This chapter is a little short I do apologize but I think is just as great as any of the other chapters. :D

Chapter 20

All for Love

Lucilla saw the white-washed wall as soon as she felt the horse give a final push. She could feel the horse's power underneath her; it gave her a feeling of command. She realized why Romans were always riding.

She stopped the animal before the gates. Lucilla still hadn't the slightest idea of what she was going to say to Tristan, but she did know that where ever he was, she wanted to be. Knowing that Lucilla knew she was doing the right thing.

She felt a bit guilty about putting her parents through the grief they would feel when Cassius told them she was dead, but they would never understand Lucilla falling in love with a Sarmatian. This was the best of both worlds. Her father could remain a Senator, still gaining money from Marcus's family and Lucilla would be where her heart told her to be.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart she gave the horse a nudge and the animal started down the embankment to the gates of Hadrian's Wall. It had been almost eight months since had first arrived and her entire perspective of Britain had changed. At first she had been fascinated with the mysterious Blue Demons of the North and now she realized they were the same as her, men and women who fought for their country.

The horse strode up to the gate as two centurions gazed down upon Lucilla. She must have been a sight. A woman riding like a man in a Roman made dress sliced down the middle so her legs could go across the saddle. Her hair hadn't been combed since she had left Cassius and her makeup was practically gone. She must have looked like a crazed lunatic, but she still held her head high.

"Lady Lucilla?" One of the centurions asked with shock dripping on his words.

"I've returned to speak with one of the knights, open the gate." She commanded. She was still of higher birth than these two men hence at least for now she allowed herself to command them still.

Without double guessing the gate soon opened revealing the city of the wall. This was the first time Lucilla had seen it from this view. She was always in a carriage when she arrived at the fort. The sight was incredible; there were people of every shape and size bustling about their business. Some were driving carts while other walked around holding baskets. Some had food and some sold clothing.

A few people saw Lucilla ride the horse into the fortress but it took them a second look to realize who it was. Most people has looks of shock on their faces when they saw the Roman Senator's daughter riding through the fortress in the manner of the man, one leg on each side of the horse. But Lucilla didn't care, she continued on through the fortress holding her head up high, this is where she belonged.

She made her way through the keep until she got to a familiar courtyard. The courtyard where four days ago she had departed, she now arrived with a different feeling than ever before. Jols came out of the hall to see what all the raucous was about and his chin hit the ground when he saw it was the Roman.

The knight followed Jols out and all where shocked as well to see Lucilla. They assumed they would never see her again. Arthur walked over to her and helped her off the horse and Jols took the horse to the stables.

"Welcome back," Arthur said with a smile on his face. "I thought you might return."

"Did you mean what you said?" She asked, she was a bit out of breath from the excitement of returning.

"Yes." He told her.

"What are you doing here?" Galahad asked out loud.

Arthur and Lucilla glared at each other for a moment before Lucilla took the initiative. "I need to talk to Tristan."

"Tristan?" Bors wondered, "He's been out ever since you left, been keeping to himself more than usual. You wouldn't know why, would you?" Bors' voice showed that the knights knew something was going on, they just didn't understand what.

"That's between me and him, at least for now." Lucilla said sternly, she didn't want to explain herself she just wanted to see Tristan.

"He's in the practice arena, been practicing his archery for the past few days. Didn't think that man needed any more practice." Gawain gave away.

As Lucilla listened to the men talk about Tristan she understood that Tristan was moping around. He was just as upset about everything as she was. Lucilla now believed that he really did love her. She was hoping now that he would understand her coming back meant that she truly did care for him.

When Gawain said he was in the practice arena Lucilla left the courtyard promptly and made her way through the fortress and barracks to the arena. Arthur had told the knight to enter the hall once more to give Tristan and Lucilla a moment alone. The knights didn't need anything more explained. They understood completely what was going on, and Tristan's behavior over the past week told them even more. The scout had fallen for the Roman.

