Author's Note Wow, so many reviews…me so excited! Glad your liking this story, its by far my favorite out of all my stories.

Chapter 24

My wounds were multiple, and it took me three whole days to wake. As I opened my eyes, I stared happily into his, his hand gripped into mine. Every bone in my body ached, and my head swelled. I tried to give a smile, but in my attempt a coughing fit pursued.

"Take it easy, dove," he whispered gently, stroking my hair. I could not see my surroundings, I could only look at him. I opened my mouth to ask a million questions, but he silenced me. "Rest. I'll tell you everything when your ready." There was a hidden sadness behind his teasing smile, but I did as he was told…a first.

A little later I was awakened by the sounds of two men outside my makeshift tent. They were talking in whispers, and I extended my ears to hear them clearly…to no avail.

I cleared my throat, and they took notice. In walked Lancelot and Bors.

Bors grinned and kissed me on the cheek. "There's my lass…knew you were too tough to leave us…" I noticed his neck was bandaged. "Neva seen a girl fight like that before…sure you don't have a penis underneath?"

I laughed as Lancelot said, "Believe me, she's all woman."

As his chuckles died, I noticed him look out beyond the tent. "Avery told me not to let you out…but I think you'll want to be there." At these words Bors looked somber, and realization hit of the past few days of events.

Lance helped me sit up, and made me gulp down some nasty concoction of Avery's. "I have so many questions," I stated, unsure of where to begin, and a bit scared of asking. He straightened his back and nervously cracked his neck.

"Thought you might. Avery told me not to bombard you with too much information, you still need to recover. For now, I've been told to help dress you…you'll only be allowed out for a little while…atleast until we make it safely to Dunhioban."

"Dress me? For what?"

His eyes flickered and I could tell he did not wish to look me in the eye. "Most of the bodies have been buried or burned. The Woads burn their dead, and the ceremony was put off until today for their queen."

I wanted to retch up my food at that moment, as a flash of blood scoured through my mind. My mind was numb to weeping, and I could only nod as he helped me stand. I quickly swallowed the pit in my throat, that feeling of utter dread that came every time someone I had loved died.

"Who else? Who else am I to mourn today, Lancelot?" I asked, not looking at him.

He sighed heavily, the burden of explaining the truth great. "We found Tobias two days ago, laying with his sword buried in the enemy's chest. Dying a true warrior."

I did not say anything for a moment, knowing all along that some of my friends would not live to see today. I covered my mouth with my hand, and tried to keep steady as Lancelot draped a cloak around me.

Outside awaited the caravan of warriors, those whose wounds were not dire and could stand to see the farewell ceremony of their queen. Bors explained that after the fight, Gawain led us north, and then selected a few warriors to return to bury the dead after the Saxons had left the battlefield. The Saxons now had control of the southern half of Britain.

"Will we fight them again soon?" I asked, pushing all my weight on Lancelot as I hobbled closer to the circle of soldiers.

Bors scoffed. "We may have lost the battle, but we have scarred them deeply. It will take them months to recover and still, they'll want to settle in on their new southern province before attacking anything further. We are safe for now."

My body protested to walking even but a few feet, but I commanded it too. I had to show respect for a friend.

Lancelot had me lean on him as we stopped in the front row. We were surrounded by Woads still painted in their traditional blue paint, and behind them were the countless warriors of every province my Riders contacted. In the middle, right in front of my eyes lay our queen, her body wrapped in cloth, covering her face. My sister.

Many were solemn, those who knew her as the fierce warrior or the kind noble. In a strange sense, I wanted to smile. None but I knew that she was destined to die soon anyway, and the fact that she left this earth on her terms, defending what she loved, brought pride to my heart. A figure walked through the men, his face the most torn of all. He kept his face high and appeared emotionless as his crown adorned his head. But I knew better.

Underneath Arthur was a mess. His eyes appeared soulless, as if the entire world had come crashing down. I could see his left hand was shaking, though he tried to cover it. In his right hand was a torch, and he made his way past Lancelot, Bors and I without glancing at us. As Corwin, the new Woad leader, sang words in an unknown tongue, Arthur lit the pyre beneath his beloved's body. As the flames surrounded her, eventually engulfing her into its essence, the men softly prayed to their gods to let her pass safely through to the Otherworld.

