Thank you all for waiting so long! I know I've been horrible and haven't added any new chapters. Please forgive me! Also, ignore all of the horrible grammatical errors in this chapter. Thanks for reading and please comment! Feel free to suggest things as well. Thanks!
Oh my...oh my... Annabla thought. She had rushed to her room as fast as she could find it. Annabla dropped her weapons on the ground and sat on the edge of her bed. She placed her head in her hands and took a deep breath. When Lancelot had kissed Annabla, her body, her mind, her very soul gave in to him. As much as she tried to resist, Annabla wanted Lancelot. Lancelot is mean, arrogant, broody, and vile. But at the same time, he's handsome, charming, and all together irresistible. Annabla thought again. Annabla stood and walked to her vanity. She looked at her reflection. What will people think of me? Looking like this? Annabla laughed at herself. Annabla then decided to not to call upon Cecil to help her clean up. She did not feel like explaining herself to her.
Annabla washed herself and combed out her hair. Annabla arranged her hair with a gold winged pendant holding half of it up. The rest of her hair cascaded down her back in luscious waves. She chose to wear a blue dress her father had sent in from Rome. It was loose and on a warm day like that day, she felt that the dress was appropriate. I'm famished, Annabla thought. She looked to the sun. It was not even high noon yet. She decided to venture to the kitchen for a snack. Bloody hell. I don't know where the kitchen is. thought Annabla. I'll just have to wander once again. She quickly decorated her hair with gold clips and began to walk down the hall. The kitchen is most likely on the main floor so I shall look down there she thought. She went down three flights of stairs. Annabla had never been on the main floor during day time. She had only been there during mornings and at night so she was incredibly surprized when she saw how busy it was. Men dressed in linens scattered with blood rushed from room to room carrying medical supplies as maids assisted people from one room to the next. One maid was helping a woman woad who was missing a leg walk-rather hop- to a room. Annabla was shocked. Woads were everywhere and the castle's staff was helping them. Annabla was relieved when she saw Sir Gawain at the end of a passage.
"Princess Annabla. What brings you to this miserably busy place?" Gawain said. His clothes were scattered with blood as well.
"Acctually I was looking for the kitchen. What is going on here?" she asked staring at the scene.
"We're helping all those who were injured at Badon hill. I know it has been a week but some people still are hurting. There are people here who have no limbs but they still live." Gawain said as he looked about.
"But you Gawain. You are here helping?"
"I do what I can. My left shoulder was shot during the fight but I am better off than some of these people." He said clutching his shoulder.
"That is very noble," said Annabla. Gawain simply blushed.
"I was planning to return to Sarmatia. To find a bride and to start a family. I've been in this business long enough and I crave nothing more than to settle down."
"Why haven't you left then?" Annabla said.
"My help is needed her foremost. Also, Arthur is to be wed. I must not miss that." Gawain said as he fidgeted.
Annabla noticed the fidgiting and asked: "Is that all you stay here for?"
"I may have found a woman already. But I dare not tell her." Annabla looked at Gawain. He was staring at the people running around. This man was kind, courteous, the kind of man anyone would want. Was she the woman he had found? Annabla knew this was the kind of man that her father would approve of. But did Annabla want an approvable man. She touched her lips as if to force herself to remember her encounter with Lancelot. Breaking from her spell, Annabla asked:
"Why haven't you told her?"
"I'm worried that she may not like me back," he said returning Annabla's gaze.
"Perhaps I could speak to this woman for you." she ventured.
"That would be impossible." Gawain said.
"Really? How would it be impossible?" Annabla said.
"You cannot possibly talk to yourself can you?" Gawain said as he turned away. It seemed as if he were afraid to face her. Annabla raised her hand to turn his face back to hers.
"I could make an arragement." Gawain smiled and offered his arm to Annabla.
"Might I escort you to the kitchen."
"That would be lovely Sir Gawain." she said. The two walked down the hall and turned the corner. There was another long stretch of doors and they slowly walked down the hall without speaking. Out of no where, Lancelot came from around the corner ahead of them walking briskly.
--Lancelot POV
"Gawain," he nodded to the knight. "And Princess Annabla," he said with almost an angry tone. She's just walking down the hall with him, he thought. Did their encounter mean nothing to her? Was she using him? Lancelot then mentally slapped himself. How many times in the past had he done the same thing? To countless women? His face saddened and excused himself. The couple continued down the hall.
--Annabla POV
It's Lancelot! her mind screamed. Annabla looked at the handsome knight walking quickly down the hall. He had since changed his clothes and was wearing remarkably shiny armor. Annabla wondered where he was going.
"Gawain," he nodded to the knight who's arm was held by Annabla. "And Princess Annabla," he said with a dark look. Annabla could clearly tell that he was jelous. Annabla said nothing as Gawain smiled at Lancelot.
"Please excuse me. I have an errand to run." Lancelot said. His expression changed to sadness as he continued down the hall. Annabla turned to take one last look at Lancelot.
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Lancelot continued down the hall, turned the corner, and walked to the opening doors. He went outside and ran to the barn. He quickly saddled up his horse and mounted. Arthur had confronted the dust covered Lancelot when he was traveling to his room.
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"Thank the Lord that you are here. Have you any engagements to attend to at this moment?" Arthur said. Half dressed. He had run from his room when Jols came telling him that a messenger of Aurelli had galloped to the castle announcing that the King was arriving shortly. The King had just come in sight of the wall and would be arriving momentaraly.
"Free as a bird Arthur." Lancelot said.
"King Aurelli is comming. He is just ouside of the wall and his messenger stated that the King wished to be greeted by one of the knights. Bors and Galahad cannot ride and Gawain is helping the hurt at the momen got. Would you ride to greet him?"
