***The story had been updated again as of 7/1/2017***

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Chapter: Volunteer

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…..15 Years Ago: …..

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When they had arrived, there were no more young boys of the age to offer from the small village.

The Romans rode on horses in the direction of the small village. Their horses created a vibration across the land around the small village. The hooves of the horses got louder and louder as they drew closer to the small village located nearby the Black Sea where the villagers had to make half mile trips to get their livestock from sea.

The small village became quiet. Villagers froze in their spots when they saw the Romans coming for a certain reason. The reason was to take one Sarmatian child, a boy to be exact.

The Romans took one Sarmatian child, specifically a boy because of an incident years ago that involved the Romans and the Sarmatian. The two fought one another and in the end, only the Sarmatian cavalry stood. The Romans had spared their lives due to being impressed by the cavalries abilities during battle. However, there was a price. The Romans will take a Sarmatian boy when the time came. The child will then serve under the Roman military for fifteen years.

It was only boys that were taken and this small village had a slight problem. They had no young boys to give up. The only boy was a one month old baby. The rest of the village were mostly middle age or older people, except a teenager girl by the name of Anastasia.

Anastasia was the gem of the village. She was known to speak the latin language due to her father who served as a Samaritan knight under the Romans. She was known to help the villagers or brighten the day with a smile. Anastasia was a polite, but she did have a fierce side. She was strong physically and emotionally. Turning sixteen in age a few days ago, she had an odd feeling that something was going to change.

The group of Romans entered the center of the small village, staying on top of their horses. They requested for the leader of the village, which the eldest man stepped forward. The elder told the Romans that they did not have a boy to offer for them. That was not something they wanted to hear, especially traveling this far. The elder kept trying to tell the Romans they have nothing to offer, but that did not stop the Romans to scan the crowd until their eyes set on the woman holding her baby boy.

"Then we'll take the one month old and raise him!"

The mother gasped and clenched her baby against her chest. The baby began to cry as if sensing his mother's distress. A few Romans got off their horses to make way toward the crying mother.

"Enough!"

The attention was drawn to Anastasia as she stepped forward with a blank expression. Her fists clenched on her sides as she stared at the Roman leader with narrowed eyes.

"I volunteer to take the spot. I am of age and I can fight. I am also the best rider here." Anastasia said, holding her head high.

Away from the villagers that surrounded the Romans, Anastasia's father Rex held his breath. He did not want his daughter to leave, especially what she was volunteering for. But Rex knew that his daughter did not tolerate the way the Romans were going to take the one month old baby. Rex knew that Anastasia was the best rider here and her eyes were as sharp as a hawk when it came to throwing knives and shooting arrows.

"You girl?"

"Yes, me. I am the only one here that is of age and physically fit enough to go. Take me instead of the baby. I'm offering." Anastasia said, taking a step toward the Roman leader of the group.

The Roman leader sat tall on his horse as he continue to stare down at Anastasia. His face showed that he was processing her offer in his head. Her actions as not common, especially the opposite sex.

The leader glanced over his shoulder at his comrades who shrugged their shoulders as they did not know what else to do. A few had an impress gleam in their eyes for the girl's bravery sacrifice in volunteering.

"Get your horse and things. We leave now." He said once he faced her.

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Anastasia made her way back to her father's and her hut. She felt as if a sheet of snow crashed down on her body as she realized what she volunteer to do; to fight under the Roman military. She knew that the baby wouldn't survive the trip with the Roman soldiers and they wouldn't care either.

When Anastasia entered the hut with her father entering behind her. She turned to face him and saw that his face was hardened, but his eyes held sadness yet a hint of proudness in them. It was painful for him to see that she did what she did being his only family member.

As she packed her traveling bag, her father gave her a few of his throwing daggers mixed in with her own throwing knives. He gave her a bow that he and she made together with a pouch of arrows. The whole time they packed her items in silence.

Outside, Rex held her horse, Links as she pulled herself up onto the saddle. He tied up her pack on the saddle and handed her the reins. She stared down at her father with her sea foam green color eyes.

"Anastasia."

"Yes, father?" Anastasia stared at him.

"Stay strong. Never surrender to anything. Keep your eyes clear and aim true." He told her, waving for her to bend down to her so he could lay a kiss on her forehead.

Anastasia gave her a nod to her father and gave him a tiny grin. She turned forward in her saddle and directed Links toward the waiting Romans. She could feel the tears building up in her eyes as she villagers stood around to watch her leave behind her homeland and family.

"See you later, father." Anastasia said, staring at her father as he stood in front of the villagers to watch her go.

"Yes, I will see you later, Anastasia." He reassured her.

"Let's go." The Roman Leader yelled, turning his horse away from the village and he took off with his comrades following after him.

Anastasia tapped Links sides causing the black stallion to burst forward with energy. They easily caught up with the Roman horses with no problem.

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….. Months Later: …..

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The trip was long and harsh.

Most of the trip Anastasia kept her distance from the Romans, especially when half of them got sick and were throwing up everywhere. Anastasia knew that they weren't used to the Sarmatia climates.

When the temperature got warm until it became hot, Anastasia reminded them to keep drinking their waters or else they will pass out from dehydration and fall off their horses.

