Sorry it took so long to update. School and work are taking a toll on me, hope you all enjoy. Review! Thanks!
Chapter 4
A Midnight Conversation
It was well past dark by the time the caravan stopped to rest. Tristan rode ahead with his loyal hawk to secure the surrounding areas. The rest dismounted and cared for the horses, started on some food, or began erecting a few tents.
Arthur laughed; erecting tents for one night was a waste of time, besides it would be safer for the Lady to sleep inside the carriage. The less visible she was, the safer it would be. He sat down a small distance from the fire, not wanting to spend time with the Romans who pestered him constantly. He watched the Romans drink and laugh, completely forgetting to keep an eye on the Lady.
Tristan joined Arthur a few minutes later. "All clear, the woods are empty save for the animals."
"Good." The night continued on without incident as the Romans went into their tents to sleep off the excessive drink they just consumed.
"Thank you." An angelic voice whispered into the night.
Arthur and Tristan shot up from their small conversation to look upon a true beauty.
"Please sit down." Arthur told her. "I am –"
"Arthur, of the knights of the Wall." She said. "Yet your name eludes me." She looked to Tristan.
He shifted his weight, a bit uncomfortable in her presence. This was a feeling that did not often occur to Tristan. The first time meeting a Roman and he was taken back by her. Telling himself to suck it up he replied, "Tristan."
"And your name my lady?" Arthur asked.
"Lucilla, daughter of Cassius."
Lucilla felt awkward in the presence of the two knights. If Marcus found out what she was doing, God help her. But she wanted to meet the two knights; she was intrigued with their lifestyle. She had only ever met soldiers such as Marcus or Gaius, men who spoke of war but never actually saw it.
"I would personally like to show my gratitude to you both, for taking the time to escort me to Hadrian's Wall. It is a task I'm sure you did not volunteer for nor enjoyed. If I can do anything to make this journey easier on you, please let me know." She spoke extremely formal for their campfire chat.
"You can relax a bit." Tristan pointed out.
"Unfortunately in the presence of a man I may do not such thing. My husband would never allow it."
There was silence for a few moments. "Your husband… you've been married long?" Arthur questioned.
"Six months, since July."
"Lady Lucilla," Gaius stood behind her. He was half asleep but had a disappointed in the lady. "I must request that you return to your carriage. It is improper for you to be about this hour… in this company." His tone was full of disdain towards the knights.
"Goodnight gentlemen." Lucilla gracefully stood and turned back towards her carriage. Gaius followed her until the flaps of the carriage were down. He then returned to his sleeping tent.
"Did he just really do that?" Tristan wondered out loud. "Actually told a grown woman when to go to sleep?"
"He did and told her that her company was inappropriate." Arthur replied. Both were perplexed at what they had seen.
After all, Lucilla was a married woman; she certainly could make her own decisions. They treated her as an infant one that was no smarter than a dog.
The morning came just in time for the group. Arthur and Tristan had been up for hours before the Romans decided to stir. They didn't see Lucilla by the time they started to move once again. They were actually making fairly good time on the road, even better was there were no Woads. Tristan continued to allow his hawk to fly around keeping another set of eyes on their road.
The fifth day came with out incident. The Romans continued to keep to themselves and the knights to themselves. Arthur was pleased that he could spend the time with Tristan. Even after the thirteen years Arthur felt that he knew nothing about his scout. They spoke of home, well Tristan's home of the small village in Sarmatia.
They were no more than twenty leagues from the Wall went Tristan's hawk came flying down towards his master. "Arthur… someone's coming."
The Romans must have heard Tristan's warning, they closed formation on Lucilla's carriage. Each pulled out their swords, a few taking up spears. Tristan rode ahead, the curved sword still sheathed next to Tristan's hip.
Lucilla pulled the flap of the carriage back. "Should I be concerned?" She asked Tristan.
"Just stay inside." He replied riding even further ahead.
Tristan's heart was pounding as it always did when the Hawk told him to be weary. The horse's hooves pounded beneath him, a four beat pattern told Tristan the horse was galloping, he pulled the horse back down to a lesser gait, the canter. The horse was just as anxious as he was. The horse wanted to gallop, not wanting to keep pulling the horse Tristan allowed the horse to gallop.
On the horizon Tristan could see seven riders approaching him. Without thinking twice he slowed the horse down to a halt. Not even a few moments later Lancelot's shining face stood next to Tristan. "Thought you could use some fun on the way home." Lancelot smiled.
"Did we scare you?" Bors thundered from the back of the pack.
"I was shaking in my boots," Tristan replied. He took them back to the caravan.
"RUS!" Bors announced when Arthur came into view.
A large smile appeared on Arthur's face when he saw the Knights approached. The Romans were not as amused as Arthur.
"Who are they?" Gaius snidely wondered.
"My knights." Arthur angrily replied.
"Pagans." Gaius said under his breath, but not quiet enough. Gawain had to hold Bedwyr back from smacking the Roman. "Might we continue? I want to have the Lady in the presence of her husband by nightfall."
"Keep walking forward." Cai said to the Roman.
"No woman is worth this," Galahad said to Gawain.
They continued to trek to Hadrian's Wall.