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4 years later:

'Miss you mama,' Gabriel said sadly as he kissed his mother goodbye.

Shakira was going to a near by village to help one of the healers who was taken ill. She offered to go, when Arthur told her of what happened. Now she was standing in front of the wall by her horse waiting to leave.

'I'll miss you too baby,' she said as she wiped a tear off his face. 'You be good for your papa ok?'

'Ok,' he pouted, 'Love you.'

Shakira grinned. 'Love you more.'

She stood and kissed her husband who was standing beside his son. 'I'll only be gone a few days,' she said in his ear.

'Come back quickly,' he told her. 'We'll be leaving to get this……Bishop in the next few days. My love….' He traced her pouty bottom lips with his thumb.

'I love you,' she told him.

She farewelled the Knights quickly before beginning her journey.

Jet had left Hadrian's Wall two years prior. She and Lancelot had begun to have a steady relationship when all of a sudden she left. He was inconsolable for a time after she left, but a year later, he went back to his old ways and began bedding barmaids again.

Jet had confided in Shakira in telling her that, she fell pregnant. But two months later, she miscarried and did not have the strength to tell Lancelot. She loved him. So the best thing, she thought, she could do was to leave.

Shakira begged her to tell him, but she refused. For some reason she was ashamed.

0-0-0

'Arthur!' called one of the roman guards. 'News.'

Arthur listened to the Roman as he spoke and his face saddened and then went to shock. He turned to the direction of the Knights who were waiting expectantly by the Tavern.

'Lets us speak….in the meeting room.'

Arthur looked sadly at the Knights and put his hands on the table before him. 'Yesterday……in the early hours of morning. There was an attack on one of the near by villages.'

'Saxons?' Bors asked.

'No.'

Arthur bit his lip and continued. 'Many died. It was the Crest village.'

'What?' asked Lancelot. Tristan's attention was caught and he looked at Arthur waiting for him to continue. 'And?' pressed Lancelot.

'She's not there,' Arthur said. 'One of the villagers saw her fighting one of the attackers and then disappeared.'

'Who attacked them?' Galahad asked, as Lancelot sighed and Tristan's blood boiled.

'At first they thought it was Saxons……because they could not see. But when they looked at the dead, they saw they were Romans.'

'Excuse me?' said Dagonet. 'Romans?'

'Yes,' Arthur said regrettably. 'When the leader of the group was being questioned he said it was direct orders from Rome, from Maximus Honorius.'

Gawain slammed his mug on the table and Bors began pacing.

0-0-0

Flashback:

'Shakira,' said Ewen as he walked up to her.

It had been a month since Tristan had bee taken by Rome. Shakira was standing by the stables crying silently, and quickly wiped her tears away when Ewen called her name.

'Oh, hello Ewen,' she said sniffling.

'Are you alright?' he asked her.

'Yes,' she smiled. 'I'm fine. Should you not be with the village?'

'Should you not?' he asked her.

Shakira looked away and shook her head. 'No. I don't want to be here. I cannot stand this place anymore because he's not here.'

Ewen's eyes flashed with anger for a moment. 'He's gone Shakira.'

'15 years,' she breathed. She looked at him with tear filled eyes. 'It's a long time isn't it?'

'Yes,' he said taking a step forward. 'You could have many children in that time and….'

'Ewen,' she said, cutting him off. 'I promised my husband when he promised me. I will not share my bed.'

'You will wait?' he asked her getting angry. '15 years? How do you know he will not break his vow?'

'I know,' she said sternly. 'I married him. I love him. Would you leave for 15 years and betray the woman you married?'

Ewen fell silent but his face gave away his answer. Shakira shook her head. 'I'm sorry. My heart and my soul belongs to him. The only thing I can give you is my friendship.'

Ewen hung his head slightly. 'If you ever change you mind….'

'I will not,' she told him. 'I'm sorry.'

End of Flashback:

0-0-0

Shakira rolled over a groaned.

With all the strength she had, she opened her eyes. She was in a dungeon. It was dark and cold. Water was dribbling down the walls and the stench was unbearable.

'Thank goodness,' Guinevere said as she helped her up.

'Where are we?' Shakira asked as she clutched her head and sat against the wall.

'A dungeon,' Guinevere said. 'It is Roman. One called Marius Honorius owns these lands.'

'Did you say Honorius?' Shakira asked.

'Yes,' Guinevere said. 'After you were knocked out in the village I was being dragged off by Romans and this woman was giving Marius money.'

'Money?' Shakira asked. 'He was giving a woman money? Did you hear anything?'

'No.'

And so they have been there for now two weeks. Tortured, starved, brutalised, bad mouthed and at one point almost raped.

Marius went into the dungeons one night and tried to bring Shakira to his bed, but she kneed him in the groin and hit him in the jaw. She earned a beating after that, but she did not care. She would never share the bed of another man.

