Authors notes: Thanks again to my loyal reviewers. Enjoy!
OO
The trip back to the fort was a slow and drawn out process. Lancelot remained in an exhausted slumber clutched tightly to Tristan's chest. Marcellus had attempted to put the knight in chains but a little knife at the throat put pay to that. Now Tristan was in as much trouble as Lancelot. If it hadn't been for Plautius there would have been another massacre.
The knights were grouped together riding a short distance from the Romans refusing to listen to Marcellus's demands that they situate themselves closer to the group. Plautius also rode with them with Galahad in his arms and Dagonet had regained consciousness and was riding alone with Bors taking care of Gawain. They were an unhappy group all of them thinking about what was going to happen when they rode in. Marcellus was clearly delighting in their impending punishment. He fully intended to charge Lancelot and Tristan with assault as well as Lancelot's other charges. He was also determined to charge the other knights and Tristan didn't think this was going to be easily sorted out. Arthur would try desperately to protect them but faced with such overwhelming evidence there was going to be little he could do without appearing to be favouring a group of slaves. If that happened Arthur could be removed from his command and that would prove disastrous.
Lancelot for one wouldn't let that happen. He would act a martyr and make sure only himself went down.
"So what do we say?" Bors questioned quietly.
"I'd rather doubt we could get a word in edgeways. Marcellus is going to be ranting for some time."
"Arthur is going to be pissed."
"That's an understatement."
"What about him?" Bors said and Tristan knew immediately that he was referring to Lancelot.
Tristan shrugged and looked up to see the wall and fort come into view.
"We are about to find out."
The rest of the journey proceeded in silence. The massive heavy gates of the fort groaned as they were opened and the group entered.
O
Arthur stood in the courtyard with Jols and watched as the battered and weary group filed in.
"Bring medics." He ordered Jols as he moved forward determined to find out what had happened. He spotted Plautius and the knights quickly.
"What the hell happened?" he demanded furious and anxious at the same time.
"Woads." Plautius said. "Ambushed the knights and a party of Romans. They suffered heavy casualties and were captured."
"And you found them and freed them…?"
"We helped; they were in the process of escaping when we arrived."
Arthur sighed. 'Why was nothing EVER simple with them?'
"Artorius Castus we meet again."
Arthur's expression become one of a long suffering man.
"Chief Centurion Marcellus. What happened? You miss this fort that much you had to return?" he snapped sarcastically.
"I told you I would be back."
"I had hoped you were lying."
Marcellus smiled a sly grin of a man who knew something damning. Arthur felt his own levels of concern rise dramatically.
"I bet you did but I feel I should let you know that the charges could not remain unanswered. Indeed during the course of this debacle I have further charges to add to the ones that the knight Lancelot already faces as well as new charges to that of the knight Tristan. Both of these men are to be placed in prison immediately and you and I are going to have a long talk."
There was nothing he could do to prevent Marcellus from doing what he had said without showing blatant favouritism and the smug man knew it.
Arthur turned to look at Tristan who had a senseless Lancelot in his arms.
"It is fine Arthur." The scout said. Arthur nodded.
"Take them down and put them in prison." Marcellus ordered. Arthur bit his lip as Lancelot was dragged from Tristan's mare. Tristan got down; glared at the two Roman soldiers until they let him walk unaided.
"Arthur!" Bors exclaimed.
"Silence. Knights look to yourselves and then wait in the main hall. I will join you there shortly." He snapped. At that moment Jols arrived with the medics and the courtyard dissolved into an organised chaos.
"Chief Centurion Marcellus lets talk in my office. Plautius if you are able I would like you to join us as well."
Plautius nodded. "I will be there shortly."
"Castus." Marcellus snapped indicating they should go in the direction of Arthur's office.
"That is Commander Castus to you." He sneered. Arthur had had a rest and was completely ready to face Marcellus.
