Standard Disclaimer still applies and will always apply; damn. Anyways onto "Blood Heritage"
A/N: some notes -actions during speech- "speech" 'thoughts'
As promised I got 5 reviews from the last chapter and here is Chapter 11. Hope you like it.
He fell through the ice, half-dead and full of arrows. I did nothing but watch him fall. The men across the ice kept shooting those damned bolts and I still did nothing, I could not move to save him, it was like a movie and all I could do was watch. I tried to reach him I tried so desperately, but I'm frozen to the spot that holds me… no, no, no, no, Oh God please no.
Roxie shot up with a start, a hand on her heaving chest the other drawn to the moisture on her face. She was crying silent sobs wracked her body. Roxie barely registered warm comforting arms surrounding her until the owner of those arms spoke.
"It pains you to have those visions don't it?" Roxie's hazel eyes were met with kind lavender eyes of a pale brown face framed with silky black locks. Those mesmerizing eyes kept her locked and she couldn't speak regardless of all the questions and apprehension that flooded her mind. "Shh, shh, it's alright. I'll not hurt you. Come with me a moment and all will be explained." Roxie tried to hold fast and not go with this entrancing strange person, but to no avail. Her body moved on its own accord out of the wagon and followed the stranger into the woods a good distance from the camp.
"Okay, I think this is far enough," the person's voice was ethereal, but Roxie could not tell if this person were man or woman. "Now, I know you have questions, and I can only answer a few in so short a time. First off, I am neither man nor woman; I am part of a more spiritual plane where gender has no meaning. To some, my kind are considered of the fey, to the religious Christians I am an Angel, to the poly-religious I am a minor deity. But for you my princess, I am merely your guardian, G, if you will."
Finding her voice, she started slowly. "Oh…kay, why the interest in me? Why bring me here? Oh and if you're gonna spew some destiny crap I am soo gone." Roxie made the attempt to leave. G chuckled and it was incredibly nice to hear.
"Alright, I won't… Wonder why you find little things like Starbursts in your bag? I put them there. You need a tie back to your future, something to remind you of what's waiting for you."
"So Starbursts are waiting for me? Wow, I never realized how important I am to the company that makes good candy." She said sarcastically. "Nothing's waiting for me, if I'm lucky, I can stay here and live out my days with people who care if I live or die in the next moment. Thanks but no thanks, I'm happier here."
"Oh, so you don't miss indoor plumbing, electricity, air-conditioning, ice-cream or Burger King? Okay, I'll make note of that."
"I didn't say that. And I'm not sure I like where this convo's goin'. Do you have a point?"
"Well, my little princess, you were sent here for a reason. Not only to change the future of the knights you hold dear, but so you can learn to take care of yourself should you find a way to go back to your life. You do not belong here."
"Don't call me princess. There are things I'd rather not return to, and that's one of them." Roxie winced, she loved it here, sure the modern amenities weren't available, but she could live with it, she could adjust, she did pretty damn well for herself over the past 14 years, right?
"You weren't meant to lose them; that was… a miscalculation." G started.
"A m-mis-miscalculation! Don't fuck with me like that, G! I lost everyone I loved, my parents, my sister, my boyfriend! Do not call it a miscalculation when there are lives involved!" Roxie was livid, how dare he… she… it! It was confusing.
"Look, it happened, I can't bring the dead back if that's what you want, they are happier now than they've ever been, you wouldn't wanna take it away now would you?" G sounded exasperated. This was not how G wanted to talk to her, the only intentions G had were to let her know of 'his' presence, answer some questions and go back to being the invisible, that was it. Maybe 'he' shouldn'tve bothered.
"Look, you're tired, I'm, well, I don't get tired but I've got other things to do to make sure you don't kill yourself before you do what you gotta do. I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you, especially now that everything will get more complicated. The visions will be more intense and painful. I'm sorry princess, they were my assignment to fulfill, and I just never thought that they'd affect you this much." G's eyes were filled with a sadness Roxie could barely comprehend.
"No, I'm not done. I have questions, you have the answers to. So we're gonna stay here until you answer them or I freeze to death, whichever comes first."
G sighed exasperatedly, 'he' had a lot of things to take care of and she was not making it any easier. It'd probably be best to just seal her lips and send her on her way, at least then it'd be less problematic. But she was 'his' charge, 'he' looked after her since she was born and couldn't help but be caring for her, besides her lips started to become a tint of blue for lack of a proper cloak. G tilted her chin up with his thumb and forefinger, "Your lips are turning blue, princess. Your questions will have to wait." Cutting off her protest, G pressed his thumb against her blue lips.
