Chapter One
New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pain disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto this day
That never from this day
His will they'll take away
Never free
Never me
So I dub the unforgiven
Metallica – The unforgiven
"Speech" / thoughts
Arthur looked at the papers in front of him on the table; he didn't know what to make of them. More than once Arthur had second thoughts about the orders Rome sent him, but he always followed Rome's orders.
He had received these papers a week ago and only informed Lancelot and Tristran of their contents. Lancelot had been informed because he was the second in command and Tristran because he needed the scout to keep an eye open.
Arthur looked up from his place at the round table and starred at the chairs that wouldn't be filled with familiar faces. Arthur had lost many a good man during the 13 years he had command over the Sarmatian knights. Again his attention went back to the papers
"To the Commander of the Sarmatian knights, Artorius Castus.
I hereby inform you that the Roman Commander, Claudius Cesario, has finished his duty of 15 years with the Roman Empire. He has decided to retire to Rome. However, he still has some Sarmatian knights under his command who haven't finished their duty to Rome. As of a fortnight you will gain command over these knights until their duty is over. They have the same time left as your own knights.
Commander Cesario has given me his word that he will send his scout to meet up with you within a week. The scout will be carrying a letter from Commander Cesario, you will recognize him, and he'll be carrying a banner of the Roman Empire.
You will then travel together with this scout towards the barracks of Commander Cesario, which is seven days journey from your own Fortress.
I hope to have informed you enough with this letter,
Signed Bishop Germanus.
Arthur couldn't believe that they would send him more innocent lives for the Woads to kill. While Arthur was pondering about the turn of events, Tristran was outside of Hadrian's Wall looking for the scout which Commander Cesario had sent Arthur's way.
And just like promised, not far in the distance, a single Roman banner and rider appeared. Tristran halted near the forest edge along the outpost, planning to intercept the scout there.
Tristran took his time to observe this new addition of Arthur's Command. The man had long black hair that reached below the shoulders. He was riding a horse smaller than the ones Romans usually used. The horse was sandy coloured and seemed to have been painted over. The man was also riding without a saddle. His complexion was none Tristran had ever seen, copper-coloured, which seemed a bit odd to him.
As the man came closer, Tristran rode his horse into the other man's path in order to stop him. He must be a complete idiot; anybody can hit him with that thing waving around. Tristran thought, slightly wondering why the Woads hadn't attacked the man.
The man came to a total stop in front of Tristran, who had his bow point and arrow aimed at the new arrival. In the round face, Tristran could clearly see the prominent cheekbones and coal black eyes. These eyes looked at him, keen and penetrating.
"Identify yourself." Tristran said not lowering his aim from the man.
The man gave him no answer, nor did he seem worried that he was being aimed at. The man reached in to the bag he had on his back and got out some papers, which he held up for Tristran to grab.
"What is your business here?" Tristran asked still not taking his bow down.
The man still didn't answer he only rode closer to Tristran and pushed the papers into Tristran's saddlebags. The man then moved away from Tristran again. Tristran lowered his bow and grabbed the papers out of his bag. They where addressed to Commander Castus.
"You will wait here, I shall give the papers to my commander and then come back for you." Tristran thought it would be better to let the man wait a little, Arthur hadn't ordered for him to bring the scout to him.
The man nodded his head and moved over to some trees nearby, where he dismounted. Tristran rode back to the outpost to give Arthur the papers and the news that the scout had arrived.
Tristran found Arthur and Lancelot in the Fortress hall sitting at the round table, he handed the papers to Arthur.
"Where's the scout?" Lancelot inquired.
"Outside next to the forest edge." Tristran said as he watched Arthur go over the papers quickly.
" I think Tristran was right to leave the scout out there, listen to this." Arthur started to read the papers:
Artorious, hereby I have sent you my scout to collect you and bring you to my outpost, seven days journey from your fortress. I expect you to leave as soon as you have read these papers.
