Disclaimer: I am poor and own nothing. And because I'm poor, this is my only source of entertainment, so please do not sue.
Authors Note: This story is dedicated to Tracy137. Oh, and Brenna means Raven.
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY – Yeah, it'll be interesting. Hope you like this chapter as well.
Lucillaq – Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you like Ana. I'm kinda partial to her myself. Thanks for the review.
Op – Glad you liked it. I kinda know exactly where I'm going at the moment, so hopefully the updates will be pretty quick and regular. (Just hope writers block doesn't rear its ugly head anytime soon.) Thanks for the review as always.
Ryn the whitepanther – Thank you for the encouragement. And you're very welcome. But really, the thanking is not necessary. I'm just glad you're enjoying the story.
Cardeia – I had the movie in with the subtitles on, and as they talked, I would pause and write. I wanted to get that part right. Some of it will be the same and some will be drastically different. Like you said, that's the best part of fanfic. And I have been feeling very creative since school got out. Thank you so much for your review.
Texasgrrl – Really? I can. Just not in public. The only reason he kissed her in front of the others was to shut her up. Anyway, thanks for the review.
Dellis – Oh yeah, same here. All he needs to do is become, y'know real, and I would be behind him all the way. Thanks for the review.
Evenstar-mor2004 – Really? Every time I watch the movie I leave the room during Dag's death, and usually stop before Tristan and Lancelot can die. Glad Ana made it better for you though. Thanks for the review. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do to that fat bastard either.
Chapter Eight: The Journey Begins
Two hours before daybreak Roxana stood, in leather pants, a male shirt and light armor, helping Vanora prepare a large breakfast in the tavern kitchen. Nearby Bors and Tristan sat, the former surrounded by his eleven children, the latter sharpening a dagger as the women worked.
"He likes to cuddle each and every one of them before he leaves on a mission," Vanora said smiling, her eyes red and puffy from a night of crying. "Just in case." Her voice was soft and Ana could here more tears threatening.
"Do you have so little faith in me Van, that you think I would let aught befall him? Or any of them for the matter," Roxana said, as she began to break eggs onto the hot stone.
"Of course not," Vanora replied, composing herself. "I fear for you as well lass. You have become like a sister to me," Vanora rested her hand on Roxana's arm and smiled at her.
"As you have me Van," Roxana embraced her quickly before they both returned to the meal.
Outside, Bors held his newest, and youngest son in his arms as the baby cooed softly, fingering the scars on his fathers face. The other children sat glumly nearby, always more tame when their father and the others were about to leave. One small girl, around the age of three, the tenth child born into the brood, watched Tristan closely. Most of them feared the silent scout, after hearing the tales their father told them of him in battle and the way he never displayed any emotions. And, unlike their Uncle Dagonet and even Uncles Gawain and Galahad, he never played with them. Even their Uncles Arthur and Lancelot had been known to smile at them and toss their toys to them, even tell jokes for them, but Tristan, they were not even sure if they could call him Uncle like they did the others. Finally she hopped down from the bench and walked over, climbing up next to him and standing to be at the level of his face she began tugging at his shirt.
"Uncie Tristan," she said in a small voice, as he turned to regard her. "How come you so sad?" she asked seriously. She had her mothers long red hair, and her father's large eyes. Before he could answer she threw her arms about his neck and hugged him tightly. "No sad," she said. "Okay?"
The other children watched in awe as Bors chuckled slightly. "Little vixen that one. Just like her mum," he smiled at his youngest daughter and watched the scouts face.
Tristan was still for a moment before wrapping an arm around the girl's waist and hugging her back said. "Okay."
She smiled brightly and pulled back, kissing his cheek just as the other knights, save Arthur, came into the tavern and Vanora and Roxana entered with the breakfast.
Vanora paused and looked over at Roxana, "He's never had naught to do with 'em before," she whispered.
"Well, your daughter is rather persuasive," Roxana replied, smiling at the picture of her husband and the small child. "That is why she is my favorite."
"Well this must be a day of miracles," Lancelot stated, before taking a seat next to the little girl, who had decided to sit next to Tristan, still grinning proudly over at her brothers and sisters.
