I ran down the stairs, my skirts billowing, and my hair blowing behind me. My boots sunk slightly into the mud as I made my way into the courtyard. I pushed passed some people who were gathered around, watching the opening of the gates.
"Out of my way," I ordered impatiently, as I made my way to the front of the group. I smiled as the gates fully opened and I could see the horses coming down the grassy hill. Within seconds the horses were in the courtyard, and I recognized seven of them. Then, I saw who was accompanying my knights: The Roman soldiers and the Bishop Germanius.
As the riders dismounted, I rushed out to meet them.
"Arthur!" My tall and handsome brother scooped me up in his arms and spun me around like he had when I was little.
"My dear Lily," he said smiling down at me. "You make it seem like we have been gone for months, it has only been two weeks."
"Anytime when I am here alone seems like a lifetime," I replied smiling.
I was a rebellious age of 18, and wanted nothing more than to accompany my big brother on his missions for Rome. But now, his service of 15 years forced service was over, and I would be returning with him to Rome, a city I had never been to. Arthur gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and looked at the Bishop.
"I have to take Bishop Germanius to his room. Meet me in the dining hall in a few minutes and we will talk."
I smiled up at my older brother and nodded. I watched as he walked through the courtyard and entered the castle. As soon as he was out of sights, I turned with a mischievous smile on my face.
" 'ello boys!" The other five knights swarmed around me, planting kisses on my face and laughing. They were my best friends, my only friends, and I was thrilled to see them again. Suddenly, I was thrown over the shoulder of Bors, the biggest and gruffest of them all.
"Look what I found Laddies! This calls for a celebration!"
"Yes," said Galahad, the youngest, playfully. "We have finally found a woman to satisfy our needs.
"You don't know what your needs are boy," laughed Gawain.
Bors set me on the ground, took my hand, and spun me around.
"I do believe you have grown in the past couple of weeks My Lady," he laughed.
"Ay, you lot try anything and I'll gauge your eyes out," I threatened, but broke into a smile.
"Yeah, and you are the only one we actually believe when that is said," said a very recognizable voice. I looked at my good friend, who had not spoken since they had first arrived. Lancelot gave me a tight hug and the others made catcalls. I started to blush slightly, but I could not let them see. I put on a frown and glared at them. I could not rid my stomach of the butterflies it received when Lancelot hugged me however.
"Shut your gobs," I said, trying to sound angry.
"Well, Your dear ol' brother will be wanting us soon, so we best be going," said Dagonet, the father figure to them all. He gave me a knowing wink and ushered the others into the main hall.
I watched them walk and caught Lancelot glancing back and giving a grin.
"What? Not going to say hello to your favorite Sarmatian Knight?" I smirked as she turned to face the last remaining man.
"Glad to have you back, Tristan." I said as I hugged my best friend. His hair was matted and long and his beard was uneven, but I looked past this and saw his caring eyes. I loved him more than anything, even sometimes more than my brother, Arthur.
"Have you been practicing?" he asked, his voice low.
"of course," I replied. I tried to look hurt, to think that he would not trust me to work on my skills, but he knew me too well.
"Good." Tristan was the most mysterious of the knights, and he was the only one I would talk to about anything important. Not even Arthur could understand me as well as Tristan. He had been training me to fight with a Middle Eastern blade, like he did, but their last mission had interrupted my training. He rarely talked to the other knights, but they accepted his quietness. The only one he really opened up to was me, and I was honored.
"Tristan?" Bors could be heard from inside.
"Time for me to grace them with my presence."
I laughed and hugged him one last time. He walked away towards the doors, and I gave a little whistle. The hawk that was perched on Tristan's shoulder took flight and landed on my outstretched arm. He smirked and gave me a little salute before entering the castle.
"Sir, I am here to escort you to the fortress hall," I said with a forced smile on my face. Arthur had sent me to fetch the Bishop from his chambers. I would have rather locked him in. The Bishop looked up from Arthur's desk, where he was rummaging through my brother's things. I saw a smashed plate on the floor and I fought to contain my anger. The bastard actually had the balls to go through Arthur's personal possessions, and I was not about to believe it was an 'act of God.'
The old man nodded and exited the room. His aid came up to me and grasped my arm before I could get away.
"When my master meets with your knights, he must be seated last, and at the head of the table."
I forcefully removed his hand and didn't bother to be courteous.
"Your master can plant his holy arse where he pleases." I then turned and stalked down to the hall, not bothering to be pleased with the shocked look on the aid's face. I pushed past the Bishop when I entered and made my way straight over to Lancelot and sat next to him. I was always changing seats around the table; since there were so many empty. Last time we had eaten at the Round Table, I had sat between Dagonet and Bors. Galahad apparently thought it was his turn to sit by me, because he stuck out his bottom lip in a pout when I chose my seat. I stuck out my tongue to him and he glared. Lancelot gave me a nudge with his elbow and motioned for me to sit down. The Bishop proposed a toast.
"To your final days of service to the empire!"
"Day. Not Days." Said Lancelot, interrupting. The Bishop smiled and I instantly knew something was going on. I never did trust any Romans other than Arthur, and this Man of God was no exception. I could tell he was planning something.
"Ah- Rome awaits your arrival with great anticipation! You are heroes. In Rome, you will live out your days in honor. And wealth."
I saw Lancelot out of the corner of her eye get a disgusted look. All he wanted was to be free, not wealthy, and the longer the Bishop talked, the more agitated he got. To make matters worse, the Bishop announced that the Romans would be leaving Britain, and it would be left to the Woads.
"So I have risked my life for nothing," said Galahad quietly.
The Woads, or Blue Demons, were native to Britain and hated Rome with a passion. They were men who wanted their country back, and so I had no hatred for them. But, since Arthur and the others fought for Rome, they fought constantly with the British rebels.
"Come," said I angrily. I knew that the Bishop had something up his silky sleeve, and that he wanted to talk to Arthur about it. It seemed my brother was not going to let us stay t o hear whatever was to come, so I decided to make my position clear. "Let's leave Roman business to the Romans." I glared at the Bishop, and then at Arthur. It was widely known that although Arthur was Roman and a Christian, I was a Pagan, like the other knights. I saw Tristan had been eyeing the goblet that the Bishop had brought, and true to form, he still had it in his hand as we left the room.