Reviewer Responses

Knight Maiden- Thanks for the review. Sorry it took so long for me to update. School and work can be such a drag. LOL!

MedievalWarriorPrincess- Thanks here's the next chappie.


CHAPTER 11

Putting a stop, for the moment, to the invasion of Britain by the Saxons, took longer than Arthur had thought. Arthur led the knights and a battalion of Roman soldiers in the fight against the Saxons. Thankfully, Arthur and his troops won the day and for the moment stopped the Saxon invasion with fewer than one hundred casualties. In later days, if you asked Tristan, or Arthur or any of the other knights or soldiers, they would say that it due to Sha'ri and the training that she gave Dagonet and a few of the village women in healing.

Over the next several years, there would be a few more minor skirmishes with the Saxons and the Woads. However, the battles with the Saxons were fewer and far between than those with the Woads. This came to a head the day before the end of the knights service to Rome. Merlin; for whatever reason, felt the need to speak with one of Arthur's inner circle; and had decided that the person he would speak with was going to be Sha'ri.

So, one day, while Sha'ri was replenishing her herbal stores he sent five woad warriors to bring Sha'ri to him on the other side of the wall. She had left the kids with Vanora and Malin, as per usual and left Dagonet in charge of the infirmary.

After retrieving her bow, arrows, knives, and the supplies she needed to gather the medicinal herbs and plants, she left the safety of the fort. However, what the Woads did not take into account was the fact that Sha'ri had learned her tracking, and fighting skills from her husband. For as soon as they had entered the cover of the forest, Sha'ri had her bow ready, and an arrow nocked, ready to fly.

"Whoever you are show yourselves, now," she commanded.

A moment later, the leader of the group sent to capture Sha'ri and two of his companions walked out of the shelter of the trees. "Merlin wishes a word with you," he told her. "We were not sent here to harm you."

Sha'ri snorted. "Yeah, just like you never meant to kill those men who became like brothers to me, or try to kill my husband and our brothers."

The leader narrowed his eyes. "Merlin only wishes a word. It shall take very little of your time."

Sha'ri reluctantly agreed to the meeting, but not without making a stipulation. "I keep all of my weapons," when she saw the leader was about to protest, she retorted, "You say to trust you all based on word alone, I can't do that. I want some guarantee of protection. Keeping my own weapons will do that."

The leader agreed and soon the small group made their way through the forest for about fifteen more minutes, before stopping in a clearing, where Merlin was waiting, along with a girl about twenty-four years old, whom Sha'ri assumed was his daughter.

"Greetings, Sha'ri of Sarmatia," Merlin nodded to Sha'ri, "I am Merlin, and this is my daughter Guinevere."

Sha'ri nodded politely to the two. "Merlin, this little meeting is…unexpected," she replied, "I'd like to know what was so important for you to speak to me and risk the ire of my husband and brothers."

"Of course," Merlin returned. "I am sure you know of the Saxons…" here Sha'ri nodded, "The Saxons have slowly been taking over this land. It will only be with the help of Arthur and his knights that we will defeat them…"

"Again, what does this have to do with me?"

Merlin pinned Sha'ri with a look and replied, "Sha'ri, it is because of your help that we will be able to free this land from the Saxons and the Romans. However, to do that they will need a strong leader. And a strong leader needs his councilors," he sighed, "My people believe that Arthur and his knights are the leader and councilors who can help save them."

Sha'ri leaned against a nearby tree and closed her eyes. After a few minutes deliberation, Sha'ri opened her eyes and looked at Merlin. "Merlin, you, and your people have killed a lot of my husband's and brother's brothers and you even killed Arthur's mother. I will have to think long on what you have said," she told him before pushing up off the tree and moving to head back to the fortress.

The guards made to stop Sha'ri but Merlin waved them off. Nodding her acknowledgement of what he did, Sha'ri held her weapons tight to her and took off running for the fort.

As she made her way to the edge of the forest, Sha'ri began looking for some of the plants and herbs she needed to replenish. After all, just because Merlin had interrupted her work, doesn't mean she shouldn't complete it.

Half an hour passed since she began collecting her herbs and plants, when she heard the sound of horses' hooves riding towards her. Looking up she found, as was expected, Tristan coming towards her.

"Something wrong, my love?" she asked with a smile.

Tristan shrugged. "I got worried."

Sha'ri fixed him with a look that said, 'right, and I'm a pig's aunt'. "Well I am done collecting my medicines. Could my husband be persuaded to give me a ride back?"

Tristan's lips twitched upwards slightly as he nodded and pulled her up, weapons, and gathering basket in all onto his horse, in front of him. "Better, sweet?"

