Chapter Nine:
It was early morning when Kelleigh awoke from her nest in Lancelot's arms. She looked at the handsome man beside her and stroked his face with her fingers gently. She moved the arm that was around her waist and got up from the cot, intending to get dressed and go in search of Arthur. She found her dress where Lancelot had tossed it, and dressed quickly. She didn't intend to wake Lancelot before she left.
The entire fort was quiet. Kelleigh didn't have trouble finding her way toward the stables, in search of Arthur. She found him; he was checking his armour, Jols next to him.
"Jols," her voice held a tone of dismissal, and Jols left.
"If you've come to convince me to go away with you, Kelleigh, I must decline," Arthur looked at her. Kelleigh picked up the thongs that held his armour in place.
"I understand why you stay," she said, tying the thongs together tightly, as she had a million times before. "I ask that you keep yourself safe," she said, looking up into the green eyes that were almost like her own.
"I will," Arthur replied, looking down at her. "You're to go to Sarmatia with Lancelot?" he asked, changing the subject.
"I am," Kelleigh replied, looking away.
"You went to his bed," Arthur lifted his hand to pull her chin back to him.
"I did," Kelleigh didn't deny it. "I love him," she added.
"I know," Arthur said, pulling her into his embrace. He sighed, thinking that this was the last time he was going to feel her presence near him. "He loves you, no matter how much he denies it,"
"Be that as it may, we both worry about you, Artorius," Kelleigh said, pulling out of his embrace. "You're our brother, we love you," her eyes searched his, hoping against hope that she would be able to convince him to stay.
"No more than I you, my dear, but I cannot go," he sighed heavily. "I wish I could make you understand,"
"You fight for a cause beyond our understanding," Kelleigh said. "I understand that much," she looked at him. Arthur looked back at her, seeing a woman warrior instead of a woman child. She understood where most men were confused. She offered silent understanding where most men voiced their opinions. Never in his life had Arthur been more blessed.
"I am blessed, Kelleigh, for I have your friendship, loyalty, but most of all, your love as a sister," he said, and touched her hand. "I should have done this years ago…You're no longer our attendant, but our friend, our mother, and for that, no thanks will ever be able to make up for what you have done for us,"
"My duty is to my knights," Kelleigh said, standing before Arthur, shoulders squared, chin up in a defiant gesture. "My duty never was to Rome, but to you, to Lancelot, to Bors, Tristan, Dagonet, Galahad, and Gawain, never to Rome. My duty will always be to my knights," she gave him a watery smile. Tears began to well in the corners of her eyes.
"Kelleigh, you only came because I asked," Arthur argued, forgetting his armour for the moment. He put his hands on her elbows.
"No one can ask me to do anything, Artorius Castus, you know that," she chided. "I came because I wanted to, because I felt like I was needed. You needed me,"
"I still need you," Arthur said, "I need your strength, your love as my friend, your courage, your beauty that touches all in your path with a ray of hope," Arthur sank to his knees in front of her, tears streaming down his face, "I need your bravery to last me, you knowledge to tell me that I will make it through to see you again,"
"No one can predict the future, Arthur, you know that," she bent to look him in the eye, "You have my strength, my love, my courage, my beauty, my bravery, everything that I am, you have it," Kelleigh brushed the tears from his face. "You have all of me," she whispered. Jols came back in and watched them, knowing that Kelleigh was giving his master what he needed in order to fortify himself. He was loathe to break them apart.
"Ahem…."
Kelleigh looked at Jols, tears running down her cheeks. Jols nodded at her, silently telling her that it was time. She knew what she had to do. "Jols, ready him," Kelleigh ordered, pulling Arthur to stand in front of her. She gave Arthur a small smile. Jols came toward them, intent on finished what he'd started. Kelleigh gave his hand a squeeze and walked away, intent on gearing up with the Woads for battle.
