A/N: "Speech" / thoughts
Chapter Five
Mama they try and break me
The window burns to light the way back home
A light that warms no matter where they've gone.
Keepers of the flame
Do you fell your name?
Can't you hear your babies crying?
Metallica – Hero of the day
Months passed in a similar matter; going out on missions, battling Woads and returning back to the fortress. Arthur and the others had finally gotten into a rhythm of sorts with their new knights. Before any of them realized it a year and a half had passed by.
Antonio had the habit of rivalling a lot with Lancelot, refusing to let his old position under Cesario's command to be given up on. He was a proud man and seemed to think himself better then the rest, but still leaving most of the fighting to the others. Arthur however still relied on Lancelot to be his second in command, much to the anger of Antonio who tried to get under Lancelot's skin as much as he could.
Balthazar and Marcellus stood behind Antonio all the way. Lancelot could command them but they would still look at Antonio for approval. Neither man was very bright, but they formed a brutal force on the battlefield. Not only on the battlefield, much to Bors annoyance, they would use that same force in the tavern of his beloved Vanora; scaring not only the Roman soldiers but also the girls that worked there.
Fabian was well liked by all the knights, although a little naïve at times and in need of protection for it. That protection came in the form of Sebastian. Fabian was the only person who seemed to be in touch with Sebastian. As Arthur had foreseen, Fabian had grown into a fine man. His appearance was somewhere between Lancelot and Galahad. He had grown a beard at the advice of Galahad and Gawain, who spent a lot of time together with Fabian.
Sebastian had remained a mystery, not having spoken a single word. He seemed to live only to survive his service to Rome. Together with Tristran, the two had become a lethal combination during battle. Arthur had many times wondered at the ability of those two dancing around each other on the battlefield, leaving a track of dead Woads behind. And it was definitely some sort of macabre dance they performed, each knowing exactly where the other was and protecting each other. Even the two birds provided a faster way of scouting, since they could scout a greater area, for each bird would search its own area.
Benedict and Beatrice would often be found near the fortress, often bringing their children with them. Benedict had become one of the major suppliers when it came to the knights horses.
After their latest mission, which had lasted for more than 3 weeks the knights where tired, even Arthur couldn't muster up much more energy. Not only did they lose Antonio in the most stupid way, it was more foggy and rainy than Arthur could ever remember in his life.
The Woads that had attacked them for three days in a row had observed that Antonio stayed behind during the battles. During the last battle they had attacked with a small group from behind Antonio. Antonio had panicked and had ridden away in fast speed from the Woads. Antonio's horse lost its footing and fell down. Antonio had landed under his horse and broken his neck, the horse had broken two of his legs.
As they rapped up Antonio's body, Tristran and Sebastian killed the horse without causing much more pain to the wounded and scared animal.
As the knights rode back to their fortress for a warm place to stay, the mood had turned grim. Balthazar and Marcellus were restless due to the lost of their commander and friend. Galahad tried to keep close to Gawain for some warmth. Gawain didn't seem to mind. Arthur and Lancelot were huddled close together and so where Dagonet and Bors. Those two kept Fabian in their middle, hoping to keep the young lad warm.
Tristran was scouting out the area ahead while Sebastian made sure that no-one was following them. Arthur had first refused to let Sebastian go. After Antonio's death Marcellus and Balthazar had chosen Sebastian to vent their anger on. After using him as a punching bag they had thrown him into a cold stream. Arthur had seen the boy shiver as he sat on his horse during the next 2 days, but Sebastian had refused to leave the scouting up to Tristran.
Sebastian was the first one to return; looking like a drowned cat. Gawain was the first one to notice that there was something wrong with Sebastian. The way he sat on his horse should have alarmed the other knights sooner. That Sebastian was still on his horse was a miracle, any of the other knights would have landed on the floor several hours before.
Arthur looked at the scout as he made his way along the line of knights, but to his amazement Sebastian passed him by. Not stopping to give any information. Getting a closer glimpse of Sebastian's face Arthur noticed that underneath the facial paint the boy had an unhealthy greyish look.
"Dagonet." Arthur yelled for the big knight.
Dagonet moved up in the line towards his commander, looking at Arthur, silently waiting for an order.
"Check out Sebastian, he looks unwell." Arthur pointed towards the scout riding a little ahead of the group.
Before Dagonet was on his way, Gawain galloped passed as he had noticed that Sebastian was slowly slipping of his horse. With a loud thud the silent scout hit the ground, his horse coming to a quick stop. Nudging his rider for any sort of response, but none came.
