Disclaimer: Same as before….
Hadrian's Wall was approximately 20' in height overall. Apparently, according to three different medical sites on the internet, you can survive falls from even greater heights if you have something to break your fall…..Devon's leap of faith to do what Merlin wants is shorter (20') and is also broken, by people! LOL Fairly soft and pliable right!
LaurelinRe: Mordred's a Saxon; I think that's enough of a reason! LOL Murdering gits the lot of them! Read on and see….I know I've done it before, but have faith! LOL Glad school's done, my Beth has another 3 weeks yet and is getting really fed up as her teacher is leaving and can't be bothered with them now.
Little Raven-Hawk: Read on and see – would I do that to you? well, okay I have I know….but maybe this time's different! LOL I know…there will be developments with Calliann and Tristan in this chapter!
JaclynK: Is it just the way I've written it or is there something more specific that you don't follow? I could try and explain it if you want, either in the story (if it's a character development thing) or in a review reply such as this if it's just a general observation…. Anyway, don't cry…I'm not that cruel to our Dag:O)
Lucillaq: Don't worry about reviewing, just glad you're reading – I should be sorry for not updating but writer's block is a bitch! Hope you like this chapter anyway!
Marblez: Well, the offer's there whenever – hopefully you won't need it, but I'm always around. Hope you like this chapter:O)
JediPirateElfyDude: Yeah, well Calli hits pay dirt this chapter! Yeah, read on and you will see…I am not too horrible! LOL
June BirdieRead this chapter and send me your description and I am sure I can accommodate you….the (almost) end of this one shows why! LOL No problem, as your beta letting your have Lancelot is the least I can do:O)
Evenstar-mor2004: Hopefully their deaths do them justice – though the ones I'm doing in a later chapter of 'Erik and the Gentlemen' are probably a lot more gruesome! LOL
Twilight Falcon: Sorry for the delay, but had crippling writer's block on this and 'Wild Child' – honestly it's been awful, people have been e-mailing me and begging for an update and my mind is blank(er) than usual! Anyway, hope you like this chapter and there will be more Aida, general fluff and family stuff soon…. :O)
lilstrummrgrl527: Read on and see – but would I be that cruel as to kill her off? Okay, don't answer that! But not to our Dag! Glad you liked the bit with Vanora and Bors, I love writing them as they're so easy…. There is more Calli in this chapter and sorry for the delay but I had a bad bout of writer's block.
Aelia O'Hession: I know – I am SO sorry and such a cliffie and for so long – but no cliffie this time (at least I didn't think so) and hopefully you'll like it too! Hope you got a nice tan, and how do the walls look? I thought they did him a lot of justice actually….still, fave BTW:O)
Sorceress Misha: I know and then bloody writer's block gets me! Aida will be back next chapter, hopefully.
SpectralLady: That's not a good stare is it? Well, it worked – read on and there is muchly happiness…. BTW, I hope to have more Aida in the next chapter…
Calliann: If I've got you wrong in this chapter I am so sorry, don't hate me! But I figured to begin with he would be a bit intimidating! Glad I got your character down in the last chapter though! Me likewise with the bloody blushing and I'm sodding 39, you'd think you'd outgrow it wouldn't you! As to Devon…would I? Well, okay I would…but you'll see. There are further developments between Calli and Tris, with 'the' scene in the next chapter – they get….well, I'm not telling but it should be good. Thanks for sending Dag…he's had a good chip the writer's block and whilst it's not broken, he has agreed to stick around until it does! LOL Aida should be back next chappie too!
WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE AND VIOLENCE, SO READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.
'—' signifies thoughts.
"—" signifies speech.
Anyway…chapter Eighteen!
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Heart & Soul
Chapter Eighteen – Survival
Arthur rushed to the battlements, pursued by the other knights. Devon landed on Mordred knocking him from the horse, taking his head immediately – she then flew to Isoldé, trying to ignore the fact that the air was having trouble re-entering her lungs and her side hurt, and cut her head from her body quickly.
She looked up at them "Umm….you know a little help down here would be appreciated! But don't jump…it's further than it looks and you'll not have any corpses to break the fall like I did!"
She readied herself for battle as the knights flew down the battlement steps to her side and she turned to face the oncoming Saxons. Tristan reluctantly stayed on the battlements with Calliann, both using their bows to great effect. The other villagers and fort dwellers ran out with whatever weapon they could find.