Kelleigh ran back to Lancelot's room, rushing until she felt that she couldn't rush anymore. She noticed that Lancelot was still sleeping. She grabbed a piece of parchment paper off his table, and grabbed a quill and proceeded to write
Kelleigh set it where she knew Lancelot would be able to see it and left the room, intending to steal away from the fort to the Woad camp just beyond Badon Hill. Peasants were preparing themselves for the battle ahead, arming themselves with whatever weapon they had. Kelleigh ran back to the stables, hoping that Arthur was gone. She noted that he was and grabbed the sword sheathe and dagger the other knights had given her. Grabbing the sword from where she hid in the horse stall and looked at it. She could see her reflection; it stared back at her, the face of a woman, a warrior. She looked away, feeling less sure of what she was going to do.
Courage lent her the strength to run out of the fort, slipping past the guards without so much as a hint of trouble. Kelleigh escaped across the plains of Badon Hill and into the forest, hurrying as fast as she could. Her heart raced, knowing that she could be killed by the Woad lookouts, but part of her also knew that they would have a use for her.
Kelleigh stopped, unsure of where to go. The snapping of a twig alerted her to the danger around her. Kelleigh spun on her heel, pulling her dagger from its sheathe. Before her stood Merlin, the leader of the Woads. He looked her over, noting the dress she wore. "You'll need to be dressed properly if you are to fight with us," he said, and led her away. Kelleigh followed eagerly. Merlin led her to his camp, where Guinevere stood, waiting for her.
Guinevere looked at her with a smile. "We are grateful to you, Kelleigh, for coming,"
"This is for a cause that I don't understand," Kelleigh looked around her. "Outfit me," Three women came up to her, and led her toward the hut where she would become a warrior.
Lancelot awoke to the sounds of people chattering and the pounding on his door. "Get up!" Bors yelled. Lancelot rolled over, fully intending to hug Kelleigh and tell her that he loved her. He rolled off the cot and onto the floor.
"What the bloody—" he cursed and pushed himself off the floor. He looked at the table beside him and saw a note. Lancelot grabbed it and proceeded to read: Lancelot, forgive me. I have to do this. We all know that he needs someone to look after him. My duty is to my knights. My duty is to stay behind and fight with him. I am sorry, Lancelot. I truly am, but he needs me. All my love, Kelleigh.
He groaned aloud, wishing that he could throttle her. Lancelot got up and rushed to dress. He knew that Kelleigh was her own person, and she would do whatever she wanted. His anger at her knew no bounds, but he'd seize his freedom, like Arthur asked, love be damned.
Lancelot was saddled and ready to leave with the caravan a short while later. He looked around for Kelleigh, fully intending to tie her to his horse and drag her away from Hadrian's Wall, but he didn't find her. Bors looked at him. "She'll come around," he said, thinking that they had a lovers tiff.
Kelleigh sheathed the sword at her side, and looked down at herself. A piece of cloth barely covered her breasts, and tight breeches encased her thighs. Blue paint covered her body, making her look every inch the Amazon warrior she was. Guinevere looked at her. "Go to them, tell them," Kelleigh nodded, and ran as fast as she could back to the fort.
The caravan had just left the moment she arrived. Jols looked at her. "I'm staying, Jols. This is my home," she said. He nodded and pointed her in the direction of the caravan. Kelleigh rushed to follow them.
Arthur stood watching the caravan and his knights leave, taking the trail below him. He watched as Bors drew his sword and rode toward him. All the knights looked at him, yet, Lancelot refused to look back. "Artorius!" Bors saluted Arthur with his sword. "Rus!"
Arthur lifted the Draco standard he held in his hand, "Rus!" he yelled, saluting his knights. Beside him, Kelleigh appeared, like a dream, all willowy. Arthur looked at her.
"This is my home, Artorius," she said, looking at the knights, or more specifically, Lancelot. "I love him, but so help me, I can't leave the only place I know for him," Kelleigh said with great sadness.
