Disclaimer:
Just to reiterate the fact that I own nothing of 'King Arthur' (sighs)
So if you want to sue me over this story, all you are going to get is my collection of Porcelain Dolls!
Hope you all enjoy!!
"Prologue"
I was sore and tired, but it was still another hour before home was even close. I turned to my left at the sound of the muddy grass being squished by hooves, and smiled as the man next to me came into full view.
"Another hour or so and we'll be free men……and women" he smirked at me, "I'm not sure how I'm going to go adjusting to 'normal' life, what about you Pax?" he asked.
I stopped for a moment and thought about it, what was normal for me anyway. I was a 25 yr-old women who had the capability of outsmarting most men in combat, not a skill often retained by women, but found it hard to retain any of my life before the age of 10.
"I'm not sure!" I replied as we continued, joining the rest of the men who were grumbling about having to wait so long for there dismissal papers.
"Who is this Bishop guy anyway?" whined Galahad, "Why couldn't Rome just send the papers on their own!"
"And how would they get here…fly?!" teased Gawain "Someone needs to carry them so would you just stop your whining and hurry up, the sooner we find them the sooner we can get back!"
I laughed at the bickering between the two, Lancelot chuckled to himself and Bors just pulled a face at Galahad.
I reflected back on my previous conversation with Lancelot, and my mind wandered back to the thoughts of what freedom would be like, could I go back to Keralaputra (the original name for Kerala). That is where Aurelius & Mira lived now, and maybe I could find out if the portal was still open in Keralaputra and go back to 2008.
But that wouldn't be any good, as I didn't have anything to really go back to, with my family no longer alive, the only thing that I clearly remembered from my past, there was nothing pulling me to go back. And I had a family as good as any right here, the only problem was that they would all most likely go back to Sarmatia when they were given their freedom.
I was brought out of my reverie by Arthur saying that he could see a carriage up ahead. We all stopped, I took a moment to look at my fellow knights: Dagonet, Bors, Gawain, Galahad, Tristan and of course Arthur & Lancelot right out in front. It had been hard to fit in at first as I was not only the youngest but also the only girl. But in the last 10 years that we have been fighting alongside each other, we have formed a bond stronger than any.
As we all slow to a stop, my thoughts wander to my past again. I have started writing down the past as I remember it, even though it can be difficult, and have almost finished what I believe is most of my life before I came here.
Not that my life in those times was more exciting, I find that if I could I would most likely erase all memories from before my transportation, but unfortunately it cannot be done, so now I just try to focus on my future.
Fortunately, the only ones who know of my genuine past are those who I would consider my family, and have never uttered a word to anyone about. Mira & Aurelius practically raised me, so they know exactly what someone finding out would do to me, and the men , well I think their reasons are a mixture of honor, respect, love and the knowledge that I would not hesitate in severely injuring anyone of them if they ever broke my trust.
Suddenly Peyton, my horse, whinnies and my attention is brought to the fact that the carriage we are supposed to be watching is under attack by Woads. Although I do not blame them for trying to take back their land, for it is my land too, and I can understand them wanting to hold onto it, they do tend to make a mess when they attack, making a problem for us as we all tire of the never ending barrage between our men and the natives.
Here we go again I think as we charge forward, there is no way any of us wish to stay knights bound by law forever, and even though my 10 years is a lot less than the men's 15, I still want to be dismissed from my service. As I draw my curved Indian blade from behind my back, I can't help but think that this maybe the last time we will fight together, it is a sad yet joyous thought that I welcome for I well know that anytime we spend together in the future will be as friends and not just as comrades!
I swing my long blade and it slices through the back of a Woad making him collapse face first on the moist grass, getting close enough I dismount quickly and remove my dagger which is concealed at my waist. It has to be my favorite weapon, it was given me by Mira, it has a short but very sharp 25cm blade and when I pull back on the small trigger built into its handle two sharp 10cm blades are revealed on either side. I move swiftly darting in between Woads and my fellow men, even though I am fatigued I feel a shot of adrenaline rush through my body as I fight against what we call the 'blue demons'. I notice Lancelot has also dismounted, like me I can tell he moves better with two feet on the ground than riding on his horse. Bors and Dag have also dismounted they run around like madman dropping Woads left, right & centre!
I see Tristan looking at me and go over to help him out. He and I have similar fighting tactics, having a natural knack for ending lives, we both have curved swords, only instead of his being blade crafted in India, it was in the northern regions closer to Asia. We stand back to back and with absolute grace and precision dispose of our opponents without even looking. Once we have posed a serious dent in there warriors they start to head more towards the Roman soldiers, who, pardon my French, don't know their sword from the arse!
Lancelot, as usual is flying through men like an animal, he only believes in what he can see, or touch, or in most cases kill! This leading to his devouring of pretty much anything that crosses his path! Like me he is also ambidextrous, and can use both his hands to his defense, only instead of a sword and a dagger, he has twin blades, both completely identical, and they can cut through anything!
