A/N - WOW 8 reviews this chapter! Thank you so much everyone, you make me so happy! Individual reviewer responses will be at the end of the chapter this time, for obvious reasons you will see when you read them. (smiles)

Well I've done it again, ages upon ages between updates. .lol. Sorry but it's been kind of a crazy couple of weeks and real life just seems to keep getting in the way of my writing. If I had my way (and the money to do it with) I'd live in a quiet, cozy cottage in the English countryside, where I could write to my heart's content with no annoying disruptions (like going to work. .lol) Alas, life is not a fairytale, therefore I write as often as I am able to have peace and quiet (other than music) to concentrate. Plus this nasty cold (or whatever it is) just does not want to go away, which makes me cranky and not so much in the mood to write. Anyway, enough of my rambling . . . on with chapter seven!

Chapter Seven : Reunited

The next morning dawned grey, cold and wet. A heavy downpour had come in the wee hours of the morning, staying just long enough to thoroughly drench everything, before moving on as quickly as it had begun.

Now, as the first light of dawn crept down through the thick overhead canopy of leaves, the entire area was blanketed in a layer of mist. Slipping silently amongst the trees and spreading throughout the meadow, its damp fingers curled about the ankles of those in the camp.

Brenna took a deep, refreshing breath and let it out with a quiet sigh of contentment. She loved the crisp, clean scent of the forest after a rainstorm. It never failed to calm her mind and soul, a task she was in need of this morn. Tired as she'd been, she had hardly slept at all the night before. He mind awhirl with excitement at the thought that they would soon reach their destination. She could not believe that after so many years of fruitless searching for him, she may finally find her brother.

Shaking her head slightly, she finished lacing up her black leather hauberk and pulled her thick, black woolen cloak down from where it was draped across Ahern's saddle. Slipping it on across her shoulders, she tied it in place, then quickly double checked the daggers in their hidden sheaths sewn into both her hauberk and cloak. Satisfied that all was well with them, as well as with the axe on her belt, she bent and picked up a small loaf of bread that she'd had warming at the fires' edge, and broke it in half. Digging a round, cloth covered piece of cheese from a saddle bag, she carried the items across the camp. Her tall, black leather boots making soft squishing sounds in the mud as she strode to where Maelgwyn stood beside Kalen, checking the horse's saddle and preparing his own weapons.

Finishing his task, he swung into the saddle just as Brenna reached his side. Smiling up at him she handed him the cheese and half the loaf, which he gratefully took from her. He tucked the cheese in his saddlebag and took a bite of the dense, moist bread, then grinned down at her.

"Thank you love."

"You're welcome." Turning suddenly serious, she rested one hand on his leather clad knee, and gazed steadily into his eyes, a hint of worry in the green depths. "Be safe. Return to me."

"I will, I'll not be gone long. Just enough to scout the road ahead for a few miles."

Turning his eyes to the trees, which were still dripping with rainwater, he whistled. Seconds later Caedmon and Aithne swooped down from their perch high above. The former landing on Maelgwyn's outstretched arm and the latter on her mistress' shoulder. Reaching down he scratched Aithne's chest and stared into the bird's eyes.

"You take good care of her now little one. I am counting on you to keep her safe." When the bird screeched softly in reply, he raised his gaze and, looking across the campsite, his eyes fell on Ahern.

"That goes for you as well my friend." The horse snorted and raised his head, nodding energetically.

Brenna rolled her eyes and shook her head at him in feigned exasperation. " You, sir, are insufferable. One would think I could not care for myself, listening to you speak. "

Huffing at the cheeky grin he sent her, she slapped his leg and backed away, throwing her hands in the air.

"Ah, begone with you, and be quick about it. I for one am anxious to get moving."

With a last smile and a nod, he gathered the reins in one hand and nudged the stallion forward, disappearing through the trees in a swirl of mist.

Arthur raised his face toward the weak sunlight that streaked feebly through the crisscrossing branches overhead. A cold breeze ruffled the dark hair resting against his forehead as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply of the clean, invigorating air. At a sudden outburst of laughter from behind him, he opened his eyes and looked back over his shoulder, searching for the source. He chuckled softly to himself as he recognized the voice of Bors.

