Destiny arrives in Camelot
Chapter One
Sir Leon look around cautiously as he rode into the Forest of Escteir. King Arthur may have made peace with the Druids two years ago, but that didn't stop the knight from feeling as if he was about to be attacked at any moment. The trees loomed over Leon's head, pressing in, enclosing him. Was that movement in the trees? Was there an ambush ahea- No. Stop thinking these things Leon, he chided himself. You're just being paranoid. The Druids are a peaceful people. No one is going to attack you.
The forest darkened around him as night fell, and after a day or two of hard riding, Leon was looking forward to a good nights rest. He set about gathering branches and soon had a steady fire going, a rabbit roasting on a spit above it. After eating a meal of rabbit and bread, Leon fell asleep, lulled by the dimly glowing embers.
The little girl watched Leon settle down for the night, scared to come forward. She knew she had to get to Camelot as soon as possible, and that this knight was probably her best chance of getting there uninjured, but she was unsure of what his reaction would be to a small girl wandering around a Druid forest in the dead of night. She decided to try her luck in the morning and slipped silently away into the darkness.
The next day, Leon rose at dawn and quickly saddled his horse, dismantling his campsite. He was eager to be out of this eerie forest and back in Camelot with his friends. Next time, he thought to himself, next time I'll take the longer route to Rojan, even if it means adding a week to my travel time. I can't wait to be out of this blasted forest.
As Leon reached the edge of the forest, he heard the crack of twigs snapping in the bushes to his left and dismounted, drawing his sword.
'Who's there?' he demanded 'Show yourself!'
A little girl stumbled out of the dense undergrowth and collapsed at his feet. Leon frowned, troubled, as he scooped her up with one arm and kept his sword in the ready position with the other hand. What on earth was a child doing alone in the wood? Where were her parents?
Looking down at the unconscious girl in his arms, Leon did a double-take. Her dirty white shift was soaked in blood, and the red liquid was smeared all over her face and hands. Disturbed beyond belief, Leon sheathed his sword and swung onto his hose's back, nestling the tiny girl between him and the neck of his horse. She stirred weakly as he started galloping back to Camelot, wanting to get her to Gaius's capable hands. She obviously needed medical attention from the amount of blood covering her tiny frame.
Virtual cookies for anyone who reviews! This is my first posted fanfiction, so if you dislike it, please tell me why instead of shooting it down. Constructive criticism guys, not just plain old criticism!