Authors Notes: Thanks again for all the amazing reviews!!! I am quickly approaching the end of term so my updates might be a little later than normal as I have to fight over a computer and prepare for relatives descending on us for Christmas. I will try to keep posting at the same frequency but please bear with me. Anyways on with the story… oh I have changed the rating due to some language, I am from the UK and I don't know the US rating system so if PG – 13 was ok I will change it back. :-)
OO
"Lancelot…Artorius Castus…I have no idea of the date of my birth and I don't give a damn what day it is…now bloody leave me alone." Lancelot snarled sleepily without even opening his eyes. Arthur chuckled as he sat on the chair next to the bed.
"Would you keep it down?" the knight demanded and he cracked open one eye to glare at Arthur.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine apart from some irritating people who insist on waking me every hour and asking me pointless questions." A distinctly unimpressed Lancelot muttered as he hauled himself into a sitting position. Arthur didn't miss the wince that flashed across his friends face as the stitches on his chest pulled.
"They are only checking if you sustained serious damage."
Lancelot smirked. "Most would say that it is already too late. Anyway they should ask me questions that I know the answers to in the first place. When is my birthday? No idea apart from the spring sometime. How many bastards has Bors got? Who knows? As for days of the week…" Lancelot shrugged. "I never keep track!"
Arthur laughed. "Glad to see that you are fully aware of all that is going on." As his laughter died away he noticed that Lancelot was studying him intently.
"What is troubling you?" the knight asked.
"Nothing. It is nothing." Arthur avoided and Lancelot shook his head with exasperation.
"Fine keep your secrets my head hurts too much to think about it."
"Well some would say that wasn't too much of a concern seen as thinking obviously isn't a major undertaking of yours." The Roman laughed at Lancelot's affronted expression.
Lancelot decided to change the subject. "Did Scimitar make it back?"
"Yes Tristan is seeing to him."
Lancelot sighed he had lost his more favoured horse two weeks ago from colic. He had spent the night walking the horse around the stable but by dawn the black stallion had gone down and died shortly after. Lancelot had disappeared for the rest of the day, his horses were his friends and he mourned their deaths. Arthur watched relief flash across the knight's features.
"A new horse was brought in by one of the legionary commanders. He hates it…too feisty apparently. Perfect for you."
Lancelot nodded his head tiredly and he moved to place his legs over the side of the bed.
"Where do you think you are going?" Arthur questioned placing a refraining hand on the knight's chest, careful to avoid the stitched wound.
"To check out this new horse. It had better not be like the last nag."
"Firstly, you are not going anywhere and secondly, it was not a nag. It was a perfectly fine horse."
Lancelot scowled. "Firstly…" he mimicked sarcastically. "I am getting out of this bed and you are not going to stop me. Secondly it was not a perfectly fine horse. It was a monster."
Arthur laughed. "Just because he bit you."
"That damned monster took a chunk out of my arm." Arthur had to admit the animal was leaning towards crazy but it was fun to wind the younger man up. Lancelot attempted to get up again and Arthur restrained him.
"The doctor will sedate you." The Roman stated.
"Not if he knows what is good for him." Lancelot threatened.
"Treat it as a rest. Put your feet up." With an expression of complete disbelief Lancelot shoved the man backwards. He then pulled himself to his feet and promptly fell forward into Arthur's awaiting arms.
Depositing him back on his bed Arthur glared sternly at him.
"I should have let you fall and teach you a lesson." Arthur commented as he helped the man to sit up.
"Maybe you should have." Lancelot snapped and immediately looked guilty.
"Sorry." Arthur shook his head saying that no apology was necessary.
"Get some sleep my friend." The Roman rose to his feet. "Or the doctor will indeed sedate you."
Like a petulant child Lancelot pouted and led back down.
"I will bring you something to eat later." There was no reply and Arthur saw that Lancelot was already asleep, curled up with one hand resting next to his face.
"Pleasant dreams." He said as he closed the door gently.
Jols was waiting for Arthur when he left Lancelot's room.
"Get the knights together in the main hall now." He said and Jols hurried away.
OO
"What do you think he wants?" Galahad questioned.
"To announce that our next mission is to build a boat using our own hair and sail west to conquer the neighbouring island." Gawain stated with a deadly serious expression. Galahad's mouth dropped open with shock. Bors erupted with laughter.
"You are so gullible."
"I didn't believe him." Galahad protested but Bors had doubled over and Dagonet slapped him on the back as he turned an alarming red colour. Gawain had joined in and even Tristan was smiling.
Arthur entered the room and took in the laughing knights and shook his head slightly as he realised the laughter would stop as soon as he broke his news.
"So when does the boat building start? I suggest we shave Gawain or Tristan first." Bors said laughing loudly. Arthur halted mid – step. 'Oh god had they drunk too much already?' he wondered. He knew when they got going they could drink a tavern dry in a matter of hours; hopefully he had gotten to them quickly enough.
"Shut up!" Galahad snapped.
Arthur shook his head and moved to stand in his usual place. He placed the arrow on the table and as it clattered all eyes focused on it. Dagonet reached forward and picked it up. With a frown he studied it.
"This is the arrow that was recovered from Lancelot's horse. It is Roman." He paused and watched the expressions of the knights' change. Tristan already knew and to some extent Arthur thought Dagonet had already guessed.
Bors leapt to his feet, fury replacing the humour that had previously occupied it.
"WHAT?!" he roared.
"You are kidding?" Galahad stated an expression of disbelief on his face.
"I wish I was." Arthur said tiredly.
"Show me the bastards and I will gladly part their heads from their bodies." Gawain said hotly.
"We give thirteen years of fucking servitude to the Roman Empire and they repay us by trying to kill us like cowards. Is that their plan to pick us off one by one?" Bors spat and rose to his feet. Dagonet restrained him and forced his to sit back down.
"Maybe Lancelot pissed off a Roman and this was just revenge?" Tristan stated wanting to put forward all possible circumstances.
"This is not the Roman way. Lancelot, indeed all of us, has annoyed a Roman soldier in one way or another at some point. You fight, and then hours later you are drinking together." Arthur pointed out.
"Not all Romans are honourable." Dagonet stated.
"True but for the time being I do not think that this attack was aimed at Lancelot. There have been reports of a cavalry unit from a fort south of the wall disappearing. I have talked to the legionary centurion and it has been decided that we, with a detachment of legionaries, will set out to find them."
"How do we know they are not dead?" Gawain questioned.
"Woads normally parade any kills, to gloat. They have been missing for awhile."
"So they have turned?" Bors asked. "Sided with the Woads?"
"I can see no other explanation." Arthur replied.
"What business would they have attacking us?" Galahad asked confused.
"They, with the help of the Woads, may have grown cockier. They may think they can take us now." Gawain suggested.
"There may be larger schemes in process. We need to investigate, that it why we leave for the fort at dawn tomorrow."
Bors grinned. "Then we shall repay them ten – fold for attacking us."
"What about Lancelot?" Galahad asked.
"He cannot walk. He will not be coming with us." Arthur stated firmly.
"Does he know yet?" Bors joked.
"No."
"Good luck then." The man grinned. That would be an interesting conversation.
OO