The knights gawked at Author in bewilderment.
"What?" Kay said throught gritted teeth. His hands gripping he side of the table and his knuckles turning white.
"I will strip him of my trust, not his life I owe him that much. He has saved mine many of times so I shall spare his."
"Thank you my King" Lancelot exhaled. Autger held up his hand
"And in spairing your life I will strip you of being my second in comand and gve that title to Tristan"
Relief cascaded over Cassia and her body relaxed. Merlin entered the room with his brow low,
"My lord the people of the wood rejected our offer"
"DAMN IT" He slammed his hands on the table
"Bring me my wife" he said hissing through his teeth.
Cassia wasn't sure if the others could hear it or if they just thought he was angry. But there was pain behind his voice.
Guinevere entered the room as if nothing happened. Her nose still held high and looking down on everyone. Her eyes locked with Cassia' s
"I refuse to be in here with the WITCH" She snarled. Cassia quickly looked down and bit her touenge. Going off on the knights was one thing but the queen wasn't something she wasnted to be strung up for.
"YOU will be where ever I comand you to be Guinevere and do not be angry with the girl. She wasn't going to tell me I commanded her to. If I wasn't standing there when she had seen it I'm sure I would of never known" The queens expression didn't change but she moved to sit by her husband.
"What do you need my love"
Auther cringed when she tried to place her hand on the back of his neck and she pulled away.
"I think it is time for you to go visit your mothers family." Guin jumpped up
"WHAT" Her face was white and she was shaking.
"I haven't seen them since my 15th winter. I have been outcasted I am no longer one of them if I walk into their land they will kill me." She reached her arm out
"You will try" He said harshly
"You want them to kill me don't you? You are throwing a tantrum because I slept with Lance and now you are just going to kill me off?"
"LOWER YOUR VOICE WOMAN" Authers voice shook the room.
The queen sat down sobbing.
"I will go" Cassia said softly
"No you will not, Its not safe" Auther said denying her offer.
"And you would rather send me?" The queen shreaked
"My king, please think about it. Who is the goddess they worship?" He raised an eyebrow
"Nemue" He replied showing a crooked smile.
"And my mother is?"
"Nemue" Auther laughed.
"Cassia your mind is amazing" Merlin replied "They will see her as a goddess and with her being on our side they will follow her. Her mother would not let any harm come to her in the woods."
"You may go, BUT you must ride my horse into the woods tonight"
"Forgive me my king but I have my own horse" She said smiling
"Incolent little girl the king offered you his steed COMANDED you and you refuse" The queen snapped.
Auther wavd a hand at his wife to silance her
"She will take her own horse" Cassia nodded
"I will head to my room and pack, Excuese me"
Cassia packed a small bag and slid her riding trousers on. Woman were not supposed to wear trousers but it was much eaiser to ride in them. She slid a black dress with a leg length slit on both sides and no sleeves over her and left for the stables.
"Mother... I need you" she whispered when she was out of the castle.
"You do not have to tell me what I already know daughter" Lady Nemue stood beside her smiling
"Mother I think I have gotten myself in over my head, I know I am your daughter but I know nothing of what that means"
"Cassia you are from my womb, you are my first and only offspring. You do not need to be shown how or who you are for you to know." Nemue removes a strand of her silver hair form her head and holds it. It turns into a bow and arrows. They shined like the moonlight
"With these anyone will know that you are of me. Those who follow me will protect you and those who oppose YOU will fall" She paused "Cassia you are special, You have powers that you haven't even discovered yet and those too will come in time. Embrace them and yourself be proud of who you are. Cassia Nemue" She kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Your king is waiting" With that she was gone.
Auther was stairing at the bed of hay that his wife and most trusted friend laid together on. His fist were in a ball and he was fighting back tears. He loved his wife and he thought she loved him the same way in return but it wasn't the first time someone had let him down and he knew it wasn't the last.
He felt a small hand rest on his arm.
"The more you look at it the more it will haunt you" Cassia said looking at the bed as well.
"Forget it" He snapped his head away.
"You can talk to me Auther" His eyes widened
"I mean my king" Cassia corrected herslf
"No, Call me Auther... Its been a long time since I've been spoken to so enformal" Cassia smiled
"Well then auther we have some time before I have to leave if you want to talk"
"You mean before WE leave?" Cassia frowned
"You do not think I can do this on my own?
"I know you can. But I want to go as well. I want them to see my face and also I can't let you go alone"
"You don't want to be in the castle do you?"
