"Are you upset that Rowan beat all of you?"
Rowan laughed. If that was the case then she was not sorry. They wanted to see her ability. She proved she was just as good as any man.
"No, no." Arthur said. "We just received our orders. In two days we head south. Provisions are coming in and we must escort them here."
"Do you think Slone will attack them?" Marcus asked.
"No. But woads may."
"Woads?"
"British rebels that hate Rome. They stay to the north of the Wall but will occasionally attack below the Wall."
"But don't worry. They don't fight as well as we do. So it should be no problem for you." Lancelot said grinning at Rowan.
"Who said I was worried?" After dinner Arthur retired to his room. And the other knights made their way to the bar.
"Will you be joining us this evening milady?" Gawain asked, leaving the hall.
"For a little while I suppose."
The men began throwing knives. Rowan sat back watching as they got drunk. She ,too, started to drink, but her reasons were not for pleasure. Rowan wanted to forget her past. As the game progressed Rowan joined in. She only had three drinks but that was enough to put her aim off. After her fifth miss Gawain offered his help.
"Look you have to aim. Take your time." Gawain walked up behind Rowan and put his hand over hers. He lifted her hand and the knife helping her line up the throw. He drew back and then she released the knife. It landed dead center.
"Thanks Gawain." There was an awkward silence. Did she give him a hg? Or was thanks enough? But before Rowan could act, Gawain sat down flirting with a barmaid. The game continued until everyone was missing the target except Tristan.
"Okay good knights (hiccup) I must retire for the night. (hiccup) Thank you for the pleasant evening." As Rowan walked out she began to stumble, but a pair of strong arms caught her before she fell. Rowan turned to see her savior was Galahad.
"Would you like me to escort you to your room?"
"Sure I think I need someone to catch me just incase I fall again."
Galahad supported her as they walked down the hall. He then helped her into bed. Rowan closed her eyes drifting into hopefully a peaceful sleep. Galahad crept to the door. Turning the knob carefully, as not to wake Rowan. Before Galahad was completely out the door he could hear Rowan speak.
"Thank you, sir Galahad."
"Goodnight milady."
At first, sleep was pleasant for Rowan. But in the middle of her slumber she began to have awful dreams. Slone was attacking her. Aiden came in sword drawn, ready to fight. Slone ran at Aiden. The two fought, all Rowan could do was watch. Aiden was about to win when Slone threw his knife, killing Aiden. Slone turned back to her. She was screaming for help but none was coming. Slone grabbed her throat, putting pressure on her windpipe. Her eyes closed.
Rowan shot up in her bed. Cold sweat poured off of her. Not even in sleep could she find peace.
The next morning Rowan arose quite early. She had several things she needed to accomplish without the knowledge of anyone else. Quickly, she wrote a note about her brother's death and then went to find a messenger that would deliver her note as quickly as possible. After finding a man and paying him a hefty sum, she needed to find Arthur.
Rowan went to the dinning hall expecting to see Arthur but only finding Lancelot. She turned, about to walk out when Lancelot called to her.
"Are you disgusted by me so much, you will not have breakfast with me?"
"No." Rowan laughed. "I was looking for Arthur. I need to speak with him."
"Well he will comet o breakfast soon so why don't you wait here with me?"
"Okay." Rowan said pulling out a chair beside him. A servant brought her something to eat but Rowan was not hungry. Lancelot saw her push her food away.
"Is something wrong? The food is not that terrible here."
"I'm not very hungry this morning. I did not sleep well."
"I know."
"Excuse me but how did you know."
"I passed by your room last night. I heard you tossing and mumbling something about Slone."
"Oh."
"Are you okay milady?"
"Yes. Just Slone still haunts me. Never before has anyone made me feel so incapable. I did nothing. My brother had to fight for me. And look where that got him. It's all my fault."
"There was nothing you could do. Your brother gave his life for you. He had a choice and he was defending you. You should be proud."
"I am. But still."
"We will get him. And your brother will be avenged." Lancelot placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. This was not an attempt to bed her. But truly a sympathetic gesture. Rowan trusted him. His words were true; he cared about her.
"Do you have any siblings?" Rowan asked trying to change the subject.
"Two sisters. They gave this when the Romans recruited me." Lancelot pulled out a small wooden talisman. He spoke of his home until Bors and Dag arrived.
"You two alone." Bors said.
"And Lancelot is not dead." Rowan laughed . "He would have to do something far to terrible for me to kill him." After the other knights began to file into the hall, Rowan realized Arthur was not coming to breakfast. Rowan excused herself from the table and then sought out Arthur. It did not take her long. Arthur was in his room looking over maps.
Rowan knocked on his door. "Enter. Good morning Rowan."
"Hello Arthur."
"What brings you here?"
"I have to ask you something important and private."
"Anything milady."
"It's about my brother. He does not belong to this land. I am wondering if you knew of a secluded place I could burn his remains and cast his ashes."
Arthur thought about it, deciding the perfect place would be by the ocean. "I know of the perfect place. I will tell the knights and we can all go."
"No. I appreciate the thought but I would like this to be private. Only myself, Marcus and Egan."
"I understand." Arthur rummaged through his maps and found the right one. "this will lead you to the cliff end. Will it do?"
"Yes. Thank you so much. I am truly grateful."
Rowan found Marcus and Egan dueling out behind the stables. "Marcus. Egan. I must speak with you."
"Yes milady?"
" I would like to burn Aiden's body. And since the tow of you were the closest to him I want you two to be there."
"Of course Rowan. We could not imagine being anywhere else."
The three knights packed the necessary things and then went to get Aiden's body. Following the map Arthur gave her, Rowan led the way to a beautiful cliff's edge. The view was amazing. From their perspective they could see the ocean going out for miles. Rowan dismounted and went to her brother's body. Marcus and Egan helped her lower the body to the ground.
"This is perfect milady. Aiden would have liked this very much." Egan said as he began to get the fire ready. Marcus helped rowan place the body in its proper place. When the fire was finally blazing, they placed Aiden into the fire. The three stood watching as their friend departed from the earth. No one spoke the entire time.
It was late in the evening when the body was entirely gone. Rowan, Marcus, and Egan took the ashes and cast them over the edge of the cliff. As they rode back to the wall, in silence, several tears escaped Rowan's eyes. Her only brother was gone. Never again would she see him smile or laugh. He was gone forever. Realizing how she must have looked, she pulled herself together. This was not a time to break down. Her brother would have wanted her to stay strong.
Thanks to Lauraine, the final fight is a little ways off but Slone will appear soon, Thanks elvinscarf. Thanks KnightMaiden, I am not sure who Rowan is going to be with yet, or even if she will end up with anyone. And thanks to Girl from up the street, lol.