Ten - Beautiful Disaster
No matter how much alcohol gushed into her veins, the words Arthur spoke weren't reduced into muffled sounds, and small laughs. His request wasn't a joke, it was truly something he would force Lana to do.
"And I decided long ago that I will marry someone strong, someone I respect. And there are no other men on this island that I respect more than those men. More than you're self, or Gawain, Lancelot, Dagonet, Galahad, Bors, Tristan." Lana took a breath as Arthur glared down at her, the fire cracking in the background. "Lancelot as arrogant and rude, heartless as he can be. There is far more to him than anyone can know. We have grown fond of one another." Lana crept her hands together, and lowered her eyes to the tiled floor, staring at the pair of feet below.
"Fond, and when the day comes when you must put that sword in his grave, will you're fondness save what you lost?" Arthur hissed, what if Lancelot died? What then?
"We all might die, I might die tomorrow from a fault on the battle field. But you know it's a chance we must all take."
"No." Arthur spun around, his cape hitting her knees and his face now towards the flames. "You are not here by order, you are here by my allowing. Once the weather clears, you will go to Rome." Arthur's voice called sternly. "You will never pick up a sword for battle again Lana."
"Don't get petty Arthur," Lana didn't take his threat seriously, and raising her face, she narrowed her stare, holding her gaze to his back. "Rome isn't my home, after all these years, you realize my home is where I make it. Rome is your home, never mine."
"You are the brother of a Christian, and a leader of Rome."
"I am adopted by you, and a Pagan. As much as converting to your faith would be nice, that isn't whom I am. Rome isn't my home." Lana whispered.
"The Roman captain has requested I send a Knight, and show our strategies, our fighting style, and help distribute their army." Arthur crossed his arms, his armor clanged together while her shifted his weight, then finally turning to view Lana. Lana raised her eyes up at him, and with her mouth shut, her brown eyes sneered at his sight. "I will send you."
"Making me leave will do nothing between Lancelot and myself. All you'll do is piss us off." And with that Arthur was silent, his eyes traveled to the window, where the wind whistled in the bare night. "Oh what you weave Arthur. Sending me away, is that truly you're answer? Shipping me off to Rome, pawning me off!" Lana shouted.
"You can't be with one of these men. What heart break you will have the day they don't come home is something I'm not willing to bare, or allow you to experience. Understand sister, this is all to protect you, like you claim we do so well."
"These men are deep within my hearts, everyday I wish to grant them life. Lancelot will always be apart of me. Nothing can change that." Lana's voice was calming, and softer than before. "Send me to Rome, I will go with my head high, but I will only think of what might happen in my absence."
"You're truly sending me off to Rome?" Lana leaned over herself as she sat in Arthur's plush bedding. Arthur stood behind the sneer drapes, which divided his room from the desk and his bed. His arms stiffly crossed over his chest, he nodded his head lightly. Her head spun remembering the loud argument they had weeks ago.
"I believe it to be best. Rome still acquires for someone from my army. Sending you I believe to be the correct decision." Lana shook her head, pulling herself back up straight, she saw her brother's face.
"You want me away from Lancelot. Arthur what happened wasn't his fault, it was all mine! I drug Gawain off into-"
"This has nothing to do with Gawain, or what happened."
"But everything to do with my protection. My mistake will cause me to be uprooted again from all I know." Lana's voice softened, Arthur shook his head and took a seat next to his sister. "I don't want to go to Rome. Rome isn't my home."
"Do as I ask. This one favor." Arthur clarified.
"Why?" Lana turned to her brother's face, he looked up at her his face clear. "You give me the reason, and I will pack my things tonight." Lana countered back, Arthur turned his face, he stared through the drapes and into the burning fire. It took him a few minutes, until the words where created to suit the situation properly.
"Rome will be a good time to recover--"
"Arthur,"
"Lana. You can read enemies correctly. You're sense of direction is unmatched, and in Rome I hope you will be able to see other options to the rest of your life."
"I'm nineteen and the rest of my life is already set -- here with you and the men once you're orders are final we'll discuss what I will do." Lana retorted, Arthur just shook his head no.
"You will go to Rome, recover, learn their city and understand further of their plans. You will be able to see each written mission we are specified too. And once the captain has allowed, you may return for visits." Lana held her mouth shut, leaving British soil for Rome wasn't an idea for vacation. "You're stay will be these last five years."
"WHAT!" Lana shouted, she had no idea he had arranged this visit for Rome for five years. "Arthur five years? That's nearly a lifetime!"
"Yes, and you will be safe in Rome, reviewing battle plans and other ideas." Lana sat facing Arthur, her tongue now sharp.
"When they see it is a woman you've sent, they'll be disappointed." Lana said flatly. "You have a chance to drag one of your men from this hell, and guarantee their survival Arthur,"
"Yes, and I have chosen you, now pack, I have given you my reasons." Arthur sat up, and parted the draping and heated his hands over the fire. "I will escort you for south for three days, you'll meet with a carriage, and forty-five of Rome's best soldiers at your disposal." Arthur brushed his hands and turned from the flames, shuffling through the stacks of paper on his desk, he gripped a thick envelope, tied with a string. "Lana, you will be taught by Rome's greatest leader! You will send armies on missions, and learn valuable skills. Men will bow to her feet, and you will bring great respect to our family." Up on her feet, she waved through the drapes, and placing her hands on the envelope, she turned to the door.
"You are Rome's greatest leader Arthur."
Slamming items into her trunks, Lana had made her room into a disaster area, picking up things, then through them to the side. It was all her anger built up and crashing over her personal affects. She had four trunks to fill, one with clothes, another with books, another held weapons and the last trunk, well, she wasn't sure to put in there. that was until she thought of Morty, he loved the berries about this place, she decided to pack weeks worth in her trunks for her beloved companion. While checking all she'd packed in the middle of the night, huffing, she knew Lancelot had to be sleeping, and a few of her most prized possessions where laying in his chamber.
Walking out of her room like she was on a mission, her heels slapped on the tile, until she eased his door open. Turning, she saw Galahad's door wide open, and Gawain's shut. Digging for a deep breath, she walked in, and with the fire still giving light, she saw Lancelot, blankets to his waist, his bare chiseled chest viewed clearly. Lana turned her face after seeing his eyes shut, she reached for the leather top, apart of her armor. Collecting a few items in her hands, she reached over at the bed side table, her beloved necklace lay near his dagger. A sudden amount of rustling came from his bed, and as Lana pulled the necklace to her fingers, Lancelot's eye lids swiped open.
"What are you doing?" He said in a cocky tone, his voice showing he believe she was here for him.
"Taking my things,"
"Lana you are definitely keeping me interested in our little tiff. What do you want?" Lana was able to figure out Lancelot quicker ever day, he did things according for reactions, and she knew how much he adored pissing her off.
"I'm actually not surprised by your attitude at all," Lana laughed as Lancelot braced his back with the headboard.
"So, come to bed." Lancelot patted the place next to him, and everything in her hands he ignored. Lana laughed hysterically, she stepped back and cleared her throat.
"The only things I have felt from my father, was this necklace, and this phrase that repeats in my mind constantly." Lana looked at Lancelot, her eyes snapping in the night. "I was a horrible cook, and I tried to make bread, but I just made a rock of it. My father would laugh, hug me, then look into my eyes and tell me that it was a beautiful disaster. He should have told me what better to do, but he took a bite with a smile, and then gave the rest to the pigs." Lana paused as Lancelot looked puzzled. Lana grinning, gripped her belongings in her hands. "Lancelot, you are a beautiful disaster."
