Hello out there! Here is your next chapter!

Also...The Saxons don't come until one day after the knights and everyone arrive. I have some plans for that one day and cramming it all into one night would be very hectic and crazy...so anyway ONE DAY.

Don't worry Bishop Germanius will get what's coming to him.

Last time:

Grabbing the collar of the bishop's robe, Arthur hoisted the man up until they were eye level. "Bishop Germanius. Friend of my father."

Dropping the poor excuse of a man to his knees Arthur turned to see his sister in Lancelot's arms, visibly shaken. Gently touching her cheek, Arthur asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Yes. I am fine."

Noticing that she was trembling from head to toe, Arthur and the rest of the knights exchanged glances and lead the girl inside, forming a shield around her should anyone dare come near her.

Arthur sat next to his father's grave contemplating what he was to do. His mind was full of thoughts concerning the Saxons, that bastard of a bishop, and the return of his sister. He was to meet his knights in an hour when he was to meet at the round table for a celebration of the return and freedom the knights now possessed.

He had escaped to his father's grace for a moment of quiet. His knights knew not to bother him when he came here. Hearing footfalls coming towards him surprised him; he was usually never disturbed while he was here unless it was urgent. Turning, he saw Guinevere making her way over to him, concern etched on her face.

"A grave with no sword," she slowly remarked.

Returning her question, Arthur answered softly, "It was my father's wish that if he died on this island, he would be buried with his knights."

Out of the corner of his eye Arthur could see Guinevere bring a hand over her mouth in sadness. Arthur had received enough of those looks of pity in his life. When his father died, when his sister was born out of wedlock, when his mother died, when one of his knights died, and when his sister was taken. He had had enough of those looks.

"He died in battle?" she questioned.

Sarcastically Arthur answered, "It's a family tradition."

"I can see why you believe you have nothing left here," Guinevere said with comprehension. Standing, she continued, "Except what you and your knights and sister have done. You have your deeds."

Rising along with her, Arthur turned to face her fully. He noticed she looked tired and worn. Her bruising and injuries seemed to have healed well. The physician deemed her nearly cured, Liliana as well.

Beginning to get annoyed, Arthur tried to keep his temper in check, "Deeds in themselves are meaningless unless they are done for some higher purpose. We have waged a war to protect a Rome that doesn't exist. Is that the deed I am to be judged by?"

Guinevere noticing his annoyance but deciding to ignore it, dared to continue on,"You stayed and fought when you didn't have to. You bloodied evil men when you could have run. You did all that for no reason.

Arthur began to become saddened and looked away from Guinevere. He remembered something that his surrogate father had taught him following his actual father's fatality. He began to grow distant and said in a cracking voice, "Pelagius told me once there is no worse death, than the end of hope."

Guinevere seemed shocked at the man who stood before her. Liliana had always told stories of how in every battle they had gotten out alive simply because of Arthur's upstanding hope that they could and would make it. Now seeing the broken man she was in a state of disbelief.

"You and I are not the polite people that live in poems," she stated. Arthur looked at her almost with childish optimism. Continuing she gave him a tender smile, "We are blessed and cursed by our times."

"Perhaps the curse is of our own making. And the blessing," Arthur sarcastically remarked.

Guinevere becoming annoyed that he was ignoring her questions and hiding himself in sarcasm questioned, "What are you afraid of, Arthur?"

Arthur looked away without answering her question, ashamed that he was hiding himself and acting very...Roman.

"You are like this country - Britons with a Roman father," Guinevere continued when Arthur did not answer as he glanced at her. "Rome is dead," she went on. Arthur looked away in shame as he realized he was still fighting for the perfect Rome that he once thought existed. "This place, this land - your home - is the last outpost of freedom, of everything you hold dear," she continued on cupping his cheek with one of her hands, "These are your people."

Arthur contemplated her words and gazed deep into her hazel eyes. He began to lean closer to her face. Guinevere noticing how close they were getting became flustered and embarrassed and moved away, walking back to the wall where she was to meet up with Liliana to dress for the upcoming celebration. Arthur was left in her wake, standing with his mouth agape before realizing that he should be getting back. Sighing he gave his father's grave one last look before walking down the same path Guinevere had taken moments before.

Liliana was walking down the hall towards her old quarters. Lancelot had told her they had not touched them and were just as she had left them before their mission one year ago. Turning the handle, she entered through the door and stood looking at her modest little room. She never was one to decorate and the only sleeping chamber that was somewhat garnished was her brother's room.

