Sheiado- Don't worry, they'll get out of it just fine :P Yea, you should have seen me while I was writing chapter 18! I was drooling all over my keyboard.
Calliann- xD…you don't need words to explain how cool I am. (Just kidding, I'm not cool.) :P
Perberaidien- Aww, you people worry too much. Tristan gets roughed around a bit, but…yea, I won't give away the whole chapter xD…
Gondorian Archer- Don't worry! I've got things planned.
Amirra- I wished I had the mental energy to type EXACTLY what they did 'before dawn', but you know, I would probably short-circuited by keyboard from all the drool that would have flowed from my mouth :P
Lenao- I'm glad so many people liked the kiss scene! Makes me feel like a good authoress!
SpectralLady-cowers in corner- o.o he will live! I pinky swear!
Dw- I tried to make it as descriptive as possible, I'm glad to hear that you got hit with the same waves everyone else did xD (weird metaphorical statement, don't ask.)
Op- As long as I keep getting DUDE's, I'll keep pouring in the fluff :D
Babak- Ah, don't worry. I use to not know what Mary-sue was either. Anyway Mary-sue girl character who is loved by everyone in the story and always gets the guy without the author really doing anything to build a relationship between them.
Lininlix:D –writes more-
Siopao-laughs because your message got cut off- xD…just kidding.
Sarah- You're welcome :D
Liduina- Believe me, you were not the only one drooling!
Neverletmedown- Lots more Tristan action :P
Alexandra- Here it is:D
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Chapter 19- From the Sidelines
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When Vrena awoke, she could tell by the darkness that the sun had not yet risen. She knew that now would be a preferable time to get up and prepare herself for the battle, but her mind was at so much ease; she did not want to move. Ad she was so warm…she felt safe, as if she was wrapped in someone's arms.
At first she couldn't remember anything, so she allowed her brain to take a quick re-count of the events from the day gone by.
Everything slowly came back to her: the kiss, the agreement, and something else…she could not remember it. She knew that it was important; something that had made her content…but her brain would not process any thoughts that might spark a memory.
That was, until she opened her eyes.
She was overcome with a small bit of shock as she figured out that she was indeed wrapped in someone's arms. She nearly jumped, but seeing that it was Tristan in the bed with her, her mind went back to its calm state…though her stomach erupted with nervousness. Even after all the events of last night, she still felt tense in his presence. All the events of…last night…
Her mind set itself into over-drive as the important event she had been trying to remember slammed into her like a brick wall. She had been curious as to why the lower-half of her body was aching, but she did not expect this! Had they really gone that far? No, no, it was a dream…she had only dreamt it.
'Fool, it wasn't a dream, it was pure reality, and you enjoyed every minute of it!' Part of her mind told her, and she let out a sigh, closing her eyes again. She let her head rest on Tristan's bare chest and noticed now that they were both unclothed. Looking up to Tristan again, she laughed at how innocent he looked while asleep. One of his braids were covering his face, along with a few loose strands of the dark-brown hair.
It was perfect.
She pulled her hand out from under the covers of the bed and grasped the braid in her fingers. She tried not to make any loud noises that would wake him, and commenced tugging hard on it. A pained expression came into view on his face as he groggily reached out and grabbed her wrist, and reluctantly she let go of the braid. It took him a few seconds to get his mind moving, and she laughed again at his current state of virtue. After letting go of the braid, she tugged at his beard.
He obviously was awake now, because now he had both her wrists locked in a tight grip to cease her from tugging anything else.
"That's not a nice way to wake someone." He said, releasing her hands. She felt her stomach flutter again as he placed her head under his chin, his fingers entangling themselves into her midnight hair, which had become wavier after the long night. She knew that no matter how much she wished to never move from him, dawn was approaching, and Guinevere would force her out anyways.
"I'm staying." She heard his voice breathe into her neck, the touch sending a shiver up her spine. At first she did not know what he meant by those words…but then she knew he was speaking of the battle with the Saxons, which was nearing closer to them with every second they lay together.
"So you will be with Arthur while I am with the Woads?" She asked, just making sure.
"Yes." He said, his hot breath lingering on her neck again. She pulled him closer, both of them enjoying the others warmth. But she knew it had to be early morning now, they must at least try to get up.
Vrena sat up, snatching one of the thin bed sheets to cover her bare body as she moved off the bed slowly- the pain in between her legs grew stronger, and she knew that it had definitely had not been a dream or figment of her imagination. They both had willingly engaged in something that most couples would wait months or years for. But she knew that their relationship was unlike any common one. Both of them had wanted it. There was a closeness that they could not obtain simply by embracing one another.
"How old were you, when you were taken away from your home?" She asked as she slipped into the clothes Guinevere had given her the night before- there was no way she was going to fight while in a dress, even if she would not engage in close combat. She nestled into the azure-colored tunic and breeches, dyed specially to help keep the wearer hidden in wooded areas.