He came back the next night and tried to take Guinevere. She also refused him and hit him in the groin, which she was whipped for, 10 times.

Her cries and gasps echoed in Shakiras ears. By now she was too weak to move much. Her body was dying. She cried many times, wishing she was back with her husband and her son. If she could only just…..hug them.

Her mind lost its focus when the dungeon opened and she heard gruff voices.

'Let go of me!'

'In you go pretty!' said a mocking voice. A cell opposite the one Shakira shared with Guinevere opened and a woman was thrown in.

The Monks walked to the cell and locked it closed, while the woman yelled insults and swear words at the Romans and then started on the monk.

'Best be quiet,' he cooed in a crazy voice. 'God does not like the women of his world to speak so.'

'Shut the fuck up!' growled the woman. 'What are you?'

The Monk ignored her and walked to Shakiras cell. 'Are you ready to serve the Lord?'

'You can shove your Lord up your arse,' Guinevere snapped. 'We will never bow down to you. Christian scum.'

Shakira and Guinevere fell asleep on one another. Each clinging to the other for warmth. Shakiras eyes fell closed and her mind was filled with images.

Horses…….the Knights……the gates……Marius……Woads in the trees…..a sword slashing…..a red headed woman being taken into the dungeon……a little dark haired boy crying and pulling a sword from a grave stone.

Shakiras eyes snapped open and she gasped. 'Jet,' she breathed.

'Hmmm?' said a voice from the opposite cell.

'What?' Shakira asked.

'Shakira?' asked a bewildered voice.

'Jet?' Shakira asked.

'Yes! Oh my Gods!' she cried. 'Kira! How did you get here?'

'I don't know,' she said sadly. 'I've been here with Guinevere for…..I've lost count for how many days. It must be at least two weeks.'

'Two weeks!' Jet gasped. 'I missed you so much.'

'Me too,' Shakira said as tears came to her eyes. 'Hold on there Jet. We'll get out.'

'I hope so….,' she said as her voice faded. 'I hope so.'

0-0-0

'Open this door!' Arthur growled to the Monk.

'You cannot! This is a place of God.'

Lancelot dragged him away and shoved him aside. Dagonet handed Arthur an axe and everyone stepped back as he cut through the wood.

'This is heresy!' yelled Marius. 'Arthur, this is a place of God!'

'Not my God,' Galahad hissed dangerously.

Arthur took a torch and went inside.

'Stop!' yelled the Monk inside. 'You cannot pass!'

Lancelot stepped forward but the Monk put his arms out. 'This is a place of God!'

'Not my GOD!' Lancelot yelled at him as he hauled him aside.

They went in further and immediately pinched their noses. 'By the stench they are all dead,' Gawain said looking into the cells.

Arthur stood in the middle of the dungeon and shook his head. 'How can these places exist?'

'They do,' Lancelot told him sternly. 'Is this the work of your God?'

Dagonet opened a pot and saw a little boy inside. 'You must not fear me,' he told the frightened boy.

'Arthur! Lancelot called as he looked in the cell holding Jet. 'My Gods…..Jezebel.'

He picked up the unconscious woman and carried her out, holding her closely.

Arthur moved to the cell holding Guinevere and Shakira. 'These two are alive!'

Gawain moved beside him and stepped in. 'Shakira,' he said as he picked her up. Arthur looked startled and looked at the scouts unconscious wife.

'You are safe,' he told Guinevere who moved away from him.

0-0-0

'Water!' Arthur called. 'Bring me some water!'

Tristan looked down at Guinevere. 'She's a Woad.'

'Tristan!' Gawain called. He turned to see the blond man holding a dark haired woman in his arms.

Gawain stood in front of his friend and looked down at the shattered Shakira. 'She's barely alive.'

Tristan quickly took her in his arms and knelt down on the ground. 'Shakira…,' he whispered as he moved her dirty hair from her face.

Felutiana walked wearily to Tristan who was trying desperately to wake his wife. She knelt down and handed him some water. He took it from her and nodded once in thankyou.

'What is this!' Marius growled. 'You will be tried before Rome!'

Arthur stood up and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. 'Maybe I should kill you now and seal my fate.'

Marius looked toward Shakira and looked at her with great disgust. 'You save Pagan whores?'

Arthur pushed him back and looked at the Knights, who looked ready to kill. 'Bring them to the wagons.'

Tristan sat in the wagon with Shakira. She was still unconscious but he had looked over her body and was filled with rage and anger. She was bruised badly but thankfully nothing was broken. She had suffered a great many beatings.

He stroked her hair and kissed her palm as he waited for her to wake.

He looked at his sister who was being care for by Lancelot and his heart filled with anger. All that was on his mind was to kill Marius.

