Disclaimer: Nope, not mine again!

When it came time to leave Arthur walked up to find Lancelot in hot discussion with Laney. "You heard me Laney, I will not let you come and place yourself and our child in danger. Don't argue any more please, it will not change my mind." He saw Laney with her hands clenched into tight fists at her side. She opened her mouth to argue and he decided he'd better interrupt before it got out of hand.

"Laney, Lancelot is right. You are not required on this mission. We have enough information to ensure that Marius is dealt with for all he has done." He put his hand on her shoulder, "Take this time to prepare for the birth of your child. There is much you will need, a cradle, blankets. Vanora will help you find what you wish to get and I'm sure Lancelot will be expecting to hear all about it in a few days."

Laney looked up at Arthur, trying to give him the most scathing look she could muster. When she saw the pleading look in his eyes, she sighed and loosened her fists. "Alright, if you insist." Then turning to Lancelot, "But I'm only doing this to keep peace until you return. I won't let you leave with us angry. We'll discuss this when you get back." She saw him nod to her, then give Arthur a thankful look. She arched her eyebrow at him and saw the sheepish look he gave her in return. She laughed, "Your charms will be the death of me, my dark and handsome knight." Then she moved into his embrace. He gave her a light kiss, "We'll be back in a few days. Don't worry, this will be the easiest mission we've been on in quite some time." She smiled at his light mood.

She watched the men mount their horses and head toward the gates. As Tristan rode past her, he nodded and she smiled, glad to see that he was once again the knight she had met months before. 'Be safe my friends and my husband.' She thought. Then she turned and headed toward the tavern to offer Van her help. This would be a boring few days, and she was going to make sure she kept so busy that she would fall asleep from exhaustion at the end of each day.

The knights rode toward the southeast, following the route the caravan had taken days before. Arthur had told them he doubted the caravan would travel with much speed, considering the bloated egos of the inhabitants of the wagons. Tristan had rode ahead as he usually did, even though there seemed to be little chance of any trouble ahead. Arthur had commented on this to the scout, but Tristan had told him it would be better to carry on as they always had to keep any surprises from causing them trouble.

They traveled for several hours, then stopped to rest the horses. The men set about doing the chores they always did when on a mission. Tristan scouted, Gawain and Galahad joked, Bors swigged from the wineskin he always carried and Dagonet checked the horses as Lancelot and Arthur talked quietly about the plan when they finally caught up. As each man went about their 'duties' they ate the hard cheese and bread that had been packed for them. Tristan came back and told them that the way was clear, no signs of any trouble near them and they sat in companionable silence for a little while.

Dagonet spoke up, "Arthur, do you think the Bishop will listen to what you have to say? I mean, I don't think he exactly left feeling good towards any of us." Arthur looked around the group and saw that they all had the same doubts. "Whether he does or not, he will have to deal with this situation. I will not allow scum like Marius to get away with what he did to Guinnevere or Laney. He deserves to die and although I feel for his wife and son, I think they will agree in the end." Tristan had been watching Lancelot as Arthur spoke, he was not looking at anyone, but the look of pure hatred on his face let the scout know Marius would not meet a good end. He saw Arthur look at Lancelot, but their leader did not comment on what he saw. Tristan thought that perhaps Arthur felt the same.

They quickly got their things together and headed out. Tristan stayed with the other knights since there was no need to go before them to scout. He chose to ride beside Lancelot, hoping the man would give him an idea of what to expect when they reached the caravan. So, the usually quiet man tried to draw the other man out, "I saw the look on your face. You mean to kill him, that is certain. How?"

Lancelot looked at him without turning his head, then he said, "Wouldn't you? First, he tired to kill them, then he tried to kidnap my wife. Would you do anything else?"

Tristan shook his head, "No, I probably would have killed him at the estate, but then I do enjoy a good kill." He let his voice trail off and saw Lancelot let his face relax. He needed more if he was going to help the man.

"So, what are you going to do?" He saw Lancelot glance ahead at Arthur, then behind to Gallahad and Gawain. None were close enough to hear.

"It depends on what happens when we catch up. If he tries to deny it, I probably will just kill him then. If he doesn't, well, that depends on the Bishop, I guess." He sounded resigned, but determined.

"You know, if you kill him and he's unarmed, the Romans will seek their justice. Do you think that Laney will be happy to see her husband locked away in some Roman prison as she prepares for the birth of her… your child?"

