Disclaimer: I think we should know the drill after 15 chapters.

Note: In chapter 9 I did put it in the disclaimer that I don't own the song, like I always do. But thanks anyway.

Chapter 16

Isulet smiled as Morgan walked back to the villa where her daughter was. She was loathe to go back into the villa; she was enjoying the fresh air too much. So slowly she ascended the steps onto the walls. Walking along it she looked out onto the green fields, and started in shock. The Saxon army had finally reached the wall. She looked across at the guards who were standing on sentry duty. They were frozen to their posts, too scared to move. She felt suddenly angry at the men. Walking across to the nearest one she slapped him firmly across the face when he failed to notice her. The guard looked shocked, but did nothing, he just returned to his post just as stiff as ever. Isulet sighed in frustration.

"Don't you get it?" She asked angry, "Go and get the knights and my brother. NOW!" The guard ran off.

Isulet returned to watching the Saxon's, fear beginning to take hold. She was usually very practical, it was how she knew her brother and the knights had to be alerted. But now that there was nothing to be practical she was beginning to get worried. The army was so large. The size was nothing she had ever seen, let alone dreamed of. She leant out over the parapet, her black hair blowing freely in the breeze. She shivered slightly in the cool breeze, cursing the fact that she hadn't brought a cloak. She shouldn't be out this late anyway. It wasn't actually that cold anyway. Shivering again she decided to go and find a cloak from somewhere. She turned around and came face to face with Gawain. Smiling she settled back against the wall and looked at him. She decided to tease him for a while. She smiled as she saw Galahad and Bors arrive.

"You took your time." Isulet joked.

"You're freezing." Gawain said taking one of her hands.

"I'm fine, now stop fussing." Isulet snapped.

"What's got you in such a mood hmm?" Gawain asked.

"Nothing, I guess I'm just tired." Isulet lied.

"Well I guess the Saxon's didn't take their time." Morgan said, walking up to her friend.

"Not really." Isulet mused.

"Those bastards need to be taught a lesson." Morgan hissed.

Isulet didn't answer, instead preferring to look out over the army that was in front of her. Her eyes scanned the fields for some sign of the end of the army, but there was none, or none that she could see. She sank down weakly, worried about what the morning would bring. She wanted to walk away from all of this. She knew she would get no rest for the worry of the battle, and even if she did manage to sleep she would be plagued by dreams of the coming battle. She knew there was to be one, even if only the woads fought. What she feared most were dreams of her friend dying. She knew Morgan would fight. Isulet found herself gripping the stone so hard her nails were beginning to dig in. Letting go she looked around her at the knights, none of them would be staying, they were free men now. This was not their land, so they had no reason to protect it. But her mother was of the land, she had blood ties to this land. She could not just walk away and leave it. It would break her heart. She had lived all her life on the island, running wild in the fields, stalking through the woods and paddling in the brooks and rivers.

"Arthur." Jolls cried as Arthur came up to the wall.

Isulet smiled at her brother. He didn't return her smile; he just stood scanning the Saxon army. Walking slowly up to her brother she placed one of her hands on his arms. Arthur looked distractedly at her hand, before looking up at his sister. They both smiled weakly at each other, drawing comfort from the other's prescence. Stepping away from her brother Isulet smiled again. Arthur seemed to hesitate before pulling his sister into a strong embrace. Isulet returned the embrace gladly. Pulling away from his sister and looked at the knights. Isulet knew he had reached some form of decision, but whether she would like it or not was yet to be seen.

"Knights my journey with you must end here." Arthur paused for a few moments to let the words sink in, "May God go with you." He added, before walking off.

Isulet stared after her brother, shock written on her face. She looked to Lancelot, who seemed as shocked as she was. He looked to Guinevere, who looked back. Then Lancelot shook his head and started off after Arthur. Isulet looked to Gawain, smiling slightly, before she dashed off after her brother and Lancelot. Gawain and Guinevere soon followed.

"Arthur." Lancelot called, starting after him, "This is not Rome's fight, this is not your fight. All the years we've been together, all the trails we faced, all the blood we've shed. What was it all for if not for freedom? And when it's so close, when it's finally within our grasp… Look at me" Lancelot caught Arthur and spun him around to face him, "Does it all count for nothing?" Lancelot asked.

"You ask me this, you who know me best of all." Arthur walked off again.

"Then do not do this!" Lancelot cried, running in front of Arthur, "Only certain death awaits you here, Arthur! I beg you, for our friendship's sake, do not do this."

"Be my friend now and do not dissuade me. Seize the freedom you have earned and live it for the both of us. I cannot follow you! I now know that all the blood I have shed, all the paths I have taken have led me to this moment." Arthur said.

Lancelot nodded slightly, tears in his eyes. The two embraced before Arthur walked off. Isulet ran past Lancelot, after her brother. When she caught him she spun him round to face her. She smiled and looked into his eyes, looking for a sign of hope. When she saw one she smiled at him. Arthur shook his head before walking off. Isulet ran after him again catching, as Lancelot had done. This time her eyes were pleading, asking him to tell her.

"Arthur, please." She begged.

"You heard me Isulet." Her brother said.

"Then I'm staying too." Isulet said, placing herself in front of her brother.

