Sorry for the shortness of this chapter but the following one will make up for it when I post it in the next day or two. Hope you enjoy and please continue to review.
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None of the men saw their empending arrival. She noticed the group quieting as they spoke, making sure others, except for those at the table, could not hear. For a brief moment she saw Lancelot rise and face Dagonet and confusion struck her. Why would he approach a fellow knight like that. What could they be discussing to cause such a reaction.
"Wonder whats got them looking so seriously." Vanora whispered as they approached, "Look Lancelot and Arthur are there. Come on, we'll suprise them." Vanora added with a smile as she began pushing their path to the right so that they were not seen. "They wont expect us coming this was. Wont they be happy to see you in that dress of yours. Come on deary." she added grabbing the womans hand and pulling her alongside her.
"I dont know." Lillian added curisously as she stared at the group of men. Slowing their pace they made their way closer to the table where the men sat so not to make a sound. The mood surrounding them that was once happy and lively was now somber. As they approached their voices, that were once indistinct, became clearer.
"She was raped." Arthur announced to the group . Loud enough for those at the table to hear and loud enough for them but no others happened to hear what the Roman had uttered. In her mind she thought he had screamed it for all and all faces, at least those she could see came to a halt. Smiles faded and serious looks took their place.
'She was raped.' The sound of his voice speaking those words aloud made her heart stop. Reaching a hand to the pillar they had hidden behind she sought to steady herself as her body began to shake and her breathing came in shorter bursts.
Vanora, who had not noticed what the woman beside her was experiencing, spoke up on what they had just heard. "Someone was raped? Poor child. I wonder who they are speaking of. Such a dreadful thing though." Finally turning to the dark haired woman she saw her, wide eyed and as pale as the moon. "Lillian? Whats wrong?"
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"You're kidding us right. Arthur?" Galahad asked laughing, but the look on his face fell as he saw the stern eyed face of his commander. "You have got to be mistaken." He added leaning closer to the Roman commander.
"No, I am afraid not Galahad. We found out what had happened to her only shortly after we arrived at the wall." Arthur announced quietly his eyes turning to Lancelot who had remained quiet as the others spoke. The young knight still clung to the the cup of ale that lay before him, his eyes stuck steadly to the table before him not wanting to see the looks the others bore. Hearing her tale once was enough and now he was forced to sit and hear it again only made him that more angry with the unseen Saxons.
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"I have to go now. I have to leave." Lillian whispered, her eyes looking passed the woman before her to a dying flame on the table where the men sat. Turning she started to leave but was followed. "I have to go."
"Whats wrong Lillian? The tour isnt even over yet love." Vanora spoke up, though her voice was still low so few could hear.
"I am sorry, you have been very kind to me and I am thankful, but I have to go. I have to..." Lillian answered not looking back.
"I'll go with you dear." Vanora added quickening her pace.
"No." Lillian refutted turning to face the following woman. "Please. I just need a moment to think." Lillian pleaded looking into her eyes, hoping the woman would stay.
"Your starting to worry me Lillian." she spoke, her voice drawing the attention of several Roman men near them. Lillian noticed how their eyes coveted the women. Looking them up and down, their stare caused Lillian to feel a chill run through her. The look in their eyes reminded her all to much of Cynric and her wanting to leave became even greater. "Come on, let us go say hello to the men. They'll all be wanting to know how your doin'." Vanora spoke up drawing the womans attention back to her.
Again she felt the urge to run away, the urge to scream. To do that which she had feared to do for eight years, confront the men around her.
'She was raped.' He had told the others. He had revealed what she had hoped to keep hidden, but how had he known. Looking back she saw the Sarmatian knights still frinking and talking with their commander, evidence that they had not heard the two womens approach or near departure. Bringing her eyes back to Vanora she saw the kindness in her eyes and the desire to help and it pained to her to not be able to accept it. Not now.
Back stepping away from the woman she kept her eyes locked on hers. "I am sorry." she said. Speaking so softly that the the gentle woman before her hardly heard her. Grabbing hold of the bottom of the dress she turned and walked away quickly, leaving the confusing woman behind. Once inside the the room her and Vanora had just left she closed the door tightly behind her, biting her lip to avoid screaming.
'Just breathe.' she thought to herself, sliding along the wall to a corner. 'Its not that bad. You are going to take a few breaths, go back out there and confront them civilly. Besides you wanted them to know anyways. Right?'
"Lillian!" a voice boomed from behind the door. A voice she new all to well. She watched as the door began to slowly creep open and once again the sound of the outside drifted in.
