The Return to Sarmatia 5

Note: Sorry this chapter is so late. I had a bit of writer's block for two weeks, and then I was in London, England on holiday for this past week. When I got back, I had A LOT of stories to read through and catch up on. I had a stroke of luck though while in England! My writer's lock is gone!!!

As Galahad reached his fellow brother's-n-arms, Gawain stepped forward and said to his brothers, sisters, and other tribesmen with a furrowed brow that conveyed his feelings of sadness and pride more than any of his words could express, "Now, now that that's out of the way, we must send our honorable Knights and Lancelot's tribesmen to the other side."

The lion hared Knight bit the inside of his cheek as he thought what a wonderful homecoming this is! Why the HELL did we return again?? I mean, back home we live in relative peace, and I wouldn't have to deal with mum here if I had stayed...get a grip Gawain! The past is the past...deal with the here and now!!!

As Gawain lightly shook his head to dislodge his current train of thought, he could see his leader biting his bottom lip at his words. It always killed Lancelot when one of their men or women died. The First Knight always felt like he had let the Knights down in some way when one of them died-he was a perfect match for Arthur in this manner.

Lancelot stepped forward, gained everyone's attention, and commanded strongly through a thick voice full of emotion, "Lady Knight Affrica, Lady Knight Brina tend to Lady Fionn body. Sir Durnhelm, Sir Droven, tend to Sir Mitchell's body and make sure to clean their weapons as well."

I'm so sorry my Knights! I failed you! Now I must send you on your way to the next life, and I must tell your families upon our return to Britannia that you have passed. You will receive your honors and your families will be taken care of...this is my vow my Knights!!

He turned to face his little sister, knelt down beside her, placed a gentle hand over her bowed head, and said softly and soothingly the words he had been thinking about since Melean's fall in battle, "Melean's death was an honorable one Habren. He died protecting both you and our kinsmen. I avenged him not a second after he fell. You must let the others tend to him now so you can ready yourself for the burial."

Habren, though she felt no passion for the man who was her husband, did have a certain fondness for him. Seeing his pale face and blue lips had frightened her more than she was willing to admit. Which scared her because she was no stranger to death. Unfortunately, something about Melean's blank eyes sent shivers of fear down her back. When her brother's words sunk in, she nodded and allowed her mother and little sister to escort her into her father's tent.

Once she was in the tent that had once been his childhood home, Lancelot finished, "Knights! Dress uniforms! Dismissed!"

Lancelot sighed, looked up into the blue skies he had once idolized not five years ago and said as his wife wrapped her arms around his middle and laid her head upon is upper back, "Emmy, why, after all this time, does it still hurt to send my Knights to the beyond?"

Emogen placed a kiss on the back of his neck and said softly as she watched the others leave them alone to deal with their own post-battle stresses, "Because you care for each and every one of them. The day you stop hurting when one of the Knights die, is the day you are no longer a man, and that'll never happen."

Lancelot slowly turned in her arms, wrapped her up in his and said gently as he placed his head on top of hers, "I came so close to no longer being a man not to long ago though...the threat of becoming a monster is still real, Emmy."

Emogen shook her black curly head and said strongly with faith evident in her voice, "No it's not. You are no longer the man you once were. First off, the man from six years ago was a slave, angry, wifeless, loveless, and childless. On the other hand, today you have them all plus power and respect from all those under your command. Also, your friendship with Arthur has never been stronger too."

He smiled and said as he gently kissed her, "Where would I be now if I didn't have you to love me and guide me, my love?"

Emogen smiled mischievously and answered as she slipped out of his arms like water through fingers, "Probably dead or an old angry man with no light at all in his life."

Lancelot sputtered for a second before he chased her into their tent to ready themselves for the funeral.

Galahad nervously tucked in his dress uniform's tunic top into his light leather breeches and glanced into a highly polished steel mirror leaning against the wood wagon's side which operated as a forth wall for their tent's amazing three walled construction. He could see that Enys wanted to talk to him about his feelings as she pulled Aithne, his baby daughter, into a pretty cotton light blue dress with white trimmings on it and placed small white ribbons in her hair; but right now he was too strung up from the battle and the challenge from Gowan to talk about anything.

