Rowan sat laughing at the knights before her. They had no idea she was the new knight. Marcus and Egan laughed in their seats. The other knights had looks of confusion on their faces. "What is so funny?" Galahad finally asked.
"No one informed you who the new knight was?"
"Arthur answered her. "They sent a small note saying a new knight was joining us. And that he is a great swordsman and an amazing archer."
"Wow they said all that."
"So was he killed in battle?" Lancelot asked impatiently.
Egan stood as well as Marcus. "Good knights may I present your new knight, Lady Rowan." Marcus and Egan bowed and then took their seats.
"But you're a girl." Bors mumbled as he gawked at the girl.
"Last time I checked I was." Lancelot had a wide grin on his face.
"I thought Romans only recruited men." Gawain said staring at the female knight sitting across from him.
"When they took my brother, I insisted that I went as well. The Romans thought I wouldn't make it through training. But in fact I excelled far better than any man there. Since then I have been treated like one of the men."
"You are far more beautiful than any man I have ever met." Galahad said as his face flushed several shades of pink.
"You are not disappointed are you?" Rowan asked.
"No no milady. Merely surprised but we must find out if the note we received is true." Arthur said.
"It will be my pleasure to show you my skills tomorrow." All the knights laughed. A female knight. Could she really keep up? The knights finished their dinner and then decided to head to the inn for drinks.
"Lady Rowan will you be joining us?" Gawain asked.
"Please just call me Rowan. And I think it would be best if I retire to my room."
"Oh come on Rowan. Some ale might do you good." Bors said while wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Maybe some other time. I still feel rather sore."
"Suit yourself."
"Since you are going to bed milady, one of my knights should accompany you to your new room. Galahad will you kindly show Rowan to her room." Arthur said.
"I would be glad to show you milady."
"But I do not want to keep you from your plans."
"It will be no problem. In fact it will be my pleasure to escort you." So Galahad and Rowan walked down the hall towards her new room.
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The other knights laughed as they watched to two leave. "I would have rather taken her to my room." Lancelot said.
"Oh I think you will find it hard to get her into your bed. She is smarter than the girls around here." Dagonet said while patting Lancelot's back. The men laughed again. They welcomed Marcus and Egan , treating them like life long friends. When Galahad returned, the men began a game of throwing knives.
"So how was she Galahad?" Lancelot asked as he took his turn throwing.
"Rowan is not like the girls here. She is strong, smart, and strong values. She has also seen much in battle. I doubt she will easily bed with any man." Lancelot frowned but he was positive he could bed any and all women.
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The next morning Rowan awoke rested and refreshed. As she got dressed she checked her wounds, finding they were healing nicely. Rather than wear another dress, she decided to put on her riding gear, since she would be proving herself to the other knights. She put her knife into her side sheath. Egan was able to save it along with her sword when they were rescued. The only things her father had given her was her knife and sword. Once Rowan was done she left her room and headed to the dining hall. Dagonet and Tristan were the only knights present.
"Good morning Rowan." Dagonet said as a servant placed a bowl of food in front of her.
"Good morning. Where are the others?"
"In bed." Tristan replied.
"Still in bed. I guess they may have drank too much. But why are you two not still sleeping?"
"We do not drink as much as the others." Dagonet said. There was little conversation as the three ate. Finally Rowan spoke.
"After breakfast do you suppose I could borrow a horse. I would love to ride around." It had been several says since she had ridden. Sadly her horse was killed in the battle she had with the rebels.
"Certainly. I am sure Jols can find you a horse." At the mention of his name Jols came over and assured rowan he had the perfect horse for her. Rowan said good bye to Tristan and Dagonet. Then left the hall following Jols to the stables. Jols lead the way past six stalls finally stopping at the seventh. "This milady is Axis." Rowan reached her hand out letting the chocolate brown horse sniff her hand. Rowan began to pet the horse as Jols explained the horses story.
"She use to belong to another knight but after he was killed she had no owner. She loved him so much that her hind leg was shot with an arrow trying to protect him. Arthur did not have to heart to destroy her so he ordered she be healed and left to live in the stables. It seems she likes you." Axis was nuzzling Rowan.
