So I was rereading my vague descriptions of all my new characters, and I realized I suck at summarizing what people look like. So instead, how bout I compare the boys' looks and personalities with celebrities? Savvy? Okay, so obviously….Aedan is Heath Ledger in both demeanor and looks…well, a young 18 year old Heath Ledger…anyways, so yes ladies, drooling is a must for this boy. Gafran is a long haired Hayden Christiansen, a guy a bit shady but at the same time has a soft spot. Avery is my Shia Lebouf (sp?), while Conall is much like Dominic Monoghan (Im butchering their names). Tobias is most def Orlando Bloom like when he played Legolas…silent but o so nice to look at (with dark hair). Gabriel has a bit of an eastern look to him, and his quiet but deadly demeanor with a few slick comments here and there resembles a mix of Johnny Depp/Tristan, if you could envision that. Remus…well, he doesn't really have a large part, but sure why not, lets make him look like Kevin from the Backstreet boys with longer hair. (wow, random…you may have trouble envisioning some of these…but whatever, its fun). So ok…they are young…hot…and mischievous. Enjoy.

Chapter 15

"Your Majesty!" The Lord Cedric proclaimed, bowing whole heartedly to his king. He nodded his head to the rest of us as Arthur explained who we were. I was happy to note that he did not flinch when my title was revealed. Instead, he smiled wide, though uneasiness lurked behind his mild demeanor. He was of middle age, with a brown decently cut beard, his hair braided back from his face.

"Lord Cedric, it is good to see you. I have heard nothing but great things from your people." The governor sheepishly blushed slightly, attempting to be humble.

It was true. The night before we had ridden in, talking amongst the commoners before we met their Lord, and all held praise for their governor. Arthur whispered to me that it was a rare thing for an official to be liked, even rarely for the public to admit it before badgering the troubles they had. And even this seemingly content village had troubles, as the Lord was all to eager to tell.

He beckoned for us to talk over a feast, and my was it a feast. It seemed his province had been quite prosperous the past few seasons, with no drought or Saxons to bother them. Instead, we soon discovered what truly scared him.

"The Irish", he began, taking a bite out of his chicken leg. "We have yet to be plundered by these savage warriors, but I have heard the stories. They are beginning to venture farther inward, getting a bit cocky. Word is most of the village ports west of here have already been raided and pillaged. The bloody Irish are smart enough not to stay in one spot for too long though. Its hard to say how many are currently on the isle of Britain, it is. But I was hoping, my king, if you could spare any well trained soldiers? The guards we have are well equipped to deal with a few raiders and troublemakers…but I fear an Irish incursion beginning, my lord."

I looked over to Arthur, but could not read his expression. He was tapping his index finger on the table, in thought. "Very well, Lord Cedric. One of my Riders shall hasten back and deliver twenty men to your service. In the meantime, we shall visit these plundered villages and see what needs to be done. You are a fine governor, Lord Cedric." The two shook hands as the feast proceeded on.

As we went to our quarters to settle in for the night, Arthur requested a word. "And whom are you sending back to the Wall tomorrow?" he questioned.

I thought for a moment. "Remus."

He raised an eyebrow, testing me. "Why?"

I gulped. "Well, Conall is the fastest rider, but I will need his tracking skills if indeed we do come across these Irish folk. Avery would have been my next choice, but seeing as how he's our only healer, that wouldn't quite do. Tobias and Remus are my best archers, so sparing one, in my opinion, is the best way to get the job done fast."

He raised his eyebrow at me. "Arria I do believe your learning far too quickly for your own good."

I beamed, surprised by his praise. "Due credit goes to the men that trained me."

"I hope I could include myself in that list…"

"Your Majesty, you are trying too hard for a compliment…"

He scrunched up his face. "I suppose I am." He sighed in wonder of himself as I rolled my eyes. "Perhaps you should check on your stable boy aye?" Arthur said with a twinkle in his eye.

"You mock my punishment."

"No, no. A fitting one….a creative one. Most definitely a punishment bestowed by a woman."

I narrowed my eyes. "I suppose you think I should be scarring the boy instead?"

"Not at all, captain. Do as you deem necessary."

I crossed my arms. "I intend to. Goodnight, my lord." I exited the corridor and began tracing my way outside the building and through Lord Cedric's courtyard, where two guards were concentrating heavily on a card game. Upon entering the stables, I noticed Gafran stroking his horse, soothing her with his calm song in a language I had heard once before.

It reminded me of seeing Lancelot in the stable, the same lyrics flowing from his tongue. That same sad tune. "I did not know you were Sarmatian." I spoke, announcing my presence. Gafran slowly turned around to face me, dropping his brush into the bucket as the horse neighed.