Her room simply had a bed at one end with a small table next to it. She also had two chests that contained her clothing and armor. One tapestry hung on the wall, it was a tapestry a village elder in a village the knights were sent to protect had made for her. It showed her as a brave knight rising atop a horse sword drawn and glistening in the sunlight.

As Liliana looked around she realized that Lancelot was indeed correct, nothing had changed. Her sleeping pallet was still unmade from a year ago; some of her clothing was strewn about which she remembered as her doing when she was packing for the journey. Rummaging through her trunk that contained her one dress that she owned, Liliana was surprised that all of her clothing, as she held it up to her, seemed to look like it would fit. Her breeches, tunics, and spare pair of boots looked to still be her size although they looked like they would hang looser then they once did.

"As tiny as your frame has always been girl I would not be surprised they still fit," a voice said from the doorway. Spinning around, Liliana gave out a scream as she saw Vanora standing there with a smile on her face and a plate of bread, throwing her arms around the older girl, she held her tight in her arms.

"Vanora! I have missed you so much my friend."

Vanora letting go of the girl held her at arms length, "You are never to leave us again, you hear me?"

Nodding Liliana began to laugh. "I hear you have added to your litter of bastards? What is this I hear of eleven now?"

Laughing, Vanora maneuvered Liliana to sit on her bed as she placed the plate with bread on her lap, "Yes eleven now. It is getting to be quite a brood I have. Now you eat and rest. Tonight Arthur has called all the knights plus that Woad woman and myself to dinner at the round table."

Liliana gave Vanora a confused look, "Arthur does not want me present?" a hurt tone had crept into her voice at the thought that her brother did not want her at the dinner.

"Of course he does you silly girl! I do recall saying all the knights."

Smiling at the fact at being called a knight again, Liliana bounded over to Vanora and hugged the woman tightly again.

"Thank you for relaying the message. I'm afraid my clothing might be a bit loose."

Motioning to the dress Liliana was wearing, Vanora inquired, "Well why don't you simply wear that one? You could wash up and I could mend and wash it a bit?"

Looking down at the dress that Fuliciana had given her; Liliana looked up at Vanora and smiled. "Thanks once again my friend. Would you have the time?"

"Course I will darlin'! Sent Bors to entertain the children and I got some of the girls watching the tavern for me while I am gone. By the looks of it, it shouldn't take too long. Let me call down for some hot water and you and me can catch up."

"Would you mind if Guinevere joined us? I don't want to abandon her."

"Of course you silly girl! Another woman to talk to would be comforting."

"Thank you for understanding. How about you get that hot water, I'll grab Guinevere and we shall meet here?"

Smiling at the younger girl, Vanora pulled her into another fierce hug, "It is good to have you back again."

All the knights were seated around the Round Table waiting for the women to join them. Agitated that the women were taking so long, Galahad began drumming his fingers on the table. After a few minutes passed with only Galahad's finger drumming as the noise in the room, all the knights began looking at him annoyed. But he had not noticed that he was being stared at and continued on.

"Oy! Galahad! Beat on the table one more time and I will cut off your fingers piece by piece," Gawain half-yelled as the rest of the knights looked on.

Whining, Galahad defended his actions, "I cannot help it! I am hungry and those girls are taking too long!"

"Leave the poor lad alone Gawain, I swear men and their food," Liliana's voice came ringing through the hallway as she, Vanora, Guinevere entered with laughter written on their faces.

All the knights immediately stood as the women entered. Lancelot could not take his eyes of Liliana. She looked beautiful to him. She had had a proper bath and her hair was shining from the low ponytail that hung over her shoulder. She was wearing the dress that Fuliciana had let her have and it seemed to have been cleaned as well.

Liliana smirking at the look on Lancelot's face took her usual seat between Arthur and Lancelot. Out of the corner of her eye she could tell that her brother also could not take his eyes of Guinevere, who had taken the seat to his right. Bors was whispering into Vanora's ear about only the gods know what, as she had taken Dag's seat seeing he was still recuperating.

As everyone sat down to begin their feast, Arthur remained standing and picked up his wine goblet. "Knights and ladies, "he began nodding to each person in turn, "Let us celebrate our fifteen years of service coming to an end, but let us not forget of our fellow brothers who have fallen. Freedom is yours by right. Grasp onto it my brothers at arms. "Liliana gave a little cough and Arthur turning to her smiled as he corrected, "Grasp onto it my brothers AND sister at arms. Live well my friends. To freedom!"

