Chapter 37

A New Life

Utter silence filled the space in the Great Hall. Each soul that sat about the massive and ornate round table, was attempting to let the words that the Roman commander had just spoken soak in. The speech rang in their heads over and over again.

"You mean, he's coming within a month's time, here."

Arthur smirked, his heart heavy with emotion as he stared to his right at his first knight and best friend. The hopeful look in his brother's eyes was a sight that he had dreamt of seeing for the past fifteen years.

"Yes, Lancelot. Bishop Germanius will be arriving here at Hadrian's Wall to bring forth your discharge papers. Your freedom."

Silence once again filled the room, as the words of Arthur swarmed around in their minds. Freedom? Their freedom? Each man wondered the same thing at that very moment. They would be free men, in only one month. Free to leave the island that had held them prisoner. Free to return to the land of their fathers. Free to live a life of their own. For so long, it had been just a distant thought in all their heads. A promised treasure that always lay just outside of their grasp. And now, it was there awaiting them. Not only that, but their freedom would be brought to them.

Bors was the first one to break the silence with a glorious roar which evolved soon into a round of laughter. Each knight soon joined in until the whole room was filled with the infectious laughter. Yet, as they all began to speak at once, excitement lacing their words, two still sat in their respected seats, immersed in similar thoughts.

"Men," Arthur said, each man coming to attention upon their commander's word. They took their seats once more, smiling broadly at one another as Arthur stood before them.

"For fifteen long years, you have fought for this foreign cause. You have toiled and bled for this land, and for me. You have shown greater loyalty and courage than any other battalion, or army ever has in this lifetime. When I read the words upon the with mine own eyes, I was filled with great relief for you Knights, and hope that this next month will bring a peaceful end to your service. Yet, at the same time, I was also filled with sorrow. For I mourn the loss of those who have gone before us.Those brave knights, who will not see this coming month. And it is for that reason that I honor them."

A solemn silence set over the hall, as Arthur raised his chalice of wine high above his head, bowing his head just slightly inrespect. One by one the others followed suit. Gawain glanced regretfully to his side where Lamorak's empty chair sat, cold and sparse. There had been a time where Lamorak had sat in that very spot. A time where he had lifted his own goblet in respect for his fallen brothers. Suddenly, to the golden-haired knight, there seemed to appear an aura of soft light and warmth radiating from the lonely seat.

Gawain smiled tears on the edge of his heavy lids. 'Be at peace, cousin.'

"To Lamorak!" he spoke suddenly.

"TO LAMORAK!"

"TO FREEDOM!"

"TO FREEDOM!"

One by one, the jubilant knights filed out of the Great Hall, passing about a large jug of wine and speaking and laughing to each other of hopes and plans for their imminent release. As they passed into the mid-afternoon light that filtered in from the halls, the dark scout fell purposely behind, stopping just outside the Hall's massive door, and leaning off to side against the wall. Dagonet was the last of the men to leave, bidding Elaine a farewell before rushing off to catch the others. As he passed by, the gentle giant of a man took no notice of the scout who looked after him from the shadows. Soon enough, his prey slipped out from the warm glow of the Hall, hugging her arms to herself as she began to venture out. She wouldn't get to far though, for just as she passed by, a slender hand grasped her waist, pulling her silently into the shadows. Tristan wrapped his arms about her waist, smirking with the thought that he had once again taken her off guard. But the scout froze when he felt a round object being pressed firmly against his rib cage. Looking down into Elaine's smug expression, Tristan discovered that she held a small red apple to his chest.

"I do believe, dear scout, that I am beginning to become quite acquainted with your devices," she whispered with an angelic smile of confidence.

Tristan huffed, unknowingly pulling her closer to his body as he did. "You sure about that, little cat?"

"Yes, I've bested you at last, scout," Elaine said just above a whisper.

Tristan looked intensely into her deep brown orbs, making her hear skip a beat. Slowly, his eyes drifted downward stopping when they reached her lips. Elaine closed her eyes, lifting her head up towards his, desperately awaiting the thing she had longed for all day. As he leaned his head forward, his eyes drifted further down. Elaine's eyes shot open when she heard a loud crunch, and was met with the sight of the top of Tristan's head as he took a huge bite out of the apple she still held high against his chest. Tristan raised his head, chewing noisily and licking his lips satisfied, as he actually smiled down at his love.

"Not so sure anymore, are you little cat, hmm?"

Despite her initial shock, Elaine giggled at her love's antics, burying her head in his strong chest as she did. She savored his musky scent, and her heart celebrated joyfully when she felt his chest shake with silent laughter. Tristan rested his lips on the top of her sweet hair, pressing them down gently in a kiss.

"Tristan?"

