Chapter 25: The First Fight

Disclaimer: I own no character that was part of the movie King Arthur. All those you do not recognize from the movie you do not recognize because they weren't in the movie. They are my creation, and no, you cannot use them without my permission.

Note: Hello! I haven't got much to say except read this chapter and let me know what you think.

They sped up the snowy hill back to the palace, and the sudden eruption of the alarm horns blasted through the icy air. One of the guards had beaten them back and was warning the city. Amanda was numb, and ran as fast as she could. Arthur had a tight grip on her, and they ran forward. They finally made it back through the stone walls, and the gates closed directly behind them. Suddenly, her body was held back, as Arthur had stopped running and she had kept going. She watched after the Knights as they took Caia away.

I need to go with her Arthur, she thought.

"Amanda," he said, and she looked at him, a little annoyed.

"Yes Arthur?"

"Amanda, I am going to need your help today. Once you have changed I need you to gather all the women, children, and elders into the palace keep," he said.

"The keep Arthur," Amanda interrupted, "What about all their shelters beneath their houses that lead way from here?"

"They will be no use to them now. I have a feeling Amanda, that they will be in need of their leader when the time is right."

"So you're to stay with them?"

"No Amanda. After you have gathered them all, report back to me. Quick now, go change your clothes, and dry off," he ordered. Amanda nodded and turned to go. Thinking of something, she turned back.

"Arthur," she started, "will I get to fight today, or are you too afraid of losing me?"

"We shall see Amanda," he answered and turned away, "we shall see who is lost first."

Amanda stripped down her clothes in haste while Anys dried her hair and limbs.

"Quick Anys, my trousers and tunic," Amanda said, pointing as she went in the mirror to put up her hair. Then, grabbing the trousers from Anys, she slid them on over her legs, almost falling over in the process, and took the tunic, "My boots!"

She rushed the tunic over her head, much warmer, and pulled her boots on.

"Anything else milady?" Anys asked, red cheeked from the excitement.

"Yes, get as many blankets and as much food as you can down to the keep, and then stay there and wait for further instruction," Amanda said, taking up her sword and kissing her mothers necklace. Then, she fled from the room, almost running into Nicolarious in the process.

"Amanda!" he said, surprised, "I was just coming to get you."

"Ah, who sent you?" Amanda asked.

"Arthur, he needs you down in the Great Hall," answered Nicolarious. Amanda nodded and started off down the stairs.

"Nick," she said, "Arthur isn't having you fight, is he?"

Nicolarious smiled and nodded, "He is sister! I am just fetching some armor now." Amanda forced a smile to her brother.

"Be very careful my love," she said, and then turned down the stairs, ready to have Arthurs head.

As she entered the Great Hall servants were moving chairs and hiding silver. In the middle of the commotion was Arthur, talking to Gawain and Galahad.

"Arthur!" Amanda called as she walked towards him.

"Amanda, I was just wondering where you were. Gentlemen, go," he said to Gawain and Galahad before turning to Amanda, "have you got everyone in the keep?"

"No, but I've got supplies going down there as we speak. I need to talk to you Arthur," she said.

"Supplies? What supplies?" Arthur asked.

"Blankets and food, now there is something very important we need to discuss," Amanda said, trying to make her point known.

"Very good Amanda, you're handling this well," Arthur said.

"Thank you my lord, but there is something I need to tell you," Amanda persisted, getting a little annoyed.

"Yes Amanda, I suppose you want to talk about the orders I have given Nicolarious," Arthur said.

"Of course I do! He is 13 years old Arthur, he cannot be put into battle! He has had no training!" Amanda cried.

"He hasn't?" Arthur asked, and this silenced the rampaging woman, "Amanda, you may be surprised just how long 3 years is," he smiled deviantly and put his hands on either side of Amanda's face, "Do not worry Amanda, he isn't going to be fighting anyway. I have put him in charge of the third legion of archers. They are based on the roof, dear girl. He won't ever see combat even if the enemy does break through."

"Don't say that Arthur. Just promise me he will not get hurt," Amanda whispered. Arthur looked into her eyes, and smiled.

"I promise." He let go of her face, and she stepped back.

"Now, go round up the people like I asked, and then go down to the armory," Arthur said, resuming his previous authority. Amanda bowed her head, and walked off, her face beaming in joyfulness, as uncalled for as it was at the moment.

Amanda headed out to the town, running from house to house, banging on the doors. She repeatedly yelled for the citizens to go down in to the palace keep. Much to her surprise, many listened to her. And so, from house to house she went, checking all rooms and all places, making sure none were left behind.

The enemy must be close now, she thought. Ironically enough, they were very close. The time Gurshion had allotted the people of Camelot was almost out. Amanda continued to yell the orders, and check the houses. Then, the horns sounded again, and their tune was a fast paced, almost panicked one. Cries of women and children broke out as they suddenly ran to the palace, and Amanda could hear the unified steps of the enemy coming up the hill. She suddenly felt like she was very late, but ran on to the other houses very fast. Completing them all, she was heading back, her heart racing in an emotion she rarely felt: fear. She looked behind her as part of the Calvary was going to the gates. She quickly crossed the road and then looked ahead. In the middle of the road she had just crossed, however, was a small, girl toddler, confused and lost in the chaos. Amanda looked behind her as the Calvary rounded the corner. She gasped and sped to the girl, picking her up and heading back into the palace. She reached the side, and suddenly the dust of the road clouded her vision as 30 galloping horses ran by. Amanda let out the breath she was holding, and adjusted the child on her hip.

"Where's you mother?" Amanda asked. The small girl shrugged, and tugged on Amanda's necklace. Amanda stopped a guard and handed the child off to him.

"Get her down to the keep," she said.

