Chapter 8: A Strange Visitor
The warm sun washed over Elizabeth's face and she opened her eyes. Lancelot was right next to her and she shook him awake.
"Lancelot, wake up! We finally get a sunny day and you are going to sleep through it?" she asked in disbelief.
"After last night, yes I am," he replied and closed his eyes again.
Elizabeth pushed him off the couch and she got up and pulled out riding pants and a light shirt. Lancelot sleepily walked out the door, but forgot his room was locked and almost walked into the door. Elizabeth shook her head with a smile. She cleaned up her room quick and then pulled on her riding boots.
"Well, I guess I'll show you your surprise now," Lancelot said from the doorway.
"What surprise?" she asked suspiciously.
"The one that arrived late last night. I'm sure you'll enjoy it," he said.
Elizabeth tried to get some hints out of him, but he was silent all the way down to the stables. When they were almost there, Lancelot ran ahead. Elizabeth followed and ran into a big, black horse which was standing in the middle of the dark barn. The horse turned around to look at her. Someone turned a lamp on up ahead and she grabbed the horse's halter so he wouldn't run away.
"Surprise," Lancelot said. "I had him taken here from a breeder. He's young, but fearless and he'll be a good mount for you."
Elizabeth gave Lancelot a huge hug.
"Thank you so much!" she said.
"I noticed the mare was a little too small for your height," he said simply, looking at Elizabeth's tall, thin frame. She was nearly as tall as him.
"Ready to go for a ride?" she asked, with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
Lancelot nodded and they hurriedly tacked up their horses. Elizabeth was so excited. There was new tack for her as well. A black saddle with gold accents and a matching bridle. The saddle blanket was dark blue and make of an extremely soft material. She finished tacking up and pulled herself up into the saddle. The horse pawed the ground impatiently as Lancelot rode up.
"You going to name him, or just call him 'Horse'?" he joked.
"I think I"m going to call him, Darkness, for his coloring," she said.
Lancelot nodded and they walked out of the stable area. They turned onto a road that went around the entire village.
"How about we go three times around. Winner, doesn't have to dump a bucket of...water on Bors' head," he said.
"Deal," Elizabeth agreed.
"Alright. Ready, GO!" Lancelot yelled.
The two horses bolted from the start and they raced neck and neck for the first few feet. Lancelot pushed his horse on and let him stretch his neck out. Elizabeth looked. The horse wouldn't make it all the way around like that, however, he might be trying to fool her. She had a lot of horse under her. She could feel his powerful muscles moving as he glided effortlessly over the dirt. Lancelot started to draw away and she saw him pull back a little bit on the reins. His horse started to bend his neck and collect himself. Elizabeth seized the chance, she urged Darkness on. He switched leads and picked up another speed. It felt like floating. His hooves didn't seem to touch the ground. She flew by Lancelot and rounded a bend. The rode by the edge of the forest and several arrows came pelting out. Elizabeth pulled back and Darkness stopped immediately. Lancelot pulled up.
"Are you alright?" he asked, a worried expression crossing his face.
"Yes, follow me, we're going to run into the village and go tell Arthur. They villagers are in danger if this continues," she said.
Lancelot nodded and the galloped into the center of the village. They went through peoples' yards and down narrow dirt paths until they finally came back to the stable. Quickly, the untacked and cooled the horses off. Bors came in the barn and Elizabeth seized the chance. She dumped a bucket of water from the horse trough on top of him. He swore and chased her out of the barn.
They headed up to the castle and into Arthur's study. He smiled when he saw them. His expression changed when he looked at their faces though.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Woads are shooting arrows out of the forest and coming onto the grounds. Last night I killed a Woad after he jumped Elizabeth. They know who's been in their forests and they're determined to kill us. The villagers near that part of the forest could be in danger," Lancelot explained.
"I cannot post men there. It would be target practice for the Woads," Arthur said.
"Well, what if you moved the people in the farthest away homes more forward? Have them move in with friends," Lancelot suggested.
"I don't think there is that much room in the other homes," Arthur replied.
"We could build a temporary home closer to the front that you can put several families in. However, that will take time and they need somewhere to stay in the mean time," Elizabeth suggested.
"No, I guess the best idea is to move them in with other families," Arthur said. "We'll start moving people in a few hours."
Elizabeth and Lancelot both nodded and walked out of the room.
Guinevere came up to them. She had a stooped figure behind her.
"Elizabeth, I had a person here asking for you. She wanted to speak with you," Guinevere said, and looked at Lancelot. "In private that is. You can use one of the spare rooms."