Dag and Gawain are axe wielders by trade, and tend to do a lot of decapitating with large lethal swings, whilst Arthur accomplishes similar results with his trusty sword, Excalibur.
Bors is also racking up a decent body count, using his hand held blades that fit into his fists and run along the outside of his arms. Galahad, even though he is a gifted fighter, doesn't like battling and tends to fight usually for protection. I have talked to him before about his disdain for fighting, he says that is all just a means to an end, and that when his commission is through he will put it all far behind him, he also understands why the Woads wouldn't want their homeland taken from them and so to doesn't like the idea of massacring them!
I look around an notice that everything seems to be going smoothly except, "LANCELOT, BEHIND YOU!" I yell, he turns and strikes down the Woad that was trying to creep up on him. Once finished he looks back at me and smirks, "Since when do I need help from you, did you think I could honestly not hear him?!" I look at him with annoyance "I was just helping!" I shoot back "Besides you try and help me, even when you're not invited why should it be any different with you!" I say with a fake glare.
Our attention is drawn to Bors who is yelling at the trees, challenging more Woads to come out! Gawain holds his sword to a Woad who stupidly charges for him anyway. Then what looks to be a leader runs at Arthur, we watch them stare at each other in a combat like stance. When Arthur releases the Woad and we all return to the carriage to check on the Bishop, I feel my drowsiness return. I do not notice the Woad in the bushes till he has already fired his arrow, but I feel it as the arrow pierces my thigh. I scream out in pain, and fall to the ground, very much awake now. Lancelot and Tristan rush to my side as Galahad pulls back his bowstring and plunges an arrow into the Woad that was hiding in the bush. A mixture of tiredness and pain overcomes me and I become unconscious.
I wake up to a harsh bumping against my thigh and realize that I'm lying against something. As I pull back become aware that I am sharing with Lancelot and that Peyton is loyally following behind us, I am unsure to why but I wrap my arms around his waist and slowly take in a deep breath, feeling completely calm and safe.
"Sleeping Beauty awakes! Was the fighting too much today Princess?" Galahad taunts, which earns him a slap on the back of his head from Gawain. Lancelot turns to look at me with a sigh of relief. "Promise me you will never take your eye of the ball like that again?!" He says with his voice slightly raised and concern evident in his voice. I glare at him and he quickly adds "Well, let's just say that we actually miss having you constantly talking when we are on our way home!" My glare softens and I laugh loudly, it always seems to relax the men so I try to do it often.
Arthur slows and falls into step with Lancelot and myself. "Well that was a different ending than usual, most of the time you're the only one who doesn't get hurt. Are you ok?" he asks. I look myself over and notice the only injury is the bandage around my thigh "I think the odds are in my favor" I reply with slight smirk. This causes Lancelot to give a small sigh and a slight chuckle.
"You guys really need to stop worrying about me, I have been fighting alongside you all for 10 years and this is probably the most serious thing that has ever happened. I remember when I first joined this regiment, everyone used to just stand there and watch me fight. I even remember on one occasion when I was facing off against 5 Woads near the wall, and a certain male, who will remain nameless," I say and watch as Galahad goes red for he knows exactly what I am going to say next. "Stood there and watched me fight, then when they were all dead, gallantly ran up and opened that small gate for me! So what I would like to know is when all this supposed concern started?!" I say almost out of breath from saying so much.
By this time I have caught all the men's attention, and we start laughing.
Arthur rides off ahead as the rest of us discuss what we are going to do with out new freedom.
I hear Gawain talking about marrying a beautiful Sarmatian, and Bors laughing at him exclaiming "Why do you think we came here in the first place?" then imitating a cow, making the others laugh. By this time Lancelot has joined in saying that if Gawain's wife is going to be beautiful that he may just spend a great deal of time at his house, this causing a slightly sarcastic banter between the two.
I slowly close my eyes and drift back off into a light sleep, patiently waiting till later this evening when our festivities will begin and I can go back to taunting the men because I can almost outdo them all at darts and beat them all at gambling! That is what I am especially looking forward to though, because the gambling usually takes place between me and Lancelot, and even though I usually beat him he is extremely competitive and will keep going until he is completely broke!
Before I am completely asleep I can hear Arthur's voice again which means we are nearly home and free, it feels like such a burden has been lifted. Even thought most of us we will most likely die in another battle we have all made it clear that we would like it to be a battle of our own choosing, for to die for a truly righteous cause would be the greatest honor!
So what did you guys think, I know it's a bit slow but I just wanted to establish the characters and their relationships.
I also want to let everyone know that some parts will be the same as the movie, but some will not!
The next chapter will be called "In the Beginning" as goes back to when Paxton was still Amy, before she was transported.
I would really appreciate some comments, but no flames please just constructive criticism!
Luv ya all,
xo Punky ox