such a lucky girl?" Jaws dropped, and Arthur turned quickly, with his eyes wide in shock.

"LANA!" A few of the guys yelled with joy.

Bors, the animal he was left his seat, thus letting a gate open, as the others followed. But Lana kept her eyes on Arthur, a warm smile was exchanged before Bors engulfed her in a hug. Twirling her above the floor she laughed.

"Bors please, I'd rather keep my feet on the ground." Bors laughed and shouted back.

"Then why make an entrance?" She heard Gawain suggest. And as soon as Bors released her, she looked up and through the mess of men saw his face, lit up with a glaring smile. Gawain. His hair seemed longer, and he hadn't bothered to shave in well, weeks. As Tristan, Dagonet, Galahad, and Bors gave her final hugs and a few laughs, Gawain approached her. "Where have you been," He muttered in her ear when he pulled her close. Wrapping her arms about him tightly, she closed her eyes.

"I know," She whispered back. Once he pulled away, she turned back as the men took their seats, and the only one to not greet her was Lancelot, his eyes shot at her with a stiff glare. She turned her face, ignoring his attitude as usual she spotted Arthur. "Dear brother, rumor has it you've been busy." She walked over to him, and like old times, Arthur's earth shattering smile was released.

"Busy is true," He said before they hugged Lana.

"Alright, lets not stop all the events for me. Seems you have a Bishop amongst us."

"Fabulous ain't it?" Bors hollered while gulping his wine. "Now, Arthur, Lana, take a seat. And don't forget, you'll be telling us all about the folk in Rome."

"Once the Bishop is taken care of, and papers received." Lancelot finally had a word in the room, Lana reached over, and grabbed Arthur's wine, taking a sip before asking. While the men conversed Arthur turned to his sister.

"Need of a fix?" He motioned at the wine leaning over with his coiled hair over his brow. Lana lifted the glass.

"With the few days I've been riding, yes, I do." Lana took another gulp, she had so much to tell Arthur, he had no idea what was going on. "Arthur you need to know. There is so much happening around us, and I rode day and night just to --"

"Introducing Bishop Germanius," Like clock work all the knights silenced themselves, and stood up in honor or the bishop. Lana, placed her glass down, and stood up, she rolled her eyes as the Bishop spoke of more Knights, and the honesty of 15 years of death and war was clearly spoken from Arthur's words. he began to honor them, giving them rich wine in fancy cups, parading around the table using his welcoming tone. Lana glanced around the glossy table, seven men wanting, wishing to return to like which they'd been denied so long nearly in their grasp, yet the wishes of Rome would always come first.

It was something Arthur could understand, but to most, it would never mean more than a mission for Rome. Risking their future for other causes but their own, bleeding for a country which had taken them like slaves, promising them to be treated like kings.

Lana blotted out the Bishops tongue, and glanced at the men, who would soon know freedom wasn't so close. And it didn't take long for Lancelot to connect it as well, with the slip of days, instead of day from the Bishop. As they took their seats, Lana held her breath, taking her usual seat, three chairs down the row from Arthur's right hand. And a simple seat away from Lancelot. Lifting her head, she sorrow filled eyes locked up to Gawain, he stared at her, his jaw strong and locked tightly. His large palm clenched together over the sleek table, he could see the struggle in her face, and how she held something in.

When the intensions of Rome came clear to the men, most of them stood up, Bors and Gawain leading the way. Lana lowered her head, she could feel a burning stare on her shoulder, she tilted her head to the left, Lancelot twanged his jaw, his eyes widened and what seemed like flames engulfed them as their eyes connected.

He knew what she never mentioned.

Lana knew their fate, and instead of announcing Rome's plans, she played happy home wife, entering the room in a tight dress with a grin, forgetting to announce their freedom wasn't like her own. She after all wasn't a Knight of Rome, or Sarmation, she was a girl, taken in by Arthur and Pelagius and brought into the world of battle.

Lana recoiled her eyes from Lancelot, locking her lips shut she allowed her eyes to connect with the floor, hoping to avoid other stares,

"Now, if you will all allow me a moment to speak with your commander in private." The Bishop requested among the Knights, yet no one moved an inch, and Arthur and Lana where the only two left seated.

"We have no secrets," Arthur announced, and Bishop slammed the discharge paper casing shut and glared at the Knights,

"And the girl? She as well is allowed to know these secrets," Lana's lock on the floor was demolished, and her eyes drifted to the gold covered Bishop. The uneasy air was soaking in her system, and knowing the fate of the men she called family helped the boiling within her skin.

"The girl has been working for Rome for 14 years. The girl has killed Rome's enemies, but none of her own, the girl has earned her damn seat at this table."

"That girl Bishop, has more field time that you, so I suggest you take a seat--"

Bors began to raise his voice when Lancelot decided to interject.

"Come now, lets leave Roman business to Roman's." His eyes focused on Bors. He shifted uneasy from the chair behind him, leaving a looming glare at the Bishop, Lancelot tapped Lana's shoulder, she looked over her shoulder and he waited for her to move.