"Speech" / thoughts
Chapter Six
So tear me open, pour me out
There's things inside that scream and shout
And the pain still hates me
So hold me, until it sleeps
So tear me open, but beware
There's things inside without a care
And the dirt still stains me
So wash me, until I'm clean
Metallica – Until it sleeps
When they got back from their mission four weeks later they found Sebastian and Ophelia outside firing arrows at some targets. Arthur sighed deeply as he looked back to the wagon that contained Fabian's body. Arthur feared that when Sebastian learned the truth behind Fabian's death he would have to punish Sebastian or maybe even sentence him to death.
During the journey back to the fortress Marcellus bugged Fabian into practicing with him. The end result was Fabian with a sliced throat. None of the knights had seen it coming. Arthur believed that Marcellus himself hadn't planned to do it but it had happened anyway.
Fabian had looked in shock at Marcellus who dropped his axe. Dagonet had moved up next to the young man trying to put pressure on the cut, but it had sliced through the trachea and Fabian died quickly from suffocation.
"Sebastian?" Arthur said as he walked over to the pair shooting arrows. "I would like a word with you." Sebastian handed his bow to Ophelia and walked along with Arthur.
"Fabian is dead." Arthur swallowed and closed his eyes, not wanting to see the reaction on Sebastian's face. As he opened his eyes Sebastian still stood in front of him, his expression unreadable.
"Yeah, a very unfortunate accident." Balthazar said as he walked passed with Marcellus. At those words Marcellus seemed to freeze. He had been behaving oddly since the day Fabian had died. Arthur could have sworn on the bible that he saw Marcellus looked frightened at Sebastian's glare. "Sebastian" Arthur said, placing his hand on his shoulder. Sebastian ignored both men, his gaze still fixed on Arthur.
"They are going to prepare him for a burial…" Arthur watched Sebastian spring towards the wagon when Gawain and Bors lifted Fabian's lifeless body from it.
Dagonet stepped into Sebastian's way to stop and calm the scout. Before Dagonet knew what happened he was lying on the ground looking at the sky with a dazed look. As he looked around to see where Sebastian had gone he saw Gawain standing with his hands in the air and Bors also lying on the ground.
The knights watched as Sebastian slowly reached out and touched Fabian's face, pulling his hand back as if he had touched fire. Tristran walked to the other side of Fabian's body and kneeled down next to it trying to get eye contact with Sebastian.
"Sebastian." Tristran said when Sebastian didn't respond to his presence. "He cannot lay here, he must be buried." Tristran reached out to Sebastian, for he didn't appear to take notice of Tristran.
Tristran was surprised to find Sebastian's knife at his neck and Sebastian growling in his ear. He could feel the cold blade slowly cutting in his flesh and looked at his fellow knights standing helplessly nearby.
"Stop it." Ophelia's voice sounded strained by emotion. Sebastian stopped growling but he didn't remove the knife from Tristran's neck. "They didn't cause this." She kneeled where Sebastian had been sitting.
Tristran felt the blade being removed and was suddenly pulled backwards, leaving him seated against the wall. The knights watched Ophelia walking over to Sebastian whispering something in his ear. Sebastian proceeded to walk back to the barracks leaving everybody behind.
"Gawain?" Ophelia turned around and looked at the group of knights. "Yes." Gawain put his hands back down and wondered what Ophelia wanted from him. "Could you and Bors bring Fabian to his room?" Ophelia walked towards Fabian's body.
"Sebastian isn't in control of himself, but I told him that he shouldn't take his anger out on you." Ophelia continued as she saw Gawain's hesitation. "And you think he listens to you?" Galahad didn't see how this young woman could stop Sebastian from killing them all.
"Yes" came Ophelia's simple reply. "Aha, see that's the magic of a woman's touch." Bors found even in this situation time to joke.
"So we move Fabian to his room. Who's going to prepare him for the burial?" Gawain asked. "Sebastian will." Ophelia got back to her feet and walked towards the barracks.
Later that evening when everybody was fed and cleaned up, the knights walked towards Fabian and Sebastian's room. Balthazar and Marcellus where nowhere to be found. Benedict showed up for the burial with his family.
Standing in front of the door the knights hesitated, afraid of Sebastian's aggression. None of them was too eager to go in. Dagonet stepped up to the door and knocked. After several moments the door was opened by Ophelia. She motioned for Arthur to come in as well.
