Andrea woke on a bed in a tent. Listening quietly to find out where she was, she heard voices talking outside the tent. She then thought she heard Jason's voice within the distance but she wasn't totally sure.
Sitting up slowly in order to slide her leg out from under the blankets, her injured leg was wrapped securely with white bandage wrap. She went to stand up but she underestimated the strength left in her leg as she fell back onto the bed with a pain filled groan. As she pitifully tried to stand back up, she decided on putting her weight on her other foot instead.
Andrea breathed a slight sigh of relief as she managed to hobble over to the flap of the tent and open it to peer outside. Outside was the druid camp she had been trying to find.
The camp was on the edge of a cliff in a clearing in the woods, meaning on one side there was the cliff which looked out into the kingdom and all you could see was trees and an occasional farmhouse. On the other three side were tall oak trees reaching toward the sky. The camp was organized in sections much like other druid camps, each section in the middle was a campfire and surrounding it is five or six tents, each tent is for a family, then on one side of camp is where the guest tents are and the kitchen tent, the infirmary tent, armor tent, and leader tent were meetings are held.
Limping out to see that the sun was setting, Andrea absorbed the stunning sights of its yellow light shining from over the cliff and into the camp glinting of the leaves. She turned to see her group sitting around the blazing racy red fire. Approaching them, the first to greet her was Jason who jumped to his feet to help her sit down at the fire. Once she was sitting next to Jason on a log she looked around at her companions who were, Jason, Leon, Percival, and Jaden. She noticed that the man they had encountered was there as well.
"Who are you?" Andrea asked skeptically, unsure of what to expect from this stranger.
The man then said " I don't fully remember everything, it comes to me in glimpses, but I know Sir Leon and Sir Percivale as well."
Both nodded as they had talked to the man.
" But my name is Arthur Pendragon."
Andrea felt as if the world had ended and gone dark, it was Jason's voice that broke her out of the stupor.
"Andrea. Andrea? ANDREA?" He yelled at her.
"Wha? I - Sorry - I - I just need a minute."
With that Andrea stood with slight pain in her leg, and walked over to the edge of the cliff and watched the birds fly around. She didn't turn when Jason sat down next to her.
"This reminds me of the times when we would sit on the battlements in Camelot."
Andrea smiled a warm feeling filling her.
"We used to sneak away and watch the older knights train."
"Yeah and then we would practice our magic on each other."
"And that one time you got mad at me you threw me off the battlements and had to get Athusia to help you heal me."
" I haven't seen her in a while when I get back to Camelot I should have Merlin call her so I can see her."
Jason stood up offering her his hand.
"Andrea let's go back."
"But that man he said his name was Arthur Pendragon, you know full well thats my father's name and no one else's."
"We need more information about him but he remembers being king of camelot but doesn't remember to much about the battle camland, he doesn't remember that he was stabbed or that merlin has magic."
Andrea bowed her head she felt the tears come as she silently cried.
"Jason he's going to hate me as much as he is going to hate Merlin, he hates magic! Me and Merlin were both born with it but not like he will believe that, but Merlin says that he seemed a bit more open about magic, but what if he isn't. I . . . "
"Andrea your rambling" Jason said interrupting her. "What happens happens, he has to accept you for three reasons, one you're his daughter, second you're a princess and Merlin is the court sorcerer you both hold high positions in the kingdom, and third magic is legal in camelot now so sucks to be him."
Andrea laughed and said, "have you told him any of that yet?"
"We told him what happened up till he died but not about after, you should tell him."
The two walked over to the fire but did not sit down.
"Sorry Arthur I didn't mean to scare you or leave so abruptly, you just surprised me."
"I understand miss, it is surprising when your king raises from the dead," he answered.
She went to say something in response, but then a druid came up to her and said,
"Your highness?"
Andrea, without thinking answered, "yes?"
She didn't see the look of horror on Arthur's face when he realized she was royalty.
"We have a message from your mother the queen, camelot is under attack from king Lot's son."
Everyone stood. Andrea turned a mask of authority coming over her face.
"Get your horses men we ride in ten minutes. Jason prepare my horse I am going to contact the court sorcerer to tell him we are coming and that I will be helping him with the castle barrier."
Suddenly there was a rumbling as the ground shook, a smile spread across her face as she knew exactly who it was. Soon she could see the herd of centaurs, she started (to the horror to Arthur and Jason) started to run toward the stampeding herd.
"Lexus!" she yelled as she ran, extending her right hand to the centaur on her right.
The centaur who led the group was the only one who didn't slow down. She had a black stallion body which had leather armor with a light weight saddle built in, dark tanned body which was covered in leather armor her arms weren't covered and had a harness that went around the back which would be were a rider would hold on. She also had a sword on each hip, her black hair was pulled back and her orange eyes pierced into the soul.
As the centaur woman passed she grabbed Andrea's hand and threw her onto her horse body in an amazingly smooth transition, Andrea grabbed the reins which were connected to a harness that went around her body for an efficient hold and for speed, as soon as Andrea was on she skidded in a circle kicking up dirt as she stopped. It was an amazing testament of power and skill. Once she stopped she started to laugh she her horse part kneeled down for Andrea to get off. she did that and the Centaur laid down with her human part still sitting up just so that it was like she was sitting down and that made it easier to communicate with her princes.
"My lady we come to aid you in your war against King lot, we met him in battle shortly on the way here, for we have been running for three days straight. He utterly defeated us for his son Damian is very powerful, he is know as Dolent which means evil in our language."
"I am very glad you have come to help us, we are about to leave, leave your injured here to be treated by the druid they can meet up with us later, you will come with me and my knights, the rest of your herd will take the northern plains back to camelot."
Lexus ( the Centaur) stood, bowed and said, "I shall go tell my troops," then trotted off.
I stood there for a second watching her then I turned.
"I am going to contact the court sorcerer, Sir Leon take care of the king he needs an old face to tell him what's going on."
I turned and closed my eyes, my hands out to each side as if gripping side rails,
"Merlin?" I asked in a soft voice, "can you hear me?"
"Yes Andrea what's the matter I'm a bit busy, oh and WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?"
"Long story short I got captured then saved by the druid tribe, we found someone who you will want to meet then the centaurs are coming with us to help you guys in the battle, I will be there as soon as possible to help with the barrier around the castle, how is my mother?"
"She's in a bad way, she thinks she lost you."
"I will be there before night fall," Andrea firmly informed.
"Okay hurry back, I am going to check the castle walls to make sure the barrier stones are still there and intact."
"Okay"
She turned to see Arthur sitting on a log with his head in his hands and sir Leon next to him his hand on his shoulder. She walked over to him and sat next to him, she nodded to sir Leon to dismiss him. "I know this is a lot to take in but I have something to add to it, but first camelot and which kingdom do you come from?""Queen Guinevere rules and I come from Camelot. I'm the reigning princess and second, in command of the army, the queen does not take charge of the army, the court sorcerer does.""Did Gwen get remarried or did she adopt you?"But just as she went to answer someone called her name."No, My name is Andrea Pendragon, and I am your daughter."She then ran off.