Sha'ri chuckled. "Of course. But our little hellions are most likely driving Van and Malin nutters at the moment so…" Tristan got the hint and urged the horse into a gallop and the two rode the rest of the way back to the fort.

As they rode in, a guard yelled out, "Tris, Sha'ri, Arthur's called a meeting at the Round Table."

"Thanks Gaius," Sha'ri replied. She turned to face Tristan, "Well, it looks like there's another mission."

Tristan nodded and led the horse into the stable yard. Dismounting first, he then helped Sha'ri off and handed over the reigns of his horse to Jols before following Sha'ri to the infirmary, where she dropped off her herbs and plants.

"Ready? He asked as Sha'ri made her way towards him.

"Always, love," came the reply.

The two then walked over to the meeting room where the round table sat. As they walked inside, Sha'ri noticed that Bors, and Dagonet weren't there yet. 'Probably stuck with the little bastards,' she thought fondly. Lancelot, Gawain, and Galahad were already seated in their places, as was Arthur. As she looked around the room, Sha'ri couldn't help but feel a sense of loss as she thought of leaving most of the other behind when she, Tristan and their children left to head back to Sarmatia.

BANG! The door to the hall burst open, jarring Sha'ri from her thoughts as Dagonet and Bors walked in.

"Sorry we're late Arthur," Dagonet said.

Arthur waved off the apology and looked at everyone, "Men," Sha'ri coughed to catch Arthur's attention, "and lady," Arthur added to appease his 'adopted' sister, "As of tomorrow, you are all free from Rome. Bishop Gnaeus Germanus of Rome, and an old friend of my father, needs us to escort him to the wall, where he will give you your discharge papers…"

The cheer that erupted from the knights, excluding Sha'ri and Tristan was loud enough to wake the dead. However, the cheer died almost as fast as it had come as Arthur signaled for silence. "We leave at day break tomorrow morning, so I suggest you get your rest and pack up," he told them. "Dismissed."

With that last word, the knights and Sha'ri left the meeting room to prepare for the next day. Tristan went to the stables to prepare his and Sha'ri's horses, while she went to get their children to come home for dinner. The night was far too short as far as Sha'ri was concerned. However, she was definitely looking forward to going home to Sarmatia.

---------------------------

The next morning…

Arthur, Sha'ri, Tristan, and the others are all seated atop their horses as they watch the caravan moving towards them down below in the valley. Gawain sighed as he watched the carriage.

"As promised, the Bishop's carriage," he announced.

Galahad, still a little kid at heart, even though he was twenty-five, replied excitedly, "Our freedom, Bors."

"Mmm… I can almost taste it," Bors replied with a grin.

"And your passage to Rome Arthur," Gawain said as he looked over at their commander.

Arthur just smiled slightly in reply as they watched the carriage and entourage continue its journey. The group stays quiet for a bit before they see a flash of sun on metal.

"WOADS!" Tristan announced. Now alert, he, and Sha'ri began searching the tree and skylines for signs of the impending attack.

"Knights!" he called out as he began riding down the hill, "Dragon Formation!"

Sha'ri and the knights all filed into formation as they rode into the battle between the Roman soldiers and the Woads. Using her bow, Sha'ri began firing off arrows two sometimes three at a time, each arrow hitting their mark and either wounding or killing its mark.

As she rode closer to the carriage, she noticed Tristan leap off his horse and draw his scimitar. 'Show off,' she thought fondly as she blocked an attack from another woad with her sword.

"Did I say you could kill me!" she taunted as she quickly disarmed the woad and stabbed him in the stomach. Turning from that woad to another who was trying to sneak up behind her, she began fighting her new opponent and noticed a woad was trying to sneak up on one of the Romans. 'Just what I need,' she thought as she yelled out, "GENERAL, BEHIND YOU!"

The General, or who she assumed to be the General turned around in his seat and stabbed his would be assassin. He then turned back to Sha'ri in shock. He knew he had heard a woman's voice. But there were no female Sarmatians serving a term in the Roman Army, was there?

Minutes later, the battle was over, after Arthur had allowed the lead Woad to go free.

As Arthur made his way to the carriage, Sha'ri had remounted her horse and heard Bors' comment, "What a bloody mess!"

Arthur, who had finally joined everyone at the carriage, looked inside and replied, "That's not the bishop."

Sha'ri looked at Tristan and muttered, "How the hell would he know that? It's probably been years since the two last saw one another." Tristan shrugged his shoulders and the two turned back to Arthur, who had discovered the real bishop.

"Ancient Tricks," he chuckled, "for an ancient dog." Germanius looked at the knights and said, "And these must be the great Sarmatian Knights we have heard so much of in Rome," he turned his gaze onto Sha'ri, "I did not know that Sarmatians were sending women to…"

At that, Sha'ri spoke up, "Bishop, I was not sent to fight for Rome because of your treaty with my people. I came of my own free will to ensure my husband," here she gestured to Tristan, "survived the fifteen years here in Britain. And let me make one thing clear, I am not a camp follower."

