Sorry it's taken so freakin' long. I'm in my last year of school, and it is so stressful. I've also had really bad writer's block. The second half of this chapter was very challenging. Thanks to all my reviewers! -- Tomb Raider X
Chapter Five
Treachery
Tiriel followed the servant towards the hall, keeping calm. When they reached the hall, Tiriel noticed Arthur standing outside the large doors, looking quite troubled. She shot him a questioning look, but he did not notice.
Tiriel entered the fortress hall, and saw the Bishop sitting pensively at the round table. She steeled herself and strode toward the Bishop, stopping a few feet away from him.
"Commander Tiriel," the Bishop said, looking up at her.
"Bishop Germanus," Tiriel replied. "May I have the discharge papers for Tári, Nessa, Meren…and myself?"
"Commander…please sit down," the Bishop said. "I have something to inform you of."
"I prefer to stand," Tiriel said icily.
"Very well," the Bishop said cautiously. "I am issuing you and your militia a final order."
"A final order?" Tiriel asked dangerously.
"You will accompany Commander Castus and his knights on their final mission," the Bishop said, looking warily at Tiriel. "You are to travel north to rescue the family of Marius Honorius and return in particular with Marius's son, Alecto, and escort them back to the Wall."
"Why must we accompany them?" Tiriel asked. "We owe them nothing."
"You serve Rome, and this is an order from the Pope himself," the Bishop replied, standing. "You will obey this order."
Tiriel's eyes flashed as she stared at the Bishop. "Tári, Nessa and Meren have served Rome faithfully, without question, for ten years. Now, when they finally get to return home and see their families again, you give us a mission that could possibly claim their lives," Tiriel said. "Have you no compassion?"
Bishop Germanus said nothing, but looked at the floor.
"And what about me?" Tiriel asked, clenching her fist. "I was suddenly called to serve Rome, which I did without question. But every time I have requested my discharge, you have rejected my request. You are breaking the treaty which the Romans and Sarmatians made over 100 years ago."
"Silence!" the Bishop thundered. "You will do as Rome orders. And I will tell you something."
Tiriel stiffened.
"You have nothing. You have no family, no one who cares for you, no place to go back to. You are alone in this world," the Bishop said severely. "Therefore, you will be discharged when I decide to discharge you. Until then, you will do what you are told, and no more then that."
Tiriel looked up the Bishop, and her eyes narrowed.
"Guards! Help!"
Arthur was startled out of his pondering, upon hearing a croaky shout from inside the fortress hall. Several Roman guards had run inside the hall already, and Arthur wondered what was taking place. He stepped inside the hall, and his eyes met a shocking sight.
Tiriel stood rigid, her dagger against the Bishop's throat. A Roman guard lay on the floor, blood seeping from a wound on the right side of his abdomen. Several other guards stood around, swords at the ready, and unsure of what to do.
"Hear me now, Bishop, and listen well," Tiriel said slowly and calmly. "I will complete this mission for Rome. But when I return, you will hand over Tári's, Nessa's, Merenwen's…and my discharge, or there will be hell to pay."
The Bishop gulped, as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"And if any of the knights or my young women do not survive this mission, no Roman army, papal official, nor your God will protect you from my sword," Tiriel said, staring the Bishop in the eyes.
"Here, please. Sing," Bors said, pulling Vanora towards the courtyard.
"No!" Vanora said, trying to resist.
"It's a last…" Bors began.
"No!" Vanora repeated.
"Come on…" Bors said.
"I'm trying to work…" Vanora started.
Bors pulled her into the courtyard. "Shut up!" he bellowed to the occupants of the courtyard. "Vanora will sing."
Vanora laughed nervously.
The knights, Tári, Nessa and Meren started to cheer, encouraging her to sing.
"Sing, sing," Bors said, smiling.
"Sing about home," a young man said.
"Yes, sing about home," Nessa said, as Gawain and Galahad cheered.
Vanora reluctantly stepped forward, holding her 11th child and began to sing.
Land
of bear and land of eagle
Land that gave us birth and
blessing
Land that pulled us ever homewards
We will go home
across the mountains
We will go home
We will go home
We
will go home across the mountains
We will go home, singing our
song
We will go home...
Arthur
and Tiriel approached the courtyard, and paused at the entrance, upon
seeing Vanora singing. They watched the knights and young women
listen to song, and smiling as they undoubtedly thought of home.
Hear our singing
Hear our
longing
We will go home across the mountain
We will go
home
We will go home...
Tiriel glanced at Arthur; and they both began to walk back to the fort, but Jols caught sight of them.
