Thanks to KateMary77. You're review was really helpful!

Chapter 10

Sinners

The knights had returned just an hour ago with bloodied helms. Arthur had taken them to the eastern portion of the Wall where reports of Woad invasions had occurred. He had consciously disobeyed Marcus's orders to enter the North. Arthur would not risk the lives of his knights merely to satisfy the macho needs of a Roman.

As the knights road into the Milecastle they were welcomed by the throng of Bors' children. They shouted and waved and no matter what the knights would say they enjoyed being welcomed. Lucilla picked up that idea and would wait for the knights in the courtyard. She always allowed Vanora and the children to join her, but Marcus would only look out from his study in disgust.

She would personally say hello to each knight as they would make their way into the hall of the Round Table for a drink, usually prepared by Vanora. Lucilla was happy to say that she was picking up small things from the Briton. Vanora showed her how to make some simple ales, and how to do simple things (such as watching clothes, or cooking eggs) and in return Lucilla showed Vanora simple healing methods and the use of makeup. The two were becoming quick friends, for which Lucilla was grateful.

This night the men were quick to enter the hall of the Round table, apparently they needed to discuss the increased Woad attacks, they had Arthur worried. Jols took the horses into the stables with Lucilla close in hand. Taking up a few reins herself Jols grabbed them quickly.

"Marcus would think me insolent if I allowed you to do the duty of a steward." He explained.

"Marcus doesn't have to know; besides I know my way around a horse and I need something to keep me busy. Please allow me to help you and if I get in your way you can tell me to get lost. Sound all right to you Sir Jols?" Lucilla hoped it would, she was getting tired of roaming around the fort.

"Yes my Lady." He nodded and smiled handing back the reins of four horses to Lucilla while he took the other five.

The horses were tired and happy to be getting a thorough wash. Jols took care of the majority of the washing but Lucilla enjoyed brushing the horses dry. They must have been at it for nearly an hour when they realized the last horse was dry and munching on some grain. It gave Lucilla some peace to be doing something that helped someone, after all a horse can't wash him self off. And the horses needed to be clean so they didn't contract anything.

"Thank you for the help Lady Lucilla." Jols said.

"You're very welcome. I appreciate you allowing me to help and if Marcus does have a problem with it, just blame it on me." Lucilla chuckled, Jols did the same.

Jols took his leave and made his way back to Arthur. Lucilla understood that Jols was a Briton but like Vanora had grown up at the fort hence considered civilized. If all Britons are as kind as those two, I wonder why we're fighting against them sometimes. Lucilla thought to herself. As she was about to leave the stables Lucilla looked over to the grey stallion in the corner.

The stallion was large; it must have been a Sarmatian breed. It was throwing his head up and down and stamping his hooves on the freshly laid hay. Lucilla cautiously walked over to the stud being careful not to frighten him. She grabbed some oats that had fallen on the floor and put her hand out in front of her. The horse brought his head close and ate the few granules that were in her hand. Lucilla laid her hand on the horse's forehead and began to stroke the animal. The stud seemed to calm down as Lucilla began to stroke him.

For some reason she began to speak to him in Latin, realizing that she had done that commonly to her own horse. The language was calming, soothing. It seemed to roll off her tongue and sounded as if the woods were speaking. The horse allowed the Roman to stroke him for quite a while as she whispered quiet words into his ears. Suddenly she saw the horse's ear prick up but he never moved his head from her delicate hands.

"You know Sir Tristan that you never apologized." Lucilla said into the darkness, but if the horse's ear were right she knew the scout was in the stables, even if he was in the shadows.

Appearing from the darkness Tristan's voice showed he had a smile on his face. "Apologize for what?"

"You compared the most complex and beautiful city in the world to the absolute worst bringing them out as equals…. I think I deserve an apology."

"You're not gonna get one." Tristan said as he moved closer and Lucilla allowed the horse to continue eating the fresh hay.

"That's to be expected. I didn't actually think you would." Lucilla played.

"Why'd you ask?" Tristan smiled in return.

"I didn't ask… I demanded." Lucilla gave a large smile.

"When nobility demands, I obey." Tristan took a few steps closer as did Lucilla.

"Well then?" Lucilla continued to smile with her eyes searching Tristan's for something she wasn't quite sure of.

"I'm not sorry."

"Well then…" Lucilla began as her face moved closer to Tristan's. "Just where are we?"

"At the end of the world," was Tristan's reply.

"When bright sunshine is mighty tempting…." Nodding Tristan's head moved into Lucilla kissing her delicately.

Tristan assumed Lucilla would pull away but instead she pushed herself deeper into the kiss. Neither one had ever had the feelings rushing through them that they were having in those few moments.

"What are we doing?" Lucilla wondered as they pulled away.

Looking at her in the eyes Tristan whispered: "Sinning."

Kissing her again she wrapped her arms around him as he lifted her up in the air a bit. She wanted to stay like this forever. But a creak coming from one of the stalls made the two rethink where they were.

Lucilla began to walk away, but turned before she left the barn, "Two minutes Sir Tristan."

She ran up to her chambers to catch her breath and to make sure that Marcus was drunk to the bone, as usual he was already completely intoxicated downstairs in the tavern. Lucilla just had time to close the shudders to her windows when the light knocking came on the door.

