Title: Sarmatian Ladies
Author: Jmaria
Rating: PG-13 - R
Disclaimers/Spoilers: Joss owns the Buffy crew, Bruckheimer, Franzoni, & Fuqua own this incarnation of Arthur & his knights
Summary:
A/N:

13. Helping Hands

Marius, like the High King, believed they should remember the past, and one way of doing that was to keep the language of men who had lived in cities and known the old lost days of peace
- Dragon Magic, Andre Norton

Borderlands, Sarmatia, 463

"We have waited nearly a fortnight, we cannot stay here!" Elaine cried, pacing the rock soil again.
"Elaine, you tire me with your complaints," Isolde gritted her teeth as she fanned the flames higher.
"And in truth, it is making me dizzy," Viviane sighed.
"Do I upset your delicate constitution, Viviane? I am truly sorrowed by this news," Elaine spat, her fingers tightening on her crossbow.
"We have not heard from Morgana. We do not move further without her, because she is the only one who knows which way they are."
"We cannot stay blindly in one place, Isolde! Mordred will have sent his troops after her, and in turn us. It is by his order that this village was slain!"
"We do not know that -" Viviane protested, but Isolde cut her off.
"He is not after Morgana. If he had been, he would not have sent spies to find you," Isolde snapped. "It is the Lioness that he is after, not the Raven. She was merely the means to an end."

Elaine stilled. Viviane held her breath, fearing that this would end with words or actions both of them would regret. Instead, Elaine took a seat near the fire, her eyes cast downward. Isolde nodded at this before speaking again.

"Besides, He would not think to find us in the ruins of a village he destroyed in order to find us. His mistake." Or, at least she truly hoped so.

Room 107, ICU, 2005

Lanyon stiffened visibly. Felicia swiped at her eyes with the tissue. They were going to let this obviously healthy person die? Because no one had claimed him?

"Doctor Kingston, the young Dr. Kingston is going to -"
"Artie? No, he'd never. It's his father. Old Dr. Kingston is still in charge of Dag. He's mostly retired, but this was his last case, and no family has come forward," Felicia's eyes flashed towards her son. "Joel and I - that's my husband - we haven't told Lucas yet."
"Understandably so," Lanyon nodded. "The boy dotes on him."
"He does," Felicia's voice tightened as she watched her son.

Lanyon felt at a loss. This man should have a chance at life. No one should slip into death without a fight of some sort. He watched as the boy tipped his head forward a bit. Then the strangest thing happened. The light behind the bed glowed a bit brighter, and Lanyon thought he saw a blonde woman standing beside the boy and the man. Lucas tilted his head towards the woman and nodded. A few minutes later, Lucas raced towards his mother.

"Mum, could we invited Mr. Lanyon to the dinner?" Lucas asked.
"The dinner?"
"Lucas, we don't even know if Mr. Lanyon is planning on staying here for the night to worry about tomorrow's dinner." Felicia smiled.
"He'll be around here, won't you?"
"Lucas -"
"Actually, I'll be here for several days. I'd love to interview Dr. Kingston, and yourself, Lucas. You're the hero, right?" Lanyon winked at the boy.
"Not really. Da pulled him ashore, I just spotted him," Lucas' ears turned red.
"In that case, I'm throwing a welcome dinner for a few new neighbors. We'd love it if you'd come. Joel's is planning to cook."
"Is that a good thing?"
"He's a decent cook."
"Then I'd love to come to dinner."

Felicia jotted down the address and some quick directions. The nurse came in then, reminding them that visiting hours were officially over. They parted in the small paved parking lot, Felicia and her son climbing into their ancient truck while Lanyon fumbled with the keys to the rental car. Before starting the car, he flipped his cell phone open.

"Marty, it's Lan. Listen, I'm gonna be a few days more. I found a new angle on this coma story you sent me to check out," Lanyon paused, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean, 'what coma story'?"

Delphi, 463

The trip seemed far quicker than it should have been. It should have taken the better half of a year to reach the ancient temple, and Morgana was fairly certain that it had been destroyed. Ismene would not speak further of her disheartening news, and the older woman stopped only during the night.

They had crossed into Greece easily enough, still there was much left unsaid between the women. There had been thunder so loud her teeth chattered in fear. She remembered her mentor's words of meditation and calming, words that had gotten her through the most hellish of nights in Mordred's castle, when he himself would dole out her punishment. Nights she had long tried to bury in her mind. She pressed herself tightly against the side of the cart as it rocked to a halt. Ismene pulled the canvas away.

"We are here," she said tearfully, her sad eyes resting on the Sarmatian warrior.
"What troubles you, Ismene?"
"You, child. You trouble and plague me."

Morgana recoiled as if slapped. Ismene merely scowled and threw a heavy cloak in her direction. Morgana trembled as she pulled the cloak over her and slipped out of the cart. Ismene sat on the ruined steps of an ancient temple, her knees pressed tightly to her chest as her shoulders shook in agony. A dark haired woman stood beside her, murmuring words of comfort. Her eyes were startlingly blue, and looked tired, as if the world were too much of a strain on her.

"You knew his fate, Ismene, before you fetched the girl. Pelagius did not belong to us, not in this time. She is not to blame."
"No, the boy is - because Pelagius meant something to him, and Mordred could not let him have happiness," Ismene spat. She looked up into the other woman's eyes. "She carries his seed in her belly."
"I know."
"She does not."

Morgana felt heavy, her steps slipping. The woman turned to face her, a steadying hand reached for her. There was a sad smile on her lips as she pulled Morgana to Ismene and herself. Ismene looked shamed, angry and unbearably sad.

"And Mordred, that little bastard, does not know either."
"I am not -"
"You are, Morgana. You carry the grandson of Uther Pendragon in your belly, son of his own bastard son, Mordred. His other grandchildren, Jessamina and Felix, childred of the Eternal Europa were slain by the dreaded vampire lords. He will have no further offspring, not in this lifetime," the woman sighed.
"How can you know this?" Morgana whispered.
"I am the Oracle of Delphi. Roman priests may have destroyed my temple, but there are still worshippers here. I am called Kassandra."

"Kassandra of Troy?"

Summers Cottage, 2005

Dawn frowned at Arthur's confused and obviously torn face, not comprehending anything he was trying to say. Instead of coming up with a reasonable answer, all he managed to do was stare at Gwen and walk into the doorjamb. Willow was looking uncomfortable next to Gavin, and - was Boris making gaga eyes at Jenna? Trevor seemed to be pondering and Garrett - well, he was looking bored.

"Why would Lanyon be at the Hospice, Arthur?" Dawn asked again.
"The John Doe who washed ashore at the lake -"
"What lake?" Dawn's breath caught as she rounded on Arthur.

To his credit, Arthur stiffened his spine like he was still the noble high king and commander of the Sarmatian Knights. Which was saying a lot seeing as he was staring down the infamous Summers girls glare that Joyce had started, Buffy had perfected and Dawn had made infamous. The rest of the knights noticed the change, the importance of his words. The Lake. The Ice Battle. Dagonet. All words that were left unspoken, but passed through them silently.

"You know what Lake," Trevor said quietly, coming behind her silently. "There was only ever one."
"Could it be -" Dawn shook her head, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Cordelia told me it wasn't possible - they - the Powers that Suck, told him my soul was lost, and now he's locked up there all alone for eternity."
"I've only seen him once, myself," Arthur said softly, laying a hand on her shoulder. "My father is still his physician. As far as I could tell, it wasn't him."
"I know," Dawn said quietly. "I wish it could be. But it was just a move by the Powers to get Lanyon here, so I'll take what I can get."
"We could get there in about twenty minutes, if Boris drives fast enough," Gavin said quietly. "Get Lanyon and get him home again."
"Visiting hours will be over by now. We won't be able to get in tonight, but neither will he," Jenna sighed. "We could - "

The phone rang shrilly behind Gwen, making her jump closer to Arthur. Her hand bumped into his, her fingers tangling with his. Her vision blurred, and images flashed through her mind almost as clearly as they had when she met Dawn for the first time. She moved closer to Arthur, a name slipping through her lips.

