'ello all! Thank you so much for the reviewers…it made my day and made me want to post this as soon as I could! Ok this is going to be longer and once again read and review please!
Last time:
In an hours time, the knights and Guinevere were standing outside the gate to send Guinevere off. Dressed in her Woad battle garb, she went around to each knight, hugging them. She paused at Lancelot before pulling him into her embrace and whispering in his ear, "I will bring you news as soon as I can."
She then moved onto Arthur whom she placed a tender kiss before turning to see three Woad faces almost invisible in the foliage. Once again turning around to see the knight's faces and Arthur's worried look, she smiled saying, "I will being word of her!" With that she turned and ran into the forest, blending in with the trees.
Five days after Guinevere had left there was still no word on her or Liliana's whereabouts. Arthur and the rest of the knights had begun to become anxious at the lack of news.
On the fifth evening of Guinevere gone, the knights were gathered around a table in the tavern save Arthur and Lancelot who was once again off by himself. Sitting around, they were slightly melancholy with the absence of Lancelot, Liliana, and Guinevere. Tristan and Dag sat in their own corner throwing knives.
Vanora irritably walked up to the table and slammed down another round of drinks. Startled out of their thoughts, the knights all looked up at a fuming Vanora. Bors took one look at Vanora's face and mumbled,"Uh oh..." under his breath before turning his head into his shoulder.
"What are you doing? Hmm? Ye' have been sitting 'round here every night for a fortnight, stop brooding. Only ones who's got enough sense in this lot is Tristan and Dag," she scolded them.
Turning they all gave the silent knights a glare to which he simply shrugged off. Gawain, who was the slightly inebriated himself, gave Vanora a hard look, "We've been working hard on keeping this bloody kingdom up 'n' running and we are worried about Liliana."
"Ye've been working hard! I understand! But what of Lancelot? Shouldn't you all be with him to make sure he doesn't drink himself into oblivion again?! Poor Lancelot only 'ad her fer a week before he lost her again!"
The knights simply turned away from her and drunkenly reached for their drinks once again. Vanora's glare hardened as she grabbed one of the rags she had slung around her waist and proceeded to wallop the knights with it until they began to run from her, fearing for their safety.
"Dammit Bors! Get your woman under control!" yelled Galahad as he ran from the rag wielding Vanora as she began to unleash upon them her annoyance.
"Lad it's not possible!" screamed Bors back as he followed the knights out to the darkened streets.
Finally out of range from the tavern, Vanora ceased to chase them. "Go be with Arthur and Lancelot! Come back into this tavern and you will have a worse problem to worry about then rebel Woads!"
Tristan, Gawain, Galahad, Bors, and Dagonet all stared at her retreating back. "You know, we were not the ones drinking," began Tristan before Galahad, Gawain, and Bors all sent him glares. Dagonet being the sensible one in the group stopped a fight from ensuing by grabbing Galahad and Bors' shoulder's and saying, "She is right. We should be with our brothers."
Nodding they all made their way back to the fort.
It was about an hour before sunrise, and Arthur still had not gone to bed from the night before. He had stayed up all night pouring over maps and documents of the kingdom. His worry about his sister and Guinevere did not aid in his quest for sleep as that diverted his attention even further from sleep.
He was pacing up and down the room of the Round Table when he heard the footfalls of another person walking down the corridor. Wielding Excalibur, he turned towards the corridor and waited on baited breath for the individual to enter the door.
The door opened to reveal a haggard looking Lancelot who raised an eyebrow at Arthur's drawn sword.
"Who did you think was coming, the bloody Saxon army?" Lancelot jested for the first time in a while with his friend.
Arthur simply rolled his eyes and sheathed his weapon. Sighing he plopped down into his chair and rested his head in his hands. Lancelot soon grew solemn and joined his friend.
"I am worried Lancelot. She should have been back by now, and with Guinevere gone..." Arthur stopped before trailing off. Lancelot looked to his friend who was usually the one he went to when he was feeling alone. Seeing his friend and commander so down began to loosen his façade and he soon regained his depressing demeanor.
They sat in silence for a few moments longer before Arthur regained some of his composure. "I need to clear my head, what say you?"
Nodding Lancelot followed his friend out into the very early morning. They walked in a comfortable silence until they found themselves walking towards Bradon Hill, the sun starting to peak over the horizon of trees.
"This may seem an unintelligent question, yet I would like to know how you are faring?" Arthur at last breaking the silence.
Lancelot simply snorted. He had not been doing well at all actually. He was starting to fall into the pattern he had had after Liliana was absent the first time.