"Yes milady," he answered, but the child began to wail before he could leave. Amanda stopped to look at the child, who had outstretched its arms to her. Amanda walked back and took the child again.

"Arthur is going to kill me," she said, jogging down to the armory.

Arthur examined his men as they left the armory to get into their ranks. The gleaming helmets and breast plates would soon be splattered in blood, hopefully not their own. His green eyes darted back to his Knights; his ever faithful Knights that were suited up and ready to go.

"I'm getting too old for this," muttered Bors, and Arthur laughed.

Amanda sneaked in through the door, hushing the child still. She caught sight of Arthur and the Knights. She looked longingly at their armor, and thought only of slitting Gurshion's throat. Hoisting the child up further on her hip, she walked swiftly to Arthur, who had finally noticed her.

"Why isn't this a sight! Lady Amanda dressed for battle with a babe on her hip," teases Galahad.

"Hush you fool," Amanda retorted, and 'ooohs' came from the Knights. Amanda rolled her eyes, and looked to Arthur.

Arthur stared at the image, and was suddenly taunted by the thought of marrying Amanda. She looked so natural as both a warrior and a mother.

"My lord, all citizens are in the palace keep, save this little one," Amanda reported.

"And why not this little one?" Arthur asked, touching the toddlers cheek.

"I tried but she only began to cry. I figured I might as well take her with me to prevent some stress. Your orders now?" Amanda asked. Arthur smiled at the small girl, and she grinned back. She stretched out her arms for her king, and Arthur took her from Amanda, taking Amanda aside.

"Do we know where her mother is?" Arthur asked.

"I'm assuming she's in the keep," Amanda said, "But for sure I have no idea."

"Well, keep mind of her Amanda," Arthur said, staring at the child as her toddler fingers ran over Arthurs face in curiosity.

"I will Arthur," Amanda said, "but your orders for me now?"

Gawain looked at Amanda and Arthur, as Bors stared at the child.

"He longs to be a father," Bors said.

"She longs to be a mother," Galahad said.

"Do you honestly know that?" Gawain asked, rather testily.

"No, but look at her, she's so natural at it. Her being is a nurturer, you know that as well as I," Galahad explained.

"I know nothing of the sort. And you Galahad, are no judge of people," Gawain said, turning back to the men leaving, checking over their suits.

"They must realize they love each other by now," Bors continued.

"I should hope so," Galahad agreed.

"I should think that Amanda no longer loves Arthur. I wouldn't love him after all this waiting time," Gawain said haughtily.

"What plagues you Gawain?" asked Galahad, "all you're ever doing when Amanda and Arthur come up in conversation is bitch about them." Gawain stared at Galahad.

"I do not," Gawain protested.

"You love her don't you? You want her for yourself!" Galahad accused.

Gawain turned away from Galahad and looked at the men.

"I want you to go back to the keep Amanda, and mind after the people," Arthur said.

"What?" Amanda asked.

"I told you that the people needed to be looked after, and I want you to do it," Arthur said, calmly.

"I want to fight Arthur!" Amanda cried to him.

"You'll do me better indoors than out on the field," Arthur answered.

"Arthur, please! Do not spoon feed me one of your horse shit ideas as to why I shouldn't do something!" Amanda yelled, stamping her foot. Arthur took the child from his hip and handed her back to Amanda.

"It's and order, and it's final Amanda," Arthur said.

"No Arthur! You're going to let Nicolarious fight and not I?!"

"How spoiled are you Amanda?" Arthur cried, "Nicolarious is a boy, and is training to be a Knight! You are a woman, and you belong in the keep with the people."

"Do not tell me where I belong Arthur! Give me a good reason why I should not go out there and fight today!" Amanda demanded of him. Arthur spun around to her, in her face, but Amanda didn't back down.

"I told you that the people would need their leader down there when the time comes. Go down and be with the people that love and idolize you," Arthur hissed.

"But I will be of no use to them Arthur. At least in the field I will know what to do!" Amanda argued.

"You will know what to do Amanda," Arthur assured her, "you are already doing it." He turned finally from her and walked out of the armory to speak to his soldiers. Amanda huffed and adjusted the child on her hip. She looked up at the girl, and asked:

"What is your name?"

"Colette," the small girl whispered.

"Well Colette, damn him," Amanda said. They then would have walked off to the keep if Amanda had known where it was. Leaving the armory, she found the closest guard.

"Where is the armory?" Amanda asked. The man smiled.

"I'll just take you there. Hello Colette, how are you?" the guard asked.

"You know this child?" Amanda asked, hoping to have her questions answered.

"Yes, she is my neighbors, Marc Hughman; he's a soldier in the army. How did you come about her?"

"I picked her up off the street. Has she a mother?" Amanda asked.

"No," the guard said, looking away, "she died in child birth. Poor Marc has been struggling with her. He had a caretaker, but apparently he'll have to find a new one." Amanda nodded in understanding and hugged the child a little closer to her. He led her down to the hall near the Round Table Room, and he took another left down a much shorter hall. Amanda recognized this corridor instantly, and stifled a gasp when she saw the door was open.

"Here you are milady, the palace keep," he said.

"Thank you sir," Amanda said, still in shock.

"Goodbye Colette," the guard said, and the toddler waved her hand.

And then Amanda stood there, looking at the door that Evelina had gone through so many months ago to escape the palace and report back to Gurshion. Amanda felt her throat knot up as she thought of how, through the months after that, life had escalated and led to the death of Edem. She bit he bottom lip, and looked at Colette.

"I suppose you don't know that your very name mean 'victorious people', and that the meaning of the name of the man I once loved, Edem, was 'God has saved me'. Has God saved me with you, little Colette? And will our people really be victorious? Oh little Colette, have you any answers?" Amanda asked the child. All Colette did was smile.

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