"Morgana."
"Mordred," Arthur hissed, his eyes snapping towards the knights.
"On the phone?" Willow asked.
"Oh," Gwen flushed a bit and made a fumble for the phone. "Hello? Joel Hollis?"
"The neighbor lady - it must be her husband," Dawn shook her head. "Felicia and her little girl, Lizzie."
"Felicia met Dawn this morning at the Kingston Clinic, yes. You're inviting us to a welcome picnic tomorrow. Um, Joel, hold on just one second," Gwen laughed tightly, clamping her hand over the receiver. "Are we up to a welcoming picnic?"
"Oh bollocks, Artie," Jenna smacked her hand on her leg. "I forgot to tell you that Felicia invited you as well. Your mum called to warn me. Your da's planning on making the usual excuse."
"Hello, he's waiting on the line," Gwen sighed.
"Yes, we're all going to the picnic. And remember to thank them for the invitation," Dawn giggled. It felt good to giggle. It had been too long.
"All of us?" Trevor asked, nodding to the half-open front door.
"What do you mean?" Dawn frowned, glancing over her shoulder.
"I think the prick means us," a voice cut in.

Faith stood in the open doorway, Vi was just behind her looking sheepish. A few suitcases were stacked beside them. Faith did not look happy. Dawn only blushed, and Willow looked at her in confusion.

"Yeah. Did I forget to mention that I told Giles I needed someone to help train the knights?" Dawn blurted. "Oh, and tell Joel to expect about nine of us tomorrow, Gwen."

Higher Planes

Ismene watched the Eternal Europa with cautious eyes. It had been Europa's lover that had condemned Pelagius to an early death, but Ismene still had those days in Britain with a young Pelagius that could never have been taken from her. Time had healed the wounds, and fate had given him back to her again in another life. Ismene still harbored mixed feelings toward both Europa and Morgana, but like so many of the Higher Powers, she too had learned to hold back. Europa held the necklace in her hand, and Ismene felt a stab of pain. She remembered those days as if they had just happened. Europa closed her hand around the necklace, trying to hid it from her. She nodded her head to Ismene then fled the room.

"Oh, Europa, do not make the same mistakes for a third time," Ismene closed her eyes.
"Beloved?" Pelagius' arm encircled her shoulders.
"Even I can learn to pray, Pelagius."
"Then let us hope that it hears His ears."

London

Morgana smiled down at the small boy napping beside her. His father watched from beside the doorway, his hands twitching nervously. She glanced up at him. She'd broken the rules of keeping herself detached from the knights. She'd never been able to. Neither had Ismene been able to distance herself, nor Europa. What a group they made.

"Morgan, he'll be waking up soon. I've got to get him to the sitter's before work," Percy said quietly.

Her son was different this time around, as was his father. It was the same soul, only purer - as it was meant to be. He'd gotten Percy's light brown hair, and her dark eyes. She'd been overjoyed at his birth, but duty had called - both times. So his father in this life raised him, and she visited when she could.

"He's gotten so big. He looks so healthy."
"He is," Percy murmured. "I'm just sorry that he slept through half the visit. For you."
"He was up half the night teething, Percy. I understand." Morgana glanced at his watch. There was never enough time. She smiled up at him. "I have to go, Percy. Dad's waiting for me -"
"And Daddy can't be left waiting," Percy said tiredly.
"He really can't." She kissed his cheek before breezing out the doorway.

Merlin was busy rearranging Lanyon's schedule in order to get him safely to the wall, and Morgana had to stop some Saxon assassins from killing her charges. Again.