Lancelot clearly did not want to leave Elizabeth with this strange woman. Elizabeth saw his look and touched his arm.
"I'll be fine," she said.
Lancelot shook his head and headed back down to the stables. Elizabeth slowly lifted the woman's hood off. She let out a cry of joy.
"Mother! How-"
"Merlin told me. I have some information that may interest you. You friend is very charming," she said, speaking of Lancelot.
"He's the one that saved me from Father," Elizabeth explained.
"Well, Guinevere said there was a spare room. I suggest we talk there," he mother said.
They walked up to the room Guinevere had indicated and sat down around a small table.
Elizabeth told her mother about how Lancelot had rescued her and about the Woad attacks. She told her about the castle and how it had become like her home.
"Well, I'm not surprised," her mother laughed.
"Mum, you look so different. Your face is different as well," Elizabeth said sadly.
"My dear girl, I won't live much longer. I came to see you and tell you what the Woads are planning. They want to launch an enormous attack on Hadrian's Wall. They will attack from the woods in the wall and from woods around the wall. I don't know when. They need to build their weapons and plan their attack. But you NEED to be ready. Merlin, may help. You need to speak with him. Your Roman guards are gone. All that is left here are the knights and village guards. You need reinforcement."
"You need to tell this to Arthur," Elizabeth said. "He's the one that needs to know."
"Yes, I will later, but I want you and Guinevere to go to Merlin. Take your knight friend as well. But you must hurry," her mother instructed. " And don't let Arthur go with you."
"Why not?"
"You could be ambushed or he could be captured," her mother answered.
"Mum, Arthur is the greatest of warriors," Elizabeth replied.
"So is Lancelot, but I heard he was almost killed in his battle with the Saxons. Anything could happen," her mother retorted.
Elizabeth thought for a moment. She had been in this room with her mother for an hour and something was not right.
"How old am I, Mum?" she asked quickly.
"Well...you're umm...it's been a while," her mother said.
"Really. I'm in my twenty-seventh year. My mother would know that. What am I afraid of?" she questioned.
"Well...you're afraid of...-"
She didn't have a chance to finish. Elizabeth pulled on the hair on her head and it came off. Elizabeth wasn't surprised. It wasn't her mother at all. Just a young female Woad dressed to be her. The girl had shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. She looked at Elizabeth with hostile eyes.
"You wanted to get Arthur's defenders out of the castle so that he would have only a few people here and you could kill him. Am I right?" Elizabeth shouted.
The Woad didn't answer and Elizabeth held her against the wall by her neck.
"Yes! We killed your mother. It was my job to take care of you today!" the Woad choked out.
Guinevere, who had heard the nosie came rushing in with.
"Go get Lancelot or Arthur," she told Guinevere.
Guinevere ran back out the door and appeared a couple minutes later with Lancelot. They walked into the room and heard the clanging of swords. The young Woad was fighting Elizabeth with every inch of life she had. Lancelot drew his blades and stood next to Elizabeth. The girl stopped fighting and stared at them. She raised her blade and ran at Elizabeth and Lancelot cut her down. He immediately turned to Elizabeth.
"What happened?"
Elizabeth told them what the Woad had said, about the attack and going to Merlin and leaving Arthur here. Then about how it hadn't been her mother.
"She did give us valuable information though, the fool. She must have thought she was going to kill you. We must go to Merlin. We're going to need his help," Lancelot said.
Elizabeth nodded. Guinevere looked at her quick before answering Lancelot.
"I'll go tell Arthur," she said, and swept out of the room.
Lancelot looked at Elizabeth. She ran out and up the hill to the garden. Lancelot shut the door and ran out after her. She was sitting on a ledge overlooking the rolling, green hills. Her head was on her knees.
Lancelot sat down next to her. She picked her head up and looked out at the hills.
"You know, I always thought this was the best view from up here," he said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"I can't believe she's dead. I have no one now. No family," she said sadly.
Lancelot wiped the tears from her cheek.
"Were you planning on going back to live with her?" Lancelot said.
"I don't know. Probably not, but she was still my mother," Elizabeth said, as another fresh wave of tears cascaded down her face.
"I haven't seen my family in 15 years. I miss them everyday. I miss my father and everyone back home. It gets easier as time goes on," he said.
They sat there for a little while and stared out.
"What bothers me is she was killed by her own people. She's probably sitting somewhere dead in the forest. No burial, nothing. Just left there. I feel she never had a good life like she deserved. My father abused her and I couldn't help her. She watched her child get beaten. Who wants a life like that?"
Elizabeth wiped her eyes.
