A/N: Here we go! Next chapter! I'm sorry for the delay guys; our Internet connection (a.k.a. modem) blew up on us and I couldn't find a way to get on. I'll tell you now, the hours of doing nothing but long for the Internet were very agonizing. It gave me time to write though and, honestly, I rewrote this chapter four times before getting what I wanted. My brother stayed in my room with me while I wrote and he became bored after the second try. So, I hope this chapter does it for you guys and thank you for listening to my rambling!

I Fancy Hugh Dancy: Eep, you changed your name on me. Anyways, thank you :) Lancelot won't give up on her... he's not about to mess up again. I need to start reading your story for I've missed so many chapters thanks to my Internet :( Anyways, here is the next chapter, I hope you enjoy!

SupernaturalKnight88: You're gonna have to read the next chapter :) Have fun!

WitheringSage: Thank you :) I hope this next chapter is to your liking. Have fun reading this. And I love Breaking Benjamin.

Raging Raven: Yeah, it was :( Here's the next chappie!

Readerfreak10: I laughed when I read your review. That's a good question. Not quite sure how they would. Enjoy!

PadFootCc: Eep! -gives a glass of water- I hope she'll be fine o.o; Here is the next chapter to relieve your anxiety over the matter :)

KnightMaiden: Muaha, that was my aim ;) I know, poor Lance would be heart broken -hugs Lancelot- Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Give Me Back

Lancelot couldn't stop sobbing as he held Latanie's unconscious body against him. "No!" he cried, looking up to the sky. "Why! Why her! Why couldn't it have been me instead!" He lowered his gaze, hanging his head in defeat. The tears slipped off of his face and gently hit Latanie's dirt streaked face. "Please, wake up," he begged. He barely noticed as Guinevere kneeled beside him. He looked up as Arthur ran over, dropping his helmet on the earth. Tristan was not far behind him along with the other knights.

"No…" Arthur whispered. He looked up to the sky. "It was my life to be taken! Not this! Never this!"

Every one stared at Latanie as if they were dreaming, that she was not actually lying there in Lancelot's arms. Lancelot's sobbing had reduced to a quiet and infrequent sob. He did not care that everyone else was there. His love was lying in his arms, gone. He shook his head. "I wish it was me lying there instead of her. It would've been. She saved me."

Arthur looked at Lancelot, gently placing his calloused hand on his friend's back. "My brave knight, I have failed you. I neither took you off this island, nor shared your fate," Arthur said hoarsely. He gently touched Latanie's cheek, his green eyes staring down at the young warrior.

Lancelot didn't look up as he sat there. His left arm went around Latanie's shoulders to support her upper half, his right hand resting on her stomach. "I'm sorry, Latanie. I truly am. I never meant to hurt you the way I did. Please, wake up." He placed his forehead at the base of her throat.

Arthur looked away and gently patted his friend.

Guinevere said nothing, merely stood. She could not bear to look at the fallen warrior. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"No, she isn't gone," Lancelot sobbed, shaking his head.

--Inside Latanie's mind--

"Where am I?" she asked, looking around. It was home – or what she remembered of home. The grass licked her ankles as she ventured forth. Her ankle no longer throbbed in pain. She glanced away for a moment, the wind playing with her hair. She was still in her armor from the battle and it clanked every time she moved.

"Sarmatia, dear warrior," a voice said.

Latanie whipped around to see a woman that looked exactly like her. "Who are you?" she demanded, unsheathing her sword.

"Is that any way to treat yourself? This is your homeland, Latanie. Do you remember it?" the woman asked.

"Myself?" Latanie choked. "I remember little of it. I left so long age it is but a distant memory. Hadrian's Wall is my home now." She shook her head and looked back to the land. The sky stretched for what seemed like forever. It didn't seem to have an ending. She looked back to the older Latanie as she spoke.

"This is what you left behind. If you were to live, would you plan on coming back?"

"I'd go wherever Lancelot chose to go," Latanie answered, looking to the sky. "I miss him so much. I never got to say I was sorry."