He opened his mouth quickly, I assume to retort some indecent one liner, but he thought better of this. Instead, he softened his expression, though still looking completely stiff and detached. "My father was one of the Sarmatian knights posted here in Britain."

I titled my head in confusion. None of the other knights ever mentioned this to me. He seemed to read my expression carefully. "The reason you haven't heard of him was because Arthur had him exiled."

I was about to ask why, but common sense told me he would not answer. Instead, something else was on my mind. "That tune…I've heard it before…what does it mean?"

His cockiness returned once more. "What is it to you aye? How bout we strike a deal. I'll tell you what it means if you let me off the hook of this stupid stable boy matter. Do we have an accord?" He titlted his head back in triumph.

I merely gave him a stone set face. "Gafran, let us get one thing straight. I am your captain, your superior. You will learn to respect me, and that includes no bargaining for the punishments I bestow on your behavior."

Once more, it looked as if he would retort a comment, but he held his tongue. "Very well. I suppose your commanding me to tell you what it means now?"

To this I actually smiled. "No, I am not commanding you. I was just curious, but it is your personal business. I hope by now you can learn to distinguish my commands from ordinary questions."

I actually think I saw the corner of his lip lift up a bit. "Perhaps I can. I suppose you will give that scary look every time you command something."

"Scary look? I don't look scary."

"Will I get in trouble if I argue the point?" he questioned honestly.

I couldn't believe it. Wench hitter had actually made me chuckle. "Just know when I'm serious and when I'm joking, okay?"

He turned back to his horse. "I didn't know captains could joke." The horse neighed a few times as he once more picked up the brush to her delight. His back was to me when he said softly, "I'm sorry about that night."

He had caught me off guard. "Excuse me?" I asked, slightly confused.

He flashed a gaze towards me, then back to his mare. "That night at the bar. Aedan told me I went too far."

I folded my arms. "Gafran look at me." He turned around, embarrassed for being vulnerable. "You should never hit a woman, any woman. Did you not learn this before Aedan explained this to you?"

Again, I think I hit a nerve, because his embarrassed red cheeks soon twisted back into its mocking form. He did not like showing any form of emotion. I turned to leave out of frustration, when he whispered these words: "It is not a song usually sung in public….

Sun of morning, star of night

Tis for the best that moon shall die

Bleeding earth, o hear my cry

In shadows let me lie

In shadows let me lie

For heaven sees not my plight…" He finished singing, looking down the entire time. I let the words sink into my heart, not knowing quite how to translate their meaning. I nodded my thanks, and left the stables, unsure of what had just taken place. Gafran was sure to be trouble, but perhaps there was hope that all was not lost within his soul. It was in these thoughts that I drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to the sound of "Bloody hell!" erupting from the room directly across from mine. I flung off my sheets and opened the door of the other room, and upon seeing what was inside, I couldn't help but desperately try to contain my laughter.

Conall was covered in bird feces….how it had got on him, I had no idea. He looked up at me in horror. "Captain…" he sputtered to say, a few droplets escaping his mouth. Laughter burst through the doorway as Avery and Tobias stood a few feet away from me, their faces red with amusement.

"Sorry Captain.." they managed to squeak out at the same time. "You see, yesterday Conall made a joke about…"

I held up my hand. "I don't want to know…all I know is that he better not smell like this the entire ride back." I noticed Gabriel leaning against the wall, silently slicing an apple as the corner of his mouth twisted into a slight smile. As soon as I shut my door once more, I heard a loud thud as Conall screamed his threats of pissing on them while they slept or slitting their throats the moment their backs were turned.

My favorite was when he exclaimed, "By the time I'm through with ye, no woman will ever bed with ye again! You won't be able to produce an heir!"

After snatching an apple from Lord Cedric's kitchen, I headed over to the stable, where Remus was saddling his horse. I handed him his bag as he mounted up. He nodded his thanks, still a little nervous around me. I smiled.

"Know what to do?"

"Yes sir…er…captain….that is, reassign the men you wanted here." As he was speaking, he pulled back his long brown curls and banded it together.

"God speed." I said, patting the horses back. He nodded, and kicked his horse out of the stables and passed the courtyard. Gafran was in the next stable, mucking out some of his mare's leftovers. He hadn't said a word the entire time. I thought for a moment, then shook my head at my own folly. I was such a weakling.

"Gafran, go to the bathhouse and take a much needed soak. After that we leave…you are no longer stable boy." His blue eyes widened in confusion, he was probably laughing at me. Arthur was right. I was horrible at giving punishments…this was a stupid one anyway.

"Well? Don't just stand there!" I practically bellowed at him, my hands tightly places over my hips in annoyance. He muttered his thanks and proceeded to follow my directions.

