The sun shone through the heavens but in his heart Lancelot felt the cold pain of loneliness. He watched as the memorial was set into place and her swords dug into the earth like all the fallen Knights before her. Their was no body to bury, no body to give on last kiss or look. Only the cool steal of her blades that stuck forth from the earth. The others had left him alone to his thoughts after the ceremony had taken place and he couldn't find the will to move from the foot of her empty grave. The birds sang in the distance and the wind cast his hair over his eyes and back again but he didnt hear them or he didnt care. The thoughts of what she must've went through filled his mind. Images of her fighting the Saxons, calling for help. Calling to him. He swore he heard her voice on the air, the sound of blades connecting and her last cry. Did she call for his help. Did she call for him at all.

"I'm sorry." He whispered to the air as he looked to the heavens. He saw her smiling face. Saw the children they would never have. The live they would never share and his heart began to break all over again. His eyes began to mist over with the tears he still had left and the sky, once clear, now wept with him.

8 Years Later

Soon she began to understand his ways of making her regret and learned to do as was told without thought. She fought when told, spoke when told and killed when told to kill. Anything to keep from his punishments. Every day she practices, trained. With swords, daggers, bows, it didnt matter, she found herself skilled with all weapons the gave her. She counted the years as they passed. Nearing eight in total. Eight years of Cynrics beatings, years of being forced to share his bed. Years of honing her skills led her to this point. To this field and to the enemies that headed her way.

"How many do you see Kendra? a voice from below asked. Looking down from her perch she stared at the Saxon standing below.

"Seven in all" She said returning her gaze to oncoming men. "Six Knights and a Roman commander. They are to far away to be sure but I believe the Knights are Sarmatian." She noted the look the man gave her when she looked back down to him. "We have faced Sarmatians before, we will triumph again. Ready the men." she said jumping down from her perch. Still covered with the blood of those they had recently killed. Staring coldy into the mans eyes as she stood. "They are not to live past this point. Kill them all." Her voice harsh and coated with hatred for the enemy.

The man left and told the small band to prepare to fight. They did not number many. Not now at least. They had numbered nearlly 30 when the had started. Now they were only 18 in number. More than twice the number of the mounted men coming their way. All they had to do was to kill these men and wait for the main army to arrive. They had crusaded for days to clear a path for Cerdic and the main host. So that they could overtake some holy man and his home. Some traitor to the enemy fed them information about the family. Some link to the Pope. A holy man and his family should fetch a pretty sum for Cedric and his army and if all else failed it would make others think twice before standing against his Saxon band. Finally on this mission Kendra had earned the right to lead the small band. Not his best warriors but they got done what needed to be done. She had not been told they would face Sarmatians on this quest. The informant would surely pay for overlooking this fact. The sound of the hoofs in the distance caught her ear and brung her back to her horrid reality.

"So it begins." she said. On her command the men jumped out all around the small band of horsed men.

"Ambush!" The Roman shouted to his men.

She watched as her men left their sheltered hideaways and attacked. In unision the Knights on horseback dimounted and armed themselves. Two of her men had stayed behind waiting for her word. She watched as several of her men fell to their deaths by the hands of the enemy. Her eyes surveyed the knights until they fell on one Knight in particular. His blades shown in the sun as he easily began to kill her men.

"That one." She said signaling to the dark haired Knight, "He will be the first to die." The men rushed out to kill their foe with her close behind.

...Swords raised and ready to kill he whipped around ready to take down another. "Is it me or are the Saxons getting easier to kill." He shouted to the others.

"I think you may be right Lancelot." The red haired man answered laughing as he took down a Saxon.

Looking to his comrades he saw each covered with the blood of the enemy. Few of the Saxons remained standing. Out of the corner of his eye he saw three more emerging from the trees. Turning he met the first one, blade to blade. Easily Lancelot cut him down and moved on to the next. The second proved to be harder to beat. As he busied himself with the man before him he had nearly forgot about the third. WIth the butt of his sword Lancelot knocked the man to the blood soaked ground, buying him enough time to locate the remaining Saxon, just in time to block a sword coming straight for his head. To the Knights suprise it was a woman and not a man who sung the deadly blade. He found himself gazing into the womans blue eyes. Cold like the blade that she swung. Hair dark like his own.