The battle was over quickly as the Saxons did not fight on when they realised that their leaders were both dead, that even their black magic had not stopped the great King Arthur and his knights.
However, Devon was not willing to let things rest like that "Come on…we should finish them!" She and some of the others ran and killed whatever Saxons they could find….soon the fields and woods around the fort were littered with the dead of the Saxon army.
Devon staggered slightly and then fell to the ground "DAGONET! DAG! COME QUICK,OVER HERE!" Lancelot called, himself not too steady on his feet.
Dag flew to her side as she tried to get up, Merlin appeared as if from nowhere. "You have done well child….I could not ask for more."
She sat down again "But you will…what is it?" she sighed, smiling in resignation at the Shaman.
"We must burn their bodies and scatter their ashes; I wish to ensure they do not return in any guise."
"Were they that dangerous?" But she rose and made the other knights help her drag the bodies into a small pyre away from the others and set fire to them.
"Aye…." Merlin put a hand on her shoulder "You are a good woman Devon."
"Nay old friend….I am but me, but I have a good man beside me." She leant back as Dagonet came up behind her and pulled her to the ground to sit for a moment.
"Are you hurt? Are you alright?" he asked worriedly "We ought to get you back, I have no doubt your brother is beside himself. I do not think for one moment he will be happy with what you did…..we almost thought he would follow you – I and Lance did, if the others had not held us back…."
"I did right Dag, I had to ensure that Arthur lived."
"Aye….but even so, a little warning you were going to jump would have been appreciated!" he smiled ruefully.
"Nay, my husband you would only have stopped me…" she suddenly found herself being crushed against him and kissed so deeply she thought he was reaching her very soul.
When he eventually broke the embrace she grinned a little dazedly at him "not that I am complaining but what brought that on?"
"You called me husband…."
"But that is what you are?" she smiled at him with such love in her face that he just had to kiss her again. She hissed as pulled her tightly to him.
"Are you hurt?" he began to check her over, lifting her tunic and trying to see through her undershirt.
"Dagonet if you wish to undress me, shouldn't we go to our room?" she smiled, and then chuckled as he blushed slightly. "I have a few bruised ribs, that is all my husband." She said the word with emphasis and watched his eyes glitter.
He stood and swept her into his arms "I can walk….honestly I am not so bruised that I cannot make it to the fort unaided!" she protested.
"But mayhap I would like to carry my wife!" he grinned at her, merely relieved that she was still alive and his; she wrapped her arms round his neck and buried her head in his shoulder.
As they went to walk away he turned to Merlin "we will spread their ashes now, but after that I do not wish you to bother my Devon." He glared.
The Shaman nodded "I would not have troubled her now Dagonet if it had not been necessary. I knew she would not flinch from what was needed of her…." He sighed "but she must do it."
The large knight stopped and, taking a deep breath, turned "Why?"
"She is good and it will contain the evil until the ashes are dispersed on the wind." Devon was already attempting to get down.
"This can wait Dag….I promise when we are done here you can carry me all round the fort if you wish…" she smiled.
"I'll hold you to that!" he smiled, his ire fading as quickly as it had risen; his face softened as he regarded the woman who had stolen his soul as well as his heart.
They settled down to wait for the bodies to stop burning.
0-0-0-0-0
Back on the battlements Tristan regarded the young woman next to him… She was very pretty; her hair was auburn with darker lights in it, giving it a deeply glossy look. She had dark green eyes but he could see they went grey when she was angry or aroused.
He kept his face passive, but had an amused look in his eye as he remembered he knew the latter for certain as he had seen her eyes change colour as she deepened that kiss….
Calliann blushed at his intense scrutiny. "I am sorry I kissed you…I…um…Merlin said to stop her taking your soul and…I had to distract you…it was either that or hit you…." she rolled her eyes at herself – 'Oh so very adult Calli, say you were going to hit him or kiss him…'
"Hmmm…..I'm glad it was the former, if the latter I would've had to kill you. But Ithink I should see if there was a spell….." he leant forward and brushed his lips against hers.
"Still not sure….." she saw a smile flash across his face, but there was genuine warmth in his eyes as he leant in again. This time the kiss deepened and they found themselves quite breathless when they broke apart.
Tristan studied her face, he flashed a smile again.
"What is it?" Calliann looked a little bemused.
"Your eyes definitely change colour when…." He stopped.
