It's a bit longer this time, and I like it better than the last part. As I know nothing of battle, I'm going to look at the war council from Sera's POV. Sera doesn't know shit about strategy either. I love Sera! Thank you to all my lovely reviewers who responded to my threat.
Anonymous- You know you're doing well when people threaten to infect your computer with a virus. Thanks for the review! (and its Laim.)
LittleWolf4- Well, here you are. Thanks for taking the time to review!
BillieLiv- That's okay, you are writing a very promising story called apprentice at the moment that you should update (hint hint, wink wink) Thanks!
SunsetSparrow- Thanks!
Nianko- I could never tire of your reviews!
Camreyn- Of course I am! We all love Galahad, but he is a bit shy around the ladies. I'm glad you liked my rantings on religion. At last! I have a disciple! (not!)
Nautica7mk- Thank you so much! It's so nice that you reviewed!
Midnight Conqueror- Yes, it is an interesting thought, Lancelot going off to his perceived doom. Thanks!
MonDeiu666- That's all right! I love your story- as I told TalkIsCheap- Your story rocks my socks! Did you ever read The song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce? Well, I was always rooting for George the king of the Rouges to win Alanna's affections, as opposed to smarmy Prince Jonathan! Long Live the Rouge!
Elvish-princess130990- I'm glad you are in love with Arthur and Galahad and Lancelot. Me, I'm more of a Tristan Lancelot kind of girl. I'm sorry they took your story offline...Why did they?
Elvenstar5- Te He He (muh hah hah!) While I can be a heinous bitch when the occasion calls for it, I'm not that cruel.
ChildlikeEmpress- Indeed you have! Congratulations on a job well done! (I really like the Rebekah-Etain smack down. It was great!
Now, I would like to clear up my ramblings on religion in my last chapter. Make no mistake, I am not against religion (come on-I'm Roman Catholic-you get disowned or shot when you leave the church!) My point was simply that when we allow ourselves to be blinded by religion, when we fail to see our similarities, it kills our humanity. Killing is not humane. The crusades are an excellent example of religion run amok. If you want a more recent example, try Hitler. Religion is a vital part of our lives, whether we claim a religion or not. We still have our own values and thoughts on life. All I'm saying is that when we kill other people or harm other people for the sake of "god" we have lost our humanity, and we only fight for ourselves, it is in no way what 'insert deity of choice here' would want. As Camreyn pointed out, we all want the same things from life. We want to survive, to raise our children in a peaceful environment, to be happy, to protect our friends, to find love. Yet, we kill each other for all of those things, when if we simply worked together, we could all win. You're probably really bored, and not reading this anyway, so I'll stop. If you made it this far- Bravo! I am so proud!
The council lasted for hours. Sera was beginning to get bored. She didn't have much to say at these meetings. She was not a master of war. She was a healer and a foot soldier. She was included in these meetings out of respect for her position as leader of the healers, but it was rather tedious. To give herself something to do, she studied Lancelot. He had done so much for her. He was willing to face her mother! Now, he was staying behind to fight a battle that he could easily walk away from, without anyone thinking less of him. Yet, here he was, arguing with Rebekah over some tactic or another. She allowed herself a small smile. It never ceased to amaze her how many sides Lancelot possessed. Around his friends, he was a womanizer, a charming rouge. Around her, he was a romantic charming rouge. With her mother, he had resembled a small puppy, who had done something naughty. Now, he was aggressive, exacting. It was one of his greater charms, the chameleon skin that made so many like him. It was not that he changed his core, however. He was the same proud man in all situations. She had never been able to do that, and envied that quality. Perhaps he could teach her a few tricks along the way, if they survived to see the sunset tomorrow.
She tried to force her tired mind to concentrate on what was being said around her, but it was no use. Giving up, she fixed a vaguely interested expression on her face, trying to feign attention. But then, Arthur spoke, and she jerked to attention.
"Well, now that that's settled, we must return to the wall without being seen by the Saxons. It will not be easy." He said, frowning.
The Woads present laughed. Arthur and his knights looked angry for a moment, before they schooled their faces to look questioning, rather than threatening.
"My friends, nothing could be easier. The Romans have not looked after their wall as they should. In many areas trees reach the top of the wall. All that is required is a bit of climbing." Said Merlin, trying to hide his amusement.
"How come I did not know of this?" asked Arthur, brow furrowed in distaste.
"The Romans do not think rationally anymore. They are pulling out of this island, and no longer care about the state of the wall." Said Guinevere.
Now that that was settled, they left Merlin's dwelling. Rebekah cornered Galahad.
"So, do you like her?" she asked.
Ah, dear sweet Deirdre. The only woman who had had a flirtatious conversation with him for over ten minutes. While other women saw his stuttering as pathetic, Deirdre saw it as a sweetness, a rare quality. At first, he had stuttered on for what seemed like forever. He feared that she would leave in disgust. Instead, she kissed him. It was definitely one of the greatest moments of Galahad's life. Galahad gave Rebekah a swift hug and kiss on the cheek as Tristan uttered a low threatening growl. Galahad didn't care if it upset Tristan. Rebekah had introduced him to the love of his life and he wanted to thank her properly for it.
"Things went that well, eh?" asked Rebekah, grinning. "Oh, Tristan, don't worry. Galahad has found his lady love, and it isn't me." She uttered the last few words with false sighs. Her eyes swept the clearing, and she smiled. "She's waiting for you." She said, pointing to Deirdre.
Galahad gulped, trying to inspire courage, and went off to woo his lady fair, a determined expression on his face.
Rebekah laughed and turned to Tristan.
"Why does he get the hug and kiss?" asked Tristan mildly. He didn't feel mild.
"Jealous, are we? Well, here you go." She said, and kissed him firmly on the moth, locking her arms around his waist. "Feel better?"
"Considerably."
"Good, come with me, I have to get my weapons and battle garments."
"Are you coming with us?" he asked, surprised.
"Of course. Oh, I haven't explained to you about the various perks of being a Lady of war, have I?"
"There are perks?"
"Yes. One of them being that on the night before a battle, I get to choose whoever I want to share my bed."
Tristan was very rarely shocked, and when that emotion occurred, he usually managed to hide it. He was not able to mask this shock, however.
"But...Your father is here..." he said, lamely.
"Yes, which is exactly why we are going back to the wall. While I may be sexually liberated, I don't think either I or my father wish to discuss my sex life."
Her words were very true. She dragged Tristan to her family dwelling, and retrieved her supplies, making certain that she had Woad paint with her other necessities. It would not do to have a Woad leader without paint.
Sera and Lancelot had been walking behind Rebekah and Tristan.
"So, what was Rebekah saying about these perks?" asked Lancelot, charming smile intact. He was tired of strategizing the battle. He much preferred strategizing how he would get Sera from here to his bed. He wanted her, more than he had wanted a woman. Ever. That was frightening. Even more frightening than Sera's mother. Yet, it was oddly satisfying, that he could read in her eyes the same thoughts.
They would be fighting tomorrow. There was no guarantee of success, no guarantee of survival. Either one of them could die easily. If he was going to die tomorrow, then he was going to spend the next few hours making love to the only woman in the world that had every really made a difference to him.
Review, and I'll throw in some MRC! (Oooo...Incentive...bribes...I'm so good!)