Looking around the room they saw Fabian lying on his cot, dressed in his war armour. His battle mace on his chest, looking peacefully asleep. Sebastian was sitting on his own cot covered in blood wrapping something up in pieces of cloth.
"Sebastian we have come to take Fabian for the burial." Arthur spoke and Sebastian nodded as in answer.
The group stood in silence while Arthur spoke a prayer for Fabian. Sebastian refused to set foot on the small cemetery, he had always refused it. He walked up and down the outskirts of the cemetery reminding Tristran of a caged animal. When the small service was over, one by one the knights took there leave of Fabian, nodding at Sebastian when they passed him on the way back to the tavern.
From that day on Marcellus seemed more concerned about being killed by Sebastian than being killed by Woads. Sebastian also seemed to be paying more interest in Marcellus than the pervious years.
Arthur noticed that Sebastian started to play a different part on the battlefield. While on previous encounter with the Woads Sebastian would try to kill them all, but this time he was only killing the ones not heading for Balthazar or Marcellus. Even the Woad archers were allowed to life longer if they weren't aiming for any of the other knights.
Arthur didn't know what to do about this situation. Calling Sebastian to order wouldn't work more the punishing him would. So Arthur counted the days until one of the men would die, he didn't have to wait very long. Only one month after Fabian was buried Balthazar was pierced by several arrows. The Woads seemed to have figured out that Balthazar was a safer target then the rest of the knights.
As they buried Balthazar, Arthur couldn't help but notice the helpless look on Marcellus face. For all his strength and skill couldn't safe Marcellus from a certain death and he knew it.
That evening in the fortress hall was quite a display of intimidation, one Arthur was sure he wouldn't see soon again. As the knights took their places at the table Sebastian walked in. He was wearing a blood red shirt. It was covered with ermine tails, hair, intricate bright blue quillwork and beadwork. His hair was braided into two braids which had falcon and hawk feathers at the ends. On his face was a pattern of war paint Arthur had never seen before on Sebastian's face.
Sebastian had his axe in his waistband in clear view and a dagger in his right hand. He climbed on the table on the opposite side of Marcellus with his legs crossed. He sat there, staring intensely at Marcellus while twirling his dagger in his right hand.
"Sebastian, I would like a word with you after this." Arthur knew he needed to do something tonight or it would get out of hand.
After Arthur had told the knights that he had received a letter from Rome speaking of their freedom, he waited for the others to leave the room so that he could talk to Sebastian. During the entire conversation with the knights Sebastian had stayed on the table and threatened Marcellus.
"If you kill him, I will be forced to sentence you to death." Arthur got to the point. Sebastian shrugged his shoulders like he didn't care. "If you flee after killing him, Rome will track you down and kill you." Again Sebastian shrugged his shoulders.
"Furthermore I would appreciate it if you take a bath." Sebastian seemed confused by Arthur's change of subject. "You smell of the dead. I smell that enough on the battlefield." Arthur got up from his seat and left for the tavern.
"Arthur sit." Bors forced Arthur on to a stool next to Lancelot and pushed a mug of ale in Arthur hand.
"Think he will live tomorrow?" Lancelot leaned towards Arthur. "I explained to Sebastian the consequences of his actions." Arthur looked as Marcellus pulled on of the wenches on his lap.
"I cannot say that I would be very mournful if he did die." Lancelot admitted. "No man deserves to die." Arthur warned. "Some do Arthur, some do." Lancelot said back.
They watched Marcellus tense up as he spotted Sebastian walking through the tavern. Sebastian didn't appear to be taking notice of his surroundings as he proceeded up his path to the barracks. Marcellus turned his attention back to the wench when Sebastian was out of sight.
"What do you think he's going to do?" Lancelot asked, as he saw Sebastian walk past. "I'm hoping he's going to take a bath." Arthur answered.
"What! I cannot follow, why would he bath? Besides the fact that he reeks" Lancelot looked at Arthur. "Because I told him too." Arthur got back to his feet ignoring Lancelot and the ale. He didn't want to witness more killing and decided to retreat to his private chambers.
Lancelot started to laugh at the image of Arthur first telling Sebastian not to kill Marcellus and the ordering him to take a bath. Gawain and Galahad stared at him wondering what that was about.
"What's so funny?" Bors asked, taking the stool Arthur had left behind empty. "Arthur asked Sebastian to take a bath right after he told him not to kill Marcellus." Lancelot still found it funny.
