Thank you so much for all your support and reviews, they are what keep me writing. You guys rock! This next chapter was kinda spur of the moment, but fun. As always, enjoy and feedback is certainly appreciated.
A week into my new life, I had started to feel a bit less nervous and a little more outgoing toward my new British friends. Indeed, my rump was completely sore from the endless hours King Arthur had us sitting at the Round Table, debating various political points. I learned that starting scratch in this country takes hard work from everyone, and at times tempers grew thin. Once during one of our very long meetings about sharecropping and what its affects would be on the citizens I actually stood up and shouted my opinion at the king! Of course, afterwards I felt very small, widening my eyes and gulping the saliva down my throat. To my relief, Bors and Galahad began laughing and Arthur actually nodded his head, agreeing with me. No more have a felt the little girl here. It is clear that Arthur values my time spent in Rome, learning the ways of the republic and trying to put forth some of their ways here.
During another meeting my new King appointed Lancelot as his "King's Defender", that is, his bodyguard and councilor of War. Bors he made Lord of Archenridge, a land a bit east of our fortress between two valleys. Gawain was made Commander of the army; though the Woads had their own warrior commander, a Pict by the name of Corwin. I'm not sure who had seniority over whom. Galahad was content with being Lord of Britensmill, a small sea port a few day's south. I was happy for them all, Arthur had chosen jobs they would all enjoy. Merlin, of course, was his Chief Advisor. At last his eyes looked down to me, and I found myself a bit anxious. Of course I knew I wasn't going to be named "Chief Maid" or something along those lines, but never in my wildest dreams could I have prepared myself for what he said next.
"Arria. You have shown everyone here your courage, your honor, and your kind nature for all beings. This is why you and no one else could take on this task. You are to be my Captain of the King's Riders." His eyes glistened for a minute, knowing fully well my expression must have been priceless.
Suddenly the words of my father sprung forth into my ears… "if only you had been born a man.." he had said. Well, apparently you don't need to be a man on this island to gain such a noble title. And just what exactly did my title entail? Arthur explained.
"As with any new government, there are dangers from within. Noblemen do no obey, smuggling occurs, things of this sort. You my dear are to root out the evils within our homeland. Catch the serfdom that continues. Deal with the slaveholders that disobey. Network men into every village to see how masters uphold…or lack, my new laws. See how the people are treated. This nation will live for freedom, and I need someone to be my eyes for all things within. You are the only one that can accomplish this." I sat up straighter, both excited and nervous at the idea of me possibly leading anyone. Over the next few weeks I was to learn more about running a country than anything my father taught me.
First, Arthur commanded me to learn everything I can about swordsmanship, both on and off a horse; along with knife throwing, body punching, axe wielding, tracking, navigating, shield defending, hunting, and anything else key to survival. Guinevere taught me correct kniving techniques and different punches to throw. She knew techniques even Leon probably couldn't have matched. I could now flip a person over my back and get out of a chest hold. Of course, the King just had to appoint Lancelot to teach me most of the rest.
When he wasn't showing me the correct way to deflect a high swing, he was kissing me when our swords clashed and we were chest to chest, with only our blades parting us. Of course I half didn't mind, but I never let him know that. Instead I would play angry and try and kick him while he was distracted. The first time it worked, and his smile grinned with playfulness, though I knew inwardly he was hurting from my kick.
On the third day of training, I was given a spear and asked to throw it. "As far as you can, love," Lancelot commanded, smiling.
I sighed, and picked up the spear, which in my opinion was quite heavy. I threw it, and instead of it gracefully hitting the target five yards away, it floppily jerked around, falling a few feet short of the intended mark. I clenched my fists as Lancelot laughed at my folly. I turned to him and narrowed my eyes.
"Well, you try doing better in your first week of training with both your arms numb from soreness!" I shouted at him, annoyed. How could anybody possibly take orders from a girl that couldn't even throw a spear five yards?? A lot of pressure was building up inside of me by then. It just couldn't be done, I told myself.
Lancelot stopped chuckling and put a hand on my shoulder, which I shrugged off. He sighed. "I'm sorry, dove." He liked to call me a new animal name everyday, another annoying side of Sir Lancelot. "Look, you can't get frustrated so easily. Yes, your being asked to learn a lot in a very short amount of time, but you can't expect to do well in everything all at once. Hell, I couldn't make an arrow go ten feet within the target range in my first two YEARS of training! It was a sad sight." I smiled at this but looked away.
He continued. "Now come on, there's no use giving up when you've barely begun."
"Whose giving up?!" I half shouted, grabbing another spear. I saw his eyes twinkle with of smirk. He knew how to push me, and what's worse, he was gloating in the fact that he knew how to push me.
I looked at the target, willing it to take the form of the Bishop, and I flung this one forward. It definitely went farther, but still sloppily curved to the left. "There. You see? Better already."
"Maybe you could stand over there and I'll aim for an apple on top of your head…" I playfully said nonchalantly.