They stood together, man on horse, woman on foot, staring after the caravan before turning to look north of the wall. Arthur saw a white flag being waved. He looked down at Kelleigh. "Stay here," he ordered, and rode off to meet with the Saxon leader. Kelleigh watched him ride away, and looked to her left. Guinevere stood there, along with an army of Woads. Both regarded each other with respect, knowing that they were to make amends before this fight was over.
The knights rode silently, each alone with their private thoughts, when they heard the Saxon drums. Bors' horse reared, followed by the others. Each knight quickly dropped out of the caravan's line. "Whoa," Bors said, soothing his horse, and petting its neck. Lancelot stroked his horses' neck, attempting to quiet it. He then noticed, like the rest of the knights, that his horse was facing the wall.
"Sshh," he soothed his horse before looking up at Bors. Bors nodded, and Lancelot looked at the rest of the knights.
"Hey," Tristan clucked his tongue to his bird, "You're free,"
Bors looked back at Vanora and his children. A child waved back sadly at him, while Vanora stared, knowing he had to go back. Lancelot nodded, and then looked at Gawain. Gawain nodded, and grinned. Lancelot returned his grin with a satisfied smile quirking on his lips.
All of the knights readied themselves for battle; each strapping on armour, grabbing bows, and swords. Each horse was dressed in armour. To Vanora, they were ready. Lancelot brought out the Sarmatian standards for battle. "For freedom," he said, and looked at Vanora. "If she comes, tell her I love her," he said. Vanora nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
"Take care of yourselves," she said, looking them over. "She'll have a fit if you all die," Lancelot nodded and led the knights away from the caravan.
Kelleigh stood straight and tall as Arthur rode up beside her. She looked at him and smiled. Then, as if appearing from some unknown place, Lancelot appeared. The three looked at each other, sharing a secret smile.
"Foolish woman," Lancelot said. Kelleigh looked up at him with a smile.
"After this is over, you can chastise me all you like," she gave him a wink. She then turned to look at the remaining knights as the rode up beside them. The six of them stood there, like ghosts from another time. Each knight stared ahead, while Kelleigh stood, silent as the grave. Finally, as the knights and Kelleigh watched, the Saxons moved, coming toward the open doors of the wall.
"Knights. The gift of freedom is yours by right," Arthur said, riding in front of them. Kelleigh stared, and then looked to her left again. Guinevere stood with her Woads, ready. "But the home we seek resides not in some distant land. It's in us! And in our actions on this day!" Arthur shouted. Kelleigh looked at him, pride glowing in her eyes. Her prophecy had come true, Arthur was a great leader. "If this be our destiny, then so be it. But let history remember that as free men, we chose to make it so," Arthur drew Excalibur from its sheathe. "Rus!" They yelled, Kelleigh included. All around her, the knight planted their standards with manly grunts, except Tristan. He let an arrow fly from his bow and they watched as it flew and hit the tree on the Saxon side of the wall. Kelleigh saw something fall from the tree and smiled at Tristan's remarkable marksmanship.
The Saxon infantry ran in, looking for the knights. Kelleigh watched as one by one, the Saxons became scared. The smoke clouded their view, leaving only a few feet in front of them visible. Kelleigh watched as the knights rode off to fight, wishing that she could be one of them. She looked over at Guinevere, and smiled. Kelleigh raised her sword, and watched the Woads lift their bows. Guinevere let an arrow fly from her bow, and the rest of the Woads followed her example, raining arrows on the Saxon infantry, killing many. The arrows were relentless.
The knights fought like demons, going in for one fell swoop and then disappearing behind the curtain of smoke. Arrows rained down on the Saxons again, and the knights came back for more. Kelleigh saw her time to leave the hill and join the Woad army. She prayed to all the gods she knew that her knights would be safe, that they would once again taste the freedom that had been denied to them for so long. She stopped near her father's grave a looked down. Like that of Arthur's father, it was a grave with no sword. Kelleigh bent and saw the sword she'd buried with him. She pulled the handle and dislodged it from the dirt. Driving it into the ground, Kelleigh silently paid tribute to her father, hoping that he would understand why she hadn't in the first place.
