Here's another chapter! Review responses at the end of the chapter. I've already decided how I would end this story and it's gonna be good! I can't wait to write it, I'm so excited. Hope you like this chapter! Oh and I promise to try my hardest with using the tenses, I was never very good at that. I'm gonna try something new for this chapter though. I'm gonna write it in Emma's pov. If this works out, then I'll keep it that way. If you guys don't like it, then let me know and I'll go back to third person.
Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur but I do own Emma.
Faded Roses in a Heart
Chapter 5
One More Deathtrap
Emma's POV
"Welcome back, Arthur," I heard a man named Jols say as we passed through the gates. I handed Tristan his hawk and hopped down off my temporary horse. While on our way back to Hadrian's Wall, the other knights talked of their future lives when they were out of the service. Tristan and I, however, enjoyed the silence and listened to the others' plans. Tristan even allowed me to hold his beloved hawk! I guess he's learning to trust me. He's usually very quiet and I respected that, I did not want to bother him.
"Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you," Arthur said to the Bishop as everyone followed my example of getting off their horses. I listened in on Arthur and the Bishop's conversation.
"Ah, yes. I must rest," the Bishop said. I did not like him very much. I guess Arthur didn't either from the way he dismissed the subject of what I was doing traveling with them. Arthur led the Bishop to his room as the knights and I went to the round table room.
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The knights and I were sitting around the round table waiting for the Bishop. Some of the knights were laughing about something they were talking about. I was in between Arthur and Dagonet, my usual seat, when the Bishop's aide walked into the room first.
"His Eminence, Bishop Gnaeus Germanius," he announced before the Bishop himself entered. I have to say that it was amusing to see his look of astonishment when he noticed the round table. The other knights rose out of their seats to greet him and I followed their actions.
"A round table? What sort of evil is this?" asked the Bishop.
"Arthur says for men to be men, they must first all be equal," Jols announced.
"I was given to understand that there would be more of you," Bishop Germanius said.
"There were. We have been fighting here for fifteen years, Bishop," Arthur announced. The Bishop's head turned over to Arthur, and he unfortunately noticed me beside Arthur.
"And the girl? Why is she here at a table of equal men?" asked the Bishop sending a disgusted look my way. I had of course, wondered myself why Arthur allowed me to stay with him. I half expected him to leave me by myself after I was healed. As you can tell, that didn't happen. The knights let me be apart of their group and they helped me in any way they could. I was even wearing some of their old clothes that they gave me.
"As I said before, she is not part of your business. She is my ward and she is free to be apart of this table. Now if you don't mind, could we get to what we came here to talk about?" asked Arthur. I was shocked! I have not heard anything about me being Arthur's ward at all! I couldn't allow myself that privilege. They had just happened to come find me, that was all there was to it. I didn't want to put Arthur through the trouble. I was thankful enough for him saving me.
I joined back into the conversation when the Bishop requested a word with Arthur. The knights still stood there as I looked warily over at Arthur.
"In private," said the Bishop sitting down. Arthur looked around at all of us before replying.
"We have no secrets," Arthur said. There was a loud noise as one of the knights put their goblets back onto the table.
"Come. Let's leave Roman business to Romans," Lancelot said taking a last drink from his cup.
"Let it go, Bors," Dagonet said patting him on the shoulder before leading me out with the rest of the knights.
We walked to one of the bars and Dagonet left me with Tristan, Galahad, and Gawain at a table. Gawain and Galahad started throwing knives at a board, laughing all the while.
Galahad took a turn next to throw a knife and it lands closer to the center than Gawain's. I heard Tristan move slightly next to me before a knife came and landed on top of Galahad's own.
"Tristan," Galahad muttered looking distraught at his mutilated knife.
"How do you do that?" Gawain asked Tristan as I turned towards the silent knight.
"I aim for the middle," Tristan replied holding an apple that he was eating. I giggled quietly at Tristan's response. I vaguely heard Vanora singing in the background about home. I watched Tristan carve a piece of his apple and hand it to me. Smiling back at him, I took the piece and happily chewed on it.
"Arthur!" I heard Jols call as Vanora's song ended. We all looked up to see Arthur walking over to us.
