Lots of Author notes today kids...
Yes well for those of you who like the story, you should be happy. I'm going to write a sequal about the second half of Arthur's kingship. This where I include more legend. It will be slightly more court like, but still have a lot of woad and Roman and Sarmatian influences. Mordred will play a big part. And there will be several central characters. Since it's going to be about the knight's kids, its going to be from like three or four different perspectives(girls of course...I don't claim to even begin to understand the male thought process). So yes. There will be one main character, and then you will also veer off into several parts of the story that take place in the perspective of three other characters. So yes. Well I suspect I'll be starting that in a few weeks(hint hint).
Wow...Saw batman begins and cillian murphy is HOT. Its going to be hard for me to get rid of March now...sniffle. Oh well...I'm doing this for you guys...
Yes, well I know it seems out of character for Tristan to let a woman hang all over him…But we don't necessarily know what's going on in his mind…And keep in mind that he's not hanging over her too. Well I don't want to give the whole thing away, so just pretend with me for a while. K? And although we all look at Tristan like he's god and he can't fail and so on, he's still human. And perhaps, he is genuinely confused.
And as for Yseult, no, she's not bipolar or insane. But she is different than Isolde in many ways. And other than feeling threatened in the Tristan department, she has no reason to hate Isolde. So the relationship isn't going to be "best-friends-for-life-omg-we're-like-sisters", but I can tell you that it's not going to be a catfight. There might be some sore feelings at the end I tell you… When it's all settled, only one of them can have The Hot One. So…We'll see. Or rather, you will.
By the time we walked back to the domus, Yseult felt more at ease around me I could tell. I myself was even more convinced that I should not hate her. I never doubted for a moment that I loved Tristan more than anyone ever would, but Yseult was not a bad person. I did not think she would hurt him.
"Isolde!" I heard Mordred's voice cry out as we entered the residence. I looked up to see the boy in his mother's arms. My smile broadened as I made my way to my friend.
"Hello Modron." I said standing in front of the young woman. She was as beautiful as ever with eyes that seemed to take in more than you could imagine.
"Isolde. How was your journey?" She asked as Mordred wound an arm around her hips. The boy was not giddy; he seemed to just be content now that his mother was there. Once again he looked as fey and mysterious as the first time I had seen him.
"It was...something I needed. Mordred enjoyed it as well I hope." I said.
"Yes." She said smiling. "He's been telling me all about it."
I wanted to speak to her more, but it would have to wait.
"Isolde!" I heard March call out. It seemed he was tired of waiting for me to confront the issue. I excused myself and followed him into a small alcove. He put his hands on my shoulder and smiled nervously. He had cut his hair until it fell above his shoulders. I liked it. He tucked a peice of hair behind my ear.
"I've missed you for seven months. But not in the way I should have." He said. I felt my eyes crinkle with mirth. We had been together for only a fortnight or so, but we both felt the need to clear things up with each other.
"We were stupid." I said and he shook his head.
"It was...worthwhile. But we both know where you belong." He said with a knowing grin.
"Well... That time has come and gone I think." I said with my face twisted into a grimace. He shook his head even more and squeezed my shoulders.
"I hope you know I'm not going to disappear." He said straightening up. "I'm going to be around for quite a while. You amuse me, knight."
My face turned serious.
"Yes. Well, you make me feel like a girl." I said austerely. "And at my age, I need that."
We both smiled at the last part. I wasn't old, but I felt like it.
"He won't be long in coming." March said and I knew who he was referring too. "Don't argue."
I closed my mouth.
"You see that man there?" He said twisting me around and pointing to a man surrounded by several seasoned warriors. He was grim looking with dark hair and a close beard. He was speaking to Modron in what seemed to be a cordial, yet intense manner.
"Yes...Who is he?" I asked.
"Uriens." March said in a low voice. "He's captivated by Modron."
"Uriens...He's one of the malcontents?"
"Mm hm. With the Romans gone now, he's been reclaiming old ancesteral lands. His comrade, Galahault, has also been claiming lands south of the wall. They don't like the idea of accepting a high king in place of a Roman emporer."
"You think they will start a rebellion?" I asked watching him turn to embrace a younger man with a broad smile. It was my first real taste of politics and I was fascinated.
"Galahault is young and rash...Thinks of himself as a conquerer. He might consider joining an uprising." March said as we turned to get a better look at the dark headed Galehault. He was a handsome, clean shaven man with wavy earlength hair. He reminded me of some Greek god with his bronze skin and broad shoulders. "It's Uriens we must worry about."
"How so?" I asked examining the older man. Uriens was not a handsome man, so much as he was regal looking. Stern mouth...Keen eyes.
"Uriens will not be eager to join any insurrection. Especially if it would mean fighting his own people. So long as the majority of the woads are behind Arthur, he will be hesitant. But should he feel that rebelling would be more lucrative..."
"He would turn against us?" I asked taking it all in.