"Sorry, dove. You aren't that good. And I wouldn't even be worried, because you'd accidentally hit the haystack twenty feet to my left anyway." I punched him in the arm as he chuckled, and kept on throwing spears.
By dusk I was walking like a common beggar on the streets, with my back hunched and my arms hanging limply by my sides. I grunted hello to Bors as I passed him down the stairs, and passed out as soon as I hit my bed. I found every bone in my body ching the next morning as one of the maids came in to fix me tea. I thanked her and got dressed, outfitted in breeches and a buttoned cloth shirt, looking very much like a man. Pulling back my hair, I grabbed an apple off the tray and trudged downstairs towards my doom. As I opened the door to go out into the practice courtyard I felt an arm grab me and pull me up against the wall, with lips suddenly upon my mine. Before I could see anyone I jabbed the intruder in the belly, then as he bent over in pain I kneed him in the chin, sending him to the ground.
Upon seeing familiar brown curly locks and a groan I clenched my teeth in embarrassment.
"Sorry Lancelot!" I cried, helping him up. "You scared me you brute!" He rubbed his chin and sighed.
"I guess I deserved that."
I lifted my left eyebrow in reply, and he grunted. "Well lioness, I was going to teach you some fancy sword skills, but I suppose something else could do now that I'm injured." I rolled my eyes but was delighted, because whatever it was we were going to do sounded less painful. "Come on.." he commanded, pretending to limp. I shook my head at his antics to make me feel remorseful.
We entered the stables and found Gawain saddling up his horse, a black stallion named Moonlight. "Hullo Gawain" Lancelot called. I nodded my hellos and he nodded back. "Out for a morning trot?" he asked.
Gawain tightened the saddle a bit and mounted his beautiful steed. "Indeed. Galahad went to visit his newly acquired lands and Bors is with Vanora, probably babysitting the kids.
"Is Bors ever going to name his children?" I asked, curious.
Gawain guffawed in reply. "Even if he did, he'd never remember who he named what."
"Rumor has it some of those kids are fathered by another man…" I began, looking intensely towards Lancelot.
His reply? "And when did you ever start believing in village gossip, milady?"
"Since the rumors started becoming true.."
He gruffed and dropped the subject. "Now then. Today we'll learn some tracking skills, in case you ever have to hunt for food or raiders. Gawain, care to join us?"
"I suppose it'll be a laugh trying to see you teach tracking when we all know you never know where the hell your going…" I giggled, but stopped when my 'teacher' gave me a look.
Gawain bent close and whispered in my ear, "This one can't even find which ways north in the night!" Not that I could, but I chuckled anyway.
Lancelot overheard. "If we please, ladies, time is wasting away…"
We mounted up and set off out of the fortress and into the nearest wood. Along the trail Gawain taught me various ways to spot tracks, such as broken sticks and leaf positions on the ground. I was made to memorize all the valleys and forests and trails and streams to take to the various villages. Lancelot explained the best campsites for raiders, what weapons they used, and their scouting techniques. Finally we made it to a clearing, and Gawain made me memorize the mountains in front of us, telling me which roads ledto which cities and how far away they are and such. It was a lot of information to take in all at once, but thank goodness for my schooling in Rome, otherwise all of this would have went right over my head.
Trotting out towards a field.. "Harrow's Field" Gawain corrected, Lancelot unsheathed one of his swords as did Gawain. I did the same, groaning inwardly, knowing I'll be feeling the same aches and pains tomorrow. Lancelot kicked his horse toward me. "Now at close range" he began seriously, "there's no time to kick your horse out of the way. You have to block, like so, if he swings at you in a vertical motion." He brought up his sword, and I in turn tilted mine to block, but he shook his head. "You have to have more balance. If you block it like that, he'll knock your own sword to the ground. Here, watch Gawain and I." I did as I was told, fascinated by their intricate attacks and blows they tried upon their horses, shifting their weights at the right moment so as no to fall off.
When it was my turn again, I found it extremely hard to focus on the swordfight and the balancing on top of a horse at the same time. I fell off three times, but got back on without a word, not wanting to complain like the other day. I listened hard to what they both said, and by the end of an hour of practice, I had blocked a high blow (while staying on top a horse) and even managed to get in a slight attack swing, though Gawain easily blocked it. He congratulated me, and we started for home.
Along the route (across the fields and streams instead of the forests), Gawain told various stories of their adventures as young knights. Lancelot remained silent but smiling, though I sensed he was thinking heavily upon something.
"And of course, he was drunk off his rocker, and Dagonet had to hose him down with a bucket full of water to get him up. And Arthur…oh god, Arthur nearly had a fit when Bors walked into the court wet and drunk and carried on a conversation with the Roman ambassador about how 'great those Roman skirts were..so airy and easy to piss in'. Arthur wanted to kill him!" I laughed alongside Gawain, imagining it all in my head. It was mid afternoon when we reached home again, and I dismounted and stated that a bath was in store. I turned to Lancelot, expecting a lude comment about joining me, but found him silently caressing his horse as he took off her bridle. Gawain left the stables to go eat. I grabbed some nearby oats and handed it to the mare I was riding, who took it willingly.
