Here is the seventh chapter then and I hope you will enjoy it. Thanks for the encouraging reviews of Shorty6692, interfan and Vamsi and more reviews would be really great for this chapter.
Apologies for the very long gap between chapters; I really am an unreliable updater but I will endeavour to improve.

Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur or the characters from the film. This is for entertainment purposes only.


Seven

Sanctuary

I first became aware of a soft, yielding bed beneath my sore body as I burst into consciousness, like a swimmer breaking the water's surface for air. For a moment I simply lay there, unwilling to move but the sluggish opening of my eyes revealed to me a most welcome sight: a small and simple room, containing only the bed I lay upon and a window with raindrops beating a steady pulse against the pane. At the foot of the bed was a dress of rough material, shoes and a steaming bath, the origins of which were unknown to me. However, one thing I instinctively knew was that I was now at Arthur's fort, and safe at last.

I tentatively swung my weary legs over the side of the cot and instantly shivered at the unpleasant cool that greeted me as I stood in merely a shift. I could not recall changing from my travelling garments, nor even how I had arrived at the fort in the first place. I found this rather worrying, but blamed it upon being tired and maybe even having fallen asleep in the latter stages of our journey. I certainly hoped not, but I could not fret about such things in the past. The tempting prospect of a warm bath remained at the forefront of my mind as it had been so long since I had had access to such a delightful luxury. Glancing around to scrutinise the privacy the room granted me, but finding it to my satisfaction, I quickly stripped off and entered the water. I briefly submerged myself entirely in the water to fulfil a childish indulgence before setting about the task of cleaning the accumulated grime from my skin with the scented soap someone had kindly left beside the metal tub. After days of lonely confinement and then an eventful ride through the British wilderness, an ordinary bath became an extravagance I was truly thankful for. I lingered longer than was perhaps necessary in the water but, feeling much refreshed, exited the tub and looked around for means to dry myself with. It became apparent that the thoughtful person who had fetched me a much needed bath, had in fact neglected to accompany it with a towel. I could hardly complain however and used the blanket from my bed to dry my hair and body as best I could.

Having donned the ill-fitting brown dress and worn shoes, I also discovered that the leather pouch Hadrianus had given to me on the dawn of our separation had been left untouched. Almost instantly my cheerful mood vanished to be replaced by a deep sadness and also an undercurrent of anger felt towards those who had betrayed me. I would never forget nor forgive my uncle for the wicked actions he had committed but I hoped that my arrival at Arthur's fort would signal a new chapter in my life - one full of hope. Gently opening the pouch, I checked that the money and more importantly, the envelope were still within and I recalled Hadrianus' command to hand Arthur the letter upon reaching the heavily fortified Roman town. That was something that I decided to do now and perhaps meeting the Sarmatians again would dispel my melancholy frame of mind. Hastily smoothing down my unruly dark tresses, I opened the door and stepped cautiously into the corridor, shutting the door behind me with a resounding click. The hallway was devoid of people but I could see that there were several other rooms, all with their doors uninvitingly shut. Tightening my grip around my pouch, I decided on a whim to follow the corridor to the left where I caught sight of a set of descending stairs. It seemed a good idea to reach the ground floor of the strange building before seeking out the knights as this corridor was entirely empty and furthur explorations may result in losing myself in an unfamiliar building. As I purposefully strode down the steps, the sounds of activity reached my ears, filling me both with nervousness and relief in equal measures. Quickening my pace, I traced the noises to my right where there were two majestic doors that stood slightly ajar and so I approached the imposing doors and knocked politely but firmly.

Silence followed and for several seconds I held my breath, wondering agitatedly if I had once again stumbled unwittingly upon some secret meeting. My heart pounded rapidly as I recalled the trouble that a similar situation had plunged me into at my uncle's fort and I hastily turned to leave in order to find someone else, more willing to assist me, but a voice unexpectedly called out and stopped me in my tracks.