"Very likely. Galahault inspires men, he can lead them. He's fearless, and that could work against us, but Uriens would be more of a threat. He's a good leader. Calculated, patient."
"I think I could handle him..." I said measuring him up. He was well muscled and looked to be in his early thirties. Prime condition.
March laughed and laid his head on my shoulder for a moment.
"No Isolde. I don't think that will be nescessary. As I said, he's enamored with Modron. Has been for years..."
"And she isn't married." I said finally understanding how he could become an ally. I knew nothing of Mordred's father so I assumed Modron had never married. A little voice in the back of my head reminded me off the horrified look on Lancelot's face when he saw the boy with Modron. But the idea...what it would mean...It was absurd. The consequences would have been devastating.
I decided I would not pry into Mordred's parentage, but the curiosity remained. I was also interested to see how Modron felt about this potential match. Arthur may have been high king, but she was a queen in her own right and his own family. She couldn't just be pawned off without her consent.
"So. What other enemies can we expect?" I asked, still intrigued. I could see no other unfamiliar people in the courtyard a the time.
"Many more... Caradoc, Bran, and those damned foreigners." He said. I raised an eyebrow. I had been gone for quite a while.
"Foreigners?" I asked as I watched Uriens try to engage Modron in conversation again.
"The Romans called them Saracens. They are men taken from the desert, past the Mediterranean. When the Romans left, they decided to stay and claim their lord's home as their own."
"On what authority? What are they lording over? What do the locals say? Are they recognizing the Saracens as their new rulers?" I asked. No man can just call himself a king or a lord...They had to prove themselves, as Arthur had.
"Their leader, Palomides, is showing himself to be a worthy leader. Not to mention he and the other Saracens are skilled warriors, which is a comfort to the locals." March said. He straightened up again. "Come on, let's go."
He led me out into the courtyard and introduced me to Uriens and Galahault.
"Ah the female knight." Uriens said pleasantly. Galahault looked on with interest. I gave a small, polite smile before reverting back to a blank face. I felt a small tug on my tunic and I looked down to see Mordred at my side.
"Hello." I said quietly. Uriens crouched down in front of Mordred and pulled a carved horse from his tunic.
"Here prince." He said solemnly as if presenting a great gift to a king. Mordred took it and returned the solemn look. I noted that Modron wasn't the only one Uriens was wooing.
"Thank you." Mordred said politely. He clung to my tunic even more. Uriens sat back and stood up again.
"Well. It is good to see real warriors again instead of soldiers." He said.
"The battle should be interesting." Galahault said. I directed my gaze at him.
"You do realize most of the woads have aligned themselves with Arthur? As with nearly all the other inhabitants on this isle?" I said conversationally. Galahault smiled.
"Once my people see that we can live without the Roman highking, you'll see that they will be much less inclined to fight for him." He said with the confidence of youth. He couldn't have been more than a few years older than me.
"What makes you think Britain will survive when it's filled with squabbling tribes and kingdoms who answer to no one?" I asked keeping my voice calm.
"We Britons can defend ourselves." Galahault said as if there should be no question of it.
"Really? Last time you people had that idea, the Romans ran right over you." I said coolly. Galahault's dauntless smile faltered. "But if you are so determined to defeat Arthur, so be it. Allies or no allies, I promise you that you'll rue the day you crossed Arthur's knights."
Instead of walking away and leaving him to his anger and embarassment, I stayed put. I hoped the young man would redeem himself. Such a fine military leader and warrior should not be an enemy.
"Well Galahault. Now that you've embarassed yourself, perhaps you should find your quarters." Uriens said balming the situation. "I can see why Modron enjoys your company so much, lady."
And with that, Uriens steered a slightly blushing Galahault out of the courtyard.
"Well you can beat him with wits. Now we'll just have to see about politics, or you'll be testing him with your sword." March said standing at my side. It was easier to speak to him this way...Without my stomach fluttering and my heart racing.
"I hope the rest aren't like him." I said. Uriens was a consumate politician. I hadn't been able to determine any of his feelings. He came off as perfectly nuetral.
"I had better get ready." I said stretching. March nodded and disappeared. I made my way out of the courtyard and to my room. I noticed Yseult coming out and realized that she wasn't just spending her nights there. Her things seemed to be there as well.
The dinner was to be cursory. Relaxed. We were saving the pomp and such for the next night, when the others would have arrived. I entered my room and brushed my hair. It was nearly dry. My room was nearly as cold as the outside wind. I shut the wooden shutters and pushed the green drape over it. I put on my new green tunic and my beautiful coat. I pinned on the fist sized gold plaque I had chosen from the kurgan gold. I eyed the rest of my gold...Tomorrow at the feast I could wear my dress, my neck plate, and my earrings. I didn't want to outshine my own queen though. How would it look if a knight wore more gold that the queen of Britain? No, that would not do. I would wear my dress and my ear peices. The neck plate I could save for my burgundy dress. I scooped up the diadem and my new dress. I wanted to show Guinevere. I made my way to Arthur and Guinevere's chambers and knocked. Arthur, hair still damp from a bath, answered and let me in.