We left Lord Cedric's house a few hours later, thanking him for his hospitality and promising his new soldiers would be arriving by the end of the week. Arthur told us we were to ride west, to the village of Raedun, about a day's journey. During the excursion, I rode with Gabriel, who surprised me with countless stories of his various teachers of combat in the far eats, describing to me different puncture wounds to use and stances. He would make a great assassin.

"Did I tell you the blonde bar maid is with child? My child, that is." Conall exclaimed to Tobias, who whooped his delight.

"Better hope the kid gets his mother's looks…" Avery muttered to Aedan. Conall narrowed his eyes at his comrade.

"Are you to marry her now then, aye? Settle down and such?" Tobias asked earnestly, though Aedan and Avery looked at each other, knowing the answer already.

"Course he ain't!" Gafran said with superiority.

Conall raised his eyebrow. "And how would you know Gafran?"

Gafran chuckled. "Simple really. Number one, you don't know for sure if the child's yours…" Everyone laughed. "And number two…what's her name?"

Conall was stuck. "Name? Name…of…of course!…Its Julia."

Aedan looked on sadly as his friend, shaking his head. "Margery. Her name's Margery, Conall."

"Poor kid. If his dad's as thick as this one, he won't stand a chance…." I broke in, eavesdropping on their conversation. They chuckled a bit, then the laughter died down.

"So great Captain, do you ever plan to marry and have kids like a normal girl?" Avery battered.

"If all men are like you, I shall fear for my children's intelligence" I retorted. Hours passed, and the sun began to fall into the rising night sky. He had reached a clearing, with about a mile of wheat fields to travel before the man made road to the village began amidst the trees.

"Conall, ride ahead. Tobias, go with him" I commanded, my tone steady. By now the sky was as black as my horse, with thousands of stars peering down on us in curiosity. Arthur trotted up next to me, and I stopped my horse, my men doing the same.

"I see you dismissed Gafran's punishment."

I looked left at my commander. "Yes milord. I did." He said no more on the matter. He merely shrugged his shoulders as we waited for the two to return. After about fifteen minutes I furrowed my brow in thought, unsure of what was going on. They definitely should have been back by now. I squinted my eyes forward, lighting a torch to see in front of me. Scanning the fields….there. At the end of the tree line I saw two shadows on top of their horses, galloping back to us as fast as possible.

"Arthur…" I called, sensing trouble. He looked over to where I pointed. The two shadows were now being chased by five more.

"To arms!" He shouted, wielding Excalibur out of its sheath, and I did likewise. All of us kicked our horses forward across the field, unsure of what to expect. We could hear the yelling of Tobias and Conall, coming closer and closer, their pursuers closely behind. Upon seeing us though, the five shadows slowed down their horses, and began to race back into the forest, out of sight. We slowed down as Tobias and Conall cantered back to us.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, just as Arthur shouted, "What happened?" Gabriel had his arrow pointed towards the trees, just in case.

Conall took a moment to breathe and wiped the sweat from his brow. "We had the delightful pleasure of meeting our Irish fellows. They, however, did not seem pleased to meet our acquaintance…"

Tobias jumped in. "They came out of nowhere…ghosts really…couldn't even hear them approach until it was almost too late.."

Arthur raised his eyebrow. "And they just attacked you out of the blue? Were there any more than the five we saw chasing you?" Tobias looked to Conall for an answer.

"Four more hid in the trees…I expect a whole brigade of them are nearby. They seemed to be a scouting party" Conall exclaimed, pretty sure in his answer. Gabriel signaled to me that nothing stirred within the outskirts of the forest. Our new enemy was gone.

I turned to Arthur in thought. "Well, seems Lord Cedric was telling the truth. What do we do now?" To answer me, Arthur kicked his horse east of the forest, the rest of our party following without question. He rode southeast for about an hour before answering me.

Stopping and dismounting his horse, our king stretched out his arms before beginning to unhook his bag and saddle from his cocoa colored mare. "We rest here for a few hours" he said to all of us, not looking at anyone in particular. "In the morning we shall see how many of our friends invaded."

We did as our king commanded and set up camp. Luck was not on our side, as furious rain began to fall from the heavens, soaking us thoroughly and disturbing our slumber. It did not help when the wind blew the rain even harder, whisping it in every directions so that there was no escaping it. It was several hours before my prayers were answered and the rain stopped.

The morning arrived with the absence of the sun. Instead, an eery fog surrounded us as we tried to track down the invaders. Conall did his best, looking at the damp grounds for signs of footprints or snapped branches, but the rest of the morning was spent in a vain attempt. Frustrations rose as we plowed through mud, our horses not being any more optimistic than their sulky riders.

Conall stopped up ahead, signaling Arthur and I to come quietly. We did as told, and peered through the rocks he was looking at seconds ago. There they were. A small party- maybe twenty men total in the small gorge below. Time for the fun to begin.

