Allies Of Albion
Chapter 1
Warm rays of sunlight slowly sank into the beginnings of a sunset, dappling the forest road. A group of five riders trotted easily along the road. At the head of the group was a knight with brown slightly curly hair, blue eyes, and well chiseled features. He sat proudly on his massive blue roan charger with a loose grip on the reins, the horse trotting steadily and obediently with his neck slightly arched. Just behind the shoulder of the charger was a finely built liver chestnut mare carrying a young woman. She had long waist length raven black hair that fell in a raven wave down her back, her peridot green eyes watching the knight and the road. The knight suddenly jerked roughly on the straps of the pack attached to his back.
"Cahir! Be gentle with them!" the woman admonished.
"You would be doing the same Aislin if you had these stupid bats squeaking in your ear for the past hour!" Cahir growled.
"I would not, not when I know who they would be complaining to." Aislin said smugly. Cahir turned and glared at Aislin.
"If you were not my cousin and it was not my duty to protect you I would have thrown my gauntlet down and dueled you." Cahir growled. Sunlight glinted off the golden circlet that glinted in the sunlight which in turn glinted off the circlet that rested on Aislin's brow.
Both youth were members of a royal family who had received summons from Camelot. King Arthur had heard of the powerful kingdom and had immediately sought an alliance with them. Resulting in Aislin being sent as she was the next in line for her families thrown. Cahir was her cousin and the champion knight of their realm and was sent as her protector. The three others were pages carrying their bags.
"And if you had, Eiros here would have bitten off your arm." Aislin said with a smile. Patting the glossy neck of her mare, who snorted in agreement. Cahir grumbled and turned his gaze back to the road. Aislin smiled as they fell back into silence. It had not been more than five minutes when Cahir's charger halted and stamped a large hoof harshly into the dirt.
"What's going on?" Aislin asked softly.
"Something's bothering Beynon." Cahir said hand going for his sword. Beynon suddenly reared back on his hind legs, whirling around to place his bulk in front of Eiros' flanks as a group of ratty bandits jumped out of the brush. Startled by the massive horse they had not time to defend themselves from the swift strokes of Cahir's sword. Screaming the bandits made to bolt back into the trees as Cahir continued to cut through them, only to be intercepted by a group of knights in brilliant red cloaks.
In the space of five minutes the bandits were dispatched and Cahir was cleaning his sword. A knight with curly blond hair rode up to him, he appeared casual but Cahir could see how guarded he was.
"That was an impressive display of reflexes and swordsmanship." The knight said.
"Thank you, though I really can't take credit for the reflexes. It was my horse who sensed the bandits first." Cahir said modestly. The knight gave him a curious look and Cahir gestured to Beynon, the blue roan was busily dragging an unconscious man by his coat over to the knights in red.
"That is, an interesting horse." The knight said slowly.
"That, my friend, is putting it mildly." Cahir said with a smirk.
"May I ask where it is that you are traveling to? There are many bandits and brigands in these woods and I would hate for them to give you more grief."
"We are traveling to Camelot, to sign a treaty with King Arthur." Aislin said riding up on Eiros. Cahir glared at his cousin, how many times had they been lectured on not talking to strange knights?
"Are you the lady Aislin?" the knight asked his eyes widening.
"Yes, I am Aislin of Eira and this is my cousin, Sir Cahir of Eira." Aislin replied sitting primly and looking every inch a noble woman. The knight bowed from where he sat on his horse and Cahir noticed that the knight visibly relaxed.
"My apologies if I was rude Milady, I am Sir Leon of Camelot. One of King Arthur's knights, I ask that you allow us to escort you the rest of the way to the castle it is but an hours ride the way we came." Leon explained. Cahir was about to tell the older knight that he was escort enough for his cousin when she cut him off.
"Thank you Sir Leon, we would be most grateful for your assistance." She gave him a kind smile and shot Cahir a warning look. Cahir growled as Beynon ambled over to him.
