Arthur looked down on the land ahead. The caravan was several miles from home, but the group had a problem. The woads had been tracking them. Tristan and Marcus had killed a scout early that morning. Arthur was the only one they told so far. Tristan believed the rest of the woads were waiting ahead. Arthur was now surveying the land to see what way was safest.
"Tristan, which direction should we take?"
"They surround us. Possibly 13 armed. No matter which way we go, they will have the cover of the trees."
The quickest path ahead was a dirt road that lay between rows of trees. There was no way they could leave the path because of the cart.
"Then we must proceed. Tristan please get Rowan." Tristan nodded then followed Arthur's orders. He found her speaking with Brice. The boy had become fond of her. After the children had gone to bed the night before, the knights began to laugh at Rowan's new beau. Brice was turning 15, which meant he was too young for her anyway. Tristan smiled when he heard the two talking about fighting stances.
"Yes, but you can't reach your opponent." Rowan said. Brice was about to respond but Tristan spoke first.
"Rowan, Arthur wishes to speak with you."
"Alright." Rowan followed Tristan back to Arthur. "yes Arthur."
"We are being followed by woads. The only way to get home is to follow the road, but it is the perfect place for an attack. Do you have any ideas?"
Rowan looked over the land and thought about the possible situations. "I have an idea but it is risky."
"What is risky?" Lancelot asked as he joined the three.
"We are being tracked."
"Oh. What are we going to do then?"
"That is what I was getting to before I was interrupted. Now if we were to travel ahead without the cart, we could defeat the woads and then come back to get the cart. But there is a set back. The woads could attack the cart. And id we split the group we may not be able to keep the woads back. Those are the options but each has downfalls. Arthur, you are the commander, you must decide." Rowan's ideas were good but each did have possibilities for failure.
"Okay. Get everyone together." The entire group met by the cart. Arthur even allowed the children to come.
"What is going on Arturius?" Bors asked.
"Woads. We suspect they will attack us on the road up ahead." The two smaller boys showed fear in their eyes. "Duncan, Fergus, do you have talents with a sword?" Both nodded. "Good. This is the plan. Duncan, Fergus, Marcus, Egan, and Rowan will stay here and protect the cart. The little ones will be in the cart."
"But there is no room sir." Fergus said.
"We will make room. The rest of us will travel down the path. If the woads attack, we should be able to handle them." The knights understood their orders. Rowan then went to the cart to make room.
"I can fight as well." Brice said.
"No. you must stay In the cart and protect your cousins." Brice was disappointed but followed his orders. Brice helped Rowan make room, when Lancelot came up to see if everything was ready.
"Is there enough room?"
"Yes. Brice get your cousins." Brice ran off.
"So when are you two getting married?"
"Are you jealous?"
"No."
"You are. You're jealous of a 15 year old."
"No I'm not."
"You're scared a kid will get the girl you can't."
"Am not. I wanted to make sure everything was ready."
"Yes. All is ready."
"Okay. Well I guess I'll see you after the battle."
Then there was an awkward silence. Rowan didn't know what to say but thankfully, she didn't have to. Brice, Murray, and Kelvin came running up.
"Alright you three. Brice is in charge. Do as he tells you." Fergus and Duncan then approached to deliver a message and speak with their children.
"Sir Lancelot, Sir Arthur would like a word." Lancelot said farewell then departed. Fergus and Duncan made sure their children were safe then they closed the cart. Rowan pulled her sword from her sheath. The other knights were ready.
"We will follow the path and determine what the woads will do. If they only attack us, still stay here. Rowan you lead them."
"Yes sir." She could hear Fergus grunt as if expecting Arthur to change his mind. But he didn't.
"May God be with you." Arthur said before they departed.
Rowan's troop stood around the cart ready for anything. The others had been gone for several minutes when Rowan heard rustling coming from the trees.
"They're here." Marcus yelled as a man painted blue came charging at him. The rest of the woads followed their leader, attacking the group which was protecting the cart. At one point Rowan was fighting two woads by herself. She looked around to see Duncan and Fergus taking one down. Egan was finishing his attacker off. Marcus was still fighting. The battle did not last long. Tow more woads appeared when Rowan finished her first. The woads were good fighters, but unlike Rowan they did not calculate their moves. Once Rowan killed the last remaining woads she looked at the rest of her troop.
"Is everyone okay?"
