Hey guys, it has been a while
Hopefully, a new chapter will help! Yep, as I have said before, I cannot guarantee consistent updates (all the more reason why you should follow this story (: ) but I will never stop updating without telling you!
Anyways, I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Just a quick disclaimer, I am keeping the plot of the movie relatively the same, but the exact conversations won't always be identical to what is actually said in the movie. So, yeah.
Thank you soooo much for all those who have favorited/followed this story! This is my first fanfic, so it really means a lot to me to see that people are reading an enjoying my story. Please review! Those are the best to read!
Thanks,
Juliet
p.s. the formatting with this chapter is really weird in comparison to past chapters. I don't know how to change it.
p.p.s. I don't own anything except Asilia. wooo!
The pitter-patter of feet was what woke Asilia up. She shot up in bed, to some it may seem like an exaggerated reaction but for Asilia is was a habit. It was still night outside, and strangely silent. Letting her eyes adjust, Asilia noticed that the noise was simply Blue, for he was out of bed and walking towards the door.
"Blue," Asilia asked, "What are you doing? It's still the middle of the night,"
"Something is going on downstairs," he whispered as he continued to make his way towards the door.
"Blue, wait," Asilia began getting out of bed too, "what did you hear?"
"Someone was banging on the door downstairs, by the brothel," he said as he turned to face Asilia, "Didn't you hear it?"
Asilia had always been a light sleeper. Throughout the brothel, everyone knew that if something were to happen during the night, Asilia would hear it. Not having heard anyone banging on the door, Asilia became alert, "No. I didn't,"
"Someone was banging on the damned-"
"Language," Asilia said out of habit.
"Sorry," Blue said before continuing, "Someone was banging on the brothel entrance, and there was a lot of light outside for a moment. Then I heard the door open, and the light disappeared."
Someone was in the brothel. And at this hour for someone to knock was abnormal. Even by this time of night, most of the drunks had already made their way home. This made Asilia cautious. She slipped on her house flats, a simple work dress and old robe over her thin nightdress, and instructed Blue, "Don't you go anywhere, you hear?"
"But Lili-,"
"No complains. I don't know what is going on downstairs. You are staying up here. Understand?"
"Lili…"
"Nothing out of you," Asilia responded as she began making her way out of the room. Then as an afterthought, she said, "But I hear that Arthur's room is right above the kitchens,"
Blue smiled, knowing exactly what Asilia meant. Asilia smiled back and left the room to go investigate.
Nimbly making her way down the stairs and past the kitchen, and eating room, Asilia froze outside the door leading to the brothel. Pressing her ear against the door, Asilia spent a few moments listening. The first was that of Arthur. This made Asilia suspicious, because she though him along with Wet Stick and Back Lack were off doing business, not staying in the brothel.
He said, "Slow down mate before you trip up,"
Based on the loud clanging of metal that was storming the brothel, and the silence of the clients, Asilia assumed those who were entering the brothel were Backlegs.
The two groups continued to bicker, until a familiar voice told the Backlegs to, "Get out,"
Asilia found the voice to be very familiar and quickly identified it as Jack's Eye, the leader of the Backlegs that patrolled their neighborhood. Asilia then stepped out from the back area and entered the brothel.
Arthur was the first to address her, "Lia, what are you doing here?"
"Good question Arthur," Asilia said while intently staring at her brother.
Arthur was quick to understand Asilia's annoyance with him.
"The real question we should be asking," Continued Asilia as she directed her gaze to the captain, "is why you are here, Jack?"
"What brings you to this establishment?" asked Arthur, as he stood defensively with his arms crossed over his chest.
"There are flares of the resistance springing up," mysteriously said Jack's Eye, "we are looking for a wanted man. He recently escaped our barges. His trail brings us here,"
"C'mon Jack, you know we don't mess with that stuff," Arthur said.
"You don't mind if we look around then?" asked Jack's Eye.
In response Arthur merely opened his arms, gesturing for them to go ahead.
"Look around," said Jack's Eye, "he would be bleeding, he was shot by an arrow during his escape."
Asilia looked around the brothel, being very familiar with the best hiding places. After looking through a few places, she moved towards the walls of the building, where the shadows of the beams could hide anyone. It was here Asilia and saw a man hidden behind a pillar, blood dripping from his hand. Being very discreet, she slowly made her way over to him and examined his face. She almost gasped when she realized who it was, but quickly covered it with a cough. The angular face and beady gaze were all that Asilia needed to see.
The man hidden behind the pillar was none other than Sir William, otherwise known as Goosefat Bill.
"Uncle William, I keep on missing," whined Asilia as she lowered her little bow in disappointment.
"Now come on Asi, you're still a wee girl. It is incredible that at your age you can fire an arrow, to begin with," said Goosefat Bill, as he bent down next to the small girl.
"Lookie here," he said as he helped Asilia string another arrow, "pull the arrow all the way back, as though you wanted to tickle that ear of yours,"
Asilia did as Goosefat Bill said, her eyes narrowed in concentration.
"Relax Asi, relax," cooed Goosefat.
Asilia took a deep breath, allowing herself to release the tension in her body.
"Perfect," said Goosefat, "now concentrate all you can on the target. Don't let yourself become distracted. Release quickly, but gently. The arrow is a babe, the target its cradle,"
Asilia was as intensely focused as she could be, before releasing the arrow. It was as if time had impossibly slowed down as she watched the arrow soar. Its flight seemed to go on forever until all Asilia could hear was the satisfying clunk of the arrow piercing the target. When Asilia came back to reality, she realized that her arrow had almost hit the center.
