Chapter 7

"I deserved to be here as much as Arthur does!" Guinevere cried, looking to her father desperately wanting to stay.

Aurora turned to the Woad princess, narrowing her eyes. "I said leave us." Her voice was sharp and full of power and authority.

Never had Arthur heard Aurora use that tone of voice in all his life. He was taken back by it, believing that he knew his best friend. But now as Aurora stood there with the air of a queen, Arthur knew he did not know Aurora at all.

Guinevere gulp down the bit of fear that risen from the young queen's tone. She squared her own shoulders and strolled past them, not once looking at the three.

"Do not tell anyone of where we are." Aurora says as an after thought.

Guinevere, although she heard, only walked on, anger rising within her.

Sighing, Aurora turned from Merlin to Arthur who had an expressionless face. Gulping her own fear, Aurora cleared her throat, hoping to the goddess that Arthur would listen to her reasoning. But before she can even explain or utter a single word, Arthur speaks up instead.

"So that is the reason to why you always disappear, even as a young child." Arthur took a step towards Aurora, his voice a monotone. "You have been taken into the SomBra tribe as one of their own? Do they even know of your blood line? Of where you always went off to when not in their region?"

"Yes." Aurora whispered. "My foster father, Culas was once King of the SomBra. He was the one who found me. He had to tell the people of whom I was and where I went. He wanted protection for me and so his best guards always went with me while I grabbed any information I needed."

"So you are spy?" Arthur asked confused and hurt.

"When I was younger and the Saxons had yet to come, yes, I was, and to find out if I had any living family. When I found out Germanius was my uncle, my father decided to let me learn of my original background, to learn who were my parents and the family that I never got to meet. So I stayed with him for a while but I never stayed long for I was better off within the forest."

Arthur turned his back on both Aurora and Merlin, many emotions going through him. He didn't know what to think of this situation. Never in his whole life did he thought Aurora used to be, and still is, sided with the enemy. But that's where he was wrong and he knew it. They were all on the same side since the Saxons came into their lands. Plus, he knew Aurora would never betrayed him. Arthur may have never knew her too well as he thought but now he could as he knows of her secret.

Turning back around, Arthur stared at Aurora, and stared hard he did. He collected his thoughts together and tired to reason if he could or not trust his best friend since the age of nine. Coming up with a choice, Arthur nodded, smiling softly and faintly.

"I wished you have never lied to me, my friend. You knew I would have understood."

Aurora smiled back sadly. "I never wished to lie to you, Arthur. But I was afraid of you not accepting me and telling my uncle."

Sighing, Arthur turned to Merlin who stood quietly and patiently. "So what is this old alliance about?"

"It is what I said earlier. The three tribes all must alliance once more. I have all ready given my answer to Queen Aurora." Merlin indicated to Aurora, who in turn turned to Arthur.

"But we need the answer of the Knights, as well as yourself. I do not know how the men will react to such a thing, but I need their help. The Saxons were getting close to my tribe before I left. That was almost twenty days ago. I fear for my people as will as the safety of my daughter."

Arthur saw the fear within her dark green eyes. A queen's love for her people, as will as a mother's love for her child.

"We will have to tell them the truth sooner or later." Arthur said. "We might have to tell them tonight."

Aurora took in a sharp breath and looked down the path that led to the villagers and the Knights were camped. Nodding, Aurora turned back to Arthur.

"If it means you all will help me and my people, then we must explain tonight."

Merlin bowed slightly to Aurora in respect for both her decision and of her title.

"Then so be it. I will meet you soon at Hadrian's Wall."

With that said, Merlin turned and walked back into the forest, the mist disappearing around the two Romans but covering the figure of the wizard. Arthur turned to Aurora to see her looking down.

"Come, we must gather the Knights."

Aurora turned to Arthur and nodded reluctantly. She did not want to face those who have become relatively close to her. But as queen, she must protect her people and all those she cared about.

"Yes, let us go gather them."

Walking down the path, Aurora and Arthur were silent, each in their own thoughts. Looking to Aurora, Arthur couldn't help but feel sympathy towards the younger woman. She had to keep a secret of where she has been every time she disappeared, along with the child she had to raise for three or more years alone.

Now with the truth out in the open, Arthur wants to know everything that went on in Aurora's life. But he knew now wasn't the time for it. Now it was the time to save Aurora's people. To save all those people who are in the way of the Saxons. Ruthless men that kill everything and anyone in their way.

Looking past Aurora, Arthur saw Lancelot asleep against a tree a few feet away. Arthur put a hand on Aurora's shoulder, the duo stopping.

"Tell the Knights to meet us over were Lancelot is sleeping." Arthur nodded over to the sleeping Knight, Aurora turning her head.

"Okay." Aurora nodded, turning back to Arthur.

They went their separate ways, looking for the other five knights. By ten minutes the Knights were awake and looking back and forth between their commander and Aurora.

