Warning: This is slightly riskier than the last two chapters, at least the first part, the rest is good. If you don't like the concept of rape, skip down to "Up boy!". I say nothing really, it just alludes to what Cai does. Otherwise, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nobody by the characterizations of Bedivere, Lamorak, Percival, and Kay (now Cai). I would like to obtain the rights to the knights of 'King Arthur', but sadly that would be near impossible.

Author: Boadicea
Rating: R (rape)
Summary: When searching Sarmatians, what is noted above all is their history of warrior women. I am surprised, and slightly appalled, that they made no mention of this in the movie 'King Arthur', so I did. Happy day!

Please comment on this, tell me how I did!

The Girl Who Became a Hero

Hadrian's Wall had been finished and we moved northward, under Arthur's supervision. Now each of the men had their own quarters in a huge hall with a large round table Arthur ordered to be built. We spent the night in the tavern, the men all wenching while I remained remotely sober. "Drink up, Bedivere!" Cried Galahad, drunkenly shoving a pint in my hands. "A toast!"

"I'd rather watch you all make fools of yourselves." I replied with a laugh and raised my glass. "May our days be merry and our conquest successful, despite it all."

All the men cheered in reply as I took a drink and then stood. "I must now retire," I announced, "I've other matters at hand."

"Come now, Bed," insisted Percival with a scarcely dressed woman on his knee, "why leave so soon?"

"Because, I need to use the little boys' room."

With that the knights laughed and I stumbled out of the place to one of the back rooms I thought to be vacant. A woman struggled under Cai's huge form. Instantly, I went to her aid. "Cai—you shit, you're drunker than the whole bloody tavern!"

Shoving Cai off, I was able to free the poor soul beneath him. With tears in her eyes, she ran off, trying to fix her broken bodice.

Cai grabbed me forcefully when he was able to stand. "Brave little knight," he growled, alcohol soaking his breath as I struggled, "perhaps you will suffice as the girl you've just saved so valiantly!"

I was furious and terrified all at the same time—Cai was overpowering, drunk, and he was going to get all he wanted if I couldn't break free. "You bastard!" I snapped, kicking at him, but his grip only tightened as he grabbed my hair. "If you weren't Arthur's brother, I'd kill you!"

Turning me around, Cai grabbed my arms and held them behind my back, glass shattering on the floor around us as I frantically tried to break free. Cai laughed pleasurably as loins grew heated with sadistic pleasure and he caressed my legs with his free hand. "You always were a pretty one, Bedivere."

I snarled in rage, my eyes blurring as I wiggled about in his grasp like some sort of fish caught in a net. "Tristan!" I called out for help. "Arthur! Lancelot!"

"Quiet!" Cai knocked me on the back of my head, making me listless and dizzy. "That's better…"

For a few minutes I could barely move as I tried to shake myself out of the stupor, Cai touching me in various forbidden places. Suddenly he stopped and drew back, releasing. I fell to the floor in exhaustion and tried to stand, taking my only chance to run, but Cai stopped me, putting his boot on my chest, nearly suffocating me. "Can it be true?" Cai asked with great surprise, the drunkenness suddenly gone as he gazed at me with wide eyes. "Bedivere, Bedivere, Bedivere…what were you hiding from us all this time?"

"Let me go, Cai!" I commanded, grabbing at his boot.

"Shut-up!" He growled, pressing hard, making me unable to breathe. "Lift your tunic, Bedivere."

I spit at him, but he only laughed at me. "Oh, you should be more compliant, Bedivere, darling, you've a frightful situation on your hands." I coughed as he spoke slowly, loving every painful moment. "What should happen if word gets to Arthur and his knights?"

For a moment I considered it, fear playing on my face for him as Cai licked his lips. Then I glared at the brute. "They'd never believe you!"

"There are ways of convincing them." Cai replied and knelt down on top of me, straddling my form and holding down my arms as he leaned down to press his nose to my face. "Oh our sweet little Bedivere, a woman…can you imagine what would happen? They'd behead you, or worse, rape you one by one, then send you off to Rome for execution—you'd moan like a whore before your captors, giving them their pleasure before they took your life. Or perhaps they will take pity on you…give you life to be my mistress…"

"I'd rather suffer the likes of death than be your concubine!"

Cai punched me, making me rendering me nearly unconscious this time. "Little whore!" He spat.