'She's strong,' croaked Jet as she felt her brother's anger. 'She will live.'

'And you?' he asked.

She smiled slightly. 'Me too. I was not there as long as she. She will live.'

0-0-0

'Tristan!' Gawain called as he rode to him. 'She's awake.'

Tristan rode back to the camp quickly and climbed into the wagon and quietly crept by a sleeping Lucan and Guinevere.

Shakira was looking out of the wagon window. She looked nothing less of exhausted.

'Tristan?' she asked as he sat down beside her. 'I missed you so much.'

He held her as she cried in his arms. 'Its alright,' he soothed softly.

She buried her face in his neck and cried. 'I love you.'

'I love you too,' he told her. 'I'm here with you my love.'

She smiled as she looked at him. 'I know how all of this happened. He's a bad man.'

'I know,' he told her as he kissed her lips. 'No one will ever hurt you again.'

She nodded and closed her eyes as she fell asleep again.

0-0-0

Shakira woke the next day when the carriage was moving. She sat up with less pain than before.

'I am glad you are awake,' Guinevere said beside her.

Shakira smiled at her and took her hand in hers. 'Me too. Do you hurt?'

'Only slightly,' she said sadly. 'Your husband comes to see you all the time. I woke to hear him speaking to Arthur angrily. He is very determined to have his revenge on Marius.'

'If I know my husband, he will.'

Jet stepped into the wagon and hugged her tightly. 'It's been so long sister.'

'I know,' she said as she pulled her down beside her. 'You have met Guinevere?'

'Yes,' Jet smiled at the Woad. 'While you slept.'

Shakira leaned back and sighed. 'Freedom,' she said.

'We all wish to be free. We fight for our country but when you are locked in a cell, all you wish is for freedom from their four walls,' Guinevere said.

'I agree,' Shakira said.

Jet leaned to Shakira. 'I told him. I could not lie any longer.'

'I am proud,' Shakira said. 'And his reaction?'

'Shame,' she said. 'I don't know why. He says it is not shame of my miscarriage….he says it is him. He wished I had told him, and now that I know why he is shamed……I wish so too.'

'I am sorry for your loss,' Guinevere told her sincerely. 'To miscarry a child must be terrible.'

'It is,' Jet said sadly. 'Lancelot wishes…..he wishes to start over but…,'

'He shared his bed too many times?' Shakira finished for her.

'I have not shared mine since I left,' Jet said. 'I know he felt pain, but I feel hurt.'

Shakira nodded. 'I understand. But he still loves you. I do not believe you should let that stop you.'

Jet smiled. 'On to better things. How is my nephew?'

'Big!' Shakira laughed. 'He is very much like his papa. Quiet, watchful, funny and he loves me.'

The girls laughed. 'He misses you though,' Shakira said.

'Aw,' Jet sang. 'Has Tristan taught him to fight yet?'

'He is learning,' Shakira nodded. 'He is also learning to throw knives. Tristan started at three so, he thought it best to let his son begin.'

'And a bow?' Guinevere asked.

'Soon,' Shakira nodded. 'He is too small.'

0-0-0

Shakira was walking around the camp fire toward the wagon, holding Lucan. Tristan was due to return from scouting at any moment. She walked past Bors and made her way toward a shadow part of the wagon when she felt a hand go over her mouth.

'You cannot scream, Pagan whore. I will have you now,' hissed a dangerous voice.

Lucan heard the voice and ran out of the wagon straight to Dagonet. He was terrified and pulled Dagonet with him toward the wagon.

'No!' yelled Shakira as the man put his hands on her waist, trying to lift her skirt.

'Stop moving!' growled the man as he slapped her.

Shakira kneed him in the groin and hit him in the jaw. 'Marius?'

He clicked his fingers and two Roman soldiers came out from the bushes and took a hold of her arms. Marius walked forward and slapped her again. 'Get her on the ground,' he ordered the guards.

Shakira opened her mouth to scream when a sword came out from the darkness behind Marius and stoped at his neck. Then another came out and fought the guards who quickly backed off leaving Shakira.

Lucan stood behind the wagon peeking from the corner watching Dagonet and Tristan pointing their swords at Marius.

Shakira stood breathing heavily and Dagonet grabbed Marius by the collar and dragged him off toward the camp.

Shakira threw her arms around her husband's neck and kissed him deeply. He sheathed his sword and snaked an arm around her waist. 'We'll kill him,' he hissed.

This time she nodded. 'We will. Soon.'

'He dares to touch my wife, I will draw my sword though him. He will die by my hand.'

0-0-0

Author Note: Thankyou so much for those who Reviewed. And a big thankyou to those who read but don't review :( . PLEASE review even if it's anonymous! I accept anonymous reviews. Thankyou.