Disclaimer: I do not own anything from King Arthur…sadly. Though I do know a few things I would like to own (cough, cough, Lancelot, cough, cough, Tristan)
AN: This is my first story so we'll see how it goes.
A young girl of fifteen sprinted as fast as her legs could carry her up the grassy slope, her chestnut brown hair the only thing distinguishable to any passerby. Finally reaching her destination, she skidded to a halt next to her brother and his best friend who were too entranced in the scene before them notice her flushed state. Gazing keenly at them for any sign of recognition she looked ahead towards the source of excitement. What she saw made her heart stop.
Roman cavalry.
Here.
"No!" was all she could muster. This brought her brother back to his senses. Without looking at her he whipped around and began to walk briskly towards their small hut, followed closely by the other two.
"Orianna, go and get father," he ordered, still refusing to look at his twin sister for fear of revealing the worry in his eyes.
"But Kay…" she began.
"Orianna, please!" Pausing in her mission to accompany her brother, Orianna stopped to peer at Tristan with a questioning look. He regarded her with sympathy before nodding and heading in the direction of his own hut. Taking one last look at her brother she ran off in the direction of the wheat field. Thane was bent down, his brow furrowed in concentration as he harvested the wheat with great effort. He was not as young as he used to be. Hearing the hurried footsteps that could belong to no one but his beloved daughter, he looked up with a warm smile on his face. Upon seeing Orianna's fearful expression however, he was immediately filled with dread.
"Orianna dear, what is it?" he questioned.
"Papa, they're here! The Romans; they've come for Kay!" she gasped, grabbing her father's arm and dragging him to their hut. As father and daughter reached home they were greeted by an emotional Aegus who collapsed into her husband's arms and began to weep uncontrollably.
"It isn't fair Thane. He's our only son!" she sobbed. It broke Orianna's heart to see her mother so emotional, but she needed to see her brother. Opening the tent flap she peered in to see Kay hunched over his lucky sack, packing as many clothes and weapons as he could fit. He looked up to see who had entered, and then resumed his task. Orianna sat on his cot and watched him silently for a while before finally gaining the courage to speak.
"So you're really going then?" she asked, not really desiring an answer, only to hear Kay's voice.
"Yep. You know, I've been waiting for this day since I was thirteen," he replied.
"How long do you think you'll be gone?"
"Dunno, few years I spose'." She noticed he was trying his best to remain calm. They sat there in silence for a few more minutes. Finally he finished, tying his sack and heaving it over his shoulder. Orianna stood up rather quickly and grabbed his hand, slipping something into it. Kay gazed upon the treasure. It was a celtic knot bloom necklace, a gift their father had brought home from his service so many years ago. Originally it had belonged to their mother, but she had passed it on to Orianna on her fifteenth birthday.
"For memory's sake," Orianna whispered, tears glistening in her big blue eyes.
"I could never forget you Ori," Kay exasperated before pulling his sister into a strong embrace. Though he was a mere few minutes older than her, Kay had taken the older brother position to heart since they were children. The thing that worried him most about leaving home was that he would not be around to protect his little sister. Pulling apart, he allowed Orianna to put the necklace on him before nodding in a reassuring manner and leaving the tent. Orianna followed behind closely, trying her best to be brave for her brother's sake.
Not being able to watch his exchange with their parents, she headed off towards the crowd of people that had gathered, in search of Tristan. Tristan and Kay had been best friends practically from birth, and as a result had become very close to Orianna. It was not the type of closeness that resulted in private exchanges of love behind Kay's back, but one of comfort ability with any situation. She would miss him as much as she would her brother. Orianna found him in the middle of the crowd next to his white mare, a beautiful creature given to him on his sixteenth birthday.
They greeted each other with a simple look before gazing ahead to wait for the cavalry to arrive. They were soon joined by Kay and their parents, who took to waiting nervously as well. Finally the Romans came into sight, and a group of four rode into the village. One particularly grandiose guard rode to the front, observing the bedraggled villagers with disdain.
"We have come for all your boys older than ten. Do not bother to resist; it will only lead to unnecessary deaths," he warned, glaring particularly at the older men in the group. Kay and Tristan both looked at their families and nodded before stepping forward with their steeds. The guard regarded them with an unidentifiable look before scanning the crowd expectantly. When no others stepped forward, lines appeared on his broad forehead as he became agitated.
"Where are the rest?" he demanded. Thane spoke up.
"We have no others. It has been a hard year," he responded, trying to sound as respectful as one is isn't can.
"No others? This is no where near the expected quota!" the guard huffed.
"Perhaps Rome should rethink their quota then," Tristan's father Blaire retorted. The guard looked at him dangerously but chose not to respond. Instead he gazed into the crowd once more until his eyes fell upon Orianna.
"You girl, how old are you?" he asked gruffly.
"I'm fifteen, sir" she answered, shocked at her own courage. The question led Thane to place his hands on his daughter's shoulders reassuringly.
"Then you will come with us," he ordered. The crowd turned into an uproar, various arguments and insults being shouted at the guards.
"She is a young girl! You cannot honestly expect her to join you and train as a knight!" Thane exclaimed.
"Not a knight, but a healer," the guard revealed.
"You cannot take her! She is my only other child!" Aegus declared.
"Either she comes with us, or your village will pay for it's defiance," the guard warned. Orianna could barely concentrate with all the talking that was going on. Without a single word, she made up her mind and ran to their hut. Grabbing her pack, she began to stuff it with various things as quickly as possible. It was not long before she was joined by her parents.
"Ori, what are you doing?" Thane asked fearfully.
"Papa, I have no choice. You heard the Roman. It's either me or the village. You cannot expect everyone to pay for my cowardice," Orianna replied, continuing to pack.
"But you will certainly be killed!" Aegus exclaimed.
"Mama, I am going to be a healer, not a fighter. You have naught to worry," Orianna assured. She looked to her father her was staring at her with a proud yet sad look. He nodded in understanding before leading the way out of the tent. Orianna followed him to where his prized black stallion Raaj was tethered. Raaj was young and wild, as free-spirited as Orianna Thane would often say. She looked to her father in disbelief, but her face broke into a huge smile when he held the reins out. Hugging him and her mother tightly she grabbed Raaj's reins and headed back to the crowd. Taking her place next to Tristan and Kay, Orianna ignored the incredulous looks she was getting from them and instead looked at the pompous guard expectantly. He merely nodded before trotting back to the assembled boys from other villages. The three newcomers mounted their steeds and glanced one last time at their families before following him.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Kay hissed.
"I'm doing what I have to do," Orianna responded.
"Why do you have to be so goddamn headstrong all the time," he muttered.
"Because I would not be me if I wasn't," she retorted, trotting ahead and ending all conversation.
Thoughts? Anyone, anyone? No? Anyone? (Tehee "Ferris Bueller")