Chapter 8

A/N: Review responses will be at the end of the chapter. Again thank you for reading and reviewing, constructive criticism helps. Sadly I do not own anything to do with KA, only Mya and her ideas etc.

The plot thickens...

Conversations and arguments

By the time the sun had properly risen over the surrounding mountains, then caravan was already moving at a steady pace, behind the Saxon lines. After being returned to the sick wagon, Dagonet had checked the wounds on Mya's back, glad to see that none had been opened he left to talk to Arthur.

Leaving Mya, the other inmates and Fulicina in the wagon, Lucan and Guinevere rested while Fulicina helped Mya into her clothes. Fulicina was amazed at the clothes; they were like nothing she had ever seen before, neither Roman nor British, for they were beyond and beauty of their styles.

They were rich in colour, and suited her perfectly, almost as if they had been specifically made for her, she wore a deep red dress, square cut at the neck, and gathered just under her chest, where it opened up, revealing a beautiful light pink under dress, the deep red dress framing it, embroidery lining the side. The sleeves were tight to her arms, up until her lower arm where they flared out, gain revealing the light pink sleeves of the under dress, tight to her arms. Fulicina helped Mya tie her dark hair from her face, in thin plaits. Around her neck, proudly hung the glittering jewel. When the cape was fastened round her neck, Mya looked stunning, Fulicina almost envied her, her skin was milky white and perfectly matched her dress, and dark hair and eyes.

"May I walk for a while?" Mya asked Fulicina, turning to face her, "I have longed to properly walk for months." Seeing the uncertainty on Fulicina's face, she added "I promise not to over exert myself, just for a while. Please" she added, using her large brown orb eyes to help do her bidding.

Fulicina, though, was not so easily swayed; the girl was still weak and should not be out in the cold weather. Though she could not deny her plea, so she decided that a compromise would be the best idea.

"Only on one condition, you must be accompanied by someone who will look after you, and come back the moment you feel yourself getting tired" Fulicina said, it was the only way she could trust that this girl would not return to the wagon in a worse state.

At that moment Galahad and Gawain rode past the wagon, hearing the exchange Gawain decided to offer his services, he was sure Galahad would not mind more company, especially in the form of a beautiful woman. He rode to the front of the wagon, Galahad following, where he saw Fulicina and Mya; he was momentarily stunned by her beauty, but recovered himself quickly, he leaned over to Galahad and shut his mouth, which had formed itself into an O.

"If you are looking for a trust worthy companion, there are two freely available" he said, indicating to Galahad at his side, who still had not quite recovered from seeing Mya.

Mya looked to Fulicina, who nodded her approval at the knights' offer. So Mya made her way to the entrance of the wagon as Gawain and Galahad dismounted, before helping her out of the wagon.

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Further up the column, Arthur and Dagonet conversed about their new companions, in particular Mya. Neither saw any reason why Marius would want to harm her, after all, she lived outside of the village, and from what they gathered rarely entered it.

"Maybe, in the past she had angered him" Dagonet suggested, "maybe she tried to stir up a revolt against Marius"

"I do not know, maybe you are right, but then why did the villagers dislike her? They clearly disliked Marius, but they seemed to dislike her more." Arthur responded.

Dagonet wanted to tell Arthur about his previous encounter with the Great Wicca's. Yet he did not, he was afraid of what Arthur would think, many people heard the tales of the Wicca's as children, but few thought any more than that. Simply because legend told that none were left. Then he realised Arthur was still talking.

"How are the wounds?" He inquired, after seeing the injury on her back.

"She will live, provided they are kept clean, none were opened by the attack. I should get back to the wagon" he said, at Arthur's nod of approval he turned back toward the carriage, leaving Arthur to think. Particularly of the night before, of his encounter with Merlin.

Arthur turned away from Merlin and Guinevere, he had heard enough, he would not lead the people he had been fighting for fifteen years into a battle which could not be won. It was this attitude which angered Guinevere; she did not want him to leave, thinking she had betrayed him.

