This is short, but I felt like updating. This will get better, I have some lovely scenes in mind…it won't all be the "woe is me" ploy. That would annoy me far too much.

Queen of Gore- I love Esma. She is my hero.

MonDieu666- Yey for your internet connection!

Camreyn- Happy belated New Year to you too! I'm so glad you're back! As Cedric couldn't move, I really don't' think he gave up too easily. See, this Cedric actually cares about something, even if he is selfish about it. Tristan goes to fight all the other people. I can't see him just waiting around for the enemy when there are plenty of other people to kill. Don't worry…that isn't going to happen. Perhaps some of them will, but certainly not all of them. I agree…that would be weird. You will simply have to read on with your other questions! Thanks so much for reviewing!

Queen Mab- To be completely honest, no, I do not know the specifics of the historical battle of Badon hill. My story is based on the movie version of King Arthur, so I am using the battle from the movie. If you think about it, it makes sense. This isn't the biggest collection of Mary Sues…you should check out my other stories- there are far more Mary Sues in those. Obviously, I can write. Certainly, I am an inferior author, I know that. That is why I write on fanfiction. If you want to help me grow in my grasping of the English language, be specific on what you don't like. Simply telling me that I "can't," write isn't terribly specific.

ElvenStar5- Do you really think I would kill Lancelot?

Katemary77- Happy belated New Year to you too!

Je suis une pizza- Jane Eyre rocks my socks…though I wouldn't fancy writing a 12-page essay on it. I salute you!

Blueglass25-Thanks! I haven't heard from you in a while!


"Arthur, I don't like pointing this out, but the plan is lacking." Lancelot informed him.

Arthur turned to his friend, nearly raising an eyebrow. He managed to catch himself, fixing his usual disinterested expression in place. "Really? And where is it lacking?" he asked, as if the answers held no consequence. But they did.

Arthur did not count many on this earth as a friend, but Lancelot was certainly one of them. There was no one he trusted more. No one. Now, Lancelot was uneasy. Lancelot might jest at such things, but now he was actually serious. It bore looking into.

"Well, Arthur, there is the chance that these people will simply try to kill us in our sleep…but let's not concern ourselves with such minor details." Lancelot smirked.

Lancelot smirked far too much for his own good. It was what he did when he had nothing else to do. When he had nerves that he didn't want anyone to see. Arthur knew him, sometimes better than he knew himself, and was never fooled by such obvious tricks.

"Let them try. Will you give them that opening, Lancelot?" asked Arthur, trying to appeal to his ego.

"We don't need them. They ran into the woods with their tails between their legs. How helpful would they be to us? Are you sure your head made it out of the battle unscathed?" It was a pitiful plea, and they both knew it.

"Have you looked around as of late, friend?" asked Arthur, "Have you been speaking with Merlin? He knows what will happen, and so do I. No one knows our strength, and they will test it. Our own people will test it. I need every soul I can muster. Even a Saxon. The empire is crumbling, and now the country will have a new leader. It makes people nervous. You know of the reports. The thieves have already started. I need help Lancelot, and I hope I can trust you to sleep lightly." It was delivered in his usual clipped tone, though Lancelot could hear the desperation.

It was easy to forget that Arthur was a mortal. If you could get past the piercing eyes, you would come to the demeanor. It seemed that nothing could shake him. Lancelot could count on one hand the number of times he had seen Arthur fall apart; lose control. It had been years since the last time, and it wasn't an experience Lancelot wanted to repeat. He would get the Saxon bastards out of their trees, lock them in a little room, and guard the door if necessary. If, of course, it would make Arthur feel better. It wasn't as though he usually got much sleep, anyway…

Lancelot gave Arthur a curt nod, and went back to his room for his armor. He would be needing it.

Arthur watched him go with amusement that didn't show. Lancelot seemed to enjoy not being taken seriously. It always struck him as odd, though he had never questioned him about it. It probably wouldn't be a pleasant conversation. Arthur was worried. As the deceased King of the Saxons had kindly pointed out, he was just a man. How would he be able to protect an entire country? It didn't seem possible to him that one man could do it all. Perhaps it took many. He would simply be the figurehead. In that case, he needed to select his men carefully, or his women. At least Guinevere and Merlin seemed eager to help, that was something.