"Thirteen." He replied, changing into his clothes and armor on the other side of the bed. She tucked the ends of the breeches into her boots and used a long piece of green string to tie back all her wavy locks. Slipping the archer gloves onto her hands, she mentally calculated how old he was. 'If he left when he was thirteen, and he has finished his service to Rome, that makes him twenty eight.' She examined this new information.
"That makes you thirty-six moons older then me." She replied factually. He was three years ahead of her, she being a mere twenty five. But she was cut off from her thoughts as a sharp rapping on the door echoed in the small room, and Guinevere's voice came from behind it.
"Vrena?"
"I'm coming!" She replied in a hurried voice. She would have to run down to the stables in the cold morning air and retrieve Arvin, and then Guinevere would lead her to the Woads attack position. She felt refreshed and clean, and turned back over to the quiet scout- the man she loved. She would indeed remember to keep an eye on him as he fought, she would not risk him getting injured, or worse, killed. Both of them moved towards the door, but Vrena reached it first and flung it open slowly.
Guinevere seemed taken back at both of them exiting, and Vrena felt heat rise in her cheeks. What would anyone think if a lady walked out of a dwelling with a man at her side? Then she felt nervous again…were they to be open about their feelings, who knew what trouble the knights would start. Particularly Lancelot. This thought made her want to laugh and die simultaneously.
But then, as her luck always turned out, the knights would find out sooner then expected- for Guinevere was accompanied by Arthur, Gawain, Bors, Galahad, and yes, Lancelot, whom she noticed was looking grumpy and exhausted. And as she had expected, all five of the knights seemed to be surprised as Tristan emerged out of her room. Vrena knew that he was not embarrassed at the least, or she would have known. His detached features still on his face as they always were, and always would be.
"See! Even Tristan gets out of bed with a woman, and I don't!" Lancelot grumbled angrily, slapping his hand to his forehead and leaning against the wall of the inn they had resided at over-night.
Before she could come up with some witty remark to cheer him up, Guinevere grabbed her wrist and began to lead her away from the knights. She took one quick glance at Tristan, and he to her. She began to feel pathetic…she was only a few yards away now, and she again longed for him, longed to hold him.
"It seems you and I were dealing with the same kinds of ordeals last night." Guinevere exclaimed once they were far enough away.
"Oh really?" Vrena replied in an amused tone as the world was beginning to lighten up- the sun was rising over the earth, casting a beautiful glow over the land.
They did not continue their conversation, however, as they approached the stables. She came out with Arvin, and Guinevere borrowed one of the town's horses. They rode until they came to an open area, right near the southern gate that led into Briton. She shivered- right outside these doors, Saxons were awaiting all of them. Probably preparing themselves this very moment.
Guinevere dismounted, and Vrena followed suit. The two of them walked up the narrow stairs to the top of the battlement, peering over to the other side, ducking behind the stone.
Some Saxons were already out of their tents, and among them Vrena watched as a large man, tall and imposing, swung his sword. Long golden Saxon hair, well built…and the others were watching him. One of the onlookers her and Guinevere both recognized- the man from the ice. The one practicing with the sword must be their higher commander, with all the attention he was getting.
"That's quite a big army they have." Guinevere announced as they crept down the stone stairway, back onto the ground.
As they rode forward a little, Vrena noticed that a dark liquid was covering the ground, dampening the grass. It looked like a thick substance…it was most likely flammable, as well. These Woads without a doubt had many things planned to drive away the Saxons.
She wondered what Tristan was doing.
"So, anything you'd like to tell us about?" Gawain asked him for the tenth time that morning. They had spent most of the time evacuating the town, which was now a completed task. The newly formed caravan was heading away from the wall, and Tristan was awaiting his signal from Arthur, so that he could join him. Once his commander appeared on the hill, he would ride up along side him.
"Nothing worth enlightening you with." Tristan replied to Gawain, still glancing to the hill. The sun had now risen, but was concealed behind the misty clouds. Indeed the fog was thick today, thicker then usual, which could be good or bad.
If anything, he wished that Vrena had not made an oath to the Woads to fight along side them, and instead gone with the caravan. He knew she would do well to keep hidden in the trees, but that may not be enough.
"You can tell us!" Lancelot grinned cunningly. He wondered why they even bothered asking him, did they expect him to blurt out every detail he could muster from his mind?
"No need telling," he said, still glancing towards the hill, "You've thought most of it already." Which he knew was only half true. His fellow knights probably imagined they fooled around like Lancelot would with a gal, which was indeed not what he and Vrena had done by any means. He didn't need to turn around to see the baffled looks on the knight's faces.
