Authors notes: Many thanks for the reviews, as usual they are extremely appreciated.
OO
Arthur took a long sip of his wine and placed the goblet back on the table. The sound of that simple action travelled throughout the silent room which was quite amazing considering the number of people occupying it at the present moment. Pontius and Plautius were sat either side of him, Crassus and Jols next to them and the rest of the places on the table were taken up Marcellus and his men.
"Is the meat satisfactory?" he asked as the silence wore on. After a few seconds of clinking cutlery Marcellus responded.
"It is fine but let's cut the pleasantries." The young man sneered setting down his knife and fork and turning to face Arthur.
"How was Commander Julio killed?"
"Woads." Arthur replied. He planned on being as deliberately obtuse as possible as he tried to think of a plan. This was not how he liked to face a situation with no plan of how to finish it. Lancelot would have laughed and said just go with it; kill anyone who stood in the way and hope for the best.
"So did they just walk in here and kill him?" Marcellus asked sarcastically.
"No."
"I am not known as a man of great patience and unless you want me to arrest you explain in detail what the hell went on."
Arthur slammed down his own cutlery.
"Don't you dare threaten me. I am in command of this base and you should treat me with the respect that demands."
Marcellus turned an interesting shade of purple.
"What did happen then Commander?"
Arthur related the events leading up to their discovery of the woads deception. Marcellus rose to his feet his chair scraping across the stone.
"You were deceived by woads?" he said condescendingly.
"We were all deceived."
"Easily it would appear. What I can't understand is the cause of all this? You embarked on a mission purely because of an arrow and a wounded knight."
"No because of the implications."
"WHAT IMPLICATIONS? As far as I can see your actions have brought about many many casualties." Marcellus roared infuriated. "Romans have died needlessly."
Arthur felt his anger rise at the limited nature of this man's understanding of the greater scheme of things.
"Does the fact that Woads were using Roman arrows not concern you? Does the fact that there was a missing cavalry unit mean nothing to you? Questions needed to be answered."
"The cavalry unit was declared missing presumed dead. They had been missing too long for them to still be alive. You wasted too many lives in pursuit of the dead."
Arthur rose to his feet as well. Marcellus's men did the same but he halted them with a hand.
"So some Romans are condemnable and others are not?"
"You are a commander you know full well losses are inevitable for the greater good."
"Who's greater good? We found the missing cavalry unit."
"So where are they?" Marcellus snapped. "All that for nothing because they are dead. While you were out gallivanting on a wild goose chase this fort was attacked."
Arthur bowed his head; he had gone over this many times in his head. He had made a mistake and they have suffered greatly for it.
"So what happened in your absence?" Marcellus demanded of Plautius who stared back daring the man to talk to him as he had Arthur. Lancelot appeared to be rubbing off on the roman and Arthur didn't know whether to be amazed that Lancelot had time for any other Roman other than him or be concerned that he was influencing others.
Plautius sighed and explained how Julio had gone out to face them.
"You retreated inside and did what?"
"Waited for Arthur to return as there was nothing else to do."
Marcellus began to pace as he struggled to comprehend all the details. This situation was like nothing he had had to deal with before.
"Did reinforcements arrive before Arthur?"
"No." Plautius answered glancing at Arthur. They knew what was about to be asked.
"So if Centurion Antoninus wasn't with Arthur and he didn't arrive before how on earth did he and his missing men get here?" Marcellus looked smug as he realised that he could have hit on a problem that could cause Arthur trouble.
Plautius decided he would take the decision away from Arthur.
"I didn't say that Centurion Antoninus did not arrive earlier than Arthur I just said that no reinforcements arrived before him."
Both Arthur and Marcellus looked confused but Arthur quickly hid it.
"What?" Marcellus demanded.
"Centurion Antoninus arrived hours after Arthur left. He said that he and his soldiers were ambushed on a patrol and since then he had been struggling south to make it to a fort."
