Secrets in the Shadows
A/N: This is my first attempt at writing King Arthur Fanfic, so please be gentle with me. I am going to try and make the characters as similar as to the movie as possible, but if you have any helpful hints, suggestions, or just think I need to have some sense slapped into me feel free. Also, I don't own anything... if I did, I would be rather occupied with some men with really big swords wink
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Chapter One: The Guests of Rome
A crash of a clay jug of ale from a table was followed by a roar of laughter and a slight shriek as a passing barmaid managed to be on the receiving end of the jug's contents pierced the night. As per usual, the return of the knights to the wall brought on more celebrating, drinking, wenching, drinking and well...drinking.
The courtyard which served as the primary tavern to the fort was abuzz with life and it seemed that most of the roman soldiers stationed at the fort as well as townsfolk all showed up to engage in the festivities.
While Galahad recounted their latest adventure to all too excited barmaid perched on his lap, Gawain imbibed copious amounts of ale and would occasionally throw in facts that Gawain seemed to leave out such as the fact that Galahad nearly wet himself when he found a serpent in his bed roll.
Gawain's humourous additions sent everyone into an uproar, but no so much as Bors who seemed to take personal pleasure in the light-hearted torment of the youngest knight. Vanora had claimed Bors for most of the evening, demanding that he hold his newest bastard, aptly named number 10 as she was the tenth child in the brood. To anyone Bors would seem at first the most lewd, drunken, brute of a man until you saw him with his family. And as much as he would not like to admit it, he loved his bastards more than anything.
Dagonet watched the scene silently with amusement in his eyes from Bors' side as he drank quietly at the end of the table the knights had congregated about. To his right, Lancelot was whispering into a pretty blonde's ear god knows what, but whatever charming words he spoke seemed to draw a fierce blush and an audible gasp. When the desired affect had been attained, he sent a wink over to Gawain who just continued to laugh at the situation.
The only knight set apart from the jovial activities was Tristan. However, no one really seemed to notice. Tristan always stuck to the shadows, occasionally venturing forth to best Gawain and Galahad at dagger throwing or to add a sarcastic retort. He was their scout, the silent observer of everything and anything.
"So...then we were ambushed a pack of Woads..." Galahad started to say before he was cutoff by Gawain.
"They probably had heard Galahad's womanly shrieks and pinpointed our location." Gawain said over the rim of his tankard.
"I do not shriek like a woman!" Galahad said to the woman in his lap and the rest of the tavern who seemed to be listening in on the conversation.
"Actually Galahad, you do remind me so of my younger sister..." Lancelot started.
"It's the small figure I should think..." Bors continued.
"I am not small!" Galahad protested, but it was obvious he was the smallest of the knights.
"That's not what the wench you took to bed last night said.." Lancelot offered.
Galahad was positively fuming now, his blood had rushed to his face turning it a slight shade of purple and his eyes glazed over from drinking flashed with hatred.
"Might I remind you all...I was not the one who spent near half an hour flirting with a wench who turned out to be a -" Galahad spat when all eyes turned to face Arthur who had just strode into the room.
Though Arthur was their commander, he was closer to his knights than was considered normal. They were practically family, and Arthur was their paternal figure. He looked at them trying to hide the smirk that had formed from listening to their conversation. But he shrugged off the memory that had came back to him from listening to Galahad's statement and returned to the business at hand.
"My brothers. My knights. I just received word from Rome that we are to play host to a very high ranking Roman official and his wife and daughter who seek to make their permanent residence in Britain. He will arrive in a fortnight, and we," He looked pointedly at Lancelot as he said this, "are to be on our best behavior."
Lancelot snorted and all the other knights let out a groan. Romans always were full of pomp and arrogance, the last thing they wanted to do was play nice-nice to a bigoted Lord and his snooty family.
"Tomorrow morning we shall discuss this in greater detail. Until then, drink and Galahad do continue to regale this lovely ladies with Lancelot's exploits." Arthur winked then turned to return to the quiet of his chambers.
Lancelot gave Galahad a look that said, "If you finish that story I'll cut your heart out." Before draining the remains of his ale in one large swig.
"Well gentleman... if we are to discuss..Romans in the morning," The words came out vilely on his tongue, "Then I should retire to my chambers before both Bors and I can't piss straight."
Lancelot's words were met with a chorus of laughs, and Bors muttering something about the size of his endowment to Vanora who slapped him upside the head. Grabbing the wench by the waist who he had been flirting with earlier, he slipped from the tavern back to the residence hall.
The rest of the knights knew that Lancelot would not be getting much sleep tonight, for they would most likely hear his activities as they echoed through the halls. Shoddy architectural design in their opinions.
In the morning the knights, all of whom sported heavy hang-overs, save Tristan, were woken by Jols and led down to the round table. The impressive table which Arthur had prided himself upon dominated the meeting room, and was surrounded by more chairs than there were knights. Over the years the number of Sarmatians in service to Arthur steadily decreased till only the six remained.
"Men, let us not forget those who are no longer with us." Arthur spoke these words before every meeting at this table.
"As I already informed you, we will be playing host to a high-ranking Roman official in just two weeks time. However, what I did not wish to disclose in front of everyone in the tavern was that
the man who we are to have as our guest is none other than Marcus Paullus, the brother of the Pope."
Arthur could feel the detest for the man in his men's eyes simply because he was associated with the Christian church. He took a deep breath before continuing onward, attempting to ignore the look of abhorrence on Lancelot's face.
"He has been granted a substantial expanse of land to the South of the wall, apparently he is no longer welcome in Rome." Arthur continued as he looked down at the scroll on the table before him.
"And why is this?" Gawain asked.
"Because, he took an Egyptian wife...a pagan. For the safety of he and his family, the Pope thought it best that they stayed as far away from Rome as possible. Our duty is to receive Marcus and escort him to his home in the South."
"I have no desire to babysit a Roman and his exotic play thing." Lancelot stated, this was a pointless mission and he had no trouble admitting that to Arthur.
"Unfortunately Lancelot, what you desire has no effect upon the orders Rome has given us." Arthur stated firmly.
It was clear that more words would pass between these men before the day was through. But for the time being they decided to let the matter rest. Arthur then continued to explain the new assignments for duties before dismissing the men.
As the knights made their way out into the blinding morning sun, they no longer felt the need to hold their tongues on the matter.
"Does he honestly expect us to welcome a Roman and his spoiled brat with open arms?" Galahad spat.
"A load of bullshit if you ask me," Bors stated in his traditionally vulgar manner.
"Why does Arthur feel the need to coddle every single person he deems in trouble?" Lancelot said cooly.
"Arthur had no choice in the manner, let us not forget that." Dagonet offered as they entered the practice fields.
"Still...I have no desire to bow and scrape before some pompous ass let alone a Roman one." Gawain said with a slight amount of humor in his voice.
Tristan looked at them all impatiently, he had already drawn his blade and was inside the sparring circle like a predator waiting to strike.
"Are we going to spend the day gossiping like women, or are you going to hurry up and lose to me again?"
The comment from Tristan caused all the men to shut up and draw their swords, they didn't take kindly to be compared to women. There was to be a lot of anger released in practice that day.
A/N: So what do you guys think? I am unsure of the story right now, but I promise it will be better once the plot starts to move along. And in the next chapter we get to meet Marcus Pallus and Co! And to clarify, this takes place roughly two years prior to the start of the film. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated.