Author: Well, um, not much to say but I'm glad everyone is enjoying this story. If you haven't read my other King Arthur stories, I recommend you do. And thanks you all for the nice reviews.
Come sit close to me,
Let me feel your neck
Come sit close to me
Hands around my neck
Come sit close to me,
Let me feel your neck
Come sit close to me, close to me, yeah
I will never belong to you, again
I will never belong to you
Diseased by Seether
Chapter Seven: Thoughts
Valerie went over and stood next to Tristan and told him why Natalie got upset. Valerie shed a few tears to but not as many as Natalie. Natalie was talking to Bors and Dag. They were cheering her up.
"I'm telling ya Natalie. You should give Lancelot a chance. I've never seen him get to know a woman or care for her like that. It's not like him." Bors said.
"I don't know." She replied.
"Come on, Bors and I see the way you act around him. Everyone can easily see the looks you give each other." Dag said for Bors.
"Yea, what he said." Bors said and Natalie laughed a little.
"Maybe you guys are right, but I just want to get to know him first." Natalie said looking down.
"See, you like him. You're blushing." Bors pointed out and Dag let out a smile.
Natalie looked up with a shocked expression but in a playful way.
"I am not blushing. Am I?" she asked.
Bors and Dag nodded and Natalie smiled.
"You know what Lancelot told me?" Bors asked her.
Natalie shook her head.
"What did he tell you?" she asked back.
"That you have a beautiful smile and gorgeous eyes. And it's true, all us knights and Arthur agreed. We talked about it before the Bishop came in to talk to us." He said.
Natalie blushed again and looked back up.
"He did?" she asked.
"Yea." Dag answered.
There was silence and Bors broke it.
"I'm going to get Vanora to sing." He said left to go find her.
"I'm going to go get drink. Why don't you go talk to your sister?' he suggested and walked to a bar to a get a drink.
Natalie sighed and went to go to Valerie but someone grabbed her arm. She turned and saw the Roman.
"When will you give up?" she asked her self.
She took her free arm and punched him in the face and he fell on the ground. She looked for a sword and saw Galahad was near. She unsheathed his sword and pointed it to the Roman's neck. Once again, the attention was on her.
"I wasn't kidding about what I said. But I won't cut off your 'happy place', I'll just do something else." She said and moved the sword up to his face and made a cute across his cheek.
"Leave me alone." She said and handed Galahad back his sword.
Natalie walked over to Valerie and Tristan and Lancelot.
"He just won't give up, will he?" Val asked.
"No." Natalie said simply and sat down in a chair and Lancelot sat next to her.
"You seem stressed." He said.
"You think?" she said back and looked at him.
"Shut up. Vanora will sing." Bors announced.
Land of bear and land of eagle
Land that gave us birth and blessing
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home
We will go home
We will go home across the mountains
Natalie looked around at each of the knights. Galahad was mouthing the words to the song and so was Bors. Gawain looked sad and Dag is showing despair in his eyes. She looked at Lancelot and she could tell he wants to go home.
Val looked at the knights and studied them. She looked at Tristan and he didn't really show any emotion in his eyes. But she knew deep down inside that he longed to home. To Sarmatia.
We will go home
We will go home
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home…
Natalie put her head on Lancelot's shoulder. He looked at her and put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Valerie looked at the two and saw a bit of happiness in their eyes. She looked at Tristan saw sadness. She put a hand on his shoulder and he looked at her and she gave him a week smile. No one seemed to notice Arthur come in but Valerie. She looked at him and knew something was wrong. The song ended and Arthur was going to walk back to his room.
"Arthur!" Jols called out.
"Arthur." Galahad repeated and everyone walked over to him.
"You're not completely Roman yet?' Natalie asked with a smile.
"Ruuuus!" Bors called out and Dag laughed.
"Knights. Brothers in arms. Your courage has been tested beyond all limits, but I must ask you now for one further trial." Arthur said.
Natalie and Lancelot looked at him skeptically.
"Drink?' Bors asked and Galahad laughed.
"We must leave on a final mission for Rome before our freedom can be granted.
Above the wall, there lies a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxons. Our orders are to secure their safety." Arthur said in a serious tone.
"Let the Roman's take care of their own." Bors said.
"Above the wall is woad territory." Valerie said.
The knights nodded, and Galahad came forward.
"Our duty to Rome, if it was ever a duty, is done. Our pact with Rome is done." He said rather drunk.
"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 ours!" Bors yelled.
"Bors, these are our orders. We leave at first light and when we return, your freedom will be waiting for you. A freedom we can embrace with-"Arthur was cut off by Bors again.
"I am a free man! I will choose my own fate!" he yelled.
Natalie moved a little closer to Lancelot and Valerie looked at Tristan.
"Yeah yeah, we're all going to die someday. If it's death by a Saxon hand that frightens you - stay home." Tristan said.
"Look, if you're so eager to die, you can die right now!" Galahad yelled at him.
"Enough!" Natalie said trying to shut his ass up.
"I've got something to live for!" Galahad yelled again.
The Romans have broken their word.
"We have the word of Arthur. That is good enough. I'll prepare. Bors, you coming?" Dag asked as he started to walk away.
"Of course I'm coming! Can't let you go on your own; you'll all get killed!" Bors yelled.
Tristan followed Dagonet to help him.
"I'm just saying what you're all thinking!" he yelled again.
"Vanora'll kill me."
Natalie looked at the ground and then back at Arthur.
"And you Gawain?" Arthur asked.
"I'm with you. Galahad as well." Gawain answered and started to walk away.
Galahad looked at him and through his glass to the ground. Arthur looked at Valerie and Natalie.
"Don't even tell us not to go. We're going with you Arthur. We're here to help." Valerie said and walked away.
Arthur looked at Natalie.
"Do you agree with your sister?' he asked.
"Yes. I want you all safe, Arthur." She said and walked away too.
Natalie laid down on her bed and thought of only Lancelot. She never had these feeling before. Not even for her last boyfriend. She thought and thought of Lancelot for what seemed hours. She pictured him in her mind. His eyes put her in a trans that she could never break from. Was this what love was?
Lancelot couldn't sleep that night. Not because of their final mission tomorrow, but because of Natalie. He didn't want her to go. He wants her safe and not to be put in harms way. And he's pretty sure that when Tristan finds out, the Tristan will think the same for Val.
Am I in Love? Lancelot asked himself.
Valerie sat in the windowsill and thought of Tristan. She was so much alike him. And she cared for him and she wants Tristan to be safe and alive. That goes for the others and Natalie. She knew what happened to her. She fell in love with Tristan and she admits it.