BlueEyesAtNight-Hahaha you're determined to give away the story aren't you?
Alexandra-I'm really glad you like my story!
MustangGal-Dag shall live!
Katemary77- Yayyy! That's the most awesome compliment! I did not want Isolde to be a MS!
Kafan- Yep! I'm a youngin!
TwistofShadows- Yeah not English…Geometry…Ugghhh
I woke up while it was still dark. My bare back was pressed against Tristan's back and one of my feet was pressed between his calves. I fingered the tattoo on my neck as I listened to his breathing.
My relationships with the men were all strong, yet distinctly different. Tristan and I had an understanding. So much went unsaid between us, but I liked it that way. I never told him that I missed him on nights we spent apart or when I didn't go with him to scout. I never told him that I admired the way he would occasionally open himself up to say something profound, but not florid, like he had done in the yard in defense of Arthur. I would never tell him that I was not jealous or worried about him making his way back home and taking some other woman. Somehow I knew he wouldn't. I just couldn't picture it in my mind. It was impossible. And if I wanted my old lover back when I returned, he would be in Sarmatia living a solitary life and he would welcome my company. He was like a half of me. You didn't tell yourself these things…You simply knew.
I felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. I had let this man ingrain himself in me. I had let me mark me. I felt branded… I stood up quickly and dressed myself. After entering my own room I dressed again, this time putting on my thick blue tunic. I lined my eyes with coal. Though the sun would be dull in the woad territory, the kohl would protect my eyes from the frigid conditions. When my hair was braided and my kohl smeared on, I gathered what I would need for the mission. We would be traveling light and quick with as little confrontation as possible. I threw my dark, colorless cloak around my shoulders and pinned it with a plain brooch. I looked at the coral ring around my finger. I didn't even know which of my tribesmen it had come from, but it was precious to me. I grabbed my bow, my dagger and Pata, but I left my shield and machaira in my room.
I stopped by the kitchens on the way to the stables and found Galahad and Dagonet already there. I tossed them chunks of bread and took a seat next to them. We sat in silence for a while until the light started filtering through the windows. Galahad finally left to attend to his horse while Dagonet began warming up. I grabbed a whetstone and began sharpening my blades. While I was doing that, Bors and Gawain walked it. Faces were all somber as we prepared for the mission. Lancelot, Galina and Tristan poured in as I finished with Pata. Tristan leaned over and quickly kissed the mark on my neck. I laid my hand on his neck and walked towards Kolaksay's stall. I waited until I knew he wasn't looking and quickly brushed my hair over the tattoo. I wasn't ready to share that with anyone, and I didn't want the men to get the wrong idea. I stroked Kolaksay's neck and leaned my forehead against his face. He tolerated the affectionate embrace for a few moments before snorting at me to get off. I quickly brushed his coat and saddled him up. I turned around just in time to see Arthur enter the stables. Some of the men regarded him coolly, but that was nothing compared to the looks the Bishop received. The ferrety looking aide behind him looked like he was going to faint.
"To represent the holy court, my trusted secretary Horton- Horton?" The ferret stepped forward "Will accompany you with your quest."
Arthur looked like he would love nothing more than to shove the Bishop's head into a steaming pile of horse dung. Come to think of it…So would I.
"Jols, find him a horse." Arthur deadpanned.
"Godspeed as you fulfill your duty to Rome." The Bishop said.
Oh I'd give him Godspeed… I'd Godspeedly shove my foot up his-
"My duty is also to my men." Arthur nearly growled stepping forward. Germanius looked nervous before continuing.
"Then get them home." Bloody priest… Always had an answer for everything.
Once the gates had been opened and we were a significant distance from the wall, we relaxed somewhat. Although Jols rarely traveled with us, he was not a burden, just another comrade. Horton however, was a pain in the ass. We ignored the ferret not only because he was irritating, but also because of his association with the Bishop. I didn't like spies. None of us did. It was a grim, dangerous mission. Tristan didn't scout very much because Arthur wanted to head straight to the estate. We weren't worried about crossing paths with anyone. Our plan was to ride through areas so quickly that our enemies didn't have time to fight.
On the second day we rode through a large forest. There was something eerie about the way the trees swayed. And we were all unsettled by the sinister seeming old man we had come across earlier in the forest. His laugh haunted the forest…
"Woads." Tristan said suddenly. "They're tracking us."
We all had known it.
"Where?" Arthur asked.
"Everywhere." Tristan said at a loss.
