Chapter 4: Reunited and a Plan for Action
Disclaimer: Same old stuff…..owns her but not him…..
"Arthur wants me to show you where you are staying," Gawain explained, gesturing towards the castle from inside the kitchen. Amanda crossed her arms over her chest, and began to shake her head.
"I want to stay here with my family, Gawain," she said. Gawain looked her up and down.
"I am not the one to have this argument with," he replied. "Please, all of you, come with me and take shelter there."
"The King wants us to stay in his home?" her mother asked, not bothering to hide her astonishment. Gawain smiled and nodded at the woman, who then walked off quickly to pack some clothes and things for the family.
"Come, Amanda," said her father with a touch to her shoulder, "this is a great honor."
"I don't want honor," she said quietly, hoping Gawain could not hear her, "I have returned from a tiresome and trying journey. I want to relish in the safety and comfort of our home."
"We should leave quickly," Gawain said, his eyes falling on Nicolarious and smiling. "There is much to do before nightfall."
The Marslyn family followed Gawain out of their house, Amanda reluctantly. Her pride felt wounded, accepting even more help from the man that had rode out of his palace to save her. She was thankful for his help, and knew that she owed him her safe return if not her life. But she felt his summoning her and her family was merely a show of his power. Why should he care only about them when there were many other people in Camelot? She pursed her lips in thought as they made their way from their home to the castle.
She had walked by the front entrance of the palace dozens of times since her family had moved to Camelot, but she had never even thought to enter it before. As they crossed the threshold Amanda felt her body tense. She didn't want to be there, and she was going to tell Arthur that she didn't want to be there. Gawain led them through halls where many people passed through quickly. She was amazed at the activity in those stone walls, but she moved to keep up with Gawain and her family. Gawain led them to a set of rooms that would house them for the duration of the battle. Amanda looked around at the fine things in the rooms, but shook her head and turned back to Gawain.
"Is it necessary for us to stay here? We feel safe enough in our own home," Amanda stated defiantly. Gawain's fair brown eyes met her face, and he opened his mouth to answer when another voice joined them.
"Yes," said Arthur, "I do believe it is necessary for you to stay here, Mistress Marslyn." Amanda watched him enter the room, and he smiled warmly at her family.
"Your Majesty," her father began, "thank you so much for the safe return of my daughter." Arthur and he clasped hands, and Amanda was amazed at the warmth her father was showing Arthur. "We owe you everything."
"Now, I promised you I would bring her back to you. Your happiness is enough," Arthur replied. He looked to Amanda again and smiled. Amanda did not return the expression.
"How is your knee?" he asked.
"It is fair enough," she answered curtly. "Your Majesty, I beg of you, please let us return home. I am weary from this entire ordeal and I want nothing more than to be home. We are so grateful for all you have done for us, but please, allow us to return home."
"Given that you and your family has recently moved here, your home has not yet been connected to our network of escape tunnels or with a safety shelter that all others in Camelot have. Now, I apologize that your home is without these features, and I will have that corrected in the near future," Arthur replied, his face set in stone, "but for now I owe it to you and to your family to make sure that you have more than just a few hours to celebrate your return."
Amanda opened her mouth to protest, as she was given to do, but her mother cleared her throat and Amanda snapped her jaw shut. Arthur bowed his head to the family, and Gawain smiled his farewells as they both left the room, closing the door behind them.
Arthur looked around his armory, into the faces of his many soldiers. Many were pulling on their last pieced of armor and collecting their weapons of choice before hurrying out to form their ranks. Arthur himself was pulling on his gloves as his Knights waited for him. They were silent, but confident. They knew that the Saxon force facing them would not last until morning – Arthur's strength would surprise them.
The day had been passed in the panicked preparation for the coming battle, and it was with the ease of a seasoned warrior that Arthur and his men fell into their familiar roles. There was little that would stop them, and their unity encouraged more unity among the men. When the sun faded behind the trees and the drums grew loud enough that even the Marslyn family could hear them behind the thick stone walls, all was ready. The Saxon force took rank before the Wall, and reports came to Arthur constantly of their movements and doings.
When he was ready, Arthur made his way to the head of his legions. He mounted his horse and rode up and down along the front lines. There were worried and tense faces, but all held some reverence for their king. He was no ordinary king, and every person in Camelot knew that. He would not sit on the Wall and watch his men die; he would ride out with them, and fight just the same. At length, Arthur spoke.