Arthur sank to his knees in defeat, still no sign of emotion on his scarred face. He closed his eyes and raised his hands upward, and I knew him to be crying out to the Lord, scorning Him. Other Woads were joining Corwin in their song of sorrow, their tune desolate and despairing of hope.

As flame became ash and ash became dust, many departed to give two lovers peace, as the night sky faded into the rising sun. "Will he be alright?" Aedan asked, helping Lancelot walk me back to the wagon as Bors collected my tent.

Lancelot simply shrugged. Bors looked to Gawain, and then at the ground. It seemed we all knew Arthur might never regain his ability to lead after such a heavy blow. But we wouldn't give up.

The caravan procession made its way north until nightfall. We were a two days ride southwest of Dunhioban, our new fort. Our new Camelot. Bors left us to ride east to Archenridge to gather up his children and wife. "Until things settle down, they stay with me. And I stay with Arthur," he said as he rode off.

When the large group rested, I noticed many breaking off to return to their homelands, those who were able. Many were to stay and see the king safely to the new castle being built. Others would stay on longer, and find their residence permanently with us. Those who were too wounded to move were placed inside the wagons and looked after by the healers. I saw Avery running back and forth between carriages, his face determined to save. Still acting the warrior even after the battle, I thought with a smile. Those who would not make the journey home were left in the hands of volunteers who vowed to be with them at the end. The priority was to see the king safely reach the fort.

I shared the wagon with two other severely wounded men, both of whom were of the land of Erin. Sorcha came in to talk to them in their unique tongue. While they were resting she turned to me.

"I see your anxious to get out." I was indeed restlessly staring out the window and stretching my muscles.

"There are those who are worse off than me that should be lying in here. I can ride."

She rolled her eyes and gave me a jug of water to drink. "So stubborn, you Brits are." She chuckled a bit. "Seems the roles are being reversed. Not long ago you were the one looking after me."

I managed to smile. "I suppose it wasn't long ago…feels like eternity." I brushed the drips of water from my lips and sighed. "How many of your men have you lost?"

"The warriors of Erin do not give up easily. Out of my father's men, we have lost only seven, and only four are severely wounded."

"And your father?"

"Riding with your knight as we speak."

I sighed relief and let my fingers go over one of my scars across my arm. "We did not win the battle. Does this mean our two lands will not unite in peace?"

"I'm not sure. My father now thinks highly of your king, but the news of this loss will not go over well back home. They will think our clan was a fool to side with you."

There was a moments silence between us. I looked out the window and saw Avery riding up to the wagon. "What are you going to do about him? Surely your people will return soon? I must say, you've made quite the impression on our jester."

She giggled and looked out to see him dismounting. "I have told my father where my heart lies. Though he disagrees quite fiercely with my choice, he will not stop me from making my own decision. I will stay with Avery."

Beneath all the anger and sorrow I had been feeling these past few days, a joy for my friend rose up inside me and I nodded my approval. At that moment Avery stepped inside, and Sorcha and I chuckled.

Once we arrived at the fort, everyone was immediately taken to their makeshift quarters. The Lord of Dunhioban happily began explaining to anyone who would listen his plans for completing the fortress. Upon seeing the fort from afar, I raised my eyebrows in respect for its immense size. Only half of the outer wall was completed, but the towers within were larger than any I'd seen in Briton, with architecture that was somewhat similar to Roman design.

I watched as the wounded were taken to their barracks, awaiting the eager hands of the castle healers. Because of my officer status, I was taken into one of the many personal rooms inside the fort. After the healer checked me over and changed my bandages, I was pleasantly surprised to have a visitor.

"Aedan, what are you doing here? Gawain told everyone to get some rest before meeting again" I stated, sitting up in my bed as he entered my room. He had a large cut on his forehead and a nasty wound to his side, but the tonics were working their magic and he gave me a half hearted smile.

"I know, I know, we all need our sleep…forgive me….but these past few days have plagued me with nightmares…and I didn't know how to approach the men with this." He looked down in disgust with himself, and it was in his eyes that mirrored back my own feelings when I had first arrived in Briton.

I signaled him to sit beside me on my soft bed, and he did so reluctantly. "Luckily I will not tease you like the others."

He pulled back a loose golden curl behind his ear. "I did not know I would come out of my first real battle feeling completely helpless and hollow. I could have saved him, Arria. He was like a young…stubborn, headstrong brother to me. And I failed to make him see the error of his ways."