"Why is that?" Roxana asked, coming over with the food.
"Ana!" the little girl squealed, leaning back and throwing her arms up as Ana walked behind her and Tristan.
"'ello there little one," she smiled down at the child and placed a kiss on her forehead before kissing her husbands cheek.
"Most of 'em are scared to death of Tris," Bors said, jerking a thumb in the direction of his brood who sat at the table near there's. Then he turned his attention to his little girl and grinned. "Come and see your poppa my brave little bastard," he grinned at her.
She scrambled off the bench and over to her father as he handed the baby to Vanora. "And how am I supposed ta bring the rest of the food?" She asked, taking her son.
"Here?" Tristan said, rising and holding out his hands for the boy.
She eyed him for a moment and looked to Bors who nodded before handing Tristan the baby. He took him carefully and sat down slowly, looking down at the boy. Roxana merely grinned and disappeared into the kitchen, returning moments later with more plates.
Lancelot leaned over and made faces at the baby while Gawain and Galahad watched Tristan in shock. He'd never voluntarily touched a child, not in the fifteen years they'd known him.
"He's strong," Tris muttered as the baby latched onto one of his fingers, staring up at Tristan's impassive face.
"That he is," Bors said proudly. "He'll be a good fighter."
Roxana finished putting down plates and went and rested her hands on Tristan's shoulders, leaning forward so her face was next to her husbands. "Hello sweetie," she cooed at the baby, reminded of a time when he held their own son.
"He is much like Cadogan was," Tristan stated, surprising even his wife. He had not said their sons name since they buried him. "Bigger though."
"Aye, being Bors son," she smiled and kissed Tristan's cheek, sitting down where Bors daughter had occupied and kissed the babes head.
"Watch it lass," Bors growled playfully, bouncing his daughter on his knee as she giggled happily.
"You're right Bors. I wouldn't want to have to best you before your children," Roxana replied grinning as they all began to eat.
"That's not what I meant, and ya could sure try," he grinned at her. "But I've seen that look in a mans eyes before. He'll be wantin' one," he indicated the baby as Tristan still gazed intently at it.
"Here I can take 'em now," Van said, walking over and taking the boy from Tristan's arms so that he could eat as well.
"I already had one," Tristan stated, his face unreadable as he began to eat.
Ana smiled sadly and placed a hand on his knee under the table. It would be time to tell him. He deserved to know. But not here, not in front of the others. They would still have time after they ate to return to the room. She would tell him there.
The rest of the meal was spent in silence, each one pondering the days ahead and what exactly they were to find in the Woad territory to the North. After they ate, Roxana persuaded Tristan to their room, which was one of the easier tasks she'd had in a long while, so they could speak.
"What is it?" he asked, reading her eyes as he sat on the bed, pulling her into his lap.
"I have something that I must tell you, and probably should have sooner, but I did not think the time was right. And then I saw you with the babies today, and knew I must," she began, the words spilling from her.
Tristan cocked an eyebrow and looked at her. "You're rattling on like Jols," he stated causing her to stop and slap him playfully. He chuckled slightly before becoming serious once more. "You have nothing to fear. Tell me."
"Very well," she paused and took a deep breath. "It was only two moons after you had left us, and I was early enough with child to still go on the hunt," she saw the look pass over his face and knew he was wondering if he'd heard her correctly, but she pressed on. "The elders saw nothing wrong with it, so I rode with the other pregnant wives, the ones not far enough along yet to be bothered. Somehow I became separated from the others, and when I turned my horse to head back to the camp, it became startled and reared off, throwing me from it's back and onto a nearby log. I hit my head and was out for, I can only guess a few moments. When I came around, Cornell was standing over me, a dead snake on the end of his blade.
"He took me back to the camp and the healers were immediately tending to me, but it was too late. I lost the child two days later," her voice grew quieter as she spoke and she looked down at her hands. "Your father went out then, and slaughtered the animal, my father with him, and Cornell was commended for saving me from the venomous creature." She paused here and looked up at him, meeting his eyes and seeing pain and anger and grief there. She held his gaze as she continued.