"Men," he began, "within each of you exists a great warrior. Never before have the walls of Camelot been confronted by an enemy. Now is the hour that your city calls upon you for action. Now is the hour where your training is put to the test against a real enemy, not a neighbor pretending to be foe. You haven't really had the chance to serve me in a battle. This is your chance. I must ask it of you to be brave. To be fierce. The Saxon beyond this stone will show you no mercy. But you will be stronger! They will be ferocious, but you will hold your ground! They come to take this city and all you hold dear. Will you let them have it?" The men responded to Arthur's speech with cries of war, and yells of anger. "No! You will not let those dogs have what is rightfully yours! For Camelot!" The cries returned again as the gates of the city opened and man after man marched out. Arthur's great horse reared in excitement, and he was confronted by his Knights.
"Well Knights," he said.
"Let's get those bastards," said Bors.
"Can't wait to get rid of them," said Galahad.
"They only deserve what's coming at them," said Gawain. Arthur tapped his horse and off they rode to the front of the Wall. Night had fallen and the army of Saxons was waiting. Gawain rode up next to Arthur, who was in front of his massive army. Arthur looked over at him, and smiled.
"To think, this all began with that girl who is now wildly unhappy at being kept in your castle," Gawain mused, a small chuckle following his words. Arthur shook his head, and thought briefly of Amanda.
"Thank you for making sure they came. I feared it would be much more difficult," said Arthur looking away.
"I do not recall anyone looking at you with such…" Gawain responded, pausing as he tried to search for the right word.
"Vexation, perhaps," chimed in Galahad. "When I went in the Jols to offer them food and show them to the hall she was stiff with anger." Arthur looked at Galahad and laughed as he recalled the look on Amanda's face.
"She was most certainly vexed," Arthur commented. Gawain and Galahad only smiled as Arthur shook his head.
"Can we not keep these Saxons waiting," said Bors, obviously annoyed with their conversation.
"No," said Arthur. "Let's go talk to the bastards." Arthur went forward, as did the Saxon leader, meeting in the middle of the field.
"The great King Arthur. You have held this land far too long," the leader said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I shall kill you here on this battle field, and take joy in the fear that will be in your eyes."
"I do not fear death. But I promise you that I will not be I who perishes on this field today," Arthur answered. The leader withdrew his sword and Arthur did the same, holding it to the man's throat.
"Answer me one question," said Arthur. "Why are you fighting me?"
"You killed my father and brother," said the leader, spitting on Arthur's blade.
"So you are seeking revenge?" asked Arthur. The leader nodded and gave Arthur a look of hate.
"Well," said Arthur, removing his blade, "If they couldn't kill me, what makes you think you can?" Arthur turned his horse around and went back to his line. He watched the Saxon go back to his smaller army, and Arthur hoped the man was realizing his mistake in coming to Camelot.
"Thaturaus," said Arthur, "take the right wing and wait for my command to let your archers go. Then, we will all charge them together. Watch out for his right wing. Go." The man cried out a call, which triggered the entire right wing to go.
"So your left wing is going to attack his right, but not his left," said Bors. Arthur smiled.
"Look over to the hills to the right," said Arthur. Bors, Gawain, and Galahad looked up to the hills and saw a long line of men.
"What?" asked Galahad.
"The benefit of having allies. The Woads gentlemen," said Arthur, "Let's get a move on, shall we?" Arthur clicked his horse forward and slowly, his men marched forward. He held his hand in the hair so Thaturaus could give the signal to his archers.
Meanwhile, the Saxon was watching this man's every move. He cried out in Saxon and he and his men rushed forward.
Arthur sped on, and his Knights raised their weapons. In a moment, Arthur gave his signal to Thaturaus and a rain of arrows fell down upon the Saxon army. His men were at a full charge, and he swung his sword above his head as he head the cries of the Woad fighters clamoring down upon the Saxon left flank. The two lines clashed; the battle beginning. Weapons were hurled and Arthur cut down man after man. He treated every battle differently since the last time he fought the Saxons for the very grounds of Camelot. Each day he thought of the friends he lost to the Saxons and the pain still behind the eyes of his comrades – it was well hidden, now, but he knew that they still felt the loss as keenly as he did.