The Vicious Lover – Chapter 4
The Knights all stared at the woman and Tristan in utter astonishment.
"How can you say such things Tristan?" Bors said. "You know that they cannot be true, she is a woman." Tristan smiled slightly.
"Ask her." Tristan said as he looked down at the woman. Arthur immediately looked at the woman, curiosity in his eyes. "I kill woads myself and I have heard them speak in fear of the Vicious Lover."
"Is this true?" She remained silent looking down at the table. She quickly raised her eyes to Arthur.
"Your scout is very good Arthur, you should be proud of him."
"So it is true," Lancelot said. "You are a scout?"
"I am."
"I do not believe it!" Gawain said. "You're a woman!"
"But I still have the same skills with a sword Gawain." Lancelot laughed before he turned his eyes to her and spoke.
"Is that why the woads attacked and raped you?" She blushed and looked to her feet.
"I have always known how to fight, despite my father's hatred for it. I found that after my mother's death I could only escape from nightmares and my father by killing. I took enjoyment in it, killing those who had inflicted so much misery on me."
"So you kill woads?" Galahad asked in amusement.
"Of course. I would go hunting at night killing up to twelve at one time. After a time the woads named me the Vicious Lover."
"Why the Vicious Lover?" Lancelot asked.
"Because I was loved by people with the exception of my father but when I had a sword in my hand I was the most lethal person the woads had ever encountered. I frightened them to the extent that Merlin was becoming angry. I was killing off his whole community, I was a risk to him. A risk that he needed to be rid of."
"So that is why the woads attacked your home?" Gawain said. "But why did they not kill you?"
"I do not know. I can only figure that it was meant as a warning, showing what Merlin can do to not only me but also to the people that I love. Recently I have thought of giving up on scouting for the one reason that I place other people in danger but now all I wish for is revenge."
The Knights who sat around the table stared at her in disbelief.
"I did not wish to tell you," She started. "I was afraid of what you might say mostly Tristan. I thought he would be angry and disgusted at hearing that a woman kills for pleasure and a release."
"I feel nothing of the kind." Tristan said as he walked around the table and retook his seat. "I can understand why you were led to kill. The woads killed your family I would have done the same in your situation."
"Thank you. But Merlin will still wish me dead, I have killed too many of his men for him to let me live." Arthur looked her in the eye and saw the hatred of that man in her eyes.
"You can remain here, you will be safe. The woads do not come near the wall, they stand at the woods in the distance but that is as close as they dare come."
"Thank you Arthur." Arthur nodded to her.
"What weapons do you use?" Gawain asked.
"I do not think that is a necessary question Gawain." Arthur said.
"No." She interrupted. "It is alright. I mostly use double swords similar to Lancelot's but apart from that I use daggers and bows. Like Lancelot I am also ambidextrous."
"I think I shall have to see these blades in action." Lancelot said. "And see if they are equal to mine." She laughed at him.
"You get me some blades Sir Lancelot and I should hold you to that!" Lancelot winked at her before Bors spoke.
"I think I can smell a wager!" The Knights cheered. Lancelot held his cup of wine up to her.
"When you are fully healed then." He said to her.
"I do not need to be healed to fight a reckless man such as you Lancelot, I could fight you with my eyes closed." The Knights laughed.
"What is your name then?" Arthur asked. "You cannot expect us to call you the Vicious Lover." She smiled at him.
"No, I could not ask you to call me that." She said. "You may call me Amelia." The Knights smiled at one another.
"Such a beautiful name, for such a beautiful woman." Lancelot said. She nodded her head to him.
"Are you going to find those swords for me Lancelot so I can make you fall on your ass?" The Knights laughed at her.
"It would be my pleasure." He said as he stood. "I will meet you in the training ground in an hour." She smiled happily before relaxing back in her chair, this was going to be fun.
As Amelia stood in the training ground she watched as Lancelot walked over to her, a pair of blades in his hands. She grinned at him as he passed her the blades. She examined them quickly, spinning them through her hands.
"Very nice." She said to Lancelot. He grinned at her.
The other Knights with the exception of Arthur were now stood at the side of the training ground with anticipation of watching the coming fight.
"If I win," She said. "You can buy me a drink." He laughed.
"Aright. And if I win, what do I get?"
"Anything you want." She grinned at him.
"You in my bed for the night." She laughed.
"No. I am sure that you can find another woman to entertain you tonight." A cheeky grin came across Lancelot's face.
"I will settle for a drink then." She nodded her head in agreement.
Lancelot drew his swords quickly and there was a cheer from the watching Knights.
"You should have put on some better clothes," Lancelot said. "So when I throw you to the ground you will not ruin that pretty dress of yours." She grinned at him as she spun her swords.
"Very unlikely."
Lancelot made the first move toward her and she easily blocked his attack, using the swords to throw him away from her. She immediately charged at him raising one sword above her head and one below. He blocked the top blade but the second went between his legs. She smiled at him before she tapped the blade on his thigh. He pushed her away quickly, a look of amusement on his face. She laughed aloud.
The fighting continued for a while until Lancelot hit one of Amelia's blades and it flew out of her hand. He laughed. She looked to the blade which was on the floor a few meters away. Lancelot was too busy laughing to see the fist coming toward his cheek. Amelia's fist collided with Lancelot's cheek and sent him flying onto the floor. Amelia quickly jumped on him knees by his sides and sword at his throat.
"You cheated!" Lancelot said. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Do you expect woads to be fair when they are trying to kill you? You have to be aware of anything, even a fist." There was a cheer from the Knights behind them. Amelia looked up at them but screamed when Lancelot pushed her over and pinned her to the ground, holding her wrists.
"I see that you were not prepared my Lady." Lancelot whispered in her ear. She laughed. She struggled against him but he held her steady not letting her move from his grasp.
"You still owe me a drink." She said.
"Ah, but you did not kill me and I think that at the moment I have the advantage."
"Did you want me to kill you?" She asked.
"No I did not even think that you would do as well as you did. You are a remarkable fighter. Your father should have been proud." She looked straight up into his eyes.
"You are hurting my leg." She said before laughing. Lancelot quickly jumped up and helped her to her feet. They stood looking at each other for a moment before Amelia pushed Lancelot.
"I still won!" She said.
"Oh no you didn't." He said as he tried to grab her but she ran away. He quickly caught her and threw her over his shoulder. He walked over to the other Knights, Amelia screaming abuse in his ear.
"What do you think that we should do with her?" He asked the other Knights as they laughed.
"To the tavern!" Bors yelled. They all agreed and walked through the crowded streets, Amelia still punching Lancelot's back.