"She must have done something right because people here think you're wonderful. Elizabeth, I'm sure she loved you to the end," Lancelot said.
She gave him a small smile.
A small breeze went by and lifted Elizabeth's hair a little bit. The sun shone on her face and gave her an orange glow. Her blonde hair seemed to be made of the sun itself.
"I'm going to the stables," she said.
Lancelot watched her go. He was tempted to follow her, but he really thought he should help take care of that person that he had killed. He walked back to the castle and found Arthur in the room.
"We need to tighten our guard. They're getting around the castle easily. Elizabeth has had some close calls now," Arthur said.
"Yes she has. It's because he father was a leading supporter of the Rebels. They see her as being on our side now. She's fair game to them," Lancelot replied.
He and Arthur talked for a little while about the Woads and how things had been going. They lifted the body onto the stretcher they had made and carried it out. They would leave it at the edge of the forest for the Woads. The climbed onto their horses and hooked it behind them and took it to the forest. Lancelot unhooked it from Arthur's horse and told him to stay farther back in case something came out suddenly. Arthur didn't listen entirely. He stayed behind Lancelot, but didn't rush up to the forest. The placed the body on the ground. An arrow came whizzing by, missing Lancelot's face by inches. An arrow came by in retreat. A rider on a black horse cantered by, launching an assail of arrows. It was Elizabeth. The arrows from the forest stopped and the three riders galloped back into the village. Elizabeth turned backwards and kept shooting to keep the Woads at bay. She watched as several men went out and picked up the body.
"Thank you, Elizabeth," Arthur said.
He and Lancelot had drawn their swords incase any of the Rebels ran out.
"I saw you leave and I decided to follow when I saw what you were dragging," she said.
Arthur laughed.
"I thought I saw something in the barn."
Elizabeth grinned.
"Have you told the villagers about the move?" she asked.
"I had messengers go to the houses in back. I will explain to them once we're done in the stables," he said.
Elizabeth rode up ahead. The Rebels were getting out of hand. Sneaking into the castle, impersonating other people, and capturing innocent villagers. They would have to endure for a while longer though. If they attacked now, the Rebel Woads would be unprepared and only send out their worst, leaving behind their weapons and best warriors.
A little while later, the sun was going down and the crowd of villagers were listening to Arthur. He told them about the Rebels and how they had to take pre-cautions. They didn't know how long it was going to last. Elizabeth stood off to the side, leaning against a tree. Lancelot walked up.
"More villagers are going to disappear," she said.
"Aye. They will. I heard that the man we rescued yesterday died from failed breathing," Lancelot said.
Elizabeth shook her head sadly.
"The Rebels will fight us to the end. Arthur needs to talk to Merlin and train some of the villagers. We have a long time before the actual war. However, we'll have frequent visits from Rebels and small skirmishes," she said. "I'm up for it. What about you?"
Lancelot grinned.
"I'm in as well. I must say, you heal quick. You haven't had a day that has been uneventful," Lancelot commented.
Elizabeth grinned. She had healed quicker than they had said. Her back was starting to scab over. Finally. And her other cuts didn't hurt at all. Her bruises were starting to fade too.
They looked back at the crowd of villagers. Gawain and Galahad walked up. Gawain thumped Lancelot on the back. He turned to Elizabeth.
"Bors is plotting his revenge, young maiden," he said.
Galahad sniggered in the background. Elizabeth flashed a smile.
"Well, I'm ready for it," she said.
The villagers had suddenly started yelling questions. Arthur held up his hands for silence.
"If you just do as you have been instructed, the attacks will be kept at a minimum and the guards will be able to handle it," he said.
He headed back up to the castle. The people immediately started talking and yelling as they headed back towards their homes.
"Ah. These people aren't going to listen," Gawain said.
"Well, I'm going to go polish my armor seeing as I'm going to need it in the future," Galahad mused.
They headed back to talk with Arthur and in search of Bors.
A young boy ran up to Elizabeth with a white flower in his hand. She knelt down and smiled at him. It was the boy she had rescued. He blushed and handed her the flower before running back to his home. Lancelot laughed.
"See! Even the villagers love you!" he said.
Elizabeth looked at the flower with a smile on her face. They headed up to see what Arthur had to say. They were going up the path and there was a rustle in the bushes.
"Nice try, Bors!" Elizabeth yelled, still staring at the flower.
"Dammit!" Bors muttered.
Elizabeth and Lancelot started laughing once more. Bors came out of the bushes, covered in dirt and leaves.
"And where 'xactly are you two 'eaded?" he asked.