"Please…" I resorted to begging even though I knew better, "Cai, don't do this—please!"

"Shhh," Cai whispered softly like a prowling leopard, taking both of my wrists in his left hand while undressing me with his right, "I'll be gentle this time, my darling."

I kicked my feet and struggled as best I could, but my strength only faded as managed to tie my hands with a cloth and then proceeded to take off my cuirass, followed by my under tunic. I lay before him now, nearly naked, the wrapping around my breasts was the only thing concealing me. "You bastard, Cai," I said weakly as he took off the linen, "I hate you—may Cerberus take you by his teeth…"

My words only made him laugh, making me shiver in return as he took my honor. When Cai finished with me, he allowed me to dress, but gave me a warning as he touched my face with his cursed hand. "Pretty little Bedivere," Cai smirked as I cringed, hair matted in my face, "we wouldn't want this getting out, now would we?"

I shook my head like a child, my eyes to the floor in shame. "Good," Cai then went to kiss me and I pulled away, "ah, ah, ah, little one."

Grabbing my chin, Cai forced his lips over mine and then his tongue raped mine for the last time that night. When he let me go, he had a smile on his face. "Tomorrow," he whispered, "come to my lodgings…or you will regret it."

When he was gone I spit out his taste. The bloody shit he was.

"Up, boy!" Someone opened the door to my quarters. "What are you doing in bed so late? Arthur's concerned by your absence. Are you ill?"

"Go away," I growled, shoving my head in the pillows, my loins on fire from the night before, "I'm neither ill nor submissive this day…"

"Oh, Bedivere, come now." It was Percival and Galahad, of course. "You've gone entirely too soft, man."

"Wake up or we'll send Cai in to rouse you!"

I was in a rage and sat up, throwing the nearest thing at the intruders. "Mention his name before me again and I'll draw my dagger!"

The men glanced at each other with worry and then looked to me. "You all right, Bed?" Percival queried as I slumped back into the bed. "By the heavens, you'd think some wench refused you last night."

"I didn't see him with any wenches."

"Oh, you know Bedivere, he's not one for whores."

"I said to go away!" I snarled. "I'll be out in a minute!"

Shocked at my outrage, the two men quickly aborted their mission and closed the door behind them. I hadn't slept all night, crying for fear of all things that could come of my encounter with Cai.

That's when I remembered the fennel seeds from Lancelot. He had given them to me when advising me on women. "Give this to the wench in her brew before you bed her," he had suggested, holding up a small pouch of herbs, "it'll keep her from giving you a reason to keep her."

Finally, I stumbled out of bed, going to a shoddy box nearby where I kept all things of mine. Opening it, I sorted through my things and came to the pouch of fennel seeds. Cai was right, if they found my true nature, I would be forever ousted from the men. I'd be a woman to them, some sort trifle, perhaps even forced to be Cai's wife. It made me shutter.

I shoved the pouch into my tunic and put on my leather cuirass before opening the door and coming to the hall. Thankfully Percival and Galahad had gone, but I still had to worry about the other knights. "Sir Bedivere."

Lifting my eyes I saw a young woman, a servant, and I managed a smile. "Hello."

"Would you like anything?"

"Some warm milk perhaps—and a stirring stick, if you could."

"Yes sir."

With her eyes to the ground she left me be. To be a woman again—eyes always to the ground, the likes of a fool. I had a few minutes on my own to stir in most of fennel seeds and drank down the milk, a bitter taste staying in my mouth, but I didn't mind as long as the seeds would work.

"Bedivere," a familiar cheery voice said, "I hope we didn't wake you prematurely."

I turned to see Lancelot, the man who still claimed my heart after all these years. "Lance," I smiled finishing my drink and wiping my mouth on my sleeve, "forgive my late arrival, old friend."

The best friend of Arthur came towards me and smirked. "Arthur feared you'd too much to drink last night."

"A bit of a sore stomach," I replied, "give him my regrets."

Lancelot gave a nod at that. "He wishes you and I to go north with him."

"A capital idea." I snorted in reply.

With a slap to my shoulder, Lancelot only chuckled. "A fair rest from the others. Tristan attends, as well. He has only asked nine of us."

"Why only a mere nine when he could have twenty or thirty of us at his bidding?" I queried. "He knows, of all men, we love him most."

"A scouting mission, is all." Lancelot assured. "Besides, you wouldn't want Cai tagging along, would you?"