"What's going on?" Galahad asked, yawning.

This was followed by Gawain and Bors yawning as well. The corner of Aurora's mouth twitched upwards but the seriousness of why they were their in the middle of the night made Aurora nervous with each passing second. Squaring her shoulders, Aurora took a deep breath, looking over the six sleepy knights.

"First, you all must now know the truth." Aurora looked to Arthur, who nodded for her to continue. She looked back to the Knights. "I am Queen Aurora of the SomBra tribe."

The six Knights were now fully awake and staring at Aurora in shock and surprise.

"Or as you all like to call them, the Shadows."

Lancelot looked to Arthur in disbelieve. "You knew of this and brought her with us?"

"I just found out a few hours ago." Arthur said calmly.

"Why are you telling us now?" Gawain said with much disgust.

The way the men were handling the news was to be expected, so Aurora stayed calmed on the outside, her eyes the only thing betraying her real emotion: Fear and unwanted.

"Would you have really let me come along with you all? Would any of you have accepted me?"

The Knights all looked at each other, thinking the same thing: No, we wouldn't have.

Aurora nodded as she knew the answer. "And I'm telling you because I ask of your help. I must regain the alliance we once had between the three tribes; the SomBra, the Sarmatian, and the Woads."

"No." Lancelot said quickly and sharply.

"But I need your help to fight off the Saxons that are soon to discover were my people are hiding." Aurora looked them over, seeing that they did not want to help. "Please! My daughter and my people's lives are in danger!" Aurora pleaded, abandoning her royal status.

If being a queen will not bring them to reason, maybe the friend they knew for the past couple days might.

"You have done a great deal of good for us and for Arthur with your uncle and said kind words about us. And you have yet to lose the trust of Arthur." Dagonet said after a few minutes of silence. "If Arthur is willing to go help you after our papers, then I will follow."

Aurora closed her eyes in relief. Opening them, she looked to the others.

"I will not give such answer once we get to the Wall." Tristan told her before walking away.

"We are to do the same." Gawain said, pushing Galahad with him.

But Galahad shook his head and looked at Aurora. "I will go with you as well. All you are asking for is to take down the Saxons, nothing more, nothing less."

Aurora smiled at him. "Thank you." She whispered before Gawain took Galahad's arm and they walked away.

"I gave you my answer all ready." Lancelot told her icily.

Aurora turned to the last Knight who has yet to give her an answer. "Bors?"

"I must think it over, Aur-Queen Aurora."

Aurora flinched but nodded. The three remaining Knights left to get what little sleep they could. Aurora turned to Arthur, who looked at the young woman. He put his hands on her shoulders.

"Like Dagonet said, you have never lost the trust I have for you. Nor any reason to not trust you. I know you had to keep this a secret and it was not easy, I can tell." He smiled kindly. "I will help you, Aurora. I will help you keep your people and daughter safe from harm."

"Thank you."

"Go. Get some sleep."

Aurora shook her head. "After this, I doubt I'll have a decent sleep tonight."

Arthur nodded in understanding and walked away. Aurora looked up to the clouded sky, the snow lightly falling on to her face.

"Por favor ayudame." (Please help.)

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The SomBra women have been riding for twenty minutes when Unius and the warriors who went with her returned to them.

"We mustn't go south any longer nor southwest. Saxons are coming from those directions."

Nínael frowned. "Why?"

"Apparently they are following a village of some sort. We found tracking coming from the east."

"They're going around the Saxons." Nínael shook her head. "They must be brave if they are to cross Saxon lines."

Unius nodded. "My thoughts exactly. What do you suggest we do?"

Ertha looked between the two older women, making up her own mind. She urged her horse next to Nínael's.

"We cannot leave those people to die. If they are heading east they must be going to Hadrian's Wall. Is there anyway we can get to the frozen lake without the Saxon's knowledge of us?"

Nínael and Unius shook their heads, both smiling.

"Just like her mother."

Unius nodded in agreement then looked to Ertha. "Aye Princess but we will not get there until three hours past dawn."

Ertha nodded. "Then let us pray to the Goddess that those people are able to keep alive by then." Ertha looked up to feel the first snow falling. "It is four hours before dawn appears. Let us distract that small army from the south before getting to the lake. Zathras!" Ertha looked to the teen who rode over to them. "Take the elderly and children towards the Wall. Six warriors go with her just in case. The rest of us let's hurry."

Nodding to their princess, the group was parted and went their separate ways into the darkness of the forest.

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Aurora was only able to have a few hours of sleep. For when dawn came there was so much ruckus, Aurora had to get up and see what was happening. She walked from her hiding place a few ways from the camp to see Marius grab Lucan, the boy Dagonet saved while the said Knight fought off the Roman soldiers.