"oh she is beautiful. Such a wonderful creature." Jols helped Rowan saddle Axis up. And then Rowan was off to the closest field. Axis was an amazing beast. Agility. Speed. Everything a rider wanted in a horse. Once at the field, Rowan hopped off allowing Axis to stretch her legs. As Axis jumped around, Rowan laid down on the soft grass. Since she had heard of her brother's death, she tried not to think about him. She did not want the others to see her cry. But since Rowan was alone she began thinking about him. She stayed strong, even though she was alone, Rowan viewed tears as a sign weakness. And no matter what pain she endured tears would never escape her eyes. Rowan laid there or some time thinking about how life might have been different if she didn't take this job.
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Back at the dinning hall the other knights were just finishing off their breakfast. "So where is Lady Rowan?" Arthur asked.
"I hope she is not trying to hide from us to keep from dueling." Lancelot said.
"Milady went out to the field with Axis." Jols said responding to Arthur's question.
"She is alone?"
"Yes, sir."
"She should not be alone. It is dangerous still for her."
"Do you wish me to get her sir?"
"No Gawain, Galahad, you two can go. Bring her to the small yard behind the stables. We will test her skills there." Arthur commanded. Gawain and Galahad hurried to the stables, got their horses, and then rode to where Rowan was.
She lay in the grass with her eyes closed. She could hear the approaching horses. Rowan sat up to see Gawain and Galahad drawing near. She then turned around to see Axis nibbling on grass nearby. Gawain hopped off his horse and walked to Rowan.
"Milady you should not have come here alone. It is unsafe."
"I am able to care for myself."
"But milady, Slone is still out there." Galahad said as he got off of his horse.
"And that is why I have this." Rowan revealed her knife, pulling it from her sheath.
"Ah a woman that comes prepared. We must warn Lancelot." Both Galahad and Gawain laughed. All three got on their horses and made their way to the stables.
"Why must you warn Lancelot?"
Gawain began to laugh. "Because he thinks he can bed any woman. And we should warn him so that he doesn't get hurt." Rowan started laughing. Galahad and Gawain told Rowan some stories of Lancelot's conquests. All arrived back at the stables laughing.
"What is so funny milady?" Lancelot asked as Galahad, Gawain, and Rowan came down form their horses.
"Oh nothing." Galahad said as he nudged Rowan in her side. It just happened to be her sore side.
"Oww." Rowan turned to Galahad.
"Oh I am so sorry. I am terribly sorry. Would you like me to get you something?"
"No." Rowan said as she playfully smacked him. Everyone laughed.
Arthur came and handed Rowan a wooden sword. The blade was shorter than hers but for practice this would do.
"If you do not feel well enough, you don't have to do this."
"No I am fine. So who is my first opponent?" The knights stared at one another. Finally Lancelot stepped forward.
"I will have at thee. I promise I will take it easy on you."
"Oh there is no need to Lancelot because she wont take it easy on you." Marcus said. Both him and Egan smiled. They knew what Lancelot was about to go through.
When Egan first met Rowan they were both ten and both determined to make a name for themselves. They became fast friends. Egan dueled with Rowan on many occasions. Rarely, winning. But through the years he did become better. Besides Aiden, Egan was the closest person to Rowan. She shared many things with him that no one else knew.
Marcus met Rowan when she was fifteen. Marcus was three years older. Thinking he was superior, he fought Rowan. Soon realizing she was not to be taken as a poor girl. Even though Marcus was older, Rowan viewed him as a younger brother. He was strong and smart but underestimated others. Which led to many quarrels, Rowan had to help him out of.
"Are you ready Lancelot?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing?"
Rowan and Lancelot began dueling. Lancelot scraped Rowan several times but nothing fatal. Rowan, on the other hand, would have made many deep wounds, had they been real swords. After a cut to his arm, Lancelot fell down.
"Do you need a break knight?" Rowan said as she turned her back. Lancelot saw this as the perfect opportunity to charge her. But she was ready. Rowan took a step to her right and held out her sword. The sword, if it were real, would have cut Lancelot in half.
