Reviewer Responses
RavenSparrow17- I was appalled to at the truth of how some Romans who professed to believe in Christ treated others who were not of the same faith. In my opinion Jesus was spreading word about a God of love and forgiveness, not one of vengeance and who wanted mass human sacrifice. Glad you're enjoying this. Please keep reading and reviewing.
AK Anonymous- I agree that it seems a little soon for Lillian and Tristan to get together, especially since he has the rep of being the most mysterious and least trusting of the knights. But I'd think that if you were to travel with someone for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week then you'd have to get to know that other person pretty well. Maybe not as well as if you had known the person for months or even years, but knew the person well enough to trust them and maybe even fall in love. It truly depends on the person though.
I have to admit I had a lot of fun writing the scenes where Lillian took Bishop Germanius, Marius, and the priests down a few pegs. HEHE. I guess my own personality shown through there for a bit since those characters really pissed me off with their (pardon the pun) 'holier-than-thou' attitudes.
Barberie- Thanks for reading and reviewing my fic. I always enjoy getting new readers. Please continue to read and review this fic. And you might want to check out my others if you liked this one.
Chapter 7
The next few days were long ones for Dagonet, Lillian and Fulcinia as they cared for Guinevere and Lucan. On the morning of the third day, Lillian sighed as she helped Dagonet and Fulcinia care for Guinevere and Lucan. The poor boy was thrashing in his sleep and crying. Lillian pulled Lucan and the blankets into her lap and gently rocked him.
As she soothed Lucan she began to sing, hoping her voice would help sooth him.
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You have come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
For they are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep
What are these tears upon your face
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
What can you see
On the Horizon
Why do the white gulls call
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows calling
Out of memory and time
Don't say
We have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
What can you see
On the Horizon
Why do the white gulls call
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass…
Into the West (Into the West, Annie Lennox, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Soundtrack)
Lillian smiled sadly as Lucan calmed and looked at Fulcinia and Dagonet who had looks of surprise on their faces.
Lillian's eyebrow rose, "What is it?"
"N-nothing, it is just that only you and Dagonet are the only ones who seem to be able to calm him," Fulcinia said a little embarrassed, "well that and your voice was beautiful."
"Thank you," Lillian said, smiling slightly. "Can you two manage without me for a bit? I need some fresh air," she asked as she looked out the window.
Dagonet smiled slightly and nodded. Lillian grinned and walked to the front of the wagon and stepped out. Tristan noticed Lillian outside the wagon and rode up next to it.
"Tired of caring for them Lily?" he asked, letting Lillian get on the horse in front of him.
Lillian grinned, "No, I just needed some fresh air," she said, then turned serious, "Any thing new regarding the Saxons?"
Tristan nodded his head and urged his horse to go faster and slightly a head of the group.
Once they were well away from the refugees he told her, "They are only half a day to a day behind at the most."
"Shit," Lillian muttered.
Tristan nodded in agreement. Lillian leaned back and laid her head on Tristan's shoulder and closed her eyes letting the closeness and comfort of Tristan lull her to sleep.
As she slept her mind was very active and a vision sprung into her mind of her and Tristan together. Suddenly the images switched to Lillian standing in the middle of a battle field, kneeling next to a body, Tristan's body, crying. As she turned her head she could only see Gawaine, Bors, Galahad, Arthur and Guinevere still alive. The dreams caused her to sleep fitfully for the next hour before waking.
Upon waking Lillian had Tristan take her back to the wagon so she could take care of Guinevere and Lucan. As they rode up to the wagon, she caught sight of Arthur entering the wagon.
"Thanks for the break," Lillian said smiling before kissing Tristan lightly on the lips.
Tristan slid a hand behind her head and made the kiss more passionate before letting her go.
"Your welcome Lily," Tristan said a slight smirk on his face as he rode up ahead.
Neither noticed the looks that Lancelot, Gawaine, Galahad, and Bors had given them.
