The sounds of someone moving outside the wagon roused Iraina from her slumber. As consciousness slowly came back to her, she sleepily realized that Guinevere was no longer in the wagon. She dimly wondered where the other woad was, but her thoughts were interrupted when gruff hands reached through the deerskin flap and grabbed at her. Iraina gave a startles cry as she as roughly pulled out of the wagon. Before she could retaliate, her hands were bound, and a knife was stuck under her chin.
When she felt the cold metal slide across her skin, Iraina immediately stilled her movements. Her captor harshly grabbed her shoulders and spun her around, keeping the knife at her throat. Iraina's eyes narrowed as she was Maruis step out in front of her. As her initial panic began to subside somewhat, it gave gave way to fear and anger. This man had already had her tortured, and almost killed, and now he wanted more. At that thought, Iraina was forced to suppress a shudder. She was snapped back to the present when Marius spoke.
"Not so fearsome now, are you?" he sneered. "And now that we have you, and soon the boy, the knights will surrender so that you won't be harmed." His eyes gleamed with a strange light. "Not that that will do any good for you."
The woad's mind went into overdrive at his words. This crazy roman man wanted to take over the caravan, and then he wanted to... She stopped, not even wanting to think about what he was going to do to her.
A loud roar made her swing her head in the direction that it had come from, completely forgetting the knife at her throat. She gasped as she felt the sharp edge cut into her neck, starting a trickle of blood running down her neck. The arm around her shoulders tightened threateningly, warning her not to move anymore. She watched in horror as Dagonet was attacked by three guards. But it seemed like he was holding his own. The knight reached down and pulled a dagger out of its sheath in his boot, when Marius' voice stopped him.
"I have the boy!"
Iraina watched horrified as Marius held a knife to the little boy, Lucan's, throat. A deep blazing trail of anger started to rise from the pit of her stomach. It was one thing to threaten a woman warrior, but to hold an innocent little boy at knife point was an atrocity.
Making decision, Iraina threw back her head and slammed it into the face of the man behind her. Her captor gave a strangled cry and dropped the knife in his surprise. Immediately Iraina dropped to the ground and swung her legs in an arc underneath the man's legs, wiping them out from underneath him. She she spun, she grabbed the fallen knife and rose to her feet.
The Roman was just about to get to his feet when Iraina stepped forward and placed her foot on his chest, forcing him to stay on the ground. The man glared at her, clearly angered, and made to get back up. The dagger flashed in Iraina's hand, causing the man to still his movement, in fear for his life. Keeping her attention divided between the man she was guarding, and what was going on with Marius, Iraina watched as the atmosphere charged with tension around them. The villagers had been woken by the sounds of fighting, and were now crowding around, trying to see what was going on. One young man, Ganis, she believed his name was, looked ready to jump in the middle of it and start fighting himself. Inwardly Iraina hoped he didn't, for he would surely get himself killed. Suddenly, to her surprise, Fulicania launched herself at Marius, trying to stop him from hurting the little boy. Marius threw his wife to the ground, sneering at her as she fell. He looked back up and motioned to his guards.
""Kill him! Kill him now!" The roman man opened his mouth to issue another order, but was stopped by the arrow that had found its way into his chest. He stared at the arrow in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, then fell backwards, his life leaving his body. The boy wriggled out of his grasp and raced over to where Dagonet was standing.
The tall knight pushed Lucan to the ground. "Down!" he roared, and grabbed his broadsword. At that moment, Bors came riding in, swinging his ax.
"Artourious!" he roared.
Guinevere shot another arrow at the soldier's feet, silently warning them not to move any further. Arthur moved forward, and raised his sword at the leader of the roman soldiers.
"You have a choice. You help, or you die." There was a moment of tense silence, before the leader dropped his sword in the snow.
"Put down your weapons." he told them. When no one moved, he yelled at them. "Do it now!" Dagonet let out another war cry, and that seemed to decide them. One by one, they dropped their weapons, giving in to Arthur. Nodding to Jols, Arthur watched as the man picked up the fallen swords. Then they walked away from them, shooing the people away, telling them to make ready to leave.
Seeing that everything was under control now, Iraina warily let the man under her foot up. He glared at her before stalking off to join his companions. Slowly, she lowered the dagger to her side. Someone tapped on her shoulder, and she spun around, tensing for another fight. When she saw who it was, however, she relaxed. Lancelot was standing behind her looking concerned.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Iraina nodded, then winced as the action made the cut on her neck stretch painfully. Lancelot's eyes hardened as he took in the cut along her neck. Iraina moved to cover it with her hand when the knight grabbed her arm, stopping her.