"Get back!" Lancelot cried as arrows flew from the trees. Ropes of thorns crisscrossed in the middle of our path, blocking our way. Galina gave a cry and followed Arthur through even more underbrush. We followed and then turned around. It was chaos. We scattered down paths only to be cornered by spear wielding woads. Arrows flew around us from all directions. Finally we ended up back where the attack first started and prepared for a fight. I saw the woad who Arthur had spared only days ago with an arrow notched at Arthur.
"There's gratitude for you." I mumbled to Bors as I held my sword up. We were trapped and outnumbered. The sound of a horn drifted through the trees quickly and intrusively. The woads looked aggravated and did not move from their positions.
"What are you waiting for?" Gawain shouted. I felt his unease. If there was going to be a fight, it was better to get it over with. No one liked to be stared down by their enemy. Another blow of the horn filtered through the thick foggy air and they lowered their weapons. They gave us a few disappointed glares and they were gone. I stared at were they had been only moments before…They had melted away.
"Inish!" Dagonet cried. "Devil ghosts!"
"Why would they not attack?" Galahad asked. We were all unnerved. Arthur looked around once more before answering.
"Merlin…does not want us dead." We all shivered. We were alive because Merlin had spared us.
We rode on for the rest of the day until everything was covered with the thick blanket of night. As soon as our fire was sufficient built up, the rain started and we were forced to huddle under cloaks like old women. We were out of food and now we were wet and cold. Even normally cheery Gawain was complaining.
"I can't wait to leave this island." He began and I glanced at him. "If it's not raining, it's snowing. If it's not snowing, it's foggy."
"And that's the summer." Lancelot said grinning.
"Would you rather be frozen in a tent back home?" I asked Gawain. He shivered and shook his head no.
"The rain is good. Washes all the blood away." Bors said in an ironically grim sort of optimism.
"Doesn't help the smell." Dagonet said looking pointedly at Bors. Lancelot suddenly looked thoughtful.
"Hey Bors…You intend on taking Vanora and all your little bastards back home?" He asked. I looked at Bors. He cared for the runts more than he let on.
"Oh I'm trying to avoid that decision. By getting killed." Bors said airily. We laughed and shook our heads. Bors suddenly remembered something. "Dagonet, she wants to get married, give the children names!"
Oh my. How dreadful.
"Women." Tristan said contemptuously while examining his sword. "The children already have names don't they?"
"Just Gilly. It was too much trouble, so we just gave the rest of them numbers. You'd better watch yourself Tristan. Before you know it Isolde will be nagging you to get married…" Bors said. I kept my face blank.
Tristan made a noncommittal noise and sheathed his sword.
"That's interesting." Lancelot said. "I thought you couldn't count."
We all laughed while Bors chose to ignore the comment.
"You know, I never thought I'd make it back home alive. Now that I've got the chance, I don't think I'd leave my children."
"You'd miss them too much." Dagonet said assuredly.
"I'll take them with me. I like the little bastards. They mean something to me… Especially number three! He's a good fighter." Bors said proudly.
"That's because he's mine." Lancelot said. I fell backwards off my log as I laughed. Bors grumbled as he stood up.
"I'm going for a piss." More laughter. Galina helped me up and I leaned against her heavily. She was trying not to laugh too much lest in turn into a cough. At that my mood sobered and I squeezed her shoulders. A few more minutes passed and I went to lay down and sleep. I dreamt of Geraint lying in the snow all alone with no mother to hold him.
"Up." Gawain said as he poked Galahad and me. I opened up my eyes and wiped my chin free of drool. Galahad groaned and lifted his head off my shoulder.
"Woss' tha'?" He yawned looking at my neck. I slapped a hand over my neck and mumbled something. I already regretted it.
"Just lovers?" Gawain said raising an eyebrow at me. Galahad eyed the tattoo and then stood up. We said no more of it as we dressed and prepared to continue riding and for that I was thankful.
We rode into the lands of Marius Honorius and I wondered at how it came to be owned by a Roman. If the Romans had conceded that the northern parts of Britain belonged to the woads and they even had a wall separating the two lands, under what pretenses did this pope allot this land to another Roman? I might ask Arthur later…Or I might not, as it did not concern me.
As we rode closer to the villa, shabby looking serfs came into view. They tilled the land until we rode closer, at which point they looked up. I stared straight ahead at the gates that were shutting.
"Who are you?" A soldier on the top of the wall called down to us.
"I am Arthur Castus, commander of the Sarmatian knights and sent by Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gates!" My leader called as we stopped outside the gates. Yes open the damned gate. I was hungry and I felt my mood starting to sour.
