Chapter 8: Puzzling Threats
Disclaimer: Amanda's still mine, Arthur still isn't, surprise surprise….
Note: Hey guys! I love reading your reviews, and I've got answers for a few of you. Generally, no, those weren't my best chapters, but balancing school and writing got a little hectic this week. However, I promise, I'm going to be more diligent. As for the other answers, you'll get them in the next few chapters. You'll discover the character that I've been dieing to unveil to all of you, and I can't wait to get your thoughts. Happy reading!
In the Bishops letter he said that he was leaving Rome in the next few days and would be arriving in three months time. Since it took the letter three months to reach Arthur and his companions, they figured the Bishop would be arriving in at least two days, maybe more, maybe less. That time was spent cleaning up the palace, and Amanda continued to fret his visit. One afternoon, Amanda left the city to go for a walk around the walls. She was warned not to go too far, and she didn't. She found a spot and lay down to watch the oncoming grey clouds. With one of her arms behind her head, and the other mindlessly plucking grass out of the ground, Amanda's mind wandered.
I can't believe that Bishop Ahias is coming, she thought, He can't be coming here just because the Pope and Emperor are angry with Arthur's decisions. There has to be something else up his sleeve.
"But what could it be?" Amanda asked herself softly.
"But what could what be?" asked a deep voice from behind her. Amanda sat up, startled, and turned to see Arthur standing there. Amanda sighed, and lay back down.
"Nothing Arthur," she said. Arthur sat down next to her.
"I highly doubt that. You've been laying here for an awfully long time, and obviously thinking the whole time while doing it. So tell me, what could what be?" he asked again. Amanda watched Arthur lay down next to her, and Amanda sighed.
"I'm wondering why the Bishop is really coming. I mean, he's saying that he's coming because the Emperor and the Pope are angry with you, but I think he's coming for another reason," answered Amanda, explaining her thoughts. Arthur was silent for a few minutes, contemplating what she had shared with him.
"What do you think he's coming for?" asked Arthur. Amanda turned over on her side to face him.
"I don't really know, it's just a feeling I have. I remember when I was in Rome; he was always coming up with insane ideas about the world and people around him. But, he might have changed over the past nine years," answered Amanda. Arthur took in a deep breath and thought. Amanda sat up and looked around. Everything reminded her of those days in Rome, those painful days.
"Amanda," said Arthur, Amanda looked over her shoulder to him, "Do you trust me?" Amanda turned her body to face him.
"Of course I do, why do you think I told you about what happened to me in Rome?" asked Amanda with a slight smile. The truth was, Amanda did trust Arthur, immensely.
"But, you barely know me," said Arthur.
"Yes, but you also saved my life. Why do you think I was so afraid of you that night? I don't warm up to people that easily Arthur, but you and your Knights, you're different," said Amanda.
"Why's that?" asked Arthur, sitting up. Amanda looked at her hands for a moment, and thought.
"I think it's because you have gone through many perils, as have I. My perils, however, were inward perils, fought within me. Yours were physical battles. The Bishop affected me in a way that I thought no one would ever know. But, a Bishop affected your lives, did he not? One denied your freedom, and one denied mine. You had to perform one more rescue that could have killed you, or it killed one of you, and I had to keep a secret that could have killed me," answered Amanda, swallowing tears, remembering her past, "But my past is my past. I would rather leave it there, and not have it repeat itself. I only told you because the man who caused all of my pain and anguish is coming to your city. And because you asked."
"So, you're saying that you and I are similar people?" asked Arthur. Amanda nodded and stood up. Arthur followed suit and stood a whole head and shoulder above Amanda. Amanda sighed when she had to look up at him, noticing the grey clouds now over head. Arthur laughed when he saw her face of annoyance.
"What's that look for?" he asked.
"I just hate being short," said Amanda, "Believe me, it most certainly has its disadvantages. I don't even think it has an advantage."
"Sure it does," said Arthur, "You can always go unnoticed in a large crowd if you're short." Amanda laughed, and began to walk back to the city. Arthur was walking next to her, hands clasped behind his back. Amanda looked up when she felt small pats on her head. Suddenly, the rain started to fall very heavily, and Amanda covered her head.
"Oh damn it!" cried Arthur. Amanda, however, stood there in the rain, looking up, mouth open, catching the rain drops. She spun around, enjoying the rain.
"What are you doing?" asked Arthur.
"I figure, if I'm going to get wet, I might as well enjoy it!" answered Amanda happily. Arthur watched her with a smile. Amanda skipped forward, back toward the wall, and Arthur began to walk back as well.
