Chapter 32

We rode in silence for several hours. Neither of us spoke. I had nothing to say to her, nor did I care about anything she probably had to say to me. It was cold, my horse was tired and we were trailing behind.

"Where did you get that?" She asked quietly. For a moment I thought I was imagining that she said anything at all.

"What?" I said dully.

"The necklace you are wearing were did you get it from?" She asked again.

That's when I remembered I was still wearing the necklace of the dead woad girl. Great not something I really cared to discuss with this woad girl, whom I had no doubt even in her weakened condition, could more than likely kill me if she wanted.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because its important to me." She said softly.

I thought for a minute before answering her. She obviously new that it was not Sarmatian, or even Roman made.

"I…I found it on one of your people who had fallen in battle. She, she was so young, and I did not mean to dishonor the body, but well, I don't know why I took it. I just felt bad she was dead" I finished lamely.

I waited for her to speak, but nothing just a long deep exhale of the breath she must have been holding. After several moments of silence I asked again. "Why is it important to you?"

"You are sure she is dead?" She surprised me by asking.

"Yes, I am sure."

"Praise be to the gods, my prayers are answered." She said quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused by her answer.

"It is not a pretty story. The girl, the dead one, her name is or was Ava. She was my cousin. I made the necklace for her. She had a quick temper, snapped easily. She should have never been trained as a warrior. To make it simple she fell in love with the wrong man. He swayed her to go against the ways of our people. The day she left our tribe she argued with her sister. Also my cousin and my best friend. During the argument Ava became very upset and attacked Asel. Somehow she managed to kill her. I don't think she meant to kill her, but she did." A slow sob escaped with the last sentence.

"I'm sorry" I know it was lame, but what else was there to say.

"Did you kill her?" She asked sharply.

I sat there silent. How did I answer?

Honestly. "Yes"

She said nothing. I felt her arms tighten around my waist. "Thank you."

"Thank you?"

"Yes, you saved me from having to kill her myself. I vowed that day if I ever saw her again I would kill her. She deserved to die." She said the passion coming back to her voice.

"She was scared." I said simply.

"What?" It was her turn to question me.

"I held her hand as she died. She was not ready to die; she was scared and unprepared to meet death." I reached up and pulled the braided leather from around my neck. You keep it." I offered.

"I don't want it." She said firmly. "You killed her you keep it."

I looked down again at the necklace. Finally its secrets revealed. For some reason the story Guinevere told did little to ease my conscience. We were riding through an outcropping of trees. As we passed a low hanging evergreen branch, I slipped the necklace over it. The spell it had over me was broken. Life goes on. I turned back around for one last glance and saw a bead sparkling in the light breaking through the trees. Ava.

We both went back to our silent, but now reflective state. We would be at the Wall soon.

The homecoming was not a joyous one. What should have been the knight's moment of redemption had faded into a dismal reminder of all the pain the last fifteen years had brought under the hand of the Romans.

I watched as the Bishop handed each men his papers in his grandiose style. The papers that would do little good to Dag now. As the men scattered I watched them as they go. Lancelot filled with anger for all of Rome, and what they stood for. Galahad whom was thankful he was alive, but did not quite understand how or why. Tristan normally so stoic, but this time the pain could not be hidden. Dag had meant something to all of them. I was afraid Bors would drink himself to death. He already had a bottle in his hand. Gawain was headed to his room. I did not want to be alone. I followed.

The door shut just seconds before I arrived. I did not knock, but slipped in quietly behind him. He turned toward me, but did not seem surprised. There were tears gleaming in his eyes.

The distance between us was closed with in seconds. I felt his arms wrap warmly around me. "Gawain, I'm so sorry…" I began.

"Shh, none of it matters now." He replied stroking my back. He sat down in the chair near the fire and pulled me onto his lap.

I began to sob quietly on his shoulder. "Why did he do it Gawain? Why? We could have defeated them. You have been up against greater numbers before and always been victorious."

"Yes, we have been victorious, but at what cost? We have been here for fifteen years and less than half of us remains. Dag new that. He knew we could not defeat the Saxons without death, he just chose for it to be him instead of us. Why did he do it you asked? Love, loyalty, honor, duty, I don't know Taryn maybe a combination of it all."

"I loved him. He was always kind to me. Even before he new I was Tristan's daughter." I said reflecting on the precious little time I had spent with him. "I don't think I ever told him though."

"He knew, and he loved you too. You could always make him smile."

"What will happen to the boy the one found with Guinevere?"

"I don't know Taryn, he will be taken care of, Arthur will see to that."

My questions were answered for now. I wanted nothing more right them to be held tightly and know I was safe and loved. For I knew deep down in the pit of my stomach it would not last long.

Thank you for those of you who have recently read this story, and those who have read it in the past. You have talked me into trying to finish this story. I have been so busy and unfortunately lost the passion I had for writing. Also I unfortunately lost my King Arthur movie (I know that should be a crime). I am going to attempt to finish the story. Chapters will probably come slow and short. If anyone is still interested and are still reading thanks for sticking with me!