Once again, thanks for reviewing! I hope you're getting the replies I send out. I was also made aware of an error on my part. I really believed Galahad and Gawain to be brothers, and since I did no research besides watching the movie, I knew no difference. I am sorry to those of you who that annoyed or bothered or anything. Since it is written into my story, though, I decided to just keep it. Hope you enjoy the next chapter! Please continue to review!

Arthur was always at the head of the company. Kyla stayed close to him, sharing with him the wisdom she had about this land. Lancelot usually rode not far behind. Galahad and Gawain rode side by side mostly. Bors and Dagonet often rode beside each other as well but rarely spoke. Next was Horton and then Jols, who also held tight to a pack horse. Tristan was oftentimes gone ahead, scouting and making sure the road was clear.

They were riding quickly through the forest, heading due north. The trees were still lush and green here. It would not be so the farther north they got. All around her, Kyla could sense her people tensing their muscles. They knew very well Arthur and his knights were riding through their woods. She only hoped they would recognize her and not be hasty with an attack.

Only a few hours into their journey the rain began to fall. The trees sheltered them a bit but not much. The knights started cursing, but Kyla only laughed and welcomed its refreshing flavor.

They rode far into the night, urgent to reach their destination. However, the horses had to rest, and even Arthur looked weary. They finally stopped to sleep for a few hours. Kyla tiredly dismounted Torrent, stroking his wet coat. The rain still fell, but it had slowed to a drizzle. She fed the horse and made sure it was settled properly before attending to her own things. Her body ached, her eyes fluttered heavily. Still, she managed to gather her bedroll and lay it out next to the fire which Tristan had started. How he had gotten it started in the damp weather was beyond her. He was crouching next to it, idly throwing more sticks into it.

"You look tired," he said gruffly, glancing in her direction.

"I am," Kyla answered, stretching out. "Aren't you?"

"No."

Kyla stared incredulously at him. "How are you not tired? We have been riding all day."

Tristan merely shrugged. "You should eat." He threw her a small bowl of what appeared to be some sort of gruel. "It's good."

Kyla, realizing she was hungry, ate it quickly. She watched the other knights prepare for the few hours of sleep they would get. Arthur had chosen a solitary position under a tree. Bors, Dagonet, and Gawain sat not far off, eating some of the gruel as well. Galahad was already asleep on the other side of the fire. Lancelot had his back to her, his elbow propped up on a tree towards the other end of their small camp.

Finishing the gruel, she put the bowl down and walked over to him. Along the way she passed Jols, who was taking care of the knights' horses. He nodded and said good evening, although it was well into the night. Kyla nodded and smiled in return.

"You should rest," she said, coming up behind Lancelot.

"I will…when I am ready," he replied, turning his head towards her. He shifted his position and leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. Kyla leaned her back against a tree opposite him.

"I catch you staring out into the nothingness quite often it seems," she said with a smile.

"That's because I do it quite often."

"Do you really miss home that much?"

Lancelot sighed. "I'm not always thinking about home," he answered. He looked down towards his feet then straightened up. "It is late. We both should lie down."

Kyla watched him go, her face furrowed. And he said I confuse him, she thought.

The first rays of sunshine woke her. For a moment Kyla forgot where she was. She sat up in a rush, her head twisting side to side. Then her memory jolted and she remembered. She looked over and noticed Bors laughing.

"Did you get a start there, missy?" he asked.

Kyla laughed. "I did when I woke up close to you."

Bors laughed harder. "Dagonet, the girl has a sense of humor too." Dagonet merely smiled as Bors slapped his knee. Kyla was happy the knights were beginning to open up to her. They still regarded her with suspicious glances, but she was not as carefully watched as before. Soon all of the knights sleepily began to move about, gathering their things.

They quickly packed and were off again, riding just as hard and just as fast as the day before. Kyla knew they still at least another whole day's ride ahead of them.

The day started out cold and dreary. The trees were starting to thin out a little, but not much. They were still in the thick of the forest. A slight drizzle started once again as they pounded on. The day passed slowly with nothing to keep her mind occupied except the constant trotting of her horse. She and the knights were riding too fast to carry on a lengthy conversation. Her mind flickered to the bishop's secretary, Horton. She wondered how he was faring with this harsh ride.

Night was beginning to settle across the land. A dense fog hung in the air. The trail they were following had narrowed to a mere beaten path through the trees, but Kyla still recognized the land. They were getting close to their destination, assuredly reaching it by the next day.

The trees seemed to move with a life of their own. Kyla could sense the change. They were being watched very closely. She knew the Woads had been tracking them, but now it seemed they were everywhere.

"Arthur…" she began but was cut off by a sudden cascade of arrows blocking their path.

The horses reared as the arrows crossed in front of them, tied to long ropes. Their path was cut.

"Follow me!" Kyla yelled, whipping Torrent around to find another even less known path. However, the Woads anticipated this move as well and long ropes were quickly blocking their way again. Galahad's horse jumped as a sharp trap leaped out of the ground.

"Turn back!" Bors hollered as the knights desperately tried to find another route.

The Woad warriors were now bounding out from the trees, their spears and arrows ready. Arthur drew his sword, as the other knights did.

Suddenly Kyla let out a shrill cry. All attention turned to her. The Woads' faces turned from anger and hatred to confusion and finally, recognition. She was screaming at them in their native tongue. The knights looked at each other cautiously, wondering what was being said.

After a few moments, though, the Woads lowered their weapons, and as quickly as the battle had begun, it was over. The native people retreated silently.

"What did you say to them?" Gawain asked.

"I told you as long as I rode with you, you would not be harmed by my people," Kyla answered.

"Yes, but what did you say?" Galahad said, leaning forward in his saddle.

Kyla sighed. "I told them not to harm your company because you mean no harm to them. I also told them to tell Merlin that I am alive and well and have returned."

"Well, I, for one, am grateful," Arthur said, putting away his sword, Excalibur. "Thank you, Kyla. You are certainly a woman of your word."

Kyla smiled and nodded, happy to have Arthur's trust and friendship.

"We will camp here tonight," the Roman commander continued.

"Right where the Woads attacked?" Galahad asked incredulously.

"They will not attack again," Kyla replied. "How many times must I prove myself to you?"

Galahad still seemed lacking to trust her, but the rest of the knights seemed fully convinced.

"I was happy for the diversion," Bors said with a chuckle, dismounting his horse. "I was getting bored stiff. You enjoyed it too, didn't you, Dag?"

Dagonet smiled and walked over to Kyla. "We are grateful for your company, milady," he said in a gruff voice.

"Thank you," Kyla replied. She watched the large knight as he walked away.

Such a gentle giant, she thought, happy to have his friendship as well.