Amazonian Support 13

Movie scenes don't belong to me-the alterations do!

Lancelot grumbled.

He was right. He just KNEW something was wrong.

Arthur had just told them that the Bishop was withholding their discharge papers from them. They would receive their papers when they went far beyond the northern side of the Wall and rescued a bloody roman family that was idiotic enough to live so far away from the protection of the Wall and the southern Roman armies.

He had wanted to scream and yell and argue with Arthur, but his friend's wounded green eyes prevented him from even opening his mouth. Unfortunately, Galahad, who had the same type of relationship with Gawain that he had with Arthur, was unable to use his 'people reading' skills when it came to Arthur. Their youngest Knight shot his mouth off, and left the tavern in a temper tantrum with Areia chasing after him yelling to the high heavens at him for his disrespect and non-loyalty to Arthur.

Tristan and Theaia simply nodded and left to prepare. After they had retrieved their hawks first! If he wasn't mistaken, Theaia would join Tristan in his bed once more this night as husband and wife because while they were on the road, there would be no time for romance and marriage.

Bors, Dagonet, Romana, and Vanora with number eleven silently left the tavern as well-Bors and Dagonet to pack and Vanora and Romana to put the children to sleep.

He had to smile though. Romana and Vanora had become very close friends while the Amazons had been here. They were so close; it was like Romana had always been there for Dagonet and Vanora.

Lancelot shook his head as he walked into the stables and watched with somber eyes and Arthur bent down on his knees and started to pray, "O merciful God, I have such need of your mercy now. Not for myself, but for my knights, for this is truly their hour of need. Deliver them from their trials ahead and I will pay you a thousand fold with any sacrifice you ask of me; and if in your wisdom, you should determine that sacrifice must be my life for theirs; so that they can once again taste the freedom that is so long been denied to them, I will gladly make that covenant. My death will have a purpose. I ask no more than that."

Lancelot snorted and said as he made himself known, "Why do talk to God and not to me? Especially now, when you know that, she who is God on Earth, can't really influence anything beyond what she already has?"

Arthur sighed and said as he stood up, "Perhaps, but it makes me fell better to talk to him…her about it. It is not easy being Commander and knowing that your freedom, which you all richly deserve, has been taken from you and I had to tell you that. It makes my spirit feel lighter to talk to her about it…don't begrudge me this?"

Lancelot gestured towards Arthur and said, "Pray, to whomever, God or the Lady, you pray that we don't cross the Saxons."

Arthur looked beseechingly at his friend, "My faith is what protects me, Lancelot. Why do you challenge this?"

Lancelot, unaware of their third party witness, crossed his arms and said crossly, "I don't like anything that puts a man on his knees."

Arthur shook his head and said calmly, "No man fears to kneel before the God he trusts. Without faith, without belief in something, what are we?"

Lancelot shook his head but dropped the topic to start another one, "To try and get past the Woads in the north is insanity!"

Arthur placed a hand on his friend's shoulders and said supporting because he knew how much Lancelot was disappointed, "Them, we've fought before."

Lancelot shrugged off the hand and retorted, "Not north of the Wall! How many Saxons? Hmm? How many!?"

Arthur felt horrible and with his friend's question, because he couldn't answer it the way Lancelot wanted him too. They both knew that there would be hundreds of Saxons chasing them, and their prospect of living to the end of this mission was slim to none-especially since they had to protect the family with their lives whilst they traveled.

Lancelot sighed in resignation, "Tell me. Do you believe in this mission?"

Sarmatia, who was still hidden from her friends, bit her lip as they fought one another. This wasn't good. If they were fighting when they were gone on this mission, their chances of survival would be half what it normally would be. She tilted her head upwards and silently asked, is this why you sent us Lady? To help the Knights with this horrible mission and to save their souls???

Sudden warmth filled her soul. She was right. They were supposed to save the Knights.

Arthur's stern voice jolted her back to the current conversation, "These people need our help. It is out duty to bring…."

Lancelot cut in angrily because he was angry and felt betrayed, "I don't care about your charge. And I don't give a damn about Romans, Britain, or this island. If you desire to spend eternity in this place, Arthur, then so be it. But suicide cannot be chosen for another…!

