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Chapter 3

"Sit here" Dagonet said motioning to the ground.

I sat down and Dagonet inspected the wound. I could tell from his face that it was bad so I restrained myself from looking. Galahad had gotten some water and was pouring it on trying to clean it.

I was feeling a bit nauseous and had to lean back against a tree. I looked up and saw Tristan sitting a few meters away on a log just staring at me.

"Thanks." I said to him.

"Why did you fight him?" Tristan asked still holding my gaze.

"I could have won." I said defensively.

"There was no way you could have won; he is twice your size and age." Tristan said angrily

"Tristan she …"Noah said stepping in.

"I thought you were her friend" Tristan said cutting him off. "How could you let her fight?!"

"She's a good fighter!" Noah said protectively

"That's enough." Arthur said beating me to it.

"I'm going to scout ahead." Tristan said as he turned and walked to his horse.

I was getting tired and rested my eyes when I opened them again it was late afternoon and my cut was tightly bandaged. I looked around and saw Lancelot Noah and Gawain throwing knives at a tree. Tristan or Hernam weren't back yet and Dagonet, Bors and Arthur were talking in a group near the horses. I caught Arthur's eye and he started to walk over to me.

"Your awake." he said looking down at me.

I shifted my weight and Arthur gave me his hand so I could stand up.

"Thanks." I said

"Has Hernam always been like this?" Arthur questioned.

I shook my head. "Not really, his son was killed in a battle about 3 years ago and he became really aggressive after it, I think he blames me and Noah for his death. That's why he's so hard on us."

"That's why he fought you?"

"Maybe, he has a motto 'Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win'"

"Why don't you stand up to him?"

"I did once." I said

"And?"

I turned around and lifted up my shirt at the back to show him a long scar that nearly reached all the way across my back. I turned back around to see Arthur looking concerned.

"I won't let him hurt you, I promise." he said putting his hand gently on my shoulder.

I just smiled at him I believed him 110 but I didn't want him thinking I couldn't look after myself.

Arthur just shook his head again I think he hated Hernam even more now. Noah walked over to me just as Arthur left.

"You feeling better?" he asked me.

I nodded "how long was I asleep for?" I asked brushing some dirt of my clothes.

"Not long, only about an hour."

"Is Tristan back yet?" I asked a little worried.

Noah just shook his head "He'll be fine"

"Thanks for sticking up for me before." I said a little awkwardly.

"Don't mention it" he replied, we both stood there for about 10 seconds not knowing what to do. "If you're waiting for a hug you might want to pack a lunch." Noah said laughing.

I realized our intimate moment was over and brushed past him to see the knights making a clearing.

"I'll start a fire" Dagonet said as he started collecting pieces of wood.

"I'll supervise" Lancelot said sitting down. Galahad and I laughed and moved over to where he had sat down.

"Hard work never killed anybody" Arthur said walking over to help Dagonet.

"But why take a chance' I said. Sitting next to Galahad

Arthur just shook his head as the knights laughed.

Bors and Tristan returned with some more rabbits. I was getting exceedingly tired and Noah had to throw a rock at me to get my attention he got an angry look from Tristan after he did this.

"Have some food" Bors said passing me a plate. I took it graciously and started to eat the cooked rabbit.

The knights were talking to each other so I laid down in front of the fire for warmth and slowly drifted of to sleep I woke up coughing and looked around me it was probably the middle of the night and everybody had gone to sleep, I was laying to close to the fire and smoke was now blowing in my face.

I crawled away from the fire to Galahad, who was sleeping against a tree a few meters away, and collapsed next to him for warmth putting my head on his shoulder he put his arm around me pulling me closer I wasn't even sure if he was awake. I fell asleep at once and had a fantastic dream which was interrupted by a hard kick to my ribs I slowly opened my eyes and saw it was still dark and would probably be about 1 hour to sunrise; the fire had grown smaller but was still burning and light was dancing of the other knights faces. I looked up to see Hernam standing over me.

"What is it?" I asked lazily as I rolled over to go back to sleep.

"Get up" he said as he kicked me again harder this time making me wince in pain. "Go and collect some herbs.

"Are you mental? Cant I get some in the morning?" I sat up as I realized what I said and more importantly who I said it to. Hernam pulled out his sword and had it pointed at my throat.

"Get up now!" Hernam shouted making the other knights stir and slowly open their eyes to see who was shouting.

Hernam had enough sense to put his sword away and take a step back but he kept yelling "I've told you before your to weak Jess, why do you keep proving me right time and time again!?"

By this time all the knights were awake and standing I got the impression they didn't really trust Hernam, I didn't blame them either.

I looked over at Arthur who had gotten up and walked a few steps closer he hadn't forgotten his promise and neither had I, but I didn't want him thinking he had to look out for me; I could easily take care of myself.

"Cant I get them in the morning?" I said to Hernam a little weaker than I would have liked to.

I regretted saying it though because he grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet.

"Jess you don't seem to realize people can die if you are too weak!" he shouted at me tightening his grip on my arm. "Your father died because you were too weak to save him!"

I froze, I even forgot about the blinding pain in my arm as Hernam tightened his grip again if that was possible. I looked over at Tristan who had been coming over to me and Hernam quickly probably to pull him of me, but had stopped as the news reached his ears. He looked a little confused. And was just staring at me asking silently if it was true. I think he could tell from the look on my face it was, and as soon as Hernam loosened his grip on my arm I quickly walked past the knights avoiding everyone's eyes and collapsed on the ground as soon as I had gotten out of view from them. Silent tears started to run down my face, I was angry at Hernam for telling Tristan like that but I was even angrier at myself for lying to him and not telling him the truth earlier.

I sat up after hearing faint shouting coming from the campsite it seemed I hadn't gone as far as I thought, I walked close enough to hear the voices but I was hidden by the trees.

Tristan was in the same spot as he had been before but was now sitting staring at what was left of the once roaring fire. The other knights had moved a little closer to Tristan and Hernam was gone completely. Noah was standing up looking at Tristan.

"I thought he drowned." Tristan said breaking the silence.

"He was killed by Saxons in a raid."

"Why didn't Jess just say that then?" Tristan asked there was a bit of anger in his voice now.

"I don't know, scared what you might say I guess." Noah said not taking his eyes of Tristan who was still looking into the fire.

"Hernam said it was her fault?" Tristan asked finally looking up.

Noah shook his head "She was only 10, Saxons started to raid the village. Everyone ran and one of the elders picked up Jess and me and started to take us to safety Jess saw your father in trouble he had been knocked to the ground and a Saxon was about to finish him of. Jess struggled free she ran back to help him just as the Saxon brought his sword down Jess jumped in front of him and put her sword up in defense. She was only 10 though, and it was the biggest Saxon I had ever seen, Jess got knocked down and the Saxon chucked her out of the way she was knocked unconscious and when she woke up." Noah finished there and looked down; he didn't really have to say anything more.

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