Sorry for the long wait, Santa left me a new laptop for Christmas and it didn't have a word processor on it, so I had to get one installed before I could update the story. I hope you are enjoying it. Please send me reviews, they are greatly appreciated!
Chapter 11
Dawn came quickly the next day. Everyone was madly rushing around getting the last of the supplies packed and loaded onto wagons.
At day break, Arthur and the knights joined Nailah and Badru at the front of the caravan.
"Good morning knights, I trust you slept well?" Nailah greeted.
"Very well milady!" Arthur replied, "And you?"
"Very well indeed!" She replied with a wide smile.
Badru let out a loud whistle, in response came the sound of hooves and whinnying of horses. "Sir Tristan, these are your scouts, Kaphri, Grigg, and Mutaro" He replied as three horses rode up beside them. Tristan nodded, "And this man is your new captain, Sir Tristan!"
"Ah, just Tristan will suffice!" The quiet scout replied.
"Very well." Badru replied.
"Galahad, you take the right flank and Bors the left, Lancelot and Badru are at the rear. Your men will be waiting for you at your positions!"
Galahad gave Nailah a smile as he turned and rode back down the caravan to his position. She returned the smile, giving him a little wave.
"Well, shall we?" She replied, turning her horse forwards.
"Lead the way lady!" Arthur replied as Tristan and his scouts rode ahead at full speed.
They started out on their way, all of the travellers where excited to start their journey home, none more then the knights.
The day was a beautiful summers day. The sun shone down on the caravan. Most had shed their cloaks by mid morning, letting the sun soak into their skin.
Some of the children played and laughed as they ran throught the people, winding between wagons and horses. Their dark hair and eyes shone in the light. Their laughter echoed through the mountian pass, lightening the hearts and faces of the knights.
A few of the older children had taken up play sword fighting. The sight brought back childhood memories to Galahad and the other knights, memories of their fathers, who where probably passed on by now, teaching them the ways of the sword.
Galahad noticed a smaller boy who held a wooden sword, two sizes too big for him, awaiting his turn to face off against the older boys. He was eyeing the fighters, watching closely the actions. Finally it was his turn. He took his place infront of the winner, sword poised ahead of him, wavering slightly with the weight.
The older boy took one swing and knocked the sword from his hands. Dejected, the young boy, forgetting his toy sword, turned and ran away. Galahad noticed a small group of girls off to the side who where snickering at the easy win. Guessing the boys aim was to impress them, she slid off of his horse and strode over to where the older boys stood and picked up the disguarded sword.
"Good swordsmanship!" He replied, heading off in the direction of the young boy. He found him not far away, perched on the back of a wagon, sniffling. "Hi, I think you dropped this!" He handed the sword to the boy.
"I don't want it!" He replied, pushing the toy away, "I will never be good enough to be a soldier!"
"And why not? Do you think that the first time most of these soldiers picked up a sword that they could weild it the way they can now? No, it takes practice, and alot of it!" He replied, handing the sword back to the boy again. "My name is Galahad, if you'd like, I can teach you how to fight!"
The boy looked up at him in amazement, "Your one of the Sarmatian knights, aren't you?"
Galahad nodded, "I am" He smiled.
"Why do you want to help me?" The boy asked, still amazed.
"Because I can see a little bit of myself in you, when I was young. Believe it or not, I was a terrible swordsman when I was your age, right up until just before I left for Hadrens Wall!"
"Really?"
"Tis true, honest!"
"So, you want to teach me how to fight?" The boys excitement was growing.
"Of course, let us start!" Galahad lifted the boy out of the wagon and grabbed a stick off of the ground. He began by showing the boy the proper stances and how to securly grip the hilt of the sword. Then moved on to a few simple moves. The boy was a little slow catching on at first and was beginning to loose hope, but Galahad pushed him on.
In the midst of their training, Nailah had dropped back in the line, hoping to spend some time with the young knight. She stopped and watched them finish. The boy, Amun had beaten the knight and was dancing around cheering, "Very well Amun! Good job! You know it is quite a feat to win against a knight!" She smiled at the two.
"Thank you General!" He grinned from ear to ear.
"Now, go show those boys how great a fighter you are!" Galahad replied, standing up. He pushed some curls out of his face as he walked towards Nailah.
"Thank you Galahad!" The boy called over his shoulder.
"Remember, practice, practice, practice!" The knight called after him.
"Good day!" Nailah smiled as Galahad approached.
"Good day !" He smiled in return.