"There are many forts between his and this one." Marcellus pointed out sceptical.
"It depends where he was when attacked." Arthur contributed which was answered with a glower from the Roman.
"Of course and how come this is not recorded in the logs of Commander Julio?"
Plautius shrugged. "I am not privy to Commander Julio's record keeping and we were slightly busy."
Marcellus frowned. "Do you have witnesses?"
"Are you accusing me of lying?" Plautius said raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.
"However if you desperately need witnesses Jols here saw them and Crassus saw to their wounded. Lancelot saw them but I am doubtful any of the natives did as it was rather late and they did not go near the civilian areas." Plautius continued lying making sure he named people who would lie without question. Marcellus looked as though he thought they might be lying but he had no way to prove it.
"I have another matter to address which concerns you Arthur. Lancelot is one of your Sarmatian knights is he not?" he asked Arthur. The roman nodded warily.
"I am afraid he will have to be arrested."
"WHAT! WHAT!" Arthur and Plautius yelled. Crassus and Jols were also on their feet.
"I have been reading Commander Julio's report and it was his recommendation."
Before Arthur had time to respond Plautius had strode towards the man.
"On what grounds? If it wasn't for him everyone here would have died and therefore you wouldn't be having this conversation."
"That is not for me to determine. Commander Julio said he had committed gross insubordination and had struck an officer. The penalty for that is imprisonment and death." Marcellus stated clearly enjoying the distress he had caused.
"There were extenuating circumstances." Plautius said.
"Even if he was a Roman, which he is not, there is no excuse. You know the penalty for striking a senior officer is death."
Arthur was too shocked for words. He had never anticipated this.
"There is no way you are moving him from the hospital. He was terribly wounded and suffered from severe poisoning." Crassus spoke up for the first time.
Marcellus looked like he had bitten a lemon.
"Fine he will remain under guard until he is well enough to be moved."
"No." Arthur said quietly. Marcellus whirled around to face him.
"Pardon me?"
"No. You came here to provide aid not to take command therefore you cannot order anything. I thank you for coming to help us but your presence is no longer required or welcomed. Please leave."
The Roman's gaze turned murderous. "Do not play games with me Castus you will not win."
"I don't have to. I will send a full report on what has occurred with all witnesses as soon as possible. As for Lancelot I shall find out what exactly happened and act accordingly."
"Don't make me laugh you are his commander. You will not condemn him to death."
"There has been too much killing. Unless it is found to be without provocation and with extreme violence then a prison term will be sufficient…Now would you be so kind as to leave."
Marcellus soured even further. "Fine but this is not the end. There will be an inquiry."
Arthur crossed his arms clearly indicating that this conversation and the threats would go no further. Marcellus brushed past him on his way out.
"Pontius make sure they all leave without causing trouble." The centurion nodded and left. As the door closed deep breaths were let out by all present.
"Thank you Plautius but you will be in trouble if the truth ever gets out." Arthur said softly. The roman turned to face him and smirked.
"I have my own contacts Arthur. Who questions me will be a fool." With that said the roman left and Arthur resembled for a brief moment a fish out of water.
"Looks like Lancelot is attempting to model others on himself and it seems to be working." Jols said laughingly.
"Dear God." Arthur and Crassus said simultaneously.
Arthur closed his eyes wearily and exited the dining hall into the cold air of the outside world. He heard loud laughter from the hospital and made his way over there. As he approached Lancelot's room he saw Tristan exit. Both of them froze and regarded each other. Even though Tristan said nothing for once his eyes were an open book and Arthur knew that despite the sounds Lancelot was not well, far from it. The brief elation he had felt from the meeting faded to be replaced with grief. It was so overwhelming he turned and retreated. He needed to be alone to try and work out how to help his friend. Without realising it he found himself within the small chapel. It was empty. Walking to the front he knelt and he began to pray, pray that somehow Lancelot would have his suffering alleviated and that his soul would heal.
He prayed long into the night.