Disclaimer: The usual disclaimer applies I don't own Arthur or his Knights or anything to do with the movie (I wish I did own certain knights).

Any mistakes in spelling or grammar are solely my own as a don't have a beta reader.

Please note that this first chapter has been slightly altered and edited again. I hope that this now looks and sounds before than before.


SARMATIAN KNIGHTS

Chapter 1

The day was clear and the air was crisp as Helena and her brother Tuomas rode side by side back to their village and their parents. They had been out since dawn hunting and had quite a good catch between them, though most of it was caught by Helena.

Helena was the best bow in the village and many of the boys in the village had found that out, the hard way. Tuomas was always amazed how many would repeatedly come back to try again to beat her, but none ever did. Helena knew her brother wasn't good with the bow and she would repeatedly try to let her teach him in return for him to teach her better sword skills, but he would not. He would always say "If father wanted you to be better at the sword he would train you". It was always the same answer.

As they rode back Helena looked over to Tuomas and noticed that he was unhappy.

'Tuomas, if you're unhappy about me getting more rabbits than you, don't come'.

'What?' he said only just noticing Helena was speaking.

'Don't come out hunting if you don't want to be bested'.

'I'm not worried about you getting more rabbits than me'.

'Well that will be the first time. Then why are you looking so sad?'

'Has father said anything to you?'

'No. Why?'

'It's just that I overheard him talking to mother the other night'.

'You know you shouldn't be ears dropping, if father caught you you'd be for it'.

'I know but I didn't do it intentionally'.

'So what were they saying?' she asked interested.

'It was about our cousin Vanora'.

'What about her?'

'It would seem she is with child again' he told her.

'So soon, she only had her last child in spring'.

'I know and I think that's why they were discussing it. Aunt Aeron has asked mother for her help'.

'Help in what way?' Helena asked wondering what could have prompted her Aunt to ask for her mother's help in the first place.

'Aunt Aeron wants mother to go to the fort and help Vanora with her children, then try to persuade her to leave the father of her children and come home'.

'Aunt Aeron has no right asking mother to do that' Helena said sounding mad.

'I know and father said so to her. But you know mother, they argued about it. Father doesn't want her to go'.

'No mother shouldn't, it should be Aunt Aeron if anyone'.

'You know she won't go near the fort'.

'She's crazy'.

'By the way, how many will this make it that Vanora has had?' Tuomas asked changing the subject from their Aunt to their cousin.

'This will be her fifth child'.

'Can women really have that many?' he asked.

'Yes Tuomas they can, and even more'.

'You would have to be mad to have so many children'.

'Vanora must love this man very much to have his children. One day I will have children to the man I love, and I won't be counting how many either'.

'You're crazy as well' Tuomas shaking his head.

'Just you wait till you've met a girl'.

'When I do meet a girl I will not be having half a dozen or more children' he stated quite seriously.

'We'll see' Helena said smiling and sped up.

When they reached their home in the village their father was there to meet them.

'Good hunt?' he asked them as they came to a halt and dismounted.

'Yes father very good' Helena said holding up all the rabbits they had caught.

'Good, Tuomas take the rabbits to your mother and she will prepare them. Then take care of your horse'

'Yes father 'Tuomas said and took the rabbits off Helena and went to find his mother.

Helena's father Matthias saw that Tuomas was out of sight before he followed his daughter to the stable they had beside the house.

'How many did Tuomas get this time?' he asked Helena.

'More than last time father' she honestly said to him.

'I see' knowing Helena was probably covering for her brother.

'Father, you really should teach him to be better with a bow'.

'His bow is fine. If he's to be a Knight it will be his sword skills that he will need the most'.

'If that's true, then why not teach me to be better with the sword'.

'We've had this argument many times before, so do I need to repeat it again' he said sternly to her.

'No father'.

'Helena I wish to talk to you about something very important'.

'Yes father'.

'Your mother has had a visit from your Aunt Aeron'.

'She is well?' Helena asked knowing her father was going to tell her what Tuomas had already told her.

'Yes. She wants your mother to go to the fort and bring your cousin Vanora back'.

'Why father I thought Vanora was happy there?'

'She is'.

'Then why must mother bring her back?' she asked.

'It would seem Vanora is with child again'.

'Again isn't that too soon after the last one she had, which was only in the Spring I remember'.

'Yes it is, and that's why your Aunt wants your mother to go and fetch her back'.

'But mother can't leave the village. Who would tend the sick?'

'She will not be going'.

'Then what is Aunt Aeron to do if mother doesn't go?'

'You know your Aunt will not go near the fort, so we came to an agreement on who should go'.

'When does Tuomas leave?' Helena asked believing it would be him to go to fort.

'He doesn't you do'.

'What! You want me to go to the fort?' she asked surprised.

'Yes. I will tell you I didn't agree to it at first knowing what goes on there, but your Aunt and mother believe that Vanora will listen to you'.

'I haven't seen her in six years father. I'm sure she won't remember me let alone do what I ask'.

'I know that, that's why you'll stay there with her, trying to persuade her to leave, till after the baby is born'.

'How long will that be?'

'At least six months, maybe a little longer'.

'I'm to go there by myself?'

'Yes, I'm sorry but I'm needed here in the village as you well know'.

'Yes father. Is mother happy about this?'

'No and neither am I. But you know how your Aunt can be?'

'Yes I do. When do I leave then?'

'You will leave first thing in the morning'.

'What so soon?'

'Yes I'm afraid so. But you will soon be back here, I'm sure of it'.

'Yes father. I better go help mother with the rabbits and then I'll prepare to leave' she said sadly not really wanting to leave her family. But knowing that they have given her a great responsibility, she would try to live up to the great trust they have in her.

'You are a good daughter' Matthias said and watched Helena head towards the house to help her mother after she had hugged him.

Helena didn't say anything to her brother knowing her parents would announce it that night as they ate their evening meal together, as they always did. As Helena knew her father did announce it, and her brother Tuomas was both shocked and surprised Helena was going, but Helena knew he was jealous as she would see the Knights that he wanted to join. When the meal was finished she helped her mother for the last time and then made sure she had everything she would need. She made sure she had her bow and quiver of arrows and her sword, which she sharpened, as well as the dagger that her mother had given to her some years back. She also packed a good supply of herbs and potions that she had made, in case she might need them, not knowing if she would be able to find any more that easily. She wasn't sure where she would be staying, not knowing if Vanora would welcome her or not, and with that in mind her father had given her some coins in case she would need it for a room and food. After seeing to everything and checking her horse, she headed to bed not really knowing what the next day would bring.

TBC


Please comment as this is my first fan fiction to be published.