Misguided Roses Chapter 23

The attack began accordingly. Many a Saxon fell to our arrows, and the fire spread to the oil beneath us, separating their legions as their warrior leaders shouted out orders. Their archers answered our call, and I raised my shield over my body, hoping everyone beside me did likewise. The arrows struck like thunder as cries rang out among the wounded, the smell of fear filling the air. Down below, while the Saxons were distracted, Arthur commanded the cavalry to ride into the left half of one of the three legions. Above us, hawks, crows and other scavengers of the air awaited the bloodshed, the feast beginning.

The Saxon leader Elmric shouted his orders, and his middle infantry bellowed their way forward towards us, swords raised in attack. I strapped my bow behind my back and mounted Marrin, many others doing likewise. The Woads waited in the trees, ready for us to bring the unsuspecting legion into the forest. Instead of rushing forward to meet the enemy head on, he retreated back into the woods, making sure they were still following. Corwin, the Woad leader, nodded at me as I whisked our men right, across the huge boulders and making our way toward the right flank of Saxons, still conceiling ourselves behind bushes. The mist had begun to make its way as expected, and the Saxons entered the clearing before the forest with nervousness. As we hid, the Woads shot down from the trees on the Saxons like hunters devouring their prey. Many tried running deeper into the woods, only to be met by more ghostlike warriors tearing their flesh. They were in Woad territory- where few escaped.

I did not wait to see how well the Woad warriors faired. Instead, Gawain and I signaled the men to keep low and exit the Forest near the right flank. I looked over to see the cavalry having a difficult time with the Saxons over on the left side. Lancelot and Aedan were with them, fighting feverishly as comrades fell. Gawain shouted the order to attack, and we emerged from our hiding to strike the enemy.

Surprise overtook them as we embraced the right flank in battle, clashing our swords in anger. Only the thought to survive overtook me as I slashed my way forward, slicing one man's arm off as another fell chest first into my sword. I ducked the onslaught of an axe just in time, and as I was down I tripped the assailant to the ground, stabbing my dagger into his stomach. Another man rushed forward towards me as I stood, and I quickly wielded my sword to parry the blow, then, with my free hand, slashed Dag's dagger across his face, blood spewing everywhere as he screamed. Beside me, Gawain bashed open the head of one attacker. I quickly wiped the blood from my eye in time to see a rather burly man whip his axe above him, ready to cut down on my head. I dodged the blow with my shield, and a loud pang rendered my shield arm aching. He was strong, and I used this opportunity while his axe was down to push up my shield, the top of it hitting his chin as he fell back.

Sorcha, riding atop a white mare, used her horse to finish the large man off as hoof connected with head. I locked eyes with her, signaling my thanks, but on to the next Saxon she went, myself doing likewise. I felt something bury into my thigh as I howled my pain. Looking up, I saw a smug Saxon with his crossbow aiming now for my chest. Taking another knife from my belt, I threw it forward like Guinevere had taught me, and before he could release his dart the knife plummeted itself through his heart. Kill, kill, my mind screamed as body after body fell under my blade. I took a moment to dislodge the arrow from my thigh as new pain thundered. "Captain, look out!" Avery shouted as a Saxon came from behind me. I jerked my body right, burying my sword through the Saxon.

Avery stood beside me as we fought the enemy. I kept my shield strapped behind me, so as not to let anyone stab me, literally, in the back. A young blonde hit me from the side, the butt of his blade hitting my cheek. The blow offset me, and my balance wavered. He then took a slash to my shoulder, and for that I head butted him, slitting his throat. My left arm throbbed, as did my right ankle, though I was unsure of what happened.

The only sounds I heard were screams as man after man fell to my blade. I knew I was acquiring more wounds by the minute…but the pain ceased in my mind as my goal became clear. It was evident the whole right side of the Saxons were decimated, and it was time to meet the huge onslaught in the middle of the field where Arthur had forced the left flank to move. The Woads had emerged from the trees, small in number.

After taking a hard slash to my sword arm, I cursed the mothers who bore these Saxon bastards. I let countless memories flounce through my mind as my blade met the flesh of my enemies: playing with Domitia and Marciana in Rome as father laughed, boosting Galahad's ego when we sparred, reading with Alecto, gossiping with Guinevere, watching as my Riders played pranks on one another. My happiest memories were showcased before my eyes, in hopes that I would continue to live.

Beside me, I watched with horror as Gawain took a serious spear wound to his side, and I immediately gutted the man before he could finish my friend off. Gawain faltered a bit, but shook his head and in a menacing cry, stormed back into the fray as blood poured out of him.

