Where Angels Sigh
Imagine Oceans of grass as far as the eye could see. The soft thuds of a light rain falling on the grass and everything that was in its path. The sun high up in the gloomy sky trying it's best to warm the land. A small girl standing by her mare, getting soak with each drop of rain that landed on them. I was that little girl, and this is my tale.
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I was 14 at the time the Romans came to collect the next batch of Sarmatian Knights to take to Hadriens Wall. My tribe was the last to have their boys collected to become knights as they had for years before. My mother was dead and my Father ill; I had no brothers or sisters so my father was disappointed with my birth for he wanted a son. I started acting as a boy as much as I could for my father, but every time when he tried to smile it game out as a grimace.
During the night before the Romans arrived I packed up the necessities for the journey on my mare. I cut my hair short and bound my chest so I looked more boyish. As I laid down to sleep I wondered if my guise would work. Soon sleep came unexpectedly, it seemed I awoke as soon as I fell asleep. Sighing contently as I slipped out of bed and out to tack up my mare. Just as I reached her, I heard the Villagers shout that the Romans were here. I roughly tacked the horse up, promising her that I'd rub her down when we stopped to make camp.
Vaulting onto the mare I rode amongst the Arriving Romans and Sarmatian boys as if I were from a different tribe so no one would recognize me. As we turned to leave a little girl came rushing towards a boy calling, "Lancelot! Lancelot!" I looked over to see what she had given him and snickered at his expression. She gave him an extremely hard loaf of bread and exclaimed, "I made it myself! I put worms and some dirt so the worms can make the bread healthy!" Lancelot stared at his sister in dismay and horror.
"Worms? Dirt?" He mumbled, horrified by his little sister.
"Yeah! Here eat it right now!"
Lancelot looked at the bread in disbelief. Not wanting to hurt his sisters feelings he took a big bite out of it and chewed. As soon as he swallowed he retched it up, which made everyone laugh at his reaction, even the hard Romans.
Lancelot told his sister that he would finish the rest later because he was not hungry and watch as she bounded away happily.
About five months later we reached Hadriens Wall and were all introduced to our Commander, Arthur Castus. He started asking us our names. A somewhat burly man with gentle eyes answered first, "Dagonet" Then the man next to him who was about the same size as Dagonet but a bit more plump answered, "Bors". Then there was the one with the dark curls and a charming smirk, "Lancelot". He then turned towards me to have me introduce myself. Not having thought up a name I used my real name, "Kierah..er..my father wanted a daughter so he gave me girls.. name..". That sent the knights into gales of laughter. "What kind of father names his son with a girl's name?" Bors yelled, out hardly bothering to control his laughter. Lancelot just smirked and shook his head, while the shy one, Galahad, was leaning on his cousin, Gawain. After a few minutes they quieted down except a few snickers.
Arthur then looked at the silent one with the tattoos on his cheek bone, "and you?" Arthur said rather impatiently, wanting to get on with the introductions. "Tristan." He mumbled. I looked over at him curiously and offered him a smile, but he just gave me an impassive look and nodded. The remaining knights introduced themselves as: Aaron, Cidael, and Marcus.
After being served dinner we were shown to our quarters and most of us headed to the tavern, except for Tristan and me. I put on a thick tunic and breeches and unbound my chest with relief. I quickly slipped on my boots and grabbed a cloak and secured it in place. Just as I slipped out of my room I came face to face with the scout, Tristan. He glared at me like I was some idiot. After an uncomfortable, silent moment he grumbled out a response, "You know, if you're going to fake being a boy.. At least be more careful about your looks." I stared at him, stupefied. "Wha- ho- how did you know?" I snapped at him.
He just stared back, impassively of course, and sighed, "You really aren't too bright" he said nodding at my chest. "Your features give you away."
Damn, how I hated how observant he is. I just smacked him and stormed back into my room, and buried my face into my pillow. How could I be so careless! Argh! That man pisses me off! After a while of thinking I dozed off.
The next morning I skipped breakfast and went to the stables and started grooming my mare. I contemplated about what Tristan had said last night. Damn how I just wanted to kill that bastard!