Long awaited chapter 5...aww…I like this chapter…haha. Thanks for al the great reviews! You guys are awesome! Enjoy!
"Tell the one about the handsome Sarmatian who rescues the Egyptian princess.." Marciana exclaimed, jumping onto father's magnificent bed. I myself cuddled under its silk red covers next to Marciana. Domitia followed and sat on father's left side, as the middle aged quite handsome man laughed.
"I've told that one far too many times…" he began, scratching his small beard. A then fourteen year old Marciana looked saddened.
"No! Tell of the story of the Trojan prince and Spartan queen who ran off together and started the greatest war..", twelve year old Domitia said, squealing in delight. It was her favorite story. I found myself rolling my eyes.
"Father, please, the one with the Roman general who became a slave and a gladiator and defeated the emperor is the most exciting! Tell us that one!" My ten year old self begged, my smile huge.
My father laughed again with merry glee. "Arria I believe you just summed up the entire story. No, my dears, I believe a new one is in order for tonight." My sisters and I glanced at each other, excited. Father was rarely home in those days for more than a few weeks at a time. He was both a Senator and a diplomat for the western regions of the Roman Empire. He was often sent on voyages to Gaul and the British Isles, and every time he brought back his girls gifts and stories of those native lands.
He had just returned from Britain, visiting the family friend Pelagius. But before he began his tale, he beckoned to one of the servants, who brought forth our gifts.
To Marciana, he gave her a rather embellished sea blue robe, sequenced with various jewels around the neckline. "From the finest craftsmen in Gaul", he said, pleased with her expression. To Domitia, he handed her a lavish ruby necklace from Spain. "Worn by a Spanish princess", he claimed, giving me a wink. Domitia's eyes twinkled with delight, and she wore it for years to come.
Finally, everyone looked to me, and I bit my lower lip with anticipation. Father presented me with a box, and I opened it frantically, as any ten year old would, my coffee brown hair falling into my face. My eyes widened, and I gave him the greatest hug I could possibly give, his laughter ringing in my ears.
"Well, what is it?" Domitia asked with anticipation. I took the gift out of the box and proudly showed my sisters.
"A book", I simply stated.
Marciana's face fell a little. She pushed back her auburn hair and smirked. "What kind of book?"
"A diary actually. With a Sarmatian symbol embalmed into the leather binding." I pressed my fingers against the lines around the horse symbol, into the creases of the words dug in around the horse.
"Yes, I had a short visit in Sarmatia, at one of the Roman outposts. One of the villagers made it for me." Father stated, obviously proud of himself.
"So a blank book?" Domitia said. I looked at father, and he smiled at me. I knew my sisters would never understand, we were too much alike. But I thought my gift was by far the best.
After father told us one of the British legends, Domitia and Marciana went off to their own rooms to get ready for bed and admire their gifts. I held back, wanting to thank father once more.
He shut the door behind them. "Father, could you please tell me what these markings mean?" I asked, referring to the letters surrounding the horse. He nodded, and pointed at each word.
"It says: 'Truth, justice, and love.' The code of the Sarmatians." I mouthed a quiet 'wow' and looked up at him. "Arria, I did not want to tell your sisters, but I got you another gift."
My eyes widened with glee. Domitia and Marciana would be insanely jealous if they knew I got more presents from father…He lit a torch and took me down the stairs, toward the small library. On his desk, next to his quill was another box. His eyes narrowed with mischief, his delight as much apparent as mine.
"I did not want your sisters to see, because it does give off…how you say…an unladylike ere. Don't just stand there gawking, girl, go ahead and open it", he commanded with the same mischievous grin.
I seriously never knew a time where my eyes could have been more pulled from their sockets. Carefully I picked it up, infatuated immediately. It was a real dagger, bearing the same Sarmatian markings as my diary on the part of the blade nearest the handle. It was simple, with no decorative embellishments or intricate cuts. "Veritas, Aequitas, Amore" I repeated in Latin, referring to the Sarmatian code perfectly legible on the blade.
"Father…" I began, but no words came out of my mouth. I believe he saw this as a good sign.
"Keep it close, but out of sight. Do not tell your sisters, I see the way they treat you differently already. You have a scholar's mind, a lover's heart, and a warrior's spirit, Arria. Always let these words of truth, justice, and love speak for your choices you make in life." I hugged him tight, never wanting to let go. He squeezed back, his breathing harder than normal. We were more alike than Domitia and Marciana realized, father and I.