"That I cannot allow." Arthur looked at his sister.

"Why not, this is my home too." Isulet insisted.

"Isulet, I would see you happy, finally." Arthur sighed.

"And I would see you alive." Isulet sobbed.

"My darling sister." Arthur embraced his sister, "I love you, never forget that." He said finally.

Isulet cried into her brother's arms. He was all she had left of her past, all she had left of her family. She wanted him to come away with them. She didn't want to lose him. She realised she never had. All the arguments they had had over the years were nothing, they had always made up. And in a strange way Arthur had always been there for his sister. She didn't want to lose him, not now, not ever. Pulling her away Arthur looked down at his little sister, who was crying hard. Isulet pulled her hands over her face, but Arthur gently removed them before looking into his sister's blue eyes.

"Isulet, I have to do this." Arthur said.

"I know you do." She answered her voice thick with tears.

"And also, I love you, and you've been a good sister." Arthur added.

"You're the best brother I've ever had, and I don't want to lose you." Isulet sobbed.

"You won't ever lose me." Arthur promised.

Isulet nodded. Arthur smiled and walked off. Isulet smiled back and stood, watching her older brother walk off. Guinevere soon followed. Gawain came and placed a hand on Isulet's shoulder. Sobbing, unable to hold back the tears she threw herself into his arms. She clung on desperately, not ever wanting to let go. She wanted to freeze time, to keep her brother alive. But she knew she couldn't do that, otherwise she would have done, so many times in her life. Right now all she wanted to be was a child again. Everything seemed so simple and uncomplicated. Now the world was different, harsher. You had no one to run to when things went wrong. So many things had gone wrong for her, that for once she had hoped that something would go right.

"I'm here." Gawain soothed.

"I don't want to lose him." She sobbed.

"You won't, he's Arthur, he's never lost a battle remember?" Gawain asked.

Isulet nodded in reply. It was true, her brother had never been defeated in battle before, but this time it would be different. Arthur no longer had his knights to fight beside him, they were free. She didn't underestimate the woads, who she knew would be fighting with Arthur, but still there was a little bud of panic in her that was blossoming, and refusing to go away. There was too large an army. If Arthur went down in the fighting then the woads would have no one to lead them. And then in all honesty what would stop the Saxons from catching up with the knights and killing them? And there would be no more woads to fight alongside them. But then there was a chance that Arthur would survive the battle, and come and find his sister again, to reassure her. Deciding that thinking positively was the best way forward Isulet assured herself that her brother would survive. Wasn't he Arthur, the man all the stories were written about?

"Let's get you inside before you freeze." Gawain said gently scooping Isulet up into his arms.

Isulet weakly protested, saying that she had two perfectly good legs. Gawain just brushed aside all her protest like annoying flies. In the end Isulet settled down and wrapped her arms around Gawain's neck, her face buried in her shoulder. She liked the comfort his warm arms brought her; it took her back to days when her father was still alive. She used to love her dad, loved her brother. But this man she knew she had a different kind of love for. All she knew was it was different from anything she had ever felt before, and likely, would ever feel again. Thinking what she would do if Gawain died made Isulet suddenly panic. She clutched on tighter to his shoulders in desperation, as if to keep him with her. He whispered soothing words into her hair, and she loosened her grip. Eventually they reached her rooms and Gawain carried her gently through to her room. Laying her down on the bed he brushed a few strands of hair off her forehead. She sighed contentedly before sitting up.

"I should go." Gawain stood up.

"Stay, please." Isulet begged, reaching out a hand and placing it on Gawain's arm.

They both looked at her hand at exactly the same moment. Isulet was wondering at her daring. She knew her brother would kill Gawain if he caught him. But at that moment Isulet almost found herself wanting to cheat fate, wanting to spend one night having what she wanted. And she had her knight in shining armour, and they had one night. At exactly the same time Isulet and Gawain looked up at each other. Isulet smiled a warm smile that seemed to reach her eyes for once. Also smiling Gawain reached out a hand and placed it on Isulet's cheek. Closing her eyes Isulet let her eyes drift shut as she leaned into the warmth of his hand. She found she was losing herself in that one touch, losing all the pain of her life. All that was left was her soul, laid bare. Opening her eyes Isulet carefully stood and moved closer to Gawain, till she was standing only a few inches from him. Bringing her lips up she kissed him with a hunger she didn't know she possessed. Pulling away Isulet looked up into Gawain's eyes. She saw love there. Curling her arms up around his neck Isulet pressed her lips against his again. She found everything she would ever want in his kiss.

"Gawain." Isulet said suddenly pulled away.

"Mmm?" He asked.

"I love you." Isulet said, knowing it was the right thing to say.

"And I love you." Gawain answered back.

This time Gawain leant forward and gently brushed his lips against hers. Isulet leant in, deepening the kiss. Gently Gawain slipped one hand down to Isulet's leg and lifted it up around his waist. Her other soon followed. Gawain's hands the slipped up into Isulet's hair tangling in it. Isulet's hands travelled up to Gawain's face, pulling him closer, the gentle rasp of stubble against her smooth skin. At that moment her brain totally shut down.

Author's note: Here we go. It took me forever to write. So I hope you are happy with this meagre offering.