"Arthur!" Jols said.
"Tiriel!" Meren hollered.
"Arthur!" Galahad yelled, happy to see him. Bors and Vanora kissed each other.
"You're not completely Roman yet, right?" Galahad asked, with a jug of wine in his hand.
Bors yelled his Sarmatian war cry, pounding his chest at the same time. Lancelot watched Tiriel's face carefully, but finding no information, watched Arthur sceptically.
"Knights; brothers in arms. Women, new friends in arms," Arthur said. "Knights, your courage has been tested beyond all limits, and young women, you have fought well and no doubt been tested numerous times, but I must ask you all now for one further trial."
"Drink," Bors said, drinking an imaginary beer. Galahad laughed at Bors's gesture.
"We must all leave on a final mission for Rome before our freedom can be granted," Arthur said.
The knights and young women started laughing, thinking it was a joke.
"Above the wall, there lies a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxons," Arthur said. "Our orders are to secure their safety." "Let the Romans take care of their own," Bors said loudly, as Meren nodded in agreement.
"Above the wall is Woad territory," Gawain said drunkenly.
"Our duty to Rome, if it was ever a duty, is done," Galahad said. "Our pact with Rome is done."
"Every
knight here has laid his life on the line for you," Bors said,
pointing at Arthur. "For you. And instead of freedom, you want more
blood? Our blood!
You think more of Roman blood than you do ours?"
"Bors, these are our orders. We leave at first light and
when we return, your freedom will be waiting for you," Arthur said
quickly. "A freedom we can embrace with…" "I am a
free man!" Bors roared. "I will choose my own fate!"
"Yeah, yeah, we're all going to die someday," Tristan said, breaking a piece off his apple. "If it's death by a Saxon hand that frightens you…stay home."
"Well, if you're so eager to die, you can die right here!" Galahad said angrily, and charged towards Tristan.
"Enough, enough…" Lancelot said, trying to hold Galahad back.
"I've got something to live for!" Galahad shouted, while Nessa looked nervously at Tiriel.
"Tiriel…" Tári said quietly. "This isn't true, right? This is just a joke. Nessa Meren, myself…we're all free, right?"
Nessa and Meren, as well as some of the knights, turned to look at Tiriel, while Arthur spared a glance at her.
Tiriel looked at Tári. "We are to accompany Commander Castus and his knights on their final mission to rescue the Roman family," Tiriel said. "Be ready to leave at first light."
The three girls stared at her, speechless. The knights watched the exchange carefully.
"How could you do this to us?" Tári yelled at Tiriel. "How could you allow this to happen? You have no right…"
Suddenly, Tári's head snapped to the side as Tiriel struck her hard across the face. Nessa and Meren gazed at Tiriel in shock. Tári stood up, holding her jaw and glared at Tiriel. "How dare you…" Tári charged towards Tiriel.
"What? How dare I what?" Tiriel asked dangerously, as Lancelot helped Nessa and Meren hold Tári back. "You think I have done this on purpose? These orders came directly to us, by way of Bishop Germanus, from the Pope of Rome. Don't accuse me of this, when you have no proof."
"The Romans have broken their word. We have the word of Arthur," Dagonet said suddenly. "That is good enough. I'll prepare." He started to walk off, glancing at Bors. "Bors! You coming?"
"Of course I'm coming!" Bors roared. "Can't let you go on your own; you'll all get killed!"
After a piercing glance at Tiriel, Tristan trudged after Dagonet, still eating his apple.
"I'm just saying what you're all thinking!" Bors roared, then lowered his voice to a whisper as her walked off. "Vanora'll kill me.""And you, Gawain?" Arthur asked.
Gawain sighed; then nodded slowly. "I'm with you," he said; then looked at Galahad. "Galahad as well."
Galahad stared at Gawain in astonishment; but said nothing and laughed in disbelief. He took his pitcher of wine he was drinking out of, let the wine trickle onto the courtyard floor; then threw the pitcher onto the stone floor forcefully. The clay pitcher smashed, and the pieces scattered around the courtyard.
Galahad took one look at Arthur, then he and Gawain left the courtyard. Lancelot remained, still helping Nessa and Meren restraining Tári, and gave Arthur a serious look.
"And what will happen when we return to the Wall, if we return at all?" Tári spat angrily. Tiriel looked at Tári, her eyes blazing.
"You will receive your discharge papers, and will be allowed to leave. Be grateful that you will receive your papers, for some of us will not even get that much," Tiriel replied harshly; then walked off.
Arthur, Lancelot and the three girls stared after her in stunned silence. Nessa and Meren gave each other confused looks, as Tári shrugged off Lancelot's arms.