"Arthur!" Galahad called pleased. I walked over to Arthur with the rest of the knights and we stood before them. I was in front of Tristan, watching as Arthur smiled weakly at us.
"Knights. Brothers in arms. Your courage has been tested beyond all limits, but I must ask you now for one further trial," Arthur announced. I hazily heard Bors say something and the others laughed.
"We must leave on a final mission for Rome before our freedom can be granted," Arthur declared. The knights laughed, thinking Arthur was joking. I knew though, by the look on Arthur's face, that he was very serious. "Above the wall, there lies a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxons. Our orders are to secure their safety."
"Let the Romans take care of their own," Bors said.
"Above the wall is Woad territory," Gawain said sounding very drunk. I thought back to the Woads and knew that this mission would be extremely dangerous to the knights.
"Our duty to Rome, if it was ever a duty, is done. Our pact with Rome is done," Galahad said angrily.
"Please don't go Arthur," Emma added begging him silently.
"Yea, listen to her. Every knight here has laid his life on the line for you. For you. And instead of freedom, you want more blood? Our blood! You think more of Roman blood than you do ours!" asked Bors, his voice rising with every word.
"Bors, these are our orders. We leave at first light and when we return, your freedom will be waiting for you. A freedom we can embrace with-" Arthur tried but was cut off by Bors.
"I'm a free man! I will choose my own fate!" Bors yelled fuming.
"Yeah yeah, we're all going to die someday. If it's death by a Saxon hand that frightens you – stay home." Tristan said putting his hands on my shoulders. I didn't want to look up at him for I knew if I did, the tears might release from my eyes.
"Well if you're so eager to die, you can die right here!" Galahad yelled charging over at Tristan. Lancelot grabbed him from harming Tristan.
"Enough, enough-" Lancelot tried to say to soothe Galahad.
"I've got something to live for!" Galahad screamed.
"The Romans have broken their word. We have the word of Arthur. That is good enough. I'll prepare," Dagonet said walking off to his room. "Bors, you coming?"
"Of course I'm coming! Can't let you go on your own; you'll all get killed!" Bors screamed. Tristan let go of Emma and left after Dagonet. "I'm just saying what you're all thinking!"
"And you, Gawain?" asked Arthur turning to the remaining knights.
"I'm with you. Galahad as well," Gawain added. I watched Galahad laugh then tips all his wine out of its bottle. I flinched as he threw the bottle on the ground shattering it. He left with Gawain, leaving Lancelot, Arthur, and me standing there. Arthur walked away without saying anything. I turned to Lancelot and saw him with a dull expression on his face.
"Lancelot, will everything be alright? With this last mission, I mean," I asked him after grabbing his hand to get his attention. He squeezed my hand looking down at me.
"I don't know Emma. All we can do is hope," Lancelot said before leaving her there to think about tomorrow.
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Alrighty, there's chapter 5 for ya. I'm not sure if I like writing it in Emma's point of view but whatever works. Sorry if anyone seemed ooc in this chapter! Anyways, next chapter the knights leave for the Roman family. Will Emma go with them? Or will she be forced to stay? Please review and let me know what you think of this chapter. If I make anymore mistakes, please let me know!
Love, Archer
Review responses for chapter 5:
Kal's Gal: thanks for reviewing
IHeaRtEmOxSk8ers: thanks for reviewing. Yea the Bishop is kind of sexist towards Emma.
tlm1633: thanks for reviewing, I'm definitely motivated right now because I can't wait to write the ending and see what you guys think of it. It's gonna be a total surprise!
tHe vOiCe WiThiN: thanks for reviewing again. I'm not that good with descriptions, but I will try harder with Emma during the battles in the future. I'm gonna try my hardest in my stories to stop switching tenses but I'm horrible at it. Thanks for correcting me! And don't worry about it sounding as a flame, I'm fine with constructive criticism. I won't hold anything against someone if they correct me, cause I want to be able to write as best as possible. Don't worry about it, I like reviews that let me know what I can do to make a better story. Thanks! And yes, the title does have a huge significance in the ending! That won't be for a while though. Thanks again for reviewing.
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY: thanks for reviewing!