"To freedom!" everyone chorused back, lifting their goblets before bringing them to their mouths. The food was brought out and conversation had broken off into little groups. Liliana conversed with Gawain, Lancelot, Arthur, and Guinevere most of the meal. Once the food was finished, the knights, Vanora, and Guinevere all sat around the table making light conversation with everyone. The conversation stopped when Lancelot reached under the table and pulled out a finely crafted sword.

Liliana, unaware that Lancelot had done anything was still conversing with Guinevere when she felt Lancelot tap her on her shoulder and turned to see Lancelot standing behind her, holding something behind his back.

"Liliana I have something for you."

Confused, she looked around at the rest of the knights and her brother were all smiling at her confidently. "What is it?"

Pulling the sword from behind him, he held it out in front of him. Liliana gasped and grabbed the sword.

"My sword!"

She looked at it and then threw her arms around Lancelot. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Pulling away, Liliana unsheathed the sword slowly and turn it over in her hands. Running her hands alone the blade that was similar to Lancelot's swords, she smiled at the familiar cool touch of the metal.

Tristan standing up asks, "Do you think you still know how to wield that sword?"

Smirking at the unsaid challenge, Liliana replied, "Depends. Do you think you can keep up with me?"

With a returned smirk as the challenge, everyone made their way out to the training ring. Liliana and Tristan went inside the ring while the others huddled in a group in the setting sun. Some townspeople noticed that the famed woman knight had really returned, and also crowded around to watch the fight.

Lancelot looked nervous. Liliana was good, but Tristan was really good and a year with living with the Woads and two months of torture, he wondered if her body could handle it. Arthur noticing her nerves placed a hand on his shoulder, his face conveying her knew what Lancelot was thinking and he was having the same thoughts.

Liliana and Tristan moved in circles around each other, both wanting the other the make the first move.

"Go easy on her Tristan! She's wearin' a Roman dress!" yelled Bors from the fence causing some laughter from the knights and townspeople.

Liliana was ready as Tristan decided to make the first move and sent a swing to her midriff. Easily blocking the sword and swinging back at him for her first attack, Liliana became on the defense as Tristan sent a fury of jabs and swings to her body. Liliana blocked each one with precision.

Narrowing her eyes in concentration, Liliana began her own offense. Tristan looked pleasantly surprised at her sudden burst of strength as she began advancing on him. (As much emotion as Tristan can show anyway...) The crowd of people as well as the knights gathered also seemed surprised for they began cheering as she swung her sword at Tristan.

Then as soon as she was advancing, Tristan began to put himself back on the offense. Moving backwards as skillfully as she could in a dress, Liliana stumbled causing Tristan to prepare to swing down upon her. But in the split second that he took advance and swing, Liliana had shifted her sword as it broke apart into two separate twin blades. She brought her blades above her in an X formation and blocked Tristan's imposing blow.

The knights cheering her on, she began to fight more diligently now that he had the familiarity of twin blades in her hand. She began the offense and swung both blades to different angles causing Tristan to have to be quicker with his blades. Finally after a few minutes of their battle with both of them switching to the offensive and the defensive, Tristan found a slip and yielded his sword at her throat, however Liliana had done the same with him.

"A-a tie..." Gawain said astonished before everyone broke out into cheers.

Liliana smiled at Tristan and put her swords down as he did the same. "A good fight as always."

"Agreed," was his only reply.

They both walked up from the training ring and began to laugh at Galahad and Gawain as they acted like little children, reenacting the mock fight.

Lancelot swung her up into his arms and swung her around as Liliana laughed in protest. "Lancelot put me down this instant! You're going to drop me!"

Lancelot stopped his antics and lowered her to the ground looking deep into her eyes. "I would never let you fall."

Smiling up at him, she reached her hands around his neck, pulling him down to her for a kiss. Their kiss was soft and passionate with gentleness coming from both parties. Breaking apart for much needed air, they continued to stare into each others eyes. Lancelot smiling down at her kissed the top of her forehead as he took her hand and lead her back to the fort, where everyone else had gone.

"I must to put my sword back into my room. Go on ahead," Liliana chided as she saw Lancelot's face drop at the thought of leaving her for a moment.

"Don't be long love, Arthur needs us for something."

