The Heart of a Warrior

By

Numb3rsfan

-Chapter One-

It was the darkness of the night that gave way to dark ideas and nightmares not only in Camelot but all over the world. It was the darkness of the night that caused people to do and say stupid things and it was the darkness of the night that caused some people to end their own life.

There was a small caravan of people and horses that were crossing King Arthur's land just fifteen miles from Camelot. These people were traders. They traded anything from bows and arrows to pigs and horses and yes…even human slaves. The cart in the back housed the human slaves. The cart was built like a small hut with iron bars and iron chains with restraints fastened to them inside the cart.

There were four occupants inside the cart. Two young boys no more than twelve or thirteen, a young lady who had been found wandering the streets near the Mercian border and the last occupant was another young lady no more than twenty five years old except this lady had an obvious problem; she was pregnant and due any day and while she wasn't showing too much, she could feel it in her bones that it could happen any day.

This young lady was Susanna; a young lady born in the twenty first century who quite by accident was thrust in to the end of the fifth century, to the time of King Arthur. She had been a resident of Camelot for the past two years, as well as a servant to King Arthur. While Merlin was still Arthur's personal man servant, Susanna got the joys of helping the young warlock with whatever task he was doing at the moment.

Things had seemed fine; the relationship between Merlin and Susanna had blossomed and they were almost inseparable. Then King Uther died and that's when things fell apart, not just for Arthur and Camelot but for Merlin and Susanna as well. Merlin's attitude changed from warm and sweet to cold and callous; bordering on pure hatred it seemed.

There was no rhyme or reason for the change and all Susanna had hoped for was that he would snap out of it but Merlin didn't. What had started out as snide comments turned in to physical and verbal abuse and by the month's end Susanna was trying to avoid the young warlock all together.

It was the night of Samhain just before the banquet when Susanna had found out she was pregnant. She had been so excited and was desperate to tell Merlin but when she had seen him drop to the floor in shock, she had decided to wait for a better time. That time never came because Merlin had traveled with Arthur to the Isle of the Blessed to repair the veil. When they had gotten back it was discovered that Lancelot had given up his life to save Arthur's. After that Uthur died and things went downhill from there.

"Are you alright?"

Susanna stretched her neck a little before looking at the other lady in the cart. The lady was a little older than her but her face and hands were careworn and rough.

"Just…tired." Susanna replied, leaning back against the bars.

"I understand. A little one will do that to you." The lady said. "How did you know?" Susanna asked, sitting up a little to ease the pressure in her back.

"I'm a mother myself; a boy and a girl. I can tell." The lady said, smiling a little as she laid a hand on Susanna's stomach. "My name is Susanna." Susanna said, introducing herself.

"Tayia." The lady replied.

"How did you end up here?" Tayia asked. She rearranged herself a little which caused the chains on her arms to clink a little. The driver of the cart heard the noise and glanced back to make sure everyone was still secure.

"Shut up in there or I'll whip the lot of you!" He warned, whipping the horses that were driving the cart.

When the driver turned back around, Susanna scooted as close to Tayia as she could.

"I was kidnapped from my home by Darrit. He told me that someone I knew had sold me in to slavery and that there was nothing I could do about it. I remember Darrit hitting me with that whip his…next thing I know I'm waking up in this wagon." Susanna said.

Tayia glanced up at Darrit, the cart driver for a moment before returning her gaze to Susanna.

"Who do you think it was that sold you?" Tayia asked.

"I don't know…but I have my suspicions." Susanna replied.

Tayia slowly sat up a little, rubbing her sore shoulder for a moment before whispering, "Do you think it was the father of your child?"

Susanna didn't answer right away. She thought of Merlin and wondered if he had indeed sold her in to slavery. If she had been asked that question a year ago she would have said no without question but now…she knew Merlin was capable of it but if he actually did it or not…

"I don't know, there's no way I can find out either. Merlin is safe and sound back in Camelot and I'm here. I doubt he even knows I'm missing." Susanna whispered.

"Don't say that, I'm sure he does." Tayia replied, putting a hand on Susanna's knee.

"You don't know him like I do Tayia. Merlin is different. He used to be…the best person you could wish to meet but now…I don't even know him anymore." Susanna replied.

Suddenly the wagon came to a stop. Everyone inside the cage sat up and looked towards the iron door as Darrit opened it and climbed in.

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT KEEPING QUIET?" He roared, whip in hand. Angrily he brought down the whip on everyone and soon everyone was covered in red welts; some of them had even cut in to the skin which was now bleeding.

A lone horse rode up along side the wagon and the rider of the horse said, "Come now Darrit. We cannot have our prizes looking abused. They will be worth far less if they cannot work."

Darrit said and nodded his head. "Yes Jenson." Turning he went back out and secured the iron door behind him. Moments later he got the wagon moving again while everyone inside began to nurse their wounds.

As they passed by Camelot, it was the shadow of the city that made Susanna look up and study it. Slowly her eyes filled with tears as she imagined the life she once had.

Bowing her head she sat back down, drew her knees up and buried her face in between them even as Tayia scooted over and wrapped an arm around her thin shoulders.