Then 'he' pulled something from 'his' pocket of 'his' voluminous robes and placed it in Roxie's hand. And for some reason, what he had said about her visions dissipated from her mind. "Remember this?" In her hand was a pair of jade earring studs, ones her grandfather bought her for her fifth birthday a day before his heart gave out.
"I thought I lost these in the fire, I lost everything else…"
"These are if you ever need me, but I'm pretty sure I'll know when you will. Just a token really, a trifle."
"You sounded like Ursula the sea-witch there." Roxie stated flatly at G's grin. 'He' leaned in and gently pressed his lips to her forehead. 'Okay very Wizard of Oz much.'
"You need rest, so go. I'll look after you." G watched Roxie hug her arms around her body, in 'his' presence she needn't worry about warmth or coolness, 'he' radiated perfection.
Hours later, Tristan gently shook Roxie awake. "Hmm? Whatizzit?" She yawned. Then it dawned on her. "Oh, right. Scouting!" Tristan simply nodded and left Roxie to her devices. Barely ten minutes later, Roxie was next to her horse trying to put on the tack… and not doing so well. She was distracted, first because of what G had said, second because G was real, third the jade earrings she wore were proof that G was there and fourth what the hell was she going to do about the Guinevere and Lancelot situation. As much as she could deny it, there was a small remnant of attraction to the womanizing knight. The same went undoubtedly to the knight setting his horse's tack a mere five feet away. Her ancestor… it was too much for her to deal with. Desperately willing her disobedient body to obey, Roxie chanced a glance to the scout who sat atop his mount staring at her.
Roxie tried to act casual and grinned as she made to lift herself into the saddle with much struggle. What an amusing sight she must have been! What she didn't realize was that the stupid thing was on backwards, she shifted uncomfortably trying to figure out what was wrong.
"It's on backwards." Tristan stated. Roxie just stared, not quite comprehending. The scout let out a silent sigh and dismounted to help her. Briefly he explained how to put the saddle on properly then quickly mounted his horse again before leading her out of the camp. Tristan whispered instructions and things to notice that she silently admitted to looking over. Tristan's hawk flew above silently and through the bare trees Roxie watched the bird slice through the air envying the freedom it enjoyed.
After a few hours of uneventful scouting, the two were about the head back when something caught Roxie's ears and her nose. Tapping the scout's arm, she pointed in the direction of the sounds and smells. Tristan nodded, inwardly proud that she caught what he just noticed, and they both dismounted readying their weapons.
Tristan and Roxie silently approached the direction of the sounds. As they neared a clearing, bawdy laughter, yells and the screams of a woman were heard. From the foliage, they could see a small Saxon scouting party getting drunk, Roxie stiffened as she saw the brutality the Saxons inflicted on the helpless woman. Her hand gripped her naginata tightly turning her knuckles white. Tristan could visibly see the anger and hate written on the young assassin's face. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he silently gave orders on what to do.
Roxie merely nodded and headed to the other side of the clearing as Tristan notched an arrow to his bow. He saw the glint of metal in the early light on the other side of the clearing. Pulling the bowstring taunt, Tristan shot the Saxon with his pants down trying to force the woman. He shot another arrow quickly dispatching another. Roxie filched a stray crossbow and bolts to use against the Saxons and started firing away, taking down two Saxons. Simultaneously the two came into the clearing to fight and kill the remaining four. The Saxons were caught off guard, but not totally defenseless. They fought hard against the scout and assassin. But they only met their end. With a final slash, Roxie beheaded the last Saxon and quickly made her way over the dead bodies to the still form of the woman.
The poor villager was badly beaten, her face swollen and bruised. Her legs splayed in odd directions while her arms were tied cruelly behind her back. The rags she wore for clothes were a tattered mess with her legs splayed apart in a crooked mess. Roxie made the sign of the cross out of habit when she was little and cover the poor woman's face with a cloth after straightening the body. Behind her, Tristan arranged the Saxon corpses in order to give Roxie some time; however he did notice the little gesture she made and frowned. 'She is a Christian!' He thought incredulously as he watched her cover the dead woman with snow.
Roxie straightened up and surveyed the small camp, and was reminded of the carnage that she had inflicted moments earlier… her stomach revolted and she ran from the area, the bile burning her throat. After having emptied the nonexistent contents of her stomach, Roxie leaned heavily against a tree with tears flooding her eyes. She heard the crunch of snow and Tristan clearing his throat. It was time to go. With a rinse of water in her mouth, she followed the scout back to the horses, not before they had each grabbed a crossbow.
