Chapter 21: Confessions of a Traitor

Disclaimer: Do I have to repeat myself?

Note: Authors thanks at end.

After Amanda finished crying, her body entered the numbness she had rarely felt. Mindlessly, she dragged Edem's body back to his horse, and then dragged back Evelina's. She took Evelina's horse, and brought it to the campsite. She then hoisted the unconscious body on top of its horse, stripped her off all weapons she had on her hidden, and bound her hands around the horses' neck. Then, Amanda cleaned off Edems body, washed out his wound, and wrapped him up in a few of the blankets. As she placed the cloth over his face, Amanda gave his cheek one last kiss. Then, she put him on her horse. She went over to his horse, and took off the reins, saddle, and equipment.

"Be free," she said in the horses' ear, and hit its flank. The horse whinnied in surprise, and bolted into the West. Amanda didn't watch it go. Tying Evelina's horses' reins to her horse, she got up behind Edem, a protective and steadying hand on his back. She urged her horse on, a swift canter, and remained in her numbness until they emerged onto the path they had traveled on before they went into the woods. She slowed her horse then, and noticed a stirring behind her. Looking back at Evelina, she noted she was awake, and in pain.

"You cannot do this to me," Evelina protested.

"I already am," Amanda answered indifferently.

"I can't believe you took his body with you," Evelina said after a short pause.

"He wanted a proper burial," Amanda answered, quickening their pace a little.

"You're so weak Amanda, I would have left him there," Evelina said. Amanda didn't answer, and rode on.

"He couldn't have meant that much to you. You were always to busy pining after Arthur to care about him," Evelina continued, "But, I guess you never really know what you have until you've lost it, isn't that right?" Amanda continued to stay silent.

"You aren't even strong enough to answer me anymore. I should have known," was Evelina's last comment that Amanda handled.

"Listen Evelina, when we get back to Camelot, you'll be tortured until you break, and then put to death for high treason. I might be weak, but I'm not a simpleton, which you just happen to have inherited. Or have you always been that way?" Evelina was silenced, and shifted her body weight on her horse. Amanda urged the horses on faster, and followed the trail until it came to the fields before Camelot.

Amanda stopped to give the horses a rest, and stretched her legs. She stared at the city walls, and imagined what was going on. She was sure she had been spotted by now; she was only a little ways away. She was sure some guard had recognized her, and was sending words for the King. Arthur; Arthur would arrive on the wall, and look at Amanda. She was sure she was the last thing he wanted to see at the moment, but Amanda didn't care. As long as she proved her innocence, she could live without the Knights, her brother, and the King.

Nicolarious sat aimlessly in a chair in the library, head in hand, listening to the meeting. He was tired and worried, anyone would have been able to tell just by looking at him .Kylian was sitting at the table and Galahad next to him. Kylian was dazed, barely paying attention, and Galahad looked rather depressed. Ambrose paced the floor, and Bors stood by the door, a scowl on his face. Gawain and Arthur were standing, having a screaming match. Which of the two looked worse was a tough call. Gawain's gold hair was greasy and disgustingly knotted at the back of his neck. His eyes were tired and severely unaware. Both were extremely depressed, and Arthur was a little more obvious about it. His face was unshaven, and his usually neat and ordered appearance had abdicated his life. His clothes were days old, and off line. His brilliant green eyes had dulled, and were not truly fighting as they normally would have been.

"Arthur, you cannot send the army to help the Woads over a hundred miles from here!" Gawain cried pointing to one of the many maps spread on the table before them.

"That is our pact Gawain; the Woads need our help as we have needed theirs!" Arthur answered.

"No Woad ever came down from that far North to help us!" Gawain stated which was a fact.

"It doesn't matter which ones came to fight, it's the race in itself. No one person deserves to be excluded from help and sympathy, they're all equal!" Arthur spat.

"You should know all about excluding sympathy," Gawain said, turning his back on Arthur and to a map.

