The Return to Sarmatia 11
Gawain sighed and said wearily as the messenger, Rowan, approached them with a weather beaten leather bag emblazed with the insignia of the royal house of Pendragon, "Looks like we're going to find out."
Rowan's approach to the second-n-command of the Briton's forces seemed like ages to the anxious and worried First Knight, yet he showed not one once of fear or anxiousness.
He had learned many years ago how to order his face into a bland look that gave away nothing; not even his eyes gave away his fears to those observant enough to see them.
Ama wasn't happy about that at all; even after her husband's return, she could still read his soul like that of Rome's scrolls.
Her son was a wall that she could neither breach nor climb. It made her aware of the passage of time between them keenly. She feared that her son's stay had just been cut short.
To compound to her fears, she dreaded the time that he and the others left because she had a terrible feeling that many of their daughters and sons would go with them.
Here, they were susceptible to Rome's law.
There, they were free to be whatever they could dream up and achieve.
Lancelot acknowledged Rowan's approach with a polite smile and said for the man was on one knee with his left fist over his heart in loyalty, "Stand and be recognized Messenger Rowan, lets see the missive."
The auburn hared man quickly rose to his feet and in one smooth motion pulled the thick parchment from the leather satchel.
As he passed it over to his superior, he said in a tone that informed the native Sarmatians, who were watching, that this was more for ritualistic show than anything else, "My liege-lord, King Arthur Pendragon, bids thee, Marques Lancelot Lyon, King Protectorate, Knight Commander, and First Knight of the Round Table, good heath and good cheer."
Lancelot rolled his eyes, where the others couldn't see of course, but the Knights and Rowan could, but replied in an equally ritualistic tone, "I bid thee welcome Messenger Rowan. I, too, bid thee King Arthur well wishes and good tidings."
He pulled the blue seal open and unrolled the scroll.
To:
Lord Lancelot Shieldguard Lyon of the House of Lyon,
King Protectorate, Knight Commander,
First Knight of the Dragon Order:
From:
King Arthur Pendragon Camelot of the House of Camelot,
King of the Britannia and the Isles surrounding the Realm,
Dear Lancelot,
I fear things have gotten worse since you left.
Our fears have come to past. Rome has come back to Britannia in hopes of regaining its power here in our shores.
Not even a day after you left on the Lady Avalonia on the water ways, we received a communication from the Spaniards. Emperor Odorace, has with the support to Mother Rome, claimed that if we do not come to his and mother Rome's aid with the invading Huns, Vorgoths, and other Germanic Tribes, he will ravage Briton to the ground.
Dagonet, Bors, all our wives, and I have tried to come to a compromise with them, but Rome is unmovable.
I fear another war my friend.
As much as I hate to do this, as I'm pretty sure that you have only just arrived, I need you and the others to come back.
I fear war is our only option left, my friend.
Sincerely,
Arthur
Lancelot raised his eyes from the parchment and frowned.
Galahad stepped forward and asked, "Well, what is it?"
Lancelot took a deep breath to calm himself down and said in a very controlled voice, "Knights pack up! We're going home!"
Almost immediately the men and women of the Round Table jumped to do what the man ordered.
Gawain demanded, "Lance! What's going on?"
Lancelot met his brother-n-arms' stare with one of his own and said, "Rome has decided that now that all the danger is gone from our shores, she wants the lands back. Arthur has been holding off war, but he fears he can't any longer. We go home to possible war, my friends."
Galahad's jaw dropped at those words.
Gawain swore.
Tristran blinked and nodded as he said, "Then we'd best pack up tight and ride double time. The more time we waist, the longer Rome has to compromise our boarders."
Lancelot nodded as he looked to his family.
His mother and father had fear in their eyes.
His sister and brother looked at him with full confidence. It was as if they knew he wouldn't let Rome take control from him and King Arthur.
He turned and met the gaze of his wife, and saw her gentle smile. He knew she would stand behind him no matter what he decided.
He could stay and meet with Rome and try to regain the Sarmatian people's dignity.
Or….
He could return to fight once more for his freedom…
His children's' freedom…
He decided then and there; he'd fight to preserve his children's home.
He turned to his mother and father and said apologetically, "I'm sorry mother, father, but we have to leave."
Babai nodded.
He was a man of few words, but his actions spoke volumes for him. He gave his eldest son a firm hug and a pat on the back. When they broke apart, he stared deeply into his son's eyes and found a firm resolve to fight for his freedom once more.
He said, "How I wish I could go with you! It takes a strong man to fight for freedom; no matter what land it's for. You will live in stories and legends forevermore for these actions."
Lancelot blinked and said with resolution, "It's not for stories that I do this. I do this for my children's future. Briton and freedom is all they know. They wouldn't know what to do under Rome's control.
Babai smiled at his words. His son was truly the man of legend. His story would live on for generations, and he would truly be likened to those of Hercules and the Gods.
Tristran turned to his own family and found himself frozen in what to do. For nearly twenty years he had feared his memories of them and their thoughts about his children; only to come to find out that they supported his marriage to Ula and approved of his children. He wasn't sure what to think anymore.
The only thing he was sure of was that he couldn't let Rome take Briton again. Their people had fought for so long to achieve their freedom, to lose it to a weak, fearful, Rome was a sacrilegious thought to have.
He wouldn't let that happen.
Gawain and Galahad were of one mind. Screw their family and return to Camelot. They didn't care if their children were approved or not. They wouldn't be stepping foot in Sarmatia every again if they had their way!
They looked at the mother and Gawain said, "Well, have a nice life, mother. We won't be seeing you ever again."
Galahad simply frowned and turned to help Enys packed their things into the cargo wagon.
"Make sure that everything is packed nice and tight, we are moving fast to make up the time to make it back home in time to hold off Rome."
Emogen settled her children into the wagon, and turned to Habren as she walked up behind her.
"What do you need Habren?" she asked nicely for she didn't want to hurt the mourning woman's feelings.
Habren bit her lip as she thought about what she was truly asking of her sister-n-law. Could she really leave her homeland? Forever? Could she leave her mother and father behind to never see them again?
She turned to her parents and brother. They looked sad but resolute in their actions to see their eldest sons' return to Briton. She knew it was breaking their hearts because they'd never see them or their grandchild again.
She turned back to Emogen and said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "I want to go with you."