Time to ride to our deaths and a touch.
The following morning, Arthur found his knights and the Three riders. He was silent as he walked in, going straight for his horse that stood next to Aerith's large steed. "He looks just like you described him in your letters." He let the beast smell of his hand before rubbing his cheek. "Ignis. Such a good name for something so untamed." He smiled at her when Lancelot asked what that meant.
"Fire. His name is Fire." She smiled at him. "The Black horse is named, Mors. The gray is Steel." She smirked at him, "Named by their coats, by their behavior on the battle field. Pray none of us fall. I fear for the man that knocks her off." She nodded her head over to Aslini. "A shame…another man lost trying to take her from him." She smirked when Arthur headed out on his horse, she and the others followed. "Et moneret eam, ut equitare"
Tristan smiled when Arthur spoke from the front, "We are not riding out to our deaths, Aerith." He smiled, her Latin had gotten better. She spoke with purpose, or to frighten his men. Either one, he didn't seem to care, she was back. His friend was back, and rode beside him and Lancelot, keeping pace with their horses as the left the Wall for the estate to the north of the wall.
Tristan couldn't help but laugh as he rode ahead of them; only to be followed by the one they called Steel. His rider looked at the man grinning from under the helmet. "Aerith wants me to ride out with you." Asilini. He smiled and nodded to her, "Of course. Keep up, stay quite." He pushed ahead as she followed closely behind him.
Westor and Aerith talked to Arthur about their trip to the island, they had not fared well upon coming here. They had lost a few good men to the Woads and the sea itself. Aerith mentioned something to Arthur about seeing a man on the shore that nor woad nor one of his own. Said she had a bad feeling about him, in the way he stared at them upon their landing on the beach. Westor told Arthur about the arrival upon seeing them, and how Merlin allowed them to set foot on the shore, said something about, helping. They all laughed it off upon seeing the Estate.
"The Estate…" Tristan and Asilini had made it their first, shortly joining up with Arthur and the others. Tristan liked Aslini, she was indeed quite, so quite he almost forgot she was even behind, step for step. He grinned, she hummed once she realized it was safe to do as she pleased, he could tell she was a young one, younger than him by at least a few years, but so bright about her life and the things around her. He snapped out of his thoughts by Arthur demanding to be let in.
Aerith sighed, feeling an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach; this was the very man that sent her way. She pulled her horse around and moved him towards the sound in the distance, "Drums…Arthur. Hurry." She kicked his stallion into a full gallop. She had to see how close they were, with or without Arthurs consent. She couldn't bear to lose him to the Norse men that were heading this way, they burn everything she fought to keep alive; they would kill the knights, the people around them. And leave her there to watch them. "Qupniam non Non igitur ulra" (Not today; not ever again. *Latin*)
Arthur watched as Aerith and Westor rode off towards the sound of Drums, his heart didn't want her to go, but he hoped it might be for the best if they went to see how close the army was. He turned his attention to a wall and men placing stones on it. He demanded it be opened, once inside he found two priests and two alive. A boy and a young woman, a woad. He took both the boy and the woman out with him and walled the men up. "Everyone who is able, get what you can, Saxons are coming. They will kill all in their wake. Others please in the wagons and let us leave this place at once!" He looked around not seeing Aerith or Westor. He placed the woman and child with Dagonet in the medical wagon, returning to his horse, tying her off at the back of the wagon. He joined Dagonet and helped set the fingers on the woad.
The sound of approaching thunder made the knights turn to see Aerith and Westor galloping back with a few arrows and a crossbow. "Armor piercing arrows. We have a good days ride ahead of them. But I fear they will not sleep tonight, not long." She turned to Aerith, "Aerith got nicked, nothing bad. She will live." Westor smiled at her sister before returning to Arthur with the news.
Aerith sighed, "Loud mouth." She turned to Lancelot whom seemed to be in a foul mood. "Rain and snow, can't be a good sign." She smiled at him holding her shoulder, keeping the blood from spilling anymore. "Tell you what; you can take my armor off when we stop. Might even let you see some skin." She smirked when he blushed and grinned at her. "See, there's that grin. But I am serious."
