Sorry for taking so long, I've had writer's block. To all those who reviewed, thanks a lot. - Tomb Raider X
Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur, only Tiriel, Tári, Nessa and Merenwen.
Chapter Three
Investigation, Woads and Knights
5 years later…
The wet masts creaked and the deck swayed, as Tiriel stood at the bow of the ship. She gazed into the thick mist, as the hazy shape of land appeared.
"Land ho!"
The call echoed throughout the ship. Minutes later, Merenwen appeared next to Tiriel, looking very pale.
"Have we finally arrived?" Merenwen asked weakly.
"Yes," Tiriel said, a slight smile on her lips.
"Finally. I can't wait to get off this ship; it has been a nightmare," Merenwen said. She looked at Tiriel.
Tiriel heard Tári and Nessa walk up next to them. She glanced at them. They looked just as pale as Merenwen. She glanced behind, before returning her gaze to the land beyond.
"Just think, when we complete this mission; we will be free, and we can all go home," Nessa said, wistfully.
Tiriel stiffened.
"Ten years we have served the Roman Empire, and now, it's almost over," Tári remarked.
"I'm going to get ready to disembark," Tiriel muttered, walking off. The three girls watched her go, confused.
"I don't get it. She should be pleased that she's finally going to discharged, and that she can go home and see her family," Merenwen said, puzzled.
"Maybe there's something she's not telling us," Nessa commented.
"Maybe. We can just add it to the list of things we don't know about her," Tári said. "Let's see. We don't know where she comes from, we don't know her background; we don't know why she's so mysterious, we don't know if she has or had a lover, or how many men she's bedded…"
"We get the picture, Tári," Nessa said, smirking. "Thank you for laying it all out for us."
The three girls laughed, as Tiriel came up the stairway. She gave them a questioning look. "Is there something funny? Care to let me in on the joke?"
The three girls looked at each other, unsure.
"Although, from the looks on your faces, I don't think I want to know," Tiriel said cheekily.
Just as Nessa was about to reply, the ship's captain came over to them. "We have docked, Lady Tiriel. The sailors will bring your horses and supplies off the ship."
Tiriel glanced at the girls. Tári looked shocked, Merenwen was biting her lip, and Nessa looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh.
"Thank you, Captain Marceau, for informing us. We will disembark shortly," Tiriel said politely.
The captain nodded and left. Tiriel turned to the three girls and rolled her eyes. "At ease, girls."
Immediately the three girls dissolved into laughter, and Tiriel couldn't help but chuckle slightly. When the girls were finally able to say something, all Tári could say was: "I can't believe he called you 'Lady.' That's the best thing that's happened since you scared the hell out of that Roman merchant, five years ago."
Tiriel smiled. "Come on, let's disembark before the captain comes back."
The three girls let a collective groan; and collected their belongings. They trudged down the gangplank quickly, eager to get back on land. Some sailors brought their horses over to them; along with some supplies.
Tiriel and the girls mounted their horses, heading towards the small village. They rode through quickly, ignoring the stares of distrust from the villagers, only stopping once to fill up their water-skins from a well. They rode up the dirt road, and stopped on a hill, surveying the land before them.
"Britain!" Tári said, turning to Tiriel. "Ever been here?"
Tiriel shook her head.
"It's very green; it must rain here a lot," Nessa commented.
"Our mission is to scout halfway to the Wall of Hadrian for three weeks; then meet up with the Bishop and travel to Hadrian's Wall, where you will receive your discharge papers," Tiriel said, staring ahead.
"That will be wonderful, to be free," Meren said excitedly.
Tári noticed that Tiriel stiffened when Meren mentioned freedom. She found it strange and decided that she would approach Tiriel about it privately, whenever they both were alone.
"Let's get this mission over with, then," Tári said, looking at Tiriel, who nodded slightly.
The four kicked their horses and rode away across the green land.
Tári added some sticks to the warm fire and blew on it; then sat on her bedroll while Nessa pulled out some food for the group. Merenwen was brushing her horse down and talking to it, and Tiriel was nowhere to be seen.