Don't trouble yourself with my scout, as he is mute. I have dubbed him Sebastian for he has never spoken a word to me, nor to any of the other knights.
He's an excellent scout, tracker and warrior. But I must warn you, for this one means trouble. My advice is to keep him under tight control.
Within four days my scout will have lead you to my second in command Antonio. Antonio is an outstanding man, Christian as are all the others. If Sebastian gives you any trouble, he will deal with it.
The other knights I'll be leaving to you are Balthazar, Marcellus and youngest Fabian. They are all excellent knights.
I'm looking forward to our meeting in seven days.
Signed Claudius Cesario.
"Mute. That would explain the man's silence." Tristran said to Arthur.
"So we are to follow this scout for seven days and hope he gets us to the writer of this letter?" Lancelot complained. "We could have found our way there on our own."
"Yes, we could have but Sebastian knows the roads and their dangers." Arthur answered.
"At least you will have some Christians to support you within seven days." Lancelot teased Arthur. Arthur simply ignored the remark.
"Jols." Arthur called out for their squire. "Let the other knights know that we're going on a mission and help them pack."
"Lancelot, please inform the others about the situation." Arthur said as he went to get some articles from his private room.
Within an hour seven knights were on their way to the forest edge to pick up their new knight. When they arrived at the spot where Tristran had instructed the man to stay they only saw the Roman banner sticking in the ground with a flacon sitting on top of it.
"Tristran, do the scouts' equipment come with a standard bird?" Gawain joked.
"Oh no, not another one of those damned birds." Lancelot muttered.
As if the bird in question had heard him the falcon flew over to Lancelot and tried to land on Lancelot's head. Lancelot started waving his hands over his head for protection.
"Get off dumb bird. Tristran do something!" Lancelot started to sound a little bit panicked as his precious hands came in contact with the falcon's talons.
"It's not mine, it will not listen to me." Tristran simply stated.
"Get away, AARRRGGHHHH" Lancelot screamed while the other knights laughed at him.
"Maybe it's female, try wooing it." Bors teased.
At the sound of a low whistle the flacon flew off into the trees nearby.
"Well Tristran, where is he?" Arthur wondered.
The man appeared, hanging upside down from a branch looking at the knights. Arthur noticed the strange outfit. He appeared to be wearing some sort of black breechcloth with leather pant legs tied on. From underneath the loose shirt the man was wearing, something made out of animal bones peeked out. It didn't strike Arthur as typical Sarmatian clothing.
After the man appeared to have enough of watching the knights he let himself fall down from the branch only to land safely on his bare feet. He whistled again and this time his horse came out from the forest.
The man pulled the cloak from the horse and rapped it around himself. He than gathered his stuff and mounted his horse and rode up to Arthur.
"You're name is Sebastian isn't it?" Arthur inquired. Sebastian just shrugged his shoulders.
"My name is Artorius Castus and these are my Sarmatian knights. I will be your commander within a week." Arthur introduced himself.
Sebastian clearly wasn't impressed, as Arthur proceeded to introduce his knights; Sebastian pulled a map from underneath his shirt. Sebastian pointed out the route marked on this map; he handed it to Arthur and forced his horse into gallop leaving the knights dumbstruck behind.
"He seems to be in a hurry." Lancelot moved next to Arthur.
"Tristran, study the route and tell me what you think." Arthur handed the maps to Tristran.
"Seems alright to me, I'd say we follow him." Tristran handed the map back to Arthur.
"Alright, let's ride." Arthur ordered.
They quickly caught up with Sebastian; they only stopped shortly during the night to eat something. While Dagonet was preparing dinner the other knights noticed that Sebastian didn't make any movement towards them.
Sebastian was sitting several feet away fro them and was watching them with suspicion. Dagonet handed every knight his portion of the stew he had made, he noticed that Sebastian hadn't come forth to claim his portion.
"Sebastian, you must eat." Dagonet said as he stood next to the bowl of stew. Sebastian stood up and Dagonet thought that the man would come to him. He was surprised to see the man climb into a tree and disappear from his sight.
