Chapter 30

"I am going. You cannot stop me, unless you want to lock me in my room, and even still I will find a way out and follow you!" I said to the two stubborn men in my life. I did not care if I sounded childish.

"Let her go." Galahad called from where he sat upon his horse, still obviously angry. "If we are all going to die, she might as well be allowed to join us." He said darkly.

"Tristan please." I said again, not so demanding this time. He did not answer for the arrival of Arthur gained our attention.

Galahad rode his horse hard circling Arthur as he made his way to us. The horse snorted in anger equal to his master, for Galahad was not normally so rough with his animal. Arthur's arrival preceded that of the Bishop, who joined us in the stables, of course with the company of his guards.

Considering the looks he received from the knights, I did not blame the man for having them. They were a fearsome group. "To represent the holy court my trusted secretary Horton will join you on your quest." The bishop said calling to his man." The man looked anything but anxious to join the mission, but he would be faithful to his masters calling.

"Jols find the man a horse." Arthur commanded.

"You will fulfill your duty to Rome." The bishop said to Arthur.

"My duty is also to my men." Arthur said his dislike for the bishop more evident than ever.

"Then get them home." Germanius replied smugly, turning leaving the men to finish preparing.

"Taryn, what are you doing?" Arthur asked as he walked by my saddled horse.

"Joining you." I replied swinging myself up into the saddle, not waiting for a reply. He merely nodded, for he had too many things on his mind to concern himself with me. He went and mounted his own horse. Tristan and Gawain had also mounted, and followed Arthur out of the stables. I took this as my cue, and put Black in line right behind them.

"Taryn, I really wasn't serious about you coming with us." Galahad said from behind me. "The one time I come up with a ridiculous idea they listen to me." He said with disgust.

"Oh Galahad, quit whining, we are going home soon." I said over my shoulder.

"Taryn why are you so positive? We will all die, of that I am sure," He replied.

"Galahad why are you so negative? That is why no one listens to you." I said ending the conversation. I gave Black a nudge in the side to catch him up with the other horses. It seemed they were almost as anxious as we to be on our way. For as soon as we left the gates of the fort, they were at a brisk gallop.

It was not long before we came to the boarder of our territory. The wall, the gates to the north were rarely opened, they groaned as if in anguish of being disturbed from their resting place, as the two large draft horsed pulled them open. We made our way through the large gates. I felt a slight shiver go through my spine, there was no turning back now.

We rode hard, this was not a leisurely trip. There was not talking no joking, just riding, and watching. We rode through wind and rain, never stopping for rest. I breathed a sigh of relief as we entered the woods, for the trees gave some protection from the weather.

As we came to a darker spot through the woods, our pace began to slow. Something was different, even the horses could sense it. I rode next to my father, and looked at him with question. "Woads, they are tracking us." He replied as if reading my thoughts.

"Where?" Arthur asked from where he rode.

"Everywhere." Tristan said. I began looking in the trees, watching for the movement, a sign we were being followed but none came. The wind was growing louder. Black who was not normally a jittery horse began to prance nervously beneath me. I did not see them, but they were here, I could feel them. I reached up and nervously fingered the necklace I was wearing. For it was that of the woad girl I had killed. I brought it in plans of returning to her land. I am not sure why, maybe as a memorial to the dead girl, returning something of her back to the land she had came from. Maybe today one of her relatives would accomplish the feat she had set out to do. Kill me.

Then it came, the sound of arrows whistling through the air. I waited for the sting, for I knew what it felt like to have one embedded in you. Galahad was right we would die, it was an ambush. We were on the ground, and the arrows coming from the trees, we did not have a chance. The arrows were not aimed at us though, for they landed in the trees in front of us, strung with wire, blocking our way.

I did not think, but merely reacted, I turned Black in the opposite direction following after the knights, but again our path was blocked by the flying arrows.

"Get Back!" I heard Lancelot yell above the noise of the howling wind and the flying arrows. It was no use, everyway we turned we were entrapped by a new devise.

"This way!" Arthur called turning his horse in a new direction. Only to be met by a dozen woads brandishing spears, and screaming loudly at us. We again turned in the opposite direction, I was so confused, and I did not know what direction we were going, I only knew we were in grave danger. We came to a clearing, but it was a clearing we had already been in, and the trail was blocked with ropes of thorns and woads. We were surrounded.

