Hey kids…Sorry..Wow its been a month. I have been ridiculously busy… I hope I can make it up to all of you! I'm sorry if this chapter is just crazy… I got the idea randomly and I just ran with it. As far as the legend goes, yes I'm aware that I'm just stretching it farther and farther. As far as everything else goes, I'm pretty historically accurate. I hope you enjoy….
BlueEyesAtNight- You should win a number one fan award… You made me laugh sooo hard with that last review…Wow… ahhaha
Empress Orchid- Sweet! I'm sooo glad its your favorite!
Jenn- Awesome… I didn't want her to be ordinary!
Raynach Silvermoon- It got deleted… That was like losing my first born son or something… I wanted to cry! I'm sorry!
Everyone else! I'm def. not mad. At all… I promise! I mean you can leave me the meanest reviews ever, as long as it makes sense…Not just cause you don't like something that happened though. But keep reviewing! Bad or Good!
PS Gorlois, Igerne/Igraine's first hubby, is also called Hoel. Annnnd Gwyar is another variation of Anna/Morgause…And Modrod is an old, old variation of Morgan. Soo…Yes. Any who. I decided that if old Jerry Bruckheimer could fuck with the myth, so could I. So I changed some of the family relations and such.
We stayed in the yard until the sun swam lazily off the sky. Galahad wearily let his head fall onto Gawain's shoulder. He was almost exhausted by the idea of freedom. I stood up and kissed the top of his head. Before I had even left the yard, I felt Tristan follow me. Once I was out of view of the bar, I stopped and waited for him. He peered at me through haphazard strands of hair with dark eyes. I reached forward and pulled a piece of hair off his high collared tunic.
"You smell. You should bathe tonight; I doubt you'll have the chance again until you reach home." I said absently. I couldn't help but feel like I had wronged him some how.
"You're dress in dirty." He said scratching at a stain on the shoulder of my dress.
"I'll wash it tomorrow probably." I said lightly. There was a moment's pause. It was the first time in all my recollection that Tristan and I had resorted to awkward, meaningless conversation.
"Will you be leaving in the morning?" I asked.
"First light." He said looking up at the sky. He looked back down at me and cocked his head to the side. "My last night."
"March." I said thinking of my green eyed woad. Tristan nodded somberly, conceding the victory to March.
"Jols! Get Arthur!" My head snapped upwards as I heard Lancelot's voice shoot through the night air. He stood on the wall half turned towards the north. I hiked up my dress and took the stairs two at a time. The wind slapped at my face as my eyes raked over the sight in front of me. At first I thought that the earth was aflame, and then I realized that I was staring at dozens upon dozens of campfires. I squinted into the darkness to stare at the dark shapes moving around, but the cold feeling that had spread to my toes and fingers told me what I was looking at. An army.
"Saxons." Tristan said putting a hand on my shoulder. Galahad, Bors, Dagonet and Gawain flung themselves up the stairs and looked on in horror at the barbarians that littered the clearing. Panicked soldiers and farmers were spreading the word. Guinevere and Arthur pounded up the cobbled steps. Arthur stared in grim disbelief. Some of my comrades sank to the floor in horror. None of the knights could hold Arthur's eyes for very long as he stared at us in question. I could however. I was not a free woman yet, and my place was with Arthur. I would stay with him until my dieing breath.
"Knights, my journey with you must end here." Came Arthur's voice once he realized that he might be alone in this venture. Well, not quite alone I mused as I glanced at Guinevere. I looked at the fierce woman whose cheeks were flushed with something besides the thought of an oncoming battle. Guinevere and Arthur had something in common, and I saw the way in weighed on their shoulders like a stone that must be carried up a mountain. They would do well for each other.
"May God go with you." Arthur said after a moment's shameful pause. Each kind and noble word was like a knife in the heart to each of the knights. They would live to regret their decision I knew. Arthur turned around and began trotting down the stairs. Lancelot shook his head stubbornly and gave an accusatory glare to Guinevere, as if she had coerced Arthur into staying. Lancelot strode off to follow Arthur, and Guinevere followed him.
I did not follow them. They would have their words, but no matter what was said, Arthur had found something worth fighting for. Worth dieing for. I would not interfere. Instead I began mulling over battle plans.
I looked back towards the horde of savages that littered the ground beyond the wall. There were at least seven hundred Saxons. Most of them would be equipped with a shield, some primitive armor, a helmet, a sword and possibly an axe. They would be well fed with the food of ravaged villages. I made a note to myself to arrange to have the food poisoned in the fortress larder should the Saxons break through. There would not be a Roman auxiliary to fight with us tomorrow. Arthur and I would be the two most experience fighters. There would be Jols and a perhaps thirty or so villagers. I looked at Guinevere. I remembered the host of woads that had made their way to the wall with their swords and shields. Three hundred woads would fight with us. We were out numbered at least two to one.
"Isolde." I heard March say as he appeared at my side. His voice brought me back to awareness. Tristan's hand was still on my shoulder and March kept glancing on it. The scout did not budge. "You must come with me to see Arthur."
"Give him a moment's peace will you?" I said with a slight edge to my voice. I was perfectly aware that there were plans that needed to be made.
"No, Isolde. There is something we must do." March said with a slight bit of urgency. I looked curiously at him. I let Tristan's hand slide off my shoulder as I followed my woad.
"What is it?" I asked. I looked behind me only to see the knights following us. They cared little if the woad had wished for privacy. If it concerned Arthur or me, they would be there for it.
"You know that Arthur's mother was one of us?" He said as we walked towards Arthur's quarters. I nodded. I knew only bits and pieces of my leader's heritage.