"That's odd." Gawain said when he had finished his stew.
"What's wrong with him?" Galahad inquired.
Arthur, had during their ride, informed the knights about the papers he had gotten. The knights had voiced their opinions about the papers but knew they couldn't do anything about it.
"Maybe the boy is shy?" Bors felt sorry for the boy. He believed that Sebastian couldn't be any older than Galahad.
"Or maybe he's just as mistrusting of this situation as we are." Lancelot pointed out.
After diner was over Sebastian reappeared and led the knights through the night. They rode nearly till noon the next day when they found themselves on the borders of a little village.
Sebastian led them to one of the more distant and larger house, which had several outbuildings to it. The young boy, that was playing by the front door, smiled and waved at Sebastian as he saw him, he than ran into the house. The boy reappeared with his mother and two of his older siblings behind him.
The woman walked up to where Sebastian had dismounted his horse. "Sebastian nice to see you again, and who have you brought with you?" She asked while looking at Arthur.
"I'm Arthur and these men are my Sarmatian knights." He said with pride in his voice, he could also hear his knights' chuckle behind his back.
"I'm honoured to receive you in my house. My husband will be glad to see some fellow country men." She said smiling at the knights.
"Orsino, please show these knights where they can leave their horses and than take them back to the house." The woman told her son.
The boy walked towards the knights and took them over to the family stables. The husband turned out to be the village smithy, so there was plenty of room for the horse's there.
Arthur turned towards the boy and asked him way Sebastian's horse wasn't put with theirs.
"He and his horse always stay in the little shed right next to the house." Orsino answered.
As they walked back to the house they could here Orsino's parents argue about Sebastian.
"Did you see the state he's in? He is just skin and bones, Benedict." The boys' mother yelled at her husband.
"Yes, Beatrice. I noticed, but what am I to do about it?" The husband answered.
"That's it, I'll put that boy in a bath a make sure he gets fed properly. Ophelia make a bath ready while I get Sebastian." Beatrice yelled to one of her daughters.
The knights watched as the mother and daughter came out of the house. The daughter, Ophelia, made her way over to the well with a bucket. The mother, Beatrice, made her way to the little shed where Sebastian was grooming his horse.
Orsino looked up and noticed the look on the knights' faces. "Don't worry Sirs she isn't going to hurt him, she reserves that for father."
The knights snickered at the boys comment. They followed the boy into the house, where the owner of the house greeted them.
"So I finally get to meet the famous Arthur and his Sarmatian knights. Let's see whether your reputation proceeds you." The large blond man said with a smile.
"Please take a seat." The man pointed towards the kitchen. "Then I shall introduce my family properly since my wife seems to have forgotten her manners."
"I heard that." Beatrice voice yelled from one of the other rooms in the house.
"Sebastian, stay still will you." Beatrice yelled and the knights caught a glimmer of Sebastian trying to flee from the room he was in.
They watched as a nearly shirtless and pants-less Sebastian rolled onto the hallway floor. Beatrice had succeeded in getting the cloak, sleeves and pants legs from Sebastian. Quickly, Sebastian got back to his feet and stormed down the hallway with Beatrice following.
"Stubborn child, its just water." She yelled as she followed Sebastian.
Sebastian came to a full stop when the owner of the house, who managed to grab hold of the escapee, blocked his path.
"You wouldn't want me to get into trouble with the misses?" The man looked down at Sebastian.
"Daddy, let me." A soft voice came from behind the knights.
"Alright Ophelia." The man patted his daughter on her arm.
The knights watched the young brown haired girl grabbed hold of Sebastian's hand and looked at him.
"Come Sebastian, we'll lock the door so that nobody can come in. It will just be the two of us." The knights watched as this young, small girl led Sebastian back into the room he had just fled. Everybody in the house listened as the door was locked.
