Emogen quickly spun on her heel and rushed towards the building that her new friend pointed out to. When she reached the large double wooden doors, two sentry men crossed lances and glared at her.
She rolled her eyes and easily side stepped UNDER the spears and rushed towards the third room.
She could hear the sentry men yelling curses at her and running behind her so she yelled out, "ARTHUR! HELP!"
The door she was currently running full tilt at, burst open and Arthur's slightly panicked face appeared. She ran up to him and twisted her body around so she was behind him. He raised an eyebrow at her, but refrained from asking. For some reason, he just rolled his eyes heavenly and shook his head. He sighed and turned back to the sentry guards. Besides, she thought mischievously, it isn't like I hurt anyone!
"Master Castus, this wench managed to somehow allude us. We are sorry if she has disturbed you. If you hand her over, we shall enact justice for you."
Emogen watched as the man she knew to be a fierce commander, roll her eyes and commanded, "She has not. I will talk to her since I asked for her. From now on, she is allowed in with the same privileges as Sir Lancelot, understand?"
The two sentry men saluted him and abruptly turned away.
When they were safe in his chambers, he crossed his arms and asked, "Well…?"
Emogen rubbed the back of her neck and asked instead, "Ah, where is Guinevere?"
Arthur sat down on his bed and replied, "She is with Merlin readying for battle. Why aren't you with her? I would have thought…"
"Ah, ah, I'm a Lady of Peace. I only fight when I'm attacked. I do NOT fight in battles such as this. During this type of thing, I'm regulated to the position of Healer. Anyways, I'm here to try and talk you out of staying here. Arthur, this isn't your fight. Why are you staying-and tell me the truth."
Arthur sighed and rubbed tired hands across his battle worn face. He looked up at her and she was amazed to see such pain and longing in his eyes. He laughed softly and turned around. He rummaged through his trunk at the foot of his bed and then turned back to her.
"This belonged to my mother, Igraine. I believe she was a Lady of Peace, once- like you."
Emogen looked down and saw a beautiful golden circlet. It was braided gold, silver, and bronze. In between the strings of metal, interspaced equally throughout the circlet, were tiny red rubies. She recognized this. She had one very similar. The only difference was that hers had emeralds and not rubies.
When she looked up he explained, "My mother, I loved her so very much. It didn't seem to matter to my father, his family, our Roman friends, and our Briton friends that we were not a perfectly matched family. My mother would sometimes leave for weeks and I'd be left to tend the family estate while she was gone. I never questioned her. I knew it was important work for her people. I just didn't know what kind of work. When Merlin's people attacked my village that day, I watched the Woads lock her inside our burning house. I watched her burn to death that day. That was also the day I swore off my Briton blood and embraced my Roman side fully. For the past fifteen years, I have ignored the blood of my mother's people and killed them with the same ruthlessness that they used to kill her. But, when I found out about how ruthless Rome truly is, I realized that it was my Roman side I should feel ashamed of-not by Briton blood. So, now that I have embraced my missing half, as it were, I…"
She cut him off with understand flooding her system, "You are, in a sense, repaying your debt to us. Is that it? But Arthur, you don't have to! Merlin understands! You don't have to stay!"
Arthur placed a hand on her shoulders and said, "I don't have to, correct. But I want to."
Emogen placed her hand on top of his and said in a pleading tone, "But Arthur, your freedom! Your life is ahead of you now! You could leave here and go to Sarmatia with Lancelot! You two could finally live your lives for yourselves and not for Rome! If you stay here, the chances are you will die! And then what? You'd have died for nothing! The Saxons are coming; nothing we do will change that! Perhaps we'll win, perhaps not! But there are a lot more of us than you think! I will find a way to unite us all to fight back. You don't have to stay!"
She was pleading with him now she knew. Plus, she hadn't even gotten to the true point of her being here yet, and already she could feel herself crumbling. Tristran was right; he wouldn't be moved. But she still had to try!
He placed his other hand on her other shoulder, stared in her eyes and demanded, "What is this all about!"
