Sleep had eluded Arthur. He had tried to sleep on the makeshift bed next to Lancelot's, but his thoughts wouldn't quiet down. Knowing his body needed the rest, he had remained lying down, while considering the plan he and his knights had already set in motion. The plan seemed solid, but Arthur was aware that many things could go wrong.

Another troubled moan from Lancelot stirred him from his thoughts.

The first hours after the meeting, Lancelot had slept like the dead, but as the night had fallen, he had become restless. He had never awoken though, and Arthur had decided not to wake him, as he obviously needed the sleep. Especially considering the day that lay ahead, Arthur thought. He didn't doubt that a second attempt on Lancelot's life would come soon.

A knock on the door brought Arthur to his feet immediately. Gawain and Galahad entered, carrying trays of food. Arthur accepted gratefully.

"How is he?" Gawain asked, looking at Lancelot who seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

"He sleeps fitfully, but he hasn't awoken," Arthur answered, sounding doubtful whether that was a good thing or not. Placing his plate on the table, he sat down. "How did it go last night?" he asked curiously.

"The whole fort should know by now that Lancelot remembers the face of his attacker." Galahad snickered. "Vanora was terrific!"

"Dagonet and I will be in our rooms keeping watch as soon as you leave on your way to the centurion," Gawain elaborated on the plans the knights had made last night. "Bors and Galahad will be outside, watching everyone who enters here."

"What about Tristan?" Arthur asked.

"He will be around," Gawain added. "To make sure that no one comes in here unnoticed."

Arthur nodded approvingly. "We'll have to wait until Lancelot's awake. That could be soon, but also take a long time…"

"I think it will be soon." Galahad moved to the side of the bed.

Arthur followed Galahad's gaze and saw how Lancelot's eyelids fluttered. Soon his eyes opened. Arthur swiftly moved to stand next to Galahad. Kneeling down he watched Lancelot closely.

"Lancelot?"

"Arthur?"

"Right here." For a moment it seemed as though Lancelot was looking straight through his commander, but then the brown eyes focused. "How do you feel?"

"Like I slept for a week, and wouldn't mind sleeping for another month." Lines of weariness etched his face, the dark circles under his eyes prominent. The healing bruises only added to the picture of exhaustion.

"Do you want some water?" Not waiting for the answer, Arthur reached for the cup of water that he had left on the floor.

Lancelot nodded. With Galahad's assistance, Arthur helped his knight drink. Lancelot was grateful when they laid him back down again, feeling his eyes slid close again.

"Lancelot!" Arthur gently squeezed the Sarmatian's arm. "Lancelot, you can't go to sleep right now."

Lancelot looked up at him with somnolent eyes. "I'm not asleep."

"You need to stay awake for awhile," Arthur urged. "Can you do that?"

Lancelot nodded. Arthur wasn't so certain. A feeling of foreboding crept over him.

Turning his attention to Gawain, Arthur asked, "Is Dagonet on guard already?" Gawain confirmed. "Then it's best that you go also. Galahad, you're coming with me," the Roman ordered, before he turned his attention back to Lancelot once more. "Shout out if you need anything. Anything! Gawain and Dagonet are in the next rooms, they'll hear you. Try to stay awake," he added softly.

Lancelot watched as Arthur and Galahad left his room behind Gawain. He knew he had to stay awake, but he just felt too tired to keep his eyes open. They closed involuntarily.

Lancelot didn't know how long he had been dozing off and on when he heard the door to his room opening softly. "Arthur?" he asked weakly.

–– 8 ––

Gawain had only just sat down when he heard the distinctive creaking of Lancelot's door, bringing him to his feet again immediately. Even before he could bring his hand to his sword, Lancelot's scream reached him.

Running out of his room, he saw Dagonet coming out of his, and a large figure standing in Lancelot's door opening.

The man turned his head around upon hearing the running footsteps, while at the same time drawing his arm back, clasping a knife. Turning back his attention to the man on the bed in the room, he threw the knife with force, just before Gawain reached him. In one motion, the man brought his arm back again and hit the blond knight full on his jaw.

Gawain stumbled backwards, momentarily stunned. Before he could recover, he suddenly saw how the man's mouth opened in surprise like he was about to scream. As the man collapsed to his knees, Gawain saw how Dagonet drew out the large blade that he had slid into the man's side.

–– 8 ––

Arthur had hardly left the building that housed the quarters of the knights together with Galahad when he clearly heard Lancelot's scream, turning his blood cold.

Arthur ran back as fast as he could, Galahad on his heels. When he entered the hallway to the knights' rooms, he saw Tristan running in front of him. Tristan almost ran into Gawain who was swaying on his legs. Next he saw his scout jumping over a body that was almost completely blocking the opening to Lancelot's room. Arthur registered that Dagonet was standing over the man with a large knife in his hand, as he jumped over the body himself, focusing only on getting to Lancelot as fast as he could. Images of a dead Lancelot were flashing through his mind.

