A/N: Sorry everyone. I've been working hard trying to balance the add-ons for three stories, and sometimes it's not always well, balanced. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks to Camreyn, MissBubbles, and bob for reviewing!

MissBubbles: Thank you! That's what I was striving for!

Camreyn: Mmmm, chocolate!

Chapter 8

The message from Chelmsford was the main stream of talk amongst the men who had already settled in their seats around the table. Those who filed in immediately joined in the conversation eager to hear what others had heard on the topic. Unfortunately, no one seemed to be of any more help to ease another's questions. The mystery surrounding the letter succeeded in remaining just that until Arthur came to the table.

The men immediately fell into silence. Arthur knew that they were waiting to hear what this letter would mean for them. Would this be another duty for Rome? Or was this something bigger? Lancelot had a feeling that it concerned every man in this room, but to what limit, he could do little but guess.

"Knights," Arthur began. The letter from Chelmsford rested closed on the table near his left hand. "The activities of the Woads as of late, has been irregular to say the least. Commander Serquis from Chelmsford offers light onto their actions, but before I read the letter to you, I must give warning." Arthur's eyes looked seriously across the faces of all his men. "I do not know how earnest this threat is. I know very little of Commander Serquis and how much his word is to be believed, but I do know that I will not enact any of the actions he has requested until I know what you think."

With that, Arthur picked up the letter and opened it before the knights. His deep voice instantly filled the hall.

"Commander Artorius Castus,

The hurried manner of my writing dictates that I refrain from formalities so that I may announce with great urgency the reasons for which I write. An attack has begun on the shores of Chelmsford. The fight was initiated at the hands of the Woads, but skilled horsemen soon joined them. It was later revealed that these people were men from Sarmatia. It seems as if the Woads and Sarmatians have combined their forces in a single army against the Roman Empire. I do not ask for reinforcements, for I fear that by the swords of battle there will be little time to act, but I heed you take my warning. Their route will surely take them North to Hadrian's Wall so that northern and southern Briton will once again be united. I've become aware that under your command, you have Sarmatian knights as forced loyalists to Rome. To your command, you have the right to take any course of action you wish, but I hope you will decide to terminate these men in order to prevent an insurrection within your own walls. Whether they've served well to Rome these past years will be insignificant if the opportunity of freedom comes to the doors of the Wall. I hope you will remain wise in your decision, as I've heard you to be in Romes honor in times before. May God watch over you.

Sincerely,

Commander Serquis Balint"

The knights looked at Arthur stunned. Lancelot's eyes were wide with realization of what the messenger meant by his words. The Sarmatians have initiated a rebellion against the Roman Empire, Lancelot thought with a surge of pride.

"Knights, before you speak on the contents of this letter, know this: I do not intend to have any of you killed," Arthur emphasized interrupting Lancelot's thoughts. "I also do not intend on preventing you from fighting for what you believe. You are men. Free men. You're capable of making your own choices. I will not ask you to fight with me in this battle." Arthur pushed himself away from his chair and stood.

"Arthur, where are you going?" Galahad called to Arthur's retreating figure.

"This decision does not concern me. Whatever any of you decide, is not for me to know," Arthur conceded.

Lancelot watched Arthur leave with a heavy heart. The basis of his message was plain. We can decide who we're going to fight for, but Arthur will stand to serve Rome.

"My decision is clear," Mace said standing up. "I will fight for Sarmatia!" A few others stood up in agreement.

"This is our chance for freedom!" Desiderio agreed. "A chance to fight for our own land. Our own people!" More and louder cheers joined in.

Lancelot stood up and pounded his fist angrily on the table. The room instantly quieted. "And what of Arthur? Are we to betray him when his need is greatest?"

"Arthur is a Roman. He has chosen his side and left us with our own choice!" Februus spoke up.

"Indeed he has, but this choice as any isn't to be taken lightly," Lancelot argued. "These past few months, Arthur has done nothing but treat us as equals. Have none of you realized what these past months have been for? These battles have not been for Rome. We've fought only for Arthur!"

"Then let Arthur fight for us!" Desiderio exclaimed. More murmurs followed this exclamation.

"Arthur owes us nothing," Lancelot said eminently. "He's given us his respect, his friendship, and his—"

"So you will fight against your own people?" Mace demanded. "You will turn to these men, who are in search of their own land, and hold your sword as a barrier to their efforts? You will shed their blood in the same way their ancestors before them fell to the empire of savages so revered as Rome? This is only how traitors condemn their people!"

"I am not betraying my people!" Lancelot shouted over the noise of agreement amongst the men. "But I do not easily dismiss my loyalty to Arthur, as none of you should. I blame none for their desire for freedom. I have no wish to stand on this forsaken Wall and defend its name for Rome, but I cannot forget Arthur. He has treated us as no other Roman has. We owe consideration to the least of his friendship if nothing else."

"I find amends with Lancelot," Dagonet spoke up. Many of the members turned. Dagonet rarely took the initiative to speak openly to the knights. "It is much apparent that an unanimous agreement cannot be found. Everyone has the right and the reasons to travel their own way, but let all of us be assured of our positions. When battle comes, we will most likely be fighting each other. None of us can live with hesitations."

The Sarmatian knights looked around at each other. None of them could see themselves pulling their weapons from another knight's body. They had become brothers in arms. They would fight for their comrades until death if they had to. Never had they thought a situation would arise when they might have to turn their swords to someone they cared for.