'I should have known.'

The rain had certainly not dampened the spirits of the knights, or of Arthur himself for that matter. So happy were they to be out of the somewhat stifling atmosphere of the fortress, that even a downpour could not dim their cheerfulness as they rode down the road through the forest, loosely clustered in their usual groups.

Bors and Dagonet were together, the former laughing raucously about something or other. While Dagonet smiled and listened silently. As always, leaving it to his friend to make enough noise for the both of them.

Lancelot, Kay and Lamorak rode three across, no doubt sharing stories of their latest conquests.

'Minus one on Lancelot's part I'll bet.' Arthur thought to himself, a slight smile grazing his lips. His green eyes dancing with mirth as they continued on across the group.

Gawain and Gareth were slightly off to the side of the others, snickering about something that Galahad was sharing in whispered tones, and glancing occasionally toward Lancelot. The latter of whom suddenly noticed the attention and, scowling, narrowed his eyes and tried to ignore them. This became impossible however as Bedivere and Percivale trotted up from their position at the rear and soon after a loud peal of laughter erupted from Bedivere's throat.

Lancelot's face went red with anger as Percivale tried to shush his friend, and he kicked his horse toward the group of younger knights.

"Galahad!"

The smirk wiped off his face at the sight of Lancelot charging in his direction, Galahad spurred his own mount forward. About to pass Arthur, he was drawn up short at the sight of Tristran's hawk swooping down the wooded path toward them. Sharing a look with his commander as Lancelot skidded to a halt beside them, they needed no words to convey what they all knew.

Tristran was in trouble.

The hawk circled in front them, screeched, then turned and headed back in the direction she'd come from.

Needing no encouragement from Arthur the knights urged their horses forward as one, racing after the bird to their brother's aid. Unsure just what awaited them ahead, but filled with excitement none the less.

Brenna's eyes strayed for what seemed the hundredth time in the direction of the path Maelgwyn had taken. Her brow furrowed in worry as she moved to pick up the filled water skins from their place beside the now cold fire pit.

"Where could he be?" She muttered aloud, answered only by the rustle of leaves as an icy wind swept through the campsite. A shiver of both cold and dread snaked it's way through her body and she tugged the hood of her cloak over her head, tucking her long braid inside. Shoving the skins inside a saddlebag, she tied it shut and, making a sudden decision, quickly moved to Ahern's side and tightened the cinch strap on his saddle.

Something was not right, she could feel it in her bones. He should have returned by now, he'd been gone for more than an hour, when he should have been no longer than half that. Fear clenched her heart in its icy grip as she scanned the small campsite one last time, ensuring that she had not forgotten anything. She whistled for Aithne as she swung into the saddle and settled in place. Barely had Brenna picked up the reins in one hand and held out the other to the hawk, when Caedmon came screeching full tilt through the trees toward her.

At the sight of him her heart stopped and her blood ran cold. It could mean only one thing. . . Maelgwyn was in serious trouble.

Cursing herself for not listening to her instincts sooner, she flung Aithne skyward and gazed into Caedmon's eyes as he took her place.

"Take me to him."

He nodded and took to the sky, swiftly darting through the forest, Brenna a breath behind him. As she urgently nudged Ahern on, she signaled with a last whistle to the packhorses, who followed at a safe distance behind them, with Aithne bringing up the rear.

Brenna blinked back tears and tried to shove the fear to the back of her mind, as horse and rider cleared the forest and Ahern leapt into a full gallop. He tore through the meadow and pounded onto the path that began on the far side.

The trees on either side of her became a blur of green as she leaned low over Ahern's neck and urged him on to a greater speed. Her mind and body numb with terror, she did not even notice the icy wind that yanked her hood back and ripped strands of hair loose from her braid, nor the low hanging branch which sliced a small cut on her cheek.

