Chapter 20: Brought into the Light

Disclaimer: Same old, same old.

Note: Hey guys! SOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY I haven't been updating. School has really gotten in the way of my writing, and I hope you'll forgive me. I know the last to chapters were confusing, but I've been working really hard on this one.

Tossing and turning, Amanda searched the darkness for sleep. The comfort of her dreams, which had somehow turned into nightmares. It had been almost two whole months since Galahad tried to tell her about the note, and still she remained in the dark about the whole thing. She saw it in their eyes, every time they glanced her way she could feel their sense of knowing what she did not. She could hear Galahad's taunting voice telling her over and over again what he wanted to say. But Arthur hadn't let him. Why did Arthur have to do that? Why did he always have to interfere? Why? Why couldn't he just let things be for once?

"Why?" Amanda asked herself aloud. She huffed, and sat up in her bed. It was almost time to get up anyway, and she wasn't planning on going back to sleep. She rose, and walked over to choose her clothes for the day. Pulling out a dark purple dress it seemed to fit her mood.

Maybe I should just act unreasonable and not speak to him, thought Amanda, or maybe I should just run away. Or tell him how angry I am with him. Whatever she thought, it just seemed rather childish, something irrational. She done things like that before, but that was before all of this happened. It was before the knights came along. After she finished dressing, Amanda left her room and walked about the palace, all alone. Knowing no one was awake, she tried to be as quiet as she could when walking by rooms, but when she passed Arthur's room, she wanted to scream and shout and make as much noise as possible. She clenched her fists, and quickened her pace. Yet, as she turned the corner, she saw Arthur and Gurshion walking down the hall in some sort of heated debate. Amanda pressed her body up against the wall and strained her ears to hear what was going.

"God forgive me for this," she whispered, and she continued to listen.

"Gurshion, you can not, will not, and shall not convince me to ask them to leave. I am the king of this nation, and whether you approve or not, they will not leave my house," said Arthur opening his bedroom door. Gurshion eagerly followed him in with an argument.

"Arthur, if you do not get rid of Amanda and Nicolarious, then I will do it myself. The girl is a distraction. She is like the devil himself trapped in a beautiful woman's body, and she's ensnaring your senses and mind. Arthur, I beg of you, for the sake of this country, get them out of your mind," pleaded Gurshion.

"She's a temptress sent to me from the devil is she? What has gotten into you man? I see nothing but innocence in her face. She has helped me more in these months than you have in a year. And her brother, Nicolarious is no more than a young boy. I don't consider either of those descriptions 'distracting'," argued Arthur. Amanda couldn't believe it. All of this, because of her and Nicolarious? Was she really a temptress sent by the devil? It seemed impossible. But, could it be true? Had she asked too much of Arthur? They had been with him for many months, and have done nothing to repay him. A sudden rush of emotions flooded Amanda's body and she ran away from the spot. Her thudding footsteps were hard by the arguing men and they peered out of the doorway.

"She's untrustworthy! She's eavesdropping on our conversation!" cried Gurshion.

"It's rather hard not to hear it, don't you think? Besides, we're only screaming about her," said Arthur, walking out after her.

"Where are you going?" asked Gurshion.

"After my temptress," said Arthur.

Amanda ran out. Out of the palace, and the city, and stopped outside the wall. She fell to her knees and raised her head to the sky.

"Answer me God. Am I really as he says I am?" she asked softly.

"No, you're not," said Arthur from behind her. Amanda dropped her head back down and sighed. Rising to her feet, Amanda turned and faced him.

"It seems like I am to your council," Amanda replied.

"Yes well you would. If you're distracting anyone, it would be the two of them," said Arthur.

"So I am a distraction after all," Amanda said to herself.

"Not even close," said Arthur.

"Pray tell then," Amanda said, "what exactly am I to you?" Arthur fell silent for a moment, and he took a few more steps towards her.

"You are," he paused, "you are a friend." There it was. Amanda turned back around and closed her eyes. She'd finally realized what had kept her here. All she wanted was him to love her, and he didn't. She was his friend. It was like he himself had stabbed her in the heart and left her there to bleed to death.

"I understand," Amanda said, and started to walk away, but she stopped and looked at him, "Arthur, you have been so good to me, but I have one final favor to ask of you."