Nodding her head, she watched as Lancelot walked in the other direction as she continued down the corridor leading to her room. She began to hear footfalls behind her and wondered if one of the knights were walking this way. Focusing on the noise, Liliana noted that she did not recognize the rhythm of the person's gait. It was neither the confident walk that all the knights had nor the quiet steps that the servants usually had. She began to walk faster as her destination became closer and noticed that the steps behind her continued to speed up as well.

Turning around she was meet with the lust filled face of Bishop Germanius.

"Did you need something?" she hesitantly asked. She was never one to be afraid of men, but this man had an aura of negativity bleeding off him.

"No...No my dear, I only need you," he said huskily advancing on her. He stretched out his hand to stroke the side of her face when she slapped his hand away before it had gotten too close to her.

"You will do well and keep your hands off me sir," she snapped at him.

The bishop began to get angry with her, "Insolent harlot! You will obey me! I am your savior!" He shoved her against the wall without warning causing her to drop her swords. Suddenly two Roman guards came out of nowhere, grasping her each roughly and throwing her so roughly against the wall; she saw blackness for a moment.

The bishop began to stroke he arms, coming together to cup her breasts. As soon as Liliana regained sensible thought, she began to struggle against her captors, but they held her fast. The bishop began to bring his head to her collarbone, when she thrust her knee upward causing the bishop to stagger back in pain.

"Wench!" he screamed, slapping her face leaving a large red handprint. She screamed in pain and began to thrash about even harder. "Get off me you damn bastard!"

The bishop, growing angry at her protests, punched her hard in the stomach causing her to double over as much as she could with the guards still holding fast to her arms. She hung in pain as the bishop began feeling her body in ways that disgusted her. Unable to move, she simply hung in the guards arms as her cloths were being torn off her body.

"Won't Arthur be surprised when he finds you?" the bishop taunted her and he kissed hungrily along her collar bone. "He will see you just as you are, a whore. And that other knight...Lancelot...I'm sure he will be crushed to know that you gave yourself to my willingly."

Liliana went rigid. He should have not brought up her brother and Lancelot. "You know...come to me and I shall..." the bishop continued.

"NO!" she screamed suddenly as she jerked her arms forward causing one of the Roman's accidentally let go of her arm. Seeing her opportunity she dove for her swords, just grasping the handle. Jabbing upwards she caught one of the Roman's chests and twisted her sword around, pleasantly surprised when she heard him lurch and fall forward onto the ground dead.

Turning her attention to the other Roman, Liliana began to swing at him when he brought his own sword out to meet hers. Pulling her sword back and trying to thrust her sword at him again, the Roman twisted the blade so that her sword dropped out of her arms. Looking back to the Roman, Liliana brought her arm back and punches him across that face. 'Thank you Lancelot' was her thoughts to the certain knight remembering how he had taught her to do that. While the man was temporarily stunned, she grabbed her sword once again and stabbed it straight into the man's stomach.

Pulling her sword back she turned towards the bishop who seemed frozen with fear.

"The Lord will damn you!" he shouted at her, backing up towards the wall.

Smirking, Liliana shifted the sword as it became two twin blades once again. "Somehow I don't care."

Advancing on the bishop he sank down to the floor screaming, "You will burn in hell for this!"

"You first," was all she said two him and she brought the blades point first into the man's chest. Heaving them out, she stared at herself once again before she heard a gasp from her left. Turning she saw the knights plus Vanora and Guinevere standing there, her brother and Lancelot at the head.

"We came running when we heard..." Arthur started as he stared at the three dead men around him. Looking back at his sister he noticed that she had gone considerably paler and was breathing heavily.

Lancelot meanwhile was taking in Liliana's clothing. It was ripped in places that made it perfectly clear what was trying to take place there.

Stepping towards her gently he began, "Liliana..." holding his hands out to her.

Liliana simply stared at him. She looked around her and noticed that carnage she had done. Shaking her head in disgust at herself, she turned and fled down the corridor.

Lancelot made a move to follow her but Arthur placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. Lancelot turned his head to see Arthur looking straight into his eyes with sadness, "No. Let her be alone for a few moments."

He numbly nodded and stared back to where Liliana had been standing.

All the knights including Vanora and Guinevere were silent for a few moments before Galahad spoke. "This cannot be good." Silently within everyone, they were all thinking the same thing.

Hi everyone! Sorry it took me so long…read and review! Hope you enjoy!