Nine years later, I awoke from this very memory, and walked over to my bag, taking the dagger Leon had given me right before "it" happened. I walked back over to the bed and sat down, sighing. I suddenly remembered that the Sarmatian dagger father had given me was probably still in the carriage my sisters and I rode in. It was lost to me forever. I held this dagger to my lips and kissed the handle, closing my eyes, my father's face once more appearing before me.
Beside me I felt him stir. He coughed for a second, and rubbed his eyes. Looking on him, I smiled. The night before we had passionately kissed for what seemed like hours, and we both fell asleep in each others arms. Several times in the night I felt him stroke my hair or rub my stomach, but, surprisingly, he hadn't tried anything else. "Perhaps I'm rubbing off on his devilish charm and turning him into a gentleman.." I wondered.
He stretched and looked over at me. "Are you sure you won't make love to the most handsomest man alive before marriage?" were the first words out of his mouth. Never mind what I said earlier about the gentleman part. I gave him a look and laid back down to kiss him one more time, placing the dagger at the foot of the bed.
"Sorry, sir knight. But you are not the handsomest man alive.." I began, mischievously grinning.
"Mmmm, but most definitely the handsomest Sarmatian knight?" he enquired, kissing me back.
I let our lips part. "Perhaps…although I might want to spend more time with Galahad to be sure…" To this he wrestled me up with him now on top and I below, his hands grabbing my wrists as I squealed, trying to contain my laughter.
"Fine, fine, you win.." I exclaimed, and he let go of me. I laughed some more as he got up, stretching his back. He turned to face me once more, but his eyes fell on the dagger by the bed. He picked it up, looking it over.
"And why, dear lady, are you playing with daggers at dawn?" His roguish brown eyes asked.
I sat up on the bed and sighed. "Just reminiscing…"
"About…"
"My father once gave me a dagger an I meant a lot to me…I lost it in the carriage when the Bishop betrayed us. Its all I have left of him." I did not look at Lancelot, for fear that he would see how troubled I was over this when more pressing matters were at hand.
His eyes narrowed in thought. "What exactly did it look like?"
I smiled, closing my eyes. "My father actually visited Sarmatia, and gave me a dagger bearing the symbol of the horse. It was engraved, with the words-"
He cut me off, and we both exclaimed together, "Truth, Justice, and Love". I sat there, my mouth open in surprise, my head tilting in wonder.
He continued on. "The code of the Sarmatian knights. Your father must have visited the village of Hescareth, a southern province. It is in this province that the very best Sarmatian blacksmith forges the very best Sarmatian weapons, bearing that symbol." I was astounding at hearing this. "They are by far the best weapons you will ever come across." His own eyes drifted back in time. "My father took me there when I was eleven. Lucas was his name. On hearing that I was one of the descendants that had to serve the Roman Empire, he forged me two great swords." I looked over to his left, seeing the famous blades he used in battle.
"He knew you could use both?" I asked, enthralled.
Lancelot laughed. "Not at all. I could barely swing one blade accurately at that age. But because I had been given such a great gift, I made myself work twice as hard to wield both, and wield both well."
"And you've accomplished this." I put in.
"I'm alive still, at least", he said, shrugging his shoulders. He came in front of me and knelt to my level, looking into my eyes. He pushed back a few of my hairs behind my ear, and kept his left hand on my cheek, his mouth open in awe. "And I'm only alive because a foolish girl decided to save me…twice…in fact." I stared back just as intensely at him, my eyes dancing. His charisma was legendary gossip at Hadrian's Wall, and I was beginning to agree. Giving me one final kiss, we parted, and I left to go to my own quarters to get changed. Arthur had requested an early meeting that morning, concerning new affairs and government changes. Much work needed to be done, and I desperately tired to rub off the smile that was plastered on my face. Going along the corridor, I passed Gawain as he left his room, shutting the door. Upon seeing me, and then looking at the door from which I came, his eyes widened, and he said nothing. He simply walked past me, shaking his head and humming to himself.
"ughh" I said, not wanting rumors of being Lancelot's new bedroom girl. Upon entering my quarters I saw that a new robe awaited me on my bed, the color a deep, rich purple, with gold ribbons to lace it up. I put up my hair once more in the same Roman bun, as was fashion, and walked back down to the round table.
Galahad, Arthur, and Bors were already there. Jols was putting out goblets as a servant boy filled each cup. I decided to sit next to Galahad and Bors. Guinevere, Lancelot, and Gawain entered shortly thereafter, and the meeting began.
