Chapter 4

...~*~...

Aurora heard a soft knock on the door. Quite odd she thought, she and her sister rarely got any visitors. She walked over to the door, wiping away the tears on her face. She hoped that her eyes wasn't red, and took a breath to calm her emotions before opening the door.

" Lancelot?" She was quite shocked by his presence and noticed that her emotions, which she successfully had been able to control, once again started to spin out of control.

"My lady" Lancelot paused, he didn't know what to say, but decided to tell the truth. " I heard something break and wanted to make sure you were alright?"

"Oh, yes that" Aurora glanced to the broken vase, before returning Lancelot's gaze. " I just…broke a vase. I can be quite clumsy sometimes" She lied not wanting to explain the row she had just had with her sister. She was however, unknowing that Lancelot had heard everything.

"Really" Lancelot said, looking unconvinced but decided to go along. "Well then, if everything is alright"

"Yes, quite" Aurora tugged at her lip, uncertain of what to say.

Lancelot found himself looking into Auroras red eyes. She had been crying, of course she had. You heard her, remember? he told himself.

He wished he knew how to sooth her but at the same time he could not trust her. She was a roman after all.

" I..should go then" Lancelot said but didn't leave. She looks so sad , he thought. "Perhaps you would like to join me for a walk?"He asked without thinking.

"A walk?" Aurora was puzzled by his question. She had never spoken to Lancelot before. Just stolen looks sometimes, she hadn't actually noticed him that much at all, except his menacing gazes at her. But she didn't want to decline his offer and actually she was a little intrigued why he had asked her.

"I would love to" she answered and started to head for her sisters room but stopped. She didn't have the energy to talk to her right know. So she simply closed the door after her and followed Lancelot to the courtyard.

They didn't speak at first. Aurora was a little uneasy by this and so was Lancelot. He was surprised that she had said yes and that he had even asked. However Aurora could not dwell on her thoughts anymore.

"It is very beautiful here" she said gesturing to the forest and the fields below them. All she got from Lancelot was a nod in reply. " Don't you think?" she said looking at Lancelot.

" Well, it may perhaps be beautiful but I have never had the time to inspect it" Is this his answer she thought? Maybe he also dislikes Britain as he does romans.

"But haven't you during you travels all over the island been able to see and enjoy the beautiful scenery?" As soon as she had spoken the worlds, she regretted them. Lancelot's facial features became pained and annoyed.

" I have not had time to enjoy the scenery on this horrible island! I have been busy protecting this wall, and the people. Defending Rome's interest while my brothers have died around me!"

Aurora wasn't surprised by his answer, she knew that many knights had fallen, and perhaps she didn't know the pain he spoke of, she had never lost anyone or well she had just recently. Her father. How could I forget that, she asked herself feeling guilty. She had lost her mother to but she hardly remembered her.

" I am sorry" she said " Once again I fear I speak before thinking, I didn't mean to be so...stupid"

Lancelot looked at her. He had been mad at her for her words but he guessed she meant no harm by them.

" I know that my words can't sooth you or make up for your loss, but I am truly sorry for everything my country has put you through, truly sorry" She looked into his brown eyes trying to convince him that she actually was honest. She thought she had failed when Lancelot's gaze suddenly became gentler and he sighed.

" Yes, well I guess it is not your fault, you should not bare the burden of you country" he said looking out on the field below them.

"Well, I hardly think any other roman is going to apologize" Once again she regretted her words, Why did she have to be so clumsy?

Lancelot took a surprised look at her regretful features and couldn't help himself. He started to laugh earning a surprised look from Aurora.

"What is so funny?" She wondered?

"You" he said bluntly. "You really don't think about what you say, do you?" He said giving her one of his splendid smiles.

"Well, no, I guess" Aurora answered lowering her eyes out of embarrassment.

Lancelot suddenly reached out with his hand catching a loose stray of her hair, pushing it away from her face.

Their eyes meet and there was a moment of understanding, like they finally saw each other without prejudice. Without judging each other based from their titles and heritage. They were simply two humans in each other's company.

" I should probably go back" said Aurora and the moment was lost, Lancelot retrieved his hand .

" My sister is probably looking for me". Not very likely Lancelot thought but agreed with her and bid her good bye.

Aurora started walking back to her room wondering what just had happened. She could still feel his gaze burning in her back and what surprised her the most, she didn't want him to stop looking.

