Here is chapter 4 hope you all enjoy! I will begin to update faster because I have a fire under my ass and i want to be able to update weekly on everystory. That is my new goal! wish my luck

love,

dark

Chp 4

Warmth

The early morning air had put a chill down everyone's spine; the frigid air was an unwelcomed visitor that they all hoped left soon. They were once again on their path to Hadrian's Wall, Thor was still half asleep on Milo so Nora kept close to him to make sure he didn't fall off.

"that boy sure loves to sleep" Bors said

"yes he does" Kearia said with a small laugh "he can sleep anywhere, but this journey wears on him he has never been so far"

"never though of that" Bors said as Kearia just shook her head and turned her attention to Dagonet who was painfully sitting on a horse.

"how are you feeling Dagonet" Kearia asked as she rode next to him

"better" he said

"we are going to be soon meeting up with the other I would suggest to rest in the wagon" she said

"I am fine" he replied

"don't bother Kearia, all men are too stubborn for their own good" Nora said "they could be dying with their insides out and try to be all tough"

"that is true" Kearia said

"momma!" Thor said suddenly and she moved her head and saw Thor waving his arms at her "come here ! come here!"

"what what" Kearia said as she rode over and saw what he pointed at as they passed a tree.

"the bird is hurt" Thor said and before he could ask Kearia already knowing what her son wanted shook her head and let out a laugh as she turned Pavi around and went to the tree and stood up on her saddle and climbed the tall tree and reached the injured bird who just let Kearia pick it up. "you got it momma"

"yes" Kearia said as she gently wrapped the bird in a leather cloth and climbed down and jumped on to Pavi's back.

"what is it" Thor said as Milo trotted over to let him inspect the bumdle

"a small falcon" Kearia said "its wing is broken"

"can you fix it" Thor asked and Kearia nodded "do it now"

"I have to wait Thor till we stop" Kearia said as she gently put the falcon in front of her in the saddle "patience Thor"

"sorry momma" he said

"why not go and bother Gran" Kearia said with a smile "she hasn't been tricked by you today has she"

"no your right" Thor said and both him and Milo headed off to go and play a trick on Nora.

"sorry, but a little more discomfort till you are better" Kearia told the bird that was with her on the saddle.

A few hours passed and they had stopped to rest and Kearia settled the birds wing with some sticks and the bird was now calming sitting on a log next to the horses as they all were around a fire. The night was quiet and Kearia once Thor was asleep went out to take her watch and was followed by Tristan who had begun to take a habit of watching when she did. Most of the time they sat in silence and enjoyed the presence of each other, no words were needed.

"will you go home after" Kearia said as she broke the silence and side glanced at Tristan.

"I do not know" Tristan said "I doubt there is anything left"

"I would have though all of you would want to return home from being gone for so long" Kearia said

"why haven't you gone home then" Tristan said as she looked at Kearia "you have been gone a long time"

Kearia thought for a moment and stared back out into the night "I think I have been gone too long to go home" she then turned her head back to Tristan "it wouldn't feel right anymore"

Tristan nodded his head in agreement and they went back into their peaceful silence. About halfway through the night they both had decided to retire for the night because they were heading off early in the morning to make it to the Wall before night fall.

A delicious smell woke up the men from their sleep as they saw Nora and Kearia cooking a meal over the remaining burn of their fire that they had started last night. Thor had come into view holding some more wood and dropped next to this mother as he walked over and tried to see what was in the pot.

Nora quickly gently smacked Thor's hand "not done yet my boy"

"aww but I am hungry" Thor said

"you lad have an abyss where your stomach should be" Nora replied with a chuckled as she stirred the pot.

"momma says it's because I am a growing lad and that someday I will be as tall as my dad" Thor said with a bright smile

"you will be a better man than your father" Nora said with a smile and a kiss on his head as she gave him some of the stew.

Kearia ate the stew with the others and then walked over to Pavi to get her ready and felt that Nora was hot on her trail.

"you never told the boy did you" Nora said and Kearia sighed and looked back at Nora and looked around to see the knights were talking to Thor and Thor was keeping him entertained "you can't keep it from Thor forever my love"

"I know" Kearia said "let him dream for a little time longer, he is still a sweet lil boy"

"who will one day be man, his sweetness will fade as his courage and strength come" Nora said as she walked right up to Kearia "you know that"

"yes I know" Kearia said as she looked lovingly towards her son "but for now let him keep it"

"I know how it is" Nora said and hugged Kearia and kissed her on her cheek "he will ask and you will have to answer"

"I know" Kearia said "until then, is when I will tell him, no sooner no later"

"that's a lass" Nora said with a smile.