And then he saw his signal: Arthur, fully clad in armor, was raising a Roman standard into the air; Tristan halted his horse and looked to his sword, latched to the belt at his waist. He moved off to the side of the caravan as it continued to progress forward.
He turned to see that the other knights had stopped to watch their leader in awe. They may have thought he was crazy, yes…but Tristan knew otherwise. These men did not know that just beyond that hill to the side, Woads were waiting for the Saxons to force open the gate and commence the surprise attack.
Bors yelled Arthur's name, and then shouted their common battle cry, his voice booming through the air. Arthur returned it, and then Tristan gave the other knights one last look as he trotted his horse up to the hill. He knew that they wished to fight, but they were free men: neither Arthur nor Rome could command them to stay, and now they were faced with an enormous decision.
Vrena at first had felt awkward among the Woads, but allowed Guinevere to smear the blue ghost pain all over her face in tattoo-like designs, making her feel more welcome.
She had been given three large tubs of arrows; some she noticed had combustible items attached to the spears…so that was what the oils spilt on the land had been for. Once these arrows were lit and fired, it would set nearly half the field ablaze, along with some Saxons.
She was standing next to Guinevere, and they both watched as Arthur mounted himself at the top of the large hill on their side of the wall. The signal to prepare. They had a long row of Woad archers, including herself, totaling to what may be a hundred. There were many more Blue ghosts behind them who were awaiting the fight, swords and daggers in hands, eager and shaking to kill.
Arthur could easily be spotted from the other side of the wall, so the Saxons would be heading over any time now.
Vrena felt her breath leave her and her heart take flight as Tristan came into view on top the rise, followed shortly afterward by the last four of the knights. So they had decided to stay and fight after all. Vrena smiled, knowing that with all six remaining Knights of the Round Table, this battle could be considered a success already.
They all felt the ground shake as the Saxons –or only a regiment of Saxons, as she could see now- had run through the gate, chanting and pounding on the earth, shields high.
Of course, with no horses to keep it open, the large door of the wall creaked closed again, and the Saxon men looked around, confused.
Everyone raised their bows as Guinevere, who was commanding them, hoisted hers into the air- not firing, but aiming. The hundred or so archers followed suit, latching the arrows to their bows, ready to fire on command.
Finally, Guinevere let out a cry in the native tongue that Vrena had only a bit of trouble translating to "release", and everyone fired their arrows at once, launching them into the air simultaneously. Looking up, it seemed as if a flock of birds were flying over head, but then the arrows tilted downward. They could hear screams and shouts as the mysterious arrows pierced Saxon flesh, and she could also hear a bit of metal penetrating armor, hinting that the knights were doing their job to rid off the rest.
Within no more then a minute, everything was silent. The first fight a success, but now they had the rest of the army to deal with.
This time Guinevere pulled out one of the arrows that would have flames set to the points, and a Woad ran by all of them, individually lighting the tips.
They heard loud chants, yells, and hollers come from the rest of the Saxon army, now emerging into the open. Guinevere fired, and then the sky seemed to glow with the flames. She could hear now cries of pain and anger from hundreds of Saxon soldiers, and the whipping of the newly-wrought fires burning the land around them.
Guinevere dropped her bow and pulled a dagger from her short animal-skin bottom wear, and shouted a cry. The Woad warriors behind her did the same and yelled loudly, rushing forward onto the battlefield. A few archers, including herself, moved forward to were the woods stopped and halted behind the trees, covered from view.
Vrena decided to stick with firing one arrow at once, for she did not know where all of them would go with these men running around. She trembled for a second and watched as the Woads and the knights –whom she could only spot a few of, Tristan had not come into view yet- attacked the Saxon army with everything they could. She could actually see blood flying from bodies, and she started to pick off Saxons one by one quickly.
She felt a rush of relief as she spotted Tristan, swinging his sword with grace, clashing with sometimes five Saxons at once. She watched in awe as he maneuvered the steel blade so easily, and remembered how heavy it had been in her hands…unlike her, he was physically powerful.
And then she saw it…the man she and Guinevere had watched from the battlement whom they suspected had been their chief, about to square off with Tristan. She began to feel worried…Saxons chiefs were not ones to mess around with; they were the pick of the litter, the best fighters and planners, this she knew. Never the less, the Saxon's and Tristan's swords clashed quickly, and she knew that both of them were putting out as much effort to try and block the other from landing a blow.
Remembering that Arthur had mentioned earlier that he himself would bring that man down, she began to fret for the scout even more. And then, it was as if her worst fears had finally come to haunt her.
The Saxon chief had pulled out a dagger and pierced Tristan's upper leg with it- penetrating deep, to the point were the knight grimaced in pain. She felt herself scream inside, and released the arrow, aiming for the man, but her precision was off and missed him by an inch. However, it did distract him, giving Tristan time to haul himself from the ground and grab his sword.
