Reviewer Responses

A.K. Anonymous- grins Glad u liked where Lillian told Germanius off, I had fun writing that part. Thank you for continuing to read my fic. takes gold star and places it in sticker book I will do my best to keep up the good work and I'll update as soon as I can.

As for the Tristan trusting Lillian thing; yeah, it may seem a little unrealistic but notice I used the word 'believe' instead of trust. Just because Tristan and Arthur believe her doesn't mean they trust her. There is an amount of distrust; besides, how is anyone supposed to make friends if they are completely closed off and unwilling to at least try and trust someone new.

That-fan- You are probably right about Tristan. This is fan fiction though. I am trying to make it seem as natural a progression as possible. Though Tristan is not the kind to trust so quickly and Arthur is the leader, I think I left enough room where they are giving her the benefit of the doubt. Thanks for the review and please keep reading and reviewing.

Stonerbear- grins Glad u like it. And thanks for the encouragement.

Quinn-fanficaddict- Thanks for the wonderful review. I hope I can keep Lillian as realistic as possible during the rest of the fic. Glad you like my choice of who would play Lillian, and I may decide to keep Dagonet alive. You'll just have to keep reading. evil grin Lancelot is still up in the air as to whether he will live or not though. And thanks for the compliment about my writing. If you like this fic, check out my others.

Chapter 3

The next morning was a little chaotic. After eating a quick breakfast of venison, bread and water the knights, legionnaires, Bishop's servants and the Bishop packed everything and began making their way to the fort at Hadrian's Wall.

Before leaving the Bishop offered to let Lillian share the coach, which she declined with a shiver of disgust and loathing running down her spine. She opted to share Tristan's horse with him again as she did the day before.

It was about another five hours before they finally reached the hill over looking the wall and fort. Arthur, Tristan, Lillian, Bors, Lancelot, Gawaine, Galahad, and Dagonet all reigned their horse into a stop on the hill.

The silence was broken when Bors spoke.

"Well now that we're free men, I'm gonna drink 'til I can't piss straight," he said half serious, half joking.

Gawaine continued surveying the land as he said, "You do that every night."

Bors laughed. "I never could piss straight. Too much of myself to handle. Down there," he said, "Well it's a problem! No really, it is. It's a problem. It's like…"

"A baby's arm holdin' an apple," Galahad, Gawaine, Lancelot, Dagonet, and Tristan all said in unison.

Lillian shook her head and joined the knights laughing as they ride towards the wall. Not one to be left out Lillian said,

"Are you sure about that Bors, because I don't think a baby could actually hold a hole apple," she joked, causing the guys to break into another round of laughter as they ride down hill to the fort.

Galahad broke the jovial mood saying, "I don't like it. Rome. He's here to discharge us, why doesn't he just give us our papers?"

Gawaine chuckled, "Is this your happy face?" he teased. Galahad grinned at his friend's humor. Gawaine continued, "Galahad, do you still not know the Romans? They don't scratch their asses without holding a ceremony."

Bors looked at Galahad, "Why don't ye just kill him, and then discharge yourself after?" he suggested.

Galahad snorted, "I don't kill for pleasure. Unlike some."

Tristan grinned slightly, "Well, you should try it someday; you might get a taste for it," he said interested.

"I don't like killing but I have to admit there are some people that deserve to be killed and I can certainly think of some ways to get rid of some of our 'favorite' people," Lillian said from behind Tristan. "Besides, death is inevitable it's just a matter of how, when, why and sometimes by who."

Gawaine laughed, "Looks like you found your soul mate Tristan," he joked.

"Lillian's right. It's part of you. It's in yer blood," Bors said looking a Galahad.

Galahad shook his head in denial, "N-no-no. (half-laughing) No. As of tomorrow, this was all just a bad memory."

Bors looked over at Gawaine and mouthed, "Oh...."

"I've often thought what going home would mean after all this. What will I do? It's different for Galahad. I have been in this life longer than the other. So much for home – it's not so clear in my memory," Gawaine said sadly.

Bors shook his head, "Well, you speak for yerself- it's cold back there. And everybody I know is dead and buried. Besides, I have, I think, a dozen children."

Gawaine chuckled a little, "Eleven," he reminded Bors.

"You listen, when the Romans leave here, we'll have the run of all this place. I'll be... governor of my own village, and Dagonet will be my personal guard and royal arse-kisser, won't you, Dag?" Bors boasted causing Lillian to chuckle.

Dagonet said nothing and looked forward as Gawaine spoke.