"Uncle William, I did it! I did it!" cried Asilia as she jumped up and down in glee.
"Well done Asilia," said Goosefat as he ruffled her curly hair.
"Asilia!" called out a voice from the distance, "Where are you?"
"She's with me, Your Highness!" Goosefat Bill yelled in response.
Eventually, Uther Pendragon came to view. Upon seeing her father, Asilia raced over to greet him, eager to share with him her accomplishments.
"Da, Da, Da!" Asilia bounced with excitement.
"What my little knight?" he replied as he bent down and scooped Asilia into his arms.
"I hit the target, I really did this time!"
"Indeed she did," said Goosefat Bill while he walked over to greet the King.
"Sir William, how do you fare today?" asked Uther. He shook the other man's hand.
"As well as I could be, your majesty. I was on my way to the meeting when your rather determined daughter asked for me to help her with her archery," he gave the King a hearty smile, before giving a quick customary bow.
"Nonsense Sir William, we have already discussed this," Uther clapped his free hand on Goosefat's back, "friends shouldn't have to bow to kings,"
"Oh you do have a point," said Goosefat, "then maybe in return you could drop the 'Sir William' for I'm still just Goosefat Bill,"
"Do I have to call you Goose Fat Bill?" innocently asked Asilia in her father's arms, "Because I don't think you're fat, and Mama says to call other's fat is mean,"
Uther and Goosefat Bill laughed, before quickly reassuring that Asilia wouldn't have to call him Goosefat Bill.
"Oh, ok," cheerfully said Asilia before wiggling down from Uther's arms, "I'm going to go now. Mama said I could teach Arthur how to walk,"
"Now now Asilia," Uther said gently, "Arthur is still a babe,"
"I know," Asilia said matter-of-factly, "but Mama said that when babes learn to walk, they're not babes anymore. When Arthur learns how to walk, he won't be a babe anymore, so then he can't cry anymore,"
Once again the two men laughed as Asilia scampered off to the castle, with a head full of determination.
It had been years since Asilia had last seen her uncle-figure, but Asilia was still able to easily recognize him.
Goosefat stared at Asilia, knowing she had found him. His eyes went wide in surprise as well, but only for a second. Asilia barely caught it and hoped it meant that he recognized her. Asilia took a step closer in an effort to perhaps speak to him, but Arthur saw him first. Asilia stared at Goosefat in devastation, knowing that Arthur wouldn't let him escape. Goosefat Bill too, understood. Asilia gave Arthur a pleading look hoping that he would say nothing, but she could tell from his hard gaze that his mind was set.
"At what happens to those who work with the resistance?" asked Arthur, still glancing at Goosefat.
"They're treated like criminals," Jack curtly said, "They get arrested for going against the king."
"And," Arthur continued, "what about those who harbor said criminals?"
"They are treated the same as the criminal themselves," responded Jack's Eye a matter-of-factly.
"I don't think you're welcome here mate," Arthur said as he fully turned to face Goosefat.
Instantly Goosefat lunged out, attempting to perhaps disable Arthur and make a run for it, but to no avail. In seconds, Arthur managed to defeat William, and held him down while a few Backlegs roughly bound Goosefat's wrists with a coarse rope. All Asilia could do was watch. Getting involved would either make things worse for Goosefat, or her family.
Eventually, the black-clad soldiers marched Goosefat out of the brothel, until there was only Jack left.
"We need to talk," Jack's rough voice growled, "far too many things have been happening in this establishment,"
At this, Asilia was curious and nervous. The anxious feeling of having Arthur be discovered as the rightful heir to the throne always loomed over Asilia's head. She wanted to figure out what was going on, and soon.
"Of course," gruffly said Arthur.
Then the lot- Arthur, Asilia, Back Lack, Wet Stick, and Jack's Eye- made their way to the eating area, a small closed-off room between the brothel and the kitchen, normally used as extra storage.
"Oi Asilia," Arthur said, "close the door behind you,"
"Why don't ya get us something to eat?" asked Jack, "Besides, it aint right for a woman to be involved with this. Ya might be too delicate," he then laughed, as if expecting for the others to join in.
Asilia stiffened at the comment, her face remaining placid. She was far too used to the comments. Her response was cold and serious, almost threatening. "Just because I don't have a prick, Jack, doesn't mean that I am as timid as a doe. It'll be best if you get that through your thick skull; otherwise, you might not have one. I'm not going anywhere,"
"Oi Arthur, ya best teach your sister some manners. It aint right for women to feel the need to run them tongue like that," Jack stared at Asilia strangely.
"Let it be Jack," Arthur sternly said, "Lia isn't going anywhere,"
"Fine, but be careful is all I'm saying. Some men would cut her tongue in an instant,"
"Jack," Asilia began, "there's no need to be referring to me in that manner. I'm right here,"
Jack's Eye groaned in frustration, "I aint be talking to you,"
"Oi, I said let it be," Arthur stared down Jack, "Now out there, what the hell was that? What's going on Jack?"
Jack's Eye took a long glance at everyone in the room, directly avoiding eye contact with Asilia. He then took a deep breath and began, "The man in the brothel tonight was none other than the infamous Goosefat Bill,"
"Goosefat Bill?" asked Wet Stick in surprise and shock, "The Goosefat Bill?"
"Who the hell is 'Goosefat Bill'?" asked Arthur, his facial expressions annoyed.
"A rebel scum," spat Jack, "A criminal. And he was in your brothel. This doesn't look good for you Arthur. Your name's been poppin' up a lot up where I am,"