Previously:
Later that night Dagonet, Gawain and Tristan sat talking quietly by a small fire.
"What do you think Marius meant when he said she murdered her own people?" Asked Gawain, the two other men remaining silent.
"Her sword bears the marks of a Sarmatian." Dagonet stated.
"She has the hair of a Roman and the eyes and build of a Sarmatian" stated Tristan in his quite voice. Dagonet nodded while a frown crossed the brow of Gawain.
"A mystery for another day" Dagonet supplied as he turned away to the bedroll that Lucan was at. The men dispersed for the night, each pondering their own thoughts.
The Other
Chapter 3
Nara woke early the next morning. She quietly slipped on her boots, lacing them tightly to her legs as she reached for her sword. She unraveled the leather chord that wound its way around the scabbard, looping it over her head to let it sit diagonally across her breast effectively securing her sword across her back, the hilt within easy reach behind one shoulder. A quiver of arrows came to rest on her back as well, lying over the scabbard to stop if from moving. She wrapped a dagger around one thigh, well hidden by her tunic. Nara placed two daggers in the tops of her boots, the fourth she secured to her belt. Rifling through the pile of furs she found the two archer's wrist guards that she had stumbled across in the supply wagon the night before. Nara placed them on her wrists with the ease of long practice, the laces tied and hidden on the underside of her arms in a matter of seconds. She stood quietly then, grabbing her bow as she went, so as not to disturb Guinevere who still slumbered, and quietly jumped down from the wagon.
Nara filled her lungs with the fresh morning air as she surveyed her surroundings. The sun rose behind the hills, filtering through the clouds that still dropped snowflakes to the ground to join the growing blanket of snow that had settled overnight. Moving quietly forward she made her way through the trees to the still waters that reflected the sun's morning rays. Nara closed her eyes as she slowly drew her sword from its scabbard, letting the blade come to rest before her as her feet automatically shifted into a fighting stance. Her blade began to move through the air as she commenced the fighting dance her mother had taught her long ago, a dance that had become second nature to her over the years of endless repetition. Thrust, parry, block, lunge, twirl; each swing of the blade combined smoothly together as she increased the pace of her movements, spinning around the small area, attacking unseen enemies. With a flurry she brought her blade to a sudden stop, her chest heaving with exertion as she completed the dance. She sighed as she drew a hand across her brow; it felt good to be exercising with a blade in her hand once more. A rumbling of her stomach reminded her how hungry she was however, and with that thought in mind she started making her way back through the trees at a light jog.
As sounds of a scuffle reached her ears, she only hesitated for a movement before stringing her bow quickly. When she emerged at the camp Marius stood holding a knife to Lucan's neck, the boy securely held in his arms. Dagonet stood throwing punches at the guards who lunged at him, trying to subdue the large man.
"I have the boy!" He called out, causing Dagonet to cease his movements. "Kill him!" Marius called to his guards, "Kill him now!" Flucina ran forward to grasp at her husband's arm.
"No don't" she cried, "Let him go!"
An expression of disgust crossed Marius' face before he threw her to the ground. Nara strode forward, drawing an arrow from her quiver, fluidly placing it to the string, watching from the corner of her eye as Guinevere let loose an arrow from her own bow. Nara watched avidily, gauging whether her assistance was needed. Guinevere's arrow whistled past Dagonet and the soldiers to embed itself in Marius' gut. A stunned expression crossed the Roman's face as he looked down at the arrow, before dropping to his knees and pitching forward. As he drew his last breath his hold on Lucan relaxed, the boy wrenching himself from Marius' weakening hold to throw himself into Dagonet's outstretched arms. Nara waited patiently, letting her arrow rest on her string as Guinevere continued forward, bow drawn and ready for further action. Lancelot and Arthur appeared at their sides and Gawain and Galahad rode up behind them as they responded to the disturbance. It was the war cry of the larger man by the name of Bors, that drew everyone's attention as he came galloping towards them on his horse.