"Let's get some sleep before tomorrow," Tári said to Nessa and Meren, who both agreed. They bid Arthur goodnight and left the courtyard. Arthur sighed, and walked off, leaving Lancelot alone in the courtyard. Lancelot threw his cup away, and left the courtyard.
Tiriel strode through the fortress streets at a great pace, trying to keep calm. She charged up the steps onto the wall, heading for a deserted area. She glared at the lone soldier standing on guard, which made him scamper away, leaving her alone.
She stood gazing over the wall, into the deep mist and darkness below her. Holding her head in her hands, she tried to calm her breathing. She pushed herself back from the wall slowly, the wind wafting her hair about.
Feeling warmth on her face, she turned to look at the lone torch hanging on the tower, the flames flickering around. As she stared at the vivid fire, images from long ago flashed before her eyes in the flames:
Ten-year-old Tiriel was thrown onto the ground, as her horse toppled sideways, exhausted from the ride. Tiriel rolled over, groaning in pain, and climbed to her feet, staring in disbelief at the sight before her.
Her entire village was in flames. People were screaming, running anywhere to get away from the destruction. All the houses were Tiriel saw two dead men lying on the blackened ground, scorched and bleeding from horrific wounds on their torsos.
"Mother! Father! Dale!" Tiriel yelled. "Where are you?"
She ran through the village, looking for her family. She crashed into a family that was trying to run from the fire. She grabbed the sleeve of the mother's dress.
"Where's my family? Have you seen them?" she asked, looking up at the woman.
"Tiriel! I thought you had gone with the Romans," the woman said, disbelief on her face.
"I saw the smoke, and I came back," Tiriel said, gasping for breath. "Where's my family?"
"Your parents and your little brother are still at your house, trying to save some things," the woman replied.
Tiriel ran towards her parents' house as fast as she could, dodging burning houses and running people. She stopped to catch her breath, leaning on her knees, when she heard her father's voice nearby. She ran towards it.
"You will gain nothing by this. You are violating our treaty by attacking this village…"
"By the time we're finished with it, no one will know it even existed. It will just be a pile of smouldering ashes…"
"Leave us alone! You've taken our daughter away to fight for you, why do you need this village burned…"
"Because, woman, you weak people knew of our demand, and yet none of you tried to produce a son. When we arrived, your council also refused to give us the only boy, your son."
"He is too young, he would not be able to do anything…"
"No one is ever too young to serve our great Empire. Your daughter, however, is too weak and inferior to serve Rome."
Tiriel ran towards the voices, which came from near her house. As she ran, she heard another voice, and ran even faster.
"Don't you call my sister weak, you Roman pig! She will be the strongest of them all…"
A loud slap was heard, followed by a boy's wail; then a woman's voice screamed. "No! Please don't do it, please don't!"
Tiriel ran quicker and turned the corner that hid her house from view, glimpsing her family.
Suddenly, a Roman soldier slit the throat of her little brother, and two soldiers cut down her parents, the swords through their abdomens.
"NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!" Tiriel screamed, as her family's bodies fell to the ground. Tears poured from her eyes, her knees buckling and she sank to the ground. Her hands covered her eyes, trying to stop the tears, but to no avail.
Tiriel closed her eyes, and slowly fell to her knees below the torch, her hands clenched tightly into fists. "No," she whispered, but no tears fell from her eyes. She felt the wind on her face, cooling her cheeks. She relaxed her hands, and rested them on her thighs, her head still bowed and eyes closed.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked up at the dark sky, taking a deep breath. She rose from her knees, and walked back down the stone steps, heading to her room.
As she entered the corridor where her room was, she saw Arthur about to enter his room. He nodded to her, before entering and closing the door behind him. She opened the door to her room, and entered.
She removed her leather belt and olive-green tunic, and put it in her saddlebag. She pulled on her metal-ringed jerkin, shifting it around to fit. She strapped her sword on, and checked her daggers in her boots.
She grabbed the rest of her things and stuffed them in the saddlebags, collected her bow and quiver, and started for the stables.
Upon entering the stables, she found her horse and set about saddling and preparing it for the next day. She strapped the quiver and her saddlebags to her horse, and pulled her cloak out of her saddlebag. She fed her horse an apple, and stroked its long mane.
She strode to a bench, and sat down slowly, rubbing her face. She tugged her dark green cloak on, and leant back against the wooden post, lifting her left leg onto the bench. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.
There it is! Hope you liked it! I'll try and write the next chapter soon. Please review and let me know your opinion. -- Tomb Raider X