The knights did not try to run anymore, they knew this was the time, fight or die. I followed suit after my father, and pulled the bow from my back. Picking a target from the sea of faces, that surrounded us.

"What are you waiting for!" Gawain challenged the surrounding men, but his cry was drowned out by the sound of horns echoing through the woods.

Then the strangest thing happened, the woads lowered there weapons and turned and fled.

"Inish, devil ghosts," Dagonet growled.

"Why would they not attack?" Galahad questioned.

"Merlin does not want us dead." Arthur said looking off into the woods.

"We do not have time to discuss why we are still on this earth, we must ride." Lancelot said looking over to Galahad.

We rode hard through the afternoon, not stopping only slowing to give the horses a few precious moments of rest. After several more hours we came upon a large estate, one that could only be described as Roman. Our journey was almost complete.

There were many serfs working in the fields outside of the gates they all came closing in on us, for I am sure it was not often they received visitors this far north of the wall. We came to the gates of the estate, which were very rudely closed in our face.

"Who are you?" A guard above the wall called down.

"I am Arthur Castus commander of the Sarmatian knights, sent by the Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gate." He said the authority evident in his voice, for the guards obeyed him without question.

The gates swung open, and a Roman man came out to greet us with all the Roman pomp and ceremony one could muster. "Good Jesus, it is a wonder you could come. Arthur and his knights. You have fought the woads, vile creatures." He said with a shake of his head.

I smiled to myself, I am sure they spent much of their time defending themselves from the native people of this land. I found myself wishing one of them would come right now, and cut this pompous little man into pieces.

"Our orders from Rome are to evacuate you immediately." Arthur said ignoring the man's greeting.

'But that is impossible." The little man said a bewildered look coming to his face.

"Which is Alecto?" Arthur said to the surrounding men.

"I am Alecto." Came a cry from a boy on the wall, looking not much younger than myself.

"Alecto is my son. And everything we have is here, given to us by the pope of Rome." The man said, as if what he said was of great importance.

"Well you are about to give it to the Saxons." Lancelot snapped at the man, he to was also growing impatient with this arrogant man. "They are invading from the north." Arthur supplied. Earning a look of shock from the man.

He recovered quickly though. "Then Rome will send an army." He said with great bravado.

"They have us. We will leave as soon as you are packed," Arthur said still remaining patient with this stupid Roman.

"I refuse to leave." The Roman said with a set of his jaw. I looked over to Gawain he was looked as if he would like to kill the man and be finished with it.

"Go back to work, all of you." The Roman Marius called to the gathering audience of serfs. His mercenary guards began pushing the people who came in their paths. Arthur climbed down from his horse, all patience lost.

"If I do not bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land. So you are coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse, and drag you all the way back to Hadrians wall myself. My Lord." Arthur said mere inches from the man's face.

"Lady, my knights are hungry." Arthur said to the woman who had joined Marius. She looked to her husband for permission. "Go." The roman gave her permission, as if she were a dog to follow his beck and command. They all turned and left to do begrudgingly what Arthur bid.

I looked around at the people, many of which were poorly dressed, they were all very thin and looked as if they were worked hard on a daily basis.

Arthur walked back over to his horse, he started to mount, but as a second thought pulled his sword from its sheath, and walked toward the serfs. There was a man chained to three wooden posts, and Arthur made straight for him. The knights were growing impatient at every second longer we had to stay here, but begrudgingly followed their commander.

"You're from Rome, is it true that Marius is a spokesman from God, and it is a sin to defy him." I heard a man ask of Arthur.

He looked at the crowd of people and spoke with a voice that sounded as if God himself were speaking. "I tell you this day Marius is not of God, and all of you were free from your first breath." He held Excalibur high, and in direct defiance of the man Marius, he freed the man from his chains.

"Help this man." He bellowed at the crowd. They starred at him like a herd of lost sheep. "Help him." He shouted again and this time was obeyed, as the woman rushed to the old mans side.

"Now here me, a vast and terrible army is coming this way. They will show no mercy, spare no one. Those of you who are able should gather your things, and begin to move south toward Hadrians wall. Those unable shall come with us." He said to the people.

"Gawain, was this the plan?" I asked, not knowing we would be escorting a large number of people back to the wall.

"One is never sure of the plan with Arthur, not when his heart gets involved." He replied seemingly uninspired by his commanders chivalry.

