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As they galloped through the interior of Hadriens Wall the Knights and Roman officers drew the attention of the civilians that sought refuge from the Briton's inside the wall.
"Welcome back Arthur." Jols greeted smiling as he grabbed Arthur's horse's reins.
"Jols." Arthur returned.
"Lancelot." Jols greeted the troubled knight. Lancelot merely smiled in return. Stable boys came and took Star and Tristan horses. She smiled at Tristan with a raised eyebrow that beckoned him to follow her to their room. Tristan gave his rare smile and followed her grabbing her at the waist and kissed her deeply.
"I still don't get what you do to me." Tristan whispered in her ear. The Bishop gave them a look of disgust before leaving.
"You never will." She whispered back before kissing him again.
"Meeting in The Round Table Room. Half hour." Arthur said from behind them.
"Do you think…" Tristan asked guiding her to their room.
"Not enough time." Star said looking at her husband with a loving smile. Tristan gave her a look that said that all he needed was a few minutes.
Half Hour later Round Table room
"Let us not forget that we are the fortunate ones." Arthur stated "Let us raise our wine to those gallant and extraordinary men we have lost, but who will be remembered for all eternity."
"To freedom." Bors added. Everyone repeated Bors and drank. Then they sat, to talk and wait for the Bishop. Star sat on her husband lap.
Tristan smiled inwardly which surprised her because lately he been more open in life. Star green eyes were glittering with amusement as she flicked her black hair over her shoulder making it hit Tristan face. That show him to smile inwardly at her.
"His eminence Bishop Naius Germanius." He said looking around at the table in confusion. "A round table?" Tristan heard him hiss at Jols. "What sort of evil is this?" Tristan looked over Star shoulder to catch her eye and found her already shaking with silent laughter. Soon his lap was also shaking. She looked over her shoulder and mouthed ' evil table?' and lapsed into silent laughter once more. He allowed himself a rueful grin before once again making his face impassive and tuning back in on the 'conversation'. Jols had already explained about Arthur's theory that for men to be men they must first be equal.
"I was given to understand that there would be more of you." The Bishop said scornfully.
"There were." Arthur replied. "We have been fighting here for 15 years Bishop."
"People take to this nasty habit of dieing in battle." Star interjected, fighting to contain her laughter. "Utterly terrible. They never learn when to stop." The Bishop looked at her sternly but ignored her.
"Ah, of course." He then moved to the seat next to Arthur and took a golden goblet that his aid was handing him. "Arthur and his knights have served with courage to maintain the honor of Rome's empire on this last outpost of our glory." Tristan took a goblet, mentally rolling his eyes at the Bishops over laden speech. "Rome is most indebted to you noble knights. To your final days as servants to the empire." He drank.
"Day. Not days." Lancelot told him. The Bishop simply smiled inanely and waved for them all to sit.
"The pope's taken a personal interest in you. He inquires after each of you, and is curious to know if your knights have converted to the word of Our Savior or…?" The smarmy bishop continued.
"They retain the religion of their forefathers. I have never questioned that." Arthur told him.
"Of course, of course." The Bishop said, disappointed. "They are pagans. Hm?" Star openly rolled her eyes at the Bishop getting a glare from the Bishop lackey.
"For our part, the Church has deemed such beliefs innocence, but you, Arthur. Your path to God is through Pelagius? I saw his image in your room." He continued. Seemingly oblivious to Star banging on the table with her fist and Tristan shaking because of his wife.
"He took my fathers place for me." Arthur said with a smile on his face. "His teachings on free will and equality have been a great influence. I look forward to our reunion in Rome." The Bishop seemed flustered at that last comment but recovered quickly.
"Ah. Rome awaits your arrival with great anticipation. You are a hero. In Rome you will live out your days in honor and wealth." He was gesticulating a lot until that point. Then his face turned sad. "Alas, we are all but players in and ever-changing world. Barbarians from every corner are almost at Rome's door. Because of this, Rome and the Holy Father have decided to remove ourselves from indefensible outposts such as Britain." At this incredulous stares were exchanged by the other knights and Star stopped laughing. She sat up straight and stared hard at the Bishop. "What will become of Britain is not our concern anymore. I suppose the Saxons will claim it soon."
"Saxons?" Arthur cut in.
"Yes." The Bishop smiled lightly and then looked off into the distance, trying to look prophetic and failing miserably. "In the north a massive Saxon incursion has begun."
"The Saxons only claim what they kill." Lancelot said to the Bishop.
"And only kill everything." Gawain added.
"So you would just leave the land to the Woads." Galahad was sounding slightly hysterical. "And I risked my life for nothing."
"All those men died for nothing." Star voice was stone and as cold as ice. The Bishop smiled sadly in a 'those were acceptable losses' smile.
"Gentlemen, and um lady, your discharge papers with safe conduct throughout the Roman Empire." He started holding out the box but put it back down as everyone stood. "But first, I must have a word with your commander." He sat again. When no one moved he added, "In private."
"We have no secrets." Arthur informed him. The Bishop sent a sour look around the table and slammed the box shut.
"Come." Lancelot said. "Let's leave Roman Business to Romans." He lifted his goblet to the Bishop and left.
"Let it go Bors." Dagonet said to the other bald man. Bors nodded and followed the giant out.
At the Tavern Lancelot was playing a game with some of the Roman soldiers and loosing horribly.
"Best of three." He said to the officer who had just kicked his ass. Then he saw Vanora, and pulled her onto his lap.
"When are you going to leave Bors and come home with me?" Vanora sighed and slapped him.
"My lover is watching you."
A little further away Bors looked at his newest bastard wondering…
"You look nothing like him." He decided. "You're all Bors."