"For what?"

"For not telling him I loved him sooner." Latanie heaved a sigh. "I want to go back. I want to be with everyone. I'm not ready to die. Please, send me back!" she pleaded, looking at the older her.

Her older self look surprised. "You want to go back? Why? There is nothing but death there."

"I have done many deeds and I think I deserve at least one more chance in life," Latanie replied bitterly, glaring at her older self. "And what are you doing here?"

"Yes, we have done many deeds that are worth praise and another chance. As for why I am here, merely so you can argue with yourself. If that is what you wish. I hope you know what you are doing. Both of us depend on your decision." The woman put her hand to Latanie's forehead, mumbling a few words. A huge white flash filled Latanie's eyes as she slipped into the darkness.

Latanie weakly raised her hand and slapped Lancelot's hand away from her as it climbed a bit too high for her taste. "Too high you ass," she mumbled as she gave a violent cough. A groan escaped her lips as she lay there. "Even when I lay dying, you still have a one set mind," she teased and shifted painfully.

"L-Lat!" Lancelot exclaimed, pressing his lips to hers. "I thought I lost you," he whispered, pressing his cheek up against hers.

"You almost did," she said, weakly placing her hand on his other cheek. "But I could never truly leave you. It's not that easy to get rid of me. Of all people, you should know that." She rested her head in the crook of his elbow as she lay there, panting while chuckling. "Don't touch it!" she snapped at Arthur as he reached for it. She slapped his hand away and glared.

"Even injured, you're as feisty as ever," Arthur said, gently stroking Latanie's forehead. He sighed softly and then snapped back to his senses. "Why are we all sitting here? Let's get her some help," he said, rising.

"No, no healers," Latanie moaned as Lancelot gathered her in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder as his right arm rested underneath her knees and his left arm around her back. She glanced up as Lancelot gently planted kisses over her face. A small smile came to her lips. "Miss me?"

"Terribly," Lancelot answered as he captured her lips with his.

"Lancelot! Stop making out with Latanie and get going!" Arthur yelled.

Lancelot glanced up and nodded before picking up a jog. "Tell me if I hurt you," he said as he continued along.

"You'll know," Latanie said and closed her eyes. "Can I just take a nap?"

"When we get there, but not now," Lancelot said as they approached the group. He gently set Latanie on his horse before swinging up behind her. His arm wrapped around her waist to hold her in place as they rode.

"Let us ride as quickly as possible," Arthur said and kicked his steed into a gallop, followed closely by the knights.

"Stay awake," Lancelot urged as he kicked his stallion forward, Kalen following. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as they continued on the path. He couldn't help but feel the panic that had settled in his veins moments before. He glanced down at her as they entered the camp. "We're almost there, Lat," he said encouragingly.

"Good… I don't know how much longer… I can stay awake," Latanie said, sighing softly.

Lancelot looked down at her in alarm. "Arthur! We must hurry!" he shouted as they weaved through the camp towards the healer's unit. He jerked his horse to a halt, sliding off of his horse, Latanie in his arms. He hurried into the healer's tent. "Move!" he snapped as he gently set Latanie on one of the beds. Her blood drenched the front of his armor and his arms. He refused to leave her side as a few healers hurried over.

"C'mon Lance. We need to leave so they can do their work," Bors said, grabbing the back of Lancelot's armor.

"No! No, I won't leave her!" Lancelot yelled, reaching out for Latanie. He gently grabbed her hand. His brown eyes flashed with concern and affection.

"They can't help her if you're there, Lancelot. Don't worry; you can see her after," Arthur said and helped Bors remove Lancelot from the tent. He could see the tears in his best friend's eyes. He held Lancelot against his body. "Sh, Lancelot," he whispered. "She's in good hands."

Lancelot shook his head. "No… she needs me," he choked, going limp in his Commander's arms. His breath came in pants as he stared at the tent flap. "Please, let me go…"

Arthur shook his head. "Just wait, Lancelot. You'll be able to go back in soon," he said soothingly, hugging his friend tightly to his chest.