But more importantly-he hated funerals.

He hated being back in Sarmatia even more so.

He spun to face his wife, placed a soft kiss on her cheek and another on his beloved daughter's brow, and said softly so as not to awaken the dozing little lady, "Gawain and I are going to talk to my mother, and see if we can get all the legal appointments into the royal family completed, okay?"

Enys stared into his grass green eyes with her own blues ones and nodded as she picked up their daughter and said sweetly, "I understand...good luck."

Galahad kissed her again, more passionately on the mouth, and exited the tent he had Gawain had set up two nights before. Right in front of him was Gawain, who was dressed just like he was-the only difference was the colored tunic top they were both wearing.

Galahad nodded to his lion-like older brother and said strongly, "Let's go."

With a purposely-fast march, they plowed through the tents set up by their tribesman and barreled through the largest tent in the very center of the caravan-Queen Malana's of the Coyote and Wolf Tribes.

Malana stood up in outrage and demanded hotly as her youngest sons stared her down flame-to-flame (anger), "What are you two doing here? I should have you both cut down for your pompous attitude and complete disregard for your people's ancient laws and courtly decorum!"

Both brothers's ignored their monstrous mother and Gawain demanded heatedly as he fiddled with a golden tassel hanging from his right shoulder, "Why are you so cold-hearted to us? I mean, we're your children! Your own flesh and blood! You carried us in your womb for nine months, by Mithras!!"

Malana cocked her head to the right, stared her offspring down with disdainful hazel eyes, and said with a sneer and an unconcerned shrug, "I never wanted to have children. But as a woman and a noble it was expected of me. If I wanted to keep my life style the way I liked it, I had to give Donkir and Buecan children."

Galahad's mouth dropped open, as he demanded in disbelief because he couldn't comprehend how he and Gawain, two very emotional and loving men, could come from such a arctic-hearted bitch, "So all we were to you was a way to claim more power and wealth?! Did you ever love us at all?!?!"

Malana stared at her youngest son straight in the eye and said as seriously and yet as stoically as possible, "No."

Gawain closed his eyes as his largest fear was confirmed. He had always suspected that his mother didn't care for him and his siblings as much as she should have, but he had always held on to the belief that Malana had loved them, once, somewhere deeply buried inside her heart.

Galahad couldn't even place the emotions running through his veins. All he knew was that he felt angry, betrayed, sadness, and a righteousness to make his mother pay for all her crimes. He wanted to see her burn in hell. For all her sins against them and their sisters, Agrimpasa most of all; it was more than what she truly deserved.

Galahad took a threatening step forward and demanded heatedly, "Why did you destroy Agrimpasa's life by paying Baldor to rape her?!?!"

Malana smirked smugly at her sons and said with an uncaring snort and shrug of her shoulders, "It was necessary for her training. For her to be the best wife for the Lion's future king, Agrimpasa needed to learn that love doesn't exist in this life-only lust and greed bring a person pleasure and security...not that it matters anymore...

She added in a lower more superior tone, "...stupid child went off and got herself killed anyways."

The brothers stared at one another in horror. Their mother was truly a monster. Their children would in NOWAY be anywhere NEAR Malana for the duration of their time in Sarmatia; even if they had to carry the babies into battle to keep them away from their mother's poisonous influence.

As one they spun on their heels and stomped through the tent's opening flaps, and crash-landed into their cousin, Garen, son of Lord Ulucan Sharpclaw, Viceroy of the Eagle Clan and Lady Maia Black-Wolf of the Wolfe Tribe, daughter to Viceroy Rabadron Blackclaw of the Wolf Tribe, and Malana's younger sister.

As Garen scrambled to his feet, he exclaimed as he helped them to theirs, "Oh sorry! Are the two of you okay?"

Gawain snorted, dusted his rear end off, and said sarcastically, "We're fine...it's only our butts that hurt."

Galahad didn't even bother to give him an answer. Instead he demanded, "What has caused our tribe to be so horrible?! I mean, first mother's attitude when she arrived, then Gowan's, and now THIS!!! What happened whilst we were away?!"