"What's that for?" She asked him.
"A warning… you?"
She managed a weak grin. "Souvenir… or a new toy, you pick."
They rode into camp in time to watch Marius Honorius meet his death at the hands of Guinevere and the Roman mercenaries swear allegiance to Arthur and the knights.
"'Ow many didja kill?" Bors asked the two.
"Four." They answered simultaneously while Tristan dropped his crossbow in front of Arthur.
"Not a bad start for the day." Bors laughed. Roxie nodded in approval of Guinevere while Tristan spoke to Arthur.
"How bad is it?" Galahad asked the assassin, noticing how pale she was suddenly.
"Bad enough." Came the short reply.
"Let's move!" Arthur commanded before Galahad could press on. "Roxie, are you unwell? You are very pale."
"I'm fine, just y'know… the killing thing… again." Roxie whispered tiredly. Arthur suggested that she get rest in the wagon, but she decline saying that she would be more use to them on her horse instead of in a wagon. Arthur nodded and headed off, he was uneasy by her expression.
"Hey Dag!" Roxie approached the healer; he smiled gently at her, but faltered at her serious expression.
"What troubles you?"
"I… thank you." She reached over and gripped his arm, "Connor's wallet, I thought I'd lost it. It means a lot to me… thank you for returning it." The knight nodded slightly, "It was the only thing I couldn't burn… when I lost him, I had to burn everything we had; no evidence we were together. It killed me."
"That man… he looks like Galahad."
Roxie looked at him, a smile shadowed her lips. "Oh, y'noticed too? Thought I was the only one, guess not."
"Tell me about him," Dagonet requested. Roxie just looked at the silent knight puzzled.
"Galahad? But you've known him—"
He chuckled, "No, the other… Connor."
"Oh, well," She takes a breath and closes her eyes momentarily before looking back at the healer, "He was… my soul, my heart. I was completely in love with him and him with me… Can you keep a secret?"
He nods as she looks around for any eaves droppers.
"I really liked Galahad when I first met him. But they're so different and I realized that I didn't like our friend the way I did Connor. Y'know if I furthered anything with Gal, I probably would've broken his heart. Then Gawain would've killed me."
"Who does your heart belong to?" Dagonet inquired, half hoping half dreading her answer, but she only shook her head.
"Hey, promise me something."
"You are changing the subject, but what is it?"
"Should times ever get desperate, you won't do something stupid, okay?" She stopped her horse to look directly at him, her eyes bore into his like Tristan's would. "Promise?"
"Aye, promise." Roxie smiled and gave his arm another squeeze before nudging her horse forward with the rest of the caravan. Dagonet felt his heart clench in his chest as he watched her expression change to a more light-hearted one as she spoke to Gawain and Bors.
They stopped at a great frozen lake the next day and Roxie could barely stop the tears that formed in her eyes. She knew what could happen, what would happen if she didn't do something soon. Trying to control her emotions, she didn't dare a look to silent man in the wagon with Lucan for he would see what tore at her heart so.
Roxie looked at each one of the faces of the knights, they were so close and yet so far to their freedom. Would it all really just end like this? With what she knew, was she really going to let their freedom slip away?
Hell no!
One name, one person popped into her mind and she silently slipped away completely unnoticed by everyone else…
A/N: Aiya! I can't believe it took me so long! I wanted it to sound just right, but school and work and everything else just kept getting in the way. SORRYSORRYSORRYSORRY!
Captain Annie: Thank you so very much. I try, really I do. Actually I had this chapter done before the interlude, but the interlude is in a way a filler for this chapter. Thanks for reviewing. I just love having everybody on edge about who she'll be with and if it's gonna happen.
Daydream1: I absolutely refuse to give anything away. I'll answer questions and possibly hints but other than that, my lips…erm storyline is sealed! Thanks for your review! By the way, Panna Cotta is a delicious dessert not a person although I'd probably name a pet that.
Ailis-70: Sorry for making you wait. I hope he doesn't sound too complex to be the playboy we all know and love. Thanks and hope your stories will be updated soon too. I love Out of Darkness Comes Light.
ViolinAngel: I tried really hard not to make this story like the typical Mary-Sue, that'd be bad. In my opinion you can't instantly love a person when they walk in a room, it just doesn't work; love has to grow on you and that's what happened with Roxie and the knights. Except in a way that love takes on different forms. Thanks for reviewing!
Evenstar-mor2004: Congrats on being the fifth reviewer. Thanks so much for your review. Lancelot does seem that way don't he? And Arthur will soon realize where his heart really belongs.