Hi! This is a really short update. I have no time! Arg!
BillieLiv- I'm sure you never get into trouble! I kind of like Etain and Laim. But, then again, I'm kind of quirky.
TJ- Indeed it is!
The Devil's Juliet- Villains are sexy!
Jemiul- Can't you just see their expressions? The whole beauty thing was really nice, and very true. Sera is a goddess to Lancelot.
Veronica- Thanks!
Trinity Valyntine- Thanks! I love Rebekah! I'm glad Tristan makes you feel giggly inside! (Go Tristan! Woot Woot!)
Camreyn- Etain and Laim have a complex relationship.
SunsetSparrow- Thanks!
Nianko- Villains are Sexy!
ChildlikeEmpress- Don't hurt the Window's 95! It's a classic! When you need to scrounge up some money to go to the nursing home, you can pawn it.
Elvish-princess13990- Tristan is HOT.
Okay, some people were concerned that Etain and Laim weren't in character. Far too often, we assume that people can be pure evil. I do not believe this to be true, so I have been trying to give these two a different side. If it isn't working, let me know. I don't want this to be the standard story where Cinderella goes off with her prince charming, and her stepsisters have their eyes picked out by crows. That's just gross.
Rebekah saw her father in full Woad gear, and her breath caught in her throat. He had always protected her from everything. He had raised her on his own. She could not return the favor. As a commander, she had to keep control of their entire army, and could not look after a man with a limp. That would be hard for her. She couldn't blame him though. He was right; this was the battle that they had waited generations for. He would never be content to stay with the children, neither would she.
Guinevere and Rebekah gave the silent order to form ranks. It was complied instantly. The Woads had formed a line, bows in hand. Rebekah fingered her Sarmatian bow, and remembered the first time she had graced Tristan's lap with her presence. She had been filthy, yet he hadn't been repulsed. He was Tristan, through and through. He was not fooled by smoke and mirrors. He saw everyone for who they truly were. He could cut down each person quickly, and sum up their strengths and weaknesses in a blink of an eye. It was one of his many gifts, and Rebekah was blessed with a similar talent. She simply wasn't as patient. It showed. She was nearly itching for the battle to begin. She wanted to get this over with. She wanted her friends to survive. She prayed that the Gods were smiling on them that day.
Sera was placed further back from Guinevere and Rebekah. One more battle, and she could retire as foot soldier. War was not her hobby. It was a job, and it would be completed for the most part that day. She would not miss the blood. The screams. The stench of death. She wanted to live out her days healing, in peace. She saw Lancelot across the field, atop the hill. He was looking relaxed, unconcerned. How could he be so carefree? But then she remembered that people deal with fear differently. Some refused to show it. Some showed it far too freely. Some snapped. Some masked their fear. Lancelot was apart of the last group. He tried to distract people from their fear. If done poorly, it was crippling. Lancelot, however, had perfected the art over the years, and Sera could only be thankful. She was feeling a bit better. Lancelot could look after himself.
Merlin examined the empty stretch of land between the wall, and the trees where his people awaited. It would all be decided here. Each blade of grass looked so deceptively innocent, many of those blades would be crushed that day, along with his people. All he cared about in the world would be decided today. He had prayed, but now he put his faith in his people, in his daughter, but most of all, he put faith in Arthur. Without him, all hope was lost.
Laim's blood was pumping steadily faster. The battle was coming, he could feel it. Yet, there was a certain unease that he was not used to. Where was Etain? They had spent a very memorable night together, and she had strapped on her weapons with him, why wasn't she here? His mind searched back, trying to find something he had missed, something that had disturbed her. A flutter of movement. It was her hand, but what was it doing? With a shock, he realized that it had come to rest on her flat abdomen. He blinked, still trying to process this new information. Etain was pregnant. But who was the father? He hadn't noticed Etain sleeping with anyone else, he would have been informed of such a thing. It was his. Did he want a child? He really didn't know. Did he want a child with Etain? He thought of Rebekah, and was surprised to find that he didn't feel the same jolt that he used to at the thought. He had loved and wanted the thought of her. She embodied all that he wanted in a woman. But she didn't want him, and in all honesty, he didn't want her as much as he thought he had. He came to a decision. He had to go check on her. He left one of his men in charge. The battle would not start for a bit, and if he ran, he would not miss anything.
He ran back to his tent, his mind racing with the scenery. When he reached it, he threw back the flap, and was surprised to find that he was concerned to see Etain unconscious on the floor. He picked her up gently, and set her down on the bed, checking her for injuries. She had some bruises, but those were probably from last night. He brushed the hair from her face and gently kissed her temple. He couldn't waste any more time. He didn't know what to do with Etain. He didn't have time to take her to where the children were, and if they lost the battle, the Saxon's would find her here. They had to win.
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