After what seemed an age, her mind registered the sounds of a battle raging dead ahead. Slowing Ahern to a canter, she pulled her bow from its holster just as they came upon another clearing. This one was larger than the other, flanked on one side by a large pond and on the other three by forest. Drawing to a halt at the edge of the trees, her eyes widened in shock as she surveyed the scene stretching before her, catching her first glimpse of the Woads.

Scattered across the already blood soaked width of the meadow, at least four dozen of the blue dyed men and women battled a much smaller group of what appeared to possibly be knights.

Though there were less of them, the men fought fiercely, and many blue bodies already littered the area. Three of them rode back and forth across the battle field firing arrows with deadly accuracy into the sea of warriors. Another, their leader by the look of his Roman attire, slashed into them left and right from atop his beautiful white stallion. While the rest of them, either still on horseback themselves, or on foot, sliced skillfully into the Woads with sword and axe.

Pushing all of this from her mind however, she did not allow herself the time to wonder who these men were. Instead her eyes desperately searched the chaos, before finally falling upon Maelgwyn, over near the pond's edge.

He was alive!

Relief flooded her heart when she saw him relatively uninjured, though he'd been unhorsed and fought on foot. She watched for a moment as he skillfully cut a swath through the blue warriors, his twin swords flashing, stained red with their blood. Sensing her presence he looked up and their eyes met across the field. Stabbing a Woad that came at him from behind, he gave her a slight nod and a smile before launching himself into the fray once again.

Her heart lightened, Brenna pulled an arrow from the quiver on her saddle and notched it on her intricately carved Sarmatian bow.

"Well Ahern, shall we join them? We mustn't let Maelgwyn have all the fun, hmm?"

The stallion snorted in response and leapt forward as his mistress loosed her arrow, nailing a Woad in the chest, knocking him flat on his back.

The pair charged straight into the heart of the battlefield, the horse himself a weapon as he plowed through, while Brenna sat atop his back, doing her own fair share of damage. She ignored the startled looks sent her way by the knights, instead focusing on reaching Maelgwyn.

As she neared his side, her eyes widened in horror as an arrow narrowly missed its mark, and instead grazed his bicep, shredding the sleeve of his tunic and opening up a long, nasty red gash. At his indrawn hiss of pain, anger flooded her body, and her head whipped around in the direction from which the arrow had come, searching out the one who'd dared harm her Gwyn.

Her glacial eyes narrowed as they fell upon the culprit, a lean, lanky Woad with long stringy hair, clutching a bow in his grimy hand, as he hovered near the edge of the battlefield. Sensing her gaze on him, he met her eyes at first boldly, but the icy fury burning in their green depths chilled his soul and quickly wiped the smugness off his face, replacing it with sheer terror. He turned and tried to run, ducking in and out amongst the combatants on the field, but it was of no use. Her eyes calmly tracked her prey as she drew an arrow from her quiver, notched it and took careful aim. The second he made the mistake of looking back to see if she were still watching him, Brenna let it fly.

Catching him directly between the eyes, it hit with such a force that, combined with his own momentum of running, he was lifted off his feet and slammed into the horse of a large blonde knight, nearly sending both the man and his steed to the ground on impact.

The man quickly brought his startled stallion back under control and raised shock filled blue eyes to meet her gaze across the field. When he realized that she was a woman, the look turned from shocked to appreciative as he took in the wild dark hair, stunning green eyes and hint of luscious curves hidden beneath the cloak and hauberk. She glared balefully at him, disgust apparent in her eyes at the thinly veiled lust in his.

Wrenching her gaze from his she was about to turn back to Maelgwyn when she was attacked and roughly dragged to the ground from behind.

Landing in the mud, the momentum of her fall sent both Brenna and the Woad tumbling down the embankment and into the frigid water of the pond. Gasping from the shock she lurched to her feet, trying to keep her footing on the rocky bottom as her hand groped her belt for her axe. She vaguely heard Maelgwyn screaming her name as she concentrated on her opponent, watching closely as he'd taught her, for the clues to what the enemy would do.

She was rewarded a moment later, when a quick flick of his eyes to the side alerted her to the presence of another Woad and in a flash she palmed a dagger and threw it. It found its mark in the man's chest and he dropped face first into the pond.