Germanius looked a little flustered at having Sha'ri speak to him so openly and decided it was best to change the subject. "Arthur, I thought the Woads controlled what was North of Hadrian's Wall?"

Arthur nodded in reply. "They do, however they occasionally venture south. Rome's anticipated withdrawal from Britain has only increased their daring."

Sha'ri paid little attention to what the Bishop's Aide was saying and concentrated on the Bishop, who gave her an evil feeling. "Who leads them," the oily man, who masqueraded as God's servant, asked.

"He's called Merlin," Lancelot replied as his horse reigned up near Arthur. "A dark magician some say."

Germanius nodded and dismounted his horse as Arthur looked at Tristan and Sha'ri, "Tristan, Sha'ri ride ahead and make sure the road is clear," he then turned to the bishop, who was now climbing into his carriage, "Please don't worry Bishop, we will protect you."

As Sha'ri and Tristan rode off she overheard the bishop's smarmy reply, "I have no doubt commander, no doubt."

Sha'ri shook her head. She had a bad feeling regarding the Bishop and that feeling told her that he was going to be trouble. For now, she would leave well enough alone. Nevertheless, as soon as he said or did something that would cause trouble, she would do her damnedest to make sure nothing happened.

For the next hour, she and Tristan rode the trail back to the fort quietly, always listening and looking for any more signs of Woads and possibly Saxon scouts. As they reached the two-thirds point to the fort, Tristan motioned that they should wait for the others to catch up. Sha'ri nodded her agreement and both moved their horse off to the sides and dismounted, allowing their horses to rest and graze.

They were both about to sit down against a tree trunk when Tristan's falcon, Skye, flew in and landed on Tristan's shoulder.

Tristan smiled at the bird. "Where ye been eh? Where ye been?" he questioned affectionately.

Sha'ri smiled at the sight. She knew that the only other beings he was ever this loving and gentle with were herself and their children. With the others he treated them better than those he did not know and didn't' like, but not as well as his own family.

As Tristan sat down on the ground, he pulled Sha'ri with him and sat her on his lap. Sha'ri gave a halfhearted shriek. "Tristan," she said in exasperation, though the look of fondness in her eyes and the twitch of her lips showed how much she was NOT irritated by his amorous attentions. "We'll have to wait till tonight," she said, her voice filled with promise. "Arthur and the others will be here in a few minutes."

Tristan nodded and reluctantly let her up. Sure enough as soon as Tristan stood up and moved to retrieve their horses, Arthur, the other knights, and the Bishop and his guards came riding up.

As Tristan and Sha'ri re-mounted their horses, Arthur asked, "Any trouble?"

Sha'ri and Tristan shook their heads. "No, and I doubt the woads will come this far south just to attack us," Tristan responded.

Arthur nodded and once Tristan and Sha'ri were up on their horses, the company set off once again towards Hadrian's Wall. As they set off Tristan raised his arm and Skye took off to keep watch.

The troop set off at a medium pace and found themselves back at the fort three hours later. As they got within sight of the fort, Arthur had the others hold up as they approached the crest of the hill a mile from the fort. Assessing there was no significant danger at the moment, the group of friends relaxed for a moment.

However, the quiet was soon broken by Bors' speaking. "Well," he began, "Now that we're free men, I'm gonna drink till I can't piss straight."

Sha'ri raised an eyebrow at Bors' comment. "You do that every night," Gawain retorted as he overlooked the fields and the fort.

Bors just ignored him and continued on. "I never could piss straight. Too much of myself to handle," the big lug then pointed downwards, "down there…"

Looking over at Tristan, Sha'ri rolled her eyes earning a rare smirk from her husband.

"Well it's a problem," Bors added, "no really it is. It's like a…"

As one the entire group, except Arthur, finished, laughing, "Baby's arm holding an apple."

Sha'ri just groaned in annoyance. Wouldn't her brothers ever grow up? She pulled an apple core from her bag and tossed directly at Bors head. The apple hit its mark and Sha'ri grinned as Bors turned and glared at her.

"What was that for?" he demanded to know.

Sha'ri gave him an innocent look. "What was what for Bors?"

Bors, knowing he would not win with Sha'ri turned back around and followed the others down the path and to the fort.

"Oh and Bors," he turned around, "the apple core was just because," she laughed. Bors shook his head and urged his horse to continue.

As the group approached the wall, both Tristan and Sha'ri were riding along side Galahad, Gawain and Bors, with Lancelot just slightly up ahead of them. The group rode on in silence until Galahad decided to break it.