"Who is it?" It sounded like a young boy who seemed almost as apprehensive as I was. Emboldened slightly by the knowledge of part of their identity, I pushed one door open and stepped through the threshold. My gaze instantly alighted on the figures of three children -two boys and a small girl, who all stared up at me with a healthy measure of bravado and guilt as if they were eyeing up some ferocious enemy. We were facing each other in a beautiful, lavish room dominated by a peculiar circular table made of a smooth dark wood upon which were several unlit candlesticks and one of these had been overturned, I presumed by the children during their mischief.

"My name is Isolde," I answered seriously to the eldest boy's question. He looked about ten summers to my reckoning. "I was looking for someone."

"You're that woman dad had to rescue, aren't you?" He commented brashly, looking critically at me and the guilty bluster evaporating from all of them as if I had just been relegated from a possible threat to an unassuming, harmless stranger. The other two exacted identical scrutiny and, although I would not dare admit it, I felt quite discomfited at the confrontation. I had never had much experience with children and had no idea how to act at this meeting. His words also caught me off guard yet I was not leftb to ponder upon his parentage long. "I'm Gilly and this is Six and Seven. Dad's a knight, y'know, he's Bors."

Swallowing my astonishment at the younger children's names and their now obvious resemblance to the loud knight in both character and appearance, I enquired stiffly, "Can you tell me where the knights are now, Gilly?"

"They're at the stables now, preparing to leave. It's just round the corner," Gilly replied, gesturing vaguely with his dirty hands. Suddenly his sister piped up worriedly in a wavering voice,

"You won't tell Ma you saw us here, will you? She'd kill us." The girl was so earnest when she said these words that I was taken aback. Would they really get in such trouble for being in this place and, more importantly to me, would I? I shook my head and gave a brief strained smile in an attempt at reassurance.

"Ma will kill us now if we don't get to the gates in a minute. Come on, Six and Seven," Gilly shouted authoritatively, seizing his siblings by the arms and forcibly dragging them towards the exit at a run. "Thanks ma'am!" I watched as they left, their partially torn and soiled clothes disappearing from sight and shook my head slightly in a mixture of amusement and confusion. However, the boy's words registered properly in my mind and I soon followed after them, being careful to shut the door behind me as I left. He had said they were 'preparing to leave', but had given no more information about the nature of their departure.

I found my way outside and the large stables were nearby as Gilly had suggested. There were unmistakable voices coming from within and so I entered immediately, feeling it would be silly to knock at the door of a stable. Inside, it was like any other stable with rows of stalls, some containing horses, other empty and there ahead of me were the seven Sarmatian knights.

"Isolde! You've awoken already! We thought you would only wake in time to see us return," Galahad quipped good-humoredly, beckoning me over. My shyness had partially returned and I offered only a restrained general greeting. They did not seem to mind and talk and preparations continued around me.

"As you see, we must depart now and so I shall not be granted the pleasure of your company until our return," Lancelot flirted suggestively, already mounted on his beautiful dark horse. I flushed at the meaning of his words and instead returned Dagonet and Lamorak's smiles, finding them altogether more civilised at the current time. Gawain was lazily examining his axe but meet my look with a friendly grin through his wild golden locks and Bors was complaining loudly of his lack of time to spend at the tavern and bemoaning his fate when 'Vanora gets her hands on' him. Tristan wore his flowing, odd garb as usual and was lounging nonchalantly against a stall, chewing another green apple whilst they awaited their leader's arrival. He met my gaze with disconcerting indifference so that I was forced to look away. Moments later Arthur himself arrived with long Excalibur sheathed in his hand and, as he caught sight of me standing there, incongruous with the stable surroundings, he approached me.

"I am afraid we have been called to investigate claims of bandit raids to the south. We may be absent for a few days but I do not think bandit will pose any serious problems to us. You still have the evidence?" I nodded firmly and revealed the envelope from the leather pouch. "Then keep it safe until my return when I shall take it from you and see what can be done for your situation. The fort has received no warning about you from your uncle so you are free to explore, but be wary." I listened attentively to his advice and was heartily relieved to hear that my uncle had not spread his nets so far yet. Arthur swung gracefully onto his white steed and I flattened myself against the walls in preparation for their departure. "Isolde, I also recommend that you get a job here, so that you can support yourself in the future. We will help you as much as we are able though, but you should still visit Hedera, to ask for a job as a maid. I believe they are short of staff at the moment." I stopped myself from frowning ungratefully at the idea which I knew was practical and wise, but I still found the prospect distasteful. It was vital that I could support myself soon as the money Hadrianus had gifted to me would not last very long. I reminded myself that there were many worse jobs for women around the forts... There was also another issue that caused an obstruction if I was to impress this Hedera.