"Come on Arthur, you're awfully slow for a Knight," taunted Amanda. Amanda turned around to face him and let him catch up with her. She gave him an expression in which shows that the person giving it, is extremely tired of waiting for you. Amanda tapped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest, "Terribly slow Your Highness," said Amanda when Arthur reached her side.
"Oh really?" asked Arthur, "Well I'll be a fool if you can beat me back to the wall." Amanda raised her eyebrows to the challenge.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Amanda, "I don't know if your pride can handle a defeat." This provoked Arthur even further. Arthur took his stance, ready to run, and Amanda took her next to his.
"On the count of three," said Arthur, "One, Two, Three!" Off they sped, Arthur immediately having the lead, but only for a few moments. Amanda gained on him, caught him, and passed him so quickly; all he could do was stare. Amanda laughed all the way to the wall, touching it first, and Arthur moments after her.
"So," said Amanda, breathing hard, "I guess this makes you a fool." Arthur smiled and Amanda laughed some more. Tucking her hair behind her ears, Amanda received a sudden chill down her spine, and a voice in her head told her to stop.
"Come on," said Arthur, "Inside before you catch your death of cold." Amanda nodded in agreement, the two rushing back inside.
Later that afternoon, Amanda decided to wash away all the mud she gathered on her body while racing Arthur. As she sat in the tub, Amanda thought about the voice in her head that told her to stop doing what she was doing.
I guess the voice was right, Amanda thought, He's a married widower. I'm just a foolish young girl who he is helping. Amanda continued to rub her arms with scented oils, and thinking about the race. A small smile spread across her lips, and she stood up. Wrapping a dark purple robe around her slender frame, Amanda walked over to her bed and looked at the dress she had laid out before. It was a very light pink color, with small silver clasps at the shoulders. Very simple, yet she thought it was one of the most beautiful dresses she had ever seen. There was to be a celebration tonight, it was Gawain's birthday. Tonight would finally be the night that Amanda got to meet Gawain's love, whom he never shut up about. Amanda dried her hair, and slipped her dress on. Walking over to her mothers' old jewelry box, Amanda shuffled through the necklaces in search of her favorite. Lifting it up carefully, Amanda put the silver chain with an emerald stone over her head. Glancing at herself in the mirror, Amanda saw fully what she looked like. Her golden blonde curls hung down to her shoulders, and her pink dress flattered her figure very well. Suddenly, the clear ringing of trumpets filled the air, causing Amanda to jump a bit. Leaving her room and rushing the wall, Amanda left her appearance. Reaching the wall, Amanda's eyes widened at the sight. Six Roman riders in front and behind a carriage passed through the city gates and into the city streets. The people in the market dodged out of the way, while the carriage splashed up mud from the recent rain. Amanda's heart began to beat faster as she walked back to Nicolarious's room, knowing who had arrived. Amanda knocked on Nicolarious's door, hoping that her brother was still in there.
"Come in!" called her brother and Amanda entered. Amanda found him putting on his shirt, a white one with gold embroidery around his collar. Amanda looked at him for a moment, and smiled.
"How do I look?" asked Nicolarious, turning around.
"Very nice," answered Amanda, "How about me?" Amanda turned, modeling off her dress.
"Like a princess," said Nicolarious with a smile, "Why were the trumpets sounding?"
"I think the Bishop arrived," answered Amanda, "So in that case, we should hurry down stairs if you want to meet him." Nicolarious walked out of his room, with Amanda following him. The two siblings wandered down to the Entrance Hall, where they saw Arthur and the Knights already greeting the Bishop. To Amanda's surprise, at the Bishops side was a man, a little older than herself, greeting the King as well. Amanda walked down to the group, and stood in between Galahad and Gawain.
"Who's the man with the Bishop?" asked Amanda quietly.
"The Bishops nephew, Joseph," answered Galahad, saying Joseph's name with distaste.
"What kind of name is Joseph anyway?" asked Gawain angrily. Amanda looked at the two of them and knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. What had Joseph done to make them say his name the way they did? Maybe it was just because he was related to the Bishop.
"Joseph is Jesus' father's name. His uncle is a Bishop of the Catholic faith," said Amanda.
"Ah," said Arthur, "Nicolarious, Amanda, please, come here." Amanda looked at Arthur, stunned that he was calling the two of them over to meet the Bishop.
