A/N: A huge THANK YOU goes out to all that reviewed! I truly value your suggestions and input. I really helps when I'm thinking of situations/scenes, and hopefully it also helps me write a better story! smiles I also see that the story has been getting hundreds of hits, yet I only have 8 reviews. C'mmmmoooon, my lovely readers! poke Even a "This story rocks!" will let me know that I am going in the right direction and am utterly pleasing you! grins And if you chose to stop reading, tell me why, so that I can improve upon it later on. (Tis very important, you see!) But hey, no worries. I'll keep writing this still I go blind! (Well...I wouldn't go that far. Just close to it, I love it so much!) Or just...until I run out of ideas, inspiration and start repeating situations! haha Anyway, after that long speech...here are some more chapters for your reading pleasure. ENJOY!
janell: You have very good reasonings for pairing Lourdes with Lancelot! Damn these womanizers, I swear! Someone does need to teach them a thing or two! But definitely, their personalities interact in the oddest of ways in my eyes, which definitely makes for a good storyline! smiles And, no worries, if I do end up choosing door #2, you will have door #1, with all pomp and circumstance and confetti and...cake! Mmm...cake. Happy reading, and thank you for your review!
thesarahnater: First of all, thank you for letting me know that you are alive and reading my story! laughs (Yeah, I can't seem to put emoticons on here, so I have to resort to verbs in asteriks! lmao By the way, I love your name, it kicks major ass! haha Anyway, without giving too much away...she'll get her scenes with Lancelot, I assure you! (That's probably why I like the main character interacting with two men...why settle for one when you can have both? LOL) But yeah. It seems that the audience is 50/50 when it comes to Lancelot and Galahad...PERFECT! I can masterfully play with everyone's emotions when I write! evil laughter Well, ok, I'm not really that evil...I think I just enjoy writing this "tug-of-war romance" a little too much. Anyway, HAPPY READING!
magicalex-aurorhobbit: Hello my lovely! You are at camp as I am writing this, but I know you are thinking of this story, wanting so badly to read it! LOL I'm kidding. But hey. I hope you like the next chapters. It gets better, I promise! Don't worry my fellow Galahad lover, she will get her time with Galahad as well. You know me, I like my angst. I love building tension as well. Why? Cause I'm cool like that. grins widely, thumbs up in the air If I start writing a Mary Sue, please slap me silly. It's taking me so long to write these chapters because I want every single one to be perfect, flowing well and basically not looking rushed. I hope it's worth the wait in the end! waves
RagingRaven: Thanks also for letting me know that you are alive and are reading this! haha You're not just an anonymous reader now. Now, you are part of the list of people I am writing this for. points I hope I make you proud, man!
makedamnsure: Howdy! Thanks again for reviewing! teehee I made you wiggly inside. I like that. haha If you get all wiggly inside at that scene, oh man, then you'll definitely like the chapters that I am currently writing! smiles Alright, I'll count your vote in for Galahad. Damn. It's about even now. God, you guys are making me as confused as the character herself! Then again, that's good, because I'll write about what I experience. Confusion leads to drama, drama leads to angst and angst leads to good storyline. haha But yeah. I try to keep as creative as possible, taking only from the movie what I need to launch my full story into the air. Enjoy the next chapters!
P.S.: Thanks to those that saved me/my story into their favourites and/or chose the option for to alert them when new chapters are up! haha (How the hell do I explain that!)
Now...ONWARDS WITH THE STORY!
plays King Arthur music in the background while chomping on popcorn
t t t
CHAPTER 11
Lourdes woke to the faint sound of chirping birds and the soft rustling of leaves in the distance. It was sunrise, the yellow-orange light slowly peeked into her tent as she turned on her back. Blinking thrice, she remembered the happenings of the past fortnight with the Woads.
Merlin and his Woadian followers were kind to her. Most did not speak her language, but she managed, in one way or another, to communicate with them. She immersed herself in their environment, in their lives, trying desperately to learn their language and habits. She picked up a few words after a couple of days, and as the days passed by, she understood their simple greetings and commands. Lourdes even took up hunting, something that she had never been used to doing, being on the farm her entire life. As she did this, Merlin watched her with pride, seeing the free-spirited and open-minded woman that Lourdes had become.
Though as Lourdes slowly became accustomed to her new acquaintances, there was still something that tugged at her conscience. A flash of memory came to her, and she saw the last glimpse of Galahad's face before she disappeared into the woods. Her heart ached to leave everything unexplained, to leave him in the dark and in the cold. She longed so much to find him and explain, to continue to ease the pain that he helplessly bore. She wanted to be in his arms again, where she had felt so warm, so safe. When could she see him again? When would she see him again?
Her thoughts were interrupted with a call. She realized that the visitor had called her "different one" in their language. She made a face at this, but peeked her head out of her tent anyway.