She sighed and said softly, "The Knights believe that you stay for Guinevere. I, too, feel that you are staying because of my manipulative cousin. I just want to be sure that you are staying for yourself and not because my cousin has dug her claws into you and hold you here under the pretense of her love and loyalty to you."
Arthur blinked in shock as she elaborated, "Guinevere, she likes you to be honest, but she doesn't love you. She loves the power and prestige you will give to her upon your Kingship. She wants to lead all of Briton. This has been her dream since she was ten. She'll go about getting her dream anyway possible-even if it means breaking your heart in the process. I just, I just don't want you to get hurt. You deserve better than her, Arthur. The Knights also do not wish to see you used by my cousin. Please, if Guinevere has any influence on this decision, please, force her away and make this decision based on you and you alone. If she is one of your reasons to stay, you need to cross her off your list. She'll only break your heart."
Then she spun around and fled his presence. She couldn't stay to see his reaction. She didn't want to witness his anger or his breakdown-whichever happened first. As she ran out of the building, she hit someone hard.
As they tumbled to the ground, she heard a manly voice muttering, "Damn it! This isn't my day!"
She raised her head and saw she had hit Galahad.
"Oh! Galahad! I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going and…"
The youngest Knight sighed, held out his hand, and said, "It is okay. I wasn't exactly watching where I was going either. Why were you in such a rush?"
She sighed and explained. Galahad nodded and turned to stare up into the sky. His face was aglow with the full moon and he seemed wistful.
"What is wrong Galahad? You are free! You should be happy now! You can go home!"
Galahad sighed and stated in a distracted tone, "Ever since I arrived on this cold land, I've wanted to go home. It's been my dream and goal for fifteen years. Now that I've lived to see this day, I can't help but wonder if home is truly in Sarmatia now. I can barely remember it even though I say otherwise. All I can remember is the song of home, green grasslands, cold winds, and a big blue sky. I don't even remember what my mother's face looks like, never mind my father's. I have four older brothers, not including Gawain, and I've not seen them since our tour in Rome sixteen years ago. We were sent to Rome first you know? We went there for training. We spent three months there and then they sent us on our merry way here to Briton. Gawain, the others, and I, we were lucky. Arthur is a great man and was a wonderful commander. If I go home, and more of our brother's live, when we talk, I fear I'll have nothing to add to the conversations. Despite all my complaining, this hasn't been the worse thing to happen to me-serving under Arthur I mean. And now I'm rambling…please excuse an old fools talks, My Lady. Goodnight, or rather, Good Morning."
Galahad shot her a quick somber grin and left. She sighed. It appeared the Knights were not only torn up about leaving Arthur but about what'll happen to them when they go home. She picked up her skirts and ran towards the gates. She wasn't stupid enough to go out through the main gates, but there was a tree that came up and over the wall where many Woads use to get inside in the past. She quickly climbed up and over the Wall. She said a silent prayer to Lancelot and the other Knights as she joined the men and women of the Woads. Guinevere handed her a jar full of blue paint and pointed towards the back of the lines. Her Healer's hut was already set up and her friends, Enys, Alma, and Ula were standing in front of their own Healing huts. She smiled at them. They returned the smiles grimly. Their job was to heal any who needed it. They often rode out into fights to retrieve those that could not move themselves and as such were highly trained in the arts of war. She, too, had such a job. Enys, the Mistress of Healing, was Merlin's best student in the arts of medicine. Alma and Ula were also Mistresses of Medicine. Though they trained under different Masters of Medicine. She was not a Mistress, but as the Lady of Peace her skills were sharp and her knowledge sound. If she wished, she too, could become a Mistress, but she chose not to become one. Her job as the Lady of Peace was stressful enough! When she was finished preparing for war, she saw from the coverage of the trees, a caravan moving out of the fort. In the middle of the precession, were six men on horseback. They were trotting along slowly with their heads down. She looked through all the smoke and saw Arthur upon his horse carrying his standard. He was silent and alone. She bit her lip. He had managed to send the Knights away. She couldn't help but marvel at him though. He stood alone in the face of battle.
She watched as one of the Knights, Bors or Dagonet from the lack of hair rode out of the line, raise his sword and cry out, "ARTORIUS! RRRRRRRUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSS!"