Tristran who had come from the opposite direction came to a stop at the same time Gawain reached Sebastian. Both quickly jumped from their horse and kneeled next to Sebastian on the ground.
"Sebastian" Gawain said, while turning Sebastian onto his back.
Sebastian tried to push Gawain's hands away. He opened his eyes and with a glazed look, looked up towards the sky. His eyes got wider when his falcon flew over screeching loudly. Sebastian moved to get up, Gawain and Tristran grabbed Sebastian by his arms trying to help him up.
Sebastian seemed to have other plans. He pushed both men away and got up shivering violently. It appeared that he was walking towards something. He had his hand stretched out as if he was trying to grasp at something or someone.
"hta'way…, ka'wiy…, niwi'ki wa'n." Sebastian mumbled, tears streaming down his face and stumbling forward.
Tristran and Gawain looked at each other and than at Sebastian, it appeared that the scout wasn't as mute as they were told he was. Neither knight had understood the words Sebastian had said. In time they reached Sebastian as he collapsed again, Gawain lifted the scout with ease as he weighed nothing.
The remaining knights gather around as Dagonet checked the boy over.
'He's got a bad fever, we need to get him dry and warm quickly." Dagonet stated.
"Tristran find something suitable." Arthur looked at Tristran.
Tristran rode towards the nearest forest hoping to find some sort of natural shelter. He realized that there wasn't anything of that sort around since the forest wasn't dense enough.
"We have to make camp, there must have been something. We cannot ride any further." Arthur looked back to Sebastian when Tristran informed him.
Tristran nodded and let them to a small clearing not far away. Fabian had offered to take Sebastian, all the knights knew that Sebastian would struggle the least against Fabians touch.
Tristran and Gawain were instructed to make a small tent for Sebastian. Galahad was searching for firewood. Dagonet went through his herbs to find something that would benefit Sebastian. Bors was in charge of the lookout, while Lancelot and Arthur were deciding what their options where going to be. Marcellus and Balthazar didn't do anything but make sure that they were dry and comfortable.
In no time a small tent was erected and Fabian pulled Sebastian into the tent, closing the tent so that the heat that their bodies produced would warm them. Gawain offered to help Fabian undress Sebastian, but Fabian declined.
"He won't let you, not even in the state he is in. You would only do more damage than good Gawain." Fabian explained as he saw the look on Gawain's face.
"You're right, just call out of you need anything." Gawain still wanted to help.
Dagonet took the place of Gawain as he held out something in a wooden bowl to Fabian.
"It will help bring the fever down." Dagonet pushed the bowl in Fabian's hand.
Fabian pulled Sebastian in his lap so that he was in a sitting position. He had removed Sebastian's shirt and pants legs already.
"Sebastian you have to drink this, it's good for you." Fabian pleaded with his silent friend.
"Try putting the spoon against his lips with very little on it." Dagonet suggested as he saw Fabian's helpless expression. Fabian did as he was told and was amazed that it actually worked. When Fabian was finished with the herbs he undressed and let his body heat be absorbed by Sebastian's.
Leaving the pair behind Dagonet walked over towards Lancelot and Arthur. "We have to get him in a proper place and shelter or he won't survive the fever." Arthur, Lancelot and Dagonet sat in silence for sometime.
"Benedict." Arthur was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts by Lancelot.
"Excuse me?" Arthur looked confused.
"Tristran!" Lancelot yelled confusing Arthur even more.
"How far are we away from Benedict's village?" Lancelot waited impatiently for the answer.
"A day." Tristran answered.
"Arthur we could ride there, get a wagon and then move Sebastian there." Lancelot looked very pleased with himself for finding the solution.
"Tristran ride ahead with Gawain and Galahad to get the wagon, we will try to move towards you if it is possible." Arthur got to his feet and made to put the plan into action.
Dagonet moved back towards the small tent to check on Sebastian, as he peeked in he saw Sebastian lying on Fabian's chest in a very intimate way. Dagonet carefully moved his large body into the small tent so that he could feel Sebastian's body temperature. As he did Fabian opened his eyes and looked shocked at finding Dagonet standing over him.
"Shh, it's all right." Dagonet put a finger to his lips and moved away from the pair. He informed Fabian about the upcoming plan. Fabian still looked uncomfortable with having to lay there in front of Dagonet.
"Dagonet could you get some dry clothes from my saddle bag?" Fabian asked as he pulled the furs higher to cover more of him and Sebastian.