Soon they were on the road again heading to the wall once again and Kearia was at the end of everyone while Nora had Thor up front behind Arthur and Lancelot who keep laughing as Thor was apparently talking about something interesting the way his hands were moving around rapidly. Nora had taken over the care of the falcon because she knew how to take care of him better than Kearia since before they came to Britain she had once one of her own. Kearia had a sad smile come on to her face as she for what it seems like the first time that Thor wouldn't remain her sweet little boy forever. That he would grow up into a strong man, who could kill people for what he believes, he will marry with a wife and have kids of his own. He will move on to be his own man and not Kearia's little boy, she would have to let him grow up to make his own mistakes and his own victories, that he will leave Kearia to find his own path in life. Those thoughts brought pains to Kearia's chest but also hope, turmoil of a mother that one day her son will leave. Kearia, let out a quiet sigh knowing that she would have to teach Thor everything she could, before this happened.

"you seem troubled" Tristan said as he rode next to Kearia who glanced his way and she turned her face back towards the path ahead of them.

"just thinking of troubling things" Kearia said "that Thor will leave one day, and may not come back"

"he will" Tristan said as he felt Kearia's stare at him "he had a strong love for his mother, he won't leave you forever"

"I hope so" Kearia said "a rather lonely though to spend the rest of life alone"

"what of your husband" Tristan asked quietly so the others did not hear him.

"he is no longer involved" Kearia said "it was a long time ago"

"doesn't mean you have to spend the remaining time alone" Tristan said as he and Kearia looked at each other as the sky opened up again bringing down a light rain. This caused Tristan to look up and then back at Kearia who mirrored his actions.

"what of you" Kearia said "a scout as you are, has he found himself a companion other than your hawk"

"not yet" Tristan said as he hawk flew to his out stretched hand and then moved to his shoulder.

Hours later they had arrived at the wall and Kearia was resting in a room that Arthur had found for her, Nora and Thor, it was a rather large room. Nora and Thor were off to find Vanora, Nora insisted that she find something to do so Kearia would be able to have more free time with Thor, but promised to ask if Vanora needed helped when Nora could and then Kearia would work and Nora would watch Thor. It was dark by the time Kearia awoke and ventured out of her room and to the tavern after asking a man called Jols who was in the stables where it was.

"Kearia! Good of you to join" Gawain said happily with a women in his lap who was giggleing as Gawain kissed her.

"beat that" Galahad said to Tristan as he threw his knife at a chair and then Tristan took a bite of his apple and threw his knife and it landed in the handle of the one that Galahad had thrown "..no fair"

"Tristan how do you do that" Gawain said and Kearia laughed

"he aims for the middle" Kearia said as she walked over to Tristan and took his other knife and then threw it and it landed in the middle of Tristan's.

"exactly" Tristan said

"you make it so easy looking" Galahad said

"practice" Kearia said

"I give up" Galahad said "why not both of you go at it then if your so good"

Kearia shrugged as she walked over and brought the knives back and threw one and Tristan threw his into hers and she then threw one into his. This went on before Galahad and Gawain realized that both of them wouldn't be able to beat each other.

"I see they gave up" Kearia said as Tristan took another bite of his apple "have you seen Thor or Nora"

Tristan pointed to the other end of the tavern where, Nora was helping Vanora serve and Thor was playing with some children.

"they are Bors" Tristan said and Kearia nodded then excused herself as she headed over to Vanora.

"ahh here you are Kearia, Vanora this is my daughter Kearia" Nora said with a smile

"hello" Vanora said as Arthur came and got the knights that they were going to get their papers from the bishop. "you looked like you would be helpful around here"

"I worked at similar places before" Kearia said with a smile.

After sometime Kearia was heading back to her room after Nora and Vanora told her to go, she walked passed a room and saw the knight's storm heading out with papers. She stayed a little ways back as she saw them walk by. Kearia made a detour and headed up to the side of the wall where she could over look most of the land beyond the wall. Footsteps led her attention to behind her as she turned and saw Tristan come to stand besides her.

"the Romans are leaving" Tristan said "leaving it for the Saxons"

Kearia closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh, she knew they were leaving, she knew but yet she still felt as if they had cheated this land, to fight for it and then to leave it.

"cowards" Kearia said "run when a challenge arises."

"they are Romans" Tristan said as they both looked out into the night and they saw lights.

"god no" Kearia said as she strained her eyes "don't tell me"

"Saxons" Tristan said as they heard and alarm sound and countless people were running up on the wall to look.

Soon they both saw Arthur on the wall with them with Guinevere behind them looking out at all the lights that had came into view. Their fear, loss, regret and enemies were now here, before them. There would be no more running. Kearia closed her eyes and took a deep breathe in, she could no longer run, but she hoped she could have.