Title: A Woman Among Men
Author: sabor ice
Summary: Where did Vanora come from? How do she and the knights meet? How did she meet Bors and fall in love with him? This is their untold tale.
Disclaimer: I don't anything, etc, except for any orginal characters and this story.
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To All the Reviewers: Thank you; your feedback is much appreciated.
Five
The cool night breeze caressed Dagonet's rugged face. It was a sweet, almost soothing feeling towards them all after the warm sun had nestled itself behind the mountains. Slowly, as if still half asleep, Dagonet icy blue eyes opened and surveyed the surrounding area. His gaze traced the outline of each boy's body as he lay sleeping. When he reached the last one, his count fell short.
"Six?" he said to himself.
Sitting up, Dagonet poked at the dying fire until it lit up with glowing life. He peered around camp again and justified his fearful suspicions. Two of the youths were missing--one was Bors, the other was Vanora.
"Vanora? Bors?" Dagonet whispered as he stood.
The young man was almost alarmed at their disappearance, when he heard soft laughter nearby. He walked a few paces from camp, using the light of the moon to find his way. The laughter, which he knew came from Bors and Vanora, was growing louder as he came closer. Soon, the two youths came into clear view. Dagonet listened for a moment before interrupting their secret meeting.
"...Bors, I feel strange doing this," Vanora said, chuckling.
"Just do it like I showed you," came Bors' reply.
Needing not to here anymore, Dagonet rapidly approached the two, nearly startling them in the process.
"Vanora, Bors, what are you doing?" Dagonet asked.
Vanora was standing in front of an old tree stump, a bow and arrow in her hands. Bors was on the opposite side, supervising her shots.
"Dag," Vanora's sweet voice came. "I'm sorry, did we wake you?"
He walked closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you all right? What the devil are you doing out here so late?" Dagonet wondered.
Vanora smirked, but was touched by his concern. "We're fine, Dagonet. Bors and I couldn't sleep. I asked him to teach me to use a bow now. It was going to be a surprise for you all tomarrow."
He glanced toward Bors, who shrugged absentmindedly. looking back at Vanora, Dagonet was kind but firm.
"Vanora, did you not hear what those Romans said about the dangerous beings called Woads? It is safer if you both stay near the fire. It's important we stay together," Dagonet said.
Biting her lip, Vanora nodded. "I guess you're right, Dag. I'm sorry I worried you."
Dagonet saw the crushed expression on her face and sighed deeply. "All right, show me your shot."
Vanora's face lit up and she squealed quietly with delight. She positioned her feet in the dirt and drew back the string of the bow. Nocking the arrow, she aimed it toward the stump across the way.
"Now, focus on the stump. Think of it as your enemy. Go for the heart, neck, or head," Bors instructed, crouching.
This task was easy for Vanora. She hadn't met so many people in her fifteen years of life; moreover, she hadn't met many people she disliked. She was not a harsh, cold, or judegemental kind of person. When it came time to think of a target for archery practice, though, the answer was simple. She imagined the neck of the tree stump to be a silver helmet. The two branches that were left on either side served as shoulder armor. The body of the stump signified the military outfit of Rome.
"One less Roman bastard in the world," she whispered to herself.
Closing one of her light brown eyes, she pulled the bow string back to her cheek and released it, hitting the "head" of the Roman officer. Pleased with herself, Vanora lowered her bow and leaned on it.
"Nice shot, Vanora!" Dagonet was amazed.
"Bloody hell," Bors said, scratching the back of his neck.
Vanora turned to him and smiled.
"I think you're a better shot than Tristan," Bors let out a throaty chuckle.
"Better not let him hear you say that too loud, though, Bors," Vanora laughed.
She shot him another flirty glance, causing Bors to scratch the back of his neck again. She was obviously making him nervous, all though he tried not to show it.
"All right," Dagonet said. "Better get back to camp. Long day ahead tomarrow."
The rays of the mid-day sun beat down on the group. The youths were so terribly exhausted from the heat while the Romans seemed to hardly break a sweat. Mostly the boys and Vanora did not speak, but noticing how cool, calm, and collected the Romans stayed, a comment had to be made.
"Demons...straight from hell...I'm telling you," Bors gasped out.
Vanora, who now wore a pair of Galahad's spare leggings, had suddenly wished she would have kept her dress. She could have lived with her behind sticking to the saddle, as long as she could feel the deserving breeze on her slender legs.
Finally, the gray-eyed Roman raised his hand for them to stop. Vanora, temperarily blinded, raised her hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun. The youths realized they had entered some sort of village. The people were mostly peasant-folk, much like the people that lived in her and Dagonet's village back home. Without warning, the gray-eyed grasped Vanora's arm and yanked her from her horse. The boys were momentarily stunned, not fully aware of what had just happened in their heated exhaustion.
"Let me go!" Vanora spat.
The gray-eyed Roman tossed her into the arms of a couple villagers, who kept hold on her. As the boys prepared to fight to get to Vanora, they were stopped by the other Roman guards.
"What is the meaning of this!" Dagonet shouted, letting his rage show.
"In three days you will reach your assigned posts. This is the nearest village to that post. We cannot have a woman with us when we arrive, so she will have to be left here," the Roman plainly explained.
"Dagonet, don't let him do this! Don't leave me alone," Vanora sobbed.
"Let her come with us! She's no trouble!" Galahad said. "She's one of us now!"
"Let her come along?" the brown-eyed Roman cackled. "What do you think will happen if you bring a lone woman to an encampment of men?"
He grabbed Vanora by the wrist and pulled her closer to him. Then, he placed a knife at her throat. The others, mad with rage, were ready to act at an given moment. The Roman guards, however, were also armed to kill.
"Wait," Vanora said, chocking back her tears. "He's right I wouldn't be safe there. Don't get all bloodied up for me. I don't want my last images of you all to be red."
Swallowing hard, deep down Dagonet knew the Roman was also right. If Vanora journeyed with them to their post, who knows what would happen to herb while they were in training, later battles.
The gray-eyed Roman released the shaking girl and nudged her forward. Mounting his steed, he said, "Say your good-byes. I'll allow you that much."
Each boy held a frown upon his face as they dismounted and stepped closer to the young woman who had become like a sister to them. Most of them had nothing to say, or could say nothing as they hugged her farewell. The last two boys were Dagonet and Bors, respectively.
"I'm sorry, Vanora," Dagonet hung his head in shame. "I never meant for us to part this way."
"Hey, everything will be ok," she said embracing him tenderly. "Just don't forget about me, all right?"
Vanora quickly kissed the young man she looked up to as her big brother on the cheek. Then, she turned to Bors, who was just in bad of shape as Dagonet. He couldn't bring himself to look up at her.
"Be brave out there, you hear me?" Vanora said.
"We'll see each other again," Bors replied, raising his head to see her pretty face one last time.
"Don't you forget me either, ok?" she said, biting her lip.
Bors couldn't answer her with words, but she knew how he felt. She felt the same way, too.
"Let's go," the gray-eyed guard said coldly. "Time to go."
Taking one last look at Vanora, the knights turned and rode on after the Romans. Vanora stood there for the longest time, even after her brothers' figures were no more than distant shadows left in the wind.
End, 'Five.'
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