Hello everyone. I am sooooo sorry I havent been able to update. I have been writing for it but I went on vacation from school and my parents house didnt have internet. I tried to write a page at one sitting but it never worked so pages to follow were written over a week which you could probably see when reading but I hope you like them. So once again I apologize and to make up for it I will post all the chapters I have written thus far, with one underway. I hope you enjoy them and thank you for your patience. Thank you to all who read and to all who review. Please continue.
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"Drink up." Bors shouted handing another pitcher to Dagonet. "To our freedom." he said raising his glass high. The others did like wise. Dagonet passed on another cup and sat there, taking a quick look under the bandage covering one of his wounds. Her hand shot to her arm and she pulled the clothe away from her skin and looked at the mark left behind by the still healing wound. She had to admit, whatever had been done or used had worked, it had not bothered her very much since she received it.
"To our freedom." they all shouted in unison before drinking down the liquid that filled their glasses. They did not take notice of the two women approaching them at first for they were enjoying the festivities.
"And a freedom well deserved." Vanora announced over the shouting men, causing several to look at her. As Vanora quickened her pace to the men, Lillian found herself slowing hers. Suddenly she felt ackward dressed up as she was, especially infront of the knights. Why she wasnt sure but akward she felt none the less. Looking around she tried to find a robe or a clothe of some sort to pull over her but none was within sight or reach. 'Oh well.' she thought to herself sighing in despair. Standing up straight she made her way after Vanora.
"Here. Here." the men agreed raising their drinks once more before taking a long drink of the overflowing ale.
"And where shall you men be spending your years of freedom?" a voice spoke up nervously. Hands in front of her she made her way slowly to the group.
"Well, for starters..." Gawain began to say turning from where he sat in order to answer her but stopped midsentence when she came into view. The others eyed her with shocked expressions on their faces which turned into smiles. Over the brim of his glass Galahad saw her and choked slightly on the ale he was swallowing, causing it to spray off to the sides. Both Dagonet and Tristan tried to jump far enough out of the way so that the would not be caught in the crossfire. She felt her cheeks flush ever so slightly at the mens reactions, and Galahads made her chuckle sending her hand instintely to her face in a vain attempt to hide her laughter. Dropping her hand only when she saw others joing in on the hilarity of the moment.
"Well, I was going to ask all of ya what you thought of her in that there dress but, assuming from your reactions I dont need to." Vanora said patting Galahad on the shoulders as he tried to clean himself up. "Looks gorgeous doesnt she?"
"We havent seen that on anyone in a long while." Bors answered making his way to Lillian, his hand draped across his torso. Reaching her she tried to hold onto him to help steady him but he shrugged her outstretched arm away and insteadheldher hands. "Do not worry I am fine."
"Mind if Lillian here joins you lads for a drink while I go and check on the kids?" Vanora said stepping to give Bors a kiss. "Go ahead love take a seat." she said signaling Lillian to sit amongst the men. "I will be back soon." With that the firey haired woman left the group.
"Lancelot will adore you when he sees how you look in this dress." Dagonet whispered softly so that only she could hear.
A small painful smile lit her face as she tried to hide the feelings she felt. 'I am not so sure about thatDagonet.' she thought to herself as she looked into his eyes.
"Come on Lillian have a seat." Galahad announced aloud drawing her attention.
"Care for a drink?" Gawain asked motioning for a bar maid to bring another round to the table before Lillian could muster an answer. Dagonet led her to an empty seat between himself and Galahad and all rose waiting for her to sit. For a moment she paused at the courtesy for it was all still quite new.
"No really. I shouldn't." she tried to say sitting down as the cup was placed before her.
"Nonsense." Bors shouted obviously drunk. "Drink up lassy. Its your celebration as well."
"I thought the celebration was to be tonight after dinner?" Lillian asked rather confused side glancing to Dagonet.
"Technically speaking, it is." Galahad answered leaning forward.
"Doesn't mean we cant get an early start on it though." Bors said loudly shoving the overflowing cup to his face.
Pulling the drink that had been placed before her closer Lillian looked around the table until her eyes landed upon Gawain. His long reddish blonde hair hung loosely around his head and draped over his shoulders.
"Go on Gawain." Lillian finally asked focusing her attention on the men at the table and trying to ignore the drunken Romans on the other side of the bar, who had recently become louder as several barmaids came near them. "Finish telling your answer. Where shall you go now that your freedom has been granted?"
Placing his mug down he looked to her and the others, briefly contemplating his answer. "Well, like I was about to say, some of us shall remain here once the Romans depart from this land. Others, like myself, shall attempt the journey back home to Sarmatia. It has been long since I have seen the green slopes of home or seen my family. It will be good to go home and live in peace after all this war."
"Home to Sarmatia?" Lillian pondered. Her eyebrows lowered slightly as she struggled to recall the look of Sarmatia. The land and its people but no such images came to mind. "I wish I could remember it." she said sadly taking a long drink. The liquid coursed down her throat sending a warm sensation throughout her body. Setting the cup down she saw that she had nearly drank the entire thing.
"Now dont feel to bad Lillian. We hardly remember it either. Atleast I dont." Galahad responded hoping that his admittance would in some way cheer the woman up.
Before long the group was laughing and remeniscing, trying to fill Lillian in on her life with them. Hoping to open a closed door. Drink after drink they tried but no memories emerged.
"You know, if all of you are to leave, whether it be home to Sarmatia or off to someother land, it makes me wonder where I shall go." she said looking down into her empty glass. Looking back up after a moments pause she tried to locate a nearby barmaid. Once in sight she signaled for another drink.
"Probably where ever Lancelot heads off to." Gawain answered not thinking.
"Really. And what makes you so sure I would want to go with him!" Lillian shouted. From the look on the mens face she had caught them off guard.
"I think you have had enough to drink." Dagonet stated quickly pushing her newly filled cup away from her.
"No. I have not had enough." she said reaching for the cup but her reach was no match for the taller mans. "You dont get it do you. Any of you? You automatically expect me to go off with Lancelot where ever he goes but you know what." Her voice rose as she stood from the table to look at all the knights. "Maybe I dont want to. Maybe I dont want the life you all said that I had. Maybe I dont want it...Maybe...Maybe I..." she cried sinking to the ground at a nearby post.
"Lillian?" Dagonet whispered knealing down beside her. Suprise still in his eyes and on his face at what had just accured. His eyes spoke all his unasked questions.
Looking up she glanced passed him to the others. They looked to one another not sure of how to act. Bringing her eyes slowly back to the man before her she looked deeply into his. "I told him." she cried softly. "I told him after the incident with Vanora when we arrived and I have not seen him since. He was so mad at me." she cried sinking into his arms.
"Shhh." Dagonet said placing a hand on her head. "Everything will be fine." he said quietly glancing to the men behind him. "Bors see whats taking Vanora so long."
Before long the fatter drunken knight returned with the missing woman in tow.
"Sorry 'bout that lads, once you get Sarah talkin' its hard to get her to stop." Vanora said laughing but was stopped short at the sight of the sunken woman.
"Vanora take her in the back and clean her up." Dagonet said helping her to her feet and handing her to the red haired womans care.
"Whats wrong love?" she asked quietly pulling the dark hair from her face.
"I'd rather not talk about it right now." Lillian stated flatly. Vanora nodded silently and led the woman off. Leaving the dazed and confused knights behind.
"What was that all about?" Bors asked, his question directed mainly to Dagonet. "Dag?"
The tall knight waited for the women to disappear from view before he turned to face the men.