Lucilla stood at the entrance of the practice arena for a few moments trying to gather her thoughts. Finally giving up with the logical way Lucilla walked into the arena. She found a bow and arrow leaning up against the fence. She strung an arrow, aiming it and then fired. The arrow went right by Tristan's left ear and hit the target near the center.

The scout turned around and glared at the woman who had fired the weapon. At first he was angry; he hated it when someone intervened in him practice but seeing it was Lucilla he looked around for the knights or for Caesar. His deep eyes searched the arena, they were alone. His black hair lay in front of his face but he could clearly see the Roman beauty standing in front of him. Not sure how he should react, he acted the way he felt… hurt.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be half way to Rome by now, starting a new life with Caesar." Tristan's voice was dripping in cynicism. He strung another arrow and it found its place in the target directly above Lucilla's arrow.

"So did I, but as I sat next to Caesar in the carriage I realized that for as much as I loved him in the past that love was gone. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life with him, besides he has a life of his own in Rome. He has a wife and son, and I don't want to be the person to make Rome fall under the command of a General or a Senator. I want Rome to be ruled by a Caesar." She could see that Tristan was not interested in Caesar or Lucilla's political views. "I realized that there was only one person I had met who saw me for me. He didn't see a Senator's daughter, he didn't see a Roman, and he didn't see a damsel in distress. What he did see what a girl, still young in her own ways much like him. A girl who wanted to be loved for more than just beauty, a love that he gave her."

"A love that she betrayed," he quietly said.

"No, I never betrayed you." She quietly began to argue.

"I saw him kiss you," Lucilla noticed Tristan's grip on his bow tighten. "You didn't back away."

"What you saw was a farewell that we were never able to have in Rome. I will tell you everything you need to know about Cassius and me, but you need to know that my heart no longer lies in Rome."

"So where does it lie? In some villa in the south of Gaul?" She could sense a bit of frustration in his voice but also a hint of despair.

"It lies in the gloomiest of places. A stone hard wall built three centuries ago, in a place where the sun is a seldom occurrence." Lucilla approached Tristan, who had allowed his bow to drop on the ground. "A place where the only way to find sunlight is to look into the heart."

"I'm not Roman, I'm not Christian." He began to say. Lucilla put her hand on his mouth.

"I don't want a Roman or a Christian. As long as I'm happy I don't care what you are; as long as you are mine." Lucilla whispered.

He peered in her eyes, seeing her deep green eyes they captured him again. He was drawn into her life yet again. And like her, this felt right. He held her in his arms gazing into each other's eyes, each thinking the same thing. This is what they wanted. To hell with Rome and everything proper.

He held her close as he bent in to kiss her. It started out soft but she quickly pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, he lifted her off the ground. For the first time in their lives each of them was happy.

The stayed in the practice field for a short while just holding each other. Tristan had never been so open about his feelings before in his life and he felt a bit vulnerable but at the same time he wanted to world to understand that he did love Lucilla. And this was a love that was going to last for as long as they were on this earth.

The news quickly spread around the keep of the love of the scout and the Roman. People were surprised but excited. They were happy that a Sarmatian was able to find something other than death and blood on the shores of Britannia. Tristan and Lucilla walked through the fortress towards the hall.

The knights had grouped themselves, as usual around the tavern and began to applaud when the two appeared. They approached Tristan and Lucilla and gave them a hearty congratulations. It had never happened before a Sarmatian falling for a Roman. But they were happy for both.

They were even surprised to see Tristan with a smile on his face. The scout had finally opened up his soul. It had only taken a Senator's daughter to do it, but for the first time his brother knights were able to see who Tristan really was. A man who was afraid to feel for another person for fear of losing them, Lucilla was able to break that. She had loved Tristan enough to give up her Roman life for the life of a lowly soldier. It spoke highly of Lucilla.

Please review! I love to hear what you think...sorry to say but we are coming to a close..please review!