Notes: I know Ector is Kay's father, but poetic licence and all that!
Gaheris and Gawain are brothers, the other two being dead by this time. (Gareth and Agravaine)
The knights are 10 years into their service to Rome.
I worked on the assumption that there were 25 original knights plus Arthur 26 the amount of seats at the Round Table in the film! If I'm wrong we will accept that my maths are dodgy and it will still be 26!
Sad aren't I!
Reviews: Thanks to my loyal reviewers LANCELOTTRISTANBABY and BlackPaintedWhite - "much anticipation" indeed!
Chapter 4 : Introductions
The clearing that the two groups of men set up camp in was large enough to give them open space, yet still kept the shelter of overhanging branches. A small river ran about 200 yards away from the clearing, far enough to be heard but not seen.
At first the clearing was a hive of activity, the horses were watered and washed down before being tied or set loose depending on it's rider. Packs were thrown to the ground as were saddles, blankets were separated and some secured these to their horses.
The beasts that had been around the legs of the horses earlier, were revealed to be hounds with grey shaggy fur, lanky bodies as well as long teeth and dark eyes. The knights vowed to give these animals a wide berth for the evening.
The same could be said for the large black bird which hopped around them. It's beady little eyes taking everything in and it's wings flapping occasionally when it jumped forward, hinting at an impressive wingspan.
The other birds appeared to be more typical hunting birds a few hawks and some smaller birds the knights took to be falcons. These birds were set among the low branches of a tree, whilst the wolf-hounds settled at the base of it, apparently satisfied with their resting place.
The big black bird was not. It continued to toddle around the camp, poking its beak into packs and pulling at tack until one of Antonius' men gave it a gentle nudge with his boot in the direction of the other animals. The bird flapped a few times and cocked his head at the soldier. The man chuckled at it's antics and pointed toward the tree with his hand, still looking at the odd bird. It flapped again before turning to shuffle off to the tree.
The knights looked on bemused, but this was apparently a usual happening by the attitudes of the other soldiers. They would not interfere.
A few men set out for firewood, another 2 with bows for a quick hunt. The rest resigned themselves to laying out bedrolls and rolling old logs in a circle around what would soon become a blazing campfire.
Commander Antonius took Sir Arthur to a place where there was a little more of the fast fading light, due to a gap in foliage, and took out a map of the area. Both commanders settled themselves on convenient tree stumps with the map between them. Heads bent over it and a rapid Latin discussion commenced between them.
Their backs to their men, they couldn't see the others faces, although if pressed they could probably have guessed accurately the expressions on each warrior's face.
"Oh dear gods," groaned one of Antonius' men as he removed his cloak, "not another one." He turned towards the Sarmations, gesturing toward Arthur, "Is he always like that?"
"Pretty much always," replied Perceval, not even looking to see who the man was referring to, "we have to drag him away from his maps and reports just to get him to the tavern."
"Super, just brilliant," grumbled another of the men, also removing his cloak, "we have no ale, no decent beds, no women andtwo obsessed commanders. Just great!"
"What am I then? Roasted Ox?" Came a husky voice from behind him.
The man stepped forward, startled.
"Well no… I just…I mean… you're not… you wouldn't…!" he stuttered at the figure, who whilst still wearing the concealing cloak as most of the others still were, had an armful of firewood.
"Stop digging your hole Banin," the first soldier said, clapping a hand on the other man's shoulder, "Sham's just winding you up, we all know you just meant there's no barmaids, and Sham isn't going to share any alcohol!"
"I don't share the alcohol, because I don't like fighting alongside you lot when you're drunk," chuckled Sham, "and because it's too strong for you louts!"
"Now you wait just a minute…" Banin started, but Sham had already gone to dump the wood, "Oh that little…" He walked off grumbling to himself.
The remaining soldier laughed quietly at the younger man before turning back to the 3 knights who still stood with him.
"My apologies, I am Priamus. The young man was Banin and the one with firewood is Sham. The two others at the campfire are Galehaut and Pelleas. And you are…?" The man let the question hang in the air whilst gazing at them with a singularly unnerving gaze.
"I am Perceval," the large knight spoke up first, gesturing to each of his companions in turn, "this is Dagonet and Gaheris. The two at the fire with yours are Ector and his brother Kay. The two just returning from hunting are Tristan and Galahad"
"Thank you. I believe we will pick up other names as the evening passes. Yes?"
The four men began to walk toward the newly started fire. Companionable silence between them reigned until they reached the fire itself. Just as Priamus was about to lend a hand with the food, Gaheris detained him with a hand on the elder man's arm.
"How is it that you seem so unlike almost every Roman I've come across?"
Priamus stared at the young Sarmation with his unnerving dark blue eyes for what seemed like a long time. Gaheris dropped his gaze slightly, no longer able to hold it against this man. His hold on Priamus' arm also dropped but the man didn't move away. He looked at his comrades in arms, his gaze lingering on Sham and his Commander, before turning back to Gaheris.
"Bar our commander, we are not Roman," he paused, anticipating the next question, before it could be asked he said, "almost every one of us is Greek."
With these words the man turned and strode away to help Galahad skin one of his catches.
"I suppose that would account for it." Gaheris muttered, as he and his fellow knights watched the unusual man for a moment longer before turning to their own duties.
How do you like?
I've finally got real characters to play with - funfun!
Any comments, don't be too nasty!
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