Nevertheless, both the men were glaring at her. The Saxon was clearly mad that she had interrupted him when he could have killed the knight then and there, and Tristan was giving her a stare that said 'hide yourself behind that tree before I come over there and force you to.' She saw that he was wobbling on the leg that had been stabbed, and could see the blood pouring from it. She prayed hard to whomever may be listening that he would be alright until the battle was over.
Her hopes raised as Arthur ran towards the Saxon chief. Both of the men glared at each other, examining and observing quickly before commencing their assault- leaving Tristan out of it, which she was thankful for. Had she not stalled the Saxon chief…she didn't want to think about that.
Tristan had moved over to fight others and Vrena kept a close eye on him. She could tell by the angered look on his face that he was in ungodly amounts of pain, and was trying hard to ignore it. Should he collapse, she would not waste time getting to him.
She became distracted, however, as a familiar womanly cry erupted into her ears. She turned her gaze over to the left where Guinevere was fighting the man from the ice, and had just been knocked to the ground. Lancelot was close behind them and took the fight into his hands, knocking down the Saxon.
Vrena kept tabs as he turned to fight another oncoming Saxon, and gasped as the other Saxon he had just knocked over pulled out a crossbow from underneath a dead body.
Clutching her bow tightly, she hitched an arrow to the string again and fired, this time hitting her target- the man who had been so close to killing Lancelot fell over at the shattering pain in his leg, were the arrow had hit.
Her eyes locked with Lancelot's and Guinevere's, the Woad warrior grinning with a relieved smile, and Lancelot one of praise. She had just saved his life because he had not been paying attention. She could have laughed.
Before she knew it, the battle had ended. What was left of the successful Woads made their way back towards the woods, looking bloody and exhausted.
Then she remembered, Tristan! She quickly ran back further into the woods were she had kept Arvin safe, mounting him as quick as possible. Ushering him forward, he made his way through the trees and out onto the dead battlefield, were she could finally spot Tristan- he was sitting on the ground, clutching his leg, hands covered in blood. Arvin did some fantastic jumps overtop piles of dead Saxons, making his way towards the scout.
She halted him to a stop and quickly jumped off, nearly falling over; balancing herself, she rushed to Tristan's side. The other knights were also coming over, seeing him sitting on the ground.
"Move your hands." She commanded in an anxious voice, and he quickly removed them so she could look.
Blood was still pouring and dripping from his leg…that blade had not just pierced flesh, it had penetrated all the way through! She felt hot anger boil inside her, enough that she felt she could have killed that Saxon chief herself with her bare hands.
"Help me pick him up!" She pleaded to Gawain, who was the first to reach them. If they did not stop this bleeding soon, the knight would loose all the blood from his body and die! At the time, they had nothing at all to heal him with.
Her and Gawain both lifted Tristan onto Arvin, which proved difficult because of the stallion's abnormal height. But they managed, and she watched as some of the blood from Tristan's leg continued to seep out, some even staining Arvin's white coat.
"We need to catch up to the caravan." Galahad pointed out. The other five knights, Guinevere, and herself glanced at each other with worried looks.
"No," Vrena replied after taking it to thought, "we will go back to the town."
"But no one is at the town!" Galahad argued back, but Vrena thought differently.
"No one may be in the town, but do you think that they packed up every little item they could find? There's bound to be supplies left over that we can use." She pointed out to them.
"Galahad, you will ride and catch up to the caravan. Tell them that it is safe to come back, but not to cross the wall ever again until these bodies have been washed away." Arthur gave out orders. "Vrena, you ride Tristan to the town and do what you can. We will meet up with you there."
Vrena glanced up to Tristan once more, trying to figure out how they would both fit onto the horse with him wounded.
Luckily for her, none other then the Merlin came from behind them, holding the reigns of Tristan's horse. The knights turned, obviously shocked to see him- but remembered that it was his men who mad made it possible to win the battle, and did not treat him as a threat.
She nodded to the Merlin and took the horse, and he nodded back. Before mounting it, she gave Arvin a nice kick in the leg, sending him darting through the battleground towards the town. Mounting Tristan's horse, she kicked him into a gallop and caught up quickly.
Oh how she wished that war never existed.
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W00t. You see, now that this is over, I can get back to extreme fluffness…and also a little preview: Vrena discovers some surprising information in the next chapter that will greatly impact her and Tristan's relationship. :P
Also, Lancelot still owes her for saving his ass. Next chapter will have some nice comic relief. :D
Am I doing a good job, guys? And do not worry, this story is not close to being over, not just yet! I've got some things planned for the knights and Vrena :P
ALSO: I drew a picture of Vrena, which you canfind as a link in my profile.
ea, I know, and my style is wierd (once you go anime, you never go back xD)...
I did it quick, so that's why it looks bad...
III Cari III