With his other hand, he gently grabbed her chin and forced her to look up.
"It's not too bad." He said softly. "But if we don't clean it, it's probably going to get infected. He released her then and stepped back. "Come, let us go find Dagonet. He will help you." Dagonet was checking over Lucan. Iraina followed Lancelot quietly, her senses still on high alert, ready for another attack. When they reached the tall knight, he stood, looking between the two. He glanced at Lancelot, who gestured to Iraina. As the giant man's gaze switched to her, Iraina was struck by how different they all were. Even though they had been fighting her people for over fifteen years, they were willing to help her.
"Are you injured anywhere besides your neck?" Dagonet asked in his deep voice. Iraina shook her head.
"I'm a little bruised, but that's all." The knight nodded, then bent down to pick up a roll of bandages. Quickly he cleaned the cut, then bandaged it. Moving her had from side to side, Iraina tested her mobility in the bandaging. Her neck was sore, but other than that, she was able to move freely enough.
"Thank you." she said smiling.
"Leave that on for a few days. Take it off a few times though to let air to it." Again Iraina nodded, then she took her leave.
Suddenly a loud trumpeting of a horse caught her attention. She turned towards the noise and saw the knights trying to calm a pitch black horse with a single star on his head. Iraina gasped in shock as she recognized the horse, and sprinted to where they were trying to control the creature. Quickly she pushed her way through the crowd, and past the large knight, Bors. She ignored their warnings to stay away from the animal and walked right up to the horse and grabbed his head. Swiftly she pulled the great horse's head down, stilling his wild bucking. Placing her hand on the creature's muzzle, she allowed the horse to smell her hand. At first the horse tried to pull away, snorting, his eyes rolling. But soon, Iraina spoke, soothing him.
"Shhhh... You are alright now Wings, you are safe. There's no need to throw yourself into a fit." The crowd watched amazed as the huge stallion calmed and stilled, standing patiently as though there was nothing wrong. Gawain pushed his way forward, a look of amazement etched on his face.
"Iraina?" he asked stunned, "How did you do that?" The woad woman grinned.
"He's mine." then her smile faltered however, as she realized something. "I don't know how he got here though." As she stared thoughtfully at the horse, absently stroking his head, she realized with a start that he was saddled. Moving quickly, around to the other side of him, she saw that her sword and bow where also attached to the horse. There were also a quiver full of arrows and a saddle bag. Stepping up to the horse, she relived him of his burdan, giving him a gentle pat. Setting the bag on the ground, she opened it and started unloading everything inside it.
Inside, she found all of her weapons, seven throwing knives, and three holsters for the hidden ones that she could hide on her body, a small ax, and two small curved swords that attached to her back. Digging further, she found a pair of leather pants and a long sleeved tunic. Then, at the bottom of the pack, there was a rolled up piece of parchment. Iraina grabbed it and unfurled the paper. She smiled slightly when she recognized her father's clean handwriting.
Iraina,
I am sorry to hear about your captivity. But I know that you wouldn't want my pity, so I won't give you any. I sent the messenger on Dark Wings. I thought you might need him. Do not give up. Be wary, I will see you before the battle.
Your Father
When she had finished reading her father's letter, she quickly repacked her weapons, and swung herself int the saddle. Looking down at the knights from atop Wings, she raised an eyebrow at them.
"Are you just going to stand there all day starring at me, or are we going to continue running away from dirty smelly men who want to kill us all?" she asked as if it were the most normal thing in the world to be running for their lives.
At her words, the knights seemed to snap out of their daze and went into action. Soon they had everyone ready to go, and the caravan started moving again. Now that she was on her horse and able to think clearly, she was aware at their painfully slow pace through the mountains. Looking ahead, Iraina watched as Arthur sent Tristan off. Most likely to scout. Even though she did not know the man well, and he didn't talk much, Iraina had decided that she liked him. The way he painstakingly took care of his horse and hawk even before he allowed himself any comfort. She also knew that the man preferred scouting, and being away from all the people. She could tell by the way he always stood stiffly in the presence of anyone other than his fellow knights.