"You think you are the only one to have hurts" she inquired, "do you think that you are the only one to have lost family, and friends? We have only fought to protect what was once ours, as you did for your mother." Her voice was rising now as she became angered. "There are others in this world who have lost everything, yet still give everything they can to help others."

Arthur was angry by now, how dare this woad speak of his loss, she knew nothing. "And are your people those kinds of people? What have you given to others, except pain and death?"

"My people bring hope to others, the hope that they can be free from Rome, and conquerors, to be people in their own country, by their own rights" retorted an outraged Guinevere.

Meanwhile, Merlin watched this exchange with a hint of amusement, for they fought like children. Just as it seemed that it might get violent Merlin decided to intervene, it would not do to have one of his best fighters, and the future King of Briton kill each other over a slight disagreement.

"Perhaps, neither of our people are truly selfless, that does not mean that such people do not exist." Merlin decided now that it was time to end their conversation, and so turned to walk away, but not without the final comment.

"Look to the one who hails from the Great Wicca's, she will help you, she has seen what awaits you, and she will be your eyes."

Arthur rode by himself for awhile longer, pondering who this person was, the one that Merlin said would be his eyes, but no mater how many villagers passed, no matter how many names he thought of. He kept coming back to the most unlikely candidate, the witch among their group, Mya.

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Mya laughed as Gawain told her of the time when Galahad had to have an arrow removed from his butt. Gawain liked her laugh; it was carefree, almost as beautiful as her he thought. Galahad, also looked as if he was enjoying her company, the way he kept bumping into villagers because he was paying attention to her, was a clear indication of that. Gawain was not only enthralled by her beauty, but her intelligence, she knew cultures from all over the world, she could read, write and count, she had travelled far, and had much experience of the world.

Yet, as many of the other knights were, he was puzzled by her, she appeared to be weak on the outside, but he knew that she had much inner strength. Suddenly a thought crossed his mind, he remembered her home.

"How did you build everything, in your home, it must have taken you years, yet you have travelled for many years as well." He asked, part of him had expected her to not answer, but when she beamed at him, he was caught off gaud totally, she was glad he had asked the question?

"I did not build it all sir knight" she responded "My family moved to Briton when I was very young, and built our home, in the forest. When they died," she looked sad at that and lowered her eyes, before lifting them to continue, "I continued living by myself, but decided to travel, so I spent some years travelling, I saw India, and China, even Rome, before I came home, few people knew where our home was, none of it was stolen."

She looked at him when she had finished, he just looked at her, his mouth slightly gaping. She had done a lot, his life felt slightly boring. Almost as though she knew what he was thinking, she suggested:

"You should come with me sometime, you are to be free when you reach the wall, are you not? I could take you to such places, you would not know what to do."

"What about me?" asked Galahad, who appeared to have snapped out of his stupor at last.

"Well I don't know" teased Mya, watching the young knights face feign disappointment, "Well okay, but only if you promise to be good" she laughed as he beamed at her.

They continued like this for another half an hour, and would have continued for longer, had it not been for the large expanse of ice they had just reached.

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Geoffrey, the British scout walked next to Cynric, his new employers son, he was still contemplating his decision to tell Cerdic of the Wicca. His only hope was that she did not curse him into oblivion, as he had heard they could do.

"When we catch up with them, you will take the girl back to my father, she is not to be harmed" Cynric asked Geoffrey, who nodded blindly.

All the time thinking of the things the Saxon Commander would do to her, or him if he failed to return her to him. He thought it might not be too late to change side, or maybe when he had the girl he could smuggle her off some side path.

His thoughts were cut short by a lean Saxon running fast towards them.

"We have almost caught them sir, there is a lake up ahead, it appears they will make their stand from there."

AN: okay so I know its not that long, but sadly am suffering from writers block at the mo, and I am thinking of discontinuing this story, please give your responses.

Katemary77: I am afraid to say it was not me, I think constructive criticism is useful. Glad you like the story.

MyDearDelirious: thank you, your story is really good, keep on writing.

To everyone elde: Thank you for reviewing, as usual constructive criticism is welcome. I hope to have more up soon, I have a great idea for the next few chappies.