Once alone, Emogen asked, "So, what does one do here do pass the time?"
Lancelot gallantly took her hand, placed it in the crook of his arm, and answered as they walked down the beautifully decorated hall, "Well, there is reading, training, wenching, training, drinking, training, wenching, training, and more training though I doubt you'd like the wenching or drinking. So, we can read or train or…"
He stopped and looked at her with his twinkling mischievous eyes.
"Or what?" she prodded as they continued on.
"Or, we can go back to my chambers for some private fun."
She gasped and slapped his arm lightly. She had seen the glint in his eye before hand, so she knew he was teasing, but still! She felt her face flush though. Even if she protested, she wasn't completely against the thought of sharing his bed. Plus, it wasn't like she was a virgin, either. Being the Lady of Peace during wartime had its advantages. One of which was having her pick of any man she wanted to bed before battle. When they came to his rooms again, she pulled away slightly and gave him a coy smile. She opened the door with her hand while her back was to it teasing Arthur's First Knight as she vanished into the darkness that swallowed his room. Lancelot quickly followed.
When both were completely locked in his room, she sash-shayed up to him and said softly, "I do not know what tomorrow brings. But I do know this; you and the other Knights are leaving. In the short time we've known each other, I've felt drawn to you. I do not know why, but I know this to be true. I'd be honored to share your bed this night, my Savior, my Knight."
She saw Lancelot swallow hard. She couldn't believe she was being this forward. But, I meant what I said. She thought. It had taken three days to cross from Marius' lands to the Wall and in those three days, she had come to love the dark Knight. If he turns me away from his bed tonight, I'll probably wilt inside, but I'd survive. How long, she wasn't sure, but she'd live for a time. It was an odd thing-love. It is such a pure wonderful thing, but it can also give a person the most heartache. She knew that the two of them shared some kind of connection, but if he did not acknowledge it, it would never be fully realized.
Her thoughts broke as she felt his large callused hands upon her shoulders. She knew he wanted her to look him in the eyes, but she just couldn't find the courage to do so. She felt warmth under her chin as she felt his fingers gently push her head up. She gulped and looked up. What she saw amazed her. His eyes. His big brown blazing eyes were not blazing like the sun anymore. No, they were now a churning deep chocolate brown that drew her in enticingly. They mesmerized her. They were beautiful.
As their faces grew closer, Lancelot whispered fiercely, "I would die happily with you in my arms this night, my Maiden. I would gladly carry all the weight of the damned Roman Empire for one of your kisses."
She smiled and leaned up. He met her lips with a kiss that blazed hotly in her very soul. When they parted, she gazed up at him with a sizzling glaze in her eyes. Lancelot was thrown by her look.
When she could see straight again, she found herself laying flush against Lancelot breathing in deeply as she tried to regain her lost breath.
"Woah, that has never happened to me before." She gasped out still not fully recovered from their dance.
Lancelot nodded at her with dazed eyes. This has been the most intense union he has ever been in! She thought proudly as they continued to stare into each other eyes. Before, they could think up another coherent thought, a loud knock banged upon his large oak door,
"Lancelot! Come to the wall! It's an emergency!" yelled his and the other Knight's squire, Jols, anxiously.
Lancelot frowned and called back, "I'll be there in a minute!"
They heard the squire run back down the hall, and with a sigh Lancelot got up.
"Ah, I'm sorry to just up and go, but…" he started in true regret but was stopped by her placing a finger over his lips again.
"Shush, I understand. There is something wrong. Come, we'll both go see what is the matter."
Very quickly the two redressed themselves and ran to the Wall. As they reached the top, they found the other Knights looking at them with mixed looks of awe, horror, sadness, and fear.
With a sigh, Gawain waved them to look over the Wall. Lancelot gripped the wall in anger and she gasped in fear.
Lancelot placed a calming hand on her shoulder and commanded strongly, "Get Arthur!"
They had to wait in tense silence before Arthur arrived with her cousin in tow. The two peered over the wall. Then Arthur glanced down at all the people within. When Arthur's face met hers, she knew immediately what he planned to do. It looked like her cousin's wiles still worked for her. She had managed to snag yet another idealistic man into her plans of unifying Briton under her command. Apparently Lancelot knew Arthur even better than she did. He was shaking his head in despair and disbelief.
The man looked at each Knight individually and said in a slightly saddened tone, "Knights, my journey with you must end here. May God go with you."
Then he rushed back down the stairs with Guinevere trailing behind him.
"Arthur! This is not your fight! This is not Rome's fight!" cried her lover as he chased after his friend and commander.
Emogen followed and managed to nab her cousin by her long Roman styled dress and yank her into a dark corner. Guinevere glared at her. She glared back. Guinevere physically jumped back. This was the first time she had managed to meet her cousin glare for glare. But, she amended to herself, this is also the first time I have two life long friends fighting with each other over one dying and the other pleading with the other to flee and take the freedom they both earned.
"This is some masquerade you've pulled Guinevere. You finally managed to win over the all mighty Arthur Castus! The unbeatable warrior king! How'd you do it? Did you entice him by sleeping with him? Or did you spout off a bunch of nonsense about destiny and fate and all that?" sneered Emogen. She loved Guinevere, really she did, but her cousin was not above playing with men's hearts to get what she wanted.