They had been scouting for 2½ weeks, and had only been attacked once by some strange people covered in blue paint. Tiriel had told them that they were called Woads, because of the plant that they used to make their blue war paint.
Nessa threw a piece of bread and meat at Tári, who just managed to catch it. Merenwen ambled over and sat next to Nessa, helping herself to some food. Nessa and Merenwen sat and chatted amongst themselves; Tári sat eating her food in silence, deep in thought.
Tiriel had become more distant and silent during the 2½ weeks they had been scouting, and didn't even smile when Nessa told a funny joke occasionally. She had also kept watch every night since they had arrived in Britain.
"Tiriel! There you are," Nessa exclaimed, as Tiriel walked into the light of the fire. "Have some food, you haven't eaten all day."
Tiriel smiled slightly and took the bread and meat from Nessa's outstretched hand. "You three must get a good sleep tonight, I will keep watch for any Woads."
"But you been keeping watch every night since we arrived in Britain," Merenwen said. "Don't you think you could use some rest, and let one of us keep watch?"
Tiriel's eyes flashed for a moment; then she looked at Merenwen calmly. "I have had sufficient rest, Meren. I will stand guard tonight." Tiriel stood up and walked away.
Tári climbed to her feet and followed Tiriel, after shooting a glance at Nessa and Meren to remain near the fire. She found Tiriel gazing intently into the approaching darkness, eating another apple with her dagger.
"Tiriel," Tári began, "May I speak with you?"
Tiriel's head barely moved to acknowledge Tári or allow her to speak. She continued eating her apple, and staring into the fading light.
"Every time any of us have mentioned our approaching freedom, I have noticed you stiffen and your face becomes more blank," Tári said. "Why do you cringe when we discuss freedom? You should be happy that you will soon be free."
Tiriel remained stoic, staring straight ahead.
"Damn it, Tiriel," Tári said, frustrated. "You cannot just stand there, and not answer me. I think Nessa, Meren and I deserve an explanation. We have not asked you about yourself for the five years we have served with you, and…"
Tiriel's hand suddenly shot out and grabbed the front of Tári's shirt. Tári found herself against a tree with Tiriel's dagger at her throat. She swallowed, and looked at Tiriel. Tiriel's face was completely calm, but her eyes displayed her wrath.
"You have exceeded your bounds, Tári," Tiriel said, her voice slightly laced with emotion. "You forget, I am not your friend, I am your commander. Your job is to fight with me for five years, against Rome's enemies. Do not question me about things that are none of your concern again, for I do not owe you anything."
Tiriel removed the dagger from Tári's throat, and stepped back a few feet. Tári leant on her knees, taking deep breaths.
"Go back to the camp and get some rest," Tiriel said quietly. Tári backed away from Tiriel; then turned and walked back to the camp.
Tiriel watched Tári go; then walked away a couple feet and settled down to keep watch. She pulled her cloak around her to keep out the biting wind that blew fiercely. She held her head in her hands, and closed her eyes to calm herself.
"I should not have lost control and lashed out," Tiriel thought to herself. She opened her eyes and glanced at the fire, where the three girls were already asleep. She smiled slightly, remembering their argument to keep watch.
A slight breeze lifted her hair around, and she lifted her head up slowly. She reached her hand down to her foot, as if to scratch it, and slipped a dagger out of her boot. She took a deep breath and faked a cough.
In a flash, Tiriel turned and threw her dagger. It embedded itself in a tree next to an old man in furs, holding a long walking stick. He stepped out into the light, allowing Tiriel to look him over.
He was slightly taller than Tiriel, and his grey hair was matted and greasy. His face was smeared with blue paint, and his eyes were a cloudy blue. Tiriel stiffened, as he walked towards her.
"Do not think that I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to kill you, old Woad," Tiriel said slowly. "Say what you have come here to say; then leave."
"I am called Merlin," the old man said. "I command the Woads."
"What do you want with me? Shouldn't you be off planning an attack against Rome?"
"Why are you here?" Merlin asked.
"I am the one that asks questions, not you. You are at my mercy, not I at yours," Tiriel snarled.