I could hear Bors somewhere behind me, shouting unusual curses as he struck. Looking over, I could tell the entire cavalry had been defeated, and many were now on foot battling the Saxons that butchered their horses with spears. A low rumble came from a part of the Forest that had been overlooked. I watched with horror…as hundreds of Saxons enveloped the field…Saxons we had not taken into account from before. Before, it might have been possible to witness victory. I looked to Gawain and he met my eyes. We both knew we could not possibly defeat so many. Beside me, an Irish warrior took a blow to his head, falling at my feet. Behind, a Woad cried its last breath as the Saxon dog slit his throat.

"Arria!" Gawain called, slashing his way over to me. "You know what we must do."

I clenched my fist. "But…we can hold out…maybe if we…"

"We cannot win!" he screamed, decapitating a man with his axe. I screamed my anger, whirling around to strike a man between his legs.

Before another Saxon could come at me, I turned back to Gawain. "Get Bors and follow me! I saw Arthur about a hundred yards east! We have to hurry!"

We made our way through the fights, Bors in the lead, killing anyone who got in our way. Aedan saw us and followed, knowing what we were about to do. Finally I could see Arthur in the distance, battling what looked to be the leader, Elmric.

I could see Guinevere also making her way through the madness, slashing to get to her husband. A Saxon kept Bors from advancing, and I began to watch as Arthur furiously battled with the enemy, matching every blow for blow. Guinevere was closest, her eyes displaying a ferocity I had seen only once before. She gutted one man, punching the other in the face. I noticed she was limping, an arrow still caught on the back of her ankle.

Suddenly the Saxon leader caught Arthur unaware, and kicked him down to the ground. As Arthur fell, Elmric swung his blade, making Arthur's sword barrell out of his hand.

Guinevere saw this too…and for a brief moment, our minds locked, hers saying, 'get him out of here!'. She jumped forward, clashing her blade against Elmric's before he could finish the British king off. Ten men stood between us and the fight. I slashed forward, killing a man instantly as Bors did the same. Gawain was having trouble and Aedan rushed to his side. Out of the corner of my left eye I could see Guinevere's fight, her eyes taunting the huge Saxon that threatened everything she stood for. Elmric was a large, burly man of about six and a half feet. He was bald on top, but had a long red beard tied in a braid. His eyes were cold and merciless, and it was easy to see many feared his gaze. Not Guinevere. She lashed forward, parrying his blows as Arthur dragged backward to retrieve his blade.

I was distracted for a moment as I battled a small soldier. He narrowed his eyes at me, thrusting his spear to gut me. I blocked it with my sword, and with my other hand I threw my knife into him.

The most horrifying sound erupted in front of me. I quickly looked up over the body of my most recent slain to see both Bors and Aedan battling Elmric, as Arthur sat clutching something.

My heart pounded faster and faster and I found myself retching any food left in me. It was as if the battle began to move in slow motion. My head became heavy as I stared, my eyes transfixed on my king.

Arthur stroked her head, her eyes closed as she lay before him. Blood was pouring from her chest, where the sword had struck. It was an instant kill.

There was no time to think or cry. A hatred so deep welled up in me, and I released my fury on the few that got in my way. By the time I made it over, Bors had slain the Saxon leader as Aedan tried to pry Arthur from his beloved queen. Avery had made it over, and he and Gawain were keeping anyone who tried to attack from getting to us.

"We need to get her to a healer!" Arthur called, caressing her cheek with his fingers.

"She's gone, your Majesty," Aedan said, barely above a whisper. Arthur shook his head, not willing it to be so. "We have to leave, my king. The battle is lost."

"NO!" he screamed. "We shall not leave! It is our fate to die here! I will not leave her!"

I rushed over to his side, looking down at the body of my friend. "Arthur" I called gently. "We must go, you must live-"

"If she is dead then I cannot live," he cried, shaking Aedan's hand away.

I touched his arm. "You are king, Arthur. You cannot desert your people. You carry the seeds of the future. If you live there is hope that everything Britain is will survive."

"I don't care! Leave me!" he screamed, his eyes burning with sorrow.

I noticed Gawain and Avery having a hard time keeping the battle from reaching us. I raised my voice in frustration. "WHAT WOULD GUINEVERE HAVE YOU DO? SIT HERE SELFISHLY LETTING EVERYTHING WE'VE BUILT GO TO WASTE, OR RUN AND SEEK JUSTICE ANOTHER DAY?"

I struck a nerve, and he looked down on her ghostlike face. He breathed heavily, and bent down to kiss her softly on the lips…one last time. He whispered something I shall never know, and with one last touch, Aedan pulled our king up as we made our way north.

The fights were finishing, as Saxons realized their leader was dead. They had won, but it would take them months to sort out a new leader. Bors lead the way, followed by Aedan and Arthur, with Gawain and I bringing up the rear. Avery looked back onto the battlefield.

"Avery, come! We need to reach Willow's Peak!" I called.

