Tension... that's the only thign I can say. Tons of tension.

7

I awoke to feel nothing around me, telling me Lancelot wasn't there. I blinked the blurry vision of sleep away, and got up, looking around. No one esle was sleeping, they were all outside, I could just hear them through the wall.

"Arthur, they'll chase us until they get us, you realize that, right?" I heard Galahad say. "I know. Everyone's scattered, those who survived... which is plenty. But we may never be able to gather if we're all being chased. And... I don't want to place Talin in any more danger. We do this all the time, but she shouldn't be with us, it'll get her killed." Arthur replied. "So what, we're going to leave her here and lead the Woads away?!" Gawain snapped. "If it'll keep her safe, yes." Arthur said. There was a silence. "You know we can't leave her, our minds will be on her the whole time, worrying. We'll get distracted and killed." I heard Tristan mumble.

More silence.

"Ok, fine, we'll vote. But to make this more fair, turn your backs to everyone else." I heard a faint shuffling. "Excuse me, little girl, I need a favor. Can you count how many raise there hands when i ask a question?" I heard Arthur ask. I heard a quiet, "Yes."

"Those who think it best to leave her behind, raise your hand." They waited. "Ok." The little girl said. "And those who want to take her with us?" Arthur said. More pauses. "Ok." The little girl said.

"So, which question had more hands?" Arthur asked. "Three for letting her stay, four for taking her." I let out my breath. "Well, that settles it, she's with us. We'll have to leave while the snow is melted, and hopefully weather or other people can cover our tracks." Arthur murmured, and I heard them heading for the door. I pulled the blanket back over me and pretended to be asleep.

A little while later I "woke up". We ate a silent breakfast, and then Arthur simply said it was time to move out. I got up behind Dagonet, and fell asleep against his back, still tired.

"Talin." I heard a voice so soft and far away whisper. "Talin." It called, a little closer, and louder. Then, it was seemingly next to my ear, yelling, "Talin!!!!" I jolted awake, and found Dagonet looking at me very frustratedly. "What? Did I miss something?" I asked, looking around slightly. "No, we stopped, and I need you to get off so i can." I murmured an apoligy (sp?!?!) and slid off, only to nearly fall. "How much sleep did you get last night?" Galahad asked, grabbing my arm to balance me. "Not as much as i thought." I mumbled.

We had stopped briefly for bathroom breaks. Being the only girl, I completely blocked them off, and as i relieved myself, a thought suddenly hit so hard it made me gasp.

VANORA!!!!!

She wasn't with us, neither were any of the children... oh my god!!! With heart pounding, I stood by Dag's horse, breathing near impossible. As the others returned, I couldn't find the words to ask. I simply got back up, and we rode on. Where was she? Where were the kids? Why didn't Bors seem to be worried? What was going on?!

When night came I remembered also... wasn't that the village we'd been heading for? Where were we going now? So many unanswered questions filled my mind, I felt to the point of bursting. Finally I could stand it no longer, and stood up in a flurry. 7 pairs of worried eyes looked up at me, but I did not answer the questioning gaze Arthur gave me. I snatched up my cloak, and walked away from the fire light towards a clearing i had seen just a few minutes before we'd reached our stop.

I was surpirsed no one followed, but continued going. I didn't need light to know I was in the clearing eventually, and I began etching elaborate designs in the snow with a twig. Once finished, I found myself looking at a mysterious writing etched onto a crescent shape. Somehow, I'd known the letters, but the answer to what it said was just beyond my reach.

A crest... I thought.

Suddenly I heard someone say, "You're an easy target out here, even in the dark." I quickly swiped the design away, and looked up at Tristan. "If there wasn't snow you may not have found me." I said, snapping the twig and throwing it over my shoulder as if to rid of the drawing.

He smirked. "I still would have found you, simply put." He said, crossing his arms. I gave him an annoyed glance and rose from my crouched position over the snow, shaking flakes off the edge of my cloak. "Also, the black does stand out well against the white." I shrugged. "Oh well. It's not like I'm trying to hide." I said.

"Were you?" I heard him ask, both to me and himself. I sharpened my gaze to a light glare.

He raised his hands as if to say, "Meant no harm." But the flicker of slyness in his eyes told me he was playing his little mind game. I headed back for camp, ignoring him as he began to follow.

"So, what was that all about?" He asked, raising his eyebrows to show interest. "None of your business, within the week you'll probably know anyways." He shrugged a little. "Whatever you say." He mumbled.

Back at camp, I dropped heavily onto my "bed" and turned my back to the fire, sighed, and slowly drifted into a dreamless sleep.

I was awoken by a poke on the arm. I opened my eyes slightly, and Lancelot was hovering over me. "Time to go, get up." He said. I slowly got on my feet, ad pulled the cloak tight around me as a cold breeze blew brutally.

"I'm surprised the cold didn't wake you up sooner." He said, lifting my pack for me. Obviously I was riding with him. Once all traces that we were there was gone, I swung up behind him, and then we were off.