Because she didn't have a bridle, Iraina pushed her right leg against Wing's side, making him turn left, and kicked him into a smooth canter, moving up to the front of the caravan, until she came to the wagon holding Guinevere. Dismounting Wings, she made sure the horse was following, then climbed into the wagon, taking the clothes her father had sent her with her. They were all pushed for space, because Katherine and Loren were asleep on the floor, but she was able to change out of the dress she was wearing, and into the new clothes without waking the pair. Once she was out of the dress, Iraina sighed in contentment. She had never really liked dresses. They always got in the way of riding and fighting. Guinevere laughed quietly at her, then turned around to stare at Arthur. It was Iraina's turn to grin. Emotions were already flying around the two.
Taking her leave, she climbed back out of the wagon, and walked over to where Dark Wings was following. Quickly, she pulled herself up onto his back, and kicked him up to the front of the train.
They had been traveling for about an hour when the sound of hoof beats alerted Iraina to the fact that someone was coming up behind her. Twisting in the saddle, Iraina looked over her shoulder to see that Gawain was riding up next to her on his horse. He pulled up along side her and for a few minutes they rode in silence. Soon, however, Gawain spoke up.
"How is it that you can control your horse without a bridle?" he asked curiously. Iraina glanced down a her horse, then back up at the blonde haired knight.
"At first I used a bridle on him, then one day, my father lent him out to someone who did not know what they were doing. The had him for a week, and the abuse completely ruined his mouth. So, I no longer use a bridle, and have taught him to go at the touch of his sides. I will however, sometimes use a halter when there will be a battle for more control over him, but usually I only use a saddle."
Gawain nodded thoughtfully. "What's his name?"
"Dark Wings, but I call him wings for short. When I first saw him, he was running across the fields, and I thought that if he had wings, he would have been able to fly." Silence lapsed between them again, and for a while, the only sounds were of the horse's hooves crunching softly in the snow, and the wind whistling around them.
"What will you do when you get back to the wall?" Iraina asked, breaking the silence. "Will you go home to Sarmatia? Turn your back to the land that you have lived in for over fifteen years?" Gawain was silent for a moment, before speaking, his words laced with decision.
"I will. I will go back to Sarmatia. Marry a beautiful Sarmation woman, and have a family. And as for turning my back to the land, it never was my land. I have just been forced to fight the people, and forced to watch as those I love as brothers are killed and then buried in the earth. I have nothing here."
Iraina watched him carefully. It sounded as though he wasn't quite sure that that was what he was going to do. But she didn't push the issue. All the knights would have to make their decision soon. And their decision would most likely decide the fate of all Britannia. If they left, her people would probably lose the battle, and all be killed, and the Saxons would kill everyone, and destroy everything. So wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't notice Gawain starring at her with a mischievous look on his face.
Gawain watched the woad woman on his right. She was beautiful, that much he knew just by looking at her. Her red brown hair was pulled back, but by looking at it, you could tell that it was wavy. Her soft face with high cheekbones brought out the beauty of her eyes, which were a brilliant shade of green. She was uncommonly tall for a woman, and her build was slim, but it betrayed the great strength in her. There was also a small tattoo in the shape of a rain drop on her left cheek, underneath her eye. It was almost like Tristan's, only hers was a rain drop, and his was a sword.
Watching her earlier, he could tell that she may feel something for Lancelot. And now, because her thoughts were elsewhere, he decided to find out.
"So," he stated casually, as if nothing was wrong, "Do you find Lancelot so attractive that you want to whisk him away to the forest and make love with him under the full moon?" After he said that he was forced to clamp his mouth shut in order to stop himself from laughing.
Iraina nodded absently, and answered, her mind clearly elsewhere. "Mmmm.Yes, that would be nice."
Gawain was shaking with silent hysterics, and he could barley contain himself. After a moment, an odd expression passed over Iraina's face; her eyes widened and she whipped her head around to stare at him as she processed what had just been said.
"What?!" Gawian finally allowed his mirth out, and he laughed heartily at her. Turning his horse he kicked it into a canter and quickly moved away from her. As one last thought came to him, he turned in the saddle and threw over his shoulder.
"Thank you for that! I am sure Lancelot will love to know it as well!"
A look of disbelief came over Iraina's face as she watched the blonde knight disappear.
"No! Wait! I didn't mean..." Iraina stopped, it was useless. Now she would just have to find some way to get back at the man. She grinned, revenge was always sweet.
Yay for me!!! I got it up!!! I promise I will answer the reviewer responses next time though, right now I am heading out the door to go see The Phantom of the Opera! Yay for me!!!
And for all those who reviewed, go outside right now, and see your knight in shining armor on his horse waiting to whisk you away for the day!!!! lol.
Elvenstar5