"Anything," said Arthur.

"Can you watch over Nicolarious for me?" she asked.

"Of course, but it's not like you won't be able to," said Arthur.

"No Arthur, I won't be. I must leave here Arthur, I can't stay another day," said Amanda.

"What? Why?" asked Arthur.

"I feel trapped Arthur; I need to go away for a while. Please forgive me, but I mustn't stay here," Amanda said, walking away.

"Don't walk away from me Amanda! Explain yourself right now," he demanded chasing after her.

"Arthur, I just did," said Amanda.

"No," said Arthur, "no you didn't."

"Why can't you ever just leave things alone?" cried Amanda, "Why do you have to pry into everyone's business? Why can't you just leave me be?" Amanda turned and walked away.

"Oh so this is it, is it? After all that I've done for you, you're going to walk away and leave your brother here for me?" cried Arthur back.

"Oh, don't start with me! If you had any idea why I'm leaving you'd understand. But you don't, and you never do!" retaliated Amanda.

"I don't understand? I don't understand? You try running a country and catering to your every need!"

"Excuse me? Only twice have I asked something from you Arthur!" yelled Amanda, "I never asked you for the library or the roof over my head!"

"Do you think you could have managed better off without me then?" asked Arthur, his deep voice getting louder with every word.

"Yes!" cried Amanda. It seemed like an eternity. Those few seconds that Arthur fell silent felt like a life time. Amanda knew she and Nicolarious couldn't have survived if it weren't for Arthur, but she was so angry then, and her pride was being sliced into to tiny little pieces that she needed to say it.

"Get out," said Arthur, "not Nicolarious, just you. Get out."

"I'd be glad to."

"You're what?" asked Galahad.

"Leaving. For a little while anyway. I need to get out of here. It's like a trap for me Galahad," explained Amanda.

"You can't leave!" said Gawain.

"Yes, I can, and I intend to," said Amanda.

"But, what about Nicolarious?" asked Galahad.

"I was hoping you three would look after him. You two and Arthur. He loves you three so much," said Amanda.

"We'll look after him, but he loves you more than he could ever love us," said Gawain.

"I can't teach him all the things you can teach him. I would be lost in trying to teach things like hunting to him," replied Amanda.

"Have you told him?" asked Gawain.

"No, but I'm about to. I need to leave as soon as possible," said Amanda.

"I'll go find him," said Galahad, "I know where he is." With that, Galahad ran off to fetch Nicolarious, and Amanda and Gawain were left alone.

"Tell me the real reason you're leaving," said Gawain. Amanda gave him a befuddled look, but knew he saw right through her. Amanda sighed and took a seat on her bed.

"I feel like I'm in the dark. Galahad was going to tell me about the note that I found in Josephs necklace, but Arthur stopped him. I don't want to live somewhere that I can't be a part of," answered Amanda.

"Ah, I see," said Gawain, "Well, since Arthur isn't here now to stop me, let me tell you. The note was about you, which I think you gathered. Here, in this place you live, you are very much," he paused, "cared for. By all of us. Galahad, Bors, and I all would put our lives before yours. Nicolarious obviously cares for you." Amanda contemplated what Gawain said.

"So when the Bishop said 'it would have killed you', he was talking about the Knights?" asked Amanda.

"Yes, because we all care for you so much," answered Gawain. Amanda nodded, she understood know. But she could recall almost perfectly that the Bishop directed the statement to Arthur, yet Gawain said nothing of the sort.

"It doesn't change my decision. I'm leaving," said Amanda.

"You're what?" asked Nicolarious, who was standing in the doorway, "You're leaving me here? How could you do that after all that's happened?"

"Nicolarious, you must understand. It'll be good for the both of us," said Amanda rising and walking towards him.

"Good for the both of us?" cried Nicolarious, "Maybe good for you, but it won't be for me!"

"I'm coming back Nicolarious. I have to leave you here, don't you understand?" said Amanda.

"No, I don't understand!" cried Nicolarious, "but that's fine, because no one ever understands you. Now I see why!" Then, Nicolarious slammed the door shut, and left Amanda alone with Gawain once again. Amanda slumped down on to her bed, and put her head in her hands. Why did everyone hate her today?

So, what did you guys think? Not what you expected huh?