"Welcome to my daily madness. I'm afraid it's back to formalities. My name is Benedict." The large blond man turned his attention back to his guests. "This lovely lady is my wife Beatrice. The one who is currently drowning my dear friend is my second oldest, Ophelia. And these would be Olivia, Nell and Orsino." Benedict pointed to each of the children who all bowed shortly before the knights.
Arthur then proceeded to introduce his knights one by one. When introductions where over Benedict announced that diner was ready. Moments later they were joined by Sebastian and Ophelia.
The kitchen door opened with a loud bang, a young blond woman entered looking very angry.
"He left me in the middle of nowhere. What a pompous ass, if you ever send me on a romantic outing with it again I will kill myself." The young woman moved her hands dramatically as she sat down between Galahad and Lancelot and grabbed a plate of food.
"And this would be my oldest Helena." Benedict explained.
"Hello" Helena mumbled with her mouthful.
"Don't speak with your mouthful young lady, and what do you mean he left you in the middle of nowhere." Beatrice looked at her daughter.
"He took me on a romantic trip on horseback." Helena pulled a face as if she wanted to throw up, earning her giggles from her younger siblings. "He then sees one little snake and rides of leaving me there." Helena continued.
"You mean to tell me that the son of the town eldest is afraid of a snake? And than leaves my innocent and defenceless little girl behind?" Beatrice looked shocked to say the least.
"Defenceless my ass." Benedict mumbled.
"Exactly, the silly git." Helena added.
"So how did you get back here?" Benedict asked.
"I crawled." Helena retorted quickly.
"Really?" Galahad looked at the young woman.
"No you dumb shit. I rode a horse. Argh men, really." Helena mumbled on.
"Helena, watch your tongue." Benedict spoke strictly to his daughter.
Each of the knights was snickering, even Galahad found it funny. All along this exchange Sebastian stood in the back of the kitchen.
"Oh, I'm sorry Sebastian, I didn't notice you there. We should sow some bells to your clothes." Beatrice walked towards the bowl.
Beatrice gave Sebastian a large portion of the food, which he accepted. Sebastian then sat down in the doorway quickly eating his meal and than leaving quickly after finishing.
Benedict noticed Tristran watching Sebastian. "Don't you worry about him hurting any of you. He might enjoy killing, but he never makes the first move. NEVER!"
"Does he not ever stay within the house?" Lancelot asked.
"How can I explain Sebastian to you?" Benedict pondered for a little while. Finally having found the right words he started to explain.
"You know how real wild things cannot be tamed or forced into anything they don't want to?"
"Yes." Lancelot looked at Tristran who was standing in the doorway watching the movements outside.
"Sebastian's like that, it's in his blood. Put him in a cage and he'll just fight and when he cannot fight anymore he'll sit down and die." Benedict explained.
That impressed the knights. They would have to think about it. They watched as Sebastian walked up to Tristran, and Tristran didn't make any inclination to move. Sebastian shifted sideways and wormed his way past Tristran with minimal body contact.
Sebastian looked at Ophelia and she just looked back, Sebastian made a short hand movement and Ophelia's face cleared up.
"Mom, where did you leave Sebastian's cloak?" Ophelia asked her mother.
"I threw it on your beds." Beatrice answered while she cleared the kitchen table.
Sebastian walked back to the back of the hallway and returned with his cloak. He pulled out another map from his shirt and showed it to Benedict.
"You've got quite the journey ahead of you, I suggest that you get a goodnight rest." Benedict nodded to Sebastian who was busy worming his way back out again.
"May I ask how you and Sebastian know each other?" Arthur inquired as his knights made their beds ready for the night.
"I was not long ago a knight serving under Commander Cesario." Benedict explained.
"And you don't wish to return to your homeland?" Arthur knew most of his knights desired to go back home.
"There is nothing left there for me, where as here I have everything I desire." Benedict pointed out as he lifted his sleeping son up.
After a nice and warm night morning came to soon. The knights said their farewells to the family and watched Beatrice put more food into Sebastian's bag. They made their way for the next village, which they would reach within two days.
Let me know what you think, so that I can improve my writing style.