Aurora started to run as fast as Lancelot couldn't see her anymore. She didn't know why she had felt the need to get away from him as fast as she could. She had felt something when he had looked at her. No, she thought, shaking her head. She wouldn't allow herself to become one of the new victims who had fallen for Lancelot's charm.

She had heard the rumors, yes, she had heard them. One time she had overheard the servant girls in the kitchen. One was bragging about her long and must lustful night with the knight. Another time she had overheard, once again, a servant girl sharing intimate details to her friends.

Yes, she had heard the rumors and until now she hadn't cared about them. It wasn't like she wasn't use to secrets and gossip about intimate affairs between women and men. In Rome sexuality wasn't anything you were embarrassed about, well not from the men's point of view anyway. Her father had often had women over, especially if he had a meeting.

She sighed, that was the way in Rome, the men discussed and were entertained at the same time. Things had changed though, since most people converted to Christianity. The women were suppose to save themselves, but there wasn't that many who did. And men, well the men hadn't changed much. The only thing that changed was that it was more hush about it.

Anyway, Lancelot had an reputation and she didn't feel like being part of his trofés. Aurora walked slowly back to her room , she opened the door to find her sister at the window reading a book.

"Hello" she said going to the bed, sitting town and letting out a sigh when she didn't get a response from her sister. " You can't ignore me forever, we have to talk about his".

Her sister turned her head and looked at her. Her eyes were red and Aurora walked without hesitation over and took her sister hands.

" I never meant to hurt you" she said, searching for eyecontact. " I just need to do what is best for me"

" I know, and I am sorry to" Aurora was relived that her sister finally had calmed down. " I just don't want to be alone in the world"

" You will never be alone" Aurora said. " You will always have me! Always" Aurora hugged her sister and Sarah returned it.

" I am so frightened, the whole world is changing" Sarah choked.

" I know, but that is a part of life and as we have been granted the gift of life, so we simply have to embrace life's unexpected turns." Aurora said stroking her sister's hair.

" Yes, I guess we have to do that" Sarah suddenly looked at Aurora and stood up running to her room. She shortly returned and gave Aurora a letter.

"I got this yesterday and I planned to tell you but this whole business with dad" Sarah paused, "..Well, it simply wasn't the right time to tell you". Aurora was puzzled while she opened the letter and started to read.

My dear Sarah

I hope you enjoy you stay in Britain, even though I am sure you are having a hard time adjusting. I must confess, Rome is not the same place without you. Your laughter is nothing more than an echo in my mind. I miss you.

This last year that I have been away from you, I suddenly understood my feelings.

I love you.

I always have, ever since I first lay my eyes on you.

I know I am not what your father want in his family. My fortune is not as grand as yours and I have never been very successful in my military career. But where I come from, Normandy, My family own a large estate which I am to inherit. I know this is a long way from Rome but if you ever could consider living there, with me, you would make me the happiest man on earth.

I therefore ask for your hand in marriage, and if you consent I will ask your father for your hand.

I will always love you. Always and forever.

Au revoir Ma cherié.

Yours Cleo

Aurora took a deep breath and looked at her sister. Sarah stood there very nervous with a hopeful glint in her eyes. Aurora knew then that the feelings Cleo had for her sister were mutual.

" Do you love him?" Aurora asked, knowing the answer. Sarah smiled.

"Sister, why do you ask me that question when I can se in you eyes you already know the answer?"

Aurora smirked and looked at the letter once again. Her sister knew her well.

" I guess the answer is yes then."

" Yes, with my whole heart yes" Sarah said smiling, but then she became serious again. " Will you approve?"

" If I will approve? Sister if you love him you know I wont stop yo.." She however did not get the chance to respond when her sister attacked her with a huge hug.

" Thank you! Thank you" she screamed and laughed at the same time.

After the many hugs and kisses on the cheeks, they sat down for hours just talking and sharing memories. When Aurora realized the time it was already late at night. Her sister decided to go to sleep and so did Aurora. But when she was about to change she didn't feel at all tired, she then suddenly heard high laughter and voices.

It seemed it came from the town, perhaps the tavern. She wondered, no she couldn't she thought. But the sudden urge was not going away and Aurora decided to follow her instinct. She walked outside after she had checked up on her sister and had a final look in the mirror. She closed the door after her and started to walk down the corridor, her steps and her mind, leading her in the direction to the tavern.

This was chapter four! Hope you liked it:)