Garen sighed and said as he waved them in front of him, "Let's talk about this in some other place."

After a sort walk, cresting two hills, the three cousins sat down on a grassy knoll, and Garen began, "It all started about fifteen years ago...about five years into yours and the other's services to Rome; all of our tribes had been continuously attacked over the course of two years by the Huns and our numbers began to drop to the likes of how it was just after the Romans defeated our ancestors two hundred years ago. With all the deaths, the council decided to go to the waylands, or to the outer edges of the Sarmatian territories, for a generation to regroup our numbers, but Malana would hear none of it. She managed to persuade enough people to block the vote of the council and we stayed where we were."

He sighed, looked up into the sky, and continued, "Back then Rugon was still a relatively young king and relied ALOT on your mother for advice during the most important issues of state, but as time wore on, Rugon depended on her less and less. As of today, he totally ignores her advice and focuses more on what his advisors council him on or what Agrippia advises him to do, therefore, making her antsy and concerned for her slight loss of power."

"Because of our heavy losses, the issues of pure blood has been preached quite heavily in ALL the tribes by men and women like Attila, Tor, and Artur. They spun it as the Gods punishing us all for allowing ourselves to become slaves to a hedonistic race and allowing our divine blood to be diluted by impure, dirty, common blood."

Garen shook his head and added, "Then, Rabadron and Reekon were killed in a battle that left Satina and Calipia pregnant with their heirs and our brothers' authority to vote in their honor in anyway Satina and Calipia saw fit."

Galahad snorted and said dryly, "I bet mother just hated that."

Garen nodded and said, "She did...in fact, she despised it. After all, our brothers chose Satina and Calipia as their wives because they were strong willed and could stand up to Malana without flinching nor backing down."

Gawain finished the thought, "Which means that mother could not control the council's votes to her advantage."

Garen nodded in agreement and added, "Well, as you could imagine, those who were 'encouraged' to vote the same as Malana did saw how she was slowly losing power and influence in the Coyote Tribe and began to slowly remove their support from her as well by not voting or casting their votes secretly for another by telling that person before with an unnamed parchment."

He cleared his throat and continued, "By removing their power from Malana and joining it to Lady Gaia's power base, and the wife of the Second Prince Tsar of the Coyote Tribe, they have successfully removed a third of your mother's overall influence, wealth, and power from her."

He sighed looked up into the clear blue sky and said warily, "Simply put, she losing power fast and doesn't like it."

The two brothers fell silent as they thought over what Garen had just told them. It made since to Gawain, as he knew his mother's love of power and wealth. But that still didn't explain the degradation of his mother's outlook in life. After all, Rugon and Gowan had survived just like they did, got married like they did, had children just like they did...he just couldn't figure out what caused them to be so angry and vengeful to Galahad and himself.

As if Garen had read his mind, he started to explain some more things in detail, "As for our beloved Wolf Tribe, things aren't much better. You see, when Rugon and Gowan were taken to serve Rome just like you two and Gareth, their experiences weren't as heartening as yours was. The only difference between you two and them was that Rugon was sent to Greece and Gowan to India."

Garen continued, "Rugon was made to fight as a Gladiator in the Coliseum. It was there that he received his life lessons from his evil and ambitious commander, Commander Marcus Ambros. It was from that man that Rugon's viciousness comes from."

"Gowan, on the other hand, was already half way into death's door emotionally when the Roman's came for him and took him to India. While his hatred for the Romans grew inside his heart, Gowan learned hate, malice, and manipulation from his commander, Commander Justinous Marvianous."

He shook his head and said to the brother's open-mouthed retorts, "Not all of us could be as lucky as you two to have gotten Arthur Castus as a commander."

Galahad's mouth snapped shut. He had always been thankful that he had served under Arthur during his time as a Roman slave, but he hadn't realized just HOW bad it had been for his brothers. But then again...I didn't really think of them all that often whilst I was a slave...I was to caught up in my own shit and self-worth that I completely forgot about all my other brothers-with the exception of Gawain and Donnoz...

