A/N: After seeing lessy37's newest KA wallpaper, this just came to me in a flash g> I never really paid attention before to the standards that the knights were carrying when they re-joined Arthur before the battle by Badon Hill. (No, I never realized that there actually was a close-up scene in the movie LOL>) But this time I noticed, and this utter silliness is the result ;) It's not meant to be taken seriously ;)

I had to take some liberties with the sequence of scenes as they appeared in the movie to make them fit for this little ficlet ;) And yes, I'm well aware that tea was only introduced in Britain in the 17th century, thank you ;)

Five horses were running up the hill, one in front, the other four in one line next to each other. Their riders were carrying standards with golden horse heads and flying banners.

Arthur watched until all of his knights had formed a line around him. He exchanged glances, smiles with all of them, one by one, Lancelot first, Gawain, Galahad, Bors, Tristan. His heart was filled with pride, gratitude, humbleness.

With a brief kick in his horse's flanks he rode in front of them, turning his stallion to face the five Sarmatians, a fire burning in his eyes.

"Knights! The gift of freedom is yours by right. But the home we seek resides not in some distant land. It's in us! And in our actions on this day! If this be our destiny, then so be it. But let history remember that as free men, we chose to make it so!"

Pulling his horse backwards, he returned to the line that his knights were forming. While he looked ahead towards the gates, he drew Excalibur, and thrusted it towards the sky. "Ruuuuuuuuuuuuussssssss!"

His knights echoed him. They could all feel their blood accelerating through their veins.

One by one the knights stabbed their standards into the ground, as had Arthur done before, a grunt accompanying their actions. The horses were trampling impatiently to gallop down the hill.

Totally unexpectedly a golden horse head fell off of one of the standards, rolling before their feet, slowly at first, then gaining speed as it rolled down the hill towards the gates.

Arthur watched it rolling away stunned. He looked up to see a row of five knights desperately trying not to laugh. From his left side, sounds suspiciously alike the sounds of giggling came from the direction of Galahad.

"If the Saxons drop at our feet as easily as that, we'll be home before tea time!"

All knights burst out in roars of laughter.

–– 8 ––

The sound of howling laughter was carried on the wind, turning it into a thundering noise before it reached the ears of Cerdic and Cynric below on the hill where they were contemplating the six knights on top.

Cynric looked up insecurely. "They are laughing… Laughing!" Fear distorted his facial features.

Cerdic watched his son with disgust.

"They are about to take on an army of thousands, and they are laughing? Laughing! They are devils!" Cynric continued, horror seeping through in his voice. The terror was playing havoc with his stomach and intestines.

Cerdic continued to observe the knights pensively. "He's got a plan, this Roman." Turning to Cynric, "Send what's left of your infantry."

Cynric stared at his father as though he had gone mad. "You want to kill my men? We should retreat! Retreat!" he screamed.

The Saxon leader shouted in his face. "They're my men!"

With one last disbelieving look at his father, Cynric turned to one of his captains. "Retreat!" he yelled.

Immediately the Saxon army started to march, march away from the gate.

Cerdic roared in incredulity. "Come back, you fools! Show you are men! There are only six of them!" His words fell on deaf ears.

The laughter that wafted down the hill only increased as Arthur and his knights watched on.