"Great, snow." I commented to the white stuff that was already beginning to fall all around us. "How will they all travel in the snow, the cold?"

"They are used to it Taryn, and if they stay here they will die anyways, what choice do they have?" He said dismounting from his horse. I climbed down also to walk beside him, for my legs were in need of a stretch.

"It is almost over." I said reaching out to grab his hand.

"I am afraid darling, that we have not met the worst of it. You forget there is an entire Saxon army heading the same direction we are going." He said with an unsettling glance.

"Perhaps we will beat them to the wall, and can return home without ever setting eyes on them to begin with." I said trying to be the optimist.

"Hopefully, but doubtful. It seems as if our scout has returned." He said pointing to where my father rode his horse at a quick pace toward Arthur. "If anyone can answer your many questions Taryn, it is him. Go and see what he has found." He suggested.

I walked over to where he and Arthur were talking.

"Tristan." I called out to him, but he was riding away in the opposite direction. "Father!" I called this time, a little louder. This caught his attention, for he turned and waited for me to catch up to him.

"What did you see?" I asked for his face revealed nothing.

"It is not good, you should have stayed at the fort." He replied shortly.

"Well it is too late for that, are they close?"

"An entire army is just hours behind us, if Arthur does not hurry these people up, they will soon be upon us. We will try to cross behind them, by going back through the mountains. If we are lucky we will make it to the wall first." He said very informatively.

"Tristan, are you upset with me." I said placing a hand on his arm.

"No Taryn, I am just concerned for your safety, the Saxons are brutal, and if they find you, you will wish yourself already dead. Come, let us see what the hold up is, and have you had any food?" He asked.

"No, but a woman is bringing us something soon, I hope." I replied at the same time the faint sound of drumming came from the distance. I looked over to my father quickly.

"They are close." Came his quick reply. "What is he doing now?" He said looking past me.

Arthur was standing in front of two monks guarding a dark stone building on the side of the wall. His sword was drawn, and his face fierce.

"What are you doing stop this." The Roman Marius called rushing toward the walled up entrance where Arthur was standing.

"Arthur we have no time." Lancelot said from atop his horse. "Do you not hear the drums?" Galahad added, for they were indeed sounding closer by the second.

Arthur ignored them both, "Dagonet" he said with a nod of his head toward the wall.

The ever loyal Dagonet, said nothing only proceeded to walk to the wall axe in hand. With seven powerful swings, the wall was down.

"Key" Arthur said to the guard.

"It is locked from the inside," the man replied hesitantly.

Dagonet took his cue from Arthur and had the door open with a few swift kicks. Arthur went to the entrance torch in hand, Lancelot and Gawain followed him this time, as well as Dagonet. I looked on curiously.

"Stay back." Came Tristan's warning. "You do not want to see what I am sure they will find."

I nodded to him, it did not seem like a place of happiness, it was very eerie, it reminded me of the many stories I had heard of as a child. Of dark dungeons, places of terror. If it was indeed a dungeon, all would not be well. Tristan, Lancelot, and Bors, held the Roman and his guards back from the entrance, I too had my weapon drawn, the hard blade gave me a sense of comfort, security.

It was several minutes before, Lancelot reappeared, a dark look on his face. Arthur came next, and ragged woman clutched in his arms. "Water, give me some water." He commanded. The woman looked near death, I doubted water would help. Dagonet and Gawain then appeared, Dagonet holding a frightened looking young boy in his arms, and Gawain was pushing two sniveling monks.

I handed my reins to Tristan, and went to Dagonet and the boy. Horton the Roman was already there. "His arm is broken." He commented.

I looked down at the little boys swollen and bruised arm, and felt my heart wrench in two. How could men be so cruel. I handed Dagonet my water skin to give the little boy some much needed liquids. He coughed, but managed to keep some of it down. He looked so small in the large arms of Dagonet, but already he seemed to sense the gentleness in this great man.

"She's a woad." I heard my father say. I looked over to the girl being cared for by Arthur. She had the same familiar blue/black tattooing on her body I had come to learn were part of the culture of these native people.

I stepped back as Marius made his way screeching at Arthur, and his own wife for helping the people. Arthur did not back down, he would not yield to this miserable excuse of a man. Marius did not see that, and Arthur had to prove his point, by pinning Marius to the ground, sword at his throat.

