As Vanora brushed past Anise on her way to the rough stone steps, the girl awoke from her momentary daze and ran after Vanora in an attempt to stop her. The red-headed woman smiled affectionately at the girl sensing the fear in her eyes and stopped.
"Child, they won't harm you. They simply want to meet you, see how you fare." Vanora's voice then took on a menacing yet teasing tone. "And if they even were to think of laying a hand on you, then they'd have me to deal with."
Anise laughed with relief as Vanora continued down the steps, calling back over her shoulder as Anise hurried down after her.
"Nothing like the wrath of a woman scorned!"
The knights watched with interest as the two women made their way from the battlements; laughing and joking as they went, the young girl's eyes sparkling and flickering in the feeble sunlight. Arthur stood up as they entered the tavern and Bors greeted Vanora with an enthusiastic hug as she struggled to break free of him, but laughing all the same. Anise looked up to met Arthur's eyes and instantly broke the gaze as Vanora began to introduce her to the other knights. Each shook her hand gracefully before once again taking their seat and calling for another round of ale. Lancelot flashed Anise a curious smile as she settled herself between Arthur and Bors, as it seemed the only space available. They all sat in silence for a moment, not knowing what to say and Anise felt herself nervously looking at the table wishing for someone to break the uneasy quiet.
"So how are you faring today…Anise?" asked Dagonet; a little unsure of himself at the mention of her name.
Anise shot her head up and smiled sheepishly at the quiet knight, nodding in response to her name.
"I am well, thank you my lord." She replied before quickly adding: "And... I am very much indebted to you all for saving me, thank you."
Arthur smiled caringly from her right and motioned for a toast amongst the knights.
"To good health and the company of a fine young lady!"
"Aye!" came the reply as the mugs of ale clanked together and sloshed the strong liquid over the table. Gawain smiled broadly at the girl as everyone began to talk amongst themselves and jeer.
Anise sat quietly up on the battlements as the knights continued to celebrate in the tavern beneath her. Dusk was starting to fall and she let her eyes drift over the encroaching horizon, a small content smile gracing her rosy lips. She had spent the afternoon talking with the knights and listening to their stories of battles and campaigns under Roman control. Arthur kept close to her most of the time allowing the other knights, mostly Galahad, to retell the fearless narratives and only talked quietly with her, enquiring after her health and generally making small talk. She let out a small sigh and leaned her head back to rest upon one of the smooth stone parapets before a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I saw you sat up here and wondered if you wanted any company." Stated Gawain softly as he sat himself near her on the stone wall, smiling gently.
"Oh…thank you." She replied before quickly adding: "I was just admiring the wonderful view." She uttered motioning toward the scenery with her head.
"Oh yes. I've seen the same view for 14 years but you never tire of it, especially not on such a lovely night as this." He commented, a brief smile flitting over his face.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes admiring the view before Anise spoke out into the night air.
"So you were the one who found me?"
Gawain turned to face her at her enquiry and nodded.
"Well I wish you to know how grateful I am and if there is anything I can do to repay you…" Anise trailed off as a mischievous grin settled at the corners of Gawain's mouth.
"You need not repay me in anyway; it was the right thing to do."
Anise nodded her thanks once again and turned her attention to the raucous going on below her. She noticed Arthur look up and smile warmly at her; his eyes glowing in the radiant light from the torches and his sight never leaving hers. Anise moved her hand across her face quickly to brush some of her curls out of the way of her dark eyes when she noticed Gawain looking at her with a troubled expression. She stared questioningly at him whilst he opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally sighing and quietly speaking to her.
"What where you doing out there? I mean, what happened after the Woads attacked?"
"After they attacked I fled to the forest. I must have spent two days out there before I returned to my village once again…or rather what was left of it." A fire burned deep in the girl's eyes and Gawain found himself unable to look away. "I went to say my final goodbyes and then I must have passed out after I left."
Gawain nodded understandingly and he too turned his attention to the noise rising from the small hostelry below.
