Hello again one and all. Hope you are all well. Sorry this chapter wasnt posted sooner I was still working it out. I hope you enjoy it. Its a little short but the next will make up for it. I hope you like it so please continue reading and reviewing. Thanks again.

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The night carried on but the spark that had lit the evening had died with the arrival of the Saxons. The laughter and joy now diminished as dawn arrived and the thought of leaving a colleage and long time friend behind filled the minds of all the knights. Now they found themselves following the trail that would hopefully lead them to safety while Arthur watched over them as the made their way to some far land that they would call home. Clad in his shining armor he stared down at them as they left him behind. In a brief moment he wished he could have joined them, to have children that would know the knights that he respected so but those images that filled his mind remained such. Artorius Castus did not know if he would live to see another day and all that filled his mind was the thought that his men would be safe now that they have their freedom and he was not afraid. Not afraid to die in this battle for he choose to fight in it and that atleast gave him some comfort as he watched Roman soldiers and Sarmatian women and children leave.

Lillian tried to remain optomistic on Arthurs situation but the beating of the nearby Saxon drums still filled her with dread. Underneath her Midnight bucked slightly as if to draw her away from the terrible thoughts that filled her mind. Jols had helped her to ready him for the journey while the Knights were doing the same with their own. Beside her she saw the look of sadness on all of the mens faces and confusion on the faces of Bors' children. Walking alongside Lancelot she tried to find some words to better the atmosphere around them but she could find none. From behind she heard the sound of hooves leaving the trail and leaving the caravan. All the knights, all but Lancelot, turned as did she and too her suprise she saw Bors race closer to Arthur who still remained high on the hill looking out over them.

"Artorius!" he shouted raising his sword high above him. "RUS!" All waited to see what this would bring from the Roman before them. How would he react to his knights last act of respect to him.

Lifting the pole he bore with the emblem that he broadly bore the got the respond. "RUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSS!" he shouted back. Pain stung his heart as he watched them turn and leave. He had made his choice and now Artorius Castus waited to see it to the whatever ends.

A short distance down the road the looks on the mens faces did not disappear and the sounds of the beating Saxon drums began to ring loudly around them causing their horses to buck up and turn. Calming their massive steeds the men looked out at the direction they now faced. Years of battles are hard to break. The horses, so used to their training chose the path they wished to take, facing not the path that led to freedom but that which led back to the battlefield. Patting her horse gently on the side she calmed his throws and looked to the knights around her and without havning to ask she knew what filled their minds. Lancelot looked up and let a small smile creep to his face which eventually spread to the others.

"Hey." she heard Tristan speak to the hawk he had always born on his arm. "You are free." he announced. His voice mixed with slight sadness which suprised her. Lifting his arm into the air he released her and proceeded to fetch a bow off of the carriage.

"You are thinking of going back arent you?" she asked Lancelot sadly, knowing full well what answer he may have in store for her. The smile that lay on his face started to fade as he looked to her.Dismounting he stood beside and helped her down while the others said their goodbyes.

"For 15 years I have fought battles that were not my own. That were not my choosing but now I have a choice and I choose to stay. Arthur needs our help Lillian and if we dont go back we will never forgive ourselves. I made that mistake before, I will not make it again." he answered sadly running his hand through her long, dark hair.

"Then I will go with you." she stated flatly as she started to turn to remount her horse.

"No you will not." Lancelot spoke up harshly causing her to stop suddenly. Turning around she faced the dark haired knight.

"Is that an order." she shot back daringly.

"No. No orders. Just a request." he answered apologetically for his reaction. "You have experienced more than enough at the hand of those Saxons, I do not wish for you to experience even more. Please go with Vanora and the others. I will come back for you. I promise."

Looking to the ground she silently accepted the Sarmatians request. She would wait with Vanora. Wait and hope for his return. Hope that the Saxons would not break far enough behind the wall to catch them. Hope was all she had left. "I will hold you to that Lancelot." she said quietly as she leaned forward and laid her head gently on his chest. She swore she could her his heart beating. His arms wrapped around her for what could be the last time before relunctantly releasing her.

Before she could say another word he and the knights mounted their horses and made their way back through the thick smoke that nearby fires had provided. She watched until they faded into oblivion before mounting her own horse.

"Come my friend. This battle is not for us." she whispered into the dark horses ear.

Slowly the caravan began to start up again and make its way down the long trail, working their way ever deeper in the smokey air. In the distance she heard the sound of the Saxon drums still in the air.

Inside her chest her heart started to beat rapidly and a longing tore at her. Looking ahead she saw Vanora and the children, the Roman men and the caravan carrying Alecto and his mother. Coming to a stop she listened intently to the sounds of the world around her. In the distance were the drums, before her the sound of children, of horses hooves hitting the dirt below and she heard the sound of her heart.

'Your heart knows...Listen and it will lead you home.'

'These men, these knights are your family in everyway that matters...Now it is your choice."

Both Guinevere and Arthurs words swam around her and she knew what she had to do.

"Jols?" she called out causing the band to stop some distance ahead of her. The man looked back at her as did Vanora. Looking into the depths of the womans eyes she smiled. For a moment she saw the woman thinking, unsure of what her smile meant when she saw the firey womans eyes light up with a sad acknowledgement.

"Yes Lillian?" he asked coming towards her.

"I am afraid I need your help my friend." she said softly bringing her eyes to his.