"Igerne was married once before she took Uther as her husband. She bore him two children. Gwyar and Cador. Gwyar, the eldest, in turn married Lot. Lot and Gwyar had three children. Kaherdin, Yseult, and Modron. They are here." March explained quickly as we made our way to Arthur's rooms. My eyebrows felt like they were hiding somewhere around my forehead.
"Arthur has family? Here?" I scoffed. March shook his head somberly. The lot of us soon found ourselves at Arthur's door. I knocked solidly. Arthur appeared with alert eyes, ready for more bad news.
"There's something you should see Arthur." I said. I wasn't exactly sure how to tell the man that several members of his family were now here.
"What is it?" He said suspiciously. March stepped forward.
"Your kin. From your mother's side." He blurted. We all waited for a response. Arthur's face was slightly pale when he answered.
"Where?"
"Follow me."
We made our way to the southern gates. Several men and women stood looking around nervously. The passing soldiers and villagers eyed them with distrust. They had no distinguishing marks about them, but there was something different about the way they carried themselves. My eyes were first drawn to a woman who looked to be about my age. The her shimmering dark hair contrasted with her fair skin. She was not a tall woman, and her face was thin and pointed. A narrow nose, lost looking eyes and frowning mouth made for a pretty face. There was something about her… Her face was guarded and sorrowful looking. Modron. This was Modron. The niece of Arthur.
An older looking woman with dark, grey streaked hair and a serious expression spotted us. Her eyes found Arthur and she stepped forward.
"Arthur." Her voice was deep and guttural. She carried herself with an air of command as she walked towards him. She reminded me of Arthur to a frightening degree. It suddenly became clear to me what his mother must have looked like… Dark hair, strong features…
Arthur stepped forward with his mouth slightly parted. He quickly closed it.
"You are the son my mother bore to Uther?" The woman asked. She didn't way for him to answer. "Yes, you look much like I remember her. I am Gwyar, of Igerne and Hoel."
Hoel. The husband Igerne left for Uther. Arthur swallowed and I saw a tick in his jaw start. He no doubt felt his mother's shame for her abandonment of her family and people, but he would not tolerate an insult to his father. If it came…
"I am…" My leader faltered. Guinevere touched his arm to encourage him. "It is wonderful to find a sister. I am honored to meet you."
Well done Arthur. Well done. Gwyar stepped forward and embraced him. She stepped back with a smile on her prematurely aged face.
"Our brother Cador will come to see you soon. These are my children Arthur." She said motioning to the three younger people behind her. The dark woman with the sorrowful eyes stepped forward. A thin, young man with the same dark hair and warm mahogany eyes followed.
"Modron is the eldest. Kaherdin is her brother, and then the youngest is Yseult." Gwyar said as each of them stepped forward. All four of the woads carried weapons, but Yseult kept a hand openly on hers. Her expression was defiant, challenging. I raised an eyebrow as she stepped forward and examined us with fiercely pale eyes. Her dark hair was thick and the color of reddish brown leaves in autumn. She held her thin, wiry body in a defensive manner. I restrained myself from whipping out my sword and waving it around just to see how she would react. March nodded at Kaherdin and quickly grasped my hand. I held it for a moment and quickly let go. Kin or no kin, the woads had been our enemies two days prior and this was not the time for coddling.
"Lady, please come to the fortress with me to talk." Arthur said, ever gracious.
"Of course, but we must leave soon. We have plans to make Arthur…" Gwyar said and suddenly the mood became more ominous as we all remember the plague that now resided in front of the wall.
We soonmade our way to the fortress. Arthur and Gwyar went to Arthur's chambers to plan and make up for lost years, while the others and myself made our way to the yard. We stood around awkwardly for a few moments. Bors, Dagonet, Gawain and Lancelot quickly left to prepare for the morning. Galahad, Tristan and I were stuck with the group of woads. We nodded and introduced ourselves to the woads. March pulled me down next to him and kissed me quickly. Yseult caught sigh of it and looked at him questioningly. She muttered something in their native language. March reddened slightly and snapped something back.
"Yseult." Kaherdin said reproachfully. She sat back coolly and began talking to Guinevere. I stood up and sat between Tristan and Galahad. We fell into easy conversation before Galahad finally stood up to leave. Modron sat quietly across from us. The other's were in a lively conversation, but the three of us sat in a comfortable silence. I felt a sense of comradeship with Modron. The three of us quietly observed each other. Yseult looked over from their conversation after a good while.
"You have a hawk?" She asked the scout. He glanced at her through a shag of dark hair and nodded.
"Did she come to you?" The woman asked eyeing him.
"Yes." He replied.
"Are all Arthur's knights this rude?" Yseult asked Guinevere. Guinevere's ears backed in annoyance.
"I'll return to the camp. Tell mother." Yseult directed at Kaherdin who shook his head wearily. I nearly snorted at her behavior. The girl began walking briskly towards the gates. I heard her snarl something ferocious at Roman soldier who whistled at her, and then she was gone. Modron rolled her eyes after her sister left and I nodded. The girl needed a good beating. Soon Tristan and I stood up and made our back to the barracks. I was about to open the door to my room when he softly turned me around and gave me a nearly chaste kiss. His eyes bored into mine and I was struck with the same unsettled feeling that I had first received when I met him. He walked to his room and entered while I stood there with a heavy feeling somewhere in my chest. Perhaps I owed this last night to him…Then March's face flashed in my mind and I stepped into my own room.
Ok when I was describing Modron and Kaherdin, I had Eva Green and Orlando Bloom in mind. I saw them in a Kingdom of Heaven trailer and was inspired… Like..AHA! And Yseult…Let the Mary Sue ass kicking begin. Well, she's not a terrible MS…I just couldn't resist though.