"Artorius!" he yelled, axe held wildly above his head as he bore down on the guards. "Do we have a problem?" He queried in a surprisingly calm tone as he pulled his horse to an abrupt stop. The guards looked towards each other uncomfortably. Arthur raised his sword,
"You have a choice. You help, or you die." He stated plainly.
Finally one gurard dropped his sword, a sour look on his face. He turned to the others, "Drop your weapons," he instructed, bitterness lacing the order. His companions followed suit, albeit reluctantly. With a nod from Arthur, Jols hurried forward to seize the weapons. Gawain moved his horse up to stand beside Nara who glanced up at him, surprised he had crept up on her.
"You seem to have made a full recovery." He mildly pointed out as she grinned in response, feeling at ease to drop her guard around these Knights. The sound of hoof beats pounding on the ground drew everyone's attention to the trees as Tristan emerged on his horse, a crossbow resting on his shoulder. Bors called out,
"How many did you kill?"
"Four" was the blunt reply, the man clearly short on breath after a hard ride.
"Not a bad start to the day" Bors stated as he let loose a maniacal laugh. Tristan didn't blink as he rode forward to Arthur, throwing the crossbow at his feet.
"Armour piercing. They are close, we have no time." Arthur nodded.
Tristan's news created a hive of activity among the camp. People ran back and forth, gathering and packing away their processions as the sun slowly rose higher in the sky. Nara re-adjusted the sword and quiver slung across her back, adding her unstrung bow to the rolled quiver. She helped sling packs into the wagon that she and Guinevere had been shearing now that beds no longer needed to be available, scowling at the Knights as they saddled their horses. I whish I could ride instead of being bound to a wagon! She thought dejectedly as Dagonet approached with Lucan in tow. The two exchanged a glance, Nara nodding as the unspoken conversation passed between the two.
"Come on then Lucan!" she cried with a smile as she grabbed him, swinging him around and onto the wagon, careful not to strain herself too much or jar his healing arm. "You may stay with me and Guinevere. I will show you my daggers when we get going." Lucan nodded eagerly as he looked at the Nara. His attention wavered however as Dagonet began to move away. Lucan hesitantly waved at the retreating figure as Nara rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Do not worry yourself, he will be back, he is quite fond of you." She tried to reassure the boy. Lucan nodded vaguely as he watched the large man swing into his saddle, following the rest of the Knights as the wagon, with a jolt, started forward to join the forming line of refugees.
The train of wagons rolled steadily through the morning. The air was quite and still as if sensing the closing danger, the caravan quite as people concentrated on moving forward. Nara sat quietly listening to Guinevere recount stories of her childhood to Lucan, and she herself let him study her daggers closely. A small smile sat on Nara's face while he reverently handled the blades, careful not to cut himself inadvertently in the jostling wagon. Any weapon, and a boy not matter how old was fascinated she thought ruefully.
The trees soon thinned as the little procession began climbing higher into the mountains as the landscape morphed to become one of shinning snowy plains which rose and fell beneath the mountain peaks that rose high to meet the blue expanse of sky. Passing into a deep gully it wasn't long before Nara sat up and looked forward as Jols started moving down the lines.
"You have to walk, all of you! We have to cross the ice, spread out, go slowly." He called down the line, repeating himself so that all heard. Nara swung down from the wagon, her feet nearly sliding from beneath her as they reached the expanse of ice that was clearly a mountain lake when not frozen over by the cold of winter.
"Stay with Lucan" she told Guinevere, "I will help with the horses." Guinevere nodded as she drew Lucan closer, Nara carefully moving forward to grab the halter of one of the horses that pulled their wagon. Slowly the carriages and people made their way across the ice, many huddling together in fear as the ice creaked and groaned beneath the extra weight. Many of the horses whinnied and nickered in fear as cracks began to snake their way across the ice. Nara ran a soothing hand down the neck of the black mare as it tried to rear. A loud groan from the ice caused Arthur to raise a hand, everyone halting as the sound died away. Their leader stood for a moment before turning his horse.