I spanned out the men, placing Tobias near myself as he picked up his bow. The arrow let loose on my command, striking the unbeknownst man nearest us in the leg. His wailings quickly alerted the others, all rising to their feet, swords drawn in readiness. Avery let loose another, piercing a rather chunky fellow in the side…not a deadly blow. I wasn't a cold blooded murderer, after all. The idea was to hit as few as possible, and hope the rets will surrender. After another arrow hit what seemed to be the band's leader, the others began to worry, looking up into the misty treeline.

"Tis ghosts!" One buffoon screamed, dropping his sword in terror. Though no others voiced that sentiment, their tension was easy to see.

"Alrighty then, ye've had yer target practice….now fight like real men! Show yerself!" A middle aged, red haired axe wielder exclaimed, unsure of where to look. I smirked in my own cockiness, walking downhill slowly into eyesight, Tobias right behind me with his bow raised.

Upon seeing a woman, even more uneasiness swept through them. "Tis a witch, it tis.." one mumbled.

The red haired man raised his eyebrow, but said nothing. He was gripping his dagger tightly, but did not bear the same uncomfortable gaze as his comrades.

"Listen, Irishman…I am Captain Arria of the King's Riders…King Arthur of Britain, that is…and you are trespassing on our soil. Last night my men were chased down by yours, and I've come to rectify your mistake."

A few of them chuckled, while the others looked to Red Hair for orders. He stared me down. "I was under the impression your king was a just man…yet he tries to shoot down my men?"

I kept my voice steady, not letting him see my expressions. "Do not mistake a just king for a foolish one who lets savages plunder villages and kill the innocent."

His upper lip rose in a semi smile, his chin lowering as he took a step closer. "Savages are we? That hurts, me dear. We are but humble men trying to feed our families..surely you can understand our plight?" He subtly looked left across the gorge at something, and my eyes narrowed in confusion. I looked his men, who all seemed to be calm and steady, unlike a few minutes ago. He was buying time by distracting me.

"Arria!" Arthur shouted from above, and I dove under just as an arrow flew past me. Tobias was quick with his bow, and an unknown assailant fell from a tree to my right. Red Head and friends now screamed their charge, and came at us full force. Conall and Gafran emerged beside me, swords drawn. I looked upwards towards the trees as the mistiness cleared, revealing a few of the Irishmen charging Arthur, Avery, and Aedan.

I raised my sword, strangely calm. One of the raiders lunged forward, and I easily blocked his thrust, clashing my sword against his. I took on the offensive, swinging low for his legs as he parried. Keeping my legs balanced, I maneuvered right, leaning down on my right knee and propelling upward with my sword in a jabbing motion. He barely deflected it and lost his balance, backing up down the hill. I took this opportune moment to thrust with my blade while kicking forward, the man tumbling to the ground. My sword finally pierced his chest as he lay flat on the ground, as my next attacker came.

Less than five minutes later all twenty of our foes were dead, the rest of us emerging with only scratches. We had managed to squeak out from on of the scum that parties like theirs were materializing all over western Britain, and soon the Irish would take over our northwestern half for their own gain.

"Irish in the west…Saxons resurfacing in the south…sounds like we're going to be pretty busy, Arthur" I said, wiping drops of someone else's blood off my face. He sighed, looking around at our dead enemy.

He ignored my comment, at least for the moment. "Well, you've experienced your first battle as captain. Not a bad outcome, I must say. First reasoning, killing by force…getting useful information while your at it…I didn't even need to come on this trip, seems you and your men will be quite alright without me." I looked over at my warriors, some wanting to drop dead from sheer exhaustion, others gripping minor wounds.

After a few more visits to nearby Celtic villages to make sure everything was in order, we began to make our way back to the Wall. We had been gone for two weeks.

"My first battle scar!" Conall exclaimed, excited at the prospect of his arm bearing a small cut.

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Yea sure, the ladies will be lining up for you to bed them with that", though in my opinion he looked quite boisterous over his own wound.

"Sad to think you need battle scars to win the hearts of females, Conall. Some of us get our fair ladies with sheer beauty". To make his point clear, Avery ran his fingers through his hair in passionate fashion.

"Boys, when will you learn.." I piped in as all eyes turned to me. "The way to a woman's heart is by the length of his sword."

"Poor Tobias…" Aedan said, looking pitifully at his comrade as the others laughed good naturedly. "Seriously though, cap…will you reveal to us lowly men the secrets of the female species?"

I thought for a moment as we rode forth. "No…your mind cannot possibly comprehend the vastness of our varying emotions and intellect…" All of them looked at each other.

Gafran shook his head. "Women…"