Authors notes: Many thanks to the kind words of Camlann, Ithil-valon, DJ Sparkles, A, Darkknight and Irishfire! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
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"Well this is new for me!" the doctor exclaimed with an almost excited expression. Lancelot wished he still had the knife.
"Glad to be of service." He muttered.
"Can you do something for him?" Jols demanded not used to this bantering between the two.
"I don't know. I don't want to give you anything in case it has adverse affects."
"What bloody use are you then?" the knight questioned annoyed.
"I can treat your wounds to make sure they don't get infected." The doctor said setting down his medicines and bandages.
Lancelot stopped him.
"Look is there really any point. The woads are about to attack again."
The doctor frowned. "I am not going to let you die as much as it would please some people."
"Look doctor just make me mobile. That is all I ask." Lancelot whispered.
"What the hell do you want to be mobile for?... Oh no." Jols exclaimed and his face went white.
"Jols go help Plautius." Lancelot ordered. The squire flinched and began to shake his head.
"NOW JOLS." Lancelot said his most authoritative voice. It was barely a scratch on his normal tone but it still bore weight. The squire turned to leave.
"We will discuss this later." He stated firmly indicating his displeasure.
As soon as the scout had left Lancelot turned his attention back to the doctor.
"Look Crassus you can see the situation we are in and you have little idea what ails me. We are going to need all the soldiers we can."
Crassus was shocked at the use of his name. Lancelot and he normally spent most of their time bickering, trying to outdo each other with insults. After the shock of that wore off he realised what Lancelot was asking of him.
"Lancelot just because I have little idea what ails you doesn't mean I can't help. I will not give up on you."
"Doctor when the woads burst through here I would rather meet them on my feet rather than weak on the ground waiting for them to kill me. Give me something that will mean that I can fight."
Crassus looked torn.
"I am a knight Crassus; this is what I do…" At the doctors continued reluctance Lancelot offered a slight compromise.
"Once this is over you can treat me all you want."
The doctor blinked in shock at the surprising offer. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth the doctor agreed. If he didn't help Lancelot would find a way to get on his feet and cause himself greater injury.
He quickly set to work treating and bandaging the wounds. Then he pulled out a small vial of liquid. Lancelot looked at him questioningly.
"It will deaden your senses but only take a drop and remember it does not heal you magically so be careful."
"I am always careful." Lancelot smirked.
"Right and I see you so much because you love my company. I bet your fellow knights will love to hear that one." The man joked as he rose to his feet.
"Do and die. It's that simple."
"The threat would be so much more menacing if it was not spoken from a man flat on his back, weak as a kitten."
Lancelot glared and the doctor left.
O
Arthur watched as darkness settled on the area and he moved forward, creeping along the ground. In front of him stood a woad sentry who was remarkably lax and currently eating berries.
'Thank you very much' Arthur thought as he moved up and slashed the man's throat. Throughout the forest he knew similar killings were taking place. As quickly as he came he faded back into the forest.
He wondered how long it would before they noticed and the alarm was raised. He didn't have to wonder long as shouts and whistles echoed through the forest. With a quick signal the knights mounted and charged forward into the surprised rear of the woads. It was simple but effective.
The woads scattered as most would have done in the face of such opposition. However, they regrouped quickly and fought fiercely.
Bors decapitated a woad before swinging off his horse with more agility than his build would suggest possible. With a mighty war cry he stabbed his sword through the unprotected belly of the nearest man. The thrust was so powerful that the sword emerged the other side. He pulled it back out and slashed the next figure unfortunate to cross his path. Vanora was in that fort, so were his bastards and Lancelot. Lancelot may be an irritating asshole some of time but he was one of them and Lancelot would have fought with every fibre of his being to save one of them.
With an almost sixth sense Bors managed to avoid Dagonet who had appeared at his side and instead take out the warrior next to him. The two didn't even exchange words as they lapsed into familiar battle tactics.
Gawain hit the ground hard and lay stunned.
'Typical, I haven't bloody killed anyone yet.'
A hand yanked him back to his feet and he turned to see Arthur just as the Roman shoved him backwards to avoid his head being caved in. Before he could utter his thanks Arthur moved on. Galahad appeared at his side. However, before Galahad could say or do anything a woad slammed a sword into his head and he was instantly unconscious. Gawain swore and quickly moved to stand over him, protecting him. Fortunately for him Tristan had seen their predicament and whenever a woad slipped past his defences an arrow would fell them.
Gawain knew that this would not last and desperately looked round for another source of aid. The battle plan meant this was not going to be forthcoming, the soldiers were too widely dispersed and the flaw in this plan was revealed instantly.
Lancelot opened the jar and dropped some of the liquid into his mouth. Within a few seconds he felt its effects. The pain lessened dramatically and he did feel almost normal. He struggled to his feet and his head swam at the change in altitude. Clutching the wall while bitterly complaining about the number of times he had recently been in this position he waited for his vision to clear.
Suddenly he heard the sounds of fighting. Arthur had arrived. He looked down at the jar and swallowed it before he could contemplate his actions. Arthur needed him, he was probably dying and he wanted revenge. There was nothing else to be said about it.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jols asked as he came back in with Plautius.
"Jols get every man who can wield a weapon out into the courtyard as quickly as you can." Lancelot ordered and he took a deep breath and strode away from the support of the wall.
"What did the doctor do?" Plautius questioned.
"The cure. It works really quickly." Lancelot lied and glared at Jols before the squire could blurt out anything.
"JOLS NOW!" Lancelot yelled using the order that he had done before.
"After this you and I are definitely going to have words." The squire snapped extremely annoyed.
Lancelot waved him off.
"How's Julio?" the knight asked.
"The wound is mortal. The doctor is with him."
"Where are the two legionnaries?"
Plautius shouted out some orders and the two men appeared.
"Find me a horse and some weapons. We need to arm anyone Jols brings out to fight. Then we are going to see about some vengeance."
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