I began quietly humming a melody to myself, trying to keep myself from paying attention to the cold. Again, Vanora's cheerful face, and then the children, appeared in my mind. I began to hum a sadder tune, that turned into one completely miserable and dreary.

Lancelot, hearing the song through the wind, looked over his shoulder at me. "What's wrong?" He asked quiet enough so no one else would hear. I realized a frozen tear was running down my cheek. I swiped it away quickly, and replied, "Nothing, must've left my eyes open too long." I said, blinking a few times.

He continued, "And that song you were humming sounded like one made for the dead." I shrugged. He eyed me, but decided to stop staring at returned to his normal position.

I sighed, and let the song continue, twisting into a song revealing dread, sorrow, and such a miserable sense that it should be played by an instrument at funerals for someone great who had lots of family and friends.

Lancelot again looked at me. "Ok, enough of your humming, you're making us all depressed. What's wrong, and don't lie this time." I glanced up at the sky, at Mico as he swiveled overhead. "Everything and nothing." I breathed. He pondered it. "You're a mystery, you know that?" he said. I smiled, and he beamed. I discontinued my humming, but the song still whirled in my head.

Then... the horse suddenly reared, and took off at break neck speed. I gripped around Lancelot tight, watching as the ground sped past. "Again?!" I gasped. He simply nodded and urged the horse even faster. Behind, they stood on the trail, bows raised. I gasped as the arrows were released.

In seemingly slow motion, the arrows sped towards us. One fell to the ground feet away from our horse, while the other two moved onwards. Then, I realized, Galahad was in direct path of one... and there was no way he could move in time. The other swiped past Tristan's arm, cutting ti slightly. I watched with wide eyes as the arrow collided with Galahad, and he sagged forward, his mouth open in a soundless cry.

Lancelot turned to see if I was alright, and saw the pale look on my face. He followed my gaze, and his face turned into the same shock. He pulled up next to Galahad. "Do you know how to ride?" Lance asked me quickly. "Somewhat. I know how to make them stop, go, go faster, and turn, but that's all." I replied. "Get behind him and keep the horse going, we can't stop." He said, and moved me over to Galahad's horse.

I grasped the reigns tightly around Galahad's waist, avoiding touching the arrow. galahad breathed hard, leaning forward. Suddenly, he was leaning off tot he side. I placed the reigns in one hand, and grasped him with the other, pushing him back into place. "Galahad? Can you hear me?" I asked, shaking his arm slightly. "Are we... safe yet?" He breathed. "Not yet, but almost. Hold on for me, alright?" He nodded. I urged the horse faster, and got to Arthur. "When are we stopping?" I asked him. "As soon as possible." He replied, eyes showing how worried he was.

About 10 mins. later we finalley came to a stop. I made sure he'd stay on and then slipped off, and carefully pulled him down. It was somewhat hard to hold him, but I held him up until Dag had a cape layed out, and we put him on it.

It was planted into his left shoulder, and already his shirt was soaked with blood. "Tristan... go find Berryl, Rosemead, and anything else you can find that's still above the snow and green. This is going to take a lot of work. Talin, think you might be able to stitch it up afterwards?" I shrugged. "I won't be able to tell until after the arrow's out." I said.

"Well, let's hope then." He said. Tristan rode off quickly, a dagger in hand, scanning for the needed herbs. I grabbed a needle and strong thread from my bag. This was going to be unpleasant.

I remembered the last time we'd dealt with an arrow injury. I was 11, and Bors, the lucky duck, had been hit in the leg. It'd taken Tristan, Gawain and Lancelot to hold Bors down while Dag removed it.

Tristan was back with a handful of odd looking plants. "Give him the Rosemead, it'll hopefully dull his senses." Dag said. Tristan crushed them up quickly, and made Galahad eat it all. "Now, we wait a few moments." Dag said, beginning to prepare the other herbs. I looked at the slowing flow of blood, and began to worry. Had he lost too much already?

Then, Gawain placed his hands on Galahad's back, holding him down firmly but gently. "This is going to hurt, numbed or not." Dag said, and began to slowly pull the arrow out. Galahad twitched, and then tried to pull away. But he was trying his best to not cause more damage.

Then, the arrow was free. Galahad stopped fighting. Dag placed the crushed herbs in the wound and poured some water over it so it would seep in. Then, he wiped it away. "Your turn." He said, looking at me. "Yay." I murmured, and pished him out of the way. I looked at the wound carefully to make sure I did nothing wrong, and then began, trying not to hurt him any more than I had to.

When the job was finished, Dag told him not to lay on his back. He simply went to sleep, greatful that the worst of it was over.

His rest was shortlived. The pursuers were catching up quickly, and we had no time to rest. I was again in charge, and held him tight with ien arm, and held the reigns with the other.

Would the chasing ever end?

Ok, there's that chapter. Mwahahaha

Well, anyways, I have a favor to ask of you King Arthur fans out there.

What are the lyrics to the song vanora sings? I would very much like them, please and thankyou.

In other news... HAHA, Saddam has finally been sentenced!!! It took them a year, OMG!!!!

well, that's all. Fanfiction RULES!!!

Happy trails.

Reviews, io always love reviews!!!!!