Chapter Four: The Truth is revealed

"Does it all count for nothing?" Lancelot exclaimed to Arthur. Arthur looked Lancelot in the eyes, angry.
"You ask me this? You who know me best of all?" Lancelot carried on regardless.

"Then do not do this! Only certain death awaits you here Arthur! I beg you for our friendships sake, I beg you," he pleaded. Arthur sighed and put his hands on both sides of Lancelot's face.
"Then be my friend now and don't dissuade me. Seize the freedom you have earned and live it for the both of us. I cannot follow you Lancelot!" He exclaimed before walking off.
Lancelot turned away from Arthur's fast disappearing figure and looked at Guinevere, who was staring resolutely at him, a crowd forming behind her, wondering what to do now. Iseult melted into the crowd, not wanting to see the looks exchanged between those two. She slipped over the wall, tying her skirts round her knees. She stole quietly past the Saxon watch and climbed into a large tree and sat very still for an hour, watching and listening, and remembering, then sighed and nodded. When she had seen all that she needed to see, she leapt silently to the ground and moved back past the Saxons unnoticed for the second time then traversed the great wall with some difficulty. Out of practice too long, she thought to herself as she climbed over the other side. When she straightened, Tristan was standing before her, apple and knife in hand, slowly cutting chunks off and putting them between his lips. Iseult froze, then quickly let her skirts loose and brushed some half-dried mud from her sleeves. Tristan eyed her for a moment, and then spoke.

"Pity you're ruining that dress. Have a good time?" he asked. Iseult narrowed her eyes. "I take it you saw all you needed to see out there," he said, glancing out at the Saxon fires lighting up the field. Iseult stuck her chin out in defiance. How dare he, she thought, then scolded herself for doing so. She wondered why.

"Yes," she answered curtly, then walked past him, flinching as their sleeves brushed against each other, and walked down the steps. Tristan smiled, let out a small chuckle as he shook his head, and carried on eating his apple.

On her way back to the stable (where she had indignantly decided to stay after having being forced to sleep in the Roman wagon) she came across Lancelot stalking the courtyard, fury and confusion etched across his face. Iseult kept back into the shadows and watched for a while until Lancelot had begun his third pacing around the courtyard. She appeared out of the shadows and stood in front of him.

"What is it? What's wrong?" she asked him, quietly. Lancelot scowled and let a rush of air out of his lungs. Iseult raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"It's Arthur," he said eventually, waving an arm in the general direction of Arthur's sleeping quarters. Iseult wondered for a moment if Guinevere was in there with him. Probably. Lancelot carried on. "I can't understand why he is doing this. I see no reason for it." He stormed past her, resuming his pacing. Iseult turned, watching his back heaving with frustration.

"It's not for you to understand. Arthur has his reasons and has made his choice. You must respect that." Lancelot wheeled on her.

"He is my oldest friend. I have listened and understood him for 15 years of my life but now..." He shook his head, then resumed with vigour. "He is sentencing himself to death by taking this…this mission upon himself."

"At least he knows that, and has come to terms with his decision. Now it is your turn. Not even you will be able to change his mind now, Lancelot. No-one can." Lancelot looked at her fiercely, breathing heavily. "You have the freedom to go home now, Lancelot. Don't waste this opportunity to see those oceans of green again. And your family too, Lancelot, think of them. You will be able to forget this life and start a family of your own. You don't have to cherish home in your heart anymore, it will be all around you."

"Home is the least important thing in my heart at the moment, Iseult. I cannot live the freedom meant for 2 men. And you," he asked, moving towards her, an intense look on his face. "What will you do tomorrow?" He stared at her, searching her eyes as if he was to find and answer coming from them instead of her mouth. Iseult straightened.

"You forget that I do not belong anywhere," she said. "I will do whatever is asked of me."

"Exactly. 15 years I have served others, and now I must live my own life, yet Arthur wishes to continue for no reason other than…its insanity!" He yelled the last sentence, stunning Iseult into silence as she realised what this was all about. Her face levelled and she took at step back, head held high, eyes glistening in the torch light all around them.

"He has found a new reason for living, Lancelot. Be it his own mind or Guinevere's that has influenced him into doing it. Don't smart because she chose him over you. I chose you, remember…Or was I just another conquest?" she spat the last sentence out and stormed away to the stables as realisation flooded into Lancelot's face and he walked slowly away to his room, cursing himself for his behaviour and quick temper.