"Marcus is wounded. But will be okay." Egan said looking over the cut.
"Fergus? Duncan?"
"Fine."
"No problem."
"How are the kids?" Rowan asked.
Duncan looked on the kids to find all were safe. Still fearing another attack, Rowan thought it best to leave them In the cart. She then went to check on Marcus.
"Just a scratch milady. Nothing I can't handle."
"I know." The small group waited to see if the others would return. Half an hour later the knights returned blood soaked, but alive.
"How did you fair?" Rowan asked.
"12 attacked us when we reached midpoint. You?" Arthur responded.
"Seven. Marcus was cut but everyone is okay."
"Good. We should hurry before more return."
The rest of the journey was quiet and uneventful. There were no further signs of woads. Once Rowan passed through the great doors she gave a sigh of relief. They had made it back safely. Rowan went to put Axis away when Fergus stopped her.
"Rowan wait please."
"Yes?"
"I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other evening. I wrongly judged you. I saw you fighting. Taking two at a time that was amazing. You are a better fighter than I. Please accept my apology."
"I will Fergus. It takes a big man to admit he was wrong."
"Thank you milady."
The two departed. The fact that he apologized and admitted she was a better fighter impressed her. Rowan was satisfied. She put Axis in the stables then returned to her room. The battle, lack of proper food and sleep, caused her to collapse on her bed. She was about to fall asleep when someone knocked on her door. "Hold on." Rowan got up and went to the door. She opened it to find Galahad, Lancelot, and Gawain waiting.
"How can I help you three?"
"We were wondering where you went." Galahad said.
"Well I was going to try and sleep."
"Why don't you come to dinner with us?" Lancelot asked.
"Yea the cook is making a feast for our homecoming." Gawain added.
"I don't know."
"Come on." They pleaded.
"Ok but at least allow me to change."
"Go ahead we don't mind." Lancelot said. The three stood there expecting her to change in front of them.
"I'll meet all of you at the dining hall." Rowan said closing the door in their faces. She could hear them arguing but eventually their voices faded. Rowan changed into a pale pink dress that rolled off her shoulders. She pulled her hair in a ponytail then headed to the hall. The men were all seated in their normal places with the addition of Fergus, Duncan, Brice, Murray, and Kelvin. Rowan took her seat by Lancelot. He pulled her chair out for her. "Thank you." The dinner was enjoyable. Everyone was having a good time just being in each others company.
Even though everyone was enjoying themselves in Hadrian's Wall, terrible things were going on in the north. Slone had found his way to the wall. For fear of being spotted, he did not go inside. Slone was prowling around the north gate when he noticed a young boy amongst the bushes. The boy was a woad. When the child noticed Slone he went to yell for help. But Slone was to quick. He was on top of the boy in moments. Slone took out his knife and stabbed the boy, twisting the blade. Slone went to finish him off when more rustling came. Slone fled again. The boy's father soon found him and took him to Merlin. But there was little Merlin could do. The boy's wound was large and they did not have anything to stop the bleeding. They needed help.
Two days has passed since the journey to get the caravan. Rowan decided to go on a horse ride outside the wall to survey the land. Galahad said he would accompany her.
"You do not have to come with me. I am a big girl."
"But I want to.'
"Oh alright."
The ride was quite nice. The two talked about growing up and the things they liked. Rowan felt comfortable talking to him. It was not easy for her to open up to just anyone. The two were talking so intently that they did not realize they traveled north of the border, Before they knew it, woads surrounded them. Both pulled out their swords but they were no use. The woads had them out numbered. Surprisingly the woads made no attempt to kill. They pulled Galahad and Rowan off their horses. Galahad began to struggle when the woads bound his hands.
"Galahad calm down. There is no use in fighting." Galahad calmed but still showed hatred in his eyes. The woads led them to a small secluded pen surrounded by bushes. The two remained in the makeshift prison for quite a while until a woad took Rowan.
"If you hurt her in anyway it will be the last thing you do." Galahad called. The threat was genuine but the guards took it as a joke. Only smiling and pushing Rowan away. Eventually, Rowan was brought before a small group of men. The guard pushed Rowan to her knees. The man sitting across from her was the first to speak.
"You have become a great warrior Rowan. Your father would be proud to hear of your accomplishments."
"Who are you and how do you know my father?"
