They laid Anise on an altar of rock; the trees shrinking away from the torch lit clearing and the moonlight cascading down onto her limp figure. Her skin was pale and almost glowing in the flickering light and the mark on her arm glimmered violently as the Woads gathered around the altar, preparing the holy site for the ritual with herbs and flowers that were essential in performing the ceremony properly. The rustling of the Woads as they moved across the leafy ground carried faintly into the eerie forest and the torchlight was blocked easily by the dense thicket of trees and bushes. Merlin stepped forward out of the gloom; his staff raised and his eyes overpowering in their fierce confidence. He was going to have this girl's powers and he was going to have them without any disruptions.
The knights reached the edge of the ominous forest and Tristan checked for any signs of Woad archers in the swaying branches before motioning the knights onwards. The horses whinnied their panic as they abruptly entered the suffocating darkness of the forest and after comforting them and glaring fiercely into the oppressive gloom the knights continued on their way; the horses' hooves kicking up dirt and leaves as they galloped further into the darkness.
The gnarled branches of the imposing trees hung low and cast fearsome shadows over the forest floor when any shaft of moonlight managed to break through the dense canopy. The knights had been riding urgently further and further into the heart of the forest but still had found no signs of anything that could lead them to the Woads. They halted in a clearing and desperately searched for anything to help them on their quest for the girl but could find nothing.
"Can you see anything Tristan?" shouted Arthur above the rustling off the branches.
"No, it's too dark." He shouted back in frustration.
Gawain growled in anger and slammed his fist into a nearby tree.
"We're never going to find her at this rate." He hissed angrily before Dagonet placed a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Arthur!" shouted Galahad who was a little way off.
Arthur rode towards him quickly and peered to where the knight was pointing.
"There looks to be a path." He yelled as the wind shook the forest roughly and Arthur signalled for the group to follow him as he set off down the shadowy path.
Soft chanting and humming filled Anise's ears as she began to come around and opened her eyes to see a blurry vision of moonlight and quivering branches above her across the night sky. Her eyes fluttered closed and open a few times as Merlin's image towered over her; his staff raised over her head and his beard bristling with tension as he began shouting out into the darkness. Anise moaned and turned her head to the right where she could see the gathering of Woads in the indistinct torch light as their chanting grew louder. The dull pain in her arm that she had felt before was now an intense stabbing pain as the marking on her arm flashed violently amidst all of the supernatural goings-on and she screamed out in agony as it reached torturous heights.
Merlin ignored the girl's screams as he was too engrossed in conducting his spell to bother with her. After all she would be of no use to him after he had stripped her of his powers and become the most powerful magician in all of the land. No-one would dare defy him after this, and if they did then he would make sure they reach a gruesome and untimely end.
Anise's face was contorted in agony as the screams ripped through her mouth and into the night air. The pain was like a white heat running through her body and she was finding it hard to remain conscious as was the extent of the pain. Without warning she was jolted upwards and sparks flew from her floating figure as something took control of her body. Merlin's eyes widened as her witchcraft began to take control of her and his voice increased in volume as he fought to finish his enchantment and make it audible over the whistling of the trees.
All off a sudden an intense white light blasted through the trees; blinding the knights as they thundered down the woodland path and their horse neighed in alarm. Shielding their eyes with their arms they knights goaded their horses to go faster and crashed violently through the trees and towards the blinding light. They reached the source of the light and could scarcely make out Merlin who stood at a large rock altar and whose face was contorted in horror at the object before him. The Woads gathered in the ritual space turned suddenly as they became aware of the intrusion after Tristan shot an arrow into the back of one of them and he fell to the ground; dead. The knights leapt off their horses; unsheathing their swords as they went and ran forward to meet the oncoming Woads with vicious intent. Tristan attempted to aim an arrow at Merlin but it was impossible to see him accurately due to the intense white light that shielded him. Frustrated he joined the fray and decapitated an approaching Woad before slitting another's throat. Dagonet viciously kicked one Woad backwards into a tree as he swung his bloodied axe over his head and slashed another through the middle and roared fiercely as he proceeded in fighting his next victim. At some points the knights were fighting back to back, using each other's momentum to thrust powerfully in the tight space and swung their blades with such force as to kill a Woad outright. Blood splattered across the forest floor as more and more Woads fell to their deaths after being faced with the skilled swords of Arthur and Sarmatian knights, and the knights' faces showed the ferocity with which they fought as they sliced through the air with their bloody swords and axes.
