The Mission Part I: First Sight

Their mission was to force the Celt force (Woads) back across the wall into the north where they belonged. No one knew why such a force had been brought down, but they were attacking Romans, massacring Roman troops, and it needed to stop. Who better than Arthur and his knights. They make their way farther south to try to catch up to the Woads. It took them two days before they even came close to them.

Tristan came riding up the trail. "Arthur, they've been split, into two fleets, one went East and the other West, they know we're following them."

"So the fleet we've been following has been a device, to lure us away from the others?"

Tristan nodded. "They're waiting on the other side of the hills."

"How many?"

"A hundred, give or take."

"Any sign of the other fleet?"

"No, but I could hear the drums from the hill, they're on the move."

"Did they see you?"

"No."

"That gives us an advantage."

They kept riding until they reached the hills then they camped there for the night. they spent the night coming up with a battle plan. They weren't worried, there were eight of them (Arthur, Lancelot, Tristan, Bors, Dagonet, Gawain, Galahad and Bowen), that was only about 12 for each of them which wasn't much to them. the next morning they got up before dawn while it was still dark and snuck up to the top of the hill looking down at the Woads. They shot down arrows on the unexpecting Woads killing many of them in their sleep. Once they were out of arrows they rode down the hill for battle. There weren't many left so it was a quick battle, which was the goal, they didn't have time to fight, they needed to catch up to the other fleet.

Arthur found the leader of the fleet but didn't kill him. He disarmed him and then took him and regrouped with his knights. Arthur had a hold of him by the back of his armor and had his sword across his throat.

"Now, the only thing keeping you alive is usefulness, so either you help or you die."

"Help how?"

"Where are the others going?"

"We're not sure."

Arthur pressed his sword against his throat harder.

"I'm not lying to you."

"Why did Merlin send you south of the wall?"

"He didn't."

"Who did?"

"The man leading us, his name is Maccus."

"What is your mission?"

"I don't know."

Arthur was getting frustrated and he didn't help so he sliced his throat and let him fall to the ground.

"I guess we have to keep tracking them and try to catch up to them before they massacre more Roman troops."

They headed West with Arthur and Tristan up front.

After a few hours of riding they were caught by surprise when from their left came a rider, it was a young woman and she was riding fast. They were up on a slope and she was down below riding in the same direction they were. Arthur raised his hand then let it down telling them to charge after her, so the chase was on. They all rode down the slope and went after her. They figured she was a Woad so Arthur's intent was catching her to question her since she was probably a part of the fleet. She didn't see them at first but when she looked back again and saw them she stopped and turned around. They were surprised to see her turn and ride towards them so Arthur held his hand up to stop them. they were even more surprised when they saw that she didn't look like a Woad, she looked like a Sarmatian woman.

"Who are you and why are you following me?"

"I am Arthur, and these are my knights."

"From the great wall?"

"Yes."

"You are a Roman."

"I am."

She drew her sword and pointed it at him which provoked all the men to draw theirs.

"Lady, are you daring enough to try to kill me with all my men here?"

"I don't like Romans, they are the ones chasing me."

"You are being chased?"

"I was. They have my sister, and they were trying to capture me as well."

"Your sister? Why?"

"I cannot trust you, you'll be obligated to kill me if I tell you."

"She is a Woad." Tristan stated.

"Not entirely."

"Come again?" Arthur asked.

"Like you Arthur, if you really are he, I am only half Celt, my father is a Sarmatian knight."

"Do you know why there is a fleet of Woads heading west?"

"I do. The same reason I am here… to retrieve my sister."

"That is why they are killing Romans, because it was Romans who took her?"

"It is, and it is why they have no absolute direction, they do not know where to go because they don't know which Roman commander took her, so they kill whomever they come across."

Arthur looked back at his men thinking then turned back to her. "Our mission is to either find some way to force them back across the wall or to kill them…if we help retrieve your sister, would they go peacefully?"

"I cannot tell you yes or no, but it is a definite possibility."

"we still have to catch them, before they kill again." Lancelot stated.

"They will be camping soon, and the only Romans remotely nearby are the ones who have my sister, and they are back that way, Maccus is going the wrong way."