"What's so funny about that? Have you smelled Sebastian lately?" Galahad pinched his nose. "He definitely needs a bath, he smells like something is rotting." Gawain added.
At that point Sebastian returned from the barracks and sat down in one of the darker corners observing Marcellus.
"Go over and smell him if you don't believe me." Gawain challenged Lancelot, putting several coins on the table. "I'm not smelling a man, now if he where a woman." Lancelot turned his eyes towards Vanora only to irritate Bors. "Don't even think about it." Bors growled at Lancelot.
Tristran picked up the coins from the table and walked over to Sebastian, leaving the four others to stare at his back. Leaning in towards Sebastian he found that both Gawain and Galahad had been right, Sebastian smelled of rotting flesh. Sebastian looked at Tristran and raised his eyebrow. Tristran shrugged his shoulders and Sebastian turned his attention back to Marcellus.
During their time scouting together Sebastian had take up some facial expressions to let Tristran know what he wanted. At first Tristran had misread some of them, but right now he understood Sebastian as far as Sebastian could be understood.
"Didn't Arthur ask you to take a bath?" Tristran tried to get Sebastian's attention. Sebastian lifted a small pouch from his waistband and held it under Tristran's nose. Involuntarily Tristran edged away from it. "What's in it?" Tristran knew that there was some sort of flesh in it.
Sebastian put his hand over his heart and pointed in the direction of the cemetery. Although Tristran did gruesome things himself, the thought of what was in the pouch turned his stomach. He moved away from Sebastian back to his fellow knights.
"So what does the man smell like?" Lancelot asked when Tristran sat down. "Death." Tristran said as he tried to wash the smell on his tongue away with ale.
The tone of the scout's voice alerted the others that something was going on. "But Sebastian doesn't smell of it, his pouch does." Tristran added after downing a mug of ale.
"What." Four voices said at once. "I think he keeps a piece of Fabian in it." Tristran remembered the movements Sebastian made. Perhaps his heart? But Tristran choose to keep that to himself.
"What!" the four voice come again. "That's disgusting." Galahad looked like he was going to be sick. "Maybe it's his tradition?" Gawain supplied.
Tristran remained silent. He rather didn't want to be reminded of it all. He moved away when Galahad and Gawain proceeded their guessing about what was in it. Lancelot looked with disgust at Sebastian. He watched Sebastian follow Marcellus leaving, and knew that the man would be dead the following morning.
Arthur was woken early the next morning by Jols. After getting dressed he quickly followed Jols to the tavern. There they found a crowd surrounding one of the wenches. She appeared to be telling a tremendous tale.
"You dragged me out of my bed for this?" Arthur complained to Jols. "She claims that Woads have taken Marcellus from his room last night." Jols explained. "Why don't I believe that?" Arthur mumbled to himself.
"Get her to the fortress hall. I wish to hear her story," Arthur said and walked towards Lancelot who had just walked out of the stables looking rather dishevelled. "Lancelot, come with me." Arthur said and turned towards the fortress, with Lancelot a few steps behind.
"You say that Woads have taken Marcellus last night, please explain." Arthur looked at the wench before him. After she smiled at Lancelot, who smiled back, she turned her attention towards Arthur.
"We where in bed when this Woad came in through the window and put a blade against Marcellus neck. The Woad then threw Marcellus his pants and shirt making him dress, then he made Marcellus leave the room. I followed them to the stables where the Woad tied Marcellus to his horse. They left through the gate together." The wench summed up without blinking once.
"Are you sure it was a Woad?" Lancelot asked. "Yes, he was covered in blue paint." She answered back. "Anyone can paint himself blue." Arthur looked at Lancelot, who nodded back in agreement.
"It was dark, besides what would a Woad want with Marcellus?" She bit towards Arthur. "You can leave." Arthur ignored the wench who stomped out of the hall.
"Why would Sebastian go through so much trouble?" Lancelot pondered out loudly. "To keep him out of trouble?" Arthur answered.
"Jols find Tristran and Sebastian." Jols nodded and left the room. "You think Sebastian is still around?" Lancelot's question was answered when both Sebastian and Tristran entered the hall.
"Tristran, Sebastian I need you to find out what happened with Marcellus." Arthur only looked at Sebastian, but he didn't show anything. "According to his wench he was taken by a single Woad." Lancelot added.
