I road off with Tristan the next day and told him of my conversation with Arthur.

He was silent for a moment. This was natural for him, so I waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts. But after a few moments of silence, I could contain my anger no longer.

"What does he think I am? Some hussy to be married off to whomever he pleases. I will not marry a Roman bastard three times my age, size of a horse with seven mistresses on the side. I will not have the children of a man such as that. I will not bed with a man such as that!" Just the thought made me sick to my stomach.

"Perhaps," said Tristan quietly. He was looking odd. "Perhaps your brother is right. That a Roman husband would be the best for you." I was horrified. The only one who understood me, seemed to not understand me at all.

"What?" I asked, shocked. He merely shrugged and held his arm out for the hawk that was circling ahead. I looked at him for a moment, tears stinging in my eyes, before turning Brego sharply and riding back to the others.

Galahad was the first to see me as I returned. "Hello Frog."

"Hello," I replied quietly.

"What wrong?" he asked, immediately concerned.

"Nothing." He looked at me suspiciously, but saw that I wanted to be left alone. I rode in the back, away from Tristan who was up with Arthur, for most of the way to Marius's. It was only a few more days ride.

When we were a day's ride from the estate, Lancelot dropped back to me.

"Lily, what is wrong? You have been silent for a long time." I saw the concern in his eyes, and knew I couldn't help but tell him. I fought hard not to shed any tears, and luckily succeeded.

When I told him that Arthur wanted to marry me off to a Roman nobleman, and that Tristan had been of no comfort, he smiled sweetly. I had left out the part of marrying a Sarmation.

"I do not want to be trapped in Rome the rest of my life, never able to feel a war horse underneath me, the stinging of freezing air against my face, and the softness of the grass after sleeping in it all night."

"Lily, you are as good as any knight here. You are the sister of the greatest commander Rome has known in ages, and you are the daughter of Warriors. I do not believe this will be your fate."

I looked at him and saw caring in his eyes that I needed desperately. Staring into his eyes was heaven for me.

It was a few more days before we finally reached Marius's estate. It was our mission to bring the noble family back our fort, before the invading Saxons got to them. The Lord and his son Alecto were very close to the Pope, and Alecto was the Pope's favorite godchild. As we rode toward the wall, we had to pass through a small village of people. They were filthy and half-naked, even in the frigid winter air. I had seen poor villages before, but none of them looked like this. The people were starved, and were pushed around many Roman Mercenaries. My look of confusion must have been apparent, because Gawain explained them to me.

"They are Marius's Serfs. Slaves to the Roman." I was horrified, and by the looks of the knights, I was not alone.

"It is a wonder you have come! Good Jesus, Arthur and his knights," said the man who must have been Marius as he ran out to greet us. He was the only one who looked like he had eaten recently. He seemed to eat a lot.

"And a woman…" he said as he eyed me.

"She is Lilian Castus, my sister, and you will show her the same respect you would show the Pope in Rome," said Arthur sternly. I was glad he was standing up for me, but I was not a little girl anymore.

"Of course," said Marius. He reached up to pet Galahad's horse, but Galahad pulled back and Marius jerked his hand away. Galahad was shooting daggers at the Lord.

"Our orders are to evacuate you immediately," said Arthur.

"Th-That's impossible…" stuttered Marius.

"Which is Alecto?" asked my brother.

"I am he," came a voice. We looked up and on a high balcony a young boy stood. Not much younger than me.

"Alecto is my son. And everything we have is here in the land given to us by the Pope of Rome."

"And you are about to give it to the Saxons," spat Lancelot. He was making it clear he did not want to be there.

"They are invading from the North," added Arthur.

"Then Rome will send an Army," said the stubborn Marius.

""They have," said Gawain.

"Us," finished Tristan.

"We leave as soon as you are packed," said Arthur, dismounting. We all did the same.

"I refuse to leave," said Marius vehemently. "Get back to work!" He screamed at the Serfs who had stopped to watch.
The mercenaries began to push the Serfs to ground while screaming at thme to get back to work. Fury raged inside of me, but I was able to contain it, that is, until I saw them. A small girl, no older than six, was thrown to ground and kick repeatedly by a Roman.

"Get up you little brat," he hissed as she began to cry, and he kicked her again. Before I realized what I was doing, by sword was out and was making my over to the scene.

"Lily!" said Arthur sternly and I could hear Lancelot call after me too, but they were too late. My blade was at the Roman's neck in a flash and was pressed just hard enough to begin to draw blood.