"Yes?" she tilted her head in question. Looking up, she saw a young man, a few years older than she, standing in front of her tent with a comical expression on his face. He had the same blue markings that Merlin wore, clad in the same garments of animal skin as well. He held out his hand, motioning for her to take it. She did so and stood up, patting her dress clean. She shivered as a cold wind passed by, but smiled expectantly.
"Merlin would like to see you." he spoke slowly in the Woadian language.
Lourdes looked at him dumbly, pursing her lips. "Merlin what?"
"He would like to see you."
Shaking her head at the young man, she sighed and groaned. "I'm sorry, I cannot understand what you are saying about Merlin." she scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "You probably cannot understand a word I am saying either."
"That is where you are wrong."
Lourdes looked at him, dumbfounded.
The young man only smiled at her comical expression, bowing slightly. "I am Aiden. I learned your language from Merlin."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Aiden. My name is - "
"Lourdes. The different one."
She squinted his eyes at the cheeky fellow. "Well, I am aesthetically different from you Woads, but do you mind not calling me..."
"I only jest, milady." Aiden replied good-naturedly as he stuck out his arm. "Now come."
"Where are we headed?" Lourdes asked curiously, circling her arm under his and looking up at him in wonder.
"To see Merlin." he flashed her an energetic grin. "Your battle training begins today."
t t t
Weeks passed by, and the winter finally breathed its last breath, making way for spring. The knights and the other travellers were exhausted, weary and continued to live in constant fear of Saxon attack. Yet, the group pressed onwards, marching and marching towards their destination, barely stopping for food and rest for hours upon end. They were so close, just so close.
A roar from Bors caught everyone's attention. Their eyes followed his pointed finger, and in the distance, they saw the beginnings of a curtain wall. It felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted off of their shoulders. The travellers all began to murmur as each step became livelier than the next.
"Freedom, lads!" Bors yelled, kicking his horse lightly to make it gallop off ahead. The knights only breathed a sigh of relief, still tired and still angry that they were sent on this mission in the first place. They knew that it was a suicide mission from the start, and they were all thankful that nobody lost their lives in the process.
A few minutes later, as the group approached, the portcullis was raised and the thick, wooden doors swung open, revealing a handful of Roman soldiers and the Bishop Germanus. The Bishop grinned at the sight of the wagon, seeing Alecto within. With gleeful steps, he met the carriage halfway in the main courtyard.
"Ah, God!" he exclaimed, raising his arms in the air. "Christ be praised! Against all the odds!" he turned to Alecto, who eyed him wearily. "Alright, let me see you. You have triumphed!"
Arthur and the knights didn't feel the need to share in the Bishop's celebration. They stood with little emotion evident in their faces, all hungry, impatient and tired.
"Our papers." Arthur demanded sternly, eyes flashing daggers at the Bishop. He made sure that his previous threat did not go unnoticed.
"Great knights!" the Bishop replied nervously, though still smiling. "You are free now! Give me the papers! Come, come!"
A Roman soldier came to his side briskly, holding an intricately carved box.
"Your papers of safeconduct throughout the Roman Empire!" he finished, holding them out to the knights. "Take it, Arthur!"
Arthur only looked at the Bishop sternly before walking inside the building. It was Lancelot who went and took the papers, handing it out to every knight. For 15 years, this had been the day that they all dreamed of, the day that they knew only the luckiest of them would live to see. With trembling hands, they held onto their papers, bowing their heads in a mixture of relief and satisfaction.
"Galahad."
Galahad looked up to the sound of Lancelot's voice, who held out the rolled discharge for him. He took it slowly, eyeing Lancelot, then the Bishop.
"A piece of paper doesn't change anything." Galahad said, almost bitterly. "We were already free men."
t t t
"I thought you knew how to fight?"
Swords met, sparks flying in all directions.
"I do know how to fight."
Another blow.
"Then why can't you hold a sword properly?"
Lourdes cried out in anger as Aiden hit her sword away from her grip with his own, finishing the move with the blade of the sword on her neck. He smiled in triumph, but Lourdes proceeded to wipe his grin away as she quickly ducked, kicking his feet out from under him. He landed on the ground with a grunt, limbs bent in all directions.
Rolling swiftly to the side, Lourdes picked up her fallen sword. Kicking her legs upward, she regained her balance and ended her attack by poking Aiden's stomach with the tip of the blade.
"Never underestimate your enemy." she stated, holding out a hand. Aiden didn't respond and only rolled his eyes. As he grabbed her outstretched hand, he pulled her to the ground, placing a dagger to her throat as he loomed down at her.
"What was that?" he grinned cheekily, earning a shove from Lourdes. They both stood, patting the dirt off of their garments.