He saw Lancelot snap his head toward him. "What are you saying? That I should just let this man get away with what he did? You know I can't do that, Tristan. Just as I know you wouldn't." Tristan returned his glare,

"No, but then I don't have a wife who loves me beyond my wildest dreams and I don't have a son on the way, a son who will need a father to guide him." Lancelot saw that Tristan was trying hard to control his anger.

"I'm sure you can guide him as well as I." He shot back, trying to stop the man from arguing further. But the look Tristan gave him made him swiftly look away.

"I shouldn't have said that. You just made me so damn angry giving me all the reasons I should not do what I want to do. I love Laney, but things were so much easier when I didn't have to think about what would happen to anyone else when I made a decision. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" He looked at Tristan again to find him looking back.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. But, don't think it makes me feel sorry for what you. The rest of us would be happy and willing to give up the freedom to think only of ourselves, if we could find the love that you have found with Laney." As he finished speaking, he put his heels in his horses flanks and moved ahead. Lancelot saw him slow to ride beside Arthur. He looked away from his friends and toward the edge of the forest that ran beside the road. He wasn't seeing anything, just looking away as his mind wandered.

'He's right and I know it. But I feel that I need to do something to make up for what he did to Laney. I could have lost her and all because he's a… a… well, there are no words to describe the way I feel about him and what he stands for.' He cleared his head and looked ahead to find Arthur alone, Tristan had moved ahead. Or so he thought until the man rode back to his side.

"I see you've been thinking about what I said. You didn't notice when I moved back here and I didn't want to disturb you." Lancelot watched him as he spoke.

"Yeah, well, I know you are right. I can't do something that could take me away from Laney. I need her as much as she needs me." Then he took a deep breath, "Maybe more than she needs me."

Tristan watched his friend struggle with his thoughts. He was glad that he didn't have to make this decision. He could kill Marius without worrying about the consequences. He had no one waiting for his return. No one that would be left alone to fend for a small child while he was away. He wanted to tell Lancelot not to worry, Marius would pay for his crimes against Laney. But he couldn't take the chance that Lancelot would try to stop him as he had stopped him. They rode for quite a while without speaking. Then Tristan moved forward at Arthur's signal.

"Tristan, ride ahead. We should be coming upon them soon." Tristan nodded and rode ahead. Arthur slowed to let Lancelot catch up with him. When he had, he let his pace match the other horse.

"Lancelot, I know what you want to do. I know, because it is what I've been thinking about since last night." He waited and when Lancelot did not comment, he said, "You know we can't do that, don't you?" Finally, Lancelot answered.

"Arthur, I've already had this discussion with Tristan. No, I won't do anything stupid, no matter how strong the desire to do so becomes." He then picked up his pace and rode ahead. Arthur shook his head, but silently thanked the scout for making Lancelot think about his actions. For the first time Arthur realized just how hard his job as king would be. He would have to constantly make decisions because it would be the right thing to do, no matter how much he desired to do something else. But more importantly, he would have to make sure his knights didn't do anything that would be considered wrong by the powers that would be watching how he ruled this island. That would be the hardest thing of all to do. They were after all, free men now. They could do as they wished. Being king seemed declare that he would be their conscious as well as his own.

A little while later, Tristan came riding up at a quicker pace than he had rode out. He stopped beside Arthur and spoke, "There is a wagon ahead a few kilometers, but Arthur, there is no one alive."

Arthur looked ahead, "Tristan, what do you think happened?"

The scout shrugged his shoulders, "Woads. There is only one cart. The other one moved ahead shortly after the attack. There is only one body in the wagon. Marius Honorius. He has a Woad arrow through his head."

Arthur contemplated what this meant. The Bishop had left and taken the other people including Marius' wife and son along with the Roman Legion that was their protection. This could only mean that the Woads were after Marius and no one else. Otherwise there would be more people dead to indicate a terrible battle. This made their trip unnecessary for the purpose they had left the fort. The other knights had caught up to him and Tristan.

"Men, it seems we don't have to worry about the fate of Marius after all. Merlin has seen to it for us. But we do need to still catch the carriage of the Bishop to ensure he and the others survived without injury." Arthur was secretly pleased that Merlin had taken care of the Roman scum. But he couldn't tell these men his feelings. Instead he took off down the road, leaving the others to follow. He was not surprised when they came galloping up only moments after he had left them sitting.