Lancelot nodded and regained his footing. He stood impatiently in front of the tent. He wanted to go in so badly. He sighed heavily and paced in front of the tent. After what seemed hours, the healer came out. He instantly stepped forward to meet her. "How is she? She is going to be alright? Please tell me she isn't dead!" he spoke hurriedly.

"Sir Lancelot, please, slow down. She's going to be fine and she's resting right now. You may go in to see her, two at a time," the healer said calmly, grabbing Lancelot's shoulders.

"Lancelot, you go in first and you may go in first, alone," Arthur said, gently patting Lancelot on the back.

Lancelot didn't need to be encouraged. He instantly bolted inside, going to Latanie's bedside. He kneeled beside her bed, taking her hand. She looked so fragile in her state. Her face was ashen and her eyes were closed. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths. "Lat," he whispered, gently stroking her forehead.

"Lance," Latanie murmured, opening her eyes. She tilted her head so she could see him. A small smile lay on her lips as she stroked his hand with her thumb. "Everything will be okay," she assured him quietly.

"Yeah, it will be," Lancelot said, gently kissing her forehead. "Just rest – you need it the most." He sighed softly and rested his head on the bed beside hers. "I'll be here the whole way." A small smile crossed his lips as she rested her forehead against his.

"I love you," she whispered and kissed him on the lips before closing her eyes to rest. She kept Lancelot's hand in her own as she lay there, thinking about the choice she had made. In that moment she knew she had made the right decision. "Right decision," she murmured.

"What?" Lancelot asked, looking up at her.

"Nothing," Latanie replied, shaking her head. She instantly opened her eyes as the knights snuck in. "I thought she said two at a time," she said teasingly.

"We couldn't wait," Galahad said, smiling.

Latanie laughed quietly. "I believe it," she said quietly. "How is everyone?" She lifted her head to see every knight present. That made her smile – no deaths. "Everyone is here…"

"Yes, we're all alive and we're all fairing fine… except for you, my noble knight," Arthur said, stepping forward. "How are you feeling?"

Latanie smiled. "Don't give me any of that. It's not like I did something outrageous. All I did was save the man that I love," she said, chuckling. "As for how I am feeling… it is as if I've been rolled over be a dozen carriages, horses and all,' she said. "Then add a few boulders on top of that." She sighed heavily and shook her head slightly. "I would rather have an arrow pierced ankle than this."

The knights chuckled. "Same ol' Latanie," Bors said.

"Wouldn't want her any other way," Gawain put in.

"Even if she does cause trouble," Galahad laughed, gently nudging Lancelot.

"Yeah," Lancelot said, shaking his head before kissing Latanie's hand.

Latanie laughed as best as she could without jarring her chest. "You all know you love me," she teased and closed her eyes. "As much as I love all of you, I'm exhausted and I need to sleep."

"She's right," Dagonet said, looking at the others. "Rest easy, Latanie. You need it more than anything." He turned and led the other knights out of the tent save for Arthur, Lancelot, and Tristan.

"Good to have you back," Tristan said simply before turning on his heel to leave.

Latanie chuckled as he exited the tent. Same old Tristan – good old Tristan. She glanced at the other two, waiting for them to say something. Surely there was a reason as to why they had stayed?

"I'm proud of you, Lat. You proved to everyone that strength and values aren't to be judged by gender but by the person doing the actions," Arthur said softly, gently brushing back some of Latanie's sweat drenched hair. "Rest easy, my sister," he said and turned to leave.

Latanie smiled. As Arthur spoke the word sister she felt a sense of pride. She had become worthy of that title. She turned her head to look at Lancelot. "I love you, Lancelot."

"I love you too, Latanie," Lancelot replied, gently capturing Latanie's lips before she fell into slumber.

A/N: Awwww, a nice outcome to our dramatic event. When it flashed to inside Lat's mind, she was basically fighting with herself, trying to decide whether or not she should go back to life or stay dead and leave all of the bloodshed behind. The story doesn't end here though folks. R&R please!