"You seem withdrawn. I hear you no longer join the others at the tavern," Arthur continued on, taking Lancelot's silence as an answer to his questions.
They finally reached the peak of the hill, the land still covered in darkness, although the light rays were beginning to make themselves present. Both Arthur and Lancelot stood, looking down on the misty hillside, remembering the events that transpired that day at the battle, the day freedom was won. The day that Arthur and his knights once again became triumphant.
"It seems so far away..." Lancelot began almost whispering.
Arthur nodded to his friend, "Everyone fought bravely that day. I am thankful to God that we made it through."
Lancelot shook his head at his commander and seriously said, "You and your God were nearly the death of us."
Arthur sent Lancelot a withering look, "Peace be between us on that matter Lancelot. I know of your divulgence towards my beliefs."
They turned once again from each other to gaze out to the former battlefield. The early morning mist gave the hillside a mystic look, and the dark woods on either side helped the effect.
In the stillness of the morning was broken suddenly by two figures breaking through the forest and walking toward where Lancelot and Arthur stood. They had yet to notice them and kept walking, heads bowed in conversation and silent laughter.
Arthur and Lancelot both stiffened as they watched the two figures make their way through the morning mist, the early morning sun shining upon them. Both were dressed in Woad battle garments complete with weapons and their hair left fluttering in the wind behind them. One brunette and the other a dark haired blonde were about two hundred paces from where Lancelot and Arthur stood in shock.
Arthur, recognizing Guinevere and her comrade, smiled and turned to his companion next to him, who was gaping at the other woman. He whispered, "Liliana," before taking off at a dead sprint down the hill.
"Liliana!" he shouted repeatedly, running so fast he felt like he could fly.
Liliana's head looked up to see Lancelot's figure racing towards her. She gave Guinevere a smile before she began to run, laughing and shouting, "Lancelot!" all the while.
As they meet, Lancelot swung her up into his embrace, spinning her around as they kissed each other's faces, both laughing and smiling happily. Standing a few yards behind them, was Arthur and Guinevere, their arms around each other, smiling as they watched the reunited couple laugh and try and kiss every square inch of the other's face.
Liliana buried her face in Lancelot's shoulder, as she felt in bury his in her hair, holding her so tightly as if he let go for an instant she would be taken away from him again.
"I missed you...so much," Lancelot whispered into her hair. She smiled and shook her head in his shoulder, "You could not have missed me as much as I missed you," she declared, lifting her face to look into Lancelot's eyes.
He smiled at her before capturing her lips with his own with a tender kiss. Breaking from it he looked deep into her eyes, "That would be impossible."
She beamed up at him and one again threw herself in his protective embrace. She happened to glance over Lancelot's shoulder and see her brother standing there, his arms loosely wrapped about Guinevere's waist. Liliana gave a squeal and wiggled her way out of Lancelot's embrace to run into her brother's now outstretched arms. She embraced him tightly, both of them laughing happily at their reuniting.
"I missed my brother," she said, breaking away from the embrace. Arthur gave her a smile before kissing her on the head saying, "I missed my sister."
After her brother released her, Liliana felt drawn back into Lancelot's waiting arms. She leaned into his body, soaking up his being, loving the feeling of being held so close to him once again.
All four of them stood there together, before deciding to head back toward the fort. As they were walking, Arthur looked to Guinevere and asked, "What delayed you?"
Lancelot and Arthur, both wondering the answer looked to the women they were with. Liliana and Guinevere shared a satisfied smirk before Guinevere replied, "Rebel Woad band to the south."
"Easily taken care of," Liliana added in.
The answer was taken easily enough, but Liliana could swear she felt Lancelot's grip on her tighten at the mention of her possibly fighting without him being there. She smiled to herself as she rested her head on his arm as they continued their walk towards the fort.
Lancelot and Arthur both took each of their women to their own chambers to get some rest and wash up from the journey it must have taken them to get there.
Liliana grabbed Lancelot's arm before he left, "Don't tell the other knights. I want it to be a surprise. Tell Arthur."
He nodded before pulling her into a passionate kiss. She felt his tongue probe from entrance which she generously gave him. When he pulled away she gave him a confused look. He simply smiled at her replying, "Making sure I am not dreaming."
Liliana gave him a shy smile, "And what have you concluded?"
Lancelot leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Undeniably not dreaming."
A few hours later, the rest of the knights began to stir and go to the Round Table where they usually ate breakfast and attended to matters that were pressing to that day.