He was shaken from his musings as Garen finished, "Malana is directly responsible for Areia and Athena's upbringing. Those two learned how to be petty, cold-hearted, and selfish from her. Add on to that, that they grew up without anyone punishing them and you have two very baby-like teenage, hormonal girls."

The lion-hared Knight watched as his cousin's shoulders drooped dangerously low as he concluded, "As it stands now, the Coyote Tribe is pulling all its support from Malana and giving it to Lady Gaia. Also, the Wolf Tribe is thinking of revolting against her all together because the council had lost faith in her and in her decedents."

Galahad finished, "And the next family in line for the crown is yours..."

Garen nodded sadly. It was true. Thanks to his mother, Maia, whose blood that runs through his veins, he could claim the royal crown of the Wolf Tribe, but he had no real drive to do it.

He didn't like the fact that his family's cohesiveness was falling apart, but no matter how hard he tried to keep the peace between all the clans; nothing seemed to work for very long.

Gawain, who had been listening calmly for he always loved a good intrigue, thought out loud, "So, the only way for Malana to regain her power and influence was by way of marriage."

Galahad shouted out excitedly, "So that's why she wanted Agrimpasa to marry Lancelot! If she marries into the Lion Clan of the Lion Tribe, she'd have the ultimate seat of power-total Queenship of all outreaching Sarmatian lands.

The three fell silent, each one was thinking about their horribly screwed up family, when Gawain tilted his head into an air current and announced, "It's time to go."

With a sigh, the other two followed the older man back to the bodies of those who didn't live through the battle, and saw their fellows-n-arms looking expectantly up at them with saddened loss as they gathered around the large funeral altar.

Lancelot glanced around at the gathered group and said gently yet powerfully, "Everyone gather around in two groups: one inner circle and one outer circle. Space yourselves so everyone can see the dead in the center."

As the large group did as Lancelot ordered, he grabbed Emogen's free hand as she was carrying Cadman, and said, "Should the children really see this?"

Tristran, from his other side, looked at his First Knight and said, "Lancelot, let them, they should honor those who died whilst protecting them."

Lancelot ran a hand through his curly hair but nodded. In a way he agreed with Tristran, but in a way he didn't. He didn't want his twin girls to witness a death rite. To him they were still to young to see such a thing, but on the other hand, Fionn and Mitchell did give their lives to protect them all, and they deserved their honor.

Emogen sweetly kissed his cheek and said, "Let's go, huh?"

Lancelot nodded and when he reached the center of the circle, he saw his father, mother, sisters, Zimkar, and Tarkan with a pregnant woman standing opposite him. Each one gave him a small smile of encouragement, and a nod full of faith and conviction-his family was behind him one hundred percent. He glanced to his family and saw them nodding at him. He glanced behind him and felt a swell of pride rise up in his heart-his Knights were dressed in their best uniforms and each carried an instrument.

As the music began, Lancelot stepped forward and began the rites,

"We have for a while lost one who is dear to us,

And we all feel the loss.

But it is only for a time,

And we will lose our sorrow."

"There is a reason for being here,

And a reason for going.

The Other Side,

The Places Beyond,

Are warm, pleasing and beautiful with all ills gone,

And youth anew."

There is a reason for leaving,

When the purpose of this life is done.

We must all journey beyond to pause,

To rest, and to wait for those who are loved,

In a place far from the cares of this world,

With happiness and strength renewed.

For dying is only a mode of forgetting,

A way of rest,

A way of returning to the Eternal Source,

However we may see it."

Tristran stepped up a bit and intoned, "It is said in ancient lore..."

Emogen raised her voice and joined in the farewell as she nuzzled Cadman's downy soft hair,

"Arrayed in some new fleshly disguise,
Another mother gives birth.
With sturdier limbs and brighter brain,
The old soul takes the road again."

Then Enys, Ula, and Alma sang out loud in a beautiful heart lifting tone,

"You came and touched so many hearts,
In so many different ways.
You gave so much,

And asked very little in return.
There is an emptiness,

As if a part of me is missing,
But I am sure with time you will show me how to be whole again.
I know you are safe now,

And nothing can harm you.
Remember, although we're apart,
We will always be together."