"I have no dress of my own to wear when I seek her out..." I trailed off self-consciously. All the clothes I owned were badly-fitting boy's breeches, tunic, boots and a cloak. None of these were particularly suitable when requesting employment as a maid if that is what I must be.

"Pay a visit to my betrothed then. She is a seamstress in her father's shop and if you tell her I sent you, I am sure she can fix something up for you," Lamorak interjected helpfully and I nodded, thankful that that specific problem could be easily solved.

"We shall leave now, but we will return soon. Farewell, Isolde," Arthur bade me solemnly. I quietly returned his parting words to him and all the Sarmatians along with a stumbling voiced hope that they would all return to the fort unharmed. They chuckled lightly at this and I supposed they were not afraid of the rumoured bandits - they thought they would all come back. With a final glance at me, the knights spurred their horses into motion and cantered from the stables in a noisy clatter of hooves. I watched their individual expressions as they passed and most offered me a comforting smile before disappearing down the street towards the gates.

For a while I stood , looking after the knights in a pensive trance. I had not expected to be deserted almost as soon as I arrived in the unfamiliar fort I was meant to make my new home in. I had presumed and hoped that Dagonet would be there to watch over me as protectively as he had been throughout our journey, and that compassionate Arthur would be there to shield me from any trouble that may befall me. Now none of the knights would be able to help me and I would be utterly alone in this strange, new world. It filled me with dismay and deep disappointment to be left alone so unexpectedly after I had begun to trust the knights. I knew that it would do me no good to mope at their absence all day and so I shyly asked a groom, who introduced himself chilvalrously as Jols, where I might find the seamstress that Lamorak had recommended.

Following his detailed directions, I found myself walking or rather stealing as stealthily as I could through the streets of the fort itself. I attracted plenty of unwanted attention despite, or perhaps because of my precautions but there were no openly hostile glares, only glances of curiousity. I realised with a pleasant jolt that no one knew of my Irish blood here or my strange, quiet ways and that I could assume a new reputation, one that would not have me living eternally in the shadows. There was only the problem of my accent, but perhaps it would not be too noticeable to strangers who knew nothing of my background. Boosted slightly by the confidence of a new identity, I entered the samstress shop as soon as I came upon it, but once I was faced by the owner, a burly middle-aged man, my timidity crept back as my new-found confidence was vanquished.

"I have come to purchase a dress...or actually three, please sir,"I requested, faltering over the details. The man nodded gruffly and shouted something I could not catch through a doorway behind him. I waited nervously, swinging my money purse back and forth until a young blonde woman, perhaps a little older than me, stepped through the doorway to converse with the owner.

"Come with me if you please,"she said politely, adding a welcoming smile. Edging past the intimidating man, I slipped into her workshop which was filled with dresses in various stages of completion and a myriad of different fabrics. I gazed around in wonder for a moment at the beautiful colours and textures, ranging from rich reds to practical greys. "My name is Celia. You said you would like three dresses. Have you any idea of the style or the use of the garments?"

I glanced back at her suddenly. She was a fairly pretty woman with lovely pale green eyes that would have driven me to envy if I had been more vain. "Isolde," I began by introducing myself rather too abruptly. "I would like two simple dresses for indoor work or normal wear and another dress to wear for special occasions." I would have winced at my cool and aloof manner if it were not for the fact that she seemed to not notice it at all. Instead, she showed me some fabrics first for the two day dresses but, as she showed me some, I turned them down for being too plain or too drab with an almost sharp tone that was entirely alien to my usual character. I noticed that she was getting irritated by my cold and discourteously terse responses from the way she pursed her lips and creased her forehead and I felt awful fo my behavious but could not summon myself enough to offer an apology.

"How about this one?" Celia enquired neutrally, holding up a sample of light slate blue material. "It is sturdy enough for work and would suit you well. And this material for the other dress perhaps?" She offered a thicker green swathe of fabric which was a nice natural tone.