"My lord, Merlin sends his condolences but cannot attend today due to a flooding crisis in the north. I will speak for him", Guinevere stated assuredly, and the King simply nodded, though I did see a slight twinkle in his eyes.
"Knights, Lady Guinevere, Lady Arria;" he began. "Now that I have united all together, it is time to charter up a new order." I sat up straighter, itching to know of his plans. "All my people have the right to free will, and as such all slavery and serfdom in this kingdom is hereby abolished." To my right, Jols was writing everything down on a large scroll. Everyone nodded their agreement. He went on. "Yes, we are imposing a new monarchy on this island to create order, but it is my wish that hopefully in my lifetime a republic will be instituted…" and so on he went, naming various people to be lords over such and such a land…all the while assuring that there will be a group, the "King's Riders", that goes from province to province to make sure the ideals of liberty are upheld and that serfdom does not continue. He took a break after announcing Hadrian's Wall to be knocked down. "To ensure equality between Woad and Britains." I heard a slight snoring beside me, and looked over to see Bors dead asleep, his head tilted to the side with his eyes closed. I was not the only one who noticed.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "There is much more to be done, but let us break for lunch, before the snorings get louder." All of us laughed, and two servants proceeded to bring forth food to the table. On smelling sausage, Bors jerked forward and opened his eyes.
After a good hearty meal, Arthur told us to meet back at sundown, to discuss a potential army and the positions of the knights. I watched as Lancelot got up and began discussing something with Arthur. Strangely enough, when Lancelot began talking, Arthur glanced my way.
"Quite a bore this stuff is.." Bors began, heading back to his quarters to rest a bit. Lancelot caught up with me as I was about to enter the stables. A ride would do me good, I thought to myself.
"Arria!" he said, walking swiftly towards me. I turned and smiled.
"Care for a ride, sir knight?" I asked.
He shook his head and took my hand. "No. Come, I must show you something." I wrinkled my eyebrows in confusion, but followed him nonetheless. He took me down stairs and beyond various corridors to a part of the fortress I had never been to. Lighting a torch, he proceeding forward, his eyes once again mischievous.
"Lancelot, honestly, what is this all about?" I enquired, curiosity getting the better of me. He stopped soon after, and placed the torch into a handle on the wall.
I stared forward in wonder at the sight before me. We were most definitely in the prized armory. Shields of Romans, Woads, and Sarmatians lined the walls, with various armors standing beside them. Swords from all over the world protruded from the walls, some small and thin, others long and scary looking. Towards the end of the corridor I saw Tristan's sword newly instated, its blade curvy and unlike anything I've ever seen. He grabbed me once more and brought me to the end of the armory, where on a stone column sat various daggers of all shapes and sizes. Some were jagged while others smooth. Then my eyes fell upon one. It was of medium size, about a foot long, with a simple handle. But nearest the handle on the blade was markings. Some of it was etched out from years of battle, but one could still make out the horse and words surrounding.
My mouth fell open, my hands eagerly wanting to touch. I looked at him with the most deepest surprise, and he grinned devilishly.
"Pick it up" he commanded. He needn't tell me twice. I carefully wrapped my fingers around the handle, feeling the sharpness of the blade with my index finger. It was a little heavier than mine.
"Lancelot.." I started to say, but no words came to mind. It was the closest thing to seeing my father again, as crazy as it sounded. I began to put it back down when his hand grabbed my arm.
"No" he stated. "Its yours." As if my eyes could get any wider.
"But…"
He cut me off. "I talked it over with Arthur, and we both agree. Dagonet would have liked to know that his blades were still in use." Once again I was dumbfounded. For some strange reason I began to feel my eyes welling up with tears, but I quickly willed them to go away. Placing the weapon back down, I wrapped my arms strongly around his back.
"You don't know how much this means to me.." I whispered as he kissed my shoulder. He simply rubbed my back with his hands.
After letting go, and rubbing the tears from my cheeks, I took the dagger into my hands once more. A part of him was now with me, it felt like.
Trying to break the mushiness of the whole situation, Lancelot grinned. "Well…will you sleep with me now?" he asked, winking his right eye.
I laughed. It felt good to laugh. I clutched the dagger and sighed. "You certainly know how to find a girl's weakness…and the answers still no…" His face fell for a second, but brightened back up as we exited the armory.
"Thank you, Dagonet…" I whispered low enough so Lancelot couldn't hear, though he smiled when I said it.