Arthur's voice hurled the two lovers out of their moment, Elaine backing away from his warm embrace and munching upon the apple to stifle the surprised yelp she had almost let out. Tristan expertly slipped into his usual aloof shell, his face detached as he began popping the knuckles of his steady hands.

Arthur smiled when he saw that he had not missed his knight yet; he found Elaine and him standing just outside the door.

"Tristan, I am glad I caught you. There is something I must speak with you about. Elaine, would you excuse us?"

Elaine smiled, "Of course. I was just going down to meet the men and Vanora at the Tavern."

Before she left, Elaine kissed her brother's cheek. Arthur turned back towards his knight, and as he did, Elaine gave Tristan one last smile, one saved just for him, before disappearing in the halls.

Tearing his stoic eyes away from her fleeing form, Tristan pushed himself off the wall. "Arthur?"

"Tristan, the Bishop will be arriving at the Wall by way of the main road."

Tristan huffed at the Roman clergyman's misplaced arrogance, "A grand entrance, hmm? That is the most Woad infested path in all of Briton."

Arthur smirked, "Unfortunately, the Bishop has already left Rome and there is no possible way for me to send a warning to him. I doubt I could change his mind anyways; Bishop Germanius is a...steadfast man."

"He'd rather risk his life, all for show," Tristan said, no longer looking at his commander. "You want me to ride out?"

Arthur smiled. Tristan was always one step ahead of everyone else, including him. "Yes. The Woads may venture South of the Wall, if provoked by the prospect of a departure of the Sarmatian Knights. Ride out and observe their movements."

Tristan only nodded, as his commander smiled once more. Arthur patted his scout's shoulder firmly, where only moments ago his sister's head had rested, lovingly whispering to Tristan in the darkness.

"ELAINE!"

The sudden roar of greetings from six rather intoxicated knights surprised the healer of the Wall as she entered the Tavern, causing her to jump high in the air. Each man held a mug of ale in the air and joyous smile on their face. Dagonet, Bors, Gawain, Galahad, Kay and Lancelot all knew that their young companion would most likely come down to join in their merriment soon enough, so they had planned the salute to her upon her imminent arrival.

"Well," Elaine said as she neared the table, placing her hands on Lancelot's and Kay's back. "You all sure know who to properly welcome someone."

"Not just a someone," Lancelot said, reaching behind him to take her small hand in his. He caressed her youthful skin, looking in her eyes with a admiring look that instantly shook Elaine from the moment. His stare made her heart beat fast, and she grew painfully aware of the soft and soothing movements of his nimble fingers upon the skin of her hand.

Slowly, she withdrew her hand, smiling kindly as she did, despite the blush that threatened to crawl even higher in her cheeks. Kay, who hadn't missed a single smile from his friend to the young lady, frowned and fussed about a bit uncomfortably in his chair.

"Yes, well," Elaine suddenly turned on her defensive side, "Lancelot shouldn't you save those words for one of your many barmaids?"

Lancelot chuckled, "I see only you, sweet lady."

Elaine's smile fell slightly, but she continued to tease the dark knight.

"Such a brash man. Tell me, Lancelot, how are you able to walk around all day? I would think that you head has become too heavy with pride for you to balance it between your shoulders."

Again, the knight chuckled and smiled jovially, furthering Elaine's weariness. This simply wasn't like the Lancelot she had come to know. The old Lancelot wouldn't have let her get away with so many jabs at his personality and actions. The old Lancelot would have fired right back, and they would be off once more, jesting as dear friends. But, looking in the shining eyes of the dark knight, Elaine sensed that something had changed.

"Van!"

Elaine hopped quickly from her seat in between Kay and Lancelot upon seeing her best friend coming to the Knight's table.

"Van! How are you doing?"

Vanora groaned, clutching her protruding belly. "Not too good, I'm afraid."

Elaine's face changed instantly from staged interest to genuine concern. Placing her hand upon Vanora's belly, and another atop her head, the healer began accessing the situation meticulously. Van scoffed, standing straight up and brushing her friend's hand away.

"Now Elaine, I'm fine, really," she said moving to setting the Knight's empty mugs on her cleared tray to move back to the bar. "I have carried and given birth to ten very strong, very forceful children. This is just some morning sickness, and it will pass."

Galahad paused in chewing a piece of bread, holding the chunk just outside of his mouth as he said, "But it's mid-afternoon."

Vanora swatted the young man upon the head, making him choke on and go scrambling for his mug. Bors let out a hearty laugh, sliding his arm around Vanora's waist and drawing the chuckling woman to his side.

Elaine wasn't smiling though. "Vanora, you must take every ache and pain seriously in pregnancy, regardless of how many you've birthed in the past. Not every birth is a healthy one."

Vanora grew angry with each word the younger woman said against her, her mood drastically changing. "Listen, Elaine. When I say I'm alright than just believe me."