Following Arthur in, Lillian nodded slightly to Dagonet in greeting.
"Arthur. Lillian," he greeted looking up from where he was seated by Lucan.
Arthur looked at the boy, "How is he?"
Dagonet shook his head, "He burns," Dagonet told his commander, then whispered,"Brave boy."
Lillian knelt down and felt his forehead. Lucan was burning up. Looking at Dagonet, she asked, "Is there any more of the willow bark left?" Dagonet shook his head. "Damn, looks like we'll have to do this the natural way and use snow."
Dagonet nodded in agreement. Lillian watched as Arthur sat and approached woad woman he rescued. She grinned as the woman greeted him slightly suspiciously. Arthur took her hand in his and un-wrapped the bandage on her hand. Both he and Lillian winced seeing the dislocated fingers
"Some of your fingers are out of place," he told her, "I have to push them back. If I don't do this, there's a chance you may never use them again."
Guinevere nodded and let Arthur manipulate her fingers. Lillian watched in empathy as she saw and heard Guinevere's fingers cracking. She closed her eyes hearing Guinevere's scream of pain. When it's over and as Arthur is about to leave, Guinevere stopped him
"He tortured me. With machines. He made me tell him things I didn't know to begin with," she told him shakily, she slowly rose to meet Arthur's face, "and then, I heard your voice in the dark. I'm Guinevere. You're Arthur, of the knights from the great wall."
"I am," Arthur said, more than a little shocked.
"Famous Briton who kills his own people." Guinevere stared at Arthur for a moment, then fell back in exhaustion while clinging onto Arthur's chest.
Arthur left the wagon after Guinevere fell back in exhaustion and Lillian moved to her side and let Dagonet take care of Lucan. When Guinevere saw Lillian come her way she gave Lillian the same suspicious look that she gave Arthur.
Lillian smiled at the other woman, "Don't worry, I'm only here to help. My name is Lillian. I heard yours, Guinevere, right?" she asked.
Guinevere nodded. "It is. But what are you doing with Arthur? I know you are not a Woad."
Lillian grinned, "You are right, I am not a native of these islands. But I am a Christian, though my morals and personal beliefs are closer to Arthur's than they are Marius."
Guinevere looked at Lillian skeptically for a few moments before laying back on the make shift bed and went to sleep. As Lillian watched over Guinevere she couldn't help but think of the drastic way her life had changed in the last week and a half.
She had gone from a completely modern and comfortable life in the 21st century to living a life in the dark ages. She did enjoy it though. As she looked at some of the women who were in the caravan she realized that compared to them she was lucky. At her age most women looked two and a half times their age in this time period. She smiled softly at the thought that she had finally found someone to love and who loved her back, now all she had to do was make sure he survived the next few days.
Lillian started humming Enya's 'May It Be', the end track to the soundtrack for Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring as they rode along trying to get as far as possible.
Guinevere watched Lillian, the woman who had come with the Roman and his Sarmatian Knights and wondered how it was that she came to be with them. As she studied the blonde she heard her hum a strange melody.
"Lillian," she said, startling the other woman slightly, "what is the song you are humming?"
Lillian looked at Guinevere questioningly before realizing she'd been humming 'May it Be' unconsciously.
"The song is called 'May it Be'. And is one of my favorites," Lillian told the other woman before rising from her spot in the front of the wagon. 'What am I going to do now? Guinevere's sure to have lots of questions.'
As Lillian pondered how she was going to deal with Guinevere, she heard Arthur call a halt to all movement of the caravan. As she stuck her head out of the curtains on the side she saw Tristan let Keaira go off flying as he rode of to make sure the coast was clear.
About two hours later Tristan returned and whispered something to Arthur. A few moments later Arthur spoke.
"We make camp here for the night," he announced loud enough for everyone to hear. At the announcement the group headed for the sheltering trees about a half hour away.