"Knights…" he began, looking at his men in turn. Guinevere jumped down from the wagon to stand beside Nara.
Bors was the first to break the silence.
"Well I'm tired of running." He grunted, "And these Saxons are so close behind, my ass is hurting." Nara grinned.
"Never liked looking over my shoulder any way," Tristan continued as he looked to Dagonet who let a ghost of a smile cross his face. Nara looked at Gawain,
"Be a pleasure to put an end to this racket – " his blunt sentence was finished by his brother in arms Galahad, "and finally get a look at the bastards." It was Dagonet who summed it up, "Here. Now."
Nara grinned at Guinevere, her adrenaline already starting to flow through her veins at the idea of a good fight.
"Jols!" Arthur called, the man immediately starting to gather weapons and arrows from their resting place on the horses as the peasant Ganis stepped forward, eager to receive his own orders from the mighty Arthur.
"Ganis, I need you to lead the people. The main Saxon army is inland, so if you track the coastline till you're well south of the wall, you'll be safe." Ganis looked uncertain.
"But your seven, against two hundred, " he stated before he was interrupted.
"Eight" Guinevere said as she moved forward. "You could use another bow." Nara agreed,
"Nine." She grinned gesturing at Guinevere, "She has a compelling argument," Nara explained as she too moved forward, already loosening the ties that held her bow to her back. Ganis was still at a loss,
"I'd rather stay and fight," he implored Arthur, who would not have any of it.
"You'll get your chance soon enough." Arthur counseled before turning to the remaining guards that had come form Marius' estate. "This man is now your Captain. You do as he says. Am I understood?" he called to the guards that stood hesitantly by the peasants, Nara getting the clear impression that they really did not want to fight. They nodded eagerly to Arthur's question however, "Yes sir."
Nara watched as Arthur urged them to move on, her heart twisting as she glimpsed Lucan wave slowly at Dagonet, a confused expression resting on his face. She turned away, taking a place in the line between Dagonet and Galahad, stringing her bow with a hastened hand, setting an arrow to string and then stood, waiting. The Knights held their ground as the Saxons appeared at the edge of the ice, drums sounding out as their columns marched slowly forward.
"Hold until I give the command." Arthur ordered, each warrior's eyes remaining fixed on the approaching army. Lancelot's voice drifted down the line.
"You look frightened" he commented to Guinevere, "There's a large number of lonely men out there." Guinevere's reply pulled a quite laugh from Nara's lips.
"Don't worry, I won't let them rape you." Nara's mirth was cut short however as a lone Saxon archer moved forward, letting lose and arrow.
"I believe they're waiting for an invitation, Bors, Tristan" Arthur ordered.
"They're far out of range." Interjected Guinevere, and Nara had to admit she held the same thoughts, thoughts quickly silenced when Tristan and Bors's arrows found their mark. Two of their victims let out strangled gasps before pitching forward, their comrades barely registering their deaths.
The Saxon army made their way forward, the Knights drawing their bows. Nara took aim, pulling back the string, letting it come to rest at her chin as she picked a target for her arrow.
"Aim for the wings of the ranks. Make them cluster" Arthur's voice said as his arrow was sent flying, the others quickly following. All found their mark, those Saxons on the wings quickly clustering in once they saw their fallen comrades. Anther volley of arrows was let loose by the Knights, as the sounds of groaning ice made its way to their ears. The ice did not give way however.
"It's not going to break, fall back and prepare for combat!" Arthur ordered as everyone dropped their bows, gathering their weapons. Nara reached over her shoulder and in a fluid movement drew her sword, holding it level before her. This will be very interesting she thought dryly as the Saxons continued their march forward. As soon as the thought left her head however she gasped. Dagonet dropped his sword, yanking his axe off the snow as he began to run forward, letting loose a war cry.