"You were awfully quiet back there." I began, not sure what he would say. He patted the head of his mare once more.
He didn't look at me as he fed his own mare some oats. "You did well today." I smiled, but knew that wasn't all. When I didn't leave he sighed. "I haven't known you that long Arria, but I already find myself worried."
"Worried?" I questioned, a bit taken aback.
He turned to look at me. His horse nodded his head against Lancelot's shoulder, wanting more food. He ignored it. "Here I am teaching you battle tactics and tracking skills, how to be a warrior and spymaster and hunter. Its just…in a few months your going to be looking for trouble, digging it out. And it will be dangerous. I just wish you were the one being protected, not the protector." He looked down now, apparently embarrassed by his words.
I walked closer and touched his cheek, bringing his face up. He squeezed the hand that was on his face. "We all have our chosen paths, Lancelot. This is my calling. And yes, I may never throw a spear right or know how many yards away an enemy is…but when Arthur gave me this post, I felt a sense of rejuvenation. Of course there will be scary times, and I'll do my best to survive. But it is a harsh world we live in, and I'm much better off knowing these skills and using them properly." Lancelot grunted and rolled his eyes. "Would you rather me stay cooped up in the castle, gathering dust like a statue that sees no adventure?"
"I'd rather see you alive." Lancelot stated. I smiled, feeling a bit happy that he has strong feelings over this.
I continued. "Do you think me weak?" I asked, knowing his answer.
He rolled his eyes again. "No. You're the strongest woman I know."
I kissed his cheek. "And the most exciting.." I whispered softly in his ear, knowing he was smiling.
I closed my eyes and kissed his lips. "It is nice to know that you worry over me".
He grabbed me and proceeded to put his lips on my neck, making my eyes widen with pleasure. "Give me your body right now and I'll worry even more over you…" I giggled, backing away with my hands.
"Is that the best line you could come up with?" I stated, smiling and walking out of the stable, towards my heavenly bath, leaving the knight confused and excited all at once. I was getting better at his game.
I remained in the bath for quite some time, rubbing the scented oils on my aching shoulders and legs, feeling like a true lady once more. I put on the finest robe I could find, and enjoyed a peaceful supper with Guinevere, dishing about men and feeling giddy.
After digesting, Guinevere suggested a few more hand to hand combat rounds, and I politely refused. I retreated to the library, my refuge, and began to look at maps of Britain. I kept my candle close, for it was very dark and quiet in this corner of the fort. I did not even realize anyone else was in there, until about half an hour of memorizing I heard footsteps coming closer. Keeping my left hand near my new dagger and the right holding the candle, I shouted out, "Who goes there?"
As the shadow came closer, he spoke. "Catching up on your readings?"
I sighed heavily. "How long have you been in here, your majesty?"
King Arthur took seat next to me. "A while. I often come here to meditate."
"In the dark?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The dark is the best place to go when I talk with God."
"Why is that?" I questioned. He chuckled.
"No distractions. Its peaceful, and in the dark its like I can see what it is that God wants from me" Arthur said, his voice a bit dreamy. I said nothing, and he continued, looking on to my maps. "Lancelot, Guinevere, and Gawain say you improve remarkably fast. Though I would expect nothing less from a Roman scholar of Nicoteles." I smiled at the compliment towards my father.
"Your majesty, do you still dream of Rome?" I asked, truly wanting to know.
It took him a second to answer. "I did once. I dreamt of the ideals I thought Rome was. Now that I see those ideas are going to be placed here, I see no reason to return. Do you, Lady Arria, wish to see Rome again?"
It was a question I had been pondering myself. But I finally had an answer. "I wish to see my palace, my horse, the memories of father and my sisters strong there. I feel like I'm losing them here, for it was here that I lost them."
"I keep forgetting that it is still fresh in your mind. It took me years to get over the death of my mother, Arria. She died in a village not far from here."
"And do the memories of that day still haunt you?" I asked, not caring that this was a very personal question to ask, especially to the king.
"I still felt the heat from the fire, her screams…everything dreadful from that night. But that was because I was angered. I bore hatred to those who killed her, but when I let go of that anger I no longer felt the pain. You got your revenge on your family, but you found it did not heal, am I right?"
I simply nodded. He went on. "So many think vengeance solves the world's problems. That is why wars are waged and offspring are murdered. And yet, when the one you want is dead, people know it is not enough, and either they go on killing, or they let go. Letting go was the best thing I did."
"But Arthur-" I quickly remembered that this was a very informal and hideous thing to say, but thankfully he did not take offense. "I feel that if I let go of the pain, the entire memory of them will fade, the good and the bad."
He smiled and put one arm around my shoulder in a fatherly motion. "That will never happen, Arria. I promise." After saying this he patted my shoulder and left the library. My candle was down to the end of its wax, and soon I was in the dark, by myself. And I prayed. Arthur was right, and I finally let go.