"I don't like it, Rome," he muttered as he looked back at the carriage and then once again faced forward, "if he's here to discharge us, why doesn't he just give us our papers and leave."

Gawain chuckled. "Is that your happy face," he mocked causing the group to grin, even Galahad. "Galahad, do you still not know the Romans? They don't scratch their asses without holding a ceremony."

"Why don't ye just kill him, and then discharge yourself after?" Bors suggested as they rode along.

Galahad looked disgusted. "I don't kill for pleasure," he said coldly, "Unlike some."

Sha'ri rolled her eyes as Tristan replied, "Well, you should try it someday; you might get a taste for it."

"I don't kill for pleasure," she added to the conversation, "but that doesn't stop me from being a good warrior."

Gawain chuckled as he listened to his 'brother's' comment.

"It's part of you. It's in yer blood," Bors added sagely. (Was that even possible?)

Galahad shook his head, half laughing, "N-no-no. No. As of tomorrow, this was all just a bad memory."

Bors looked over at the others and mouthed, 'Oh...'

"I've often thought what going home would mean after all this. What will I do? It's different for Galahad. I have been in this life longer than the other. So much for home – it's not so clear in my memory," Gawain thought aloud.

"Well, you speak for yerself- it's cold back there," Bors shrugged, "And everybody I know is dead and buried. Besides, I have, I think, a dozen children."

"Eleven," Gawain and Sha'ri corrected at the same time.

Bors just ignored them and continued, "You listen, when the Romans leave here, we'll have the run of all this place. I'll be... governor of my own village, and Dagonet will be my personal guard and royal arse-kisser, won't you, Dag?"

Dagonet just ignored Bors comment.

"First thing I will do when I get home is to find myself a beautiful Sarmatian woman to wed," Sha'ri heard Gawain say.

"A beautiful Sarmatian woman? Why do you think we left in the first place?" Bors grinned. Sha'ri threw Gawain and Bors a glare as they scoffed and mooed.

"Bors," she said sweetly. The man in question felt the blood in his face drain away as he looked over at her. "Do you think I'm fat?"

Bors actually had the nerve to blush at being caught out, thus causing the knights to laugh. He just ignored them and continued the conversation.

"What about you, Lancelot? What are you plans for home?" he asked their second in command.

Lancelot grinned evilly, "Well if this woman of Gawain's is as beautiful as he claims, I expect to be spending a lot of time at Gawain's house. His wife will welcome the company."

Gawain raised an eyebrow, "I see. Then what will I be doing?" he asked.

Lancelot's grin widened. "Wondering at your good fortune that all your children look like me."

Sha'ri shook her head as she heard Bors laugh and Gawain mutter, "Is that before or after I hit you with my axe?"

She was about to comment when she heard Tristan whistle for his hawk. She smiled slightly as the hawk landed on his left arm and he softly said, "Where you been, eh? Where you been?"

"You know dear, if I didn't know better, I'd have to be jealous of that hawk," she joked.

Tristan just grinned and replied, "You'll always be first in my heart love," he paused as he noticed their kids shouting at them from the top of the wall, "however I think our children are a little eager to see us."

Sha'ri nodded. "Sounds like it," she agreed, "Just think, soon we'll be able to head home."

Tristan silently agreed as they urged their horses through the gates and into the stable.

Jols, their trusted valet came out and greeted them. "Welcome back, Arthur."

"Jols," Arthur returned the greeting.

Jols nodded at Lancelot. "Lancelot." The dark knight returned the nod as he and the others dismounted.

"No greeting for me Jols," Sha'ri teased.

Jols turned around and grinned. "Sorry about that Sha'ri. Welcome back."

As Sha'ri grabbed her medical bag, she heard Arthur speaking to the Bishop, "Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you."

"Ah, yes. I must rest," he agreed. Sha'ri shook her head. The fat Roman didn't know the meaning of the word tired.

Sha'ri and Tristan were about to walk back to their home when she spotted, Vanora, and the kids.

Vanora and her brood all headed straight for Bors. While their three kids all came running and shouting, "Mum, Dad!"

Sha'ri smiled as she picked up her youngest, Gaheris. "Have you and your siblings been getting into trouble?"

He shook his head. "No, we've been good for Aunt Van."

"Good," Sha'ri said, placing a kiss to her son's chubby cheek. "Now go and clean up for supper," she said. "And that goes for the two of you as well, Corrin, Ciarraí. Tristan, you are coming to the infirmary with me so I can dress those cuts."

He was about to protest, but decided against it as he saw the resolve on Sha'ri's face. Sometimes it was best to just leave well enough alone, especially when he knew she'd wear him down eventually.