"I would bow and kiss your feet, but my hands are full." I said sweetly.
"Very amusing." He said flatly. "Isolde..."
He looked like he wanted to say something and I had a feeling I knew what it was.
"I will be fine Arthur." I said assuredly. It was strange, everyone seeming to know my feelings before I even told them. It meant a lot to me that they appeared to be pained by the situation. They all seemed to want to set it straight, but they knew I would do what I thought needed to be done. Arthur looked at me for a moment.
"So my king..." I said knowing he hated the word. "How does the queen fare tonight?"
"Moody." He said under his breath. In a louder, more audible voice he spoke again. "She is readying herself."
He called out her name and she appeared after a moment. She was in a simple, dark green dress.
"What have you got there?" She asked as she pulled bits of hair back to be pinned. I laid the crown on the table behind me and held up the dress, a masterpeice of silk and gold.
Arthur groaned.
"Now everyone's going to be demanding I open up a trade route to the east..." He said looking upwards towards his God.
"Isolde it's lovely!" Guinevere said holding the skirt. She smiled wickedly. "Tristan's going to come crawling back to your bed."
I was modest enough to blush.
"No...I admit, it's something to look at, but I'm not going to wear a finer dress than the highqueen of Britain." I said plainly. "As for the other, I don't care. They can wear rags for all I care."
She smiled and traced some of the intricate gold embroidery.
"Don't worry. My dress is fine. My better dresses I will have to save for after the baby." She said still admiring the dress. I reached behind me and drew out the gold crown.
"A gift from Sarmatia." I said handing her the object. The blue glass looked even richer and more vibrant in firelight. "Or perhaps I should say from a long dead Scythian king and one of his wives..."
She gave me an odd look at the last part, but I didn't offer the story.
"Thank you Isolde." Guinevere said holding the crown. I nodded.
"I'lll leave you to finish getting ready." I said and made my exit. Outside my room I heard a Geraint crying. I sighed and opened Lancelot's door. I supposed the fool was still bathing. I picked up Geraint who was surprisingly heavy. Thick gold waves covered half of his face as he giggled, happy at receiving some attention.
"Izzz!" He said slapping my cheek. "Iz! Iz! Iz!"
"No. Isolde. Not Iz. Isolde." I corrected him. He continued to chant Iz.
"Iz-sol-dai." I said once again. The sky was darkening and I was sitting on Lancelot's bed. Dagonet poked his head in.
"Iz!" Geraint said again. I sighed hopelessly.
"Isolde." Dagonet said clearly as he picked up the small child from my arms. Geraint was quiet for a moment. Dagonet repeated my name.
"Eso." Geraint said. I perked up. It was an improvement! "Eso! Eso! Eso!"
"I think Eso will be the best he can do for now." Dagonet said seriously. He handed the child back to be and rubbed his head. His dark red tunic was handsome on him.
"You look nice Dag." I said. He gave a small smile.
"Perhaps I might win the attention of a lady." He said holding himself tall.
"Tell me about Lucan." I said as Geraint laid his head on my shoulder and sucked his thumb.
"I am going to make him my son." He said after a moment.
"We are all parents now..." I said reeling. A year ago we were coarse warriors and now there were marriages and children everywhere.
"Not quite." He said putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Ehh." I said shrugging. "This one and Mordred are enough for me. Perhaps I'll even teach Lucan a thing or two."
"You'll have to unless I find him a mother." He said. "I fear for the sanity of Gawain's children should he have any."
I snorted.
"I'm still wondering how Bors' brood will turn out. Probably be mad. All of them..." I said Dagonet shook his head. Lancelot flung the door open at that moment. His hair was still dripping.
"Sorry, there was a woman who offered to help me bathe and I-" He began with a cavalier smile.
"Baby." I said mildly as I pointed at the child in my lap. Lancelot looked stricken.
"Oh...I have to be careful of what I say for the next ten years don't I?" He said looking lost. Dagonet groaned morbidly.
"Gods help us..." I muttered. I set Geraint down. Lancelot began taking of his old tunic as I scrubbed as his head with a cloth. He yelped as I pulled some of his hair and jumped. I in turn winced as he landed on my foot. The end result was both of us toppling to the floor.
I was ready to swear that his elbow was in my lungs.
"Off." I rasped. Lancelot grinned madly and propped himself up on his hands.
"I'm sorry Isolde. I'm still worn out. You'll have to give me a few minutes to gather my strength. Then you and I can-"
"Baby!" I said. Dagonet shook his head pitiably and walked out the door.
Whew! I just kept writing and writing... It's going to get more interesting I promise. Right now she's just getting back into things... There's going to be plenty of battle and such in a chapter or two. REVIEW! By the way, it's going to be another week before I can update... Vacation!