"And what was all that about?" She cocked an eyebrow at the knight.
"Just helping out!" He smiled, mounting his horse and reining her in beside Nailah. "I believe he was trying to catch the attention of the young girls, but alas, his sword handling was not the best, so I gave him some pointers!"
"I see, that was very kind." She looked radiant. Her hair shone like strands of jewels and her eyes had a sparkle that matched that of the most beautiful gems. She wore a short red tunic with golden clasps at the shoulders. The swelling in her face was almost gone now too he noticed.
"You are looking very well today!" Galahad replied, reaching out and stroking her cheek, making her blush slightly.
"Thank you!"
"Your quite welcome!" He smiled, "So, how has your day been?"
"Quite uneventful actually, compared to yours!" She laughed, "Tristan says that there is a sheltered area ahead where we can rest for awhile."
"Good, that jest has made me tired and hungry." Galahad patted his stomach, "That lad was quite the handful, I must say!"
"I agree, Amun has alot of energy, too much sometimes!" She smiled, "Do you have children?" Her face held a questioning smile as her eyes scanned the sky, careful not to make eye contact with him.
The question almost knocked him off of his horse, he managed to compose himself long enough to answer, "Uh, no, I, um don't!"
"it's just that you seem to have a way with them." She quickly replied, seeing the stunned expression on his face.
"Ah, I guess it's from spending so much time with Bors eleven, I've gotten use to them!" He smiled.
"Well, I think you will make for a wonderful father someday!" She smiled. "Eleven children! Really?"
Galahad laughed, "Yes, eleven and possibly one more on the way!"
"Wow, that is alot of crying and bickering! Too much for me I think!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, I agree!"
"I think one boy and one girl make the perfect family!"
"General!" They heard Arthur call.
"Ah, duty calls!" She smiled as she quickly leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I will stop back again in awhile!"
He nodded as he watched her trot off to Arthurs side. Still dazed at their last topic of conversation.
"Galahad, Galahad! Guess what? Guess what?" Amun shouted as he ran towards the knight.
"Amun, what is it?" He asked as the boy flanked his horse.
"I beat him, that boy from before, I beat him thanks to you!" He beamed with pride.
Galahad smiled down at the boy, "Excellent! Now you have to keep practicing to get better and one day you will be a soldier, a knight even!"
"Yes sir!" The boy replied, taking off towards his family to tell them of his deed.
Galahad's smile widened as he watched the boy proudly display his new skills to his father, who looked upon his son with pride.
'Another good deed done!' Galahad thought to himself. But this one brought a different sense of happiness to him, on he could not explain.
"Well, I see you've made one little boy very happy!" Guinevere replied as she brought her mare alongside his.
"Yes indeed!" He replied, still smiling.
"It brings joy to my heart to see you so content these days, you know!" She gave him a sideways glance and he just looked at her like she had ten heads, "You smile more now then ever, I believe!"
"I suppose freedom will do that to a man!" He replied.
"Freedom and perhaps love?"
"Perhaps!" Was his reply.
Guinevere smiled brightly at him as his smile widened once again. "Well, whatever it is, I hope this happiness stays with you. A smile suits you!" She laughed as she rode ahead to meet Arthur.
"Thank you milady!" He called, then to himself replied, "I think!"
Not long after, they reached the resting place Tristan had found. The men ushered the peasants ahead before following suit.
"Ah, how good is it to stretch the legs!" Bors exclaimed as he slid off of his horse and teathered it to a tree.
"Indeed!" Lancelot replied, passing around a water bag.
"We shall stop only for a short while!" Nailah announced to the group as she dismounted her horse. "We will set up camp in a few hours, then we can have a proper rest!"
Arthur and Guinevere took a seat together under a tree, out of the bright sun. The heat was almost unbearable, they where lucky that the path they travelled was shaded mostly. The knights took up a resting spot not far from their commander.
"Good afternoon men!" Nailah replied, "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all lass!" Bors replied with a polite smile.
Galahad took her hand, pulling her gently down next to him on the grass. The beauty and radience she bestowed this day did not go unnoticed by any of the men.
"You seem to be healing very well General!" Lancelot replied, motioning to her face.
"Yes, quite well actually, thank you!" She replied, "So how are you men faring on this journey?"
"Well, the thought of home makes us eager!" Lancelot answered, "It is a long journey home, but the months spent getting there will be well worth it!"
"Yes, I agree. I have been in this country four months, and I am eager to see home again! My city, the Pyramids and the great Sphynx will be a welcomed sight!" She sighed.