"It's nothing, what about Sebastian?" Dagonet knew that the scout never brought an extra pair of clothing.
"I have extra clothing in my bag for him too." Fabian also seemed to be aware of this fact.
Arthur walked towards Dagonet as he was getting the clothing from Fabian's saddlebags. "So are we able to move Sebastian?" Arthur closed the saddlebags for Dagonet. "He's still unconsciousness and the fever hasn't been broken yet." Together they moved towards the small tent. "It would be better if we wait till tomorrow."
"I'll inform the others that where not going to move tonight. You keep an eye on Sebastian's condition. "Dagonet nodded and moved back into the tent.
This time Dagonet found the two boys asleep and definitely in a lover's embrace. Not being one to judge people Dagonet laid the clothes next to Fabian's head and got out the tent, finding a spot nearby to sleep for the night.
It wasn't until noon the next day that Gawain and Galahad returned with Benedict and a wagon. Tristran had gone of scouting the area, so that they could leave as soon as he was back. Sebastian was still unconscious but his fever seemed to have dropped a bit. Fabian had dressed him and together with Dagonet he put Sebastian in the wagon.
"Stay with him." Dagonet had seen the worried took on Fabian's face. "But the horses and out things." Fabian protested. "I'll take care of them." Dagonet pushed the boy back in the wagon.
"What happened to Sebastian?" Benedict was clearly worried about the state that Sebastian was in. "He's got a bad fever." Arthur thought it wise not to give more information.
Silently they rode as fast as they could back towards the village, during the trip Sebastian's fever rose again. He started to mutter words under his breath in a language the others couldn't understand.
"Benedict do you know what part of Sarmatia Sebastian comes from?" Lancelot inquired with the large man. "No perhaps you should ask Fabian. They were taken from the same village and at the same time." Benedict had listened to Fabian when he spoke of his native home. He watched Lancelot ride up to the wagon and ask for Fabian.
"Fabian, Benedict just told us that you and Sebastian hail from the same village. Can you tell us what Sebastian is talking about?" Lancelot was, just like the other knights, very curious about the language Sebastian was speaking.
"We were indeed taken from the same village, but Sebastian doesn't belong to my tribe. When I remember correctly his family where nomads and traders from a distant country. They had settled not far from our camp to stay over for the winter." Fabian tried to remember more, but he had only been six when the Romans had taken him.
"nkawacin". Sebastian started to shiver again. "Shhh, it's alright." Fabian crawled back to Sebastian and softly stroked his hair.
When they reached the village Sebastian was quickly transferred into the house and put a cot close to the fireplace. Arthur ordered Dagonet and Fabian to stay with Sebastian as the others would travel back to the fortress. As soon as Sebastian's health would permit it, they would move him to his room in the fortress.
Ophelia rushed to Sebastian's side to check on him. "Do you think we need to cool him so that the fever goes down?" She asked Dagonet who was standing next to the cot. "Perhaps we can bath him in cold water. It's worth a try." Dagonet removed his hand from the burning face of Sebastian.
With the aid of Fabian, Ophelia had filled a bathtub with lukewarm water while Dagonet moved Sebastian into the bathroom. "I'll wait outside." Dagonet provided as he saw Ophelia and Fabian hesitate in the process of undressing Sebastian.
"If we need anything we'll call for you." Ophelia softly patted Dagonet's arm. "Thank you." Dagonet nodded to Ophelia and left the room.
It would take another two days for Sebastian to regain consciousness. Neither Ophelia nor Fabian would leave his side, both convinced that he would die if they did leave. Dagonet had a hard time convincing the pair that Sebastian was fit for transportation back to the fortress.
Ophelia had managed to convince her father that she wanted to make sure Sebastian would arrive in good health at the fortress. Her father forced her to take Helena with her. After loading the wagon with the necessary supplies, they made their way to the fortress.
Tristran was the first to notice that they were coming. Sebastian's falcon had taken off as Tristran was feeding it on top of the wall. He had informed Arthur and the others before the wagon reached the fortress gates.
"Lady Helena." Lancelot held out his hand to help her of the wagon. "Do I look like an idiot?" Helena swatted Lancelot hand away.
"Excuse me?" Lancelot raised his eyebrows. "Do you think me incapable of getting of this wagon without your assistance?" Helena raised her own eyebrows at Lancelot.
"No, not at all, I was trying to be polite." Lancelot smiled politely at Helena as he stepped away from the wagon. "Men are not polite. They always want something in return." Helena said as she jumped of the wagon and walked over to Fabian.