What is he doing? Has he forgotten already what I told him this afternoon? Amanda asked herself. Yet, Amanda walked over to Arthur obediently, and stood at his side, her head held high, ready to look the Bishop in the face.
"Bishop Ahias," said Arthur, "This is Amanda and Nicolarious." Amanda curtsied and Nicolarious nodded. Amanda looked the man straight in his brown eyes, and hoped her glare went right through his soul. Amanda felt Nicolarious tense up, for he had despised this man for a long time, knowing what he had done to his sister. Amanda wanted to spit on his nice, clean white robes, and rip out his grey hair, and stab out his wondering brown eyes.
"Lovely to meet you," he said, averting his eyes away from Amanda's and back to Arthur. Amanda and Nicolarious stepped back and Amanda let out the breath she had been holding in. Amanda looked around the room, waiting for Arthur to finish talking to the Bishop and invite him to dinner. It was a peculiar feeling, but Amanda felt as if someone was watching her. Looking around the room, she saw the Bishops nephew Joseph staring at her. He smiled and Amanda looked away, watching the Bishop and Arthur go to the hall where the celebration was being held.
"We are having a celebration tonight, Bishop Ahias; it is one of my Knights, Gawain's, birthday today. You are just in time," Amanda heard Arthur say. Bishop Ahias looked back, but not at Gawain. He was looking at Amanda, and Amanda was looking at him. He smiled and Amanda wanted to be sick. The knights followed the Bishops nephew Joseph up the stairs, who was following his uncle and Arthur.
"Damn," whispered Gawain, "Why does he have to be here on my birthday?" Amanda chuckled softly and sighed, her past seeming much like her present.
The celebration was well under way, and Amanda was looking around the room for Gawain, who she thought would be with his lover. Spotting him with Bors and Galahad, and Verona, Amanda walked over pleasantly.
"Ah," said Bors, "Amanda, are you enjoying yourself?" Bors was obviously drunk, and Verona was rolling her eyes at her lover.
"When are you going to marry that poor woman?" asked Galahad. Bors looked at him and his eyes widened.
"Whenever I damn feel like it," he said calmly. Amanda laughed.
"Gawain," she said, "Where is this amazing girl of yours?" Gawain looked around the room and pointed behind her.
"Behind you, walking over now," he answered. Amanda turned to see a beautiful woman with red curly hair and brown eyes walking toward the group.
"Amanda," said Gawain, "this is the love of my life Aalya. Aalya, this is Amanda." Aalya smiled at Amanda.
"So this is the girl you never stop talking about, the one he rescued," said Aalya.
"Never stops talking about me?" said Amanda, "All I ever hear about is you!" Aalya smiled at Amanda, and sat down next to Gawain. Amanda sat down in between Galahad and Nicolarious. Amanda listened to the conversation for a moment or two, but then looked at Galahad, who hadn't said anything yet.
"Galahad," Amanda whispered while the others were talking, "what is wrong?" Galahad looked up at her, and leaned in closer to her.
"Come with me," he whispered. Galahad rose, as did Amanda and she followed him out of the hall, down a few corridors and out of the palace, into the courtyard Amanda had never seen before. Galahad stopped and faced her, anger written in his eyes.
"What is it Galahad?" Amanda asked again.
"Him," said Galahad.
"Who?" Amanda asked. Galahad inhaled deeply before answering.
"Joseph," he answered her. Amanda raised her eyebrows in surprise, wondering how a man who just got here had already gotten Galahad mad.
"What did Joseph do?" Amanda asked calmly, trying to sooth the angry Knight. Galahad sat down on a bench near by and slouched, his eyebrows knitted together and frowning. Amanda sat down next to him, searching his face for an answer.
"Threatened me," answered Galahad finally. Amanda's face turned form surprised to confused, and waited for Galahad to continue, "He said that if I didn't keep my eyes to myself, I wouldn't have any to see with."
"What in God's name is that supposed to mean?" Amanda asked.
"I don't know," Galahad replied angrily, "I guess I was looking at something that I wasn't supposed to, but I don't know." Galahad let out a huff, and crossed his arms over his chest. Amanda's mind was racing, yet again.
"Well, don't hold yourself back from enjoying this celebration because a stupid stuck up pig like that said something that only a dunce would say," said Amanda. Galahad gave her a weak smile and sighed once more.
"I suppose you're right," he said, "come, I owe it to Gawain. It is his birthday after all." Galahad stood, as did Amanda, and they walked back to the celebration.
Working on Chapter 9 you guys, it'll be up soon. Review!