37 – To A Place We Belong
Cara rode with the other knights as they led the caravan away from the fort. Guilt was an evident emotion in each of the knights' eyes. They knew it was wrong of them to leave their commander as well as their friend to face the enemy alone, but no one went back.
They each risked a glance to the lone figure on the hill. That is all of them except Lancelot. His eyes remained on the road ahead. Bors cantered away from the group and let out the familiar Sarmation battle cry as he held is sword out in a salute.
Cara watched Arthur raise the standard he held and listened to his return cry. She lowered her head in shame as Bors came galloping back and took his place among the glum knights. Cara could hear the drums. They rang in her ears even when they were well away from the fort. Cara stopped her black stallion abruptly. "What is it?"Lancelot asked stopping as well. The other knights stopped a few feet behind them, but the remainder of the caravan continued to move.
"This is wrong," she stated strongly looking at each knight. "For fifteen long years Arthur had been there for us and now when he is in need we run like dogs with tails between our legs."
"Cara, we are free," Galahad exclaimed. "Our duty to Rome is done."
"And what about our duty to Arthur?" she asked, her ocean eyes blazing with fury and determination. Cara was back and the knights remained silent for a moment.
"Cara," Bors protested softly, but his horse reared at the sudden increase in the volume of the drums. The other horse's followed his example and the knights tried hard to rein in their frightened mounts. Aidan danced excitedly beneath Cara. She leaned over his neck and offered soothing words to calm the stallion.
Eventually, he quieted down as did the other horses. "Sometimes our horses are smarter than we are," Tristan mumbled under his breath, but the knights caught his words. A devilish grin appeared on Cara's face and Galahad and Gawain were smiling brightly. Tristan found a suitable bow from the passing cart and Bors looked at Vanora silently asking for her forgiveness. Dagonet looked at the knights with a small smile on his face and Lancelot was Lancelot. He gave the knights a nod and they all seemed to understand that this was it.
Aidan reared at the energy that flowed through Cara before taking off at a gallop. They charged up the hill and Cara could feel the energy in both her and her horse. Lancelot was the first to reach Arthur, but the other knights were not far behind. Arthur gave them each a look that silently said, 'thank you'.
Cara held the roman standard high. She could feel the force of the wind pick up as it whipped against the flag. Arthur rode out in front of the knights for one final speech and Cara raised her head proudly to listen.
"Knights," he began. Already his voice was filled with determination and pride. "The gift of freedom is yours by right." Cara was already growing excited for the awaiting battle and Arthur's speech was only fueling the adrenaline pumping through her veins "But the home we seek resides not in some distant land. It's in us! And in our actions on this day!" Aidan danced and tossed his head. "If this be our destiny, then so be it. But let history remember that as free men, we chose to make it so," he shouted forcefully, drawing Excalibur. Cara, as well as the other knights raised their standards.
"Russss!" they cried in unison. One by one they stabbed their flags into the ground. Each did so with a grunt or groan, but Cara and Tristan did it silently. The knights waited a few more moments before Tristan nocked an arrow and aimed for the tree that stood alone in the field beyond the wall.
He took caution as he aimed and before Cara could blink he released it. She watched a man fall from his perched and she grinned mischievously at the silent scout. Having taken care of him the knights took off back down the hill and they left their standards fluttering in the wind.
The knights moved to a smaller plateau where they could overlook the first stage of the battle. Aidan was antsy and he did nothing, but dance. "Promise me you'll watch yourself out there," Lancelot said next to her. Cara looked over at him.
"Only if you make me the same promise in return," she said softly. Lancelot nodded and Cara did the same. She looked out as the doors opened and a small Saxon infantry entered. She smirked. They were going to kill them in sections. They wouldn't be too hard to beat then.
Some of the knights looked at Cara. She had that devilish grin on her face and it was never a good sign. Cara was sure that now would be a good time for her revenge. Even though the Saxons were not blame there were still plenty to go around and Cara was all too eager to kill. She saw the Saxons coming towards her and she fidgeted in the saddle when the doors closed behind the Saxons. They were trapped.