I became frigid at that remark. "Heavens above, never."

The week did not come soon enough. Tristan, Gawain, Lamorak, Lancelot, Bors, Dagonet, Percival, Galahad, and myself attended Arthur on this newest mission. At first the mission was a slow one, starting out nice enough on an irregularly sunny day as we traveled through the countryside.

Sometimes that rainy island could be the most beautiful sight in all the world. Like the boys they were, Galahad and Percival raced with their horses, while I remained by Tristan's side, as always. Dagonet and Bors chatted lively, well Bors did at least, Dagonet listened calmly and laughed here and there. "Most beautiful lady that Vanora." Bors smiled dreamily. "She's like stars at night, always there to guide you."

"Bors, need I clean my ears, or are you suddenly becoming a poet?"

"Somethin' wrong with that, boyo?" Bors's reprimand of me was lighter than usual. "So what if I speak pretty about my woman? She's more beautiful than all the land in Sarmatia."

"Hard to believe she belongs to you." Lancelot retorted as the others chuckled.

Hard to imagine my life without my many brothers. I lived for those days we were carefree and could be men as men were. "That's what I keep askin' him." Dagonet agreed, joining in on the fun.

"Oh shut it, all of ya." Bors commanded. "Just cause I reeled on in before all of ya, don't mean a thing."

Bors always had an eye and mouth for Vanora, for as long as I could remember. Vanora had caught old Bors before I had even known him. This would be one of the longest times he'd be away from his fair lady.

The weeks we spent in the north were the finest days of my life. No man could make me give that up for the world, not even Cai—may he try his worst.

It was one of those starry, clear nights that an attack came. Not from the Saxons, they had not been such a threat at a time, but by the Woads, the natives. Our reasoning was that the Romans had taken Sarmatia, why not the rest of the world? It was, to the men and I, inevitable.

I was tireless that night, the men had sat around the campfire sharing lewd stories and jokes, while I laughed. "What about you, Bedivere?" Bors queried. "What kind of tales do you have?"

The fire made my blush seem childish, when it was one of shame and the men laughed and teased. "He's probably got the best stories," Galahad insisted, "look at how red he is."

"No," I replied, "my stories are all simple and unsuitable."

"Come now, Bedivere," Gawain laughed, "we've shared ours."

"As well as I've shared many meals with the likes of you," I retorted, "I've nothing to say."

Percival grew impatient. "Bed!"

"He's probably never had a woman," Bors attacked, "still a boy, are you?"

"I've had my share of exploits," I shot back, "I just would rather remember them alone."

"Leave him be." Lancelot defended. "If he doesn't want to tell us about his lifeless nights, then so be it. More stories for me to tell."

The men chuckled at that. "Bedivere, you are far from prude." Arthur commented. "What have you to hide?"

"Forgive me, Arthur, for my rudeness, but what have you to know?" I shot back and stood furiously, going off on my own.

Dagonet laughed at my foolishness. "Now you've upset him."

"Maybe he needs his mother's teet."

"Shut-up Bors." I heard Tristan say.

Finally I was out of earshot of the men, I didn't care what they said. I took a seat in a fallen tree and put my head in my hands. Hopefully those fennel seeds were working.

A creaking noise from the trees alerted me and I lifted my head to observe the thick forest the surrounded us. Woads. I began to draw my blade from its sheath silently when I felt someone grab my hair and hold something to my neck. "Lower your weapon, Roman."

The slim hands on my neck, the light voice—a woman. As much as I hated the Woads, I had to respect their women for their bravery. "Lower your weapon." The blade pressed harder to my neck.

Suddenly the woman shrieked and released me, her back arching as I ducked into the brush, Woads calling out to attack. "Bedivere!" I heard someone call. "Answer us!"

If I would, I'd surely be dead, a Woad sat inches away from me, staring me down with an arrow aimed for me. They were scouts as well, only two this way—but where were the others?

I escaped the man's arrow by some act of some forgotten god or goddess, raising to my feet to cut the archer down before he could bring another arrow forth. "I'm here!" I called to the men.

When I looked to the fire, it was out, but I could hear the struggle in the distance. Blindly, I ran back to where the fire should have been and like an idiot I ran right into someone. Lancelot prepared to swing his double swords at me and in a stupid ploy for my life I held up my hands for protection. "Bedivere, you idiot!" Lancelot snapped and grabbed my shoulder. "I could have killed you!"

