I'm not even going to pretend to have an excuse this time... The plain fact is that I haven't updated anything in over a year, and haven't updated this particular fic for almost two years. I don't really expect anyone to leave a review this time, seeing as I don't really deserve them, but it'd be nice if you would, anyway.

To anyone who's actually still reading this : thank you for not giving up on me.

To anyone who reviewed the last chapter (or any chapter for that matter) : you are the most marvellous people in the world and I love you...

Chapter 15

Arthur watched the Saxon army group together beyond the wall.

"A good number." Akira observed, following his gaze. "They might even have a chance."

Arthur smiled grimly. He knew as well as the woman standing beside him that he had no hope of surviving this day.

"You should have left with the others." He told her. "One more or less cannot make a difference, and you shouldn't have to die for the sake of others."

"Perhaps not..." Akira held his gaze a moment. "In your opinion, Commander, what should we die for? A cause is empty unless it brings material benefit, and money is only useful if you survive, and in my personal experience, fighting for a belief only results in death... What else is there to fight for apart from friends and family?"

0000

Cerdic considered the two approaching warriors from the Roman fort. The one to the left, a man in full armour, with the insignia of a Roman general, was clearly the more important of the two, and on first sight, seemed more dangerous... The other was a woman, with no armour and no distinguishing air of greatness about her.

"A woman?" Cynric laughed from behind him. "They send their womenfolk to defend their forts now? Are all the men dead, then, or are they such cowards as to send those weaker than them to die in their place?"

Cerdic rolled his eyes. "She's no weaker than any man in my army."

Cynric turned to him, puzzled. Cerdic continued to watch the pair approach.

"She can ride, and very few people can handle a sword such as she wears successfully... No, Arthur is the dangerous one, but she is not to be under-estimated."

As the pair drew closer to the gates, he walked forward to meet them, waving away the traitor who had guided them.

"Arthur, wherever I go on this wretched island, I hear your name. Always half whispered, as if you were... a god. All I see is flesh, blood. No more god than the creature you're sitting on."

The Roman looked at him, as if measuring his worth, then said : "Speak your terms, Saxon." The woman beside him remained silent.

"The Romans have left you. What are you fighting for?"

"I fight for a cause beyond Rome's, or your, understanding."

"You come to beg a truce. You should be on your knees."

"I came to see your face, so that I alone may find you on the battlefield and it would be good for you to mark my face, Saxon, for the next time you see it, it will be the last thing you see on this earth."

As they rode back off towards the gates, Cerdic smiled to himself. "Finally, a man worth killing."

000

"What cause?" Arthur turned at the unexpected question. "You told the Saxon you were fighting for a cause he wouldn't understand. What is it?"

Arthur smiled slightly before answering. "Would you call freedom for an entire people a material benefit?"

"In most cases no, as it can hardly be won in a single battle... This one may prove to be an exception."

"Are you two gonna sit there all day chatting or are we going to get round to killing some Saxons?" Bors' strident tones sounded out from behind them.

The five remaining knights rode up to flank Arthur and Akira. Tristan paused to take stock of his surroundings, then drew his bow and fired a single arrow towards the wall. A man dropped out of a tree near the Saxon army, an arrow through his heart.

Arthur moved forward to stand in front of the rest of them. "Knights! The gift of freedom is yours by right. But the home we seek resides not in some distant land, it's in us, and in our actions on this day! If this be our destiny, then so be it. But let history remember, that as free men, we chose to make it so!"

000000

The gates opened, and the knights watched as a portion of the Saxon infantry marched through them. Arthur nodded, and they started down the hill, hearing the thud of the Woad arrows on the Saxons ranks as they did so. Within minutes, the Saxons had been decimated, only one man remaining. Bors made to go after him, but was stopped by Tristan.

"Fear is sometimes more useful than death."

"You're a man after my own heart, scout." Akira commented dryly, watching the Saxon stumble through the gates.

Gawain came over to them. "Arthur says to fall back. He has some sort of plan."

"Oh?" Akira raised her eyebrows.

"Apparently it involves fire and a large amount of pain for our Saxon friends." Gawain grinned.

"Good." Bors grunted as he rode off to join Arthur, followed by Gawain, Tristan and Akira.

00000

Feel free to yell at me for taking this long, I'm well aware I deserve it. Would appreciate a review on the way past, just so I know if anyone's still reading this, otherwise I won't continue it.

Carly