"Van, I have delivered many children in the past."

"YEAH! Well you haven't given birth though, huh? So, I think I know a thing or two more than you about actually bringing something into this world. Why don't you focus on what you do best? Making your little powders and ointments, prancing around are your pony and cutting off the limbs of people."

Elaine winced at her friends words, lowering her head. Vanora knew the second she had said what she did that she instantly regretted them. Elaine was so much more than that, and what was more, she had saved her life and become closer to her than a sister. But the pregnant woman had already said the words, and her anger was still high. They could not be taken back now.

Vanora slipped from a shocked Bors's grasp, waddling with her extra weight back over to the bar. Elaine lowered herself back into her chair.

"She didn't mean what she said, Elaine," Bors said, instantly pained by the young girl's sad expression. "Believe me, she gets this irritable when she's this far along."

Elaine smiled meekly, "I know, Bors. Thanks."

The table was quickly filled with the sounds of merriment once again, and even Elaine soon forgot the little spat she had just fell victim to with Vanora. Amidst the sounds of Galahad's incessant gambling games with Gawain and Bors's intelliable drunken slurring, Elaine noticed a hand slipping into her own under the table. Looking to her side, she saw that Lancelotwas staring with a look in his eye that she had come to fear. Such passion and desire.

"Meet me in the stables?"

Elaine sat for a long moment, staring right back in his dark eyes. Her instincts were telling her something was definitely going on with her friend.

"Alright."

A moment latter, Lancelot was gone, walking confidently strolling out of the Tavern doors. Elaine watched him for a while, before she turned back to the table. She nervously tapped the tips of her long fingers upon the wooden the surface of the table.

"Nervous?"

Elaine looked to her other side, as Kay sat down with a fresh mug of ale in front of him.

"No."

"Oh, good. You looked a little like it there for a moment."

Elaine could only give a half-smile, her gaze drifting back downward.

"So," Kay said, a little too casual, "Have you been sleeping well here at the fortress?"

Elaine chuckled, "As opposed to the lodges in Shalott? Yes. I haven't felt quite homesick yet."

"Good. You work too hard, and you need you're sleep. Nothing disrupting it, nothing slithering in your chambers at late hours of the night."

Elaine's head shot up, but she couldn't quite read Kay's expression. What was he hinting at?

"I have to go, Kay."

And with that Elaine left the Tavern. As she ventured out into the streets, swerving in and out of passerby's, she felt herself shake with nervousness. Passing quickly by the open door of a barn house, a quick hand dashed out of the darkness inside, pulling Elaine suddenly into a now familiar embrace. Backing them into the barn, Tristan buried his hands in her soft tresses, letting it slide through his fingers as she let her head fall into the crook of his strong neck. Her nervousness instantly subsiding, Elaine sighed, feeling calm and content in Tristan's steady arms, and she began to press warm kiss upon his neck, ignorant to what such a touch did to the scout. Each time her soft lips made contact with the sensitive flesh of his neck, Tristan felt surges of want and need race through his entire body, the effect of which made him close his eyes. Before long, the man growled, taking Elaine by surprise when he swiftly spun her up against the barn wall. He pressed her firmly but gently against the surface, as he devoured her mouth. Their moans mingled in the air of the barn, as their hands desperately felt each other with need. Tristan broke away, clasping Elaine by the waist and lowering her down into the hay that surrounding them in a large pile. Elaine's nervousness sprang back, as her inexperience made her unsure of what all was happening. But, Tristan simply held her face in between his large hands, as he propped himself up on his forearms. He kissed her passionately once more before breaking away so that they could catch there breath.

"Hello, little cat," Tristan said in between their pants and huffs. A bright smile emerged across Elaine's face and she caressed her lover's strikingly handsome face in her hands. Her fingertips traced his dark tattoos as he in turned ran his thumb across the pink flesh of her lips.

"Elaine?"

Tristan and Elaine's heads turned quickly toward the door to see a trembling Vanora propping herself up open the door of the barn. The scout agilely stood, bringing Elaine up with one hand on her back as he did.

Dusting herself off, Elaine moved towards her friend in concern, Tristan falling solemnly behind, thinking they had been finally found out. Both froze when Vanora stepped further into the barn. A large streak of deep red blood stained the skirts of Vanora's dress.

"Elaine, I'm sorr..."

Tristan leapt forward just in time to catch the weakened woman, hoisting her in his arms and carrying her out into the streets, Elaine matching his stride right along side.

"Vanora? Can you hear me?"

Vanora stared up at the stone-face knight who carried her with seemingly no effort whatsoever. She than turned to Elaine with a delirious smirk on her face.

"I was wrong about Tristan, Elaine. He is a good...man...good for you...he does care...for...you."

Elaine called desperately for Vanora, but she had fainted with her last words.