"Lillian." Lancelot whispered as their eyes exchanged glances between their blades. Pushing her away Lancelot looked on at her in disbelief. 'It cant be her. Can it?' His mind raced with the thought. For the first time since he had last seen her his heart jumped. A roaring scream from behind caught the distracted Knights attention. Turning, one of his twin swords caught the man in the abdomen bringing him to the ground. All around him Lancelot heard the triumphant roar of his fellow Knights. Swords still in hand he turned to find her. She now stood armed and ready. Blood layered her armored clothing and streaked her face. Looking into her eyes he yearned to see recognition but he saw none. He saw the look of a warrior ready to take down her enemy. He saw hate. In a rage she attacked. He deflected every blow not wanting to strike her down.

"Lillian stop." he shouted at her trying to get her to desist. She swung hard and in every direction each blow fueled with anger and the desire to kill him. She sunk to the ground and kicked his feet out from under him, knocking him to the blood soaked earth. He hit hard and stared up at her. Wounds from a previous battle clearly bleeding from underneath their hastly fastened bandages

"Its me. Lancelot." He shouted to her to listen. Her blade hung high over her head as she stared down at the man.

"I know no Lancelot. Time to die Knight of Sarmatia."

"Wonder how many more suprises await us." Arthur said wiping his blade clean.

"Look at that," Bors said pointing and laughing. "Lancelot toying with one."

All eyes looked to the dark haired knight while he deflected every swing his foe swung at him.

"Why doesnt he put the poor rut out of his misery." Galahad asked looking on at the site before him.

They watched as the Saxon sunk low and swept the feet out from under Lancelot.

"He does plan to kill him doesnt he?" Galahad asked waiting for Lancelot to stop goofing around and strike.

They watched as the Saxon raised the sword high above their fallen knight.

"Thats no man." Dagonet whispered peering at the figure. His voice so low no one heard him. "Its a woman." He watched as the wind removed the hair covering the womans face. 'Lillian' he rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Its her. It had to be her.

"TRISTAN!" Arthur shouted urgency in his voice. Without hesitation the man readied an arrow.

"NO!" Dagonet shouted running to Tristan in an effort to stop him.

"NO!"

The sound rose above the wind and caught her ear. Turning around she saw the man release the arrow. Falling to the ground she attempted to dodge its path. She winced as the arrow caught her right shoulder. With her good arm she cushioned her fall. Looking she saw the arrow protruding from its mark. With her left hand she hurridly attempted to pull it out. She bit her lip drawing blood as she pulled out the instrument that pierced her flesh. The blood from the deep wound spewed forth and all around her scenery began to blur and voices became faint. The combination of injuries before this battle had already caused loss of blood and soon she bagan to fell cold. She struggled to rise but that only caused the blood to come forth faster. Picking up her sword she held it out to fight. Haziness took over and her arms and body became heavy

"I'll...I'll" She struggled to say before she fell.

His heart stopped when she fell, the arrow sticking out from her arm. Looking to Tristan his saw him lower his bow. He saw his look turn from satisfaction to shock and horror as Dagonet spoke to him. At a fast pace Tristan and Dagonet walked over to Lancelot. He watched as she attempted to stand, her body quivered at the loss of blood. He stood and looked upon the blood that streaked down from her shoulder, her eyes began to gloss and her lids began to fall.

"I'll... I'll" She said and fell. Her body finally giving in.

Lancelot rushed to catch her before she hit the ground. In his arms he brushed her hair back from her face. He wiped away the blood that covered her in an effort to see if it was trully her and not his eyes playing tricks on him. One harm held her strongly while the other gently touched her face. Arthur and the others now gathered around him. In their eyes he saw the same disbelief that he felt. Standing he held her securely in his arms. His eyes said what all others were begininning to think.

"Tristan, ride ahead and find a secure location to set up camp. She needs medical attention." Arthur said still looking at the unconscious woman the was held in the Knights arms. Taking one last glance before he left Tristan set out to find a camping spot. "Gather the horses."

Before long Tristan returned with news of a nearby location and all were off. Dagonet warned on traveling to far for fear she may not make it. Quickly they left, fighting against time. Tristan led the way followed by Arthur and the others. Lancelot followed, with the woman riding with him.