They entered to find Lancelot and Arthur already seated at the table, and from their disposition you could tell they were in a more cheerful mood then when they had seen them previously.
Grumpy from the early morning and waking from slumber, Galahad mumbled, "Why the bloody hell are they so cheery?"
Gawain and Bors both mutter back incoherent phrases in answer and sat down to begin their breaking of fast.
Right then, Guinevere walked down the stairs in a deep burgundy dress, her dark hair pulled up behind her. She smiled as she saw the faces of amazement as she descended the stairs to take a seat next to Arthur. All the knights save Lancelot had looks of incredulous upon their faces.
Gawain finally broke the silence, "I think I drank too much last night. I am seeing people."
Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere all chuckled and a four joined them from an entrance behind the knights, "You always drink too much."
The knights all stared in awe for a moment, not believing what they were seeing. Liliana stood there with a look of sheer happiness on her face. Dressed in some of Vanora's older clothing, she looked the perfect beauty in her mauve skirt, white pheasant top, and deep red vest. Her dark blonde hair hanging around her frame gave her an ethereal look.
All at once the knights all rose to their feet and bombarded Liliana with hugs and questions. Laughing good naturedly, she hugged every single one of them, trying to answer all of their questions as best she could.
"Are you unharmed?" probed Gawain.
"I am fine I assure you I..." she was cut off when she was twirled around into Bors' giant bear hug.
"We missed ye around here lil' missy! Ye're not to pull a stunt like that again!" he said, squeezing her so hard that it caused her back to crack from the pressure.
"I assure you, she won't," spoke up Lancelot from where he was casually leaning on the back of his chair. His crossed arms and determined stare made Liliana turn to give a reproaching look before being whirled into the strong arms of Dagonet.
"I hope you are well little flower," he expressed. Liliana gave him a small smile and nod, hugging the gentle giant in return.
She looked behind Dag to see Tristan standing calmly behind the chaos, patiently waiting his turn. She walked right into his arms to give him a small squeeze before she pulled back and looked into the trackers eyes. She could see his happy emotion dancing in his eyes, although his face showed little emotion to convey it. "It is good to see you again," was all her murmured before placing a small flower into her palm.
Smiling, she turned about to address Galahad who had been repeatedly poking her in her side. "Galahad what are you doing?" she questioned.
"Making sure you're real," was his honest answer. Everyone laughed as they proceeded with their morning, laughing and joking. They were once again whole.
Later that night, Liliana walked into the barn and saw the black charger that she rode into battle on. She let the beast sniff her hand before stroking it's face lovingly.
"We shall have to give you a name..." she muttered to herself.
Dagonet came walking into the barn, carrying a large crate, catching her attention when he spoke, "We kept him after the battle. Figured when you'd come back you'd need a steed to ride."
Liliana gave a silent laugh, "Have you named him?"
Dagonet gave a low chuckle, "No, not yet. We were saving that honor for you. Bors had taken to calling him 'that bloody beast', but we figured you would want to name him something different."
Liliana laughed and nodded. "What do you think of Arrow?"
Dag gave a slight nod, "Lancelot might not like it much."
Liliana gave him a confused look, "Why?"
"You have been gone a long time little flower. Two months almost was too long for Lancelot. He shut himself away again. It was almost a month and a half without knowledge of what happened to you. We feared you weren't coming back or worse, had died or been killed. You were taken away from him by an arrow. I don't think he would take too kindly to you riding a beast bearing the same name."
Liliana looked down and nodded, "I understand, however that arrow didn't kill me, and this Arrow will bring me home safe."
Dagonet nodded and Liliana spoke up again, "I need some time to think. If anyone needs me, ask Tristan, he'll know where I've gone."
Liliana half ran and walked to her spot in the rafters of the barn. She sat there for a few hours, contemplating everything that had happened in the last few months. She remembered when she had first awakened after the battle.
FLASHBACK
Liliana's head hurt and it was painful to move her shoulder. Trying to open her heavy eyelids, she was blinded with a sudden intense light. When she finally got used to the brightness she looked around her to note that she was not in the fort, but a Woad encampment. Dozens of Woads lay around her, wrappings covering a vast majority of them.
Trying to get up, she was surprised when a hand gently pushed her uninjured shoulder back down. She looked up to see Merlin standing over her, a sad look in his eyes.
"How fare you my child?" he asked.
Liliana's voice, raspy and weak from no water barely croaked out, "Fine."
"Rest now child. You need it," he said before starting to leave. Liliana forced her voice to croak out, "Wait."
