Disclaimer: We don't own King Arthur, any of his knights or anything else about this story except the main characters, Marietta and Kamilia.
Introduction
I was hardly 10 when I first saw them riding towards are village. Our small, harmless, peaceful village where I had spent my childhood growing and learning. I knew what they were coming for. I ran home as fast as my long skinny legs could run carrying my bow and my few wooden arrows that I had been practicing with. I ran inside my hut and saw my mother crying. She must have already heard about the Roman soldiers riding to our village.
----------Chapter One----------
I could hear my mother sobbing as the Roman soldiers pulled up on their horses. I stared at each one, examining them and trying to memorize their faces. These where the men who would be taking me from my home. Taking me from everything and everyone that I loved in exchange for fifteen years of service to the Roman Empire.
"Where is the boy?" said a soldier who I assumed was the captain of the small bunch. My father spoke, "Please my lord, my son is ill. If he goes with you he will surely die!" The soldier just sneered. "Well in that case we'll just wait here until he gets better."
After that said, my father ushered me and my mother inside. I looked and saw that my brother, Rowan, was still lying in bed asleep. He had returned a few nights back with a terrible cold and had still not recovered. Luckily my mother was an expert healer and was positive she could fix him up.
A few days earlier we had heard from a traveler that had seen the soldiers in a nearby village collecting young boys who were to be trained into knights. That was the day my brother first became ill. After we heard the news, my parents came up with a plan. If Rowan was still unable to leave, I would go in his place.
My friend Marieta was also going to go. She had no brothers, but loved to fight, it was a bit disturbing really. She always said it was some sort of a release, better than meditating, which she also sometimes did. We were the same age, but she was always over protective. Her father had been a scout for our tribe and her mother a healer, until they were killed by Saxons. She came to live with us and we've always been best friends. She, like me, wanted to fight, to defend our families and not have to stay at home and be a "typical" woman and do what is expected. She would protect me, and I her. The only reason she was going was to give me company. It would pretty lonely for a girl to grow up in a man's world.
"Kamilia dear, would you please go chop some wood for the fire," my mother asked. I knew she was just trying to keep my mind off what was about to happen in the morning. I grabbed my hatchet that was in the corner and went outside.
The Roman soldiers watched me as I chopped the wood. I never liked people staring at me, especially if they were considered my enemy. I loved chopping wood. I loved the sound when my hatchet successfully sliced through the log. I was surprisingly strong for my small size. Just like our ancestors, everyone was taught how to fight, even the women. I loved to fight. I loved the feel of a sword in my hands, even if it meant taking other's lives. Marieta and I always practiced together and were both exceptionally good at the sword. I'm better at the bow, and she is better with knives. My brother did not share my love for the sport. He preferred to look at the sky and work in the fields. "What a whimp," I thought to myself. I loved my brother dearly, but I always thought of him as a sort of ninny.
The next morning I woke up to find my mother crying again. My brother was in no shape to leave and the soldiers would not leave without him. My father looked at me with sad eyes. "It's time," he sighed. After that said, my mother, being the strong woman that she was, straightened up and got to work. First she cut my hair. I watched as my long dark brown hair fell to the ground and I felt sad that after this there was no turning back. I felt very lightheaded after she was done. Luckily my brother and I looked quite a lot alike with our dark hair, brown eyes, and round faces. Add his armor and they would never be able to tell the difference. After she had cut my hair, she took a strap of leather and bound my breast tight. If I was going to play the part of a boy, I couldn't have breast. When she was done she handed me my brother's clothes and I changed. When I was finished there was no way anyone would be able to tell the difference. The same was done to Marieta and we were ready to join the damned Romans.
As I walked outside my father walked over leading my most beloved horse, a beautiful golden chestnut named Lucky. My eyes started to fill up when I saw my father leading him over to me. "Don't worry. You raised and trained Lucky yourself, he will take care of you and I know you will take care of him." After a few moments, my father took me into his embrace and hugged me. "I love you, never forget that." "I love you too Daddy," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Come on already, enough with the hugging!" the soldier from last night hollered. I slipped out of my father's embrace and he helped me mount Lucky. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched the entire village come to say goodbye. "How long will we be gone?" I asked though I already knew the answer. "Fifteen years, so get used to it," he snarled. Marieta gave him a glare and probably would have liked nothing better than to drive her sword through him... but she didnt...she's not that rash...usually. I looked back over my shoulder as I took a last look at my home. I saw the rolling hills of green, the small huts, and my parents. As I turned to follow the soldiers, my father made our ancestors famous war cry. The entire village joined in and I couldn't help but cry my heart out at the sight. I turned Lucky around and answered with my own cry, I was Kamilia no more.