She watched the Woad arrows flew from the sky. This was it. Arthur waited a few more seconds before charging his horse toward the unsuspecting Saxons and the rest of the knights followed. Aidan tossed his head and bucked a little at the excitement, but Cara quickly reprimanded him. Now was no time for his games and she couldn't risk being thrown.
Aidan charged valiantly through the Saxons and Cara cut down anything that stood in her path. Woad arrows continued to rain down and the knights continued to slice away the Saxons as they appeared out of nowhere in the smoke. They left one alive and the doors opened once more inviting the others in.
The knights took their place on the hillside once more, waiting for the second and last wave of Saxons to pour through the gates. The drumming and chanting was heard before the Saxons were visible and Cara watched as they marched onto the field.
Fireballs were launched from the Woad catapults and the knights rode toward the Saxons. Two outcomes ran through Cara's mind as Aidan came closer and closer to the unprepared Saxons. Victory and Death; those were her options. She didn't have any more time to dwell on the subjects as she swiped her sword along a Saxon's back. His cry of pain only fueled Cara's adrenaline rush.
The Saxons soon caught on and there was no longer any order on the field it was complete chaos. Her mind was quick as she analyzed everything that came into view. Cara had to make sure it was a Saxon she was killing and not one of her allies. 'Block! "Parry!' Those words rang in her mind at each attack and Gareth's advice seemed to be working. Another Saxon came at her and like the others he was easily dispatched. She swung her sword like a baton, daring others to come near her and like fools, they fell for the bait.
She blocked and parried and drove her light sword into the guts of any Saxon that came near. She didn't know what made her look for the others. She didn't know what made her look for Tristan and Lancelot. A woman's intuition maybe? Whatever the reason, Cara's eyes tore away from the newly dead Saxon in front of her and toward her brother's in arms.
Tristan was fighting the Saxon lord. A deadly mistake and Cara could see he was already losing badly. She then scoured the grounds for Lancelot. He wasn't much better off. She watched as his twin blades clashed with the sword of the Saxon that had led the army on the ice. Once again her mind wasn't on her fighting and she felt the cold steel slice her flesh.
Her hand flew to her injured side, to see that it was gushing blood. She turned her head to the Saxon in front of her. He was standing there grinning as if expecting her to fall dead, as if expecting that he had made a wondrous kill. Cara grinned and his smile disappeared as she swung her blade.
Steel met skin as the Saxon's head rolled from his body. Cara didn't waste any more time. First she looked for Tristan and was not pleased when she saw him lying on the ground She saw Arthur was already aiding him so that left her to help Lancelot. She ignored the pain that flared up her side as she ran through the Saxons.
She saw him on the ground struggling to rise after an attack from another Saxon. Time seemed to pass for her in slow motion as she saw the ice Saxon raise a crossbow. The bolt was aimed for Lancelot's chest and Cara pushed herself faster to get to him. She pushed Saxons out of the way, not stopping to take the time to kill them.
She saw his hand press down on the trigger and when she thought she wouldn't make it. She collided with armor and pain shot up her back. Her eyes snapped closed at the pain, but she was conscious enough to feel that she was lying on top of someone. She felt them rise up and the arm beneath her shot out in a throwing motion before they slid completely out from under her.
"Cara," the masculine voice breathed. She felt herself being cradled. Relief welled up inside her heart. She had made it. "Cara," he said again this time shaking her. Her eyes opened, oceans met earth.
"Lancelot," she breathed. Relief was evident in her voice. Cara struggled to sit up in Lancelot's arms that were snaked protectively around her.
"Why did you do that?" he asked angrily, pulling her against him tighter as if he would lose her if he let go. Cara struggled to breath, but answered nonetheless.
"You took a dagger for me once," she said softly. Her voice was laced with Pain, but she ignored it. "I figured a bolt wouldn't hurt." Cara almost laughed, but her injuries were catching up with her.
"Don't you ever do that again, you hear me," he scolded, but it didn't last long. His lips touched hers and Cara felt the magic once again. She thought that the kiss would bother her. She thought it would remind her of Gareth, but it didn't. It was completely Lancelot.
It was passionate, yet gentle. Cara could feel her heart being pieced back together every second their lips were together. She could feel the love begin to flow again and for the first time in a very long time. Cara finally felt alive.