"Next thing you know I am going to be beating the knights off of her with a lance." He told the horse. Beynon bobbed his head in agreement as Cahir climbed into the saddle. Leon barked out a few orders and soon they were loping towards the stone walls of Camelot.
Shod hooves struck a rapid staccato on the stone as the horses trotted into the citadel. Aislin had to fight down a smile as pages came scrambling to take the bridles of the horses and help the riders down. For some reason the sight always amused her, especially since her own horse tended to be overly friendly and Cahir's was grumpy. Eiros proved this by rubbing her forehead happily on a pages shoulder, while Beynon pinned his ears at the one holding his bridle.
"Oh lighten up cousin, you look as ill-tempered as your horse!" Aislin laughed.
"We were managing just fine without the knights. I don't see why they had to join us." Cahir muttered loud enough for her to hear.
"It is called being polite." She said as if it was obvious.
"And you could have politely turned them down." Cahir retorted.
"Oh stop being such a child! How do you think that would have looked to the king? We are here to make an alliance not an enemy." Aislin chided.
"Well you are not making my job any easier. I am supposed to protect you. How am I going to protect you from trouble, when I am too busy beating knights off of you?" Cahir asked in a surly tone. Aislin rolled her eyes and turned to face the stone steps of Camelot. A regal looking young man, not much older than herself, was striding towards her. The crown on his head and regal baring was enough to tell her that this was King Arthur.
"Welcome Lady Aislin, I trust your travels went well?" Arthur asked kindly.
"Yes My Lord, the only trouble we encountered was a small group of bandits an hour from here but my cousin and your knights made short work of them." Aislin replied.
"The boy has some fine skill with a blade your majesty, I would like to request a training session later this week with him." Leon praised with a smile at Cahir. As much as being called a boy rubbed him the wrong way, Cahir could not help but smile at the praise from the older knight.
"I'd be happy to train with you Sir Leon. The ride here was quite boring and I am itching to stretch my muscles." Cahir said with a cheeky smile. Aislin rolled her eyes and vowed to beat him later.
"I have a feeling that we are going to get along famously." Arthur said with a smile, "Merlin! Help carry the ladies things to her chambers, and this time, try not to drop anything!" A tall young man with pale skin and black hair trotted over to Aislin's horse. He threw a look at Arthur before retrieving the bags.
"If you will follow me Milady, I will show you to your chambers." Merlin said politely. Aislin smiled and nodded falling into step behind the young man. She could feel the hum of his magic as they walked and she gave Cahir a meaningful look as she passed him.
After getting settled Aislin sat on her bed and waited, she did not wait long before Cahir slipped inside.
"What is it now?" he asked.
"There is a ban on magic here right?" Aislin asked slowly.
"Yes, that is kind of why we are here without Her remember? Or has Sir Leon occupied your thoughts?" Cahir quipped. Aislin threw a pillow at him in a huff.
"No you idiot! He's too old for me! And I asked because King Arthur's manservant, Merlin, has magic." Aislin hissed. Cahir froze and stared at her wide eyed.
"Tell me you are joking." He whispered. Aislin glared at him, "Oh great, and here I was hoping for a bit of a vacation from sorcerers."
"He's no sorcerer, his magic is too, alive. Like Her's, its old and powerful." Aislin said tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Great, a warlock. Holy bat wings! He's a warlock!" Cahir exclaimed.
"And right under the Kings nose!" Aislin crowed.
"Maybe this could work in our favor, if we make it look like we are trying to get on the king's good side." Cahir said trailing off.
"When we are really trying to get on Merlin's." Aislin said her eyes glittering
"Then the treaty will be sure to go through!" Cahir said happily. He embraced his cousin as they laughed, their chances of success shining brightly.
"Now all we have to do is keep our magic from the King." Aislin said with a mischievous smile.
"Pff, if a Warlock can hide in plain sight of him for all these years, I think we can manage for two weeks." Cahir rolled his eyes. Aislin laughed and bid her cousin good night.