"Oh, don't bring her into this Gawain. You were no kinder to the murderer than I was," Arthur said, disgustedly.

"You can't prove she's a murderer. And as for my treatment, no, I was cruel to her, but I'm not the one in love with her!" Gawain retorted.

"That's debatable," Galahad tossed in there.

"Oh, and you don't love her?" Gawain said to him.

"I do, she's a wonderful girl. And she knows I love her. She's my best friend," Galahad replied calmly.

"We all love her," Gawain said.

"Please, can we get back to the matter at hand?" Arthur asked in a disgusted voice. They all began to glare at him, but then averted to the new person in the room. A guard had interrupted.

"Pardon me Your Majesty, but a person has been sighted. We think its Lady Marslyn," he announced. Arthur froze. Galahad jumped up to go to the wall, and Kylian followed. Bors eventually went moments later, but the last four froze. Finally, Nicolarious rolled himself out of the room, and Ambrose followed behind him. Galahad stared at Arthur, who stared at the doorway where the guard stood. Gawain left, and Arthur was called back at the intentional clearing of Gawain's throat. Arthur walked out to the wall, barely prepared for her.

Amanda rode through the city gates, and she felt many eyes fall upon her. She didn't care though, and she carried on to the palace gates. Dismounting her horse, she turned back to Evelina, who looked at her impatiently. Amanda took out Edem's dagger and used it to loosen the knot that tied together Evelina's hands. Amanda let the woman sit up, and retied the knot of the rope. Amanda looked up at Evelina, surprised to find her not looking at Amanda. They were focused on something behind her, and Amanda knew who was there. She looked at two guards, and beckoned them over.

"Take Lady Evelina to the dungeons, on charge of two murders, and high treason," Amanda commanded, and the guards carried her away. Evelina didn't even protest.

"She only killed on person Amanda," said the voice of Gawain. Amanda gave a stable boy the reins to Evelina's horse, and looked back at Gawain.

"No Gawain, she killed another. In case you haven't noticed this body on my horse, you're extremely blind," Amanda answered, and turned back to her horse.

"Where is Edem?" asked her brother from the top of the stairs. Amanda looked up at him, and then patted the body.

"He is here Nicolarious," Amanda said softly. Galahad came down to her.

"I am sorry Amanda," he said to her.

"You weren't when you sent him off with me. You're just as capable of raising your hand and volunteering to accompany me as he did," Amanda said bitterly.

"I was angry at you," he said.

"Ah yes, of course. Angry at me for telling the truth," she said meanly. She noted the appearance of Arthur, and bowed deeply.

"She's in the dungeons My Lord. She will confess. Now, as you promised, I ask you to clear my name of the rude and wronged title you have given me," she said calmly. He came down to her, brushing Galahad aside, and took his place before Amanda. Amanda looked up at him.

"I'm glad to find you're looking at me again," he said.

"Please Your Highness," Amanda persisted, "relieve me of the title." Arthur reached out to touch her, but she stepped back.

"I shall return at a more appropriate time. I have a love to bury," she said, mounting her horse and preparing to ride off.

"Amanda," Arthur said.

"Forgive me Your Majesty, but you and I are in no position to speak to each other in such an informal manner," Amanda corrected him, "Mistress Marslyn is what I wish to be called by."

"Why are you behaving like this?" he asked, angered.

"I am simply completing my mission. Excuse me, my lord," she looked up at her brother, and then rode off to the undertaker.

"She's impossible!" Arthur cried.

"She's determined to achieve what she wants," Nicolarious said. Arthur looked up at him.

"She wants nothing to do with me anymore?" Arthur asked. Nicolarious shook his head.

"Not just you, Your Majesty; she wants nothing to do with any of us. We have betrayed her. She has done nothing but care for all of us in the best way she could manage, and, in turn, we allowed the love of her life to die. We have betrayed her," he repeated the first sentence, and realized what he said was exactly true. Arthur hung his head in defeat, and the rest of them saddened as quickly as they breathed.