"Leave her be," I said through gritted teeth. The Roman looked as though he had never been challenged before, and look of fear was on his face. he backed away from the girl and I continued to glare. Everyone was starting at us now, but I didn't care. Suddenly, Lancelot was at my side and grabbed my sword away from me. I glanced at him before dropping down beside the girl and lifting her up.

"Are you all right?" I asked her. She nodded weakly and shivered in the cold. "Here, let's get you warmed up." I whistled and Brego trotted over.

"You need to teach that sister of yours her rightful place in the world. If any woman I controlled behaved that way, she would be flogged," said Marius angrily.

"I do not control my sister. She is her own person, and behaves however she feels necessary," replied Arthur sternly. "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." He gave a mock bow. Then he turned to Fulcina, Marius's wife and said, "Lady, my knights are hungry."

She looked to her husband for approval, but he merely gave a wave of his hand and called for his son. They went back into the comfort of their mansion. Arthur watched them but then turned his attention to a stone building attached to the side of the house. I followed his gaze, and then turned back to the little girl.

"What is your name?"

"Marta."

"Marta, what is that building over there?"

The girl hesitated and then pulled my cloak I had given her around her small body. "The Dark Place," she whispered. I saw the fear in her eyes and then looked to Arthur, who was watching me. He looked back at the building but something else caught his eye. There was an old man chained with his hands above his head, with deep whip marks on his back. Arthur immediately made his way over to him, with Bors hot on his heels. A man nervously ran up to my brother and grabbed his arm.

"Sir. You're famous! You're Arthur, aren't you? I'm Ganis, I'm a good fighter and I'm smart. I'd serve you proudly."

"Are you from Rome?" a Monk asked Gawain, who was closest to me.

"From Hell," replied the knight, not looking at the monk.

"who is this man," asked Arthur of Ganis, while pointing to the old man.

"He is our village elder," said Ganis.

"And what is the punishment for?" I could see how disgusted Arthur was. There was silence. "Answer me!"

"He defied our master, Marius. Most of the food we grow is sent out by sea to be sold. He asked to keep a little more for ourselves, that's all. My arse has been snuffing at the grass, I'm so hungry! You're from Rome! Is it true that Marius is a spokesman for God? And that it is a sin to defy him?"

There was a rage in Arthur I had never seen before and I hoped to never see again. He swiftly pulled out Excalibur and pointed it at the crowd of serfs who were watching. I also notice Alecto had returned and the mercenaries were making no move to stop Arthur. They were all in awe.

"I tell you now. Marius is not of God. And you - all of you - were free from your first breath." The serfs made no noise, and in one swift stroke, Arthur broke the chains and the old man fell to the ground.

"Help him," ordered Arthur, and some Serfs ran to the fallen me. I looked to Marta, who I had placed on Brego to get her feet off the cold ground.

"You will be alright now, I promise you." She smiled. "You must trust me though and I will take care of you," I said. Arthur continued his speech.

"Now hear me. A vast and terrible army is coming this way. They will show no mercy and spare no one. Those of you who are able should begin to gather your things and move south, towards Hadrian's Wall. Those unable shall come with us. You. Serve me now. Gather these people." His orders were given and Ganis immediately started to organize people.

Tristan rode out to scout, so I stood by Brego with Lancelot. Marta was still sitting on my horse, seeming to enjoy the jealous looks she received from other children. After all, she was on the steed of the Samaritan Knight.

"Are you cold, Frog?" asked Lancelot. "Would you like my cloak?"

"I think I will live. If these people can be here for their whole lives with little more than rags, I think I will survive a few nights." He smiled.

"You always where the most noble one I knew, she said grinning and patting my back.. Whenever he touched me, shivers were sent through my body, but he must have thought it was just the cold, because he pulled off his cloak immediately and wrapped it around me.

"You'll make me look bad," he whispered as he tightened the cloak. It smelled like him, and I smile.

Suddenly, I heard a hawk cry, and I knew Tristan was returning. This was not good. He had only just left. That meant the Saxons were close. I looked at Arthur who was standing near the estate with Dag. They were watching wearily as Mercenaries and monks stoned up the "Dark Place."

"They have flanked us to the east; they're coming from the south, trying to cut off our escape. They'll be here before nightfall," reported Tristan to Arthur. He was out of breath.

"How many?"

"The entire Army."