"How can we trust you?" Lancelot asked.

"You (pointing at Arthur) may be a Roman, but you are all Sarmatian knights, like my father. I would never do anything against a knight. You have my word."

"That will suffice, but betray us – "

"I won't." she stated then started riding back the way they came from.

"Arthur." Lancelot said to protest. "Even if we can trust her, that doesn't mean we can trust her sister."

"Lancelot, would you rather kill the fleet of unknown size and strength, which we haven't been able to catch or take one woman from Romans?"

He didn't answer just glared.

Arthur started riding again catching up to the woman and then after a pause the men followed.

"Lady, what is your name?" Arthur asked once he caught up and was riding beside her.

"Brienna."

"And your father? Maybe I know him."

"Niallan."

"Niallan…" he said the name to himself thinking. "I believe that is the name of one of the knights who fought for my father."

"It is, that would be my father."

"I do know him then, I have not seen him in many years but I met him once when I was a boy."

They stopped when they heard yelling then started riding faster towards it. They had rode past the clearing where they first saw Brienna and were back on the trail with Arthur in the lead and Brienna and Lancelot right behind him. There were gaps between some of them and she came out of the woods onto the trail and once she hit the trail she took a sharp turn but was caught by surprise when one of them rode right by her after almost hitting her which scared the horse and it was Gawain who fell off his horse as it went up on its hind legs. Tristan and Galahad were behind him and they stopped before they ran into her. the others who were in front of them stopped after hearing Gawain's horse panic and turned to see Gawain on the ground and a young woman behind him. she drew her sword and pointed up at Tristan and Galahad.

"Move."

They didn't say anything and they didn't do anything, just sat there on their horses.

"Move!" she said more forcefully almost in a yell.

"Keena!" Brienna said loudly excited to see her sister as she ran over.

Keena pulled a dagger and turned half way pointing it at her sister keeping her sword pointed at the men.

"Keena, it's me."

After a pause she flipped her dagger in her hand and then put it away. Gawain had gotten up, calmed his horse down and gotten back on, and the others had come over. Keena, unlike her sister looked like a Woad, she wore the leather pants and top that a female would wear in battle and she had the markings, but she had some Sarmatian markings too.

"Who are you?"

"Keena, it's alright, they're knights."

"He's a Roman." She said putting her sword in the other hand and pointing it at Arthur.

"I am Arthur."

She just snickered but stopped when she saw that all of their faces were completely serious. "You really are Arthur?"

"Yes I am."

"Brienna what is this?"

"They're helping me to save you."

"Why would you do such a thing? You hate and kill my people."

"Yes and your people are on the wrong side of the wall looking for you, we want them back where they belong."

She lowered her sword and sheathed it. "Look, I don't exactly have time to talk so I have to take your word and trust you considering my sister does. Brienna give me my horse."

"You noticed." She mumbled as she turned and walked towards the horse she was riding and then brought it over.

"Of course I noticed." Keena said taking the reins from her. "I'll lead them away…get my sister out of here."

"Keena, don't."

"You need to come with us."

"I will, once I deal with them, just tell me where to meet you."

"Keena, please just come with us now."

"No. Hurry, they're almost here." She kicked the horse and went around Tristan and Galahad.

"Keena!"

"Meet me at the cliff." She yelled back as she kept going.

"We're not really going to leave her to fight them by herself are we?"

Arthur looked at all his men. "Tristan, ride ahead and see how many there are."

Tristan turned his horse around and was off.

"Lady." Arthur said to get her attention.

"Brienna."

"Brienna, we will go retrieve your sister, hopefully before she kills any Romans."

"Or they kill her." Lancelot.

"My sister may be a woman but she is a better fighter than most men, so I would warn you do not insult her in such ways. It may get you hurt."

Lancelot just laughed.

"You'll see…I hope my sister knocks you on your ass."

They all looked at each other trying not to laugh.

"As I was saying, you should go to the cliff and wait for us while we go after your sister."

"No, I am not leaving her."

"We don't have any more horses, you'll be left behind."

"Arthur we don't have time to argue, if we're going to help the woman let's go already." Lancelot said.

Arthur nodded and then they took off. Brienna just huffed and took off on foot into the woods.