"They said it was the blow to my head, and I must not have remembered correctly, but there was no blood on his blade, and the creature was still as he held it. It did not move as if it had been freshly killed. And when your mother had announced to the tribe that I was to bear another child, he had disappeared for three days. And then, not one month later he was asking for my hand." She stopped here, wondering if he had made all the connections she had.
Obviously he did as he placed her on the ground and walked over to his blade, not saying a word he took it from it's sheath and cut a chair in half in a fluid motion. Without turning to face her he spoke, his voice cold and even. "When I have my papers, we will track him, and he will suffer for this." He turned to face her and locked his gaze with her. "No one murders our child and does not pay," he added.
She ran over to him then and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest and for the second time in her life, tears fell from her eyes. "Do you hate me husband?" she asked, her voice above a whisper.
He answered her by placing his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at him as his lips crashed against hers. He pulled away a few moments later, gazing into her eyes. "Hate will not fit, with the love I have for you in my soul," he replied, brushing a tear from her cheek. "Come, we must prepare." He took her hand and kissed the knuckles softly before leading her out towards the stables. She didn't say anything, but he may get his revenge on Cornell sooner than expected. If he was fool enough to remain at the manner after discovering her escape.
Apart of her hoped he was as they walked hand in hand to meet the others.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Roxana and Tristan were sitting side by side in the stables, examining their blades when the Bishop entered with his assistant. As soon as she saw him she knew he could not be trusted, as did the others, considering Dag merely shoved past him, glaring down at the shorter man as he made his way towards the others. She shared a look with her husband as the bishop began to speak, planning on tuning him out until he said, "And who is this lovely creature?" he walked over to her and made to take her hand and kiss it, only to have Tristan's blade appear in front of his chest, the scout looking at him with cold eyes and an emotionless visage. The bishop began to back pedal as Arthur spoke.
"This is Roxana, Tristan's wife. She will be accompanying us on our journey."
"Wife?" Germanius looked taken aback. "A pagan ceremony no doubt," he muttered distastefully.
"The true Gods," Roxana answered, insulting him by looking directly into his eyes.
"That is sacrilege," Germanius began walking forward as if to strike her only to have all the knights move between them, Tristan's blade still dangerously close, and the scout too eager to spill some blood that day.
"Bishop, I believe you had something to say," Arthur said curtly, not making any move to stop his men.
"Ah yes, yes of course," Germanius replied backing away slowly and turning to face the commander.
Roxana placed a hand on Tristan's arm and held it firmly. "Easy," she whispered.
"Save your anger for the Saxons," Dag agreed, patting Tristan's shoulder as he sheathed his sword.
"And the good Bishop for me," Roxana added as the Bishop began to speak to Arthur.
"To represent the holy court, my trusted secretary, Horton, Horton?" he turned and called the small little man forward. "Will accompany you on your quest."
Everyone looked insulted that the weak little man would be joining them, but none no more so than Jols, who looked to Arthur, hoping he would say no.
"Jols find him a horse," Arthur said only to have Gawain slam down his knife and glared pointedly at him.
Jols reluctantly did as told, leading the secretary towards the horses while the knights looked on with contempt at the Bishop as he began to speak to them again.
"Godspeed, as you fulfill your duty to Rome," he said, a cocky grin on his face.
"My duty is also to my men," Arthur emphasized, glaring at the small man.
"Then get them home," Germanius replied, his voice betraying that he did not care if Arthur was able to fulfill that part of the quest or not.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Roxana passed a look over her shoulder as they rode towards the gates, looking to the battlements and noticed the Bishop make the sign of the cross on his forehead while watching them depart. Sneering in his direction she looked towards Vanora and the brood, offering a nod she spurred her horse faster, easily keeping pace with the others, the only one having difficulty being Horton.
As they rode, the rain started, and continued until they were into the forest. It was in the heart of the forest that Roxana could feel the eyes upon her, looking to her husband, she knew he could as well as he scanned the trees. If she had wanted to attack, this would have been the place she would have chosen. Horton began to tremble in his saddle and Roxana fingered her bow, which was loose at her side.
"Woads, they are tracking us," Tristan said to Arthur as they rode deeper.
"Where?"