Galahad and Gawain joined in next, and in stereo, said to their fallen brethren,

"Life and death are one,

As the river and the sea are one.

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind,

And to melt in the sun?

What is it to cease breathing,

But to free the breath from it's restless tides

That it may rise, and expand,

And seek it's Gods unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence
Shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountaintop,
Then shall you begin to climb.
And when the Earth has claimed your limbs, then shall you truly dance."

Habren was inspired by her brother and his warriors-n-arms farewell rites, and stepped forward, away from her families support, and called out to her fallen husband and her killed kinsmen,

"Melean and Lion's kin, Fate was most unkind,
Given to thee, but I to forward in mind.
Yet from thee so much love was spread,
Everywhere you were seen to tread.
We'd like to think where'er you all roam,
In the new world you'll call your home.
There'll be no more pain, no more ills,
No more of this life's bitter pills.
Forgive us if today we're heartrending,
For I did love you, Habren O'so haunting."

Lancelot smiled proudly at her. When she looked down, he took a deep breath and said as he and the other three 'Knights of Sarmatia' along with Brina, Affrica, Droven, and Durnhelm place torches on the hay covered bodies, and watched as the flames licked and burned the bodies underneath the funeral cloth, for in this line he, as the 'High Priest', was acting in the dead person's place to give comfort to those who had lost loved ones,

"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle Autumn's rain."

"When you wake in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,I am not there, I did not die."

After that, the group fell silent. Then Lady Knight Chloe walked up to Lancelot, bowed, and asked with tears in her eyes, "Can you and the Lords and Ladies of Briton sing 'The Prayer'? It was Fionn and Mitchell's favorite love song..."

Emogen stepped forward and answered for him with a loving, sympathetic smile, "Of course we can!"

"Yes, I'd love to!" –Enys

"It would be an honor." –Alma

"I would do anything for my beloved students." –Galahad.

"For a love as strong as theirs was, I could do no less." –Ula

"You didn't have to ask, dove!" –Gawain

"It would be an honor." –Tristran

Lancelot smiled and said with opened and welcoming arms, "Of course we will."

Chloe's watery eyes beamed happily up at her leaders and said bowed and then lowered herself to her knees so she could listen to their joined voices in bliss.

Ama leaned in towards her husband and whispered, "I didn't know Lancelot could sing?"

Tarkan, who had overheard, turned to his parents and said blissfully as he helped his lover to sit down, "He has an awesome voice, mother, father...you'd be surprised at how golden his once high squeaky voice sounds like now."

When everyone was peacefully sitting and his Knights were playing a gentle, farewell tune, he started as he picked up and held his Sun Princess and Enchanted Moon, "I'll pray you'll be our eyes,

And watch us where we go,

And help us to be wise,

In times when we don't know..."

The others joined in harmoniously,

"Let this be our prayer,

As we go our way,

Lead us to a place,

Guide us with your grace,

To a place where we'll be safe."

Emogen cuddle her son and sang lovingly,

"I'll pray we'll find your light,

And hold it in our hearts,

When stars go out each night,

Behind us where you are..."

Ula jumped in with a sweet tone,

"Let this be our prayer,

When shadows fill our day,

Lead us to a place,

Guide us with your grace,

Give us faith so we'll be safe..."

Galahad sang, "We ask that life be kind,

And watch us from above,

We hope each soul will find,

Another soul to love..."

Then all eight of them sang the last verse together as harmoniously as they possibly could and together they sounded as if a siren had come to lure a sailor to his death,

"Let this be our pray,

Just like and child,

Needs to find a place,

Guide us with your grace,

Give us faith so will...be...safe...!"

As the last pure musical sounds drifted off into the hills with the help of the winds, a low rumbling could be heard and felt through the grasslands.

Tristran rushed up to the top of the hill because Siolae was once again circling. When he got to the top he paled.

Lancelot yelled, "Who is it?!"

Tristran's white face met his own as he answered, "My mother..."

Funeral rites belong to a website and it's address is on my author's page!!!

Song belongs to: Celtic Women: A new Journey