Two week passed, and I got better with the sword every day. Arthur even let me start to use my real one instead of the heavier dulled one. Gwen even helped me practice once, and proved to be much better than me. Though, I did manage win one round against her. I got stronger, but I still relied on heavily on tricks if I wanted to win. I grew used to how things worked here, though Henry argued that I needed to learn to keep my mouth shut more often. He'd eventually realize that wasn't going to happen any time soon.
Even with all the work I put into it, I knew I was no where near ready for a real fight. At the very least I would be able to distract somebody and just try not to get killed. Snow had just begun to stick to the ground and the palace was freezing. Even the roaring fires in most of the rooms didn't seem to help much to cut through the cold air.
That night at dinner, a messenger rushed into the room and handed Henry a rolled up piece of paper before hurrying out again. He read it in silence before putting it down slowly.
"What's wrong?", I ask, seeing the look on his face.
"Several towns on the southern border are beginning to rebel in the absence of the royal family. Nothing that can't be handled, I'm sure."
"Of course not. We can send Arthur. I'm sure that in light of our alliance, it is the least I can do."
He considers this, but I knew he wouldn't turn it down. To Henry, the less he got involved in the better. "I must thank you once again for your generosity once again, Uther."
Uther nods and raises his goblet. "To a newly found alliance." The rest of us raise our own cups and repeat our toast.
"We shall leave tomorrow after we have time to gather supplies. Order shall be restored to your kingdom.", Arthur assures him.
Dinner ended on that sour note for me, but I kept quiet for now. I had been dying to see Tahara after being taught about it by Henry. He'd been filling my head with traditions, history, and pictures of the land. I felt an undeniable tug towards it. Maybe it was just being told it was my homeland, so I was simply curiosity. But what I knew for sure was that I wasn't going to let Arthur storm into villages killing people to gain back control.
I followed him out of the hall, and he didn't seem to hear me following him at first but I knew he did. "What do you want, Sarah?", he asks without turning around.
"I'm coming with you."
He stops and turns around, looking amused. "No you are not. You'll get hurt."
"No I won't! I can take care of myself. Besides, you don't really think the people will listen to you, do you? They won't submit to an outsider. It will be a bloodbath and you know it." I was going out on a limb, not sure if he would take the bait. My best chance to get in on this was to get Arthur on my side and get him to convince Uther and Henry.
"What do you mean an outsider?"
I smirk, knowing I would at least get him to listen now. "Would anyone in Camelot willingly accept my forced leadership?"
"Point taken, but there is no way your uncle, or my father for that mater, would allow you to go. It's too dangerous for-"
"A woman?", I cut him off. "You and I both know I'm good enough now to at least keep myself alive. No one will expect me to know how to use a sword. And if you bring me it won't come down to a fight. I'm meant to be Queen. The people listen to me."
"Sarah. You're not Queen yet. Stop being so stubborn.", he grumbles.
"Technically, I am. Henry is my regent, not the king. I only have to run my own decisions through him and get approval. He's like a privileged advisor. In less than two years is my coronation. The people think of me as their Queen already. My not being in Tahara is causing problems. It is my responsibility to fix them."
He doesn't say anything at first, thinking about what I said, which was something. He didn't flat out tell me no. "I'll see what I can do. But I'm not making any promises."
Arthur was in council with Henry and Uther for over an hour. They kicked me out so that the 'men' could discuss it. I was pacing like a maniac and having second thoughts. Maybe I should just stay in Camelot. It was safer. But at the same time something was telling me I needed to go. A million things could go wrong, but I found myself not really caring.
Henry was going to be pissed, but I could argue it was just me keeping up my princess image. He couldn't deny to politics behind what I was saying. We couldn't stay in Camelot forever even if I would be coming back after we were finished. Eventually I would have to move to Tahara and I would have to rule it. It would happen even if I didn't want it to. Being here had changed me, made me grow up and become a stronger person.
The door swung open, revealing Henry. He didn't even look angry with me as he put his hands on my shoulders, looking completely serious. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
I nod, shocked that Arthur got through to them. "It is my duty to the people." I sounded like a cheesy medieval movie. But if there was any place for it, it was here.
He turns to Arthur. "Take care of her. I'll send some of my men along with you." I try not to groan in protest. He was letting me go and I wasn't about to do anything to make him change his mind. If he was sending any of the Taharan knights, then I could be sure Luca would be coming with us. The guy got creepily protective over me sometimes.
We spend that night, and part of the next morning packing and gathering supplies. It would be a three day trip by horseback. The only time I'd ever ridden a horse was when I was nearly passed out when I first got here. I was just hoping it would be easy. I doubted it would be. Gwen brought me a new dress that I wished I'd had the whole time. It was Taharan green, with fitted sleeves that had cords criss-crossing up my arm. The material was nothing special, but it was warm and soft. It wasn't fancy or anything, which was why I liked it. I got a pair of worn in boots that were good for riding and running in. My calve sheaths fit easily over them.
Lastly I strapped on my sword to my back and fitted my grey cloak over it.
"Good luck.", Gwen tells me as she finishes off my braid.
"Thank you."
"Be careful."
"I will." She hugs me, startling me for a second before I hug her back. I would really miss her while I was gone.
The party leaving was gathering in the courtyard, readying themselves to head out. All together, there was a company of about thirty men. Merlin ran up to me after I came outside with a tan colored mare, already saddled. A side-saddle with my luck. I had no clue how to even ride the horse in the first place, much less with a side-saddle. I guess I would just have to suck it up. He helps me up and slides my feet into the stirrups before leading it into the pack of horses. "Thanks."
"No problem."
Arthur comes trotting over to us with one of his knights, a dark haired man with a good natured grin. "Sarah, meet Gwaine. Stay by him, and I mean it."
"You're giving me a nanny? Really Arthur? I'm not a five-year-old."
Gwaine laughs and Arthur smacks his arm. "It's for your own good. Besides, Gwaine won't bite." He sticks me with Gwaine next to me smack in the middle of everyone else. At least I wasn't in the front, where I would actually have to guide my horse. With others in front of her she just followed them and I could focus on just staying on. If it came down to having to move at a run, I would have to ride bareback or something.
Our parade of riders looked like Christmas between the Camelot red and the Taharan green only good part of this stupid side-saddle was I could easily look behind me. And I could see the castle growing smaller and smaller behind the trees until it faded into the distance.
I'm not really happy with this one, but I hope you liked it anyway. I don't know if it's just moving to fast or something, but I might end up re-writing it later. Sorry I didn't update this week as much as I would have liked, I got expectantly busy and season 4 finally came out on Netflix! Yay for us American fans who can't find Merlin anywhere else! Anyways as always, thank you for reading!