Authors notes: Thank you for the reviews!
OO
(2 days later)
Lancelot stood in front of Arthur having just explained all that he could remember of the past events. Arthur was scribbling something down and hadn't said anything since he finished.
"The Roman centurion Marcellus wanted you executed." Arthur spoke at last. Lancelot shrugged.
"He probably won't be the last and he is not the first."
The casual way he said this made Arthur incensed for reasons he couldn't fathom.
"What do you expect me to do about it?" he asked.
Lancelot smirked. "Depends if I have done anything to piss you off recently? I'll make sure to watch my back around you in the future."
Arthur was on his feet in an instant.
"What is your problem!" he shouted. "How can you speak so casually about your life like that?"
Despite his injuries Lancelot drew himself to his full height and snarled back.
"Because that is how it is. No one cares Arthur!"
"I care, the others care. Stop being so selfish and listen to us."
"SELFISH! I am being selfish? How can I be selfish where nothing is mine not even my actions?"
"Lancelot please…" Arthur begged. "Why are you doing this?"
The knight shook his head and ran a tired hand through his hair in frustration.
"Because this is how it is. Your Rome does not exist here Arthur and it never will. We are considered slaves so why should I give a damn?"
Arthur shook his head. This conversation was degenerating into the same arguments that they always had and it was not what he had wanted.
"Lets not get started on this again. This is not what I wanted to talk about."
"So what did you want to talk about then?" the knight snapped challengingly.
Arthur slumped back into his chair looking older than his years.
"Why is everything so difficult with you? Not everyone is against you."
Lancelot turned and left making sure to slam the door behind himself.
O
Lancelot was furious at himself, at Arthur and at the world in general. That conversation couldn't have gone much worse. He had gone in with the intention to explain himself and sort the mess out about his punching of an officer. However his temper and Arthur's continuation of his belief that the world's ills could be sorted out by himself alone had meant the quick end of that.
His body was pulsing with tension and anguish. He needed to get out of this fort and the constant attention that he was receiving. He entered the stables and quickly moved to say hello to Scimitar. His horse poked his head over the stall door and whickered in greeting.
"Hi there. How are we today?"
Scimitar let loose a whinny and stamped his hoof indicating his desire to get out.
"You too huh? How about a ride?"
The horse shook his head and snorted in agreement. Lancelot quickly fetched Scimitar's saddle and bride. The bride was easy enough but the saddle was difficult. His barely healed injuries stretched and strained. Refusing to heed the warnings his body gave he managed after a good few minutes to secure it in place. Leading Scimitar over to a bale of hay he used it as a mounting block.
Nudging the horse out into a yard he moved as quickly as he could without causing lots of pain but he also hoped without being noticed.
Luckily for him a supply train of wagons had just arrived so the gates were open and he was able to slip through the crowds and out. Scimitar immediately leapt into a gallop but Lancelot slowed him down to a gentle canter. However even this pace was painful and as soon as he was out of sight he would slow to walk not only for himself but Scimitar as well who was still stiff in his injured leg.
It didn't take long for him to be out of sight and he slowed his stallion. He knew of a small pool nearby where he could sit in peace.
That didn't last long. He had just settled down when a familiar white mare ambled into the clearing. Tristan.
"Give me strength!" he exclaimed as he rose to his feet. Tristan didn't look at him as he dismounted.
"Did you just happen to pass by?"
"No I saw you leave and followed." Tristan said in a matter of fact fashion. "And the others are just behind me."
"I am going to drown myself." Lancelot muttered.
"Don't let me stop you." Tristan responded and Lancelot slumped back to the ground picking a few stones and lobbing them into the pond. Within minutes the clearing was full of knights. Lancelot paid little attention to them but after a period of silence which was extremely unusual he turned to find they were all watching him.
"Is there a problem?" he inquired. "Do I have something in my hair?"
Bors walked over and ruffled his hair.
"No not that I can see."
"Why thank you Bors. So what the bloody hell do you want?"
The knights all looked at each other and Gawain withdrew his sword and charged at Lancelot. The knight was so startled he stepped backwards and fell into the water. Launching out of the water Lancelot prepared to throttle the man when a sword nearly cut off his nose.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he snapped angrily moving out of the way.
"Fight me." Gawain retorted.
"No! Now stop it!"
Gawain again slashed with his sword and Lancelot as a last resort withdrew his two swords and blocked the swing.
Lancelot than had to block Galahad's sword. Stumbling backwards he turned a confused and angry expression on the pair.
"Would someone care to explain?" he said through gritted teeth. This was the last thing he needed with his injuries.
"Just want to prove something." Tristan's voice floated over to him as Lancelot used both his swords to block Gawain's and Galahad's thrusts.
"That you are idiots? Drunk?"
"No"
Letting loose some crude words about parentage of the various knights he lunged forward quickly and effectively disarming both knights who looked stunned. Lancelot smirked, twirled his swords in his hands and then re-sheathed them.
"Now explain!" he demanded.
"We wanted to show you that you are not weak." Tristan stated. Lancelot let his mouth drop open in shock.
"WHAT?" he spluttered.
"You were able to defeat two knights while wounded. You are stronger probably than all of us here. The woads may have tortured you but they did not defeat you."
Lancelot's face became furious and he turned to grab his horse.
"Lancelot!" Gawain called but the knight paid him no attention. He mounted his fury overcoming the pain. Bors jumped forward and grabbed his reins.
"Let go." He commanded but Bors held on.
"No you are going to listen to us. Get off the horse Lancelot or else I will drag you down. Your choice."
OO