"Dag!" Bors yelled as Arthur started back to the bows they had dropped.
"Cover him!" He ordered with a yell. Nara, dropped her sword and brought up her bow, her hand faltering as she watched as Dagonet swung at the ice repeatedly. The image of Lucan's goodbye flashed before her eyes, his smiling face when she had thanked him for his healing. He cannot die! She thought wildly. With a cry she fired her arrow at one of the Saxon archers that were now firing at will upon Dagonet. Dropping her bow to the ground she yanked up Dagonet's discarded shield, beginning her sprint across the ice.
"Nara!" she heard Guinevere cry as she flew past Dagonet, coming to a skidding halt on her knees a few paces in front of the large man. She pulled her feet beneath her, rising to a crouch, the shield held before. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure she stood in front of Dagonet before concentrating on the task at hand. Arrows whizzed erratically through the air in both directions, Nara doing her best to catch those that flew directly at herself and Dagonet. She cried out when one arrow flew past her shield, she looked at Dagonet in fear as it pierced his side.
"Dag!" She heard Bors yell, glimpsing Arthur break away from the pack before turning her attention back to the Saxon archers with a new determination. That was everything started to go pear shaped. As she intercepted another arrow meant for Dagonet, Nara felt the solid ground she had been standing on became decidedly unsolid.
"Nara, get back!" a voiced yelled, as she turned, throwing the shield away as the ice began to crack rapidly, disappearing beneath her feet into the deep waters below. Nara ran forward as the ice cracked and splintered before her eyes. With another leap Nara lunged forward, her concentration wavering as she saw Dagonet slowly tilt forward into the water. When she next went to place her foot, there was nothing solid to place it on. With a yelp she felt herself plunge into the freezing water, all air being knocked out of her lungs as the bitter cold clamped itself like a vice around her body. Kicking her legs wildly she aimed for the surface, her lungs screaming in protest at the lack of oxygen. With cry she felt herself break the surface, throwing an arm towards where she guessed the solid ice was. She felt her finger tips brush aginst those of an outstretched hand, before the weight of her sodden clothe dragged her back beneath the surface one more. Nara could almost feel the long icy fingers of the cold water pulling at her ankles, trying to drag her to a silent death. With a sob of fear that only succedded in filling her mouth with water she kicked her legs fiercely, breaking the surface of the water once more. An arm she recognized as Bors reached out to grab her tunic and heave her from the water. She coughed and sputtered as her body tried to expel the water from her lungs. She gasped for air as she felt her knees come into contact with ice as Lancelot's cries carried over the sounds of screaming Saxons and the whiz of arrows that still rained down upon them.
"Pull back! Arthur!" He cried out as the ice began to crack where they stood. On shaky legs Nara stood, Bors trying to urge her along while grabbing the arm of Dagonet as Arthur supported his weight. Bors and Arthur dragged them towards the Knights that still fired their arrows, doing the best to cover their retreating forms.
"Help us!" Bors yelled, prompting Gawain and Lancelot to start forward. Nara felt strong arms wrap around her waist, arms she thought were Gawain's as Lancelot helped Arthur drag Dagonet to the safety of solid ice.
"'Dagonet!" Bors cried "Dagonet stay with me!" Nara craned her head to see if the gentle giant was still alive. She caught a glimpse of his face as he opened his eyes, a shadow of a smile crossing his face.
"You all worry too much." He muttered. Nara didn't know whether to laugh or cry or slap him for scaring them all, however any action was delayed as she realised just how cold she really was. Her teeth began chattering with vigor and shivers racked her body. Arthur was the first to notice, as Dagonet too began to feel the effects of being submerged in the freezing waters.
"'Help them up, we've got to get them warm." Arthur ordered. Nara felt hands tug at the scabbard that still rested on her back, removing it before a cloak was thrown around her shoulders, the owner wrapping it around her tightly as she was swung into their arms.
