Thanks for the reviews! Yes Derek is a 'stinker' and you can thank Tracy137, she gave me the idea that I'm using in this part of the story. But unfortunately, the worst is not over yet. Hope you enjoy this one...
Disclaimer: I forgot it last time, I guess I just thought everyone already knows, so... But here it is: I do not own the legend, the characters, nor the story. (Sigh).
"You are to follow me," Timothy directed toward Arthur and the knights. "And you," he turned toward her, "are to stay with me." Before Sarah could say a word, Gawain stepped up, "She does not leave my side." Timothy was about to speak again when Arthur interrupted, "My men and I are responsible for her safety. We will not let her out of our sight." For a minute it seemed her brother would not let it drop, then as suddenly as Gawain had spoken for her, he said, "It is not wise to go against him. He is a ruthless man and no one is powerful enough to stop him when he has his mind made up. I will aught let anything happen to my sister while she is in my care. It is a promise I made to our dying father. I cannot keep that promise if she is elsewhere." The pleading look on his face made Sarah hesitate to go against him. She turned to him, "May I take a moment to speak with my friends?" When he nodded and moved away, she turned to Gawain. "I don't think he would break a promise to father, not even for Derek." She looked back at Timothy and felt Gawain stiffen beside her, then Arthur said, "She's right. And no one will be likely to try to harm her as long as we do nothing to provoke it."
Reluctantly, Gawain agreed, but not before turning to Timothy, "Break your word and you will die." Timothy nodded and waited for Sarah to step up to his side. Then he led them all toward the eastern side of the village, toward a group of huts that were apart from the rest of the people's homes. "You will share these huts. It matters little who stays in which hut, they will all be guarded." He turned to Sarah, "You will come to our family hut. I have lived there since the death of Anna and my unborn son." Before she knew it, she had stopped walking and put her hand on her brother's arm. "Oh, Timothy, I'm so sorry. You know I loved her like a sister, and I will miss her terribly." She felt the tear slip down her cheek as she remembered the woman who was married to her brother.
Timothy slowly reached out and wiped the tear from her face. "I know, she would be happy to know you are safe. She worried that you were alone in a strange world." Then he remembered the others standing around them, "but I see you were in good care while you were gone." Then he turned to Gawain, "I will not let harm come to her while with me. That I promise you, for I love my sister dearly and she is all I have now." He saw Gawain weigh his words before nodding, then he turned and headed away from the huts with Sarah by his side, leaving Arthur and the others to fend for themselves.
Lancelot stood near a small opening in the wall and looked outside. When he turned back to the group he told them, "There are at least a dozen men guarding these huts. I would guess these are the strongest and best fighters of the men in case we try to do anything." Arthur nodded his agreement, "Then I say we give them no reason to suspect we are planning anything." The other two exchanged worried looks, then Lancelot sat on the edge of the only table in the room, "Well, Commander, just what is your plan?" His tone left no doubt that he knew his friend well enough to know he had some kind of plan working in his mind.
"We do nothing." Was all his said as he began pacing. He stopped to look at Gawain when he all but shouted, "Nothing! How can you just stand around and let this zealot run the show?" then lowering his voice, "I don't like Sarah being away from us and I'm not sure I trust that brother of hers."
Arthur held up his hand, "I agree. But until the sun sets anything we might try will only cause trouble and could put Sarah in greater peril. Derek is too cocky in his attitude. He seems too sure that he has control and I wonder at the reason for those feelings. When the sun sets, then we will make a move. I think the only reason to separate her from us was to have some kind of leverage to keep us in line. If we appear to accept this, they might lessen the guards. Tristan will join us under the cover of darkness and bring our weapons."
"He's not going to let her go without a fight. I've seen it in his face. He doesn't really want her, he just doesn't want her to be with me." Gawain said softly. He sounded tired. Arthur walked over and clapped him on the shoulder, "I don't think it is you, my friend, he would do the same if it were anybody else. His nature is controlling and he will not be satisfied until he feels he has control over her." Gawain slowly nodded his agreement, "and she will not be controlled. That much is certain." He hesitated, "do you think her brother will be able to keep her safe?"
Arthur studied his knight before he answered, knowing his answer would not be enough to assuage his worry. "As much as he can, I think he will. My thought is that Derek will have forgotten she is even here unless he sees her with one of us, especially you. Just another reason to be glad she is with Timothy. Now, let's seriously try to get some rest. The sun will be behind the horizon soon and it may be a long night." With that, he turned and stretched out on one of the straw mattresses laying against the wall. It wasn't comfortable, but it was better than the floor. He failed to mention to Gawain that he suspected Derek had help from somewhere. How else could such a simple group of villagers keep everything under a form of martial law? What concerned Arthur most was who this help was from.