The others cheered and laughed. "Lancelot, I think she would have killed you at least three times." Dagonet said smiling. Lancelot was breathing heavy and sweating profusely. But Rowan was just warming up.
"Who is next?"
"But don't you want to rest first?" Bors asked.
"No. You can't rest in battle, so why should I rest in practice?" All the men admired her stamina. Bors went against her next. She defeated him by causing him to trip then stabbing him in the stomach. Gawain was next. His down fall was when he grabbed her arm. She spun around kicking his legs out from under him, then stabbing him.
"Who's next? Galahad? Dag? Tristan?"
"Sorry but I am waiting for the archery." Galahad said. Both Dag and Tristan nodded in agreement.
"You have defeated most of my men. I guess I should see if I can break your winning streak." Arthur said. He picked up the other wooden sword, and the two began to duel.
Their battle went on for almost twenty minutes before Lancelot broke in. "I t appears that you two are evenly matched. So will you two call it a draw so we can eat lunch before the day is spent." Arthur shook Rowan's hand.
"You are an amazing fighter. There is no doubt of it."
"It is my pleasure to tie with the great Arthur."
The knights walked into the dinning hall. The servants already prepared lunch.
"Why didn't either of you warn us of her power?" Gawain asked, directing his question to Marcus and Egan.
"Because," Marcus replied, "then we would not have seen such a great show."
"Yes Marcus. But while you were watching, you should have been practicing." Marcus stared at his feet. Egan laughed.
"You should have too." Egan lost his smile and looked to the floor.
Lunch was pleasant. The knights told their new friends of Hadrian's Wall. After lunch they all made their way back to the stables for some archery. Arthur handed Rowan a bow and several arrows. In the distance she could see targets placed at different ranges.
"Now this contest will be between Galahad, Dag, Tristan, and Rowan. The person that can get as many arrows In the centers will win. We shall do this in pairs. Galahad and Rowan first." Galahad fired first, ending to the right. Rowan was dead center. Galahad's next arrow was centered but so was Rowan's. In the end Rowan won.
"Good job milady. It is a pleasure to lose to someone as beautiful as you." Galahad said as he passed his bow to Dag.
"Thanks you." Rowan said while blushing. Men had hit on her before. It was nothing special. But the way these men treated her, made her feel different. She handed her bow to Tristan. The tournament between Dag and Tristan went the same way with Tristan winning.
"And now it appears Rowan will test her skills against Tristan. Be prepared Rowan, he is the best archer." Lancelot said.
"Ladies first." Tristan said and then steeped aside for Rowan to take her shot. Rowan nodded in appreciation of the gesture then aimed. The arrow sailed through the clear blue sky, landing in the center of the target.
"Your turn." Tristan aimed then let the arrow fly. His shot landed the same exact place as Rowan's. The next few targets ended the same as the first. Both archers found the center every time. The final target was the farthest away. Tristan went first this time, firing and hitting the center. The pressure was on Rowan now. If she made this shot, she would tie. But if she missed, Tristan would win. And she was not about to let a man show her up. Rowan took extra time aiming. Then she closed her eyes and fired. When Rowan heard the arrow hit the target, she opened her eyes. The arrow wasdead center. All the knights looked surprised.
"I hope you are not upset you tied with a girl." Rowan said while putting her bow away.
"No Rowan. It is good that we have another talented archer on our side." Tristan said and then left the stables to patrol the wall.
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Rowan left the stables after feeding Axis and brushing her mane. Arthur had waited for her.
"That was some impressive skills you showed today."
"That was only practice. I try to get more creative in battle."
"Your skills prove you have faced battle many times."
"More than needed. I stopped counting after thirteen. Even though my freedom is far off, I can not wait to have it. If I survive it that long."
"Of course you will. After seeing your power today it is wonder you were captured." Arthur realized his mistake. "I am sorry. I did not mean to bring up what happened."
"It is okay. I have lost before. I cared for my brother deeply. And I will miss him. But that will not stop me from fighting."
"We will help you get your vengeance."
Rowan and Arthur walked back to the wall in silence. Arthur gave his sympathy to Rowan but that was not going to help her. Slone was going to pay for what he had taken from her. She would have her retribution.