Seven

It took nearly the rest of the next day to get back to the out post, and Arthur was quieter than average, and the towns people rejoiced with the safe journey. Galahad's horse seemed restless, but it had to partly had to be from Galahad's race to get back, grab his papers, and leave what Rome had given the men. Bors, still was in shock, and was the iron gates shifted open, his eyes welled up, with his eleven children holding onto the bars, waiting for their sadden stricken father. the rest of the Knights entered the gates, and none of the faces where happy. Gawain, Bors, Galahad, Lancelot, Arthur, Tristan gathered off their horses as Bishop Germanius praised their accomplishments.

"Against all the odds, Alecto, let me see you. You have thrived!" Hesitating, Alecto stood down from the wagon, and stood near the bishop. "Oh great Knights! You are free now! Your papers, with safe conduct through out the Roman empire! Arthur --" The Bishop scurried to his side, and grabbed that golden box from before, he ordered his guard to fling the box open. With the discharge papers tied with string of delicate leather. The Bishop shouted while Alecto came from the wagon. "Here, you're discharge papers!" The Bishop was incredibly high spirits, while the Knights, stared, with heated rage.

Arthur collected his first, his sneering look smothered the Bishops highly anticipated welcome, Arthur stared at this Bishop and spoke.

"Bishop Germanius, friend of my father." He gave a final glare, before turning off, and walking out the entrance.

"You are free now, you can go." Bishop repeated, ignoring Arthur's attitude.

Lancelot stomped up to the box of papers, ripping them from the box, he turned to the last line of men, Galahad was the first to receive his paper, and with an inferno in his pupils, he took the roll script, and once it was in his grasp, he left quickly. Gawain, watched Galahad leave, his steps like burning ambers in the dirt. Lancelot gave Gawain his paper and he stared at it, touching it like it still wasn't real.

"Bors, Bors! Take it."

"This doesn't make him a free man. He's already a free man, HE'S DEAD!" Bors shouted, with all the power he could muster, he chucked both his own paper, and Dagonet's to the ground.

When he left, Gawain picked up the two scrolls, as Tristan took the box the papers where once held in, to take to Dagonet's grave.

Lana dropped from her horse, and chased after Galahad, his face was boiling with pent up tempers, and he was debating to kill the Bishop, to kill for the first time for pleasure. Lana touched his shoulder, but he just stood frozen, like he could react to nothing. His innocent eyes faded, whatever kept his eyes so pure, had melted away. Lana pulled her palm away, as they went to meet at the cemetery, to bury Dagonet with his sword at the top of the fresh stirred dirt.

With the crowd spread out, Lana stood, a few feet behind Lancelot, Galahad and Bors, just as Gawain placed the golden box onto of the grave. An eternal flame burned at the head, next to his sword. Gawain straighten back up, and stared down at the box.

"Good bye old friend. We'll be along soon." Gawain felt the pain that poor boy Dagonet adopted and fathered crying helplessly in Guinevere hands. As Bors drank at the side of his grave, Lana watched the crowd disperse, and walking next to Galahad, she leaned her head on his shoulders, and a soft calming grunt came from his chest. Fashioning a weak smile, Lana patted his belly. Feeling his hand, rise up and scruff her long free moving hair, she lifted up and blinked, their communication was constantly silenced and understood by just the two. She stopped her walk with Galahad, and turned to find Gawain he was speaking with Lancelot. She noticed in the far corner, where Arthur's father was buried yet again Guinevere's hand upon her brothers' cheek.

Arthur's stare into Guinevere could reach her soul, and Lana knew their bond has grown deeper. Guinevere's thumb stroked his unshaven cheek. Until she removed it, and walking a few steps ahead of Arthur, they began back into the safety of the wall.

"How are you these days Gawain?" Lancelot asked, he looked up once more and saw how much father the others where, and with the distance, he was able to speak freely. Gawain wasn't sure how to respond, what was Lancelot getting at?

"Fine, why?" He turned and watched Lancelot's cocky smirk appear while he stepped over a few rocks.

"Just asking. I was curious as to how you and Lana are getting along. You two seem to be sprouting a wonderful relationship." Lancelot paused, and just as Gawain lifted a finger to speak, Lancelot piped up again. "Now I saw you two in the forest the other night, there's no need to deny it."

"Lancelot, I should have spoken to you about it before hand, but after all this has nothing to do with you. And I'dsuggest you kept it to yourself." Gawain spoke politely, Lancelot laughed shortly, then held a heavy sigh.

"Well sure, if Arthur finds out, he'll ship her back to Rome. After all, that's a key reason as to why she and I are no longer bound." Lancelot's face lit up in superiority, he winked with his eye and Gawain stopped dead in his tracks.

"Arthur would never,"

"Aw, well he and I are the best of friends Gawain, do you honestly think he'd allow this again? Imagine what he'll do a second time." Lancelot stood still, and once finishing his thought, he saw the concern and bewilderment in Gawain's face, with his intensions finished he began to walk again.

"Lancelot, you are my friend, and save your pathetic attempts to scare me off. She's been with me far longer than she was with you." This caused Lancelot to perk his ears up, he turned about, and raised a brow.

"Just how long?"

"When she returned a few months after leaving from Rome. Almost five years." Lancelot grasped a heavy breath, their relationship crumbled only nine months earlier. He was damn near insulted. "Look, Lancelot, we have no reason to argue, you have moved on, as has she. Lets just keep this between us please. We have a lot ahead of all of us." Lancelot hid his shock, he never realized how quickly Lana latched onto another man after him. Shifting his jaw, he managed to transform back into the calm, cool and brilliant Lancelot.

"Well seems as though you two are working out well. Good luck, she's a fiery one Gawain." Lancelot tried to make it as sincere as possible. And after patting Gawain's back, he watched him walk away, shaking his head slightly.

His eyes traced over the green of Badon hill, and soon in view was Arthur, his red cape floating in the wind. Turning his face, he saw Guinevere, and her beauty astounded Lancelot. And like magic, she stopped, and in the far distance, she stared back, directly at him. Lancelot's mouth opened slightly, he wasn't surprised as she stood still, and concentrated in his direction. After all, they had this connection which ran deep within them.