"They would do very well, thank you," I agreed awkwardly. She seem to relax in a subtle display of relief and began to take my measurements required to fashion the dresses accurately. I stiffly waited as she measured in stony silence, her annoyance with my attitude now palpable, but I could only blame myself. Once she had finished this task, she asked shortly,

"What material would you like for your final dress?" I browsed through the fabrics as quickly as possible before settling on a patterned dark crimson cloth that caught my eye in particular. Celia seemed to approve of my choice and I decided to leave the finer details of the styling of the gown up to her. I was not sure if I would really need as grand a dress as this, but I considered it a small treat which Hadrianus' bequest would amply cover.

"Would you like payment for the dresses now?" I asked quietly as she busied herself around the workshop, leaving me to stand there not knowing quite what to do. She did not look up from her activities when she replied.

"No. You can pay upon collection of your finished garments, miss. The other seamstress and I can have them completed in two days. Good day." Recognising my curt dismissal, I bade farewell and thanked her twice for her time before all but fleeing the seamstress shop with flaming cheeks. I felt so embarrassed and foolish at my actions. It was as if my behaviour was something totally outside my control and instead I watched myself ruin a chance at friendship, or at the very least, gaining the goodwill of at least one of the citizens of the fort. This was only made worse by the fact that she was betrothed to Lamorak, one of the more amiable knights who had extended a kind of frienship to me during our travels, but now surely that would be withdrawn.

I proceeded quickly through the busy streets, dodging nimbly to avoid a woman carrying a laundry basket and gave a patrol of Roman soldiers a wide berth as they sauntered past. It was not unlike the fort of my uncle with shops, market stalls and a confluence of motley people of all ages and histories. The comforting sounds of daily life washed over me and for once, I felt as if I could blend into the crowd just walking along. It was a strangely liberating feeling and calmed my frayed nerves from my experience earlier that morning somewhat.

Eventually, through trial and error I arrived back at the building I was a temporary resident of and entered into the main hall. Inside, I found that I had stumbled upon a young woman cowering slightly under the wrath of an older, plump woman. It appeared that there had been a spillage and I immediately sympathised with the woman who had dropped the water. I had always been cursed with an ungainly clumsiness and knew that it could attract great trouble from my past experiences. I tried to tactfully avoid the confrontation and slip off up the stairs to my room, but the elderly woman decided to finish her rebuke and addressed me now with a more kindly but still formidable glance.

"Would you be Isolde?"She demanded with a heavy, unnatural emphasis on my name. I affirmed that I was indeed Isolde and could not help but worry as to why she wanted me. "Artorius told me that you may require a position as a maid." She raised her eyebrows questioningly and I nodded, biting my lip hard. "Then follow me, girl!"

The woman I guessed was Hedera led me to a small study down a small, dingy hallway which we entered and sat opposite each other - she slouched easily in her seat whilst I, in stark contrast perched edgily on the chair. Hedera crossed her hands intimidatingly and looked me sharply in the eye until I had to glance away nervously.

"So...you wish to be a maid for rthur and the knights then?" This startled me immediately but, remembering my position and purpose, recovered myself and answered her as she expected. "You're young and flighty. How old are you?"

"Twenty-one, ma'am," I answered obediantly, observing my hands in great detail to avoid meeting her gaze.

"Understand that you cannot exploit this position to gain access to the Sarmatians' beds," the woman in charge household affairs said distastefully. I looked horrified at her insinuation about my character and my mouth fell open a little in shock. I made haste to assure her that I had no such intentions but my expression had probably told her as much already and her leathery lips twisted in derisive mirth. "Good. Well, you shall have to do. You may start when the knights return, whenever that may be. You shall have to clean their rooms, do their laundry and whatever else they may require. You may go now." Another curt dismissal but I did not care much and returned hurriedly to my room. I was cheered up by my acceptance into the job, it seemed to have more significance to me than just becoming a maid for the knights. It was as if I had been accepted partly into the fort in a small way, but everyone must start with small beginnings I reminded myself.

I could only pray that Arthur and the knights would return shortly and safely. In the meantime, I would have to remedy my problems alone.