As his cry fell silent, the Knights all looked to their friend standing alone. He raised his standard and cried back, "RRRRUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSS!"
Bors, she was sure it was he, sadly turned his horse back and continued on. They managed to get a few feet further before the horses became skittish and pulled out of the line. Each Knight quickly calmed their steed, but the sound of fear was still in the air. As the horses quieted, the sounds of evil thundered through the peaceful land. Emogen watched as the Knights rose up and turned to one another. Each one began to smile and nod. She watched Tristran release his hawk and the others dismount their horses. She quirked an eyebrow at their actions. The caravan continued forward without them though and she quickly realize why. The Knights, right before her eyes, were arming themselves and dressing up in their complete battle armor. She smiled and thought they plan to stay and fight with Arthur after all! She quickly sent word throughout the ranks of Woad warriors, that the Knights were to be watched. If any became wounded, they were to be immediately sent for so they could be tended to. Each Woad acknowledged the command with a firm nod. Then she saw an arrow fly into a tree. With a frown she watched as a body fell to the ground dead. She turned back to the top of the hill and smiled. Tristran has an excellent eye. He lowed his bow slowly and nodded to Arthur. She glanced at Guinevere and nodded towards Arthur. She followed her line of sight and gasped. Emogen smiled. Seven standards were flying in the wind and the thunder of seven warhorses could be heard behind the wall. She watched tensely as the Saxons moved in and Guinevere raised her first arrow. Hadrian Wall's large double doors clanged shut eerily. When she released her first arrow, hundreds more followed. Emogen closed her eyes and sighed. This is what she hated most of all; the sounds of dying men. It clawed at her very being because she could not help them. They were her enemies not her allies. The sound of roaring hoof beats brought her out of her thoughts; followed by the sounds of more screaming men. Another volley of arrows were flung into the air. More men fell dead. Once again the warhorses of the Knights carried their Master's to the center of the Saxons to kill even more. She closed her eyes and prayed to whoever would answer. Please, let them all survive this fight! She saw from the corner of her eye the man from the lake. He was clutching his sword and eyeing a long bearded man nervously. Then there was silence. The doors creaked open and one lone Saxon soldier stumbled out covered in blood. He crawled towards his leader and said something. She was to far away to hear what was said, but the long blond hared man obviously wasn't impressed. A black-hared man buried a sword in the Saxon survivor and looked to the leader. Instead, he yelled something out and marched forward. Other men echoed him and she realized that whatever was said was the command to fight. Now, my job truly beings. She though grimly as she swung herself up into her saddle and watched Enys, Alma, and Ula do the same. Each one of them had a bow and a quiver full of arrows, a knife, and a short sword.
From her right, she saw Merlin appear with dozens of other Woads. They were dragging large wooden catapults that the Roman army forgot to take with them. She smirked. That'll be useful!
A Woad ran by Guinevere and the other Archers with a log of fire. He lit every arrow and Guinevere launched it up into the air upon Merlin's command. The other's followed suit.
Guinevere dropped her bow, pulled out her sword, and gave a war cry as she and the others charged into battle, "YAH!"
She sat up straighter as the Knights charged into battle with the Saxons as well. She could clearly see the Knights fighting amidst all the fireballs sent by Merlin from the high hills. Very quickly she was called onto the battlefield. Already some of her Woad kinsmen have fallen. With a cry, she Enys, Ula, and Alma rode out onto the battlefield.
