Momochan77: Hello again friend! I'm so glad you liked the last chapter. And oh yeah, the outlaw v knight thing was my absolute FAVORITE part of writing movie #3!

Chapter 16

They all followed Larry who took out his flashlight and led them out of storage and into a main hall. It wasn't like the Smithsonian, which had been lit up and easy to see. Here all she could tell were silhouettes of people, some stone pillars the lined the hall with busts propped on the top. With nothing but emergency lights on in whatever wing they'd entered there were plenty of shadows making the carved faces and heads look even creepier – not to mention that they were now moving. Anna's hold on Billy's free hand tightened knowing it would help calm her nerves so she could focus. Looking tough be damned, she needed to keep her head on straight.

It made her feel less like a frightened damsel when Attila muttered something in his native tongue that sounded very frightened himself.

"I know it's spooky big guy just stay close." Larry whispered as he led them through a doorway. Immediately they all halted, thoroughly creeped out, as at least a dozen or more statues all turned to them. Billy's right hand stayed poised on his gun in case he had to draw to defend them.

"What kind of haunted hootenanny is this boys?" Jedidiah asked.

"Anna?" Larry asked.

"They look like the Parthenon statues." She whispered softly in response. "Old. Greek. And many of them broken."

The grey skin and missing limbs made it look like some sick morgue of collected bodies. The confused and sad faces of the statues as they looked to their group for answers only added to the freakiness. Most were missing arms, some were even missing heads and mulled around blindly. One even limped over to them holding his wrists in front of him. the flat stubs left an empty space where his hands and fingers shoulder be and the look on his face as he stared at them confused asked 'where are my hands?'

"We're all finding this super creepy right?" Nicky asked as Larry slowly led them forward so they wouldn't scare any of the statues that hobbled around them.

"They're just a little freaked out." Larry explained as they made it to the opposite end of the room.

"First time we came alive it took some getting used to." Teddy chimed in sticking by Larry with Sacagawea to his other side.

From behind them Billy turned, "Really? Amelia and I had it down pretty quick."

Everyone stopped and looked at The Kid. Larry, Nick, Teddy and Sacagawea glanced over their shoulders while Attila, Ahkmenrah, Jed and Octavious' eyes bore holes into Billy's back.

"Just sayin'." He shrugged. Thankfully one statue got too close which took everyone's attention off Billy. The sculpture reached out, it's flat wrist nearly brushing Attila's arm as the Hun leaned back out of reach.

"Hey there, just uh, just heading to Egypt." Larry greeted the confused looking man as the rest of the group passed behind him and into the next hall.

When they left the statues behind Anna let go of Billy's hand, now filled with relief at being out of there. This new hall was brighter lit though the animal heads nailed to the wall with tusks and horns wasn't too welcoming. But at least the heads would stay where they were and wouldn't come any closer. And, as odd as it was, Anna felt comforted by the animals. They looked like they were sticking their heads through holes in the wall rather than being mounted. Their big brown eyes looked down at her and the others with curiosity. Anna wondered if any of them were searching for someone to give them a pat on the head. She reached out, the nearest creature being a spotted leopard, and he scratched behind its ears. It made a soothing purr as it leaned into her touch making her smile.

A loud thudding drew their attention and Anna wondered if she'd had that thought too soon.

Larry raised a hand and they all stopped, "Hear that?"

"Hear what?" Nicky asked.

Then horns appeared from around the corner at the opposite end of the hall and a whole triceratops followed. It got them in its sights and stood ready to fight or take an attack.

"We'll just be down here if anyone needs us." Jed whispered.

"We're not scared, it's just, more comfortable." Octavius added as he too crouched down to hide in the brim of Attila's helmet.

"Please get behind me." Billy whispered to Anna, keeping his eyes on the dinosaur.

"I can hold my own." She denied, though the shaking in her voice said otherwise.

"Really?" he kept whispering, "If that thing impales one of us who'd be the one who'd survive?"

Anna nodded keeping her eyes on the triceratops too. "I'll be back here."

She crept behind Billy, she hated the idea of using him as a shield but he did make a very strong point. If Teddy could survive being cut in half then she shouldn't feel bad for using Billy like dinosaur fodder. He'd offered, her mind reminded her to keep the guilt at bay.

"Lawrence, I think it's safe to say that we're in a bit of trouble." Teddy whispered.

"I know how to handle this guy." Larry confidently moved over to the wall and grabbed a tusk, looking to the boar above it, "You mind?"

The pig trembled a shake of the head and Larry took the tusk.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

"How do you think I tamed your pal Rexy?" he whispered before looking to the dinosaur, "Hi there. Bet you're not so mean are you? Huh? I bet you're not so mean."

The triceratops tilted its head curiously.