"When we get to the wall, you will be punished for this heresy." He hissed at Arthur.

"Perhaps I should just kill you now, and seal my own fate?"

"I was willing to die with them, yes to lead them to their rightful place." A monk said wistfully, to the irate Arthur. "It is God's wish that these sinners be sacrificed." He continued, somehow believing his word as a monk would be taken above all else. "Only then can their souls be saved."

Arthur glared at the man. "Then I shall grant his wish. Wall them back up."

"Arthur" Tristan questioned, not caring for the monks, but the approaching Saxon army.

"I said wall them back up." Arthur shouted unable to control his anger, at these wicked men.

The serfs of the estate, did not need another invitation, for soon they were swarming the monks pushing them back into their earthly prison.

In a half hours time, we were on our way to the wall, accompanied by several wagons, Roman mercenaries, and a few serfs on foot. The snow was cold, and the path steep, but they were a determined bunch. I rode toward the back, eyeing the people, pitying them, from where I sat safely perched on Black's back.

After a few hours time of studying them, I noticed a woman, struggling with trying to walk and keep steady the bundle that appeared to be moving on her back, and hold tight to the small child at her side. She looked weary, and my heart went out to her.

"Lady, where is your husband?" I asked riding next to her. She looked up at me, and I noticed her face was already very pale, she was older than I, but I believe a hard life made her appear somewhat older than she was.

"I have none, he is dead." She said in a softly accented voice, then put her head down and continued to walk, focusing only on her children and the path ahead.

"What is your name?" I questioned her yet again.

"Isolde." She answered quickly.

I pulled Black to a quick halt, and stepped down beside her.

"Here you ride for awhile." I said offering my horse to her.

"Thank you for the offer, but I have never ridden a horse, and I am doing fine on my own." She said brushing off my offer. I admired her courage, but also thought her too stubborn for her own good, much like other people in my life.

"You will never make it to the wall, nor will your little girl." I said looking at the female child about four or five at her side. This time she did not answer.

"Black is very gentle, I will lead you. You climb up first, and I will lift her up in front of you." I said holding the stirrup out to her.

"Thank you," was her only reply. She made it into the saddle, with ease for a woman with a baby strapped to her back, who had never ridden a horse.

"What is your name?" I asked the wide eyed little girl. "Bekah" came the frightened reply. "Bekah, you are going to go on a horsy ride, it will be fun." I comforted the little girl, before handing her up to her mother. She must take after her mother, for she did not cry. The baby was well protected from the cold, but the girl and her mothers clothes were not nearly thick enough for the weather. Without second thought, I pulled my heavy tunic from around my neck and handed it up to the both of them.

Isolde started to refuse, but I interrupted her. "Do not let Bekah freeze because of your pride. My clothes are heavy, and I am getting hot, you would be doing me a favor holding it." I said with a polite smile, for the little girl had already wrapped it around her.

The first few miles, I felt fine, but as we went, the wind started to pick up, and I felt the cold, and the tiredness start to kick in. I looked up to see little Bekah fast asleep in her mothers arms, it gave me that little boost I needed. The light was fading fast, and I wondered how long we would go at this pace.

"Taryn, Taryn!" I heard my name being called. I saw Gawain riding toward me concern on his face. I gave him the cheeriest of waves I could muster.

"What are you doing, Taryn, I have been looking for you, and where are your cloak, and your horse?" I pointed over to Isolde, who was now managing my horse quite well on her own. I saw Gawain's eyes take in the sleeping form of the child, and he nodded in understanding.

He stopped his large horse and climbed down beside me. "Taryn you are freezing to death my love, come you can ride with me now." He said pushing me up in the saddle. It took no persuading to get me up there. He pulled himself back up behind me, wrapping his arms around me tightly.

"Gawain aren't you most uncomfortable?" I asked knowing the part of the saddle he was on would not be pleasant to sit on.

"I am the most comfortable I have been all day Taryn. Relax," he said pulling me back against him more securely, and then wrapping his cloak around the both of us. I did as he commanded, for I was not nearly as tough as I thought, if he had not have came for me, I am not sure how long I could have made it.

As dark came the caravan came to a halt. "We will camp there tonight." Arthur informed the knights.

"Arthur" I heard Tristan say "we need to continue, or they will be upon us."

