Chapter 10: The After Math

Disclaimer: I think you know the drill….

Note: Hey y'all! I absolutely loved reading your reviews! Well, my original intent on this chapter was to reveal a new side of some of the characters, but we'll see how it plays out.

Amanda sat in her room for the next few hours, to afraid to move. Her body felt numb, and her mind was thoughtless. After she finished crying, traumatized by the man who had done it to her before, Amanda stared blankly at the wall opposite of her, replaying the scene over and over again, remembering every detail about what he had said. Nothing came to her. No feelings, no thoughts, no words, nothing. When night had fallen, Amanda was still sitting on the floor of her room, her eyes red from crying so much, and her body shaking uncontrollably from fear. Even when a knock came at her door, Amanda didn't respond.

"Amanda, it's Arthur. Please open up the door," he said, calling through the door, "I know you're in there, I've looked everywhere else. Please, open the door Amanda. Poor Nicolarious is out here worried sick about you. Open up the door!" he cried, pounding it hard with his fist. Amanda didn't budge. It was as if she couldn't even hear him, numb to the world. Arthur sighed and closed his eyes, and then looked down the hall. Seeing Joseph coming down the hall and entering his room, Arthur suddenly had a thought. He looked back at Amanda's closed door, and then reached for the door knob. Entering the room, he saw Amanda on the floor, totally motionless, staring off into space.

"Oh my God, Amanda," he said. Kneeling down at her side, Arthur took a close look at her. Her red eyes, her ruffled hair, her tear stained face, her trembling body, and her solemn face, Arthur moved in front of her. Blocking her gaze from the wall, Amanda looked up at Arthur. She didn't say anything, but she didn't let go of his gaze. Amanda's breathing sped up and she let the fresh tears flow from her eyes.

"I had just walked into my room," she said softly, "and I was putting on a necklace, and I saw him. And he, he-" but Amanda couldn't continue. She lowered her head and let her tears fall. Arthur came closer, trying to embrace her, but Amanda shied away from his outstretched arms, "Don't. You have to let me finish telling you what he did," said Amanda softly, and Arthur nodded, "He came up behind me quicker than I could react. He put his hand over my mouth, and- and then he was whispering in my ear about how he remembered who I was and that-" she paused, deciding not to tell Arthur what the Bishop had said about Arthur, "that if I ever needed company, he'd be here for the next few days." Amanda wiped the tears from her face slowly, rubbing so hard that she left red marks on her face. Arthur closed his eyes, his anger rising. It was his fault. He promised her that he wouldn't let any harm come to her, and that he wouldn't let that man of God lay one hand on her. He had failed, he had failed Amanda. The sweet, kind, gentle, innocent young woman in front of him, whom he promised a simple promise to, was hurt, and traumatized by the one man who could ever really harm her. Arthur stood up, and angrily walked out of her room and left Amanda in a befuddled state of mind.

It was late in the night, but Amanda was still awake. She had managed to lay herself on her bed, but didn't do anything after that. Sleep simply would not come to her. Her mind slowly began to kick in, but only tidbits, getting beyond what happened with the Bishop. It rarely worked though. Everything she thought about related back to the Bishop. Arthur, however, was a totally different subject. Closing her eyes for a moment, Amanda sighed. Then, she sat up on the edge of her bed, thinking of a place where she could go. Rising to her feet, Amanda silently left her room, and headed down to the library.

He said I could use it, Amanda reasoned with her doubtful mind. Reaching the library, Amanda quietly opened the door and walked in. Taking a book off the shelf, and a seat at a table, Amanda opened up to the first page. Suddenly, behind her, the book next to the book she took fell down off the shelf.

"Who goes there?" asked someone. Amanda looked up, startled. It didn't sound like the Bishop.

"Amanda," she answered. She saw a dark figure light a torch near them, lifting their veil of darkness, and showing themselves to be Joseph. Amanda sighed, and picked up the book, replacing it back on the shelf.

"You startled me," said Amanda. Joseph was now lighting a torch behind her, and smiling.

"You startled me," he answered. Amanda smiled weakly, and returned to her book, which she could now see.

"What are you doing up so late?" he asked, and Amanda parted her sight from the words for a moment.

"I can't seem to find any sleep," she answered truthfully, "you?" She heard Joseph sigh, and she looked up at him.