He looked at me, then back to the field. "I'm sorry, Captain. Sorcha's still down there! I cannot leave her!" Without another word he ran as fast as he could back to the reddening pasture. The retreat horn sounded, as many of our soldiers stopped their fights and made their way north. Aedan stopped and stood beside me.

"Avery, Gabriel and Tobias are still down there," I said to him.

Aedan furrowed his brow and took my hand in his. "They are your Riders, Captain."

I stared at him, watching as he brushed back a few curly strands of golden hair behind his ear. "Indeed. And we shall not leave one behind."

Down the hill we went as parts of the battle still ensued. Soldiers craving vengeance slaughtered their foes, and soon we found Avery and Sorcha in the midst of a fight. Sorcha was still atop her horse, and lifted Avery up behind her. "To the Peak!" I called, and Avery nodded, telling Sorcha where to go.

We filed our way through the bodies of the deceased as the ravens began their feast. Gabriel was severely wounded, and Jols was helping him walk but was having a difficult time. A Saxon fell upon them, and I raised my knife, throwing it squarely into his heart.

"Get him to high ground!" I called, still searching for Tobias. Aedan ran beside me as we fought our way forward. Most of the Saxons were now falling back to their campsite, to tend to their wounds. Only a few fights prevailed. I could not see Tobias anywhere, yet body after body flooded the ground.

"Aedan I don't see him, do you think he's hurt somewhere-" I stopped and looked at Aedan. His eyes were not on me. In fact, they were staring straight ahead, where a lone figure stood near the Western Forest, his sword unsheathed and beckoning to us.

Aedan did not say a word, he simply walked toward the man, myself following behind.

Gafran raised his chin in mockery, his eyes smug with victory as he held his sword out. "I told you, Aedan, to stay away."

"And let the enemy seize what they should not have?" Aedan called in spite. Gafran smirked and let his eyes fall on me.

"I told you I would prove my worth, Captain," he spited. I concealed my sorrow, and stared hard at him.

"I pity you, Gafran. You chose darkness when I saw a light in you. You let your anger for your uncle outweigh your will for a better life. Please…do not fight us."

Aedan narrowed his eyes at me, and Gafran simply continued to look smug. "Still think you can win me over to your cause, aye Capn? You always were a soft spot."

"Please, Gafran, I know there is good in you, let go your hate!"

He looked back to Aedan. "You always were good to me, Aedan. Probably the closest thing I had to a brother. I did not kill you when I set the stables on fire, but if you do not leave I swear to you your blood will stain my blade."

"You killed our people, Gafran…" he began, his voice hoarse. "I trusted you with my life! You swore allegiance to Arthur, not some Saxon dog! And all this out of spite for Cormack?"

"Cormack was just an annoyance, you fool! Now he is dead, and I will have my revenge on the man who ruined my life!"

I stared at him, confused by his words. "But if you were not out to get Cormack-"

"Honestly, Arria, can't you figure it out? The man that ruined the name of my family, the man that drove my father from this land, the man that condemned me to a life of suffering and inferiority! Arthur."

I looked to Aedan, who seemed just as disturbed as me. Gafran continued, pacing back and forth with his blade still facing us. "Arthur exiled my father and forced me to fall prey to my uncles abuse! I have waited a long time to see him suffer the same way I have suffered! I took great pride in gutting his beloved Woad magician-"

"YOU murdered Merlin! YOU killed Conall and Remus? By gods, gafran, what have you done?" Aedan screamed, pulling his hair in horror.

Gafran, for a moment, softened his gaze at the sound of their names. "They were in the way of my plan…" he whispered, almost saddened. "If you hadn't have sent them,. they would still be alive."

My hands were clammy and my throat dry. "You fled the day Cormack returned to give Elmric information of our tactics. You've been coying with us all along."

"I HAD TO! DON'T YOU SEE? I only wanted to get rid of Arthur, but to do so would be to go through you…all of you! I never intended….but there was no going back! And Cormack was right. I did turn out to be like my father. You see, it was my father that betrayed Arthur to the Saxons at Badon. He gave them useful information and still they foiled it up! But I managed to do what my father could not. I defeated the mighty King Arthur." His eyes were narrowed and full of hate, his attempts to justify his actions only spurring his rage.

"You have not won, Gafran. He still lives, and in order to get through him you must come through me," Aedan challenged, his voice steady.

Gafran gulped, almost unsure of whether this was what he wanted. "I know you don't believe me, but I don't wish to hurt you. Stand aside."

I raised my sword next to Aedan's. "Our loyalties lie with our king, Gafran. I see now I made a mistake trying to help you become noble. I thought…I thought you had the potential to be a great leader."