"It is a wonder you have come! Good Jesus, Arthur and his knights!" A portly man called as he walked out of the opened gates. He was followed by soldiers and dressed in fine Roman attire. Marius. Galahad snatched his horse back as the portly one tried to pet it. Silly little man… "You have fought the woads? Vile creatures!"
This Roman trait of disregarding entire peoples annoyed me more and more…
"Our orders are to evacuate you immediately." Arthur said cutting to the chase. The portly one's smile faltered.
"That's impossible." He sputtered.
Obviously this was not the man to speak to.
"Which of you is Alecto?" Arthur asked loudly.
"I am Alecto." A boy called out from the wall. He and the crimson cloaked woman behind him walked down to wear we were.
"Alecto is my son." Marius began. I vaguely tried to remember anyone asking him to speak. No. Can't remember. "Everything we have is here in the land given to us by the pope."
"Well, you're about to give it to the Saxons." Lancelot said amiably. He was in no mood for delays. He wanted his discharge paper.
"They're invading from the north." Arthur said not bothering to keep Lancelot in line. I kept my face blank. Best not to offend the Roman anymore, but I would not offer a worshipful smile in response to his hindrances.
"Then Rome will send an army." Marius said trying to look sure of himself. Ha. Fool.
"They have. Us." Arthur said shooting down the man's hopes. "We leave as soon as you are packed."
"I refuse to leave." The short man said trying to muster his courage. I resisted the urge to let Kolaksay trample him. It would be so easy… "Get back to work! All of you!"
"Back to work!" The soldiers cried and began shoving the serfs in the direction of their fields. I nearly smiled. Arthur was going to put this man in his place very soon. We waited for the men to finish their brutality. Arthur quickly hopped of his horse and strode over to the portly one.
"If I fail to bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land." He said in a dangerous voice. "So you're coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way back to Hadrian's wall myself. My lord… Lady my knights are hungry."
The timid looking woman hurried off after she gained her husband's look of permission. My look became somewhat frosty when I recognized the look of woman who was completely at mercy of a depraved husband. The Roman pushed past his son and walked back into his villa. Arthur looked at a group of huts where an elderly man was strung up underneath some wooden posts. I looked at Lancelot.
"Trouble." I said under my breath and he nodded. I edged Kolaksay a little closer to the serfs and kept my hand on the hilt of Pata. I snorted as Bors scared a monk away. I couldn't wait to get away from this place that stank of servitude. I kept an eye out for opposition as Arthur cut down the man and yelled at the serfs. Arthur noble nature was going to bring us trouble. I could sense it.
Galina sighed as she came to stand next to me.
"He ordered the serfs to travel with us." She said. I pursed my lips. They would slow us down considerably, but I knew better than to ask Arthur to go against his moral convictions.
Over an hour later we all were helping the mercenaries and serfs load wagons. Arthur had already told them not to bring frivolous items like Marius's bedding. Ass. He should be concerned about bringing the food and gold.
"What are you doing?" A distraught mercenary asked me as I threw a cluster of candles over my shoulder onto the ground. For a while I had been on the other side of the wagon as the men stacked box after box into the wagon. I had taken it upon myself to declare what needed to be left behind. So far I had confiscated a large pile of candles, parchments containing tax records, infant clothes, and a ceremonial sword.
"Helping us travel faster?" I offered. The man looked ready to argue before Dagonet rode by and gave the man a glare. I smiled charmingly. I immediately noticed as Tristan rode into the estate and began conversing with Arthur. Arthur's face was grim and suddenly we all froze. The sound of drums filled the air. I observed Arthur as he glanced at the strange stone hut that a couple of monks were finishing. Without a sound I swung myself up onto Kolaksay's back and drew Pata as Arthur walked over to the hut.
"Move." Arthur ordered for the second time. The mercenaries looked at the others and I and backed off. "What is this place?"
"You cannot go in there! This place is forbidden!" My eyes bored into the foolish monk's. He was shoved aside and soon Dagonet began slugging away at the wall when it was discovered that there was no key. What evil was this?
We ignored the protests and protected Arthur as he, Lancelot, Gawain and Dagonet dragged a few monks in after them as they entered the ominous looking shack. They disappeared, but after a few moments a smelled wafted out of the hut. Oh gods…I smelled rotting bodies…
I kept a firm grip on my sword.
