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Tristan slowly open the door to his and Asia room and looked inside. Asia was siting up and she had stop shaking but she was in of in a distant world. Dagonet was watching her closely making sure she didn't do anything drastic. Tristan nodded at Dag as he left.
"Asia." Tristan said. Asia slowly came back to the present day. She looked at Tristan and hugged him.
"Why must my past always come back to me?" She asked crying. Iszter was next to her trying to comfort her master.
"I wished I knew but it will live you alone one day." Tristan said, "I have to go to the round table. Do you want to stay?"
"No I will face my past once again." Asia said and started to change her outfit. "Aren't you going to leave?" Asia asked with a raised eyebrow.
"When I can have a show?" Tristan asked her. But none the least Tristan kissed her lightly on the lips and left. Asia laughed at her lover as he left the room. "Iszter what are we going to do with him. Come we must scare the Bishop. He thought I was dead. He thought wrong." Asia told her wolf walking out of the room.
The Round Table Room
All the knights were toasting to those who left them when Asia walked in. She nodded to Arthur and sat on Tristan lap. He out his arm around her waist while Galahad and Gawain pretended to gag. Asia flipped one of her braids and stuck out her tongue at them. This cause a few chuckles before Bishop servant came told them of his presence.
"His eminence Bishop Naius…. Germanius." He told them with wide eyes on the round table. The he hissed at Jols " A round table?" Asia made a face behind his back making Jols hide a chuckle. The servant looked at her. Asia sat on Tristan lap with wide eyes. The servant went back to Jols and finished hissing, "What sort of evil is this?"
"Arthur believes that for men to be men they must be equal first." Asia informed him from her spot. He glared at her while bishop ignored her thinking she was a whore.
"I was given to understand their would be more of you." The bishop said.
"There were." Arthur replied. "We have been fighting here for 15 years Bishop."
"Ah, of course." He then moved to the seat next to Arthur and took a golden goblet that his aid was handing him. "Arthur and his knights have served with courage to maintain the honor of Rome's empire on this last outpost of our glory." Asia took a goblet from a real servant, openly rolling her eyes at the Bishop boring speech. "Rome is most indebted to you noble knights. To your final days as servants to the empire." He drank.
"Day. Not days." Lancelot informed the bishop. Asia did not have a good feeling about how the bishop smiled.
"The pope's taken a personal interest in you. He inquires after each of you, and is curious to know if your knights have converted to the word of Our Savior or…?" The bossy bishop asked.
"They retain the religion of their forefathers. I have never questioned that." Arthur told him with a small glare when he looked at the other knights.
"Of course, of course." The Bishop said, disappointed. "They are pagans. Hm?"
Asia snorted in her drink at something Tristan said in her ear. Bors and Dag the closest to them also heard and snorted in their drinks too.
"Ah. Rome awaits your arrival with great anticipation. You are a hero. In Rome you will live out your days in honor and wealth." Bishop said with Asia glared at him about Arthur leaving her. She made a noise with her throat. "What will become of Britain is not our concern anymore. I suppose the Saxons will claim it soon."
"Saxons?" Asia asked just before Arthur did.
"Yes." Bishop told her with a once over that made Asia shiver slightly that only Tristan felt it. "In the north a massive Saxon incursion has begun."
"The Saxons only claim what they kill." Lancelot said to the Bishop.
"And only kill everything." Gawain added.
"So you would just leave the land to the Woads." Galahad was sounding slightly hysterical. "And I risked my life for nothing."
"Gentlemen, and Lady" he said looking at Asia again that made Tristan tense up slightly, " Your discharge papers with safe conduct throughout the Roman Empire." He started holding out the box but put it back down as everyone stood. "But first, I must have a word with your commander." He sat again. When no one moved he added, "In private."
"We have no secrets." Arthur informed him. The Bishop sent a sour look around the table and slammed the box shut.
"Come." Lancelot said. "Let's leave Roman Business to Romans." He lifted his goblet to the Bishop and left. Tristan picked up Asia and started to leave when she whispered in his ear, "Take the goblets!" Tristan picked up the two goblets Asia and he used. "Bye Arthur!" Asia yelled over Tristan shoulder.
"Good-bye Asia." Arthur said with a slight smile.
After the 6 knights and 1 lady left the bishop asked Arthur, "Who was that lady sitting in that wild looking knight lap? She looks familiar."
"Her name is Anastasia Blanch. My best friend. She fights with us on missions for the past few months since her return. She wasn't at the last one because of a head cold." Arthur said clutching his hand under the table.
"Where had she been before she returned?"
"In slavery in Ireland and Rome." The bishop got the message after Arthur hostile tone.
The Tavern
Asia was helping Vanora watching some of her children number 8 and 7… Twins. Tristan, Galahad, and Gawain were having a knife contest.
"How do you do that Tristan?" Gawain asked with a women hanging on him after Tristan got it in his hilt of his dagger.
"I aim for the middle." Was all Gawain got as his answer.
A little away from that group.
