Hello again everyone. Thanks again for all of the reviews. I hope you like this chapter. It was hard to figure out how I wanted to play it out to get it to get it to fit into future chapters but I figured it out and here you go. Its a little choppy but it works. I hope you like it. Please keep up with the reviews. Thank you to everyone who reads and to everyone who reviews. Have a great day. :)
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Seeing the sudden change in her face a pain hit him. The thought of her refusing the proposal filled his mind and caused his heart to jump. "I understand if you chose not to but if you give it some thought..." his words seemed to fall on deaf ears for the woman didnt flinch as he spoke. He saw fear in her eyes but he was unsure why. "Lillian?" he asked waving a hand infront of her face in hopes to snap her out of her trance but her eyes remained fixated on what ever laid in the distance. Finally turning to see what drew her attention so, the dark knight saw them.
"Saxons." he growled angrily as he spoke the word. Behind him he heard the sound of rushing soldiers sure to be running to spread the news.
"I knew it." she whispered, drawing the dark knights attention from the mass of Saxon bodies before him to her.
"What?" he asked, her eyes not moving to his.
"It was too good to be true. Freedom, Arthur, the others...you." she spoke softly, fearing to speak louder for the thought of Cynric nearby held still in her mind.
"Lillian." Lancelot said trying to snap her out of it. To bring her back from the fears that he could only think could be filling her mind.
"It is no use. He has found me. He will always find me wherever I go." she cringed as she uttered the words. Turning her to face him, he held her steadily in his arms. Feeling her body tremble beneath his grip. Shaking her slightly he managed to bring her gaze to his.
"I will not let them hurt you. Not now and never again." he stated matter of factly bringing his face closer to hers so that she would focus on his words and see the sincerety in his eyes. "I promise." Pulling her into his arms he held her close hoping to calm her worries and fears.
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"Make way." a voice shouted to the crowd that had started to gather. All came to see the Saxon horde that awaited outside. From the depths of the people below them Arthur emerged, followed shortly by Guinevere. Lillian watched as the Roman commander looked out over what seemed to be an endless see of Saxons men as they lit up the darkness of the night with their torches. The look in his eyes said it all. With an almost saddened expression the tall commander turned to face her and Lancelot as well as several of the other knights that had made their way to the top of the wall.
"Knights." he said, a hint of pride in his voice as well as sadness and grief. "My journey with you must end here." his words echoed throughout everyones ears. "May God go with you." With that the determined man left and made his way down the steps. Each step he made marked with the heavy burden he was about to undertake.
Glancing to Lillian he looked to Arthur as he left. She saw the look in his eyes. The desire to save one who had saved him. To save not a Roman but a true friend. With a nod of her head she took his leave and went racing after the burdened man.
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"Arthur this is not Romes fight! It is not your fight!" she heard him call after him. Making her way down the steps she found herself once more in the company of the woad woman.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Lillian whispered half paying attention to the woman beside her and half watching the sight unfold before her. Arthur had tried to leave but was stopped short by Lancelot as their discussion continued on. Coming closer the words started to become clearer.
"Then do not do this! Only certain death awaits you here. Arthur! I beg you! For our friendships sake, I beg..." Lancelot tried to plea but was cut off by the stubborn Roman before him.
"Be my friend now and do not dissuade me. Sieze the freedom you have and earned and live it for the both of us. Live the life that you longed dreamed to have with Lillian by your side." Arthur announced full heartedly to the man who started out as a knight he was to lead, but became his friend by the end. Placing a hand on his shoulder he tried to make him see his reason."I cannot follow you Lancelot. I now know that all the blood I have shead, all the lives I have taken have led me to this moment."
Turning back around the Roman left the stunned knight alone and went to prepare himself.
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Disappearing into the crowd Lillian found a short cut back to the main house and made her way to Arthur's room.
"Come in." he announced as she knocked on the door. The large door creaked as she pushed it aside. Bringing his eyes up from the armor he was beginning to lay out he saw her face. "Lillian. Come in." he added signaling for her to enter. Closing the door behind her she made her way closer to his bed and eyes the armor he laid out upon it. "How can I help you?" he said trying to sound the tinest bit cheerful as he spoke.
"You can help me by not staying here tomorrow." she stated drawing the mans attention to her. "This is suicide Arthur. Last time you faced the Saxons you nearly lost Dagonet and that was only to part of the horde. That is the entire army out there." she said signaling out his window and beyond the wall. "An entire army Arthur. You cannot win this. Only death awaits you." she said hoping to sway his earlier statements.
"What would you have me do?" Arthur asked stopping as he spoke.
"Leave this place with the Romans. They are departing in the morning. Go with them. Or with the men." she said refering to the knights hoping that either option may change his mind.
"I cannot do that." he answered walking to her. "But you can. You have a choice to leave this wall and live."
"Live what?" she asked feeling the sadness in her heart start to grow.
"Just live." he answered placing a hand to her cheek. "I am glad to have known you Lillian and all the more glad to have found you to be alive and safe." he added. "Now go, and enjoy your last night behind these walls and contemplate the future that awaits you." he announced signaling her to go.
"They love you Arthur. Do not leave them like this." she whispered as walked passed him to the door.
"I have no choice." he responded as the woman made her way across the floor.
"We always have choices Arthur." Lillian spoke over her shoulder and, taking one last look to the dark haired man she left, closing the door tightly behind her.