Chapter 3: Drums

Disclaimer: Nothing's changed….still own Amanda, still don't own Arthur.

Some while later, Amanda woke to find herself in the arms of the man who had asked Gawain to carry her. She was astride his horse in front of him, his arms on either side of her to reach the reins. Her head rested uncomfortably on the chest plate of his armor, and she caught a scent of musk, smoke, and freshly laundered linens. The shirt he wore under his jerkin must have been clean, but the position of her head and the closeness of their quarters made Amanda uncomfortable. He was very quiet as they rode, as if unaware of her stirring. She lifted her head and looked around, encouraging him to speak.

"Ah," he said, "you are awake." Amanda looked back at him awkwardly and smiled.

"Yes," she answered, feeling even more uncomfortable than before. She was not accustomed to riding with men, and not being able to dismount was distressing her in this strange moment.

"I apologize, are you uncomfortable? I insisted you ride with me here so that I could look after you, please do not be alarmed," said the man. Amanda looked at him and sighed.

"I am not alarmed, sir. This situation is unusual, though, isn't it?" Amanda asked. He smiled, and she fell quiet. "Thank you for coming to save me. I am forever in your debt.

"It's a king's job to watch over his people," he said. Amanda managed to smile.

"His Majesty is a good man for sending so many men to my aid. I had honestly given up all hope of rescue," she replied. She turned her head back forward, trying not to lean against the man again. To her surprise, she heard his faint chuckle. Amanda looked to him again, her grey eyes narrowing.

"I am flattered you think I am a good man, but rest assured that had I known your situation sooner I would have come then," he said. He was not cross, and seemed generally amused that Amanda hadn't recognized him as her King. Her hand flew to her mouth and she searched for something to say.

"Arthur!" called someone from behind them. Arthur turned around and answered.

"Can we stop? Let us talk to the girl, too!" the man cried. Arthur nodded and laughed. Stopping his horse, Arthur got off and extended his hand to Amanda. Amanda, still in the process of recovering from her embarrassment, looked at his hand as her hand covered her injured knee.

"Oh, you are injured. Come, let me take you down and let me have a look at your knee," he said putting his hands around her waist. Amanda didn't have time to object as she was ungracefully pulled down off the horse. Arthur helped her over to a rock and then went back to get his horse. The other three came over and tied up their horses and smiled.

"These are my men: Bors, Galahad and Gawain. They are Knights of the Round Table and I have known them for the better part of my life." Each man nodded at his name, and Amanda studied them from her stone perch.

"Thank you so much for coming to rescue me. My name is Amanda Marslyn," she said, bowing her head to them. Arthur knelt down before her, and reached for her leg. Amanda moved back in surprise, shielding her knee from his touch.

"He won't hurt you girl," said Bors. He was tall, burly man with a bald head marked by a scar on his scalp. Amanda looked at Arthur, unsure about letting him closer.

"You mustn't fret;" said Gawain, "He knows what he is doing." Amanda looked at him, uneasy. Her eyes lingered on Gawain, and her mind eased as she remembered that she was Gawain's burden through the darkness. These men were honest and stout, that much she could gather. Galahad nodded to her and gave her a wide smile, so Amanda turned back to Arthur. Arthur lifted her left leg so that her calf slid under his arm. For the first time, Amanda noticed his eyes. They were an exquisite green, and they locked as his hands pushed the hem of her skirt to the middle of her thigh. To Arthur's surprise, her leg was worse than he thought. He was greeted with a large gash surrounded by a yellowing bruise, and he looked up at the girl with a quizzical expression on his face. All Amanda did was smile, which looked more like a wince, and shift uncomfortably on the rock. Arthur went back to her knee, examining the skin closely. The edges had begun to scab and heal, which was a promising sign. He knew this girl would need better attention than he could give her, but for now he would have to bind it.

"Goodness girl," said Bors, "what did you do to yourself?" Amanda smiled a bit before answering.

"When their scouts found me I thought I could manage to get away. One of their blades slashed my knee in response. Silly me for thinking I could fight them all off at once," said Amanda, her voice trailing off towards the end. She saw Arthur smile at her words before he reached for the bandages he brought over.

"Galahad," said Arthur, "Do you have that ointment?" Galahad looked up quickly, as if called back from day dreaming, and nodded to Arthur.

"Yes," he answered, "I'll get it." Arthur's warm fingers traced the wounds on Amanda's leg. Then, he saw something, or so he thought, and he moved in closer to Amanda's knee, examining it more closely. He sighed and his hand moved toward her cut.

"What are you doing?" asked Amanda, startled at the way his fingers were poised to touch her wound.

"There is something in this wound," answered Arthur calmly, "I need to get it out or this could become infected, regardless of what I or my healers put on it." Arthur proceeded in what he was doing, and Amanda gasped as he removed the foreign object from the open gash. Galahad returned with the ointment and handed it to Arthur. Arthur took it, removed the cap from the glass bottle and looked up at Amanda.

"This is going to sting a little, but it will help the skin heal," he said. Amanda moved her right hand to the edge of the rock and gripped it tightly. Arthur slowly poured the ointment on to the wound and Amanda's eyes closed as a stinging, fiery sensation took hold of her entire knee. Amanda gasped in pain again and when Arthur stopped, reached for her knee. Arthur caught her hand and looked up at her.