Arthur, who had finally lost his temper, shouted, "And yet you choose death for this family!"

Lancelot, who was very angry himself shouted and interjected as his hand slammed down on the stable fences, "No, I choose life! And freedom! For myself and the men!"

Lancelot sat down with a mad sigh, "Arthur…you must understand…I'm supposed to be free, and yet…I have to ONCE AGAIN risk MY life for that of ANOTHER lazy, ignorant, rich Roman who has no commonsense to live in a safe place rather than the wilds of the north!"

Arthur calmed down enormously as he heard his second's reasoning, "How many times in battle have we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat? Outnumbered, outflanked, but still we triumph? With you at my side, we can do so again. Lancelot, we are knights. What other purpose do we serve if not for such a cause?"

Lancelot shook his head and said softly like he regretted it and felt horrible for saying what he was about to, "Arthur, you fight for a world that will never exist. Never! There will always be a battlefield."

Lancelot leaned over the stables to face Arthur and said with a positive nod, "I will die in battle. Of that I'm certain. Now hopefully, it will be a battle of my choosing.
But, if it be this one, grant me a favor: don't bury me in our sad little cemetery. Burn me.
Burn me, and cast my ashes to a strong east wind."

Sarmatia gasped and backed away from the stables quickly as Lancelot spun around and stormed out of the houses for the horses. She couldn't believe that Lancelot felt like that. Could he have seen a possible future like she had before she had arrived in Briton?

She glanced back into the dark stables and bit her lip. Arthur was unmoving and seemed to stare into the darkness with blankness in his normally expressive eyes.

She sneaked silently to Lancelot's chambers and swiftly opened the door. She gasped. Lancelot spun around and automatically reached for the knife he kept at his waist. As he raised it, ready to let it fly, he saw who had shocked him and gasped out with a jolt downward, "Sarmatia!"

Sarmatia's violet eyes were focused on the knife as it vibrated to a stop. She raised her eyes and took in a deep breath. When her eyes focused on Lancelot she gave a soft scream and rushed to his side.

"Lancelot! What's wrong?!" she begged as she wrapped her arms around his naked shoulders.

He shoved her away and grounded out, "Nothing! Leave!"

Sarmatia, from her place on the floor at the foot of Lancelot's bed, stared up at him with injured eyes. But, very quickly, it seemed, determination filled her violet orbs and said was by his side once more.

She placed a hand under his chin and asked softly, "What is wrong? Please, Lancelot, tell me?"

Lancelot sighed and said as he pointed to the knife still embedded in the floor, "I was going to hurt you. If I hadn't seen you, I would have killed you."

Sarmatia put her arms around him once more and pulled him into her embrace as she said soothingly, "No, that wasn't your fault. It's mine. I surprised you. I should know by now not to come up behind a highly trained Knight. Even I respond like that from time to time-especially on the eve of an important mission."

Lancelot sighed and said as tears fell, "I just…I've waited for this day for so long…and now…"

Sarmatia sighed and said as she carded her hand though his curly black raven hair, "I know…I know…but think of it this way Lancelot. Rome has just proven that it is a liar and only looking out for its own welfare. But you, you and the Knights have proven that you are twice a powerful than the Empire. You all will go on this mission, with our help of course, and beat them at their own game. You will return the family and you will get your freedom by honor and strength. You will prove to all of Rome and Briton nay the entire WOLRD that the Sarmatian Knights are honorable, loyal, and powerful enough to take on the worst of the Empire and still win fairly."

Lancelot sighed and nodded as he said, "Okay, okay, you win. I get it. Rome broke its promise, not Arthur. My anger should be pointed at Rome not Arthur, himself."

As she made to leave, Lancelot lightly held her hand and asked a bit sheepishly, "Could you stay? I…I know nothing can happen but…"

Sarmatia smiled in sweet understanding and said as she lay down beside him, "Yes, I will Lancelot."

As they fell asleep in each others arms, Lancelot thought what am I to do???? Stay with her, go to the Amazon Nation with her, or go to Rome with Arthur and Sarmatia???