Amanda stood at the grave, alone. No one but she and the priest had gone to Edem's funeral. There was no one else to attend. He was buried a two days after they returned to Camelot. Amanda still had much to do. She planned to leave Camelot as quickly as she had come. The house still had to be tended to, and taken down. Edem's belongings needed to be taken care of, and Amanda simply couldn't stay any longer. She couldn't do anything anymore. Not anything right anyway. She buried her face in her hands, and let herself go. The priest patted her on the shoulder, and left; as if someone had made him leave. Amanda collapsed at the grave, her arms wrapping around herself, as if hugging. Hugging to comfort herself in the total aloneness she had created for her to live in. She wept like she had never wept before, for she had loved like she had never loved before. She had loved Arthur so completely, and now he rejected her.

"Why are you crying?" asked a very feminine voice, one Amanda had longed to hear.

"Because it's all true," Amanda said.

"What is?" asked the voice.

"The talk. Or, the old talk of the people, before Lai was killed," Amanda answered.

"That Arthur loved you?" they asked.

"No, that I had loved him," Amanda corrected, and a fresh wave of emotion over came her.

"Do you still?" asked the voice, which was now much closer to Amanda.

"More than I thought. And the death of Edem has proved it. I thought I could love Edem, but I realized that my love for Edem was of that for a parent. He had protected me so," Amanda said softly. Suddenly, a pain of arms went around her, and Amanda buried herself into the frame of Lady Caia Donellia.

"Oh my darling," she said, her voice sounding choked in sadness. Amanda continued to shake and sob like a child, and Caia stroked her back. Her hands and soft cooing were comforting in Amanda's time of need. After a long while, Amanda pulled away and wiped the tears away from her blue eyes. Caia smiled at her.

"Feel better?" she asked. Amanda shook her head.

"I didn't think so. Here, come with me. We'll go see Arthur about clearing your name. They're trying Evelina today as well, I'm sure you'd feel glad to hear her confessions," Caia said. Amanda considered it. Caia pulled her up before she could see the negative aspects of the proposal, and Amanda was dragged to the palace. The hall was empty, except for a few citizens discussing things with Arthur. Caia held Amanda's hand the entire way, and Amanda felt her pride enter her system once more. Arthur looked up, and excused the citizens. Caia let go of Amanda's hand, and curtsied to her King. Arthur smiled, and cleared his throat.

"Everyone, please, give me a moment with Mistress Marslyn," he said loudly, and everyone obeyed. Caia smiled at Amanda reassuringly as she left, and Amanda stared at Arthur.

"My King," she said, curtsying.

"Why have you come to see me, milady?" he asked, formally.

"I have come to ask you of a duty no other can do entirely but you, my lord," Amanda answered.

"And what is that?" Arthur asked.

"For you to clear me of the accusations charged against me," Amanda stated, and Arthur sighed.

"You see, Mistress Marslyn, even I am not able to do that," Arthur said. Amanda truly looked at him, eyes wide with fury.

"Why the hell not?" Amanda cried, and Arthur smiled.

"Because, as of now, you have not been proven innocent. As a matter of fact, I am ordering you to stay in this palaces walls until your innocence is proven," he said. Amanda made a face of sheer anger and disbelief.

"You can not be serious Arthur!" Amanda said.

"Oh, I am very serious Amanda," he said, his green eyes smiling at her.

"I am not staying," she declared, and began to walk away. Arthur grabbed her upper arm, and pulled her back to him, their bodies touching and his face inches away from hers.

"Do not make me do something I do not want to do, Amanda," he said; deep voice stern, "I gave you an order. Friend of or enemy, I am allowed to do that."

"You are neither," Amanda hissed.

"Fine; someone you care for, or hate, I am allowed to give you orders," Arthur challenged, not releasing her arm.

"I hate you no more than you hate me," Amanda said, writhing with anger.

"So you don't hate me at all?" Arthur said, sounding relieved, "That's excellent. I thought you truly hated me."