"Tristan, it will not be for long, they will never make it, if we don't." Arthur replied.

"Arthur they are not our concern." Lancelot joined in. "Have you not seen the signs of the Saxons, we must continue."

"Tristan, make sure the path is clear." Arthur commanded, and without further discussion, he obeyed.

I went and found Isolde, and my horse. I pulled Bekah, down her mother made it with out any assistance from me. She thanked me in her own short manner, as she handed the reins back to me.

"Isolde" Gawain called from behind us. "I found a place for you and your children in one of the wagons, you will sleep there tonight." He said not leaving her any room for question. "Come this way." He led her to the wagon the woad, and the young boy were in. "I will bring you some food soon, feed the baby." I said, for I was sure the crying baby had not eaten since leaving the estate.

There were several fires going, and already pieces of meat had been hung, and were roasting on the open flame. Gawain went over to the fire Galahad and Bors were tending, and began to pull strips of meat from the spit. I saw my father sitting on a log already tearing ravenously into the meat, feeding small pieces to his bird, who perched faithfully on his shoulder.

I joined him on his log, while waiting for Gawain to finish with the food. He did not speak, only finished his meal. "Taryn, I am going to check on the pace of the Saxon army, it will be some time before I am back. Get some rest, and stay close to camp." He said looking at me his expression somewhat softening.

Isolde was grateful for the food, for she and Bekah were half starved and the trail had not been easy on them, but they would survive, at least until we reached the wall, it was uncertain what would happen to these people as the Saxons made their way inland. I made my pallet up close to the fire, and Gawain made his next to me. He would try to get a few hours of sleep before it was his turn to be on watch.

It was just moments before I was in his arms, my head resting on his chest. "I have been waiting for this for quite some time." He murmured into my hair.

"Well it is your fault alone, that I have not been here sooner." I replied snuggling even closer.

The reply I received from my playful banter was not at all the one I had expected. "Taryn, I want you to be my wife," He said very seriously. I jerked my head back quickly to meet his eye.

"What" was the only word I could manage.

"I want us to return to Sarmatia as husband and wife, no waiting, nor worrying that someone else is going to snatch you up. I want us to be married as soon as possible."

"When?" I said, still only managing one word questions.

"As soon as we arrive back at the fort, or now," He replied, this time a big smile appearing on his face.

"You are teasing me Gawain." I said, for he had only days earlier admitted loving me, and now he was talking about me being his wife, I had dreamed of it, but it always seemed far off in the distance, like something that would take place years from now.

"I am quite serious, Taryn, will you be my wife?" He asked again.

I let out a small squeal, and kissed him firmly on the lips. I think he understood my answer.

"I see you too made up." The voice above my head breaking my concentration on the task at hand, kissing my soon to be husband.

"Galahad, leave us alone, were in love." I replied in a singsong tone.

"That is disgusting Gawain, it is like kissing your little sister, better not let Tristan see you." He said scolding his friend.

"Taryn has never been like a little sister to me, and your just jealous, you don't have a pretty little thing to help you keep warm on this cold night." He said back to his friend eyes dancing with mischief.

"Oh so that is all I am a pretty little thing?" I questioned with a mock pout.

"Galahad, Gawain, you have four more hours, and then it is my turn to sleep, so I suggest you take advantage of it." Lancelot called from across the campfire.

"Mind your own business." Gawain shouted back. "We will sleep when we are good and ready."

"Galahad, that goes for you as well." He said to his sulking friend.

He pulled me close again as our audience left. "You are much more than just a pretty little thing." He said. "Now where were we before we were so rudely interrupted."

"I think right about here." I leaned over to give him a feathery kiss on his lips.

"I believe we were a little farther than that," and with that he crushed me to his chest kissing me thoroughly, for the moment not caring who was watching. After many breathless minutes I pulled back, and smiled. "We do still have an audience." I said motioning to the people stirring near us.

"I guess that will have to be enough to last until we arrive home." He said sadly.

I laughed at his sad little face, and then had to relent, I couldn't resist his charm. "Well maybe one more."

AN: SO, SO, SO, sorry that took so long, I have had an incredible busy month, and have not had time. I did make this a bit longer though as an apology, sorry if it had to much movie stuff in it, I didn't know what to include and what not too. Thanks so much for the reviews of the last chapter. I really appreciate them. I promise I will get the next chapter up sooner. Please read and review.