"And what may I ask are the pyramids and sphynx, milady?" He asked.
"The pyramids are the final resting place of the Pharoh's. They lay on the Giza Plateau on the great river Nile." She picked up a stick and drew a pyramid in the dirt, "They are tremendous sights, higher then any castle I have seen here! And the sphynx is the protector of the pyramids. A great lion with the head of a man. Some say it wears the face of an ancient Pharoah, but which one remains a mystery!" She drew a rough sketch in the dirt.
"I think I shall visit this Egypt some day! It seems to be a wonderful sight!" Lancelot replied, deep in thought, contemplating this idea.
"Yes, maybe someday I'll round up Vanora and all of our little bastards and take a trip there!" Bors replied.
"And what of you Galahad, do you not wish to see the Generals home land?" Lancelot questioned, a small smile playing across his lips.
"Of course I would. it sounds absolutely amazing!` He replied giving Nailah a snmall smile.
"Well, that` settles it then, we shall all visit the General at the castle in Egypt!` Lancelot replied, slapping Galahad`s knee.
"How I would love for you all to come to Egypt! But, sir, I do not reside at the castle!" She replied meakly.
"Nonsense! By that time you shall be queen Nailah, not General!" Lancelot grinned, knowing this would agrevate his young friend, which was a favorite passtime of his as of late.
"Yes, well, I suppose that is a possibility." She replied a little uneasily. Galahad squeezed her hand in reassurrance. Then shot Lancelot an evil look.
"And what of your family, do you happen to have a sister, perhaps?" Lancelot joked, trying to lighten the mood he had brought upon the group.\
"No, no sisters and no brothers. My mother, she was unable to have any more children after me." She replied, "And besides, I certianly would not consent to you courting my sister even if I had one!" She grinned wickedly at him.
Bors almost choked on his sip of water as he let out a roar of laughter along with Galahad.
"And why madam, would that be?" Lancelot questioned dejectedly.
"Oh, come now, the stories of the great Sir Lancelot and his infatuation with women have reached my ears. A smooth tongue and charming good looks lure women to bed easily, do they not?"
Lancelot grinned slightly at the thought of his many conquests reaching far and wide. "Ah, but madam, that was during a different life! I am a free man now, I have dreamed of the day when I find a woman to settle down with. I am a changed man!"
With that, Bors fell into a coughing fit, choking on the water. Galahad patted his friend on the back as he bent over laughing at Lancelots glanced from one man to the next, bursting out in laughter.
"Bors, my friend, are you alright?" She stiffled her laugh long enough to force the question.
"Aye, lass, I'll be fine!" He replied, trying to catch his breath, "Seem's Lancelot here fancies on killin' me!"
"Well, how else am I to win Vanora?" The knight grinned.
Bors gave him a grave look, pointing his finger in the mans face, but before it could go any further, Tristan galloped towards them.
"Tristan, what news do you bring?" Arthur asked as he stood.
"No news, dinner!" He replied, dropping three rabbits and a phesant at Arthurs feet. "The ride was a little boring for Grigg, so I sent him off hunting!"
"I see, well give him thanks and thank you Sir Tristan." Nailah replied, "Let Grigg know that I wish to speak with him as soon as we set up camp, would you?"
"Yes milady!" Tristan replied, a sly grin crossed his face
"See, I told you he doesn't get on well with others!" Lancelot replied.
"Very well Tristan. We plan on camping in a few hours, keep an eye out for a sheltered place, would you?" Arthur replied. Tristan nodded once and with a click of his tongue, his steed galloped back down the trail.
"I apologize Arthur, Grigg is one of my best scouts, his skill matches that of Sir Tristan's. It is not like him to be out of line, even for his young age!" Nailah replied.
"Sometimes even the best of us falter!" Arthur replied.
"Yes, but do not doubt that I will have words with him this night. Ignorance will not go unpunished!"
Arthur gave her a nod as Guinevere grabbed up their meal. Pulling a dagger from her boot, she began to skin and clean the rabbits.
"Lady Guinevere, how is you dancing coming along, or should I ask your husband this?" Nailah grinned.
Both Arthur and Guinevere smiled shyly, "Very well!" Arthur replied, Guinevere blushed brightly.
"Good, I am glad!" She smiled.
"So, when I do I get a private performance?" Galahad whispered into Nailah's ear, a wicked smile crossed his lips and his eyes held a hopeful glint.
Nailah mirrored his grin and gave him a promising look, "One day, I promise!"
"I will hold you to it!"