"We are knights Lancelot, we right wrongs, make strong the weak, mend the broken, vanquish the proud and make powerless those who abuse the frail." Galahad said to his commander's second.
"No Galahad we are NOT fairy tale knights!" Lancelot rounded on Arthur "We kill people, destroy families, we do Rome's dirty work. WE ARE MURDERERS." Lancelot said with such a passion and hatred in his voice that he had yet to ever use with Arthur.
"Yes we do those too but for a greater cause." Arthur said, his voice irritatingly calm.
"Rome's cause Arthur! Rome! Rome is the reason we were taken from our homeland! Rome is the reason hundreds or more die every day! It's Rome's fault it has so many that are against it! ROME is the problem. If Rome wants to protect its cities, let Rome send their own knights. After we receive our discharge papers tomorrow I will be going home where there is no Rome." Lancelot said angrily.
"Listen Lancelot, Rome made a pact with the Sarmatians. For sparing their lives the Sarmatians had to let their children serve Rome." Lancelot sighed as the old speech began again.
"Spare me Arthur. I've heard this a million times before." Arthur glared at him.
"And you know my opinion." Lancelot said returning the glare.
"Yes I do; if Rome would sire their own bastards then you wouldn't have to serve us here." Arthur said repeating exactly what Lancelot told him many times before.
"Exactly." Lancelot inhaled to calm his raging senses.
"Lancelot, please try to see it from Rome's point of view." Arthur instantly regretted telling his friend to do that.
"Hmm, Rome's view is that if it has got a sword and breathing kill it, or if it's one of its own knights send it out on suicide missions." Lancelot stormed off. Arthur palmed his forehead and ran his hand down his face. Arthur sighed as, once again, Lancelot was right about their job.
"Lance and Arthur seemed to have gone at it again." Bors said as he watched Arthur head towards the chapel.
"You're right, now Lancelot is going to do something stupid." Gawain said leaning against a wall next to Galahad.
"And only Tristan will be able to stop him, maybe." Galahad responded in a voice that told Gawain that he was remembering when he tried to calm Lancelot down. The incident nearly cost him some body parts.
"And the damn scout is doing what he does best." Bors grunted.
"Would that be scouting or killing?" Galahad asked. Gawain glared at Galahad and walked off. It was a full minute before Galahad followed him.
Tiredly Arthur looked out the window in his room that overlooked the practice arena. Lancelot was practicing, doing moves he'd never done on the battlefield. He kicked one leg out and used the other to lift off the ground and spun himself horizontally. While he spun he launched his blades into a target and hit dead center. Then he landed on his feet again. Arthur's jaw dropped and he could have sworn it made a thunk and hit the bottom of the open window.
Lancelot turned and saw Arthur in the window. He turned back to look at the target his swords hit. Calmly he walked over and pulled them out. With one last glance at Arthur he headed towards his room. Once in his room Lancelot changed and let out a roar in frustration and anger. He inhaled to calm himself and went to the tavern.
When he arrived he saw Galahad resting his head on Vanora's enlarged stomach. A little confused Lancelot cocked his head to the side.
"Come on whelp." Bors said as he dragged Lancelot over by the back of the neck. Bors let go once they were next to Vanora. Galahad had already sat back in his seat. Lancelot rested his ear against Vanora's stomach and listened to the steady beat of a small heart. Lancelot gave her a loose hug. Vanora pulled him closer in a tight mother-to-be hug. In surprise she pulled away.
"You're so cold." She said letting a hand rest against his cheek.
"Arthur I think he's sick." Vanora looked to Arthur who was sitting at the next table. Arthur stood up and place the back of one of his hands against Lancelot's forehead, then his cheek and finally the back of his neck.
"Lancelot do you feel alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine." Lancelot snapped and stalked off. Arthur watched him leave with concern spread over his features.
"He just needs a girl to warm him up." Bors said.
"In his mood he'd kill her." Said a deep rumbling voice from behind them. Bors and Arthur jumped.
"Tristan." Bors growled while turning around. Tristan was sitting behind them eating an apple.
"Well?" Arthur asked.
"The Woads are plotting to attack the next shipment along the river." Tristan replied. Arthur sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"We'll ride out at first light. See if we can draw them away from the river." Arthur said and walked off to tell the other knights. Tristan felt something hit his knee. When he looked down there was Gilly, one of Bors many children.
"How do you do that?" He asked. Tristan just winked and walked off. Gilly pouted after him. Suddenly angered voices broke the merry making of the tavern.
"Lancelot you have to go to the doctor!" Arthur hollered.
"I'm fine Arthur!" Lancelot bellowed back.
"You're colder than a corpse, Lancelot. Something is wrong!" Arthur retorted.
"I am not going to the doctor, I feel fine, and I don't even feel cold!" Lancelot refused stubbornly.
"Lancelot as your commander I order you to go to the doctor!" Arthur only ever used his position to get Lancelot to listen. Lancelot clenched his jaw, swallowing the roar of rage bellowing in his throat. Instead of a being a full roar it slipped past as a feral growl. Arthur grabbed Lancelot by the arm and dragged him away.
Arthur waited on the doctor by the door so that Lancelot wouldn't escape. Lancelot paced back and forth like a caged animal. At times he'd throw Arthur looks of loathing and anger. Unused to this kind of treatment from Lancelot, Arthur began to get a little nervous. Outwardly he acted as though it didn't bother him but inwardly he was cowering. When the doctor came in Arthur bolted the door and brought out the strip of leather he had brought with him. He caught Lancelot's wrists and tied them with the leather then let the doctor go to work.
"I find nothing wrong other than just a very low body temperature. He should not do much for the next few days." The doctor said letting them go.
The looked Lancelot gave Arthur as he locked him in his room reminded Arthur of a miffed cat. As soon as the door was locked it shook from Lancelot slamming into it.