My words struck a cord with him, and I watched as one, small tear made its way down his cheek. He lunged forward, striking at me first. I blocked his blow, swinging around to catch his unused shoulder. I was scared. I knew he was a much better swordsman than Aedan or myself. I was scared because I did not see the evil that had rested within his soul for so long. He parried Aedan's strike and pivoted his left foot forward, thrusting at me while blocking Aedan's concealed dagger. I barely blocked a vertical blow and faltered back. He kicked forward and knocked Aedan to the ground. I took this moment to slash at him from the side, but he instantly blocked it and cut into my arm, elbowing me in the face as he did. I fell to the ground, and Aedan threw dirt in Gafran's eyes, blinding him momentarily.

I rubbed my face in pain, but got up as Gafran swung viciously at his friend, catching Aedan's side as he howled in pain. He backed away while keeping his other arm up, the wound obviously deep.

"You cannot beat me, Arria. You know my power far suppresses yours."

"Indeed. But I on the other hand prove to be an interesting match," a voice said behind him. I smiled as Lancelot approached Gafran, both swords horizontally forward in combat position, his grin wide in arrogance. Gafran growled and turned to face the newcomer.

"I've always wanted to see if I could beat the great Sarmatian swordsman."

Lancelot kept grinning. "And I'd be delighted to give you a show."

I made my way over to Aedan as Gafran and Lancelot began their dance with blades. Aedan was lying on the ground, his right hand clinging to the wound to keep it from pouring. Quickly I ripped off a piece of my tunic and wrapped it around him as he fought to keep conscience. I myself could once more feel my own wounds burning as my head ached. It hurt to rise once more, but I had to help Lancelot. I would not let him fall.

He and Gafran intensely matched each blow for blow, reading each other's moves like a book. They anticipated the other's movements, looking for a hole to strike. At first I could only watch, unsure of how to get involved.

My move came when Lancelot tripped Gafran, and Gafran rolled out of the way as Lancelot struck down. I thrust downward, but he kicked me off balance. As I fell, he slashed my chest, and I cried out in sheer agony. Lancelot drove his sword forward while Gafran slashed me, and it cut shortly in his skin. An anger possessed Lancelot and he screamed as he lunged forward, this time Gafran barely able to block his blows. He slashed with his right and cut with his left, Gafran for the first time looking unnerved.

I sat on my knees, holding my chest as my heart beat slower and slower. My head was so heavy and I think blood was rapidly pouring off me. I was covered in red. My eyelids were heavy, or so heavy.

I watched as Lancelot continued to lash viciously, concentrating his anger on Gafran's weak left side. I put one hand forward to keep from falling over. "Please, Lancelot, don't fall.." I whispered.

Gafran swung wildly and cut into Lancelot's face, a huge streak of red across his left cheek.

For Lancelot, that was it. While Gafran swung low, stabbing his side, Lancelot at the same time jabbed the tip of his blade into Gafran's stomach. Then, with his other sword, he thrust forward while the boy was seething in pain, burying his left sword all the way through Gafran's body, the tip of it protruding from his back.

I got enough strength to hobble over to where Gafran fell, his body slowly rising and falling as he took in large breaths, staring at the sky. Lancelot fell back, sitting, breathing for what seemed to be the first time throughout the fight. I sat near Gafran, and he slowly shifted his head to look at me. He inhaled and exhaled, clearly life leaving his body.

I shook my head at him, letting him know my sorrow. He blinked, and then stared into my eyes. His last breath escaped him, his eyes still glancing at me in regret.

I coughed, blood escaping my mouth. Lancelot reached over and I let my body crawl into his arms as I sobbed, letting him hold me as blood stained us both.

"I couldn't save him," I whispered. Lancelot simply rocked me, caressing my forehead with his fingers.

"You did your best, dove. You did your best."

"I'm so sorry, Lance…I never shoul…I never…I love.."

"Arria?" he stopped rocking me, and looked into my eyes. Everything hurt. It felt cold. I could feel my body shaking, and all I wanted to do was close my eyes. It felt so good to be in his arms. Gotta be Arria. Don't show your weakness. Crack a joke or something, lighten the mood….

"Stay with me, Arria," he called, choked up. I blinked once, willing to obey him.

"Always," I whispered. I tried to smile, to let him know I was okay. But only in shadows did I lie.

Ugh, my back hurts. I think this is my quickest update, woohoo! Yea, so okay, that was kinda a long, hard read. Very emotional. Haha, too emotional for me. Rereading it makes me think its too gushy...o well. And yea, in the beginning when I said Gafran looked like Hayden Christiansen, haha, guess he kinda acts like Darth Vader too. I had wondered if any of you would pick up on it later. I'll update soon. It aint ova, baby. And yes, I know, Guinevere died, please dont kill me with your pitchforks, you knew it was coming. But I wanted her to go out a warrior, not by some sickness. Night.