"Care to join your friend there?"

She challenged, surprising the Woad with her use of his native language. He recovered quickly however, charging at her with a harsh yell and upraised sword. She ducked to the side under his swing and brought her axe down across the back of his neck, killing him instantly.

A slight noise in the direction of the embankment drew her attention and she glanced up to see a Woad aiming an arrow directly at her. Before she had time to react, a crimson stained blade suddenly appeared in his chest as Maelgwyn stabbed the man from behind, then shoved his limp body to the ground. Smiling down at her he called out jokingly,

"Did I not teach you to always watch your back?"

In response she drew another dagger and sent it sailing over his shoulder, planting it in the neck of a woman sneaking up behind him, axe raised and ready to plunge into his back. Stunned he turned to look at the woman sprawled on the ground mere inches away, then turned back to Brenna. Arching an eyebrow and crossing her arms over her chest, she grinned up at him smugly.

"Aye you did, but I think you need to take your own advice my dear Gwyn."

He laughed and held out a hand to her,

"Come up here out of the water before you catch your death of cold."

Shivering slightly, she suddenly realized he was right. In the heat of the battle she'd not really noticed that she was soaked through and standing in at least a foot of water. She carefully picked her way past the bodies of the Woads and scrambled up the embankment. When she reached the top she glanced around as she stepped over the Woad and took Maelgwyn's hand.

The battle had ended and they were victorious, the remaining Woads slipping in amongst the trees and disappearing.

Brow creasing with worry as she caught sight of his injured arm, she tugged her hand free and gently examined the wound, then searched him for any traces of other injuries.

"Are you alright?"

He smiled reassuringly and pulled her to him, hugging her tightly with his good arm. She buried her face in his neck and wrapped her arms around him, glad for his warmth, holding him fiercely, as though she'd never let go. Maelgwyn stood still, murmuring softly in her ear and rubbing his hand in gentle circles on her back.

"It's just a scratch love, nothing to worry about."

Shoving back slightly she glared up at him, her former fear coming back, reincarnated as anger that he had frightened her so.

"What do you mean, nothing to worry about! Don't you EVER do that to me again. When you did not return I was so worried. . . and then when Caedmon came screeching into camp. . . I believed you dead!"

Her eyes burned into his, cool green meeting gentle grey, as a thousand more words passed silently between them.

At the sound of someone loudly clearing their throat, Brenna tore her gaze from Maelgwyn's and looked up over his shoulder as he turned to face the source as well.

Before them, flanked on either side by his men, the one she'd thought to be the commander sat atop the magnificent white stallion.

"I believe I owe you a debt of thanks." Nodding to a man with dark hair to his left, he continued. "Tristran tells me you came to his aid when the Woads attacked."

Maelgwyn dipped his head in a slight nod as his eyes flicked to the scout and back to the commander.

"Aye, I did."

Dismounting the man approached them and held out his hand toward Maelgwyn.

"I am Arthur Castus."

Grasping Arthur's forearm in greeting, recognition dawning at the name, Maelgwyn began to reply but was cut off by Brenna's excited gasp.

"Arthur Castus? Commander of the Sarmatian knights of Hadrian's Wall?"

Turning to her in surprise, Arthur's eyes met her intense green gaze, his own curiously raking across her face.

"Yes."

"You are the one we have come here in search of, or more precisely one of your knights."

A wild hope swelled in her chest, as her eyes turned to the men behind Arthur, anxiously skimming over each face. Until. . .there. . .near the end of the line to her right, between a long haired blonde and a large bald man, she saw him.

Although many years had passed since she'd seen him last, and they were both no longer the children they'd then been, she recognized him in an instant. He looked so much like their father that it nearly took her breath away.

Her heart in her throat she met his gaze and was overjoyed when she saw the same hope and recognition mirrored in his own eyes, as he swung a leg over his horse and slid to the ground.

Before either had even realized that they had moved, they had crossed the distance separating their bodies, and he was reaching a hand to brush a loose curl from her face. The face that had haunted his dreams, had been constantly at the edge of his mind these past years. Stunned, he stared down into her tear glazed eyes, feeling his own filling as well, as he breathed her name in disbelief.

