Well, I didn't get as many reviews as last time. (Insert dejected sighs here) Oh, well. Thank you to my loyal reviewers! You people are awesome!
Senior Mordecai- I'm glad! Oh, stop-you're making me blush! Ooooo...Threats now-I'm terrified!
Camreyn- That was such a nice long review! You'll just have to wait and see.
TalkIsCheap- I'll see what I can do about the Bitch slapping. I pronounce Laim as Lame. But that's just me. You can pronounce it however you want. Whatever floats your boat.
SunsetSparrow-Thanks!
Elvish-princess130990- Thanks! I like them too.
LittleWolf4- Thanks- Here's the update. Would you like to know how I would vote? Well, here it is. Tristan is a HOTTIE EXTRORDINAIRE!
ChildlikeEmpress- Thanks. I enjoyed your humorous Bitch fight between Tristan and Laim. Question- Was the "Thwack" Tristan getting hit with his own bow?
Luana Hime- Te He He! I think Galahad's kind of cute too!
They rode in silence. The air was thick with tension, and no one wanted to be physically maimed. Tristan had a possessive and territorial arm around Rebekah's waist, and Laim glared at it furiously. Rebekah belonged with their own kind, not with some bloody Sarmatian! Besides, he wasn't even handsome! Now, Laim, in his opinion was quite the fellow. He was a fierce warrior, with light brown hair and dark brown eyes. He commanded a fierce band of warriors that would make any commander proud. So why wasn't she on his horse?
Sera and Lancelot were debating the advantages of the single or twin swords when Tristan, Rebekah, Laim, and his band rode up. Lancelot tightened his grip on Sera when he noticed Laim staring at her. Laim was so happy to see Sera. He had thought her dead, and now that he knew these thoughts to be false, he rejoiced. Sera had saved his father at one point, and they would have need of her healing skills again. Guinevere came out of the wagon to see what all the fuss was about, and stopped. Then she smiled at the fierce looking band of Woads. Rebekah and Sera both dismounted, much to the displeasure of their saddle-mates.
Guinevere, Rebekah, and Sera stood next to each other, inspecting the band.
"We came across them scouting. They have agreed to come with us." Said Rebekah.
They were an awesome sight, thought Laim. These were their ladies of battle. Sera, the healer, Guinevere, the lady, and Rebekah, the warrior. They were a crucial part of every battle, and their cause had suffered without them. Merlin should never have assigned them to the same location. Yet, here they stood. Guinevere and Sera in Roman dresses, and Rebekah in a foreigner's trousers. They were breathtaking all the same. On the battlefield, they were a cold fury, wrapped in calm. It was eerie, and unsettling, rather intimidating for the opponent. Now, all three pairs of those eyes were completely focused on him. It was hard to look Merlin in the eye, and these three were giving him a run for his money. Laim took a step back without realizing it.
The caravan had come to a halt, and all the knights dismounted, studying the new arrivals. Arthur stepped forward. Guinevere indicated Laim.
"This is Laim, he will be traveling with us till we get to the wall. He and his band will help look after our safety." She explained.
Tristan was suspicious. Yes, they were for protection, but not for theirs. The possessive stares at the ladies had his mind whirling. They were important leaders of their tribe, and Tristan had no doubt that any of these warriors would lay down their lives in protection of them. He would tell no one else. They did not need to know, and Rebekah obviously didn't feel like sharing. He could, however, care about the lusty stares that Laim was sending Rebekah. What was going on there? Was Rebekah betrothed? It would make sense. She was an important leader; she could possibly need to make an allegiance for the good of her tribe. He would not be able to offer her allegiance with his tribe. It would hardly matter. They were back in Sarmatia. He couldn't offer her anything. Tristan was not one to give up without a fight, however. He would worry about this later.
Laim studied the knight that currently had his arms around Sera. Was this yet another Sarmatian? What was wrong with them? Didn't they remember what they had done? Then, he caught a glance between Arthur and Guinevere, and started. The Lady of the Woads was in love with a Roman? Oh, the Gods were cruel! Not only was Rebekah infatuated with a scruffy Sarmatian, but Guinevere, who knew better, was infatuated with a Roman. He supposed he could forgive Sera. She had always been an empty headed girl. She rarely spoke, as she had nothing important to say.
The Woad women got their "guests" settled in for the ride, and the caravan continued on. They would not have to worry about being attacked by Woads, not with so many of their own present. Tristan and Rebekah rode slightly apart from the others. They spoke in whispers; their words did not need volume.
"What is Laim to you?" he asked her.
"A talented warrior." She responded, simply.
"He certainly doesn't see you in that straightforward manner."
Rebekah shook her head slowly. "No, he doesn't. He has been infatuated with me for some time, for some reason, he believes we are fated to be together, what with...family connections...but I can't risk alienating him. He commands some of our fiercest warriors, and we need them."
"Family connections?"
"...oh, I suppose you'll have figured out by now that Guinevere, Sera, and I have special positions in our tribe...I am one of the two leaders of our troops. Guinevere is the other. One of noble blood, Guinevere being Merlin's daughter, and I, the Warrior, being daughter of my mother. She was the Warrior before me, and Liam...well; his grandfather was our leader before Merlin. He has some power and influence among the tribe still, so I always have to think of that. We must be unified, or we will fall. Since both Laim and I are of such...high...birth, many assume we will marry. I do not correct them often. It's easier not to."