Merlin had assigned Aiden to train Lourdes, and it surprised her to know that he, although he didn't look it, was an excellent fighter. The blue-eyed, blonde-haired young man was not as large and muscular as the knights that Lourdes had encountered previously, but he was skilled with the sword, twin blades, archery, daggers and spears. He had been taught by Merlin, and, the older and weaker the leader became, he assigned more duties to his young protege. As the years passed by, Aiden learned everything there was to know about the art of war and daily practiced his craft.
Aiden was an orphan who Merlin had found on his journeys. Lourdes learned that this had only happened weeks after she was given to the care of Lolita and Ernesto. Though, in Aiden's case, he was already five years old, and would not leave Merlin's side and would not let anyone else care for him. So, Merlin took him under his own wing and grew to love him as his son.
Lourdes and Aiden eyed the weapons at either of their sides. As if on cue, the two dashed for the weapons on opposite sides, meeting once more in the middle of the field. Aiden held out a long spear, its head dangerously lashing out at Lourdes's torso. With a little trouble, Lourdes fought the spear off with twin blades, much lighter than the sword that she had used previously.
Twin blades, Lourdes said to herself, just like Lancelot's...
Lancelot.
That was when Aiden connected, cutting through Lourdes' tunic and scratching the skin on her right side.
"Bloody hell!" she cried, jumping back in surprise. She finally cut the end of the spear with a swift swing, leaving Aiden with a mere pole in his hands.
"What happened with you?" he almost laughed, throwing the stick to the ground. "I thought I lost you for a second there."
"I think you did." she grimaced, lifting up her shirt to see the damage. A tiny drop of blood trickled down, but after a few seconds, she barely paid attention to the wound. Aiden shrugged his shoulders before grabbing a couple of water sacs. Tossing one to Lourdes, she caught it expertly and drank as if she hadn't drank for days.
"Was your mind off in the skies, then?" questioned Aiden, lying down on the ground, exhausted. He didn't even lift his head when he continued to speak. "You always have good concentration. What happened?"
Lourdes shrugged mindlessly. "A thought just distracted me, that is all."
"Admit it!" Aiden called out playfully, eyes still to the sky. "You were just distracted by my good looks. Trust me, you are not the first!"
"Whatever makes you happy." Lourdes rolled her eyes, placing her swords on the ground. She followed Aiden's lead as she lied on the grass, sighing deeply.
"You do not want to know what makes me happy."
Lourdes groaned, turning away from Aiden while mumbling, "Now you sound just like him."
Aiden's ears perked up, his head finally looking up at her. "Like who?"
"Nevermind."
"Like who?" he pressed, throwing pebbles at her. "Your husband?"
"No!" she said a little too quickly, surprising her. "No, not a husband. A friend."
"Whose name is...?"
"...Lancelot."
Aiden suddenly sat up at this, his eyes filled with surprise. "You mean, Lancelot of Sarmatia? Lancelot of the Knights of the Round Table? Lancelot, the knight that has dark, curly hair and a very disturbing beard that..."
"Yes, Aiden!" Lourdes answered exasperatedly. "That Lancelot!"
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "And you dare insult me by comparing my being to his? For shame, lady!"
"For your knowledge, he happens to be a great knight, very..." Lourdes' voice drifted off at the sight of Aiden's huge grin. "Aiden, what now! Stop your smiling!"
"Well, well." Aiden placed his arms behind his head, leaning on a tree trunk. "You seem to care much for this 'Lancelot' of yours, coming to his defense and all. You haven't...you know...been with him, have you?"
"Aiden!" Lourdes shot to her feet, brushing the bottom of her pants off. "How dare you even...oh, you insufferable man!"
"I take that as a yes?"
"No!" Lourdes clenched her fists at her side, kicking his boots. "And I would appreciate it if you didn't speak of such horrid things!"
"Horrid things?" Aiden raised an eyebrow, wagging a knowing finger at her. "Milady, if you only knew the wondrous feelings that..."
It was then that Lourdes covered her ears and began to hum to herself. Closing her eyes, she turned her back to him. It was clear that Lancelot was not the only man who could get on her nerves!
Aiden only stared at her, seemingly unfazed. He continued to smirk, leaning forward. "There's more to this story, isn't there, Lourdes?"
Quickly, she eyed the ground, as if trying to hide her true emotions from Aiden. She then grew quiet, which made the young man frown. He placed a hand on her shoulder and shook it gently.
"I did not mean to upset you, Lourdes." he said sincerely, his eyes lined with regret. "What bothers you?"
Lourdes opened her mouth to respond, and it took a few seconds for her to utter something.
"I...I think I'm confused."
"You think you're confused? Or you know you're confused?"
"I know I am."
"About what?"
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with anger, confusion and sheer annoyance.
"Men!"
Aiden rolled his eyes. "If I had a gold coin for every time that I heard that..."