"Not at all I don't want to see them" He was looking at the ground.
"Well then lets go" Cassia started to walk away
"Cassia do you have on mens trousers on" Her face turned bright red
"They make it eaiser to ride and fight if I have to" she replied
"Hmm" he laughed
The woods were darker then normal and in a sence felt more dangerous.
The two road deeper into the woods.
"We are getting close" Auther said pointing to the trees that were painted with dried animal blood.
Something moved in the distance and they stopped.
"Auther promise me something what ever happens tonight we keep between us until the time is right" She dismounted her hourse.
"What are you doing?" He hissed softly
Cassia took a deep breath "I am Cassia Nemue Daughter of lady Nemue" she said to herself
A soft glow started to shine from her skin. Her hair looked like fire controled by the wind. Auther stood there in awe.
"Lower your wepons and come to me. I am Lady Cassia Nemue daughter of your Lady Goddess and I comand you to come to me" there was no sound no movement. Then people started to walk from the thick bushes. They were coverd in markings that stood out on their dark skin. An old lady contenued to walk towards Cassia
"A you babe of goddes" The old woman said pointing at Cassia.
"Yes, I am from the womb of the goddess Nemue if you do not wish for her wrath then you will listen to me" A young built man who couldn't be but a winter older then Cassia who stood up wind from them shouted.
"Nemue has bore no child, you are a witch come to the forest with the false king" He raised his bow and pointed it at Auther. A mixture of panic and anger stirred in Cassia; her skin and hair began to shine brighter.
"YOU DARE TO QUESTION ME?" thunder rumbled in the clear sky and the people jerked and the young goddesses voice echoed.
"DO NOT LET YOUR IGNORANCE SPILL BLOOD HUMAN" Cassia didn't know where all this was coming from. She suspected that her mother was helping because this wasn't like her.
The old woman fell to her knees
"Forgive him goddess my grandson doesn't think before he speaks" Cassia looks at the man and his bow still drawn.
"Do not loose that arrow boy" she said graivly but he did.
Without thinking Cassia drew her bow and let an arrow fly hitting the boy's arrow before it got to Auther and then one at the boy. Pinning his shirt to the tree behind him. Whispers ecoed through the people.
"Please spare him" The old woman cried still on her knees. For a moment Cassia didn't know who she was. She wraped her bow around her and fell to her knees with the woman and hugged her.
"Please tell them I mean no harm, I need you all I need your help" Cassia whispered in the old womans ear and she nodded.
They both stood.
"The Goddess Nemus has sent us the gift of her daughter and her friend the king. She comes to us for help. Its is our duty to our goddess to aid them. Set the fires we feast and welcome them" Cassia and Auther both expected protest but cheers irrupted.
"Come young goddess" The Old woman grabbed her hand and guided
Auther was walking next to her as they entered the villiage. Cassia expected tiny huts with straw tops but what she saw was unexpected. Tree top huts that expanded as far as her eyes could see in the dark woods.
"This is amazing" she said gasping at the sight. They had a system to transport you up and down and they used fireflies to light the villiage at night.
"Welcome to Emet the home of the Moores. I am Sasee the matriarch of this clan"
From there the matriarch, her generals, the king, and Cassia met to disscuss what they needed from them.
"You ecpect us to work with them" One of her generals said harshly
"She is the daughter of our goddess and she is asking for our help, you want to deny her Iihap" another one shouted. Cassia and Sasee just sat there while the men aruged between themselves including Auther. Cassia had tried many times to speak but she was overwhelmed by their voices.
"WILL ALL OF YOU BLOODY SHUT IT" She shouted and it shook the room. The men stoped talking and looked at her.
"Sasee, I need you and your peoples help!" One of the men opened their mouths. Cassia's head snapped to them.
"I will strike you with lightning if you interupt me" and he shut his mouth.
"Please can you see that this will affect all of our people" Sasee sat there not saying a word.
"I will allow it, BUT only on one condition... Three of my people will hold seats in the king court along with a treaty of peace." she was looking at Auther when she said these words and he nodded still keeping his mouth shut heading Cassia's warning.
"Then its done, the three I choose will come to your court in three moons with the treaty for you to sign." Cassia clapped
"Great" She yawned
"Young goddess you need rest, Please stay the night here and you can leave in the morning"
PSA: I'm working off a crappy computer that is older then my daughter soooo i am so sorry if things get a little crazy in there! Just had to post something 3