"What are they doing?" I turned to see the Marta was looking over at the Dark Place. "I don't know." I said.

"Aren't they going to bring back the people?"

"People?" I asked.

"Yes. They took people in there a few weeks ago. My friend Lucan just three days ago." I looked in horror at the building and then sprinted over to Arthur.

"Who are these people?" I heard Tristan ask as I approached.

"They are coming with us, replied Arthur.

"Then we will never make it…"

"Arthur," I gasped. There are people in there!" and I pointed to the stone building. He looked at me for a moment, trying to comprehend what I was saying, then he drew Excalibur and made his way over to the monks who were shutting it. They stood in front of him, trying to prevent him from seeing what was inside.

"Move," he ordered with rage.

"You can not go in there," said an obnoxious monk. "No one goes in there. It is forbidden."

"What is going on here?" Marius had returned and was attempting to get to Arthur, but the knights were blocking his path.

"Arthur, we don't have the time," said Lancelot softly.

"Do you not hear the drums?" asked Galahad. Sure enough, Saxon drums could be heard in the distance.

"Dagonet," said Arthur, motioning to the building. In a few strikes with Dag's mighty axe, the stonewall was gone and a wooden door now stood in their way.

"Key."

"Its locked…from the inside."

Dag once again struck the door and it gave away, and we were met by an unearthly stench. Lancelot grabbed and torch and followed Arthur down the stairs, with me right behind him. Dag and Gawain brought up the rear. Gawain was pushing the obnoxious monk down as well. Inside we could hear Latin mutterings. Suddenly, where the stench was at its worse, and my senses were fogged, we reached the main room.

"Who are these defilers of God's temple!" demanded another monk, the one who was speaking Latin. But I did not hear him. I was staring in horror at the room. Dead bodies hung from the walls and there were many cells with decapitated corpses and rotting flesh. Gawain looked as though he was about to be sick.

"This is the work of God? This is how he answers your prayers?" asked Lancelot of Arthur as he looked around in disgust.

"See if there is anyone else alive," said Arthur, ignoring his friend's comment. "And get Lily out of here." I was about to protest, but no one made a move toward me. As the other knights also entered, they could not keep their eyes off of the dead. But they did begin to look for survivors.

I pulled open a small door and recoiled at the smell. Inside was a partly decomposed body of a man with no arms. It was sickening.

Suddenly, I felt someone grab me roughly from behind.

"how dare you set foot in this Holy place you wench!" screamed the obnoxious monk in my face. Before I had a chance to react, he was dead, with Lancelot's sword in his back.

"That was a man of God," hissed the other monk.

"Not my God," replied Lancelot.
"This one is dead," said Dag's opening another cell.

"By the smell they are all dead," added Gawain who face was very pale. Suddenly, Dag called out. He had found a small boy in a cell.

"You must not fear me," he told the child, I immediately knew was Marta's friend.

"Lucan?" I asked. He nodded and I smiled at him.

"It's going to be alright now Lucan," said Dag's as he held him in his arms.

"There is another one." I turned to Arthur knock the chains off of a cell and pull out a frail woman. she was pretty even with the blood and dirt on her. We exited the Dark Place and Arthur put the woman on the ground.

"Bring me water!" he ordered and Ganis was there. Both the woman and Lucan were given water. Lucan's arm was broken, but other than that he seemed fine. The woman was starved and all of her fingers were dislocated. She had many scars and bruises. Past her wounds, I could see that she was Woad.

"You are safe now," whispered Arthur as he let her drink some water.

"Stop what you are doing!" shouted Marius as he approached Arthur, enraged. "These are all Pagans!"

"So are we," I said. He looked as though he would have killed me then and there if the greatest knights in the land hadn't surrounded me.

"They refuse to do the task God has set for them! They must die as an example!"

Fulcinia came up to the woman and she welcomed her touch. They embraced. Marius's face turned red.

"You!" he roared. "You were keeping them alive!" he slapped his wife across the face, but he hit the ground before she did, for Arthur had punched him hard in the face. When Marius looked up, Excalibur was at his throat and his mercenaries were rushing toward him.

"No! no. Stay," he ordered them, and he stared hard at my brother.

"When we get to the Wall, you will be punished for this heresy."

"Perhaps I should kill you now and seal my fate," said Arthur sternly.

The monks themselves were sealed back up in the Dark Place, and Lucan was granted a ride on Brego with Marta.