"Everywhere."
It was then the attack started, arrows shooting out from the trees, barbed ropes cutting off their escape. Arthur turned and rode a different direction, the others following him, arrows barley missing them as they moved, spiked pieces of wood shooting out from the ground in front of him.
"Get back!" Lancelot bellowed, followed by Bors as they tried to find some way of escaping.
Roxana for her part managed to keep up, staying closer to the squire and the secretary, offering her protection as her bow was already drawn and pointed at the blue men approaching from the trees. She noticed that Tristan's was as well, and many of the others had their swords drawn as they were clustered together. A man came out of the forest then, a sun tattooed on his forehead, and his bow drawn. Arthur and he regarded one another, and from the looks they exchanged, Roxana had the feeling they had met in battle before.
"What are you waiting for?" Gawain yelled at them, expecting an attack when all the Woads did was move in closer.
A horn suddenly blew in the distance and the Woads looked towards its source confused, the one with the sun on his head still wanting to press the attack. To finish what they had started.
Arthur challenged him with the expression upon his face, but the horn continued to blow. And Roxana guessed it was the sign to with drawl. The man dropped his bow and walked backwards into the foliage, never breaking Arthur's glare.
Tristan kept his bow ready, but released the arrow into his hand, Roxana doing the same as they all watched the retreating blue forms, disappearing into the shadows.
"Inish," Dagonet growled. "Devil ghosts."
"Why would they not attack?" Galahad asked looking confused and slightly worried.
"Because Merlin doesn't want us dead," Arthur supplied.
The knights all looked at one another before Roxana spoke looking directly at Horton. "And once again, proof that the Goddess exists."
They rode the rest of the night and through the next day, only stopping to water and rest the horses. On the second night, they stopped and made camp, getting the fire started beneath a tree just as the rain started. They sat huddled together around the fire, Horton a bit to the side, looking at them with fear. Arthur was silent as the others spoke.
"URGH!" Gawain growled as the rain pored harder on them and he tugged his cloak closer around his face. Lancelot rolled his eyes and sat with the hood of his cloak down, as did Dagonet. Tristan didn't even bother with his, giving it to Roxana who had both wrapped around her comfortably. "I can't wait to leave this island. If it's not raining it's snowing. And if it's not snowing it's foggy."
"And that's the summer." Lancelot joked.
"The rain is good, it washes all the blood away," Bors said knowingly.
"Doesn't help the smell." Dagonet teased him, earning a grin from the large knight.
"Hey Bors, you intend to take Vanora and all your little bastards back home?" Lancelot asked, turning to face him.
"Ugh, I was trying to avoid that decision, by getting killed," Bors answered clearly annoyed. "Dagonet, she wants to get married, give the children names," he continued complaining to his friend.
"Women," Tristan said, sheathing his sword and earning a raised eyebrow from his wife. "The children already have names, don't they?"
"Nah, just Gilly. It was too much trouble so we just gave the rest of them numbers," he answered.
"Funny, I thought you couldn't count," Lancelot stated earning a laugh from the rest of the group and a kick in the foot from Roxana.
"You know, I never thought I'd make it off this island alive. And now that I am, I can't just leave 'em here," Bors said wistfully.
"You'd miss 'em too much," Dag supplied.
"Well I'll take 'em with me. I like the little bastards. They mean something to me," he started to get more emotional than he liked so he quickly added. "Especially Number Three! He's a good fighter!" he flexed his bicep to emphasize the point.
"That's because he's mine," Lancelot stated, sending everyone else to laughing again.
"Egh, I'm going for a piss," Bors muttered rising.
After he was gone Roxana looked at the Dark Knight and kicked him again in the foot. "You shouldn't lie like that," she stated, leaning back against her husband, his arm draping over her shoulders.
"Who said I was lying lady?" Lancelot asked with a smirk.
"Like you could father any children," she snorted. At his look he continued. "Just remember this Lancelot, women talk. Even barmaids talk to the other women, and every time I here your name, it is followed by laughter and this gesture," she held her fingers up, mere millimeters apart.
The knights started to laugh again as Lancelot turned bright red.
