King Arthur

By 300 AD, the Roman Empire extended from Arabia to Britain.

But they wanted more.

More land.

More peoples loyal and subservient to Rome.

But no people so important as the powerful Sarmatians to the east.

Thousands died on that field.

And when the smoke cleared on the fourth day, the only Sarmatian soldiers left alive

were members of the decimated but legendary cavalry.

The Romans, impressed by their bravery and horsemanship, spared their lives.

In exchange, these warriors were incorporated into the Roman military.

Better they had died that day.

Father.

They are here.

For the second part of the bargain they struck indebted not only themselves...

The day has come.

...but also their sons, and their sons, and so on,

to serve the empire as knights.

I was such a son.

There is a legend that fallen knights return as great horses.

He has seen what awaits you, and he will protect you.

Lancelot! Lancelot!

Lancelot.

Don't be afraid. I will return.

- How long shall we be gone? - 15 years,

not including the months it'll take to get to your post.

Lancelot!

Rus!

Our post was Britain - or at least the southern half,

for the land was divided by a 73-mile wall built three centuries before us

to protect the empire from the native fighters of the north.

So, as our forefathers had done,

we made our way and reported to our Roman commander in Britain,

ancestrally named for the first Artorius,

or Arthur.

Mother, I finished.

That's beautiful.

Mother...

Pelagius. For you.

Well done, Artorius.

You keep it.

Deliver it to me when you come to Rome.

Come.

Behold, Arthur. Young knights.

If you so choose, they may some day be yours to lead, as your father before you.

- I'm to be their commander? - Yes.

But with this title comes a sacred responsibility to protect, to defend,

to value their lives above your own and, should they perish in battle,

to live your life gloriously in honour of their memory.

And what of their free will?

It has always fallen to a few to sacrifice for the good of many.

The world isn't a perfect place,

but perhaps people like you, Arthur, and me and them can make it so.

Ah, as promised, the bishop's carriage.

- Our freedom, Bors. - Mm. I can almost taste it.

And your passage to Rome, Arthur.

Woads!

Rus!

Rus!

Rus.

Gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus et Dominus tecum.

Benedicta tu in mulieribus. Benedictus fructus ventris tui, lesus.

Benedicta tu in mulieribus...

Save your prayers, boy. Your god doesn't live here.

Why did Merlin send you south of the wall?

Pick it up.

Pick it up.

- Bors. - What a bloody mess.

That's not the bishop.

God help us.

- What are they? - Blue demons that eat Christians alive.

You're not a Christian, are you?

Does this really work?

Nothing.

Maybe I'm not doin' it right.

Stand down.

Arthur!

Arthur Castus. Your father's image.

I haven't seen you since childhood.

Bishop Germanius. Welcome to Britain.

I see your military skills are still of use to you.

Your device worked.

Ancient tricks of an ancient dog.

And these are the great Sarmatian knights we have heard so much of in Rome.

I thought the Woads control the north of Hadrian's Wall.

They do, but they occasionally venture south.

Rome's anticipated withdrawal from Britain has only increased their daring.

- Woads? - British rebels who hate Rome.

Men who want their country back.

- Who leads them? - He's called Merlin.

A dark magician, some say.

Tristan, ride ahead and make sure the road is clear.

Please do not worry, Bishop. We will protect you.

Oh.

I've no doubt, Commander.

No doubt.

Dozens don't worry me nearly so much as thousands.

Thousands?

I don't like him, that Roman.

If he's here to discharge us, why doesn't he just give us our papers?

Is this your happy face?

Galahad, do you still not know the Romans?

They won't scratch their asses without holding a ceremony.

Why don't you just kill him, and then discharge yourself after?

I don't kill for pleasure, unlike some.

Well, you should try it someday. You might get a taste for it.

- It's a part of you. It's in your blood. - No, no, no. No.

As of tomorrow this was all just a bad memory.

Ohh.

I've often thought about what going home would mean after all this. What will I do?

It's different for Galahad.

I've been in this life longer than the other.

So much for home. It's not so clear in my memory.

You speak for yourself. It's cold back there and everyone I know is dead and buried.

Besides, I have, I think, a dozen children.

Eleven.

You listen. When the Romans leave here, we'll have the run of all this place.

I'll be governor in my own village and Dagonet will be my personal guard

and royal ass-kisser. Won't you, Dag?

First thing I will do when I get home is find a beautiful Sarmatian woman to wed.

A beautiful Sarmatian woman?

Why do you think we left in the first place?

What about you, Lancelot? What are your plans for home?

Well, if this woman of Gawain's is as beautiful as he claims,

I expect to be spending a lot of time at Gawain's house.

- His wife will welcome the company. - I see. And what will I be doing?

Wondering at your good fortune that all your children look like me.

Is that before or after I hit you with my ax?

Where you been, now? Where you been?

And what will you do, Arthur, when you return to your beloved Rome?

Give thanks to God that I survived to see it.

You and your god! You disturb me.

I want peace, Lancelot. I've had enough.

- You should visit me. - Ah!

It's a magnificent place, Rome.

Ordered, civilized, advanced.

A breeding ground of arrogant fools.

The greatest minds in all the lands have come together in one sacred place

to help make mankind free.

And the women?

Open the gate!

- Welcome back, Arthur. - Jols.

Lancelot.

Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you.

Oh, yes. I must rest.

- Where have you been? - Oh...

- I've been waiting for you. - Oh, my little flower. Such... passion!

Where's my Gilly? Gilly.

- You been fighting? - Yes.

- You been winning? - Yes.

That's my boy. Come on, all my other bastards!

Let us not forget that we are the fortunate ones.

Let us raise our wine to those gallant and extraordinary men we have lost,

but who will be remembered for eternity.

To freedom.

Pelagius.

Very kind of Arthur to give up his room.

But, of course, it is to be expected.

Sir, I'm here to escort you to the fortress hall.

When my master meets with your knights, he must be seated last

and he must be seated at the head of the table.

Your master can plonk his holy ass wherever he chooses.

His Eminence, Bishop Naius Germanius.

A round table? What sort of evil is this?

Arthur says for men to be men they must first all be equal.

I was given to understand there would be more of you.

There were. We have been fighting here for 15 years, Bishop.

Oh, of course.

Arthur and his knights have served with courage

to maintain the honor of Rome's empire on this last outpost of our glory.

Rome is most indebted to you noble knights.

To your final days as servants to the empire.

Day. Not days.

The Pope's taken a personal interest in you.

He inquires after each of you,

and is curious to know if your knights have converted to the word of Our Savior or...?

They retain the religion of their forefathers. I have never questioned that.

Of course, of course.

They are pagans. Hm?

For our part, the Church has deemed such beliefs innocence,

but you, Arthur, your path to God is through Pelagius?

- I saw his image in your room. - He took my father's place for me.

His teachings on free will and equality have been a great influence.

I look forward to our reunion in Rome.

Ah.

Rome awaits your arrival with great anticipation.

You are a hero.

In Rome, you will live out your days in honor and wealth.

Alas...

Alas, we are all but players in an ever-changing world.

Barbarians from every corner are almost at Rome's door.

Because of this, Rome and the Holy Father have decided to remove ourselves

from indefensible outposts, such as Britain.

What will become of Britain is not our concern anymore.

I suppose the Saxons will claim it soon.

- Saxons? - Yes.

In the north a massive Saxon incursion has begun.

- The Saxons only claim what they kill. - And only kill everything.

So you would just leave the land to the Woads.

And I risked my life for nothing.

Hm.