"No you're just a little puppy right? You're just a little puppy who wants to play. You want to play?" Larry waved the tusk, "Want to play fetch?"

The dino lowered its front legs and wagged its tail, even though that was a good sign, something in the pit of Anna's stomach told her it wouldn't work.

"Here you go. Go fetch!" Larry kept at it tossing the bone only for the dino to catch it.

"That's not fetch Larry." Anna piped up stepping backwards.

The triceratops bit the tusk in half and gagged on the fragments expecting a better treat.

"Lawrence?"

"Yeah?"

"May I suggest a different plan?"

"What?"

The dinosaur roared angrily, the sound alone shaking everything mounted on the walls.

"Run!" Teddy screamed.

Thankfully, because of Billy's suggestion Anna was now furthest back, which now put her in the lead. At the end of the hall she turned left and the others followed. The chasing triceratops had too much momentum though and slammed into a display case. Though it quickly recovered those seconds gave Anna enough time to glance around at exhibit signs. Something with weapons. They needed a display with weapons.

'Medieval' Perfect!

"This way!" she shouted taking the turns necessary to get them to an exhibit she knew carried weapons and shields and armor.

The doors to the showcase room were huge and made to look like they belonged in a castle. Everyone rushed into the circular space, Larry and Nicky bringing up the back.

"Close it! Close it!" Larry shouted and Nicky helped him shut the doors. Dropping the sliding beam that locked them. "Okay, I think we're –"

The doors broke apart into splinters and the force of the blow threw Nick and Larry back across the marble floor.

"Get back! Everyone, get back!" Larry shouted and they all took cover. Thankfully the room was designed with pillars that outlined several glassless windowlike arches. That created a hallway that circled the room and allowed visitors to see displays of swords and weapons from two sides and giving them the perfect cover.

Now that they were more spread out the triceratops moved in a circle in the center of the room, seeming unsure of who to strike for first.

Billy pulled out his pistol and passed it to Anna.

"It might not do much but it's better then nothing." He told her before taking off behind the case next to them.

"Billy!" she shouted after him as he pulled down a banner with some sigil on it and removed the rope. Ducking behind the displays and the pillars he made his way to Attila and Teddy.

"I'm going to need some help."

Teddy nodded and Attila replied in his native tongue.

Billy stepped out with his makeshift lasso and whistled, making the triceratops turn to him. Moving quick he flung the lasso onto one of its horns then backpedaled as it charged. Billy ducked behind a pillar again. The archway was too small for as the dinosaur's massive head so it rammed no one and barely scratched the stone wall.

As it backed up and shook the dust off Billy left his hiding place and ran back for the others, still attached to the triceratops by the rope in his hand. Using another pillar to anchor the rope he, Teddy and Attila tugged trying to restrain it. Anna rushed over with Sacagawea and Larry and Nicky soon followed. They pulled on the rope, making some progress and forcing the beast nearer. Once it got close enough they could spin around it and secure it to the pillar where it couldn't hurt anyone. However, they ran out of time for that. Once they had gotten it angry enough it gave one sharp tug and it broke free causing them to be pulled out of safety and spill across the floor and against the stone wall. Anna had just enough time to grab Billy and pull him behind another case as the triceratops flailed its head trying to shake off the rope.

When it gave up the dinosaur moved in circles looking for someone to take it's anger out on. Finally it found Larry and snorted in his direction. From the display in front of him he grabbed a mace and tried his luck with the dinosaur.

"All right. You don't want to fetch? Fetch on this." He shouted and slammed the mace against the triceratops's head only for the wood handle to break easily, snapping the weapon in two. Quickly he backed up against a suit of armor as the triceratops tried to impale him. It's top horns, one still with the rope attached, were on ether side of his head while the other was between his legs just missing where the sun don't shine.

"Oh! Ah! That's close!"

"Need some help?" the suit of armor asked before pushing Larry out of the way, "Move."

With Larry now aside the knight kicked back the charging dinosaur, then he swung his broadsword once, twice, three times before it reared up on its hind legs and came down with its head bent to impale it's attacker. But the knight held his sword sideways and held off the sharp horns. He spun and clashed his sword with the horn with the rope attached. His sharp blade sliced the twine in one hit before he backpedaled to gain some distance. Then he and the beast charged each other, he slid on his knees using his weapon to trip the dinosaur by knocking its legs out from under it. He laughed as it recovered, roaring again.

When it spun to face the knight its tail nearly hit Larry who ducked just in time, but Attila wasn't so lucky. He got knocked to the side as Larry went to help him up. But the tail came back around making Larry hit the floor or get batted across the room too. Then he grabbed Attila and rolled out of the way just as the boney tail came crashing down to the floor right where they'd been a moment ago.