She opened it and Tristan swept her up into his arms. Passionately kissing her he took her over to the bed. He began to meticulously kiss her neck as he removed the cloth from her shoulders. Lucilla had never felt so in love as she did that night, and Tristan he would have never thought he would fall for a Roman, but she was different. She didn't look down to a soul; everyone was equal in one way or another. But even he was able to see on the inside Lucilla was no woman prepared to live by codes and laws. She was woman who was meant to break them, even if they were her marriage oaths.

They found themselves the next morning side by side in her bed covered in the bear fur blankets. Beneath the covers their hands and arms were intertwined as Tristan held the Senator's daughter. Tristan awoke first, a bit after dawn. The sun had not reached the top of the Wall. He wanted to get up and get back to his room so the knights wouldn't wonder where he was. But he couldn't leave Lucilla in the lurch like that. Yet in the back of his mind he was already wondering how this would play out. Lucilla consciously wouldn't give up her marriage for him and he was sure of that, but the other side of his heart was saying what they had not been a one night stand, it was something deeper than that.

But finally he gave up and writing a note to Lucilla on a small piece of paper he kissed her on the cheek and left with the paper next to her on the pillow along with a rose he had brought up with him last night. He felt a bit awkward leaving her like that but he didn't want any of his brother knights to find out what he had been up to.

When Lucilla woke up she remembered what had happened last night and was almost happy to see Tristan gone. The note was simple: You looked too beautiful to wake up but I need to get back to the hall so no one gets suspicious. Promise, I'll see you later. The rose that was laid on top told the Roman she was not mistaking what had happened last night as the one night stand she was worried about.

By the time she actually felt like getting out of bed she had already heard the gates of the fort closing… the knights had already left. She would have to see Tristan when they got back, hoping it wouldn't be too long. Ugh! What was she thinking! She thought to herself. As much as she had enjoyed last night she didn't want anyone to find out, but she wanted to spend every moment with the mysterious scout. If Marcus found out what I had just done…. Her thought were interrupted by a loud rapping on the door.

Throwing on her robe she rushed to the door. Opening it she found a half drunk Marcus. Before he took two steps into her room he gave her a hard smack across the face. The shock and the power of it sent Lucilla falling backward into the room. Slamming the door behind him Lucilla cowered back.

"Well it's the little slut isn't it?" He spoke to her.

Not sure if he really knew what Lucilla had done last night or he was just making it up, she wasn't quite sure what to do. Instead of saying anything that would incriminate herself she just stayed quite holding her cheek in pain. She knew it was bleeding.

"Needed to get pleasure out of pagan knight! What? A General isn't good enough for you?" He began to shout, slapping her across the other side of the face.

He knows! Lucilla screamed to herself. Crying to herself in fear the Tristan would lose face over this she cowered back again.

"Look at me you whore!" Marcus picked his wife up off the floor making her tear stained eyes meet his. He threw her against the bed.

With his hand raised to strike again Murig entered the room unaware bringing Lucilla tray of tea. "General!" The boy said in surprise more than trying to stop the abuse.

"Get out of here boy!" Marcus shouted at the boy, but seeing Lucilla cowering beneath her husband the boy couldn't more. "Now!"

"Sir I think you are needed downstairs." It was obvious to Lucilla that the boy was trying to help her, but she didn't want him to have any part in this.

"Murig, leave the tea. Get out of here." Lucilla began to weep as she spoke.

"Stop your pathetic sobbing!" Marcus shouted at Lucilla. "Why am I needed downstairs?"

Taking a stand Murig continued to lie. "I believe the knight Arthur needed your approval for something."

Marcus nodded. Slapping Lucilla across the face for a third time he grabbed her chin and looked into her eyes. "If I even suspect that you're being unfaithful to me again I promise you this. You'll not live to see the sun rise nor will he." Throwing her back he left the room slamming the door behind him.

Lucilla cowered in the corner crying as Murig approached. He brought with him a rag from the kitchen below. Dipping it in the steaming tea he tried to apply it to Lucilla's cheeks, both red from the irritation and blood. They both sat in silence as Lucilla held one rag on and Murig tried to clean some of the blood of her face.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." Lucilla whispered.

"Is that how all Roman men treat their wives?" Murig's accent was still heavy but his speech patterns were improving.

"No. This place has done something to him, I don't know. It's made him crazy with hate. A type of hate I never knew one man could possess." Lucilla said.

"If it is not too bold to say…" Murig waited for Lucilla's nod. "I don't think the Wall made him do this my Lady. I think it was pure jealousy."

"What ever it was, I have to make sure I don't let it happen again."

"For your sake?" The Briton questioned.

"For Arthur's sake." The Briton was confused. "If anything happens to me and Rome finds out Marcus will return to Rome and most likely Rome will finally pull out of the country. It will be good for your people but for Arthur… it would mean disaster. He would need to return to Rome and be labeled the man who did not stop a crazed general. Arthur would be ruined as would the knights. Murig I can't let that happen."

"Surly you can tell someone in Rome who wouldn't make a big fuss out of it." Murig spoke common sense but Lucilla knew that Rome was not made of practical thought.

"There is one."

"Then tell them. Maybe they can save you."

This chapter was really kinda fun to write (it only took me like an hour!) I hope it was fun to read. Please let me know how it's going! Reviews are always appreciated!