Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable to the movie King Arthur or Arthurian Legend.
Welcome to my second King Arthur fic. This is a totally new idea for me and I was looking for some feedback on whether I should continue or not. The original character in this fic is completely opposite of my other character Syeira in His Little Warrior Princess. This fic, like my other one, also takes place after the film. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: No Turning Back
"A carriage from Rome? I thought the Romans didn't want anything to do with Britain. What is this, Arthur!" Demanded a near hysterical Galahad. His contempt for Rome ran deep. Although he was now free of the nation that had made slaves of his people, his fuse was very small when regarding the power hungry conquerors.
"Calm, Galahad. There is no need to jump to such hostilities about one carriage." Said Arthur in a steady, but reassuring tone. "Now, is there anything else to the message you were sent with?" New Britain's king inquired to the fair-haired messenger in front of him.
"Only that lodging would be needed for one and a servant. I was set out with this message near a half a year ago, sir. The carriage should be arriving in three weeks, maybe a month from now. Milady says she comes for her own reasons and not for Rome's. She wishes to meet with you, sir."
"I see. Thank you." The messenger had his head bowed to Arthur. "There is no need for that here. What is your name boy?"
"Nuncio, sir."
"Nuncio, are you planning to stay here, in Britain, or travel back to Rome?"
"I wouldn't leave without knowing if it would be fine with Milady. I am to stay and await her arrival." Arthur looked a bit troubled at the boy's answer. He was one for free will and against slavery. He didn't like it when a man wasn't allowed to make his own choices.
"Jols," The squire stepped up from beside the door.
"Yes, Arthur?"
"See to it that our young guest here gets a room until the carriage arrives."
"Of course." The messenger boy was escorted out of the large room after pleading his thanks towards the king.
"Wishes to meet you? Her own reasons and not of Rome's? Now I've heard it all!" Galahad was still bitter towards the news.
"Galahad," Gawain put a hand on his young, over zealous friend's shoulder. "What harm could it bring?"
"Gawain is right." Arthur said before the young knight could speak again. "Whoever she is, she's coming to meet me. Nothing is going to come of it, I'm sure. You jump to too many conclusions, my friend."
Galahad surprisingly remained silent. Were Arthur and Gawain right? It was just some woman from Rome, how much harm could she do? Her stay isn't going to change anything. It couldn't possibly change anything at all. She was just a woman of Rome.
Galahad had always been the youngest of the Sarmatian knights and he still had a sense of naivety to him, although he wasn't so young anymore. With this came fast conclusions that, fortunately, were usually wrong.
One Month Later
"Is that it, Deacon? Have we actually made it to Hadrian's Wall? " The woman's gleaming blue eyes were fixed to the fortress on the horizon.
"Yes, Milady. We've made it. We should be at the gates by mid afternoon tomorrow if we stop and rest here." The middle-aged man driving the carriage slowed to a stop in a small clearing.
The carriage door opened and out stepped a small but lively Roman woman. Her scarlet, curled tresses fell daintily over her petite shoulders.
"Deacon, let me get the horses. You must be tired. Rest a while." Deacon stretched out his arms and ran a hand through his short, graying hair.
"Really, Lavina, I'm fine."
"I insist." Picking up the end of her dress she went to unhitch one of the horses. It would have been a peculiar sight to see back in Rome. A woman of her class and size taking care of a great steed. And the fact that she was only in a light lounging robe made the sight even less believable. A troubled look played her features as she walked the horse away from the carriage.
"Do you think Arthur will welcome us when we get there? He must hold some resentment towards me coming. Do you think I should have told him who I was, exactly? This was a mistake, Deacon. Is it too late to turn back?" She was second-guessing herself and her decision to come to Britain.
Deacon was now standing up with his arms crossed. "Yes, it is too late, eight months too late. You're assuming things again. If Arthur is anything like your uncle described him to be, everything should be fine. Here let me help you with that." He took the reins from Lavina's dainty hands and lead the second horse to a nearby stream to join his equine companion.
Deacon wasn't just a servant to Lavina. He was more like a second father to her. He had been taking care of her family since before she was born and stayed with her when her parents passed away when someone had set fire to their home during the war times.
It was unthinkable for a young Roman girl to live alone like that, without any parents or a husband and only a servant. She thanked God everyday when her uncle arrived from Britain when he did. He saved her from getting married against her will at too young an age.
"I wish he was making this trip with us. He would have loved to see Arthur again. He always talked so highly of him."
"I know, Lavina. You still miss him, but he's with God now." Her soft face twisted into a grimace.
"How can he be with God? They took every tie he had to God away from him. Remember? When they excommunicated him and then had him murdered! I remember it, Deacon. I think about it everyday, I watched him die! He didn't deserve it, any of it. They were all wrong! One day they will all see that he was right. We are all to be equal! Everyone is equal!" The tall man gathered that distressed young woman in his arms and held her in a fatherly embrace.
"You've gotten yourself all worked up again. It isn't healthy. Lets say we have a quick bite to eat and then turn in for the night. Just think, we'll be at the wall tomorrow and you can finally relax from all this traveling. This long of journey never does anything for the nerves." The sensible Deacon always had an explanation for everything.
Lavina solemnly nodded and headed back to the carriage to see what she could make them to eat.
Deacon was right. She wouldn't have to worry for much longer. The trip did stir up her nerves and anxiety significantly. She hated second-guessing herself and assuming things too fast but most times she couldn't help it.
Hopefully she would be found welcome in Britain because Hadrian's Wall was just a day away and there was no turning back.
A/N: As with His Little Warrior Princess the title of this fic is inspired by the main character's name.
Lavina (luh-VEE-nuh) means woman of Rome.
So, yay or nay?
But remember, review kindly!