Chapter 14
The tavern was full of laughter and good times for tomorrow, the knights were free men. Lancelot was busy gambling, and losing badly, Bors was watching over his newborn son, Galahad and Gawain were having a knife throwing contest, and Lyndsey and Tristan were sitting by themselves, enjoying each others company.
"What are your plans, since you are free now?" asked Lyndsey.
Tristan looked over to her, "To be with you of course. Start a family and live forever." He replied.
Lyndsey smiled. She would finally live a life where she didn't have to worry about him dying on the battlefield.
Tristan got up and made his way over to Galahad and Gawain. Lyndsey went to the bar to get a drink of water.
"Hello luv. How are you?" asked Vanora.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Good. Just can't wait to get out of this place." Said Vanora. She looked over to Lyndsey and got a worried expression on her face. "Are you alright darling? You look a bit flushed."
"O, no I'm fine."
Vanora looked at her again. "Have you eaten anything tonight?"
"No, I'm afraid if I do then I'll throw it up later. I seem to have some sort of bug."
Vanora just laughed. "O sweetheart, you aren't sick, you're pregnant."
Lyndsey spit out her water and looked at Vanora like she had just grown two heads. "No, I'm not pregnant. I can't be."
"Darling, it's been over two years since you've been married. You were bound to become pregnant sooner or later." Said Vanora with a grin.
"Pregnant?" Lyndsey asked herself.
"Have you told Tristan yet?"
"No, not yet. I just found out!"
"Darling, I think you've known you just needed someone else to tell you."
Vanora was a smart woman. Lyndsey had to give her that. She had suspicions that she may be pregnant but never had the guts to actually believe it. O boy. 'Pregnant.' She thought.
"Why don't you tell Tristan, hm?"
"I will. I'll tell him tonight."
Vanora smiled and went back to serving the knights drinks. Lyndsy watched over the crowd and went into her own little world. She didn't see Bors come over to her.
"Pregnant, huh?" he said.
Lyndsey looked to him with shock and panic written all over her face. "How did you know?"
"Sweetheart, my Van was pregnant eleven times, I think I know a pregnant woman when I see one." He said with a smile. Lyndsey just smiled at him.
"Don't worry luv. I won't tell a soul. You have my word."
"Thanks Bors. I really appreciate it."
Lyndsey looked to see Vanora slap Lancelot across the face.
"Mmmm. You look nothing like him. You're all Bors." Said Bors.
"Well of course he is, look at his mouth." Lyndsey said with a laugh.
"Oh, they want more!" cried Vanora.
"Here. Be a mother to your son." Said Bors.
"Oh, come here." Lyndsey looked at Vanora as she took her son. 'That's gonna be me one day.' She thought.
"Dagonet, where you been? We've got plans to make." Said Bors. "Here, please. Sing." He said.
Vanora protested as usual.
"Shut up! Vanora will sing."
Land of bear and land of eagle
Land that gave us birth and blessing
Land that called us ever homewards
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home
We will go home
We will go home across the mountains
Everyone was in their own world as Vanora sang of home. Galahad was signing along as was Bors. Lancelot had a look of haunting on his face. Tristan was holding Lyndsey as they both listened to Vanora.
"Arthur!" yelled Jols breaking everyone out of their trance.
"Arthur!"' yelled Galahad. Everyone walked over to Arthur. "Arthur! You're not completely Roman yet, right?"
"Rus!" yelled Bors.
As they approached Arthur, they noticed a look of sadness and worry.
"Knights… brothers in arms…your courage has been tested beyond all limits. But I must ask you know for one further trial."
"Drink?" said Bros.
"We must leave on a final mission for Rome before our freedom can be granted."
Everyone started laughing like it was a joke. Lyndsey stood there with a look on her face of disbelievement.
"What?" she asked. "What do you mean a final mission. You have already risked your lives for 15 years, what more do they want from you!" she yelled. Hormones were taking over and she was losing her cool. Tristan placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"Above the wall, far in the north, there is a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxons. Our orders are to secure their safety."
"Let the Romans take car of their own."
"Above the wall is Woad territory."
"Our duty to Rome, if it was ever a duty, is done. Our pact with Rome is done."
"Every knight here, has laid his life on the line for you. For you. And instead of freedom you want more blood? Our blood? You think more of Roman blood than you do of ours?" yelled Bors.
"Bors! These are our order. We leave at first light, and when we return your freedom will be waiting for you. A freedom we can embrace with honor."
"I am a free man! I will choose my own fate!"
"Yeah, yeah. We're all going to die someday. If it's a death from a Saxon hand that frightens you, stay home." Said Tristan. Lyndsey looked at him. It was that attitude that would surely get him killed one day.
"Listen if you're so eager to die, you can die right now! I've got something to live for!" yelled Galahad.
Thankfully, Dagonet ended the dispute and went to start packing. As did everyone else until only Lyndsey, Lancelot, and Arthur were left.
"Lyndsey, I want you to stay here. This mission is too dangerous and I would feel much better if I knew you were safe."
"No, I am going with you whether you like it or not. Every mission is dangerous Arthur. What makes this one any different? I am apart of this family too and I am not going to sit here while you all leave and wonder if all of you are going to come back to me in one piece. I am going and that's that!" she yelled. She turned and stalked off to her room. Maybe these pregnancy hormones were a good thing. She could really use that anger on the battlefield.
She went to their room to find Tristan packing. "Your staying here." He said flatly.
"Not you too." She groaned. "Listen, I already explained this to Arthur, I and going and there isn't anything you can do about it. So just drop it."
"No I am not going to drop it. You are not coming on this mission. Something could happen to you and I won't be there to save you!"
"Like it's any different for me! You are out there by yourself while I am here waiting for you. You could be dead on a field somewhere and I wouldn't be able to save you! It is no different for you than it is for me! I am going whether you like it or not, so just let it go and please can we get some sleep!" she said as she turned and began packing her things before getting into bed.
She felt arms encircle her waist. "What's wrong? You never get this testy when asked to stay behind. Why are you so angry all of a sudden?"
'Should I tell him? No, all he needs to worry about is fighting and surviving. If he or anyone else found out that I was pregnant, I would be staying home for sure. I'll just wait until we get back.'
"I'm just tired of everyone thinking that I can't handle myself. I feel like I have to prove myself every time we leave for a mission."
"We all just care deeply for you. None of us want to see you get hurt."
"Well, that's exactly how I feel."
"Come. Let us get some rest before tomorrow. You must be exhausted."
Lyndsey turned around with a smirk on her face. "Who said I was tired?" she said with mischief written clearly on her face.
"Come here you little kitten."
Leena and Mya sat on the windowsill and watched their owners spend the very last happy night that they would probably have together, for tomorrow would be filled with anguish and confusion, and Leena and Mya were planning on being there for it all.