Gawaine smiled slightly, "First thing I will do when I get home is to find myself a beautiful Sarmatian woman to wed."

Bors looked at him disbelievingly, "A beautiful Sarmatian woman? Why do you think we left in the first place?" Gawaine scoffed as Bors mooed loudly causing everyone to laugh heartily. "What about you, Lancelot? What are your plans for home?"

Lancelot looked thoughtful for a moment before a sly grin crossed his face, "Well if this woman of Gawaine's is as beautiful as he claims, I expect to be spending a lot of time at Gawaine's house. His wife will welcome the company," he teased.

Gawaine looked over at Lancelot questioningly, "I see. Then what will I be doing?"

Lancelot's smirk widened, "Wondering at your good fortune that all your children look like me," he said.

Bors burst out laughing at that as Gawaine muttered, "Is that before or after I hit you with my axe?"

Tristan and Lillian just watched the exchange in amusement. As they approached the wall Tristan whistled for his hawk, which flew in landing on his left arm.

"Where you been, eh? Where you been?" he asked it softly as he stroked its feathers.

Lillian smiled, "The hawk is beautiful Tristan. What's her name?"

Tristan looked at Lillian a small smile on his face, "Her name is Keaira. It means 'Little Dark One'."

"Really, it's a beautiful name," Lillian told him smiling slightly. She loved animals, birds and dogs were her favorites though.

As they rode into the fort Lancelot rode up ahead and caught up with Arthur. Lillian however couldn't overhear the conversation. As they rode inside the gates she was surprised to hear men shouting to open the gate for the knights and Bishop's carriage, and watched as a crowd gathered to see the commotion.

A man walked up to Arthur and Lancelot smiling, "Welcome back, Arthur," he greeted.

Arthur grinned, "Jols."

Jols looked over at Lancelot and nodded, "Lancelot."

Everyone else dismounted as Arthur spoke to the Bishop who exited his carriage.

"Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you," Arthur told him.

Bishop Germanius smiled slyly and headed towards Arthur's room, "Ah, yes. I must rest." He said in passing.

A woman with 11 children and long red hair walked over to Bors and slapped him. "Where've you been? I've been waiting for you!" she demanded.

Bors groaned and pulled her to him muttering, "Oh, my little fire... Such passion," he said before possessively kissing her. Breaking the kiss he looked around at his kids. "Where's my Gilly?" he asked, Gilly walked over to his father. Bors picked him up grinning, "Gilly. You've been fighting?"

Gilly grins that happy grin only children can as he answered, "Yes."

Bors looked at him sternly, "You've been winning?"

"Yes," Gilly said proudly.

Bors grinned widely, "That's my boy. Come on, all my other bastards!"

All his other kids screamed out "Yay!" as Bors wrapped an arm around the woman's waist and led the whole brood off somewhere.

Tristan helped Lillian off the horse and grabbed his pack and weapons before taking Lillian's hand and led her to the hall where there were only two rooms, his and an unused room. When they reached the rooms Tristan led her inside the unused room.

"You can stay here and use this room while you are here," Tristan told her as they walked in.

Lillian looked about the room and looked at the bed, chair, vanity table and armoire. Turning to face Tristan she smiled.

"Thank you," she told him, then realizing she needed money looked at the ring her ex fiancée had given her. It was made of pure gold and had a 1 karat diamond in the center. "Do you know where I could pawn this off and get some money for it?"

Tristan thought for a moment then nodded. "I do, come and I will take you," he said offering her his arm.

Walking out the door and into the village they ran across Bors and his woman. Bors grinned as he noticed Tristan and yelled, "Tristan!"

Tristan rolled his eyes and led Lillian over to where Bors, Bors' woman and their 3 youngest kids were standing.

"Hello Bors," Lillian greeted him warmly, then turned and introduced herself to the red headed woman, "Hello, I am Lillian Everson."

The red head smiled, "I am Vanora, and these," she said motioning to her children," are kids 9,10, and 11."

Just as Lillian was about to comment on how cute the kids were Jols ran over.

"Bors, Tristan, Arthur needs to see you in the hall," he said.

Bors and Tristan nodded. "Bout time we got our discharge papers," Bors muttered.

Tristan nodded in agreement and looked over at Lillian. "I'll stay with Vanora," she said then looking at the other woman, "If that's all right. It looks like you could use some help with the kids."

Vanora grinned, "I can't say no to that," she said as she grabbed Lillian's arm and led her into the town as Tristan and Bors headed into the hall to speak with Arthur and the Bishop.