Arthur's eyes immediately went to the bed, and another shock went through his system. The bed was empty, safe for a huge throwing knife that was embedded deadcenter of the bed in the blankets. "Oh God, please, no…"

Then Arthur became aware of Tristan who was kneeling over another body lying on the floor next to the bed. "Lancelot!"

Relief flooded his veins as the faint reply reached him. "Arthur…"

Stepping around Tristan, Arthur quickly knelt down next to Lancelot, who was lying on the floor curled up in himself, partly entangled in one of the fur blankets. He was paler than ever, the ghostly translucent skin of his face coated with sweat. The dark eyes shone with confusion and fear and pain. Blood was seeping out from under the bandage on his temple.

"Lancelot…"

This time Lancelot didn't respond. Arthur realized that the Sarmatian knight was nearly unconscious. Uncertain if Lancelot had sustained any further injuries, he looked at Tristan.

Sensing his commander's question, Tristan quietly answered. "It looks like he rolled out of bed instinctively. There are no other wounds. But it wouldn't surprise me if his head injury is aggravated."

"Thank God he's alive." Arthur breathed out shakily. "Has he said anything?"

Tristan shook his head. "No. I thought at first that he was unconscious, but he opened his eyes when he heard you call out to him. I don't think we should move him before the healer has taken a look at him."

Nodding in agreement, Arthur turned back to Lancelot. He placed his hand on the trembling arm of his knight. "Lancelot? Can you hear me?"

After a brief moment, Lancelot's gaze met Arthur's. Suddenly his eyes rolled to the back of his head and Arthur felt the body go limp under his hand. The Roman commander cursed.

Arthur became aware of his other knights who were standing behind him and Tristan, watching Lancelot intently. "Galahad, go fetch the healer!" he ordered. "Bors, can you find something to cover him up, to keep him warm?" Searching out Gawain, Arthur asked, "Are you alright?"

Gawain rubbed his hand over his jaw which was already starting to discolour. "I'm fine. Just a bruise. How's Lancelot?"

"Let's wait for the healer to hear that." Arthur answered worriedly.

Bors entered the room with a warm blanket in his hands. He passed it to Gawain, who passed it to Arthur over Tristan's head. Carefully, Arthur spread it over Lancelot's body.

The healer did not take long to arrive, and immediately bent down to examine Lancelot. After a few minutes, he spoke up. "He's going to wake up with a headache even worse than before, but other than that he should heal with lots of rest. I want to keep him in bed for at least another week. Not that I think he'll feel like getting up anyway, since he's still recovering from the blood loss also."

"Thank you," Arthur acknowledged the healer. "Can we lift him onto his bed then?"

"Yes, of course. Just don't forget to remove that knife first," the healer chuckled.

Dagonet stepped forward and pulled the knife out of the bed. Everyone fell silent on the sight of the long blade that became visible. Lancelot escaped certain death by rolling out of the bed on instinct.

Arthur moved forward to gather up Lancelot. He placed his arms as gently as possible under Lancelot's frame and lifted him easily. "Tristan, can you disentangle all of the blankets?" As soon as Tristan had managed to do so, Arthur carefully lowered Lancelot on to the bed. Galahad had moved to the other side of the bed, and together with Arthur, he arranged the blankets over the unconscious man again.

Arthur sat down with a heavy sigh. His voice was tense when he spoke. "Dagonet, is Tracius dead?"

Dagonet looked at his commander baffled. "Who?"

Arthur pointed to the hallway. "Him."

"You know him?" Galahad asked surprised.

Arthur nodded. "Tracius is a decurion under centurion Livius. Now, is he dead?"

"No, he's not." Dagonet answered calmly. "What do you want us to do with him?"

"Take him to the valetudinarium. Alert the guards. I'll talk to him later."

Dagonet nodded in compliance, and moved towards the door to do as Arthur instructed.

Bors couldn't contain his anger. "That's it? The bastard's tried to kill our Lancelot twice, and all you want to do is talk with him?"

"Bors…" Arthur said in a soothing voice. "I understand, believe me, I do! And he will get his punishment! What I mean is that I want to know why he went after Lancelot."

"Give me two minutes with him, and we'll know everything we want to know! And then we can run him through with a sword ever so slowly…" Bors went on, while he went after Dagonet to help him deliver the Roman at the healer's ward.

Arthur looked at Gawain with an almost pleading look. Knowingly, Gawain moved to the door to follow Bors and Dagonet. "Come on, Galahad."

Tristan left last, without speaking, leaving Arthur alone to watch over Lancelot.