"Don't be such an asshole Arthur," Amanda said, "I know damn well you hate me."

"Don't be a fool Amanda," he said back, matching her emotion, "You know damn well I could never hate you."

"You certainly did when I left here," Amanda protested.

"I never said I hated you," Arthur said back.

"But you never-" said you loved me, either, Amanda caught herself.

"I never what?" Arthur asked.

"You never treated me like you cared either," Amanda shot, thankful for a quick mind. Suddenly, she realized, this is what he wanted. He had gotten rid of the barricade she had put between them; that formal barricade she had thought she wanted more than she wanted his love.

"Forgive me?" Arthur said his green eyes truly hurt, and sad. He was begging for her forgiveness, and Amanda wanted to give it to him. But he had hurt her so badly.

"No," Amanda said, "You've hurt me Arthur. You've accused me, taken my pride and ripped it to shreds, killed the man I loved, and used all that I've done for you against me. Do not ask for my forgiveness now. It is far too late." Arthur looked at her, and she looked firmly back. He suddenly changed into the man that had caught her kissing Joseph, and it killed Amanda. But he had killed her.

"You are to stay here," he said, letting go of her arm and stepping away. "We need you to be here when Evelina is tried. It may come down to you proving her guilty." Amanda nodded, and asked the next question without truly considering it. She just asked it.

"Did I really ruin our friendship?" she asked her voice soft and chilling. It was she question neither wanted to face. Arthur turned back to her, and thought many things. Here, the firstly, he deemed he should just go up and kiss her. Kiss her passionately and lovingly as he had longed to do for some time; and he almost did. But, her prior words echoed in his head. She hadn't forgiven him. She had lied to him as well; she had lied to him, the one man that had taken care of her and provided her with everything he could. Except his love. Had he loved her she wouldn't have to feel this way about him. She hadn't ruined their friendship, he had.

"No Amanda," he said, and his voice saying her name was like heaven in her ears, "you didn't ruin our friendship. As a matter of fact, I consider our friendship very much intact if you'll allow it to be. But, then again, I don't know how long we can be friends if you can't forgive me."

"Maybe I don't want to be friends with someone who hurts me," Amanda said back.

"Do you honestly think you didn't hurt me with your lies?" he shot at her. Oh how angry she made him.

"And why do you think I lied to you Arthur?" Amanda asked him.

Because I was jealous, Amanda answered her own question in her mind.

"I wouldn't have if you always let your anger out on me!" Amanda said, her fists clenching into small, yet harmful balls.

"I wouldn't get so angry if you were always looking for something in me!" Arthur retorted, and Amanda faltered.

"Here we are again, Arthur! The same place almost three years ago now! And you still don't understand. But wait!" she cried, "I know what comes next! You say- lets see if I remember…ah yes- you say 'Try running a country and catering to your every need!' And then I say 'I have only asked two things of you Arthur, I never asked you for the library or the roof over my head,' which remains true to this day, mind you! And then you ask 'Do you think you could have managed any better without me then?' But here is where I'm changing something. I'll tell you one thing Arthur Castus, King of Briton, no I couldn't have managed any better without you financially. But I would have faired far better emotionally without you!" Amanda paused here, her fire had returned and her mind on an emotional rampage through her history with Arthur. Finally, she spoke again, "So, now is the time where I ask you one more question. The answer will end it all, happily or unhappily; that choice lies with you. Do you remember what you said to me next, Arthur Castus, because I most certainly do. Should you answer one way, I'll never leave. Answer the other way, and I'll never come back. Are you going to tell me to stay, or to get out like you did before? Are you going to let history repeat itself, or break it and make something better?" She stared at Arthur, who was blown away by her question. After a quick recovery, he stared back at Amanda, and the two stayed that was for several moments that felt like an eternity. But, they were interrupted. Evelina was marched in, guards on either side, the Knights walked behind her. Amanda was lost into the group of citizens filing in to see the trial, and Arthur resumed his throne.