He turned and gave her a questioning look before understanding what she wanted. "You are safe my child. All the knights are safe. Rome will soon depart and you shall be allowed to come and go as it pleases you."
Liliana gave a nod as her eyes began to become heavy with sleep.
END FLASHBACK
She remembered how a few weeks into her recovery there was word that there was a small group of Rebel Woads to the south of the wall who wanted more than anything to kill Arthur and his knights. She remembered how she had decided to help the Woads before going back.
She had sent two messengers to retrieve Guinevere from the Wall. She had needed her friends help and guidance. After the short battle she and Guinevere had left directly to come to the wall, barely stopping to rest.
Liliana then caught the familiar gait of Lancelot as he strode through town. Grabbing her skirts and racing as fast as she could down the ladder, she ran up to him and grabbed his arm from behind. She laughed at his startled expression.
"Let's go for a walk Sir Knight," she proposed to him.
"And where shall we be walking milady," Lancelot played along.
"I do not have a care where, as long as I am in your company," she smiled up at him. Wrapping his arm about her waist, Lancelot and Liliana began walking along the outskirts of town, until they were upon a meadow.
"I want to ask you something," Liliana began. With a nod of Lancelot's head she continued on, "You seemed surprised seeing me today. Did you not think I would be coming back?"
Lancelot sighed. This was one question he did not want to answer. "I didn't know if you were. It had been two months and I was starting to fear you had either died or found someone else."
Liliana sharply turned to him and punched him roughly on the shoulder, making him wince. "Don't you ever think that again! I tried every day to get back to you and certain circumstances prevented me from coming sooner!"
Lancelot had the decency to look away from her as they continued walking. They sat down after a while and stared out into the wilderness, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I thought you were leaving me forever that day," Lancelot said breaking the silence that had overcome them.
Liliana nodded her head sadly, "I thought I was too. I could almost feel myself being drawn away from you. I couldn't stop it."
"What brought you back?"
Liliana smiled, "If I told you, you would not believe me."
"I could barely make it through those few days after the battle. I wanted, no needed, to be by your side."
Liliana nodded somberly. Before Lancelot took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Surprised, Liliana gave him an inquisitive look which he quietly answered her, "I need to see it. Show it to me?"
Liliana gave him a sigh before she pulled back a bit of her shirt to reveal a small, crescent moon shaped white scare. She watched as Lancelot stared at it first with shock, and then sadness, averting his gaze to the ground.
Gently cupping Lancelot's chin, Liliana brought his face up so he was forced to look her in the eyes, "It is not your fault," she chided. "I would have done it a thousand times over if it meant that you would live."
"Therein lies the problem," Lancelot spoke. Liliana tilted her head and Lancelot elaborated, "You would put yourself in danger for me, and I cannot always save you, which hurts me."
Liliana gave him a sad smile before kissing his cheek, and continuing to stare into his deep, captivating brown eyes. Smiling down at her, Lancelot reached for the bit of cloth that covered her scar. Pulling it aside, he began to place feather light kisses around it, working his way up her neck.
Liliana gave a moan of satisfaction as she felt him nip at her earlobe. She was barely able to contain herself from going wild by the touch of his lips on her skin.
Lancelot brought his face up to Liliana's and gave her a shy smile before saying, "I love you."
Liliana gave a happy smile before replying with her own, "I love you too, so much," before their lips meet in a passionate kiss. She brought her hands to run through Lancelot's curly hair as she felt Lancelot brush her cheek with his fingertips, making her shiver.
Lancelot once again began to kiss down her jaw line and towards her ear where he whispered, "I do love you and you have no idea how much I missed you."
With a devious smile, Liliana's head popped up before grabbing Lancelot's hand and dragging him behind her as she took off towards the fort. Laughing the while way, she heard Lancelot's chuckles from behind her as the made their way through the semi-crowded streets. They dodge people as they heard surprised yelps as they would come barreling around a corner.
Finally making it to her destination, Liliana threw Lancelot inside her room before running in herself. Pushing Lancelot up against her door, Liliana began to kiss Lancelot passionately, pleasantly surprising him when she flicked her tongue on his bottom lip, begging for entrance. A few moments later she pulled back to look into Lancelot's eyes, "If you love me like you say you do, show me."
Not needing to be told twice, Lancelot smiled as he picked her up gently and carrying towards her bed, doing exactly as he was told.
oh my goodness! There is another chapter for you! It took me a bit longer, we lost power for a few days and I got a really bad case of the flu, so if this is a bit off, blame it on the meds the doctors have me on.
As always read and review please!