The knight continued to do battle with the triceratops until he had to turn and run, but he ran straight up a pillar and somersaulted over the back of the beast. The dinosaur got its horns stuck in the stone pillar so the knight approached their group and passed Larry his sword. The weight made Larry fall to the ground. Meanwhile the knight seemed oblivious to the charging eight ton creature approaching from behind him.

Then he turned just in time and punched it so hard in the center of the face its skull cracked. It whimpered as it backed up then left the room with its tail tucked between its legs. Slowly they all stepped out from hiding, Nicky looking at the knight in awe.

"That was actually really cool." Nick said as the knight removed his helmet and flipped back his long blonde hair smiling at all of them.

"Sir Lancelot, at your service." He introduced himself.

"Thank you. That was amazing." Larry said passing him back his sword.

Teddy was next to step forward, "Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America."

Lancelot grasped hands firmly with him and smiled widely, "I have no idea what that means."

"I'm Larry, and this is my son Nick."

Anna smirked, "We left his other son in the –"

"No." Larry cut Anna off as Billy chuckled and Anna passed him back his gun.

Lancelot watched the exchange with bright blue eyes, his glee never diminishing, "You have a noble face Nick."

"Thanks for the help." Larry replied.

"Now you. . . you remind me of a man I once knew at Camelot."

Larry smiled looking like his ego had just been inflated. "Really? One of the, uh, Knights of the Round Table?"

"No Erik."

"Erik?"

"Our fool. He was the funniest fool I ever met. He was so good, he didn't even have to do anything. He could just walk into a room and you'd laugh. You have what he had, the gift."

"That's weird."

"You could be a fool."

"I don't know about that."

"Oh come on! Of course you could! We'd get you one of those hats with the funny little dangly bells."

"Dangly bells?"

Lancelet bust out into laughter. "'Dangly bells' didn't I tell you? The gift. He does what seems like nothing. A sort of deadpan, tiny little, expressionless you know, sort of thing. Just like Erik."

"Sounds like a great guy. We got to get going so –"

But Lancelot wasn't done speaking, or reminiscing as he looked off reflecting, "Ah Camelot."

"Okay." Larry paused.

"Someday, I shall return to it's mighty towers. To King Arthur and Queen Guinevere." He pulled a cloth from his armor, "Sweet, beauteous, Guinevere."

He looked at the picture on the cloth dreamily before looking up and seeing Anna, "You look a lot like her."

"Oh." Anna replied caught off guard. She knew the history of Camelot, or the legend, depending on what you believed. Lancelot's smile rested on her face as he clearly started to let his thoughts wander, most likely back to Guinevere, but Anna would have felt more comfortable had Lancelot decided to get lost in his imagination while staring at the wall. Beside her Billy's hand returned to his pistol. Anna slapped her hand on his wrist keeping him from drawing the weapon. He might be a great shot but Lancelot was covered from head to toe in armor, which of course lessened Billy's odds.

Then Lancelot snapped out of it and dramatically turned his head in the other direction as he spoke loudly, "Alas! I'm sworn not to return until I have completed my quest. I must find the Holy Grail!"

His declaration was met with silence instead of applause until Larry spoke up, "Well, good luck with that. And thanks for the help again. We've got to get to Egypt, so we'll see you."

"I will lead you." Lancelot offered as Larry walked away from him.

"No, it's okay."

"Halt dangly bells!" Lancelot said stopping in front of Larry and holding out his hand, "There is strange magic in the air, and dangerous beasts are afoot. It is the duty of a true knight to protect and care for those in need. We're off."

Larry shrugged looking to the others on his left and right. "I guess he's coming with us."

"Does he have to?" Billy protested.

"Seems like a man on a mission." Teddy spoke up. "I don't think he'll stay behind even if we ask."

Billy made a disapproving gagging sound as he turned from their group and headed over to where the rope was lying on the floor. Anna followed him and helped collect it all before Billy stood back up and started wrapping it into a neat circle.

He didn't look at her and had a sour expression on his face as he hyper focused on the simple task. The fact that something had driven the usual smile off Billy's face was a clear indicator that something was bothering him. And it didn't take a genius to figure out what.

"Let it go Billy." Anna said gently.

"He compared you to the woman he loves." The words were harsh but muttered under his breath.

Anna let out a small giggle. That drew Billy's blue eyes to her. "Well, do you think it's flattering for a woman to be compared to the wife of a man's best friend that he's having an affair with behind that best friend's back?"

He paused, a tiny grin flicking the corner of his mouth upward. "I see your point."

"Besides, I don't like knights. . . I like outlaws."

He blushed and looked away, swinging the coil of rope over his shoulder before they went to rejoin the group.