Evelina, clad in a simple cotton dress, was brought before Arthur to be questioned. She didn't look at him pleadingly. She looked at him with no emotion, prepared to face her inevitable doom.

"Evelina Turuelli, accused of killing two people, and plotting against the King to overtake the throne. Are you guilty of what is charged against you?" Arthur asked.

"Yes sire," Evelina answered.

"For the death of Edem Ferbuoin?" Arthur asked.

"Yes sire."

"For plotting against me, King of Briton?" Arthur asked.

"Yes sire."

"And what did this plot consist of?" Arthur asked.

"Your murder and the over taking of the throne for the better rule of Briton," Evelina answered proudly.

"And did you form this plot by yourself?" Arthur asked.

"No sire."

"With whom then?" Arthur questioned, curiously.

"With Adonis Gregili, my sister, Aalya Turuelli," Amanda darted her eyes to Gawain, who flushed, "and Gurshoin Ratonus." Amanda darter her eyes back at Arthur, whose eyes were the only thing to reveal his shock.

"And are you guilty to the murder of Lai, Queen of Briton?" Arthur asked.

"Technically, yes sire." Evelina answered.

"Technically?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, I was trying to kill another, but Her Majesty took the knife instead."

"And who were you trying to kill?" Arthur asked.

"Amanda Marslyn." Arthur looked at Amanda, and she looked back. She felt all the Knights eyes upon her, and she raised an eyebrow, as if to say, 'I wasn't lying.'

She didn't need to be asked anymore questions; it was painstakingly obvious that she had committed the crimes and would plead no other way than guilty.

"Evelina Turuelli, you are quite clearly guilty of these charges, by my own findings, and plead none other than guilty. At your trial two days ago, you were sentenced to death, by way of lynching. You shall be lynched until you can breathe no more, and are dead. May God have mercy on your corrupted soul." The entire city was crowded around the platform. From it hung a rope, tied to be a noose, in which Evelina's pale neck would be hung from. She just happened to be on the very platform Arthur proposed to her on. Amanda flashed her blue eyes up to the spot where she had fainted; a day that seemed so far from this one. She averted her attention back to the platform. She was in the very front, and she was determined to make herself watch the very death of the villain; she had taken so much from Amanda.

Evelina seemed hopelessly calm, her hands at her sides, and shivering in the long sleeved, cotton dress she wore. The spring rain was coming, and the wind was chilling Evelina to the bone. Amanda smiled. A priest read a passage from the Bible, and Evelina was brought forward to the noose.

"'Only Jesus Christ has the power to save'," the voice of the priest sounded in the background, and it was as if it were her cue. Evelina punched the undertaker off her, and jumped down from the platform, looking Amanda right in the eye.

"I'm going to finish what I came here to do," she hissed, and charged Amanda, a dagger slipping out from her sleeve and aimed at Amanda's heart. Amanda, however, was ready for her. She grabbed Evelina's wrist, so the dagger went down Amanda's body, reopening the scar she already had. Evelina let go of the dagger, and Amanda caught it. Everyone back off from the two.

"You have failed Evelina. Something better has come along," Amanda spat, thrusting the dagger into Evelina's stomach. Evelina stumbled backwards, and Amanda felt a horrible rush to her head. Her vision clouded, but she made no sign of it. She focused on Evelina crashing to the ground, and her brilliant face ceasing to bear emotion; ceasing to live. Amanda smiled triumphantly, and saw a new figure coming at her. Her expression changed to that of a confused, and defensive one, but the arms of the figure went around her.

"Amanda," they called, their voice so distant from her ears, "Amanda, stay here with me. Amanda…"

It all went black.

I'm on a roll! The sarahnater: I appreciate your reviews so much. And keep hoping, you never know what will happen now. FFMasquerade2005: I am glad to hear from you! When you didn't comment on last chapter I was afraid I lost you with my disappearance. And I thank you for giving me such a compliment; it truly made me blush. It makes me never want to stop writing when you guys say things like that. Keep reading and I'll keep writing.