Tales From Knighthood
Chapter 21 - The Allies Part
The morning was cold and crisp the next day around the alter as a low mist rolled amongst the tall stones as they stood. The sky above was still a dark a shade of purple, but the violent swirling had since settled down, leaving the sky clear. The morning silence was broken by the sound of the water's surface breaking as Sabre emerged from his long sleep beneath the water. He rose quietly, the water droplets running down his dark skin as he made his way to shore to find the sleeping princess, hoping the wounds of the night before had been sealed by a good nights sleep.
Taira was curled up within the stone circle, her back against the cold hard stone as she slept under one of the many arches. Her head had fallen forward, chin against her chest as she snoozed away. As Sabre walked around looking for her, his eyes were drawn again to the mysterious stone alter which stood in front of him. The haunting memories of the sound he had heard the day before came flooding back to him, creating a shiver up his spine. He looked across briefly to see Taira sleeping close by, then back to the table. A curiosity growing over him as he debated whether to listen to all again… He looked around for sight of Gawain, almost as if he needed 'permission', despite the fact Gawain had already allowed him to listen once and granted permission to listen freely whenever. Not seeing any sign of the Knight, Sabre shook his head and disregarded the thought, turning to wake Taira up instead.
"hey…" he whispered, nudging the girl gently, "hey… Taira?" he nudged her again as the girl began to murmur, stretching her limbs as she woke up from an uncomfortable nights sleep.
"oh… hey…" she looked at him, then leant back, trying to get the crick out of her neck as she fully woken up. Sabre watched her, trying to ignite a conversation that wouldn't reflect the night before, "Did you sleep ok…?" "of sorts…" came the reply with a long yawn. Sabre gave a brief smile and nodded, "at least you've had some sleep"
"yeah… tell me about it… after running so much that sleep was appreciated" she finally stood up stretching, "Gawain is…?" Sabre stood up also and looked around the area, "Gone it would seem…" he replied finishing her sentence, "I haven't seen him since waking up myself…" Taira pondered, scratching her chin as she scanned the area again and again, almost as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Gawain, "strange he would just… run off?"
Sabre sighed, shaking his head, "Indeed… Especially if this is where he's been content for so long…" He just shrugged, accepting he fact Gawain had simply 'vanished'. "Maybe I was wrong after all… Maybe he did kill Lancelot…" He spoke his thoughts aloud, "Would explain this sudden leave, especially now he has to face someone about it…" Taira nodded, Gawain had appeared jumpy to her when they questioned him the day before, then another thought entered mind, her eyes narrowing as it did, "Unless… unless like Percival… he too is working with this Grand Master?" she gave a frustrated sigh and closed her eyes as she tried to develop her thoughts.
Sabre nodded in agreement, "Another possibility I would really like to discount. But just can't…." He folded his arms, looking up the darkened sky where the sun should have been shining through this misty morning, trying to make sense of everything that was going on, "This madman Percival and Gawain both talk of…. sounds strong enough alone… Let alone when combined with the entirety of the old order… he'll be unstoppable…"
Taira gave a small whimper and stood by his side, shaking her head in loss as the reality of his words slowly began to hit her. She drew a long breath, muttering inaudible whispers to herself in hopelessness. Sabre turned, he was still saddened to the see the Princess in a continuing state of hopelessness. He opened his mouth to break the silence, "But I fear we face two options. A chance of certain enslavement… or very likely enslavement." he nodded to himself as he thought the possibilities through, "I know what I would rather choose.. What about you Princess?"
There was a long uncomfortable pause as Taira opened her eyes and looked back down around the stone circle. She stared at the alter centre piece long and hard as she thought Sabre's words over and over in her head, picking at the possibilities before finally giving a defeated shake of her head. "Then… it's decided" she finally spoke, "I must head back… alone…" She finally forced herself to look to Sabre, it was now evident the conversation they had had the night before had set firmly in her mind. There was a slight shimmer of determination which shone deep within her amber eyes as she locked eye contact with Sabre, "you might not be of my kingdom Sabre, but I will not allow you to be enslaved or your Tribe's line perish because of me"
Sabre's eyes narrowed as he looked back at the girl, taken back by her sudden words, "You should know me by now Taira…" he replied with the same stubbornness he had on their first meeting, yet behind his strong front, Sabre's voice seemed to be lacking it's true sense of purpose. He was trying to come p with some excuse to stop her going back alone, "I no longer have anything left to lose! That storm has already taken my home… If it means causing the extinction of the last of my race to save the crown… then… then…" his voice trailed of as he saw the determination in Taira's eyes to save her home shining through, he knew her mind was set.
Taira folded her arms at him, "Then what noble warrior?" They continued to look at each other as an unbearable silence loomed around them. It was Sabre who finally broke the tension, shaking his head as he spoke, "…Then so be it…" He knew this tone of voice, the same he had heard when the two had first encountered… it was a stubbornness to match his own and there was no changing a mind like that. He knew that first hand. "…Do what you must…"
Taira slowly stepped back, "I will…" she nodded, but something had hurt her. "At least… have some faith in me Sabre…" her voice spoke quietly. "Just…. Do it!" Sabre repeated again, a little louder, he didn't have the patience to talk anymore. He simply shut his eyes, conceding defeat in their argument and let loose a shay sigh. Taira shook her head slowly as it finally dawned on her, "your… your just like everyone else… aren't you?" she looked away from Sabre, turning her back to him slightly and looked at the stone circle around her, "You don't have any faith in me… and why? Because I have a stupid title!" she gave a frustrated sigh her voice appearing to choke back a bit at the thought her only friend and ally in this venture didn't have trust in her, "w-well thanks for that Sabre… really shows what you think of me!" she looked over her shoulder at him, looking for an apology, when one never came, she turned away sharply and stormed off into the ruins, heading off towards the open plains, a lone stray tear slipping down her cheek as she didn't look back….
The ruins were silent as Sabre watched her go… disappearing out of sight. It was then he collapsed to the ground, banging his fist against the stone in loss. He growled to himself in frustration realising how stupid he had just been. There was only one thing he could think to do. Picking himself up from his despair, he turned around and headed of into the plains they way the two had previously travelled together… as companions. His destination: Percival's village… There was a look of death and mission set in his eyes as the two had now parted their separate ways…. He didn't have much time.