"I know, and I wasn't angry…." Her face flamed and he stroked her cheek
"I think it's……." Tristan could not, under any circumstances, bring himself to say 'cute' or 'adorable' so he settled for a word he could just about mumble "nice…"
Calliann blushing harder, touched her lips "You….umm…certainly know how to kiss, scout."
"I am actually not one for being very forward like that, unlike my brother" he gestured to Lancelot who was looking on in huge amusement; until Tristan glared at him where upon he ambled away muttering about 'getting details later, brother!'
"but I have noticed you for some long time now." This time he smiled a little longer, possibly a whole minute "though every time I tried to talk to you you rushed away."
"You're very formidable….you have a very fearsome reputation as a killer…."
"So you thought that every time I said 'hello' I was really thinking about how to kill you?" he asked with a smirk.
"Well, no – but….." Calliann regarded him "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"What?" Tristan gave her his best innocent look, something he had learnt from Lancelot.
"Making me blush and getting me tongue-tied." As the last two words left her mouth she closed her eyes, maybe she would just stop talking. You know being silent had its advantages, not least she could ensure she did not open her mouth and insert her foot into it.
"Tongue-tied? I could manage that…" and he kissed her deeply again, this time she felt it all the way down to her boots.
"You should carry a warning with a killer kiss like that…" she smiled as she helped him walk away.
Bors was almost on his knees laughing at them "What's amusing you?" Tristan asked suddenly testy.
"I just had this picture of you rushing up and kissing all the enemies to death; though sometimes Tris your breath could probably do that on its own when you haven't cleaned your teeth for a few days!" he fell to knees laughing again until tears ran from his eyes.
Tristan was about to retort, just something about ensuring 11 children would be his lot if he didn't stop now, when Devon broke in…
"BROTHER! REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT FIT FOR DOING TOO MUCH EXERCISING!" She called.
Tristan glared as Lancelot, who had joined her, Dag and Merlin, burst into hysterical laughter. Devon smirked as he swore at her in sign language, but then told her he loved her…..before Calliann helped him walk away.
Merlin watched them "She is a good girl."
"I like her, she's become a good friend to me." Devon smiled "He could do no better for a partner…even a wife." She glanced back at Dagonet with a smile as she leaned against him.
"What about me? If you're playing match maker sister – maybe you could find someone for your other brother?" Lancelot pleaded with his best puppy dog look.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit with them, kissing his cheek "I thought you couldn't possibly tie yourself to one woman Lance…..'so many women, so little time'!" she smirked at him.
Suddenly he looked sad "Aye but I nearly died and I realise there's more to life than bedding wenches and getting drunk."
"Awww my brother's all growed up….and he's only 32!" Devon tried to jest him out of his depression.
It didn't work, he leant his head on her shoulder "I want to love someone Dev….I want sons and daughters and someone that would care if I died…"
"I'd care Lance, I'd care a lot. But I know what you mean; I wouldn't want to imagine my life with out my Dagonet now…." She stroked his cheek, but felt Dag kiss her hair.
Lancelot stood and began to amble back to the fort "Just have a look round alright." He stopped and looked at Dag with a grin "You're a lucky bastard….."
"I know…." Dag grinned back.
"You're also lucky I only love her like a sister…."
"You're also lucky I don't have my axe…." Was the amiable reply, though Dag's arms tightened round her waist possessively.
"You're both lucky I'm not taking this seriously; or there would be much cracking of heads, as I love him as a husband and him as a brother - and never the twain shall meet!" Devon broke in with a smile "At least Tristan's not giving me all this trouble….."
"Not until you have to go sort him out after he exhausts hiimself exercising!" Lancelot laughed.
"Calli would not be so stupid, although I'm sure that as soon as he's fit enough – they will be exercising muchly!" Devon smirked.
The fire had burnt down, so they dispersed the ash. Merlin insisted they stand down wind so they did not inhale it….but eventually it was done.
Lucan ran over "Mother, mother! I thought you injured!"
"Nay Lucan…..I am alright, and ready to tell you a story if you want?" Devon caught him and hugged him tightly, before Dagonet swung him onto his back and walked over to the Shaman "We expect some peace now old man….I wish to have my wife for myself and our son…..at least for a while."
Merlin nodded 'and more than that…' he thought with a knowing smile. The leap she had made would have done no harm, fate would not allow it.
With his arm around Devon's shoulders, the three made their way back to the fort.
They deserved to be happy, Merlin thought, she had done much for them this day. More, he knew, than she would ever appreciate.
AN: Sorry it took so long, but was it worth the wait? Hope so!