"Hey there Hubby!" Star said hugging her husband. Galahad and Gawain sniggered as she plopped into a chair and booed as Galahad made a bad throw. Tristan stepped forward and threw his knife which ended up in the hilt of Galahads. Then Star tossed hers from her seat and got it in the hilt of Tristan's.
"Tristan, Star…" Galahad started.
"How do you do that?" Gawain finished.
"I aim for the middle." They both said at the same time. This caused Star to smile. There were chants of "SING!"
"Sing about home!" Galahad called out to Vanora as Bors dragged her to the center of the Tavern.
"Don't drop the baby!" Gawain cautioned making Star give a shout of laughter.
Vanora sighed and started to sing.
"Land of bear and land of eagle
Land that gave us birth and blessing
Land that called us ever homewards
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home
We will go home
We will go home singing our song"
In Star mind the singing faded as she studied her friend's faces. Bors was mouthing along to the words in a trance, Lancelot was sipping his drink looking haunted, Tristan looked down at his apple with his usual emotionless face but when he looked at Star he smiled, Galahad was the only one who looked happy, in a trace with his eyes closed, visualizing Sarmatia. Dagonet looked sad. Gawain looked into space with a wench on his lap.
As the music came back into focus Star saw a torn looking Arthur come into view and her heart plummeted.
"Hear our singing, hear our longing
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home
We will go home
We will go home across the mountains."
Vanora trailed off as Jols called out as Arthur turned to leave.
"Arthur!"
"Arthur!" Galahad walked over to him. "You're not completely Roman yet, right?"
"RUS!" Bors shouted out as he walked over. Laughter peeled around the group, but unusually it did not reach Star or Tristan who also had a worried look on his face.
"Knights, brothers in arms, your courage had been tested beyond all limits. But I must ask you now for one further trial." Arthur started.
"Drink" Bors interrupted.
"We must leave on a final mission for Rome Before our freedom can be granted." There was more incredulous laughter. "Above the wall in the north there is a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxon. Our orders are to secure their safety.
"Let the Romans take care of their own." Bors said.
"Above the wall is Woad territory." Gawain stated, as if only just realizing what that meant.
"Our duty to Rome, if it ever was a duty, is done." Galahad slurred angrily. "Our pact with Rome is done."
"Every knight here has laid his life on the line for you. For you." Bors pointed at Arthur emphasizing his point. "And instead of freedom you want more blood? Our blood?" His voice was rising with anger. "You think more of Roman blood than you do of ours?"
"Bors!" Arthur cut in disgusted at his words. "These are our orders. We leave at first light and when we return your freedom will be waiting for you. A freedom you can embrace with honor."
"I AM A FREE MAN! I WILL CHOOSE MY OWN FATE!" Bors exploded.
"Yeah, yeah." Tristan said hugging his wife to his side. "We're all going to die someday. If it's a death from a Saxon hand that frightens you, stay home."
"Listen," Galahad exploded at Tristan. "If you're so eager to die you can die right now!"
"Enough. Enough!" Lancelot blocked Galahad.
"I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR!" Galahad was getting hysterical.
"The Romans have broken their word." Dagonet said. This silenced the shouting as he rarely ever spoke.
"We have the word of Arthur. That is good enough. I'll prepare." He started to walk away and then stopped. "Bors? You coming?"
"OF COURSE I'M COMING!" Bors yelled. "CAN'T LET YOU GO ON YOUR OWN! YOU'LL ALL GET KILLED! I'M JUST SAYING WHAT YOUR ALL THINKING!" He started to walk away with Dagonet and Tristan and Star heard him mutter, "Vanora'll kill me." She smiled lightly and then looked back at Arthur.
"And you Gawain?" He asked the only knight who had been silent the entire time.
"I'm with you." He said after a moment's thought. Then he turned to Galahad, his 'twin' brother. "Galahad as well." Galahad looked at him incredulously and then let out a small laugh. He emptied the wine from it's pitcher and then smashed the pitcher.
An hour later Tristan entered the stables. He was packed and so was Star
"I thought I'd find you here." He smiled lightly, leaning on her horse stall door to talk to Star who was lying next to her stallion.
"I knew this would happen." She looked at him sadly. "I knew that you would have one final mission the moment that slimy git opened his mouth the first time."
"Didn't stop you from nearly killing yourself with laughter though did it?"
"That's true." She smiled and jumped off of her stallion back joining Tristan outside his stall. "But I just couldn't stop picturing an evil table." They started to walk to the battlements. "I just had this picture in my head of the table and the opened part swallowing the Bishop." She laughed and Tristan chuckled. He loved her laugh. Then she turned somber. "I have a bad feeling about this mission my scout." She said sitting on his lap.
"So do I." He confessed getting comfortable. They both sat in silence for a while staring at the sky. "Listen, Star." He finally broke the silence. He didn't really know how to say what he was about to. He wasn't the best at expressing anything but danger. "I want you to know…..." He looked at his hands and then turned his gaze on her. Her green eyes sparkled in the starlight as he met them with his chocolate brown ones. He couldn't say it. The words would not come out. So he decided to show her. He lifted a hand and stroked her cheek. Then he leaned in…
"Listen, Star." She turned her gaze to this brooding knight who had stolen her heart all those years ago. He looked at his hands and then locked her gaze with his. Their lips met and she reveled in his taste. His other hand grabbed her waist and pulled her to him as his other hand held her neck. Her arms wrapped around his neck as they deepened the kiss.
When they finally pulled apart he leaned his forehead on hers, they were now standing having feared falling.
"I love you. Always remember that." He told her his voice husky with passion. Star knew Tristan loved her but he never said it much because of his silent ways.
"I love you too, Tristan. You also remember that." She told him grinning madly. And they headed for their room for a night neither would forget until the next time.
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