"Gawain?" She questioned, as he looked down at her, quirking an eyebrow. Nara honestly did not know what she was saying as a cloud of weariness descended on her mind, slowing her movements. With a sigh she closed her eyes, quite content to sleep forever until she was jiggled roughly. She let out a noise of protest.
"Do not close your eyes Nara. Talk to me", Gawain said as he looked at her with concern.
"Mmm…talk to you about what?" she mumbled, just wanting to close her eyes.
"Tell me about your parents."
"Don't have any parents. They gone already…mother… and my father … I killed him, filthy man…I'm a bastard." She trailed off as her eyes fluttering closed again.
"Nara!" Gawain called again as he jiggled her in his arms, momentarily forgetting the odd statement.
"Mmm! I'm awake!" she grumbled. Gawain looked up as a whinny caught his attention. Jols sat on his bay gelding, the Knight's tethered horses under his watch. If Arthur was angry at him for disregarding orders, his reprimand would have to wait for later as he quickly helped Bors sling Dagonet into his saddle as the others mounted up. Nara felt herself being passed into the arms of another as Gawain swung himself into the saddle of his grey gelding, before gathering Nara back into his arms once he was settled. Guinevere expertly mounted behind Arthur as the men set off at a hard gallop to catch up to the refugees that had moved ahead.
Nara was no warmer when they finally caught up with the peasants who all let out a cheer as the Knights approached. The cheer was short lived however when they realised that Dagonet and Nara were not faring very well. Arthur continued to the front of the line to make sure the train kept moving to hasten their return to the wall. Gawain slowed his horse at a spare wagon at the end of the line as Bors whisked Dagonet to another, several peasants already falling back with bundles of furs in their arms. Gawain slid to the ground before his horse had even come to a complete stop. Fulcina hurried forward, a small woman at her elbow carrying piles of fur that looked like they would bury her in a minuet.
"She fell in through the ice" Gawain explained breathlessly as he entered the carriage, Fulcina laying down furs as he removed the cloak he had wrapped around her, the woman nodding her head in understanding.
"Skin to skin body heat would be best to warm her up again," she stated in a no nonsense tone as Nara and Gawain just stared at her.
"Your fellow Knight, he has an arrow wound, I must tend to him as I believe I have a fair hand at stitching." She continued before she turned and disappeared. Nara stared after the woman dumbly as she felt Gawain tug her boots off. She was incapable of protest as her limbs weighed her down, the cloud of weariness that settled itself over her mind demanding sleep. Strong hands tugged off her belt, slipping her tunic and undershirt over her head leaving her shivering in just a breast band and leggings … leggings and a breast band that had soon disappeared as well. Nara had no time to feel embarrassed before she was wrapped in a pile of furs that she snuggled down into.
Gawain would usually delight in an opportunity to remove the clothes off a woman's body. At the moment however his emotions were run by the need to help the woman who watched him through bleary grey eyes that were set in a pale face with blue lips. Gawain's hands worked quickly as they shed his armor with the ease of long practice. Nara lay captivated by the man's graceful movements, muscles flexing and extending as he went. When his shirt found its way to the floor she mentally traced every scar that marred his toned chest, however her peep show was brought to a halt as he began to kick off his breeches. She closed her eyes as she felt her face burn as the man slipped under the furs beside her. Long arms snaked around her torso drawing her against a hard chest. Nara remained rigid as her face continued to burn until she realised with a start that Gawain remained in his loincloth. Feeling decidedly more comfortable, she let her face settle in the curve of his neck as she let her body mould itself against his relishing his warmth. Nara's eyes closed in content as she felt Gawain rest his chin atop her head, finally letting sleep claim her.
A/N:Another chapter complete. I realise this is a very common plot line but I couldn't help myself!
Thank you to my wonderful reviewers –
shariena: good guess
Scottishgal12 : thanks, having heaps of fun writing it
Dannylionthe1st: thanks for the name check, and yea, my spelling is atrocious something I gotta work on :D