"Perhaps," Merlin replied. "But you are skilled in the art of weapons, you could have killed me with your dagger, yet you chose not to."
Tiriel remained silent, yet kept alert.
"Therefore, I believe that you are willing to answer my questions, and maybe ask a few yourself," Merlin said.
"Some questions cannot and will not be answered," Tiriel replied. "You are still my enemy."
"How could I forget?" Merlin said, and sat on a rock. He studied Tiriel closely, his gaze holding Tiriel's. Tiriel stared directly back, challenging him to break the stare down first.
"You hide many things," Merlin said. "You are not quick to trust people, they must earn it. You enjoy the thrill of battle; you relish fighting an enemy. Above all, you hate Rome. For what reason, I know not."
"You are observant," Tiriel said.
"Why do you not confide in your solider, Tári? She's only trying to be helpful," Merlin remarked. Tiriel's eyes flashed.
"You are treading on dangerous ground, old man," Tiriel said.
"It appears I am," Merlin said, and got to his feet. "This exchange was intriguing. I have one last thing to say: the Roman Bishop is not to be trusted."
He turned and disappeared into the woods. Tiriel let out the breath she was holding in. She retrieved her dagger and sheathed it; then returned and sat on the rock. She spared a glance at the three forms sleeping peacefully by the dying fire; then returned her gaze to the sky.
The next morning, Nessa was finishing up some bread, while Merenwen and Tári rolled up their blankets, when they heard a horn-blast.
"What do you suppose…" Nessa began, but was cut off, as Tiriel emerged through the trees.
"Bishop Germanus; he calls for us," Tiriel said, as she grasped the reins of her horse. "Let's ride."
Tári, Nessa and Merenwen grabbed their things, and ran to their horses. Tiriel waited for them a few metres away, having already started riding. The three mounted their chestnut horses, and rode after Tiriel.
Tiriel rode over the plain, her horse flying across the grass. Tári, Nessa and Merenwen rode behind, just managing to keep up.
The group reached a low hill, and surveyed the scene below them. Native Britons, or Woads, had ambushed the Bishop and his escort. There was between fifty and sixty Woads. Along with the escort, there were seven men also fighting the Woads. They all wore different style armour; no two were the same. One of the men wore a deep red cloak.
"Ah. Must be the Roman commander the Bishop told me about. Artorius Castus, and his…Sarmatian knights," Tiriel thought, and resisted the urge to swallow. Tári, Nessa and Merenwen looked slightly confused, when they saw the men on horseback. They looked at Tiriel.
"You three go and protect the Bishop, I will assist the men," Tiriel said.
Tári nodded, and the three girls rode down to the Bishop.
Bishop Germanus looked up as Tári, Nessa and Merenwen rode up, swords drawn. "You got here just in time, Tiriel has excellent timing. Where is she, by the way?" the Bishop said, looking around.
Nessa pointed up to the small hill, where Bishop Germanus could see a figure on horseback.
Tiriel gave a slight, feral smirk as she saw Nessa point her out to the Bishop. She pulled out her bow, and kicked the sides of her horse. The horse galloped across the ground to the battle.
As she arrived at the battle edge, she saw a Woad, with his sword high above his head, coming up behind a young, curly haired knight, who was fighting another Woad. She pulled out an arrow and aimed. As she rode past, she shot, and the arrow embedded itself in the Woad's throat.
The young knight had finished off the Woad he had been fighting, and turned just in time to see a Woad fall to the ground behind him, an arrow through his throat. He shook his head, and continued fighting.
Tári stabbed a Woad in the chest, as he tried to pull her off her horse. She steered her horse in front of the Bishop's horse. Nessa and Merenwen also kept close to the Bishop, killing Woads that came near them.
Tiriel looked up and saw a Woad climbing into the carriage. Knowing that the Bishop was trying to fool the Woads into thinking that he was in the carriage, she rode up and threw her axe. It hit the Woad between the shoulder blades, and he fell to the ground. She lent down and retrieved her axe.
The battle started to wind down. Tiriel rode over to Tári, Nessa and Merenwen. They smiled brightly when Tiriel rode up.