Guinevere gave Kelleigh a warm smile as she reached her. "When I give the signal," Guinevere said. Kelleigh nodded.
"For freedom," they looked at each other, and came to a silent accord. Both women looked to a hill and saw Merlin standing there, alone, observing the battlefield. They nodded at him, conveying a silent message that they were ready to fight.
Kelleigh watched as the second Saxon wave came inside the wall. They were ready for them. The Saxons split into two groups, and Kelleigh felt the thrill of battle hit her full force. Her body began to twitch with a primal instinct to kill all in her path that threatened all she held dear. Guinevere signalled her men to launch a flurry of fire arrows at the coming battalion, hitting some and creating a wide line of fire across the battlefield. "Charge!" Kelleigh yelled, and ran, drawing her sword as she did so. Every move she made came from some place within her. Every Saxon she killed did justice to the cause she was fighting for. Kelleigh and Guinevere looked around and saw what looked like an important Saxon. Kelleigh made a beeline from him, and smiled viciously. She squared off with the man, meeting him parry for parry, and thrust for thrust. When he got a good shot in, Kelleigh fell to the ground on her back. She looked up at the man, and gave him a sadistic smile. Guinevere stabbed him from behind, and Woad women came to their aide, killing the man without so much as a second glance.
Kelleigh looked up and saw the man she'd been aching to kill since Dagonet had died; the other Saxon leader. She noted the he had a scar on his face, but it was cut open but another more recent cut. She looked at him, gave him a small wane little smile, and stood to her full height. He lunged at her, knocking her down. Kelleigh used his momentum to push herself to a battle stance, sword ready.
The man came at her again, this time using his body to push her to the ground. Kelleigh lost her sword, and watched as the Saxon stood over her, knife ready to make a killing blow. It never came. Kelleigh watched as twin blades saved her. She saw Lancelot and smiled, scrambling for her own sword. She fought, squaring off with any Saxons that tried to get close to her or Lancelot and the Saxon leader. Kelleigh watched as Lancelot and the Saxon fell to the ground; she arced her sword to prevent a Saxon from killing her as she saw Lancelot get up and defend himself from the two Saxons attacking him from behind. She watched in horror as the Saxon leader took a crossbow from a dead man and aimed at Lancelot.
"Lancelot!" She screamed, issuing a deathblow the Saxon she fought. She and Guinevere rushed to Lancelot, fighting. Kelleigh watched as an arrow hit Lancelot in the chest. Her heart lurched to a standstill; as she watched Lancelot throw his sword at the Saxon, hitting him square in the chest. Saxons came at her, and in her rage, she killed them all without a second glance. Kelleigh watched as Lancelot and the Saxon crawled toward each other, both with the intent to kill. Lancelot managed to overpower the Saxon and drove his other sword through the Saxon's neck. Kelleigh ran as fast as she could and caught Lancelot just as his head fell to the ground.
Lancelot looked up at Kelleigh, thinking that it would be the last time he ever saw her face. "Thank you, my love…" he whispered through the pain. He reached his hand up to cup her face.
"It didn't hit your heart," Kelleigh whispered, inspecting the wound. She looked at the arrow and saw that it was lodged in his shoulder, and that his armour had taken most of the damage. "It didn't hit you heart…"
"I told them I'd find you," Lancelot looked at her, and Kelleigh looked at him, trying to determine if he was giving up or not. Kelleigh felt Guinevere rush to her side, but her eyes never left Lancelot, even when his eyes closed.
Arthur fell to his knees beside Lancelot, and looked at Kelleigh. "Is he?" Arthur asked, looking at Lancelot's closed eyes.
"We need to get him to the healer's, and soon, or else he will be," Kelleigh said, looking at him. "I won't lose him and neither will you," she watched as Bors, Galahad and Gawain brought walked over. Bors was bearing Tristan's body over his shoulder. Kelleigh felt tears well in her eyes. She looked up at the remaining knights sadly. "Not Tristan…" she whispered and buried her head against Lancelot's armour.