"To see Arthur. You should come," Lancelot said.
Bors nodded and followed them to the round table. Elizabeth had seen it a few times now, but it was still amazing to her. It was a legend, the elders used to tell to the young Woads. And here she was, sitting at it, with Arthur and his knights.
"The villagers did not take our plight very well," Arthur said.
"We suspected as much when we heard them yelling," Gawain said.
"What's your plan?" Galahad asked.
"We're going to keep guards on duty night and day. Knights, you will watch during the day. I will go to Merlin and ask for his help," Arthur said, with a look at Elizabeth.
The knights nodded.
"You won't go alone," Lancelot said. "I will go."
"As will I," Elizabeth said.
Bors, Gawain, and Galahad agreed to go as well. Elizabeth smiled. Guinevere stood up.
"I will come," she said.
Elizabeth smiled even wider.
Arthur looked around the table at all of them.
"We'll go in a few days. I want time to make sure the villagers obey," he said.
Everyone agreed and left the room, except for Arthur and Guinevere.
"You don't have to come," Arthur said to her.
"I want to," she said, lacing her fingers through his.
She smiled up at him.
Meanwhile, down in the pub, Lancelot was playing a game of dice and Elizabeth was talking with one of the bar maids.
"Miss, most the villagers have been saying how terribly brave ye are. I think it's good to see a woman who isn't afraid to fight," the bar maid said with a bright smile.
She extended her hand.
"My name is Anne. I've been behind the wall for a while now," she continued. "It has been quite amazing growing up around these knights. They're legends"
"Yes. They truly are," Elizabeth said, with a soft look in her eyes.
"Well, I have to go serve dinner. It was nice talking with you," Anne said.
Elizabeth watched her go and looked out at the sky. It was turning to a bright pink as the sun disappeared along the horizon. There was a light breeze and it floated by her face. The cool air felt good and the sun was beautiful. She wished all evenings could be as this one. She went to the counter and got a small mug of ale. She had never had ale this much in her entire life. It wasn't her favorite drink, but she didn't care much. She sat down at a table with Bors and watched Lancelot play dice. She never could understand that game.
"Ye planning on staying with us?" Bors asked. " Ye seem healed."
"I am not quite sure. I will stay until the Woad battle ends however," she said.
Bors nodded his head and took a big gulp of ale.
" 'Scuse me, Miss," he said, and got up from the table to go get another mug.
Lancelot finished his game and walked over to the table. Elizabeth had been staring at the sunset again and Lancelot followed her gaze.
"It's so peaceful out there. The sun and the breeze. You just feel like you're in a different world," Elizabeth said.
"Mmmm," Lancelot said, not having anything better to say.
Elizabeth's hands were resting on the table. She had long, thin fingers, which helped her archery skill. Lancelot placed a callused hand on hers. She looked at him and smiled. They sat there for a little while, watching the sun go down until the sky was a purplish-blue color. The stars were starting to come into view and the night was silent, except for the nosie of the pub of course.
"Elizabeth, we can go back if you would like," he said.
"I'm not in a rush," she replied.
"I wanted to ask you the other day. Do you sing at all?" he asked.
"Yes, but only Woad songs. I don't think anyone would like to hear those right now," she said with a laugh.
"You're probably right."
Lancelot looked back at Elizabeth and noticed a long silver chain hanging from her neck. There was a pendant at the end. He gently placed it in his hand.
"It was my warrior symbol," she said. "I had the image of a running horse."
Lancelot nodded.
Elizabeth had been thinking the entire night. She wanted to help all she could. These people had taken her in and cared for her. She looked back up at Lancelot.
"You've been awfully quiet all night," he said.
"Yes. I'm sorry. I was just thinking of plans and how to persuade Merlin," she explained.
She stood up.
"Lancelot, you can stay. I'll be careful heading back. I promise," she said, flashing him a gorgeous smile.
Lancelot shook his head.
"I'd feel better if I came. Nothing is really going on here anyways. Bors had to leave and Gawain is talking with Arthur," he said.
So, they headed back up. There was no ambush this time. However, as last night, Lancelot checked both rooms. He came back in.
"Nothing. They're probably coming up with another way of a surprise attack," he mused.
Elizabeth made a face and re-started the fire. She sat on the couch, still lost in thought. Lancelot turned the huge key in the lock and shut the door. He sat on a foot stool in front of the fire and the room was quiet except for the cackle of the fire. Lancelot moved next to her and put an arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and slowly closed her eyes, seeing nothing else but darkness. A small smile played on her lips and she fell into a sound sleep.
