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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. Upon entering a courtyard where they normally received visitors, the Knights lined up against a row of columns on their horses and started to dismount. Jols walked up and greeted them.
"Welcome back Arthur." He greeted smiling as he grabbed Arthur's horse's reins.
"Jols." Arthur returned.
"Lancelot." Jols greeted the troubled knight. Lancelot merely smiled in return. The knights were looking for their loved ones. Tristan gave his horse to a stable boy and began looking around for his wife. Then he felt something crash into his legs. He looked down to see his little girl smiling up at him.
"UP!" she demanded.
"Hello Izzy! How my girl today?" Tristan asked kissing her. The kiss made Izzy giggle because of beard. The Bishop who was a few feet away looked displeased at the knights having a child. "Where mommy?" The child pointed to the training room. Tristan frowned, Giselle told him that she could fight but he never actually saw her fight. Gawain was looking, also, for his wife. Tristan waved him over and then the three went to the training room to find Estelle and Giselle fighting each other with swords.
"I knew Giselle could fight but Estelle?" Gawain said to Tristan. Soon the knights and the significant other were their. At last Giselle had pinned Estelle to the wall with a dagger, Tristan dagger they notice, to her throat. They clapped slowly and still in shock. Giselle dropped the dagger to her side and slowly turned around to see everyone their.
"Bonjour?" she said uncertain.
"You fight well." Arthur said.
"You need to live." Estelle said raising a eyebrow.
"I told you I could fight." Giselle bristle remembering threatening them over a year ago. Tristan went over to her and kissed her making their daughter make a face. Gawain also went to his wife and kissed her.
"We have a meeting in an hour." Arthur said somewhat said wishing he had someone to love.
An Hour later
"Let us not forget that we are the fortunate ones." The laughter at her late arrival died down as everyone stood and raised their goblets. "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.
"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?". 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."
"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. Lancelot was about to but corrected the Bishop.
"Day. Not days." Lancelot corrected. The Bishop simply smiled inanely and waved for them all to sit. Tristan was already seated.
"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?" Galahad looked uncomfortable at this. He had never liked disappointing people.
"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.
"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. "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."
"Gentlemen, 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."
Giselle , laughing at Bors and Lancelot, walked to her husband, their daughter with Vanora bunch. Galahad and Gawain were having their usual drunken knife throwing contest. Giselle walked over and leaned on Tristan her eyes promising him her love.
Tristan stepped forward and threw his knife which ended up in the hilt of Galahads. Then Giselle tossed hers from her seat and got it in the hilt of Tristan's. Everyone looked over to Giselle who was looking innocent.
"How do you do that?" Gawain finished.
"Aimed for the middle." Tristan said taking a bite of his apple. Giselle just shrugged and snuggled into her husband lap.
"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 Giselle give a chuckle 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 Giselle 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 Giselle saw the sad look in his eyes, Galahad was the only one who looked happy, in a trace with his eyes closed, visualizing Sarmatia his arms around Emily, thinking about taking her to his home. Dagonet looked travel weary but happy as he held his child and Amelia. Gawain was a million miles away with Estelle in his lap.
As the music came back into focus Giselle 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.
"Knights, brothers 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. Estelle next to him her face buried in his chest.
"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. "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 to his wife and daughter 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 Giselle 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.
"I can fight. I can help." Giselle said looking up for the first time. "I don't want anyone dying on me, do I?"
"I can also fight." Estelle said taking her head from Gawain chest. Both Tristan and Gawain frowned and protested at once.
"We will come. We know tricks that can help." Giselle said glaring at her husband.
Arthur looked at his men who both nodded. Arthur nodded and then left.
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