Guinevere crossed her arms and snorted as she said, "Oh, and like you are any different? You've been to Lancelot's bed tonight if I'm not mistaken."
She colored slightly and said, "That isn't the point! I actually LIKE him! Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me Arthur means more to you than just a way to unify Briton? Can you tell me you like him for himself and not what he can give you in power?"
Guinevere stared at her and opened her mouth.
"I do like Arthur, cousin. And I'll be his wife."
When she turned to leave, Emogen crossed her arms and said snarkly, "Yes, you do like him. That's no lie. But you like the power he'll give you all the more. Don't think I didn't see how your eyes strayed from mine to between my eyes cousin. If you break his heart, I'll break yours."
She returned to see Arthur walking away with Guinevere running behind him and Lancelot staring up into the sky. She placed a hand on his arm. She felt a lump of sadness form in her throat. He was struggling not to cry.
She turned away from him and looked at the other five Knights gathered at the bottom of the wall. Each one looked like death had warmed over; even the normally stoic Tristran. His eyes were watered over with unshed tears and sadness. All of them knew Arthur's death awaited him here. But, he had ordered them to take their deserved freedom and go home- go back home to Sarmatia. They are torn! She realized with awe and gentleness in her heart. The loyalty these men felt to one another was another legendary tale. She felt overjoyed to bare witness to it and at the same time, she felt like an intruder. Lancelot stormed away. She bit her lip. She wanted to follow, but he had already vanished behind a wall and she didn't know where he was heading since it was in a direction she had never been to before. She turned back to the Knights and smiled, or tried too. Even she could not find it in herself to be optimistic about the outcome of this fight that was glaring at them all in stark hate.
Bors sighed and walked away. She knew where he was going. It was commonsense. He had packing to do. He had a family to live for. He had to make sure they lived. Dagonet followed. Even though the circumstances were awful, she smiled. He was loyal to Bors, his cousin. He'd follow the man anywhere. Gawain and Galahad were next. Their heads were bowed though. As they passed by her, they muttered their half hearted farewells and vanished through a hallway that lead to their rooms. All that was left was Tristran.
"Was this set up?" came his deep voice.
Emogen was so startled she actually jumped a good foot into the air with a muffled shriek. She spun around and glared at the scout. He remained as passive as ever. Not that she really expected him to do anything else, but it'd be nice if he'd actually show some other emotion other than annoyance, passiveness, and suspicion.
She sighed at his question though. She truly didn't know how the answer that. In a way it was. Merlin and Guinevere must have done this together. It had all the markings of one of their plans, and yet it wasn't.
She decided to answer as truthfully as she could, "It was, I suppose. My uncle, Merlin, is a sly old fool, but he does deeply respect you and the other Knights. He would never stoop to such lies to get Arthur. He asked. Arthur refused. Merlin understood. Guinevere is a tricky one though. Where Merlin wants peace with you all, Guinevere wants power. She wants to be like the women of old. They were said to command great armies and fear no one. Merlin just wants our people free from Roman control. He'll do just about anything to do it. That's why he asked for peace back in the forest. Guinevere, though, she'll do whatever it takes to get what she desires. She wants ultimate power. Arthur is the correct path to power. The people, as I've said, desire Arthur to be their leader. I didn't mean in only wartime. I meant, they want him to lead them fully-to be their King. Guinevere feels slighted by this. She, a Woad, and a Warrior Princess, could not gain the love and respect of her people. But, a Roman, abate, a half one, managed to win the respect and awe of all Woads. Arthur is her last chance to power and she'll do whatever necessary to gain his power. This is why she has enticed him to her. She will be his Queen. She does like him, but she does not love him. He deserves better than her, but unless he sees her for the truth that is her soul…he will not believe me even if I tell him this-correct?"
Tristran sighed. He stared at the earth with drooped shoulders and silently walked away. In that moment, she knew. Arthur would not believe her. He would have to find out for himself. It was that blind faith in people that bonded the Knights to him so fully. At the same time, it also made them all want to shake him until he collapsed in pain, so he could finally see the truth of the lies before him. I know what I must do. She thought with resolution as Tristran vanished down the same hallway as the other Knights had. I MUST speak with Arthur!
She gathered the skirt of her dress, and spun around again. She pursed her lips together and ran in the direction she had seen Arthur and Guinevere run not a few moments ago. After running by two buildings, she slowed and came to a stop. She was in front of a Tavern and hiding her face sheepishly by hunching her shoulders. She had no earthly clue as to where Arthur's chambers were and had no idea where to go to ask for such information too. As luck would have it, Vanora appeared from the Tavern doors holding a wooden barrel full of garbage.
"VANORA! Am I glad to see you! Quick! Where can I find Arthur! I MUST speak with him?"
"Eh, oh Lass! There ye be! I was wonderin' after a while there. Arthur, eh you go into that buildin' down the lane and the third door be his rooms. What'cha need'in it for?" she asked with a curious look in her eyes.
She leveled Vanora with a deep determination and seriousness in her eyes and replied, "I need to get him to see the truth of my cousin's heart before it gets him killed!"
Chapter with the intimate portion is available through e-mail should you wish to read it.