"I will have my revenge you know." Anise suddenly spoke out into the silence; shocking Gawain with the power and bitterness he found in her voice and the strength she seemed to hold within her mysterious eyes. After that she stood up and began to walk past him; her mint green dress sweeping past him until he caught her arm in his grip. She looked down at him and he released his supple hold slowly as he too stood up and looked deep into her intense eyes, remembering the same look in so many eyes of his fellow fallen knights.
"We will all have our revenge."
The dreams took her again that night. She found herself once again screaming out her mother's name and sliding down that slippery slope from fear to obsession. She threw the covers back on her bed and swung her feet around until they reached the cool surface of the floor tiles. She let her hair hang down in front of her face as she tried to breathe steadily again and savoured in this feeling of privacy and self-containment. Anise's eyes skimmed over the room until they reached her open window and she coolly sauntered towards it letting the moonlight guide her eyes and the breeze erase the damaging memories. No-one walked the streets of Badon Hill at that hour and the only movement she witnessed of any kind was from the patrolling Roman centuries as they appeared from the shadows. But once her eyes left the safety of the fort she saw movement of another kind. Her crimson lips parted in an angry gasp as she watched the trees swaying sombrely in the chill breeze and the blue ghosts merge with the foliage and darkness of the night. They were taunting her. They were insulting her mother's memory. They were beckoning her. She would answer.
Grasping her night clothes in a fist she stormed out of the room; flinging the door open so that it rattled on its hinges. Her feet padded noisily along the corridors as her wild eyes searched for some kind of weapon and she eventually reached the doors which led into the chamber of the Knights of the Round Table.
The first thing the knights heard were the large wooden doors being flung open and colliding with the strong stone walls behind them. All their talking and laughter stopped as an enraged Anise flew into the room demanding a sword. Her cheeks were flushed as she stalked around the room towards the open window and her dark curls hung tightly below her shoulders.
Arthur sat with his mouth open in silence; too shocked to know what to say as the girl laughed bitterly into the cold night and span fiercely to face them.
"WHERE ARE YOUR WEAPONS!" she demanded, her eyes burning passionately as she began to once again stalk towards Arthur.
The knights sat in silence as they watched the girl's shoulders heave in fury and her face grow flushed.
"Why do you need a sword lady?" questioned Arthur, a look of uncertainty covering his face.
"They're out there." She spat angrily pointing towards the window. "They think they can get away with it but I shall have my revenge. Just as I told Gawain I would!"
All eyes turned to Gawain and he shrugged flabbergasted.
"Will you tell me where your weapons are or will I have to find them myself?" Anise asked again, gazing sternly at Arthur; her face one of annoyance and resentment.
"No lady we can not let you endanger yourself like that." Replied Arthur firmly.
Anise stared at Arthur and he continued to stare back; a battle of wills. She saw firmness but care in his eyes and he saw fury and revenge in hers. Finally she pulled away and shot an angry glare to the room.
"I'll just have to kill them with my own bare hands then." She spat before turning and dashing towards the door.
"Bors!" shouted Arthur as he saw where she was headed and Anise found herself blocked by the large man.
"You aren't going anywhere darlin'." Grumbled Bors as he heaved the girl into his arms.
"LET ME GO!" she screamed; kicking and punching any part of him she could reach. "PUT ME DOWN!"
Bors grunted as he continued to restrain the girl and she landed a kick just right of his thigh. The rest of the knights looked on in horror as the once serene and gentle girl screamed and thrashed in Bor's grasp.
"Take her to her room Bors and I want the window and door locked." Called Arthur as he watched the man carry the screaming figure away.
The other knights sat down heavily in her chair apart from Arthur who stayed where he was and Tristan who walked towards the window.
"She's right you know, they are out there." He murmured towards Arthur, his keen gaze centred where the girl's had once been, pointing into the darkness at the blue figures.
A/N: Oooh so Anise went a bit pyscho lol. What did we think? And what's going to happen next? Ideas on a postcard lol. Thanks for all my reviewers, I really appreciate it xx