Okay, well since my reviewers are so lovely, I decided to post the next chapter of Faded Roses in a Heart already. You guys keep reviewing and I'll be able to write quicker with the motivation. I must say that I look forward to reading my reviews more than writing the story. I love to know what people think of what I write and I try to make sure everyone is happy with my story. I give credit to Fallen Knights for providing the movie script of King Arthur so I don't have to go through the movie. Review Responses are at the end of the chapter as usual. Hope you like this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur but I do own Emma.
Faded Roses in a Heart
Chapter 4
Fast Track to Freedom
"As promised – the Bishop's carriage," said Gawain as he looked at the caravan of soldiers traveling with the Bishop.
"Our freedom, Bors," said Galahad looking over at the other knights. His eyes passed over a slight figure in between Arthur and Dagonet looking nervously around herself. It was Emma's first time going anywhere outside the city with the knights and she was a ready for anything. She was wearing pants like the other knights and a small tunic sized to fit her just for this mission. She wore half of her hair tied back so it wouldn't get in the way. The swords on her back, almost exactly like Lancelot's, were crossed to make it easier for her to pull them out if needed.
Emma could feel someone's gaze on her and she looked around to see who it was. She spotted Galahad staring at her and she gave him a slight smile. She turned her head back in time to Bors to hear his response to Galahad.
"Mmm… I can almost taste it," Bors said chuckling.
"Your passage to Rome, Arthur," Galahad said and Emma guessed that he had stopped looking at her. Arthur looked down at her and drew her attention.
"Are you ready to fight if need be, Emma?" questioned Arthur slightly worried for the girl as she had barely enough training.
"Yes," Emma replied steadying her nerves. She couldn't get over the feeling that something was going to happen.
"Good. Stay with Dagonet at all times. I do not know how the Bishop will react to seeing a girl with the knights," Arthur said nodding at Dagonet who had already promised to watch over Emma earlier. Arthur looked up quickly to see a Roman soldier fall of his horse when he was attacked by a Woad.
"Woads!" Emma heard Tristan call before watching the knights draw their weapons. Mimicking their actions, Emma pulled her sword in front of herself and gained control of her horse.
Emma didn't want to admit it to the knights, but she was frightened. Her first real battle! She hadn't even had the chance to spar with Lancelot using her swords. As the knights started down the hill, Emma secured herself on the horse and followed Dagonet into the battle. She cut down the first Woad that came near her, remembering Lancelot's teaching, while she remained on her horse. She decided that remaining on her horse would be safest as she struggled with another Woad.
Looking around herself for the moment, Emma saw that the knights had taken care of almost all of the Woads. She noticed that Dagonet was nowhere near her but Bors and Gawain were. Not detecting any of the other knights anywhere close, she followed them to what she supposed was the Bishop's carriage. Following them, she jumped off her horse and pulled him over to the two.
Bors and Gawain looked inside the carriage to see the supposed Bishop with an arrow in his chest. They stared in disbelief at the dead man and then they heard mumbling under the carriage. Gawain throws his knives in the ground and bends down to the Bishop's aide.
"Save your prayers, boy. Your God doesn't live here," Gawain said as the fighting dies down. They looked over at Arthur who had Excalibur at a Woad's neck. They walked over to Arthur and Emma followed.
"Why did Merlin send you south of the wall?" asked Arthur glaring down at the Woad. The Woad said something intelligible in his language and lifted his neck.
"Pick it up," Arthur said gesturing to the Woad's weapon. The Woad doesn't respond and Arthur repeats himself. The Woad picks up his axe and leaves when Arthur notices Merlin. Arthur motioned for the knights to come to him.
"Bors," Arthur said wondering if they had found the Bishop. Bors pointed at the carriage and the dead man in it.
"What a bloody mess," Bors said as Arthur looked at the supposed Bishop.
"That's not the Bishop. Emma, come here," Arthur said before walking over to the Roman soldiers. Emma looked back to see Bors scaring the Bishop's aide. Emma followed closely behind Arthur and noticed a Roman soldier talking to him.
"Arthur! Arthur Castus. Your father's image. I haven't seen you since childhood," said the newly revealed Bishop.
"Bishop Germanius. Welcome to Britain. I see your military skills are still of use to you. Your device worked," said Arthur stepping in front of Emma when he noticed the Bishop notice her.
"Ancient tricks," said the Bishop laughing. "For an ancient dog. And these are the brave Sarmatian knights we have heard so much of in Rome. And this, a girl?"
"She is no business of yours," said Arthur putting his arms in front of her. He watched the Bishop sneer at the girl before looking back at him. Emma decided there that she didn't like the Bishop at all. He would be definite trouble later.
"I thought the Woads control the north of Hadrian's Wall," said Bishop Germanius ignoring the girl for the moment.
"They do, but occasionally they venture south. Rome's anticipated withdrawal from Britain has only increased their daring," replied Arthur. He noticed the Bishop's aide walk up and join the conversation.
"Woads?" he questioned.
"British rebels who hate Rome," said Gawain as the knights ambled over to Arthur.
"Men who want their country back," Galahad said obnoxiously.
"Who leads them?" questioned the Bishop.
"He's called Merlin. A dark magician, some say," Lancelot said before turning to Emma and tuning out the others while he congratulated her. Tristan left after Arthur said something to him.
"Emma, you did well for your first battle," Lancelot said helping her put her swords back into place. Emma nodded and listened to the Bishop and Arthur's conversation.
"Dozens don't worry me nearly so much as thousands," said the Bishop before climbing into the carriage.
"Thousands?" questioned Lancelot. No one else spoke much until they arrived back at Hadrian's Wall.
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"Where you been, eh? Where you been?" questioned Tristan of his hawk after he called for it. Emma was brought back to reality with his gentle voice. She was riding beside him while the others talked of their futures.
"Can I hold him?" asked Emma seeing the way Tristan respects his hawk. Tristan silently agreed and held out his arm for Emma to take his bird. She took Tristan's hawk and petted it on his back. She looked up in time to see Hadrian's Wall and heard Arthur and Lancelot laugh before safely entering the knight's haven.
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Yay! Another chapter finished! I hope I've made my lovely reviewers proud of me. The next chapter will be up in a couple days. Please review, it gives me motivation to write!
Love, Archer
Review Responses for Chapter 4:
tlm1633: I read every review that I get and I try to respond to each of them also. I get writer's block really easily so I will definitely ask my readers for help if I need it. Thanks for offering. It means a lot to me that you like my story enough to support it by reviewing. Thanks!
IHeaRtEmOxSk8ers: thanks for reviewing and supporting me!
Mae: thanks for reviewing again! (squeals!) I just love when you guys take the time to help me write quicker by reviewing!
tHe vOiCe WiThiN: thanks for reviewing! I try my hardest with the characters and keeping their personalities the same. I didn't want to make Lancelot seem like a total flirt and besides she's too young for that right now and went through an awful ordeal with her father. I wouldn't put her through that just yet. I'll let you in on a secret though, I may make a sequel after I finish this story because I will be ending this one with the movie ending. I won't go too far into detail, but the sequel most likely will have the romance in it. It will just be building up slightly in this first story. I don't want to spoil too much though. I will try my best to make everybody happy with the story while also keeping on track with the plot. Thanks again for the support!
If I miss anyone that reviewed after I posted this chapter, please let me know! I love all my reviewers and don't want to leave anyone out in the responses. Thanks guys!