Sorry this took so long, we just went back to school and seeing as we have major exams at the end of the year, all the teachers have seen fit to give us more homework than anyone can humanely manage. Bloody teachers, I ask you!

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Loz : Isn't that what the disclaimer's for?

Morwen12, LANCELOTTRISTANBABY, KnightMaiden and Elfvamp1-13-97: I love you all, you guys are the best!

Chapter 8

The Woad woman looked up at Akira, and a small smile lit her face slightly.

"Kira." She whispered, her voice croaky from lack of use. "What...?"

"Don't. You'll hurt your voice. I'll explain later."

Guinevere nodded slowly, her eyes racked with pain, and drank from the water skin Arthur offered her.

"What are you doing!" Marius' voice made itself heard. Arthur stood up.

"What is this madness?" He spat, clearly furious.

"They are all pagans here!" Marius returned.

"So are we." Galahad said sharply.

Marius ignored him. "They refused to do the task that God has set for them. They must die as an example!"

"You mean they refused to be your serfs." Arthur was becoming angrier by the second.

"You are a Roman, and a Christian... You understand... You!" He slapped his wife across the face. "You kept them alive!" Akira's face turned thunderous. She had no use for a man who hit his own wife.

Arthur punched Marius straight in the face. The mercenary guards stepped forward, but were stopped by Marius. The fat Roman looked up at Arthur, who held Excalibur at his throat.

"When we reach Rome, you will be punished for this heresy!"

Arthur looked down at him. "Perhaps I should just kill you now and seal my fate." Marius took the hint.

"I was willing to die with them, just to lead them to their rightful place. It is God's wish that these sinners be sacrificed. Only then can their souls be saved." One of the monks said.

Arthur looked up at him. "Then I shall grant his wish." He said. "Wall them back up."

"Arthur..." Tristan tried.

"I said wall them up!" Arthur interrupted him. The people from the village pushed the two monks back into the dungeon.

Akira followed Arthur, who had picked up Guinevere and proceeded to the wagons. She climbed in beside her and made her comfortable, before getting out of the confined space and mounting her horse. She saw Dagonet enter the same wagon with the little boy, whose arm had been broken by the monks, on Marius' orders. Her forehead creased with hate, and she spurred Myrrah on to ride ahead of the rest of the party.

The wind blew from the north, strong and icy, that got through the folds of Akira's cloak, biting at her skin. The sky above was grey, and it was snowing lightly.

Arthur rode up beside her. "The girl is awake, if you want to go see her." He told her. "Who is she, anyway?"

Akira grinned. "You remember I told you I knew Merlin's daughter?"

Arthur's eyes widened. "It's her?"

Akira nodded. "I'll go see her. She's probably dying for an explanation of why I'm in Britain, north of the Wall, with a ragtag bunch of knights in the freezing cold and snowinstead of assassinating a rich Roman Senator or two in a nice, warm villa in Rome." She grinnedagain and dropped back to the wagon. Guinevere smiled at her.

"Nice to see you, Kira."

"You too, Gwen."

"So, are you going to explain?"

"Why I'm here? Because I was told to accompany the Sarmatian knights on their last mission by the Pope."

Guinevere considered the information for a minute, then nodded. "Fair enough."

"How's your hand?"

"I'll live."

"You should get some rest. Dungeons aren't the best place to sleep in."

"How do you know?"

"Experience."

Finally, got that done! Please review, you know you want to!

Carline