Devona had shaken off her gloom, and was now pacing, annoying all surrounding her. She was supposed to have a quick, easy, and effective plan ready at all times. This was apparently not one of those times. She could think of nothing even remotely helpful. Aglaeca was edgy. Something was distinctly off about their situation, though he couldn't quite place it.

Someone was close.

Tristan was as alert as ever. This was cause for many jests, bets, and worries. Tristan really couldn't make himself care about any of that, however. At the moment, he had a job to do. Arthur had asked, and here he was. It really wasn't all that complicated. He liked it that way.

Now, he stopped. They were out there. He could hear the stomping of feet on the earthen floor of the forest. They weren't expecting company. That was stupid. That was sloppy. Tristan was no longer sure he wished to be associated with such obvious idiots. He hoped that Arthur knew what he was getting into. It was time to backtrack. As fun as the encounter would undoubtedly be, Arthur would be upset if he took on the entire group at once. Well, there was no use sulking. One couldn't change reality.

Aefre had gone still. This was not an odd occurrence, so it didn't bother her fellows much. They were more concerned with their escape plan at the moment. The horses were agitated, snorting, pawing the ground with their hooves. Yes, all was not right. Aefre wasn't kept waiting for long.

Men on horseback had surrounded them, and were closing in, almost nonchalantly, as the Saxons scrambled for their weapons.


Devona would look back upon this day, even years after, replaying the scene in her head. Could she have changed it? What could she have done when they struck here, or there? The simple fact of the matter was that they were woefully unprepared for an attack. They had been foolish. Grief did that to you. You forgot all training, all instincts. If they had attacked the next day, perhaps their guard wouldn't be so open. But, unfortunately for the Saxons, the knights decided to attack right at that very moment. They couldn't put up much resistance without getting the rest of their friends killed.

So, it was with much seething and flared nostrils that they set out on their horses, staring at the enemy with all the reticence of a child. Actually, that wasn't strictly accurate. It was more fury than reticence. And, rightfully so. The knights decided it would be much more fun to allow the Saxons to wonder as to their fate. They had lost friends in the battle as well, and it didn't sit well with anyone. Lancelot in particular enjoyed using patronizing tones with their captives.

"We don't usually get to escort such pretty soldiers, now do we Bors?" he asked.

Bors, in the typical Bors fashion, grunted. He didn't want to be here. Vanora was still out there, and he would much rather be going after her than some cowardly soldiers. Well, Arthur always had his reasons…perhaps one of them was Dagonet. Arthur seemed to see everything, including the silent stares Dagonet had been sending Fulcinia's way when he thought no one was looking. Well, he and Dagonet would have a nice adventure soon, to retrieve their beloved damsels.

Esma snorted. This one really though highly of himself. Lancelot heard, and turned his head, staring at the woman who had felt the need to voice her opinion in such a way. They glared at each other for a time, but Devona rode up next to Esma, raising an eyebrow. Esma dropped the glare reluctantly, and Lancelot chuckled. He had won that round!

Devona was quite worn out, though she didn't let it show. In a way, this was just what she needed. She was a woman who valued a challenge, and escaping from the knights would certainly be one. The knights had taken their weapons on their surrender, and Devona felt naked without them. They hadn't been riding for long, though the trip wasn't long. They soon returned to the bloody field, and Devona tried not to look. She failed. She had been though some bloody battles before, but this one surpassed even the worst of those. She rode up to the cocky knight, who seemed to be in charge.

"I need to find my people. We will have our own ceremony, you needn't worry about it." She said, trying to bargain.

"Why should I let you go? You'll just run off again. It's the only thing you're good at, after all." He responded, scathingly.

"I run when I must. If you had planned on killing us, you would have done it already. I have my men to look after, the living and the dead."