Lancelot was in a foul mood, damn woad. Speaking out of tongue to him. He growled and moved farther back, his horse bumping into Aerith's stallion, which nipped his back. He reined his horse in before anything could start between them. He looked up at Aerith. She was beautiful in the snow, her hair flowed as the wind blew it around her. He noticed she was holding her shoulder, and speaking to him about showing him some flesh. Her grinned made him smile back. He returned to her shoulder where she held her hand, blood started to show through her glove. "You're bleeding; Dagonet should see to that…not me." He blushed when she asked him to remove her armor and offered to show him some skin.
Dagonet had heard of Aerith's wound, once stopped at a camp he found her shortly after taking care of Lucian. He found her next to Lancelot by a small pool of water. He grinned as he watched Lancelot fumble with Aerith's armor. "Need help undressing a woman, Lancelot?" He moved to him helping him remove the right side of her arm. The metal was rather light, and yet thick. He saw all the blood, though it was only stains, the blood had dried. He stood back as Aerith removed the rest of her armor suit, so she could at least give Dagonet and Lancelot room to move in her tunic. Dag was about as caught up in Aerith's small frame as Lancelot was; watching every move she made. "That will do."
Aerith smiled at Dagonet, "Well, if you say so." She took a seat next to Lancelot as Dagonet brought out his sew kit. "It's not deep, that's why I didn't say anything. I've had way worse. Ask Arthur or even Jols." She smiled up at him, but blushed when his fingers found her wound. His palm gently grazed the upper part of her breast; she let out a soft moan. Arching her upward, earning a groan from both Lancelot and Dagonet. She blushed and turned her face away when Arthur approached them. "Just a scratch." She sighed when Lancelot got up and left them.
Arthur looked at her as Dagonet cleaned the wound and confirmed it was only a scratch. Though he didn't notice that his friends were blushing as they nodded to one another. "I am glad you are okay. I don't think I could lose you again. It would kill me to know that Saxon's got their filthy hands on you." He placed his head upon hers before returning to his duties. And letting her rest. He thought of how both of his most unusual knights had come to her aid. Lancelot and Dagonet, wooing over her small frame. Yet, Lancelot had his eyes on another prize for sure. He noticed that Tristan had taking a liking to Aslini, showing her his bow, his bird and horse. He shook his head and wondered what Aerith would think of this, or if she even cared. He looked at Westor; she was placing some furs around the small child. Showing him a small creature she had carved out of oak. It appeared to be a horse with wings. He smiled even bigger. He thought to himself, they belong here… with us. He was slightly distracted by something in the distance, and proceeded to follow suit of it.
Gawain had mentioned something to Galahad and laughed while pointing at something one of the Roman's had done wrong. Smiles were all around even when Tristan placed a red hair knight in his lap. "Tristan, how come is it, that when some strange knight shows up, you get all soft. I mean look, you are here now, braiding her hair. Like she needs more braids. Go braid Aerith's if Arthur will let you." Gawain ducked when a dagger came out of nowhere hitting a man behind Gawain. A scuffle had started. An arrow flew and Bors rode in hot. Gawain grabbed his sword, waiting for the tension to wean out. He noticed Aerith with a few daggers in hand, batting her lashes at Arthur as he passed by them.
Westor had only left for a moment when she heard the commotion. Once upon arrival, the sick lad she gave the horse to, ran to her. Clinging to her leg for dear life. "Easy Lucian…" She looked up at Dagonet and smiled. "If only I had known, they had such terraces thoughts about them. I would have never left his side. Nor shall I now. He will ride out with me, My furs will keep him warm." She scooped him up into her arms and walked back over into the darkness she had come from. "Stupid men. Should've killed them when we were at the estate." She rubbed Lucian's head, before settling him down for the night. She snuggled close to him and looked back to meet Aerith's gaze and nod, "WE leave before dawn…"