"I can't see a damn thing."

"Neither can I."

"All right then," I swallowed, "give me your hand."

"What?"

"Well I don't want to kill you and don't want you killing me, do I?" I forced his hand into mine. "So this is about the best we can do, now come on!"

Just then, as we began to run toward the battle, something lit up the sky, and at first everyone was sure it was the sun…until it came hurtling down towards us. "Watch out!" Lancelot yanked me out of the path of the fiery arrows.

I realized a few moments later that I was completely alone, Lancelot had let go of my hand to fight. I saw Tristan, an arrow in his shoulder as he stumbled to defend himself, but then out of the corner of my eye Arthur fell, his sword being knocked out of his reach.

There was one person I had to save—I closed my eyes and ran for Arthur, drawing my blade. "Arthur!"

He looked to me just as I Woad brought up an axe. I threw Arthur my gladius and for a moment he was able to defend himself, until the blade was sliced in two and the axe came crashing down into the earth.

I turned to see Tristan was still fighting well, so I picked up the fallen sword of Arthur as my General did his best to defend himself without arms. The sword, named Excalibur, was heavier than I imagined—no wonder Arthur was so strong.

Arthur cried out. "Retreat!"

A Woad ran for me and I defended myself with the sword of Arthur's father. One slice and the Woad was down, I ran for Arthur again, this time my General had been wounded. Lancelot rushed in front of me, using both of his swords to defend Arthur, but was quickly surrounded by Woads.

I cut one Woad from the circle around, Lancelot, then another, and another. Lancelot cried out in pain, one of his swords was out of his reach while the other was falling from his hand. I cut down the Woad causing my brother pain, only to be rammed by another.

Excalibur fell from my grip and I tried to rise, but a foot slammed against my throat and a Woad stood overtop of me. Blood splattered on my face, the salty, metallic taste now on my tongue. A hand grabbed my shoulder and yanked me to my feet, we were retreating now.

"Run, Bedivere," Arthur shoved me away from the fighting, "save yourself!"

I refused. "Not without you, my lord!"

All the other men had run and I searched the bodies for familiar faces, but saw only the dark haired Woads. Arthur then nodded to Lancelot, who was wounded. "Help me, then."

I agreed, running to Lancelot's side as the Woads cried out and ran back to the forests. With Lancelot in our grip, Arthur and I retreated immediately.

"And so he saved our lives!" Arthur boasted as I tried my best to smile, the pain in my side from a wound still plaguing me. "When the call for retreat came, Bedivere instead fought the Woads with certain death at hand."

The cheers grew louder as I was being toasted and Lancelot held his cup up to me in thanks. "Let him speak!" Bors cried.

"Yes, speak!" Percival commanded.

"No, please—"

"You've never been so quiet about your exploits before, boy." Tristan ignored my shyness and shoved me into a stand. "Now speak!"

"Right," I lifted my glass, "I was only doing my duty."

"Your duty would have been to retreat." Gawain reminded, eyes shining with laughter.

"Aye, boy," Tristan stood, clasping my shoulder in his pride, "you could have turned tail run, but you stayed true to your honor."

"You'd have all done the same for me," I replied, the men all giving a happy agreement, "and so I say this toast belongs to our General, Arthur. May he live many happy years, may his bed always be warm, and his stomach always be full."

At this the men shouted their assents and drank down their pints. The meal was a good one, filling, and too soon the supper was over. We all departed, exhausted just from eating, to our quarters. "The little hero," I flinched as Cai slammed his hand into the wall ahead of me and then pressed me against the wall in the privacy of my own room, "if they only knew what you really were."

"How did you get in here, Cai?"

"It's been so long, my pretty Bedivere," he said with a smile, "fulfill your duty and you won't have to worry about anything, hero."

Cai began to kiss my neck, I felt my fists ball, but if I were to remain a hero, I would have to do whatever it took to keep my brothers from ever knowing the truth. I loved the men too much to disappoint them.

FuribondoHeavens! Thank you for pointing that out, I still haven't gone over to change the name from Kay to 'Cai'. I need to stop being lazy and do that, and thank you so very much for the review, it makes me happy ;).

sarmatian-woman: Oh don't say such things! I'm sure your idea was divine! What harm ever came from writing? I would certainly read it ;).

To all other commenters: thanks for all the praise! You keep my writing intact!