"If you require anything, Bishop, I will be on the hill watching for danger," Tiriel said; then rode off.
Tári watched her go; then turned in time to see one of the knights, a stocky and muscular, bald man with knuckle-blades; roar and waggle his tongue at the retreating Woads. She watched him walk up to the carriage and look in; another knight with long blond hair followed and did the same.
The Bishop's assistant, who was hiding under the carriage, began to mumble incoherent chants in Latin.
The blond knight turned from the carriage, and angrily stuck his two knives in the ground. He noticed the assistant under the carriage. "Save your prayers, boy. Your God doesn't live here," he said, breathing heavily.
Nessa looked around, and saw a Woad charge at the tall man in the red cloak. The man calmly pointed his sword at the Woad's neck. The Woad dropped his axe and slowly knelt on the ground.
"Why did Merlin send you south of the wall?" the tall man asked, angrily.
The Woad said something that Nessa could not understand; she guessed it was his native language.
"Pick it up," the tall man commanded.
The Woad did nothing.
"Pick it up," the tall man repeated, slowly.
The Woad slowly picked up his axe. The tall man watched the foggy forest; then left the Woad alive. The Woad ran into the forest.
The tall man walked over to the stocky, bald man. "Bors?"
The man, Bors, inclined his head toward the carriage. "What a bloody mess."
"That's not the bishop," the tall man said.
The assistant started to fret again. "God help us. What are they?"
"Blue demons who eat Christians alive," Bors replied. "You're not a Christian, are you?"
The Bishop's assistant put his hands together and whimpered.
Bors started imitating him. "Does this really work?" He started mumbling. "Nothing…maybe, I'm not doing it right."
Motioning to Tári, Nessa and Merenwen to remain slightly behind him, the Bishop rode towards the tall man. "Arthur! Arthur Castus! Your father's image, I haven't seen you since childhood," he said, taken aback.
"Bishop Germanus. Welcome to Britain. I see your military skills are still of use to you," Arthur replied, motioning to the body in the carriage. "Your device worked."
Ancient tricks, for an ancient dog," the Bishop replied, laughing. He looked around. "And these are the brave Sarmatian knights we have heard so much of in Rome."
He dismounted. "I thought the Woads control the north of Hadrian's Wall."
"They do, but they occasionally venture south. Rome's anticipated withdrawal from Britain has only increased their daring," Arthur replied.
"Woads?" the assistant questioned.
"British rebels, who hate Rome," the blond knight said.
"Men who want their country back," the young, curly haired knight said obnoxiously.
"Who leads them?" the Bishop asked.
"He's called Merlin," a black-haired knight with two swords said. "A dark magician, some say."
Arthur turned to a dark, mysterious knight. "Tristan, ride ahead and make sure the road is clear."
Tristan nodded and left.
"May I enquire something?" Arthur asked.
The Bishop nodded.
"Who are these young women with you?" Arthur asked.
"Of course, I forgot. Let me introduce you." He motioned to the three young women.
Arthur waved his knights over. They came and stood next to him.
"This is Tári, Nessa and Merenwen. They are part of a company that does important and difficult tasks for the Roman Empire."
"How many are in this…company?" the black-haired knight asked.
"Four," the Bishop replied.
"Where is the fourth person?" the blond knight asked.
"The fourth person, and the leader of this company, is on the hill. She assisted in the battle, though I think, that you did not see her. I would like you, Arthur, to meet her. But I must let you know, she does not speak much; for what reason, no one knows why. Do not expect her to talk to you immediately," the Bishop said, motioning to a Roman soldier.
A Roman soldier rode up with a horn, and blew two blasts on it.
The horse on the hill began to ride towards them. The knights moved around anxiously. Nessa and Merenwen smiled at each other; then glanced back at the Bishop.
"…Please do not worry, Bishop. We will protect you," Arthur said.
"I have no doubt, commander," the Bishop replied, smiling. "No doubt." He looked up. "Ah."
"Commander Artorius Castus; might I have the privilege to introduce to you…Tiriel…of Sarmatia."
There it is! Please R/R!! Fourth chapter will be up soon, hopefully - TombRaider X