Through the months, the Roman leader, Leon kept Anastasia upfront with him after they kept having reasonable conversations. Anastasia came to realize that Leon was not as harsh as he presented himself back at her village. He kept up the harsh image so that others do not walk all over him.

"You will be sent to the Hadrian's Wall. There you will be training with other Sarmatian boys."

"They will have a fun time with me. They will pick on me because I am a girl." Anastasia muttered, glaring ahead with her hands tightening on the reins.

"Don't doubt yourself. Back in your village, when you had stepped up for that baby, I was amazed at your bravery. No one would willingly volunteer to offer themselves up to join the other Sarmatian and their duty to serve, especially a woman. You're a brave young woman, Anastasia. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Leon assured with a smirk.

"I will keep your words in mind." Anastasia grinned at him.

"Good. Now, how about we pick up the pace. I can't stand going slow anymore." Leon said, glancing back at the others to shout that they were moving faster.

The trip continued to be one that was long and drag out. There were complainants that went around or the occasional jokes and insults thrown at one another. It was their way to keep themselves entertained. The end of their horseback riding trip came to an end as they got onto a boat to cross the water to enter into Roman Briton, south of the Hadrian walls.

Once they were on the boat, the trip became faster. Traveling by the water was quicker than by the land. They soon were off the boat and back on land.

Nervousness began to settle in Anastasia as she realized that they were getting closer and closer to Hadrian wall. She will meet the other Sarmatian knights that she will be stuck with for the next fifteen years.

They rode through the trails that cut through the woods. Soon, they came out of the woods where their eyes came to rest on the Hadrian walls. A dirt trail led right up through the grassy field and along the wall to one of the few gates that were built in the stone wall. Parts of the grassy field contained huts where a few residents stood outside to watch the Romans and Anastasia ride on by. The large wooden gate open up to allow them inside the walls.

Anastasia could not help but be in awe at what was inside the walls. Many buildings with people standing around. She never saw so many people before. Many of these people stopped to stare as the Romans and Anastasia rode through the place.

They rode until they came up to a castle structure that had a Roman architecture taste to it. The castle courtyard had a group of boys that stood around when the Romans and Anastasia rode in.

"Where is Artorius Castus?" Leon requested, staring at the teenage boys.

"Here."

A teenager appeared who looked to be a few years older than the rest of the teenage boys. He wore Roman armor, his curly hair was a dark brown color, and his eyes were a beautiful green that were sharp with authority.

"We are here to drop off another Sarmatian knight. However, the village didn't have a boy, thus…" Leon paused as he gestured toward Anastasia.

Anastasia slid off Links's saddle to stand beside Leon who had slid off his horse. The others Sarmatian boys stared at Anastasia with disbelief as they could not believe what they all heard. Artorius went wide eyes as he did not think this was possible. His face changed back to seriousness. His eyes came to rest on Anastasia, which she gladly stared back at him with narrowed eyes.

"A girl? This cannot be." Artorius said, looking back at Leon.

"Well it happened. This is Anastasia. She is, well, she is an excellent rider. Better than my men and me. Her knowledge of the land was skillful like a scout. She is a skillful fighter." Leon explained, clasping his hands behind his back and staring at Artorius to challenge his words.

Anastasia continued to keep her eyes on Artorius. She did not want to glance at the other Sarmatian knights as they could not believe a girl might be joining their ranks. She watched as Artorius took a brief glance at her and then his attention back on Leon.

"If that is the case, then she is to stay. She just needs to know that she will not be treated any differently than the others." Artorius stated firmly.

Leon turned to face her causing Anastasia to stare up at him. He rested his right hand on her shoulder and he bent his head down to rest his mouth near her ear.

"Do not hold anything back from them. Drop the nice act and show them who the courageous one is. Don't bow down to their whims and don't try to do what they like in order for them to like you. Be you and show them why you are a Sarmatian knight." Leon told her, patting her on the shoulder as he stood back up to walk over to his horse.

Anastasia kept her eyes on Artorius who came to walk up to her. She kept her face forward even as Artorius began to walk around her in a slow manner, eyeing her up and down. She could feel the other Sarmatian knights watching with amusement. There were a few that were jabbing each other, whispering bets to each other about how she will do as a knight.

"What I told Leon about not treating you any different from my men, I meant it."

The advice that Leon gave to Anastasia moments ago, Anastasia will not see herself as inferior because she was a woman. She will be equal to others, especially these men. She will not hold back and she will prove that women were just as better.

"Trust me, you don't need to tell me twice. I understood you the first time and I expect nothing else other than being treated equally like everyone else here, Artorius." Anastasia assured, staring straight into his eyes without blinking.

Her comment caused a few of the Sarmatian knights to snort in amusement. One of them even let out a dry impressed whistle before snickering.

A grin appeared on Artorius lips. Anastasia became a little confused about his sudden change in emotions. It was very sudden. The way he went from seriousness to politeness toward her.

"You and I will get along just fine. Please call me Arthur for now on." Arthur held out his right hand.

When Anastasia reached out to shake his hand, the other Sarmatian knights came walking over to introduce themselves since she will be joining them for the next fifteen years.

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Hi Everyone,

***The story had been updated again as of 7/1/2017***

Disclaimer for this chapter and the future chapters: I don't own anything about the King Arthur movie Series and such. What I do own is my original characters, Anastasia, Rex, Links (the horse).

Thank you!