"Brenna? Is it really you?"

She nodded, tears of pure joy streaming down her face, and flung her arms around his neck.

"Aye, it is I brother."

Her words snapped him from his trancelike state and he wrapped his own arms around her, crushing her to his body in a fierce hug.

The others watched in silence, unable to hear their whispered words, exchanging looks of confusion as the two embraced, oblivious to the world around them. All except Maelgwyn, whose own eyes were bright with tears of happiness.

Pulling back slightly, Brenna gazed up at him, and gently ran her hand through the soft, dark curls framing his face, and down across his bearded cheek, before burying her face in his shoulder once again.

"I have found you at last, my dear sweet Galahad."

A/N - Well there you have it, what do you think? I really hope that this was worth the wait. It was my first real battle scene and I'm not too sure how it turned out, hope you all enjoyed it, as well as the reunion with, and revealing of, her brother. Again I'm so very sorry that it took so long for this update (smiles sheepishly and hides behind Maelgwyn) Life has been very crazy lately and I hope that it calms down soon so that I can have more writing time! I plan to start Ch 8 right away so hopefully (keep your fingers crossed) it won't take so long to get done and up! Anyways, thanks for sticking with me and please, please, PLEASE read and review. They are VERY inspiring and I absolutely love to hear what you all have to say! Now, on with the reviewer responses. : D
Ms Genova - Thank you! I'm so glad that you are happy about my decision to add the original knights of the round table. I had momentarily considered choosing different names and such, but I really do love the originals the best! I as well like the tales of Gawain and his brother and knew from the start that Gareth had to be one of my characters. I had no idea however that there was to be a scene in the movie about him, that is so cool. . . I wonder why they cut it? I'm also happy that you liked Arthur and Lancelot's scene, I had so much fun writing that, I just wasn't sure how my attempt at humor would go. .lol. Ooohh I have so many ideas for this story I cannot wait to get them out! That's partly why it took me so long to get this chapter done, my brain was stuck on an idea for a chapter quite a ways down the road and would not let go of it until I got some notes down. .lol. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and that you continue to read and review. . .I adore hearing your thoughts and comments!

lozcollie - Thank you, sorry this took so long. . .again. Lol.

MORWEN12 - Thank you my little impatient one. .lol Hope you enjoy! ;D

TwistofShadows - Thank you so very much! I'm very happy to hear to you say that! I really hope you enjoy this latest installment! Happy reading: D

like i'd tell you - Here's your update, sorry it took so long. (smiles) Hope you aren't disappointed with the identity of her brother! Enjoy: D

katemary77 - Yayy a new reader! Welcome! Thank you for your comments, I'm very glad you like this so much! As for Maelgwyn, yes, all will be revealed in time, don't worry. And hey you were right about Galahad too. I hope you like this update, sorry it was so long in coming. Hope to hear from you again. .lol. :D

KnightMaiden - Thank you very much for the review, that was the 1st time it's been called brilliant. . I love it! As for pairings, I'm still not revealing anything yet, sorry. (smiles) I'm glad you agreed that Galahad should be her brother, I kind of thought people would assume that it should be Tristan with the whole animal connection thing and all. This way leaves his as a possible love interest. .lol. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter, hope to hear from you again!

modernprincess - First off, I must say I love your penname, it's the total opposite of mine. . very cool! Secondly, thank you very, very much for such lovely comments! Two more brilliants. . .yay! The day I read this, I was actually having a really bad day at work, then I checked my mail and found this, and it totally brightened my afternoon! I hope you are happy with Galahad as her brother and also with the way they were reunited. As for a pairing, only time will tell. .lol. On the subject of Maelgwyn, don't worry too much about him, I have plans for Brenna's dear Gwyn, and he will most definitely not be left out. I'm very happy that you like him so much, I must admit that I have fallen for him as well, now how strange does that sound. .hehe. Anyway, it's after 2 am and I really want to post this and go to sleep, so I'll stop here and just say I hope to hear from you again! Enjoy:D