"Lancelot, is that your happy face?" Galahad asked laughing, glad to not be the butt of the current joke.
"Roxana I can prove you wrong right now if I so choose," he growled, his pride injured.
"Could you?" Tristan asked, looking over at his brother knight, fingering his dagger.
"Oh you deserved it, so take it as a man," Roxana stated giggling. "You were being very cruel to him."
"Ugh," Lancelot brushed it off, staring into the fire.
Roxana snuggled closer to Tristan, pulling the now soaking cloaks around her, trying to keep warm as she listened to his heartbeat. Focusing on that instead of the feeling of dread that gripped her body.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
It was midday when the knights rode up to the Villa, sans Tristan. He was scouting the Saxons, and so Roxana rode in with the others, the hood of her cloak shielding her face. As soon as they rode up to the gates, they closed and a voice called down from the battlements.
"Who are you?"
"I am Arthur Castus, Commander of the Sarmatian Knights, sent by Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gate." Arthur spoke with authority, the knights behind him. Roxana held to the back watching and waiting, her hands gripped tightly to the reigns.
Arthur looked around at all the villagers while they waited for the gate to open. They all looked near starved, and worn out from exhaustion.
And then, there coming from the gates was the devil himself. Fat and drunk with power he spoke, and it took every ounce of will power for Roxana not to kill him where he stood. "It is a wonder you have come. Good Jesus. Arthur and his knights." He reached out to pet Galahads horse, but the animal, sensing the evil in him, quickly moved away. "You have fought the Woads. Vial creatures."
Arthur eyed him with contempt, fighting with the urge to punish this man where he stood, the images of Roxana's bruises and scars appearing in his mind. "Our orders are to evacuate you immediately," he said, getting down to the business at hand.
Marius looked as if it were some great joke. "But that…that is impossible."
"Which is Alecto?" Arthur asked, ignoring the little man.
"I am Alecto," the boy called from the battlements, where he stood with Fulcinia. Roxana almost waved up at them but thought of it. She was just glad to see no knew bruises adorned the beautiful woman's face. As for the rest of her body, only examination would tell. Or simply asking the battered woman herself.
"Alecto is my son," Marius said, as if that meant anything to the knights gathered. "And everything we have is here in the land given us by the Pope of Rome."
Lancelot merely scoffed at this. "Well you're about to give it to the Saxons."
"They're invading from the North," Arthur stated, still eyeing the Roman nobleman warily.
"Then Rome will send an army," Marius stated cockily, causing Roxana to snort, her face still hidden by the hood of the cloak.
"They have. Us," Arthur stated, losing more patients with the man. "We leave as soon as you're packed." His voice left no room for argument, however Marius thought otherwise.
"I refuse to leave," he stated, thinking he had the power in the situation. Not for the first time in his life, he was wrong. As if to prove his point he started yelling at all the villagers. "Go back to work! All of you!"
His mercenaries moved in to bully the poor serfs into submission.
Arthur glared at him for a moment before dismounting his horse. By this time Alecto and Fulcinia had come down to join them and Roxana watched them closely as Arthur got into Marius's face, the fatter man taking a step back. "If I fail to bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land. So you're coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way to Hadrian's Wall myself. My lord." Arthur stopped and looked over at Fulcinia. "Lady, my knights are hungry," he added.
By this time the rage had almost consumed Roxana and she was breathing deeply, her knuckles turning white under the force she had around the reins.
"What is it Roxana?" Gawain asked, noticing her condition as Arthur moved across the field to release a man who had been tied up and whipped. Gawain placed a hand on Roxana's shoulder as she finally got control of her emotions.
"It is nothing Gawain," she smiled at him, glad her husband was not there. He would have seen through her. "My ribs are just sore from the riding is all." Gawain looked at her skeptically so she added. "And I am worried for my husband."
"Very well, shall I fetch Dagonet?" he asked.
"No, I will be fine," she shook her head, staring at all the villagers. Her eyes met Arthur's for a moment and they nodded to one another slightly, as Arthur headed into the house, Lancelot and Bors following close behind as well as Gawain and Galahad. Roxana dismounted and moved over to the villagers with Dagonet, moving to help tend to the sick elder.