From her place behind a Woad warrior, she watched as Arthur and Bors were unseated from their horses. She bit her lip and then sighed. They were fine and killing away. Bors was an excellent close combat fighter with his forearm knives. Arthur and Excalibur were like one as he twisted and turned and dispatched more and more Saxons. When she returned to the safety of the forest, she sighed in relief. Lancelot was alive-for now. She quickly examined the warrior she had rescued and ordered a Woad girl to clean the wounds with the already prepared warm water and herbs. She quickly mounted again and rode out into battle. She gasped. Lancelot was on the ground being suffocated to death! As she raised her bow, Lancelot thrusted a knife from his boot into the Saxon's neck. She sighed. He was alive. She continued on her way. She watched her cousin engage a man in combat and receive a shield to her face. She winced. That would leave a large bruise. She watched as three other women and Guinevere, herself, gang up on the large Saxon and kill him. She glanced backwards. The nice squire, Jols, was also fighting. She rode towards him and picked up a Woad that was holding his arm carefully to his body along the way. She had to get him to Enys' hut! She'd be the one to save him if it were possible. Her skills were not advanced enough to help the poor Woad man. As she rode past, she saw Alma ride past her again. She was shooting arrows quickly and killing many of the Saxons. So far she was lucky. She hadn't needed to use her bow yet. The Saxon's seemed to be ignoring her.
"Jols! Are you all right!" she called up to him.
He killed the man he was fighting and looked at her. He had time to nod before he was once again lost in battle. She sighed and headed into the forest.
As she came back out, she saw Gawain take an arrow to the upper chest and fall off his horse. He screamed in pain. He ripped the crossbow arrow out and was startled to see a Saxons fall at his side with an arrow in his back. She watched him spin around and find Alma still holding her bow out in firing position. She said something to him. He replied back with a nod. She nodded and rode off.
She continued to pull Woads from the battle and thanked every God she knew that none of the Knights had been seriously hurt. As she rode again into battle, she watched Guinevere fall at the hands of the Saxon from the lake. Just as he was about to kill her, two swords intercepted the Saxon's sword. She smiled. Lancelot saved her cousin. She had to make sure to give him an exceptionally large kiss after this was all over. Guinevere rolled away and began to battle some more Saxons. As she rode past, she saw him easily holding the Saxon off. She nodded to herself. He'll be fine. She assured herself.
When she crossed the field, she found Tristran fighting the leader and not doing very well. He seemed to be struggling and not very sure-footed. When he lost his sword, she ripped her bow from her shoulder and pulled an arrow harshly from her quiver. She watched Tristran take another wound to the leg and released the arrow with a yell. Both Tristran and the Saxon leader were shocked to see an arrow embed itself in the blonde's stomach. Then Arthur arrived. As he battled the Saxon, Tristran dragged himself and his weapons back up to battle more. She smiled when Ula arrived and plucked the Scout from the ground like he was a baby. He squawked in surprise and anger. Emogen had to laugh. He looked so comical like that. Ula wasn't even listening to him as she rose back into the forest. Emogen thanked her friend though. Ula must have heard her order. Tristran would survive. She turned her horse around and immediately ducked. An axe carved a notch in the air as it just missed her neck and head. She sighed. THAT WAS CLOSE!
She rushed back into the battle and felt her heart drop at the sight that greeted her. Lancelot was engaged in battle with two Saxons and the one from the lake was aiming an armor-piercing crossbow at him.
She raised her bow, notched and arrow, and yelled out, "LANCELOT!"
He spun around in surprise. He saw the crossbow and sucked in air on instinct. But the pain nerve came. She watched him open his eyes and saw his surprise. The man he was battling had an arrow in his neck. He was gurgling and blood fell from his lips. He gripped the weapon and in a second, the bolt was fired. Lancelot's eyes widened and he dropped to the earth like a dead weight. She gasped and cried out. The bolt still pierced him! She rode towards him and dismounted.
"LANCELOT! Are you okay! Can you hear me!"
As she reached his side, he gasped and said, "I…I'm fine."
She shook her head and said, "Why don't you men ever admit you're in pain?"
He chuckled and said, "It'll ruin our images."
He groaned as she gently touched the bolt. It had found a home in Lancelot's upper shoulder near his collarbone. It was bleeding heavily.
"Come on! We have to get this healed fast!" she helped him stand and lead him to her horse, Etain, named for her mother. It took a few minutes, but together they made it to the safety of the forest and into her hut. To her happiness, only five Woads were there and their wounds could wait until she finished with Lancelot. She told them to wait outside. They did as ordered, but not before she cleaned the wounds some and gave each a bundle of cloth to staunch the blood flow.
She turned back to Lancelot's bed and gasped.