Tristan was silent for a moment.
"So, who are you marrying?"
"No one at the moment. How about you?"
"I do not recall an engagement."
"Good. When we get back to the wall, will you come with us to see the Woads?" she really wanted him to come. More than she had wanted his bow.
"Well, I have nothing better to do."
'Ah, yes. Tristan, the hopeless romantic.' Rebekah thought, with a smile.
The wall came into view, and Rebekah could feel the excitement of the knights. Tristan's arms tightened a bit, and Rebekah smile. He was nervous. His face, of course, didn't show this. He looked as calm and composed as usual.
Arthur's expression never changed. Inside, he was furious. He had had a nice, long talk with Alecto about Bishop Germanus. Arthur had admired the teacher Pelagius, and had even modeled his round table after his teachings of freedom and equality. Germanus had had him killed for it. Germanus had kept in touch with Marius over the years. They had shared their disappointments of the pagans not wishing to convert. So, Germanus had given Marius a helpful hint. People are easier to control when they are afraid. Give them something to fear. Marius had converted the family chapel the next day. It appeared that Arthur had quite a score to settle with his father's friend.
The party stopped before the gates, and the three Woad women dismounted. They spoke to the entire caravan, and asked that they not share their status with any Roman. Everyone agreed, and they continued on, through the gates.
Bishop Germanus was in the courtyard, sycophantic smile firmly in place. They had brought Alecto back with them. Alecto, he could mold until he was no more than a puppet. Germanus may never become pope himself, but he would see to it that Alecto did. He would be in control then.
He signaled for the box with their discharge papers.
"Alecto! Against all the odds Satan could muster...let me see you!" he said, smile still intact.
Alecto backed away from him, Fulcinia and Dagonet coming to his aid. Germanus laughed, and no one joined him.
"Well, you are free now." He said, gesturing at the box. They all stared at it. One by one, they each took their scroll, wondering at the simplicity of something that had been so elusive for fifteen years. Germanus tried to speak to Arthur, but he was never given the opportunity.
"Bishop Germanus, friend of my father." He said, dislike and disgust laced in his tone.
Germanus was confused, and looked for the first time at the rest of their party. By this time, Laim and his band had left for the forest, and Guinevere, Rebekah and Sera stood together, not even trying to mask their loathing. Germanus noted Rebekah's attire and tattoos. Unnatural devil woman, he was sure of it. She had slipped an arm around the man with the wild hair and tattoos. She had probably seduced him with sins of the flesh. She could do the same for him, if she wished to live. He would think more about that later.
The knights went back to their rooms, Tristan relieving the Roman soldier of the box that had held their papers. It was a nice box, and would go nicely with the goblet that he had taken earlier. The women were sharing a room, but quickly left it, in search of the knights. They found them in the courtyard, all sitting at a table. Bors was nowhere to be seen, though they all assumed that he was with Vanora, and his little bastards. Lancelot pulled Sera into his lap, assuring her that it was only polite to conserve space. She could only agree.
"So, is everyone coming tonight?" asked Rebekah.
Galahad assured her that he could fit it into his schedule, and she smiled. Of course he could. The other knights nodded their assent, and everyone looked to Arthur, wondering if he would join them. He had thought long and hard about this. He wanted to distance himself from Rome, and how better to do it than attend a Woad celebration?
"I will go with you." He said.
Lancelot looked a bit stunned, and Sera gave him a self-satisfied smile. It clearly said 'see, it always works this way.'
"Pay up!" she said, grinning.
It wasn't much of a sacrifice, he thought as he kissed her. The others turned away, busying themselves, trying to pretend that talk of a drought in some foreign land that they knew nothing about was more interesting than the rather impressive lip lock taking place in their midst. Finally, they decided that they had to distance themselves, and went to their respective rooms to change, leaving Sera and Lancelot entwined and behind.
Rebekah walked Tristan back to his room and was about to return to hers, when she turned a corner and rammed right into Bishop Germanus. He smiled, and looked her up and down slowly. Rebekah's body shivered in revulsion. She knew what thoughts were going through his head right now, and it sickened her. The man was older than her father!
She showed no fear, and raised an eyebrow, "Can I help you." She asked calmly.
"I believe you can. I'm simply exhausted, and could use a bath. I'm sure you could assist me."
"Actually, I couldn't. I have an engagement shortly."
"Well, I'm sure I could match his price..." he said, but before he could finish his sentence, she sent him sprawling. He tried to recover, but she put a dainty slipper-shod foot to his throat, crushing into his windpipe dangerously.
"I am no whore. You are no man of God. Are we clear on that?" she hissed, voice low.
"God will punish you for your actions, pagan..." he managed to choke out.
Rebekah kicked him, and sent him flying into the stone wall behind him. He was knocked unconscious. Rebekah gave a malicious laugh, staring down at the fool who had dared call her a whore. No one had made that mistake in a long while, and she had missed having such an excuse to beat up the worms of the world.
She turned on her heel, and went to find her room. She had just gotten to beat the hell out of a complete bastard, and she was going to see her father. Rebekah could hardly contain her excitement.
And now, you know what you're going to do, right? That's right, you're going to REVIEW! Keep me happy and fulfilled!