"I have the boy!" Marius yells, putting a knife to the frighten boy's neck.

Dagonet backs off while the serfs and the other knights watch the crazy Roman of what he might do next.

Marius looks to his men. "Kill him!"

"No!" Fulcinia screams running to her husband.

Aurora panicked as she left her swords with Sirdail. But quickly remembering her dagger, Aurora bent down and retrieved it from her boot.

Fulcinia took Marius arm and tried to make him let Lucan go. "Let him go!"

Marius pushes his wife, making her fall. "Kill him now!"

Aurora threw her dagger at Marius' heart, making him gasp and let the boy go. Lucan runs to Dagonet, who hugs him then push him under the tent he made for both he and the boy.

"Down!" Dagonet tells the boy before getting his sword once more.

Aurora walks forward, everyone surprised to see her there. She looks to the fallen body of Marius, the blood quickly flowing from his body. Aurora kneels and takes her dagger out and wipes the blood on Marius' clothing. Putting it back into her boot, Aurora stands and walks over to the Roman soldiers. Guinevere shoots an arrow to their feet in warning just as Bors rides up to them.

"Artorius!" Bors cried out, charging into the area as well. "Do we have a problem? Huh?" Bors' horses nudged the soldier in front of him, the Roman looking back in disgust at the horse.

Arthur points his sword to the soldiers, glaring at them. "You have a choice. You help or you die."

The first soldier drops his sword, as does the second one. The first soldier looks to the others. "Put down your weapons. Do it now!"

"Yeah!" Dagonet tells them, ready to kill any if necessary.

Jols walks around the soldiers and starts to collect the swords. Bors rides away from the soldiers just as Tristan rides in.

"How many did you kill?" Bors asks the silent scout.

"Four." Tristan replies in a tone that said something else was wrong.

"Not a bad start to the day!" Bors whispers more to himself and laughs.

Aurora walked over to the Knights as Tristan drops a crossbow at Arthur's feet.

"Armor-piercing." Tristan tells him, shaking his head slightly. "They're close. We have no time."

"Ride ahead."

"I'll go with you." Aurora insisted, the men looking at her. "There is an entire army of Saxons out there. I doubt you'll be able to handle them if they encounter with you."

Tristan nods as Aurora jogs over to Sirdail. She quickly puts on the saddle and strap her swords on. Mounting the black stallion, Sirdail went into a full gallop careful not to trample over any of the people and follow Tristan out into a path they must take.

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Tristan and Aurora have dismounted from their horses and were now in front of a frozen lake covered in snow that fell during the night.

'This looks familiar. Why?' Aurora thought, shaking her head.

The duo did not turn around as they heard other horses galloping towards them. The rest of the Knights and Jols rode next to either Tristan or Aurora, all dismounting from their horses. They stare into the lake, wishing their was another way around.

"Is there any other way?" Arthur asks after a few moments of silence.

"No. We have to cross the ice." Tristan tells them, hating the idea as well.

"Get them all out of the carriages. Tell them to spread out." Aurora tells them as she takes Sirdail's reins and walk forward.

As Jols goes to the villagers and tell them to get out and spread, the Knights follow Aurora and start walking over the ice. Aurora felt the ice and snow melt underneath her, making it slippery. Cursing under her breath, Aurora tired to walk quickly yet slowly as possible. But there was no way getting out of it. Aurora slipped and landed hard on her butt.

"Damn it!" Aurora cried, her eyes watering in pain.

Arthur chuckled to himself as the other Knights held in theirs, smiling to the fallen queen. Shaking his head, Tristan walks next to Aurora and help her up. Aurora rubs the side of her hip and look up at Tristan with pouting lips.

"That hurt."

Tristan only smiled and put his arm around her waist to keep her from falling. About half way into the lake the ice starts to crack making some of the people whimper in fear. Arthur raises his hand to stop the group as they hear drums beating not too far away. Looking to his men, Arthur sighs.

"Knights…"

"Well, I'm tired of running. And these Saxons are so close behind my ass is hurtin'." Bors tells them.

Aurora laughs. "Been waiting to use that Bors?" Bors only shrugs. Aurora looks to her long time friend. "Will I'm sure as hell tired of smelling them. They can take a decent bath within this lake."

"Never liked looking over my shoulder anyway." Tristan tells them, Dagonet smirking at him.

"Be a pleasure to put an end to this racket." Gawain tells them.

Galahad nods in agreement. "And finally get a look at the bastards."

"Here. Now." Dagonet says taking his weapons off his horse.

Lancelot only shrugs his shoulders. Arthur nods.

"Jols."

Jols turns to two villagers. "You two, take the horses."

As they do what Jols told them, Jols himself begun to make a pile of weapons for each on the ice. Aurora could only stare towards where they came from.

'Let me live. For my daughter.'

A/N: I thought I be nice and update again as I'm working all this week! Please review!