"I am Merlin. And the matter of your father is not important. You were brought here for another purpose."
"And that would be?"
Merlin spoke in an unfamiliar language to the guards. Soon two guards brought in a young boy on a hand made stretcher. "A man attacked him. Nothing we possess here will help him."
Slone she thought. He would be the only man to do something as terrible as hurt a child. "May I look at his wound?" Merlin nodded and the guard behind her cut the ropes. Rowan slowly walked to the boy and looked at the deep gash in his side. "I am unable to heal this."
"But your father taught you the skills."
"Yes but this is to great for me to mend. And even if I could I do not have the tools." Despair showed on the faces of several of the other men. Rowan was not going to allow this child to go without help. "But I do know someone that can help him."
"Who?"
"One of the knights that lives at the wall." This caused and uproar among the other members. Merlin calmed them and spoke to them in their language. Rowan waited patiently, the others seemed to not agree so finally Rowan spoke. "If he does not see someone soon the boy will die." Merlin then turned back..
Finally Merlin speaking to Rowan said. "We will allow you to take the boy. But the man stays here."
"Sir I can not allow that. The knights will not help the boy knowing you could harm their friend." This caused more problems .
"Merlin, I give you my word that I will return every evening and give you word on the boy."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Another man said.
"I give you my word. If you do not trust me then there is nothing I can do." The men conversed again.
"We will allow you and the other man to leave with him. But we expect to see you once a day telling us of his condition." Merlin finally said.
"Thank you. May I know the name of the boy?"
"Carden. These men will put him on a horse, while you go and get your friend. He had been making quite a ruckus."
"I guess he was causing too much noise." Rowan said when she saw they had gagged Galahad. The guard allowed Rowan to go in and untie Galahad but before she did, she wanted to make sure he didn't over react. "Galahad I need to tell you some things and I need you to remain calm." Carefully, she removed the gag and untied him.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Now listen. I have spoken with Merlin and he needs our help. That is why he didn't have us killed."
"Help him. After all he has done."
"Listen, Galahad. I have already made the deal."
"Rowan."
"Just hear me out. A young boy was attacked by Slone. And the woads are unable to help. It is the same wound I had, so Dag can help him." Galahad calmed down. He wouldn't allow a boy to go suffering.
"Are you sure Arthur will allow it?"
"He should if he is the man I think he is." The two walked to their horses to find woads already had Carden ready for the ride. His parents were standing close by. Rowan got on her horse and then the woads passed Carden to her.
"He will be okay. I promise." Galahad looked at Rowan. He would have never accepted something like this. The woads would never have trusted him. And he was unable to trust them. The two rode back and Rowan relayed the entire story to Galahad. Galahad was unexcited about dealing with woads but understood why Rowan did it. Slone did the same to her and she was not going to allow Carden to go without help.
The Roman guards opened the gates and allowed them to pass. Rowan and Galahad hurried to find Arthur and the others in the courtyard.
"Where have you two been? We were coming to find you? Who's that?" All these questions barely escaped Arthur's mouth when Bors figured out the final question.
"He's a woad."
"Arthur this boy need care immediately."
"But he's a woad. Rowan how could you?"
"Slone tried to kill him." The room fell silent. Arthur was debating his options as the room remained still. Rowan couldn't take it.
"Arthur, I will accept full responsibility. He is an innocent boy that knows nothing of the past wars you have shared with the woads. Will you allow him to die?"
Arthur gave a heavy sigh. "Take him to the infirmary. Dag do all that you can. Rowan follow me." The once still room began to move. The knights took the boy to the hospital quickly. Galahad told them of their journey. Rowan followed Arthur to his quarters where he questioned her on the days events. She left out the details on her having to return to the woads. She had a strong feeling Arthur would not allow her to go back. When he was satisfied he allowed her to go.
"You may leave."
"Thank you."
"Oh wait. This came for you." Arthur held out a tattered envelope.
"Thank you sir." Rowan hurried to her room and locked the door. She did not want anyone to disturb her. She carefully removed the envelope and began to read the letter that was inside.
'Rowan-my love. We received your letter. It is a terrible loss. But do not despair. Though he is gone form this world you shall meet him again. Do not worry about us. We will manage. Remember what I taught you. I miss you and cannot wait for the day you can return.'
The letter ended there. Rowan did not need a signature to tell her who wrote the letter. Her father.