"Galahad," I said looking at my friend. "There's something down there…"
He and Galina looked at the black doorway. It suddenly seemed like the way to hell. I looked to Tristan, ignoring the snowflakes that powdered my face. We locked eyes until the sounds of the men returning filled the air. I looked over sharply as I saw Arthur and Dagonet place two bundles of rags on the ground. I felt disgusted as I realized that it was a young woman and boy that I saw.
"Water!" Arthur called out and Horton supplied him with it.
"She's a woad." Tristan said sheathing his sword. I glanced at the girl's legs and noticed the blue tattoos. What was going on here?
"Stop what you are doing!" Cried an outraged Marius. If I were him, I would have kept my mouth shut.
"What is this madness?" Arthur nearly hissed.
"They are all pagans here!" The portly one cried as if that alone should justify the torture of humans.
"So are we!" Galahad said angrily.
"Your own church has ruled pagans to be harmless." I said smoothly.
"They refuse to do the task God has set for them! They must die as an example!" The man snapped, trying a different tactic. I loathed hypocrisy.
"Your Jesus was a carpenter, no?" I asked coolly. "And his followers, they were fishermen were they not?"
"You dare to compare these pagans to the Son of God?" The priests asked angrily.
"Why yes. I believe so." I answered simply. Arthur's voice kept the monk from retorting.
"They refuse to be your serfs? Is that it?" Arthur bellowed.
"You are a Roman! You understand! And you are a Christian!" Marius snapped. "And you! You kept them alive!"
Several of the knights, myself included, nearly jumped out of saddle to strangle the man as he struck his wife. The blue girl's eyes widened as she watched. Arthur had punched the man and had Excalibur at his neck in a moment. I turned away, knowing Arthur would spare the man. I looked up at the sky and watched the snow fall towards the earth. Sometimes I wondered why men and women made life such a sordid, painful journey. The drums filled my ears and all I could do was listen. After a moment it seemed as if my heart was beating with the drums. I could no longer tell if the sound that pounded my ears was of my own heart or the drums of those who came to kill all I knew.
"Isolde." Tristan said quietly and I looked at him. We were leaving. Apparently the portly one had relented. I nodded and nudged Kolaksay to follow the scout.
"How many?" I asked Tristan later as we rode beside the caravan. He didn't need to ask who I was asking about.
"Several hundred at least. I'd say over a thousand." He said not really focusing. I nodded my head and we rode in silence for a while longer.
"They're going to make trouble with that woad." Tristan said later. I had already seen both Lancelot and Arthur offer to dote on the girl. The two of them had their disagreement often enough, but they had never caused grief over a woman.
"You think so?" I asked.
"She's going to notice." He remarked knowing I already had realized the trouble on the way. I felt a pang travel through my body. Galina… Lancelot… I looked up and stared at the figure of my oldest friend who rode several paces ahead of me. It was right at that moment that I saw her shoulders slump.
"Trista-" I began but it was too late. Her body was already falling from the saddle. I was off Kolaksay in a moment.
"Galina?" Arthur asked worriedly as I held her in my arms. Her face was deathly pale and I could tell she was sweating. It was freezing outside. No one should have been sweating. I winced has she gave a feeble cough and blood dribbled from the corners of her mouth. No…no no no…Not now. Not now. Her breathing was ragged.
"We have to get her in the wagon." I said fighting down panic. Lancelot nodded and picked her up. He held her gently while he rushed her over to the wagon. I followed him along with Arthur.
"How long?" The woman called Fulcinia asked.
"Years." I said and turned away. I should have done something years ago. They could have posted us somewhere besides Britain. It was common knowledge that a wet atmosphere made this sort of illness worse. And I had let her live in Britain. Stupid giant swamp. I felt guilt writhe in my stomach.
"She implored you not to tell?" Arthur asked and I was glad for his understanding. I had not wanted to keep it from them. I nodded and we turned our attention back to Galina. Dagonet pushed some of her dark golden hair away from her face. She was shivering ,but her forehead was on fire.
"She needs rest." He said. "Or breathing will soon be too difficult."
Arthur and Lancelot nodded grimly. I couldn't move.
Whew… Ok well there's a long ass chapter. I'm going to be gone for a few days so I thought I'd at least give yall a long chapter. I have some plots in my head now… I just thought of something to do with the ice scene…and there's going to be a Mary Sue ass kicking scene in the future… But it won't be Guinevere getting her but kicked cause honestly I love her! She was awesome in the movie…So calculating… Anyways! Ahhh BlueEyesAtNight! Hahah stop guessing! You'll ruin the story!