Merlin had stopped chanting as he peered through the blinding light and saw the skirmish that had commenced between his loyal followers and Arthur and his knights. He glared up angrily at the levitating body of the girl and began his mantra once more with a deafening roar. But he was stopped short as a hand suddenly reached out and grasped his throat in a death grip. He opened his eyes to look into those of the witch as she hovered in front of him; her skin still glowing with the supernatural powers that she now held but the intense light now faded. He choked as she tightened her grasp on his throat and his eyes bulged in fear at her look of malice.
"Leave me witch." He spat out angrily as she glared at him; a flash of power in her eye.
She tightened her grasp on his blue throat one last time before thrusting her hand forcefully against his chest; a white burst of energy flowing from her palm and burning through Merlin's body. He screamed in agony as her power flooded through his veins and his body writhed as she dangled it above the ground. After a few seconds of the overpowering energy escaping her fingertips Anise stopped and dropped Merlin's lifeless body to the ground. All the knights and Woads who had been watching what had happened ceased what they were doing and watched as Anise's hovering body suddenly dropped onto the ground next to Merlin's.
"Anise!" screamed Gawain and he immediately darted forward towards the stone altar and seized her limp form into his arms.
The knights turned to face the Woads whose chests pressed firmly against the knights' swords as they pushed them to their knees with menacing glares.
"Go." Hissed Arthur severely, removing the tip of his sword from the Woad knelt at his feet. "Before we kill you all."
The Woads fled into the night and vanished into the shadows of the forest; their blue auras blending in with black oblivion.
Gawain still gripped Anise within his arms; her drooping body showing no signs of the power they had all just witnessed apart from the flashing emblem on her arm.
"We need to get her back to the fort." Stated Arthur stiffly and helped Gawain to his feet; his arms holding the girl securely in their grasp.
The knights mounted their horses once more and galloped back to the fort through the void of night, the moonlight their only aid.
Flickering candlelight filled Anise's chamber as she lay unconscious in her bed yet again. The faltering blaze of light swept across her passive face as she lay silently; her curls falling softly across her tranquil expression. Gawain watched her intently from his position next to her on the bed and reached out a rough hand to brush away the ringlets that covered her beautiful expression. He smiled at the feeling of her silky skin rubbing against his own and gazed longingly at her to wake up. The glimmer of her motif caught his eye and he curiously glided a finger over it; a spark of warmth rushing from it up into his hand and her eyes flickered open. The deep pools of intensity came to rest upon Gawain's gentle face and she smiled warmly at him.
"You had quite some power out there." He whispered lightly and stroked the side of her as she nuzzled into his touch.
She remembered the energy that pulsed through her as she had killed Merlin and her arm gave a light buzz at the memory before subsiding again.
"Is everyone alright?" Anise whispered with concern.
"Everyone's fine." He replied. "They were more worried about your wellbeing."
He slowly leant down his head towards her on the bed and she smiled against his warm lips as they brushed against her own.
"What are you doing?" she breathed out; the warm air tickling his mouth.
"Saving you." He murmured before pulling her into a tender kiss.
His mouth was warm and comforting on hers and she moaned quietly as he bit softly on her bottom lip and probed her mouth with his inviting tongue. They were both breathless when they finally pulled apart and she smiled lovingly at him as she slipped effortlessly into peaceful dreams for the first night since the attack on her village; Gawain's fingertips caressing her cheek as she entered her slumber.
A/N: And finally they kissed! lol And she busted Merlin good with all of her witchcraft and power, so what happens now that she's a full witch? Well I'm afraid you'll have to wait till after I return from my holiday, sorry but I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I shall return! Thanks for all your excellent support and reviewing! Bye xx