"You wish is my command Arthur." Lancelot said with a tiny bow.
Arthur laughed and said: "You best not be go looking like that."
"Why would the King find it more offensive than your lack of shirt." The two friends laughed and Lancelot began for his room again.
"Wear your show armor." Arthur called after him. Lancelot saluted and entered his room.
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Lancelot trotted to the gate of the castle. The guards bowed as lancelot passed the castle gates. He then spurred his horse to gallop. As Lancelot raced through the small village in between the castle and the wall, children looked at him in awe. A real Sarmation Knight was galloping in full armor throught the streets. The children saw the knights occasionaly and any visit from one was a special treat. Women and girls looked to Lancelot with dreamy eyes. Lancelot laughed and sped as fast as he could to the wall. Something then caught Lancelot's eye. He stopped his horse abruptly and dismounted. Lancelot jogged to an old woman's stand. The woman was selling assortments of gadgets and her young daughter sat next to her. When Lancelot confronted them. The daughter immediatly put her chest out, batted her eyes, and smiled. Lancelot gave her a quick smile pulled out roman coins. The woman stared at the coins greedily and Lancelot offered them to her for the precious object that was hanging down from the stand's cloth roof. The woman gleefuly agreed.
"You may have my daugher as well. If it pleases you." said the old woman with a cackle. The young girl batted her eyes at Lancelot once again.
"Thankyou but I may have a woman already." Lancelot thanked the woman again. He put the object in his saddlebag and remounted. He could have had the object for free. He was a Sarmation Knight. The Knights had earned great respect from the people of the village.
Lancelot made it to the wall just as the guards were preparing to open it. Lancelot jumped from his horse and leaned against it as if he had been waiting for some time. When the gates opened completely, Two soldiers on horseback rode in followed by an ordinary looking cart. The cart had a soldier on either side and was trailed by two more soldiers.
A man pulled the shades of the cart open and asked Lancelot: "You are the Sarmation Knight that has come to greet us?"
"Yes I am. I presume that you are King Aurelli?" Lancelot said as he walked forward and bowed.
"You presume wrong. This," the man said as he got out of the cart and opened the door, "this is King Aurelli." A man wearing much nicer clothes got out of the cart.
"Your highness. Forgive my mistake." Lancelot said bowing once again.
"Tis nothing. This man is my companion. My personal guard, Hector." King Aurelli said. "I am overjoyed that I first get to meet one of the legendary Sarmation Knights. You are..?" The King said regally.
"I am Sir Lancelot."
"Ah, Lancelot. I have heard of you. You yeild two swords into battle. I like that style. The way a man handles his sword is the way he handles his life. Your life, it is unpredictable, ocassionaly ruthless..." King Aurelli paused and examined Lancelot. "You are quite dressed up for meeing a King of a small country such as mine." Aurelli said.
"Size does not always matter. You are a very important guest in Arthur's court. You deserved the utmost respect." Lancelot put on a fake smile.
Aurelli looked past the too large smile and eyed Lancelot: "Excellent. Now that I have met you. Please lead us."
"Of course your highness." Lancelot said. He mounted his horse as the King got back into his cart with his companion.
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--Annabla POV
Back at the castle, Gawain had left Annabla, and she was enjoying a pleasant snack. It consisted of stew, bread, and ice cold rum. Annabla had met the cook Michael and was conversing with the jolly cook. He seemed like an extraordinarily nice man. Annabla greedily took another bite of her bread when she heard a bell ring.
"Michael what is that?" she asked.
"Why, that means that someone is commin' through the gates of the castle. Wonder who the bloody hell that is." Michael said straining to see out of a small window in the kitchen.
"I'm quite curious. I'll go see. Thank you so very much for the food Michael. It was wonderful of you to be so generous."
"'Tis my job milady." Michael said bowing. "I hope to be seein' more of ya later."
"Absolutley." Annabla answered and she walked out of the door.
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--Lancelot POV
Just then, Lancelot galloped through the gates of the castle into the courtyard followed by King Aurelli and his caravan. Lancelot dismounted and called for a guard to get Arthur. Lancelot cocked his head to the left, he could hear the patter of sandals upon the ground. As the pattering got closer, it sped up. From around the corner, Annabla was running. She hesitated for a split second and looked to Lancelot. They locked eyes but she ran past him to her father.
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"Father!" she cried as she jumped to embrace him. King Aurelli kissed his daughter on the head. Lancelot looked to the reunited father and daughter. Only a mere hour ago, he thought, she was in my arms. He turned away and walked into the castle leaving the family to catch up.
"Father! I had no idea that you would be arriving so quickly! You did not send word back to me." Annabla said.
"I wanted to surprise you." He said breaking the embrace.
"Surprised indeed I am," said Annabla.
Arthur appeared as if out of no where and shook King Aurelli's hand. "We have been anxiously awaiting your coming King Aurelli."
"Yes, I see." said the King.
"Your daughter is a wonderful person." said Arthur.
"Yes, I know." said the King.
Arthur searched for the right words to say but could think of nothing.
"Well, shall I show you to your quarters? I suspect that you are tired from your journey." Arthur said.
"Yes, that would be lovely." King Aurelli signaled to his men to carry his stuff and followed Arthur. "I will see you later tonight at dinner perhaps fair daughter?"
"Of course father." Annabla said as she watched her father leave. She looked to where Lancelot was standing and found no one there. I must speak with him she thought. Annabla decided that she should get some rest before taking any rash actions. She found her way to her room and laid down upon her bed. She quickly drifted to sleep.
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