Chapter
One: Forest
The day was a trying one. Many people traveled
from all over to sell goods at the open market in Camelot. Many
villagers led cart after cart of vegetables and fruits, as well as
cattle and other livestock. All of them used the main road. Now,
there are several different roads that led to Camelot. One of them
was in the vast forest that stretched into the eastern valleys. None
of the merchants used that road, merely because the forest was so
large, they feared getting lost. That road was also plagued with many
thieves and robbers.
Yet one traveler chose to take that
dangerous road. To add to that interesting fact, the traveler was a
woman. But the woman traveler was no ordinary traveler; this woman
was armed with weapons she had taken from the unconscious thieves
that she had met earlier on. The woman had no real valuables, only
some food and a blanket.
The traveler had taken a brief
shortcut though the forest and had broken through the vast ocean of
trees and located the original path. She walked on, humming a
nameless tune as she did so. Behind her two royal knights traveled –
at different speeds. The younger of the two urged his horse to gallop
forward, ignoring his companion's warnings and threats. The horse
sped up, reluctantly for it knew how ignorant his rider was. As they
approached the unknown traveler, at an alarming speed, the horse
stopped suddenly. The rider flew over the horse and landed directly
on top of the woman.
The older knight caught up and groaned as
he moved to help both people. The woman moaned and opened her eyes to
see who or what had fallen on her. Whatever it was, it weighed what
seemed to be a ton. Her eyes met the hazel eyes of the young
knight.
"Uh... do you mind?" she asked. The knight blushed
faintly. His companion helped him, practically throwing him off the
young woman.
The young woman propped herself up with her
elbows before accepting the older knight's hand. When she stood up
she began to brush the dirt off her person.
"My apologies,
my lady, for my companion's irresponsible riding," said the older
knight apologetically. He pushed some of his dirty blonde hair out of
his face and looked at the young woman.
"Yes, well, at east
his horse was paying attention, Sir...?" replied the young woman,
who didn't look up.
"Gawain... it is you!" she exclaimed softly. Gawain stared at the young woman, not recalling any point in time she was either saved or assisted by him before that moment in time.
"I don't recall ever meeting you before, my lady," he said slowly, searching his memory, which was dimming with age. All the while Galahad stared at the young woman, for she was very beautiful and there was an air of familiarity about her.
"I didn't think I had changed that much. It's me, Meridyth! Don't either of you remember me from ten years ago or have you grown too old to remember?" she said teasingly. Gawain gazed at her for a moment then smiled. It was the small child that had captured their hearts for a few months ten years ago. Galahad was reacting quite differently. He remembered Meridyth, the scrawny, rude, and insufferable child that had teased him endlessly. This gorgeous woman could not be that little monster he was forced to put up with!
"Aye, now I remember. You have grown quite a bit," Gawain said kindly as he embraced her. Galahad was still gaping when Meridyth came over to him and slapped him.
"That's for riding recklessly and falling on me!" she said simply. Galahad touched his cheek gingerly; she had hit him very hard.
"It's not like I chose to land on top of you!" he shouted angrily.
"Meridyth, you will ride with Galahad, right?" Gawain said pointedly as he squeezed Galahad's shoulder tightly.
"O-of course!" Galahad said through gritted teeth. Gawain released his shoulder so he could mount the horse. Meridyth mounted behind him and placed her hand gently on Galahad's waist. Galahad blushed immensely when he felt her gentle hands on his belted waist.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. Meridyth looked at him with surprise.
"For what?"
"Landing on you." Meridyth smiled slyly.
"That reminds me, you ought to lay off the cakes and wine." Galahad's eyes widened with surprise then darkened with anger.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Meridyth rest her head on his upper back and sighed.
"What do you think it's supposed to mean?" she replied sleepily. She then closed her dark brown eyes and drifted off to sleep.