Eleven
The knights rode along the path that lead away from Hadrian's Wall. By the calculations of the sun's position in the dark blue sky, it was past mid-day. If the knights wanted to get back before nightfall with Arthur, they'd have to meet up with their commander soon.
"Where exactly are we meeting Arthur?" Gawain asked Lancelot.
"He should be coming up this road soon," Lancelot replied.
Tristan's gaze lay on the forest. "The trees are too quiet today. Better pray that we don't cross any woad today."
Galahad looked at the scout strongly. "Why not? Today's a good day for a fight."
Tristan glared at him suspiciously. "But, it's not a good day to die."
"No day is a good day to die," Galahad replied.
Dagonet broke in saying, "Nobody is going to die today, or anyday soon. Can't you two ever just get along?"
Galahad and Tristan dared not look at one another again. Tristan veered his horse around and said, "I'm going out again."
The knights watched the scout ride away until he was out of sight. The road seemed to go on for miles without any turns at all. It would have been more exciting now to even see a cow roaming the plains, but there was nothing. The knights sighed with discontent. Their horses neighed softly, feeling their masters' restlessness.
Back at Hadrian's Wall, Arthur rode proudly back inside the protection of the fortress. He had returned earlier than expected by taking a shorter route home. He was immediately apporached by Squire Jols, who smiled hapilly at seeing his commander.
"Welcome back, sir," Jols said. "I trust you had a good journey."
'Yes, I have," he said looking around. "Where are my knights; I shall speak with them over a drink."
Jols frowned and looked bewildered. "They rode out to meet you. Are they not here with you?"
"I did not see them" Arthur said. "Perhaps they took the villagers road whilst I took a different route."
"Those woads haven't been giving you trouble, have they?" Jols wondered.
"I took a path near the river, one that the woads probably don't even know about. I didn't want to take any chances," Arthur answered, shifting uneadily in his seat. "Perhaps I will ride out to my knights. Bring me a fresh horse."
Jols nodded respectively and quickly brought his commander a new horse. Arthur patted the steed's snout as it blew hot air onto his cool hands. It was a beautiful horse painted white with a few black spots on its rear. He mounted and nodded his thanks to Squire Jols and headed out once again.
A half hour later, Tristan rejoined the group. Bors looked up at the scout and chuckled.
"So, how many woads did you see?" he asked.
"Four," Tristan said.
"And, how many did you kill?" Gawain added.
"Seven," Tristan replied. "They were hidden amongst the trees. We should turn back now. I found tracks along the river; I believe it is the route Arthur could have taken."
"So, we are bloody freezes our arses off out here and Arthur's all ready nice and toasty by the fireside!" Bors said gruffly.
"It wasn't all that bad," Galahad commented.
"Yeah, it got you off your fat arse for a few hours, didn't it?" Lancelot added with smile.
Bors pointed to his rear and made a kissing noise towards Lancelot. The knights erupted with laughter. Galahad laughed so hard that he had to hold his side from the ache it gave him. He peered over at the scout, who seemed to watch him, and nodded curtly to him. The knights started back towards Hadrian Wall, when suddenly a wave of arrows flew from the trees at emptied into the air.
"Look yonder!" Tristan pointed out.
"Let's go!" Lancelot shouted, grasping his twin blades and steering his horse with his legs.
The arrows rained down on the single Sarmation knight traveling alone. Arthur drew Excalibur and looked to the trees, awaiting an ambish by the woads. Vile birds soared overhead, waiting for something or someone to die so they could feed. Out of the blue came a light brown hawk. It swooped down and called out to Arthur as woads clad in mud and Earth initiated their attack.
Arthur rode towards them, running down a few in his path. He threw Excalibur up in the air and caught it upside down again. He ran his blade through one woad's throat, and turned to cut off another's head. The head rolled down the hill as the woad's blody seemed to stand a moment more before collapsing to the ground.
"Arthur!" Lancelot called as he and the others joined the fight. He looked over at Arthur. "Miss us?"
"Artorious!" Bors growled. "Rus! Rus!"
"Rus!" the knights answered in unison.
Tristan drew back his Sarmation bow until the tip seemed to touch him. He released three arrows at a time toward the woads, and each time three woads fell. He noticed their green and brown look today. Some days the woads were blue, other days they wore colors that blended them into the Earth. They were like chameleons, changing their skin to suit their surroundings.
Gawain threw his lance and it impailed one woad. The woad screamed a bloody cry and fell to the ground. Picking up his weapon, Gawain wheeled around and charged down an entire line of woads. Bors took down the enemy with his bow while Dagonet impailed them mercelessly with his axe and club. Galahad wielded his broadsword with his right hand, trying to save his left side the extra pain. One woads tried to jump Gawain's horse from behind, but Galahad cut him down as he passed by.
The fight was soon over; the knights were victorious as the woads retreated back into the forest.
After congratulating one another on their success, the knights continued to ride back towards Hadrian's Wall. Gawain rode beside Galahad, who seemed mildly pleased with himself.
"How's your side?" Gawain asked.
"Hurts like a bitch, thanks for asking!" Galahad replied with a grin. "I must say it was an interesting thing using my sword in my right hand. I actually think I prefer my right hand to my left when it comes to using a weapon."
"Well, preference is one thing, but mastering the skill is far more important!" Gawain reminded him.
"Let us all be glad when we get back to the tavern," Bors said. "We can drink away the world!
"You do that every night," Gawain said.
"That's true!" Bors laughed out loudly.
"I'll be looking forward to the company more so than the drink tonight!" Lancelot flashed his famous grin.
"I told you all ready, Lancelot, I won't sleep with you!" Gawain teased, sending the knights into a fit of laughter.
Galahad peered over his shoulder at the lone scout that trailed behind the laughingstock up front. He dropped back and waited for the scout to rejoin him.
"I wanted to thank you for the other night," Galahad said to him.
"I did what anyone would do," Tristan replied.
Galahad shook his head. "You're wrong, though, most people wouldn't have done what you did. Thank you, Tristan."
The scout nodded. "You're welcome, Galahad."
The two knights rode silently side by side the rest of the way.
End, 'Eleven.'