Lancelot studied her. "I will bring you to Arthur first. He will decide." There, it was out of his hands now. Arthur would know what to do. He always did…well, nearly always.

They made their way into a courtyard, where they were met by a squire. Lancelot nodded at the captives, and they dismounted. Lancelot could trust Jols to look after the horses. Aefre didn't want to leave their mounts in the hands of a stranger, but there was nothing to be done about it. She watched them go sadly, and was nudged along by one of her captors. She had other things to be worried about now.

Devona kept her head held high. She would not crumble in front of these men. She was a commander, and would hold herself as such. Her people followed her, silently showing their support. Devona almost managed a smile. She didn't deserve her friends.

Lancelot led them in, knowing how they would react to the surroundings. It never ceased to amuse him how people reacted to a differently shaped piece of furniture. Devona didn't react at all, and neither did her people. She was in control now, and would not be distracted from the mess now on hand. There was a man standing by the circular table, and at first she didn't recognize him. Arthur. He had a presence much like Cedric had, though it wasn't exactly comforting.

Lancelot grabbed Devona's arm and pulled her forward. "Found them in the woods. They're the cavalry you wanted." He said, carelessly.

Arthur studied Devona, and she stared right back.

A woman sat in the shadows, sure that she had gone unseen. She wanted to leap from her chair, choke the life out of the people who had come to take her land. Who had killed her people. Arthur hadn't wanted her here at this meeting, though she really didn't care. She would be a queen in her own right; he had best start listening to her. That little bitch stood far too close to Arthur for comfort, and she had to restrain herself now. She would deal with this one later.

Devona's eyes flicked over to the corner where Guinevere sat, though she made no comment. Her gaze returned to Arthur, and finally she spoke.

"What will you be doing with us then?" she asked, as if she could care less.

Arthur's mouth twitched. "I have a proposition. If you don't want it, we'll kill you. You don't matter to me all that much. I want you to fight for me." He said, bluntly.

Devona raised a brow. "Really? Why would that be? We are but ignorant Saxons, how could we help one such as yourself?" she asked sarcastically.

"Those were the very questions I wanted to ask." Muttered Lancelot, loud enough for Devona to hear. She simply grinned, and looked questioningly at Arthur, waiting for his answer.

"Does it really matter why? I am offering you your lives. Will you take them?"

"Will you allow us to burn our own dead?" she asked, trying to bargain a bit. She knew they had no choice, but she wouldn't let some foreign idiot burn her men. They would have a proper ceremony.

"I need your word. And you need markings. I won't have you slipping off. The markings will help with that. Everyone will see you for what you are." He warned.

"Fine. Do it fast, they've been left to the crows for long enough." She snapped.

Arthur addressed his knights. "Tell Jols we're ready. Then bring them there. Get it over with." He said, and turned to placate his bride to be.

The Saxons were led from the chamber and to the blacksmith's. This was a procedure that Devona was not looking forward to. The heat hit her face as she entered, nearly knocking her back. She managed to steady herself, flinching slightly, and proceeded into the room. The knights followed, not willing to trust the newcomers yet. Jols was ready.

"Who's first?" he asked, not really caring if there were volunteers or not. He didn't expect any. He was surprised when two stepped forward. Devona and Aglaeca looked at each other, though it was obvious who would go first. Devona appreciated the gesture, but she was their commander. Anything she asked of her men, she would first do herself. This did not mean that she was happy about it, however.

She nearly growled as the man's rough hands closed over her arm, pulling her closer to the flame. He took a heated brand and applied it to Devona's forearm.

Devona had known a great deal of pain in her life. If she were being honest with herself, she would admit that she had certainly had worse. She simply couldn't think of any of those occasions at the time. She let out a yelp, biting the inside of her cheek, drawing blood. But then, just as quickly as it had come, the steel was removed from her skin, leaving a dull ache in its wake. The man, Jols as he was called, branded the rest of her people as she watched.

They were nothing but animals now.


I promise, it will get better! On my honor as a chief! Reviews are better than chocolate!