"Do not touch it," he warned, "this needs to be set beneath the bandages and you could rub it off. The pain will subside in a few minutes." He worked quickly at tying the bandage around her knee. When he finished he looked up at her again, and Amanda felt a sudden blush come over her face. "Let me see the side of your head." Amanda gave him a confused look and touched the side of her face. Her cold fingers recoiled as she felt a sharp pain from her own touch. Turning so Arthur could see it, she heard Gawain gasp when he saw what was there.

"What?" asked Amanda. Gawain walked up beside her and got a closer look of what was there.

"There is a bruise on your face," said Gawain. Amanda turned to face him in surprise, "What did they do to you?" Amanda opened her mouth to speak, but then looked over Gawain's shoulder in curiosity.

"Amanda?" asked Bors.

"Shhh," said Amanda. Amanda's heart beat sped up and all she could do was stare into the North, "Don't you hear it?" The men looked at her in confusion, and listened intently.

"Drums," said Arthur.

"Quick," said Bors, "We must get back to the city." Arthur scooped Amanda up and helped her onto his horse. Mounting quickly, he sped off into the south, his companions behind him. Amanda's mind was racing. How could she have been so blind? Now she understood why they took her. So Arthur would leave the city and they would try to attack. How could she have been so stupid? They weren't far from the city, and the drums were growing fainter by the minute, but still, the drums were there, and the Saxons were coming.

The horses flew over the ground at a speed Amanda had never felt before. Had she not be frightened by the drums that chased their footfalls, she would have wildly enjoyed the rush of wind in her hair and over her skin. They barely slowed to pass through the gates of Camelot where trumpets announced their coming. Arthur dismounted immediately after entering and helped Amanda off his horse, with surprising gentleness. A crowd had gathered at the sound of the trumpets, many craning their necks to see the King and his Knights, and the woman that had returned with His Majesty. Arthur turned quickly and headed towards the center of their market, mounting a platform he had built there some years ago for the city crier.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," his voice boomed, "while rescuing this young woman from her captors, we discovered something of great importance. There is a strength of Saxon men that are planning an attack on this city. I ask you not to be alarmed. I need all soldiers to report to their stations for preparation. The gates will be closed now, and I ask that you all remain in your homes."

Amanda made her way through the crowd to return home, rushing to find her family and tell them what Arthur had said. She limped through the streets as quickly as her knee would allow, and reminded herself that Arthur would have to be thanked after the fighting ended. She had no time to think about any of what she had just been through. She thought only of her mother and father and brother, and the safety that they needed.

"Amanda!" cried a familiar voice, and she looked about wildly for the source. She found him with her eyes, and opened her arms for him as he ran.

"Nic! Thank the Lord I have found you!" she said, kissing her brother's head in joy. "Where are mother and father?"

"Mother is at home, come, I will join you," he said, clinging to her side. She wrapped her arm around him and they hurried home together.

"You can't ever go for a walk beyond the Wall ever again," Nicolarious said sternly, looking up at his sister. Amanda looked at him and laughed softly, shaking her head.

"I doubt I'll ever want to go for a walk again."

"What happened?" he asked excitedly as they approached their door. Her mother stood outside, sweeping soot and dust from their front doorway.

"Mama!" Amanda cried, rushing forward lopsidedly. Her mother looked up and dropped the broom as she let out an overjoyed cry.

"Oh my God, you've returned!" the woman cried as their arms flew around one another in a strong embrace. Amanda felt tears wash over her face in relief. The built up stress and fear and pain unleashed itself as soon as she was in her arms, and for once Amanda did not try to fight off her tears. "There, there, child, you've come back to us and you will be safe now."

They stood like that for some time until Nicolarious cried out:

"Father! Look, King Arthur has brought Amanda back!" Amanda released her mother to turn and see her father. Amanda and her father were connected unlike many other similar pairs, and when she saw him again her tears were freshly renewed. She was sorry for having worried her parents, but she had been truly upset by being separated from her father. The man was dear to her, and she believed it was from him she had gotten her intelligence and her strength. He had protected her in recent days, even from things unknown to her brother and mother.

"Father," she whispered, rushing to his embrace.

"What has happened to your leg?" her mother asked, noticing her daughters uneven gait. Amanda closed her eyes for a moment as the warmth of her father passed over her body, leaving them to wait for her reply. When they finished hugging, Amanda turned back to her mother and was led inside.

"It was cut by a Saxon blade," Amanda answered. Identifying her assailant reminded her of what had led her here in such a hurry. "And that Saxon force is making its way here. They will be here by nightfall. The King has asked that all citizens remain in their homes."

Her mother placed food before her as they discussed the size of the coming force, and what Arthur would do about it. There was a knock at the door, and Nicolarious' voice could be heard from the hall.

"Amanda," he called, "there's a man here to see you." Amanda furrowed her brow, and turned to see Nicolarious leading Gawain into the kitchen.

"Gawain," she said in surprise, rising from her seat. "What can I do for you?"

"Arthur requested that I come to get you and your family," he said, shifting before the girl and her family. "He's indicated that he would like you all to take shelter in the palace."