Lancelot looked up at the wagon and saw an embarrassed looking Ophelia stare at her sister, but before he could offer a hand Gawain had stepped up.
"Thank you." Ophelia said softly as Gawain helped her of the wagon. "Lady Ophelia, would you…" Gawain was interrupted by Helena.
"See men always want something." Helena grabbed her sister and pulled her away from Gawain. "But…" Gawain stammered as he watched the two women leave.
"Thank you for saving me from that embarrassment." Lancelot clapped Gawain on the back and left to find Arthur.
Dagonet and Fabian helped Sebastian out of the wagon and back to his room. In the hallway they where met by Arthur, he had been to late to greet them outside: "It's good to see that you are doing better Sebastian."
Sebastian nodded and focused his attention back to his feet. Arthur moved out of the way to let Sebastian in to his room.
"Dagonet I expect you and Fabian in the fortress hall when Sebastian is settled in." Arthur said as the two others passed him by.
Arthur waited for his knights to show up. He had received word of Woads, South of the wall and needed to check it out. They would have to leave tomorrow. He would have to ask Vanora to keep any eye on Sebastian. Arthur turned around as he heard Lancelot's voice boom in the fortress hall.
"And this is the fortress hall, where all the important things happen." Lancelot held the door open to let Ophelia and Helena in. The woman had finished their shopping at the market and Ophelia had let Lancelot convince her to a tour of the fortress.
"Lancelot what are you doing?" Arthur asked although he already knew the answer to the question.
"He's showing off." Helena scolded at her sister from letting her drag her along.
"These two lovely ladies have been to the fortress many times, and somehow they have only managed to see the market." Lancelot gave his own explanation.
"So it is really round?" Ophelia mumbled to herself." Don't act as if you have never seen a table before." Helena swatted her sister on the head.
"Ladies." Arthur greeted the two women.
"Why don't you two sit down" Lancelot pulled out a chair for Ophelia and the one next to himself for Helena.
Slowly the room was filled with the other knights. Gawain found himself pleasantly surprised to see Ophelia sitting next to him. The two women remained silent as Arthur addressed the knights on there up coming mission. He was interrupted from his speech by a yelp from Lancelot. Turning he saw Lancelot rub his head.
"She hit me." Lancelot said undignified. "Keep staring at my chest and I'll do it again." Helena threatened.
"Lancelot focus and Lady Helena please accept my apologies for Lancelot's indecent behaviour." Arthur tried to gain control over the room again.
"No." Helena replied looking sternly at Arthur. "Excuse me?" Arthur looked her way.
"You did nothing wrong, Mr. I'm SO handsome here did. So I think he should apologize." Helena folded her arms over her chest.
"Lancelot?" Arthur hoped that the stubbornness of Lancelot wouldn't service.
"So you do think I'm handsome, thank you. Your rather beautiful yourself." Lancelot grinned cheekily at Helena. "Aargh, you are so full of yourself." Before Lancelot could respond, Helena pulled her dagger from her belt and planted it between Lancelot's legs.
Holding his breath Lancelot looked down finding the knife inches away from his crotch. "You missed." He managed to squeeze out.
"Next time your head decides to think of me again, I will chop it off." Helena spoke so softly that only Lancelot could hear it. "In case you didn't know my head is up here." Lancelot pointed his finger to his head.
"And I don't believe that you were using that head." Helena pulled the dagger from the chair and sat back down, looking at the dumbstruck Lancelot as her words sank in.
Lancelot was pulled from his momentary stupor when Arthur started to laugh, which was odd on it self since Arthur normally wasn't such a laughing person. "That was new." Arthur said between laughs.
"Yes, I like you." Bors smiled broadly at Helena. The fortress hall was filled with laughter when Sebastian walked into the room, still looking rather pale.
"Sebastian." Arthur exclaimed. "I told you that you shouldn't have come. You are still ill." Sebastian ignored Arthur's words and positioned himself on the bench behind Lancelot.
"I will not allow you to come with us on the next mission. You are of no use to me half-dead." Arthur continued. Sebastian didn't make any movement to let Arthur know he understood him. "Did you hear me Sebastian?" Arthur's voice rang through the hall. Sebastian nodded his head.
"Good. Lady Ophelia is there a possibility for you to stay here and look after Sebastian?" Arthur turned his voice back to normal. "Yes that is possible." Ophelia looked at her sister who nodded in return.
"Dagonet, give her everything she needs before we leave." Arthur order as he stood up to leave the room.
Reviews are welcomed, there is always room for improvement.