O
Bors and Dagonet were stood outside Arthur's office, after having given up on waiting in the hall, listening to the shouting that was going on inside. Arthur, Marcellus and Plautius had been in there for little over an hour and the shouting had started soon after. The topic of conversation was Lancelot at the beginning but it soon moved onto the knights in general and then Arthur himself.
"I could have you on charges of insubordination. I am a commander and I am a roman regardless of who I command. I outrank you and you have no authority to command me to do anything." Arthur snarled.
"Now listen to me…" Marcellus started.
"NO that is how it is. Tristan and Lancelot will not go unpunished. I am not weak and I can do what is needed to discipline my men."
"I highly doubt that."
"That is not your place to do or don't… Is this your first command?" Arthur said suddenly changing the direction of the conversation.
"How is that relevant?" Marcellus said suspiciously.
"Because you have not had enough experience to realise that discipline has to be dealt out but not without careful consideration. You put someone to death and there are massive repercussions within a whole unit. I will only condemn a man to death if he had betrayed us. These circumstances do not warrant it and I would lose all chance of commanding these knights if I did so. If a rebellion is what you want then a rebellion is what you are going to get. They will both be given prison sentences and it will go on their records."
"That is hardly punishment." Marcellus scoffed.
"So what would you have us do?" Plautius asked. "Arthur has already explained why death is not an option. If you kill him for this what do you do with the murders, traitors? Kill them? If you die for something small like insubordination why not just kill the person? Make it permanent? The punishment is the same and therefore you just encourage worse crimes."
Marcellus appeared to be considering Plautius's words and then he nodded ceding the point despite his wish not to. His father had told him not to make enemies especially of those who are in favour in Rome. Arthur and his 'legendry knights' were spoken of greatly and often with awe for their feats. He did not want to go back and explain why he had ordered the execution of one for a trivial matter of insubordination but still striking an officer was an offence that was punished by death. How could he be a good roman and not demand that for someone who was a slave?
"There is still the matter of striking a senior officer." Marcellus said quietly. The steam had gone from his voice and now all he wanted was to leave this base and never to return. Life on the frontiers was not for him.
Arthur sighed at this. "I have spoken to Lancelot and to my squire Jols who witnessed the incident. The roman in question was apparently mishandling a woman. Lancelot repeated told him to stop but he refused. He saw no other option. The fort was besieged and everyone thought they were going to die. Tempers were frayed."
"Tempers are always frayed in battle." Marcellus countered. "That is no excuse."
"Lancelot had been tortured and drugged. He was not in a fit state of mind. However he managed to save this fort and those within it including roman soldiers." Plautius pointed out.
Marcellus looked at the pair of them and realised that he could do nothing. They would not see reason and he had no one to back him up. The knights had friends here and he didn't. He would leave and file a report which will probably be lost amid the piles of paperwork that the administration seemed to produce. That was the way the empire worked.
"Fine I see that blatant favouritism is in operation here and justice will not be dealt out. Henceforth there is no reason for my continued presence. I will remove myself and my men immediately." He turned and left making sure to slam the door behind him.
The two men paused for breath relishing the silence.
"Do you think he will be back this time?"
"No. I doubt anything will come of it. He will file a report and bear a grudge but he will probably be transferred back to Rome as soon as possible."
"Good."
"What will you do with Lancelot and Tristan?"
"Tristan will spend tonight in prison. Lancelot one week."
Plautius smirked.
"Rather you than me."
"Considering his state Lancelot will not be walking or doing much of anything in the near future. He will understand."
Plautius just shook his head and turned to leave. "Oh did Lancelot really ask the soldier to stop?" he questioned.
"I highly doubt it. He is not a man of many words sometimes. Punch first, maybe ask questions later." Arthur said with a smile.
"I will see Marcellus out. If I hear screaming coming from the prison I will evacuate the area."
"You do that. Shouldn't be too hard."
Plautius laughed and they left, Plautius to the courtyard Arthur to the prison.
OO