He was letting me into his intimate thoughts, and I found that his own words registered with my thoughts of myself as well. "You cannot blame yourself, Aedan. I was his Captain; part of me blames myself for not being more fair with him. But he made his own choices, as did we. You will make a fine leader someday, Aedan. Your heart is in the right place. All we can give is our best, and we learn from our mistakes."

A weight seemed to be lifted from his shoulder, almost as if he needed to hear from someone that this was not his fault, in order for him to move on. He now looked me in the eyes, and strangely I saw fear.

"I saw many fall at Harrow's Field. Some blood will never escape my memory. I was scared out there, Arria. And yet…and yet I wasn't scared to die."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "What is it you fear?"

The look he gave me right then was my answer. He gulped in his anxiety. His voice became soft, just barely above a whisper, and his tone was heavy. "I have dreamed of that day in the armory every night. I have wished improper thoughts, and I have held that kiss close to my heart. It was at Harrow's Field that I felt the fear of losing you."

I closed my eyes as realization dawned. Indeed I had never forgotten our stolen kiss in the armory, but the events over the past few months had pushed its reminder far back in my mind.

"Months went by and we've never spoken of it. I can see now that your heart belongs to another, a knight who seems to be just as taken with you as I. I have suppressed my feelings, because my duty is to Arthur above all. After the battle…I feel as if my heart will never be free to love another until I confront its choice."

I was at a loss for words, and I even let my mouth open slightly in utter surprise. I have known for a long time he had been restraining what he yearned to do, and it was in his sense of piety that I truly saw his great ability to lead others.

I was not sure how to react to this, but did as I've always done. Spoke whatever words first entered my brain. "I must say, I should have been expecting this. It wasn't until recently that I found what my heart was searching for. I was not leading you on that night in the armory, Aedan. You were my shoulder to lean on. You will always be the brother I never had. One day, and hopefully soon, your soul will find its other half."

He was not disappointed with my answer. Instead, he took it with dignity and nodded his understanding. "Lancelot is a lucky man."

"Unless he decides to visit me soon, he's a dead man."

Aedan chuckled and turned to leave. I grabbed his arm. "Wait" I commanded, and promptly kissed him on the cheek. I smiled into his bright blue eyes.

"Even though you do not have my heart, Aedan, you have my trust. Never fear to come to me with a problem."

He looked thoughtful for a moment, and then left silently. As he shut the door, I had barely begun to snuggle underneath my sheets of comfort before a knock sounded once more. I sighed disdainfully. "Whoever it is better come bearing gifts" I shouted at the door.

It opened, and I did not bother to sit up, wasting energy. Instead I waited for the person to enter. When he did, he grinned slyly, his left hand filled with purple lilies. Placing them on a nearby stand, he slowly climbed in on top of my sheets, resting his head beside mine.

"Thought you might like to see some color on a dreary day like this," he said, his eyes playfully scanning mine.

"I do believe you can be quite charming at times, Sir Lancelot."

"Tis a gift, what can I say," he shrugged, letting his fingers slide down my cheek.

"Hmm, and I see I can cross off humility on your list of attributes."

He leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips, his gaze turning serious. "I saw Aedan walking out, looking a bit under the weather."

"We all are emotionally distressed right now Lancelot, even you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Me? I show no sign of weakness."

I knew he was toying and trying to cheer me up, so I played along. "That's not what I heard from some of the bar wenches. Though you may be charming, sir knight, apparently you cannot last more than a few minutes. Is not this a sign of weakness?"

He showed no indication of breaking his ego. "With me, you only need a few moments to experience the greatest pleasure in all the world. And when did you start believing the village gossip about my bedding skills?"

"All I know is that the girls look for you when they don't have a lot of time on their hands."

"Hmm, perhaps I need to prove my skillfulness in the art of seduction." He leaned in to kiss me once more, but I turned my head, making him touch my cheek instead.

"Your wounds must be healing fast if you speak of your desire to make love." I yawned violently, and snuggled against his chest. "We need rest if we are to restore what was lost to us." He wrapped his arms lightly around me, though not too tightly against my own wounds. He sighed heavily, and I knew he was drifting into sleep.

"I fear we will not regain the power to complete the vision Arthur once had" he whispered, his eyes closed as his breathing slowed into a light rhythmic pattern.

"Then we will pass it on to our children, so that perhaps they will have the strength to do what we could not," I whispered, my own eyelids getting heavier by the second.