Desiderio looked around the table like all the knights had gone mad. "What is there to ponder? You keep speaking of Arthur. He may have become our friend, but he remains Roman. He will fight for Rome and in turn, he will fight for our slavery." He turned on Lancelot. "Does he not owe us the same courtesy of thought that you plead for him?"

Lancelot's features hardened. "As you said, he is our friend. Do you not remember the day he offered his own life if it could lift us from our chains? He is not like the other Romans, yet he is bound by them. I cannot ask him to change."

"Then he cannot possibly expect us to change," Desiderio said smugly. "Why should our swords be placed at one another's necks?"

Some one at the table shouted out "It shouldn't!"

"And there is no reason to," Desiderio continued, willed by the agreement of at least some of his comrades. "Our people have left Sarmatia to regain freedom. Why should we as Sarmatian knights, men more deserving than any other to have freedom from this life, strike them as if they were a bloody Saxon?" Desiderio let his words take effect.

Lancelot looked around the table and found the expression on many of the knights faces to be filled with a sense of hope that had been for so long trapped within the darkest reaches of their heart. They were ready to leave this life and return to their homeland. Little of Arthur's kindness seemed able to reach them.

"None of us are going to come to agreement as Dagonet assured," Lancelot finally spoke. "I am not even sure what path my own thoughts will take, but I know I can't forget this life. This battle that we are soon to face, will only be the beginning. Rome is a powerful enemy and if we were to lose, what we face now, will be nothing to what we face then. If we should win, though the odds are small, even our former lives cannot be returned to us." Lancelot looked down at the table for a moment before facing the knights again.

"I do not know if any of you have considered life following the end of our bonded duty, but I find there will be little left for me. I am a knight. My purpose will be to die in battle. Our people have rebelled, but in this time of such Roman strength, can we dream of succeeding? Can we think of what would really be left for those who survive, win or lose? It will be a bloody battle. Do not think that those who stand beside you now will be there when the first signs of dawn glitter over the horizon and Romans lay dead at your feet. Much of this you know already, but do not forget. This rebellion is one we cannot afford to lose, but one we cannot win."

"We've argued enough," Gawain broke in. "We all have much to consider. I suggest we adjourn." The rest of the knights agreed willingly and began filing out. Lancelot remained at the table, Gawain at his side.

"You spoke well, Lancelot," Gawain congratulated.

"Maybe so, but I am still conflicted," Lancelot stated.

"As am I. It was considerate for Arthur to leave us to our own decision, but I feel a decision cannot be reached until we've spoken to him," Gawain said suggestively. Lancelot nodded in response and brought himself wearily to his feet. Gawain led the way out of the hall and Lancelot followed. They separated when Gawain headed downstairs to the tavern and Lancelot headed upstairs to Arthur's room.

Lancelot reached the end of the hall and found himself hesitating for the first time before Arthur's door. He had no idea how to even begin such a conversation with his commander. No matter how the knight figured it, this battle was going to drastically change his life, if not his friendship, with Arthur.

Lancelot finally gained the courage and rapped his knuckles on the door. No answer came from within. Hesitantly, Lancelot pushed the door open and stepped inside. Arthur's room was empty. A fire had been lit in the fireplace, otherwise, the room looked as undefined as any of the other knight's rooms. Something on the windowsill, however, caught Lancelot's eye. A silver goblet was resting on the stone sill. The window was slanted open through the revolving iron bar at the center. Lancelot looked through it, and his eyes found Arthur.

Arthur sensed Lancelot there before he ever felt his presence. Minutes earlier, Arthur's view from the Wall had given him the perfect vision of the setting sun. Normally, he thought sunsets were a wonderful reprieve to the life of a knight. They were simple in their beauty, but at the moment, he despised it because he knew the moment the sun disappeared, the days would never be the same again.

Arthur turned to Lancelot with a questioning glance. "The men have not reached a decision," Lancelot said.

"My question does not lie with the men's decision, nor your own," Arthur stated. "You have searched me out for a reason I don't understand."

"I want freedom, Arthur," Lancelot cried.

"The Sarmatians and Woads have the same desires."

"But I don't believe they'll succeed. Even you must agree that there is little chance for them against the Roman Empire," Lancelot asked more than commented.

"I believe in God, Lancelot," Arthur said. "God teaches faith and hope. That's what I believe."

Lancelot looked at Arthur incredulously. "Is it not your God that the Romans get their power from? Their ability to turn honorable men into slaves?"

Arthur sighed. "It is not God, Lancelot, only people."

"I cannot fight this battle, Arthur," Lancelot said, bracing his body against the wall's barrier. He shook his head decisively, his black curls dancing. "I cannot raise my swords to my people, nor can I raise them to you."

"You deserve your freedom, Lancelot," Arthur said not looking at him. "You also deserve choice. I would tell you that I do not want you on my side if I thought it would have any affect." Lancelot looked at his commander, whose eyes refused to leave the horizon. He knew Arthur was trying to help him in his choice, but the light jesting only made his decision harder.

"I do not want you to regret your choice, Lancelot, so choose wisely," Arthur said finally turning. There was nothing in his eyes. Lancelot felt that Arthur was attempting to push him away, but Lancelot didn't want to hear it.

"Do not act in this way, Arthur," Lancelot growled.

"You came to me for guidance. I'm giving you it."

"Never in those words—"

"But in your questions—"

"I want your honesty—"

"You have it," Arthur said firmly. "I am but one man. Your people need your strength. I do not. Fight for freedom. No regrets."

"No regrets," Lancelot repeated. The words echoed in his head. No regrets.