"Best of three." Lancelot said to the officer who had just kicked his ass. Then he saw Vanora, Bors lover, and pulled her onto his lap.
"When are you going to leave Bors and come home with me?" Vanora sighed and slapped him.
"My lover is watching you."
A little further away Bors looked at his newest bastard wondering…
"You look nothing like him." He decided. "You're all Bors."
"Of course Bors." Asia told him playing with 7 and 8. "She loves you to much. Why? I have no clue."
"Sing about home!" Galahad called out to Vanora as Bors dragged her to the center of the Tavern.
"Don't drop the baby!" Gawain cautioned looking at them with a small smile.
Vanora sighed and started to sing.
"Land of bear and land of eagle
Land that gave us birth and blessing
Land that called us ever homewards
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home
We will go home
We will go home singing our song"
The music faded for the knights and Asia. Asia was studying their faces. Bors was mouthing along to the words in a trance, Lancelot was sipping his drink looking haunted, Tristan looked down at his apple with his usual emotionless face but Asia saw the haunted look in his eyes, Galahad was the only one who looked happy, in a trace with his eyes closed, visualizing Sarmatia. Dagonet looked travel weary and sad.
As the music came back into focus Asia saw weary Arthur come into view and her heart ached for him.
"Hear our singing, hear our longing
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home
We will go home
We will go home across the mountains."
Vanora trailed off looking at her child then at Bors when he saw the smile he was reassured….again.
"Arthur!"
"Arthur!" Galahad walked over to him.
"RUS!" Bors shouted out as he walked over. Laughter peeled around the group but for Asia she was uneasily quiet.
"Knights, brothers and Asia," Arthur smiled a sad smile at Asia, "your courage had been tested beyond all limits. But I must ask you now for one further trial." Arthur started.
"Drink" Bors interrupted.
"We must leave on a final mission for Rome Before our freedom can be granted." There was more incredulous laughter. "Above the wall in the north there is a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxon. Our orders are to secure their safety.
"Let the Romans take care of their own." Bors said.
"Above the wall is Woad territory." Gawain stated, as if only just realizing what that meant.
"Our duty to Rome, if it ever was a duty, is done." Galahad slurred angrily. "Our pact with Rome is done."
"Every knight here has laid his life on the line for you. For you." Bors pointed at Arthur emphasizing his point. "And instead of freedom you want more blood? Our blood?" His voice was rising with anger. "You think more of Roman blood than you do of ours?"
"Bors!" Arthur cut in disgusted at his words. "These are our orders. We leave at first light and when we return your freedom will be waiting for you. A freedom you can embrace with honor."
"I AM A FREE MAN! I WILL CHOOSE MY OWN FATE!" Bors exploded. Asia watched this with tears coming down her face. Tristan held her close to him thinking about the danger that could kill both of them.
"Yeah, yeah." Tristan said holding Asia even closer then before. "We're all going to die someday. If it's a death from a Saxon hand that frightens you, stay home."
"Listen," Galahad exploded at Tristan running to him. "If you're so eager to die you can die right now!"
"Enough. Enough!" Lancelot blocked Galahad.
"I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR!" Galahad was getting hysterical.
"The Romans have broken their word." Dagonet said. This silenced the shouting as he rarely ever spoke.
"We have the word of Arthur. That is good enough. I'll prepare." He started to walk away and then stopped. "Bors? You coming?"
"OF COURSE I'M COMING!" Bors yelled. "CAN'T LET YOU GO ON YOUR OWN! YOU'LL ALL GET KILLED! I'M JUST SAYING WHAT YOUR ALL THINKING!" He started to walk away with Dagonet and Tristan and Asia heard him mutter, "Vanora'll kill me."
"And you Gawain?" He asked the only knight who had been silent the entire time.
"I'm with you." He said after a moment's thought. Then he turned to Galahad, his 'twin' brother. "Galahad as well." Galahad looked at him incredulously and then let out a small laugh. He emptied the wine from it's pitcher and then smashed the pitcher. Asia sniffed and went to hug Arthur.
"Its will be fine, brother. WE shall all live or I'll die trying." Asia told the already upset Arthur.
"I don't want you to come." Arthur told her looking at her.
"Arthur you can't do that!" Asia yelled at him.
"I can!" Arthur said calmly.
"ARTHUR IF YOU HOLD ME BACK I SHALL KILL YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE THIS LAND TO ROME! I WILL FOLLOW YOU! SOMEONE HAS TO PROTECT YOUR BLOODY ASSES." Asia yelled at him being held back by Tristan.
"Fine but.." Arthur started.
"No buts, ands, or ifs," Asia told him stalking off. Tristan followed her. When they got to the room Tristan grabbed Asia and kissed her passionately when they finally went up for air Tristan said, "I love you."
"I love you too, my silent knight." Asia said before kissing him again even more passionately then before. The slowly started to undress each other. An the night will never for be forgotten.
Omg this is like 4 ½ pages! My longest chapter ever.! Yea!