Tristran also turned his attention to Sebastian, but Sebastian remained unmoved by all the attention. Tristran sought eye contact with Arthur letting him know that he wasn't going to leave Sebastian alone during their mission.
After riding till midday they came across a small river, where the tracks disappeared in to the river. Tristran whistled for his hawk to return, Sebastian's falcon hadn't shown up all day. Tristran wished that Arthur would have sent him out alone, since Sebastian clearly was slowing him down.
A sudden sound at the forest on the other side of the river drew their attention. There from one of the trees, hanging upside down was Marcellus. From what Tristran could make out he was still alive, the situation however felt like Marcellus was bait. Judging the distance to the ground Tristran decided that Marcellus would survive the distance from the tree. He released one arrow and with a small thud Marcellus landed on the ground.
Marcellus got to his feet and started to run towards Tristran and Sebastian. Tristran scanned the forest for any sign of movement but there wasn't any. As he looked at Sebastian he saw Sebastian with an evil grin on his face raising his bow. Tristran jumped from his horse onto Sebastian's knocking himself and Sebastian onto the ground. Sebastian rolled away from Tristran grabbing his bow again, aiming at the small group of Woads running out of the forest.
Tristran had misjudged Sebastian's movement as he witnessed Marcellus body getting pierced with several arrows. He followed Sebastian drawing his blade from his back. They made their way over to Marcellus on the other side of the river. Both men sliced their way through the group of Woads and after having killed the Woad-archers they came next to Marcellus body.
As Sebastian leaned closer to see whether Marcellus was dead, Marcellus grabbed Sebastian's neck and started to choke him. Sebastian struggled against the iron like hold of Marcellus arm, not being able to reach any of his daggers and quickly running out of air.
"You did this too me!" Marcellus roared. "Marcellus." Tristran yelled but couldn't get through to the large man.
This wasn't at all what Tristran had expected to happen, he knew that Marcellus would get killed if he killed Sebastian, he also knew that he would be killed if he killed Marcellus. Tristran noticed a Woad sword lying next to him, without thinking he grabbed it and stabbed Marcellus in the back. Marcellus didn't let go of Sebastian, he was so full of rage that he didn't notice the attack on his back. Sensing that he had no other option Tristran aimed for Marcellus head.
Marcellus headless body fell on to of Sebastian bathing the scout in blood. Sebastian looked unconscious due to the lack of oxygen and remained motionless beneath Marcellus body. Tristran struggled to get the large body of Sebastian. He hoped that the scout wasn't dead. To his relief the boy was still breathing and coming around. Sebastian looked from Tristran to Marcellus body.
"I'm sorry I misjudged you." Tristran said as he held out his arm to Sebastian. Sebastian nodded and grabbed Tristran's arm. Together they put Marcellus body on Sebastian's horse, they would ride together on Tristran's. They rode until it got too dark. They made a small campfire in one of the caves they had found.
Tristran watched as Sebastian pulled the pouch from his waistband and started to open it. The smell of rotting flesh hit Tristran's nostrils and he felt the need to gag. Sebastian proceeded to get some herbs from his medicine bag and threw them on the fire, filling the cave with a sweet smell. He finished unpacking and put the object on to the fire while starting a silent prayer.
Tristran looked at the piece of flesh burning on the fire, after several moments he realized that he had been right, it was Fabian's heart. Sebastian stated to hum and throw more herbs onto the fire, the sweet smell of the herbs and Sebastian's humming caused Tristran to fall a sleep.
With a jerk Tristran's head came up, his head ached like mad. Just when Tristran start to wonder what he had drunk last night he remembered what happened. Looking around he saw that a new day was beginning. He spotted Sebastian sitting in a tree not far away from the dying campfire.
"Morning." Tristran heard himself say.
Sebastian looked down and nodded to Tristran, a few moments later he climbed down from the tree. He walked up to the campfire and pulled the kettle off it, handing Tristran a mug filled with tea. Silently they rode back to the fortress, where they would bury Marcellus. Tristran knew that Arthur would ask for an explanation, he would receive the news that they found Marcellus fighting with Woads and them being too late to save his life.
Arriving at the fortress Tristran headed straight to Arthur leaving Sebastian in charge of Marcellus body. As Tristran had foreseen both Arthur and Lancelot doubted his story. Although they made no verbal comment on the explanation, he could see the disbelief in their eyes.
Again let me know what you think, i can always use tips to improve my writing style.