"My uncle is troubling my mind with folly about Rome. He thinks it's such a perfect place, but I see it with plain eyes, for what it really is, and it is far from perfect," answered Joseph. Amanda tilted her head to the side, captivated by the man she barely knew, "My uncle keeps telling me that my future lies in Rome, but I cannot see it. I want to live some place where I will actually be of help to someone, not just in the way, or another person that someone works for. If anything I would rather stay here. I love it here. Rome can't touch here." Amanda looked back down at her book, and sighed.

"You'd be surprised," she said. Amanda closed her eyes for a moment, knowing the power of Rome was crumbling. With the Huns on their way, they didn't have time to fight Arthur, but they did have time to send their 'men of God' over to make it even harder to get this country started and running. The silence between them obviously became boring for Joseph, and he excused himself from the room. Amanda sat there, eyes closed, mind blank, listening to her heart beating.

"God," she whispered, "light my path. I feel that it is hidden from me. Help me recover it. I can't seem to get my mind past my memories. Not just of Bishop Ahias, but of my parents, and the hardships I've already gone through. I know you ask your people to be enthusiastic about life, but I just can't seem to find my spirit. Please, help me regain my strength." Amanda opened her eyes, and closed the book in front of her. Placing it back on the shelf, Amanda turned her vacant thoughts to Arthur. She didn't fully understand why he had left her earlier that evening. Had she done something wrong? Did he simply not care? It just wasn't adding up. Slouching back into her chair, Amanda put her head in her hand and finally felt sleep taking her. Willingly, Amanda closed her eyes once again, not t wake until the sun rose.

There was a heavy fog all about her. The sounds of men crying out, and horses galloping around her forced Amanda to search with her eyes, but she couldn't see anything. Suddenly, out of the mist, a man was slowly limping towards her. When he came close enough to see, Amanda gasped when she saw Arthur with an arrow through his chest. Amanda ran forward when he fell to his knee. Holding his body in her arms, he looked up at her. He smiled and opened his mouth to say something….

Amanda opened her eyes, taking in a deep breath. She looked around the room, the library where she had fallen asleep. The sun was pouring through the stain glass windows, filling the room with tons of colors on the floor. Amanda realized it was morning, but wasn't ready to face the day. She wasn't ready to face anything at the moment. Gathering herself back, Amanda rubbed her eyes and left the library. Aimlessly walking about the palace, Amanda decided to respond to her grumbling stomach and go see if breakfast was still being served. It couldn't have been that late in the morning. Slowly walking down the corridors and halls that led to the round table, Amanda rubbed her eyes, hoping they weren't too red from all the crying and lack of sleep from last night. When she reached the door entering the room with the round table, Amanda took in a deep breath, and entered. Opening the door and peering into the room, Amanda saw Galahad, Nicolarious and Arthur seated at the table, eating silently. Walking in and closing the door behind her, all three of them looked up at her. Nicolarious and Galahad greeted her with a smile, but Arthur merely looked at her.

"You look very tired," said Galahad as she took her seat and a plate of food was put in front of her.

"I didn't sleep very well last night," Amanda replied truthfully.

"Where were you this morning? I went into your room and you weren't there," asked Nicolarious.

"I was in the library, thinking some things over," answered Amanda, taking a bit of her eggs. She heard Nicolarious say "oh" and return to his meal.

"Where's Gawain?" Amanda asked.

"He went home with Aalya last night," answered Galahad. Amanda nodded and continued to eat silently. She didn't dare look at Arthur, afraid that he would lash out at her or something along those lines. Nicolarious was the only one without a problem in the room. Galahad was angry, Amanda hurt, and Arthur, well, something was wrong with Arthur. At that exact moment, as Amanda was thinking about that, Joseph walked in, confusing the atmosphere even more. He was not alright either, he was probably as angry as Galahad.

"Your Majesty," he said, "I am not here to stay, but I must tell you one thing. I have decided no to leave with my uncle when he goes. I ask your permission to stay here in Britain and be of service to you." Arthur looked at him; they all looked at him in surprise. Arthur looked down at the table for a moment, then back up to Joseph.

"Very well," said Arthur. Amanda looked at Galahad, who was fuming, gripping his fork so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. Joseph went on thanking Arthur, but Amanda blocked him out, returning to her breakfast. If Joseph was to stay, these people sitting at the table now were in for a long ride.

Okay guys, so what'd you think? I'm dieing to know. I'll have 11 up soon!