Disclaimer: As before please, for the love of God, don't keep making me write it out people:O)
Aorsi is a real Sarmatian tribe; it was one of the earliest and also one of first of the Sarmatian tribes to be wiped out– after the Iazyges (according to my research on the internet).
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
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KING ARTHUR:
Fallen Knights Return
Chapter Two – Questions and Answers
The woman was trying to put all the children to sleep when she heard a light cough from outside. Jumping up, and drawing a dagger from the back of her breeches, she went to the flap and hissed "Who is it?"
"I…I….my name is Dagonet…I have been sent by Arthur to ask if you would come into the fort. He would like to speak to you and …..and because…."
"What? Because what!" she was impatient now, some of the smaller ones were stirring and she knew she would have a long night if they woke.
"Because I saw you….Tris and I both saw you….before." he whispered.
She felt her breath catch in her throat 'oh no, she wasn't meant to be seen! Did that mean it would all go wrong now? That somehow they would return to dust, or ash or……' she took a deep breath to calm herself 'there was no use panicking….yet. Wait and see first, wait and see.'
She opened the flap and pulled the large man in - no need to draw attention to them.
He was so tall his head scraped the top of the tent and, in spite of all that had passed that night; she had to stifle a smile. His eyes, though still full of confusion and many questions, hid a merriment too as he realised what she was smirking at. A little boy of about 9 was clamped firmly to his arm, as if he feared that by letting go Dagonet would disappear again.
Dagonet smiled at the memory of little Lucan tearing across the compound shrieking hysterically "Dagonet, oh Dagonet!" tears streaming down his face, before literally leaping into his arms and hugging him almost as tight as Bors. He had never had a welcome like that, and had not realised how attached to him the lad had got in the short time they'd had together.
Seeing her looking at the boy, he smiled ruefully "This is Lucan – we found him when we went to fetch a roman back from a compound on the north side of the wall. He's sort of adopted me…." He ruffled the boy's hair, clearly happy with the arrangement "He was in this walled up dungeon in a little hole in the ground with a grate over it…."
"An oubliette" the woman whispered with a shudder "what of Marius?"
Dagonet was surprised "You knew him?"
"Aye, I knew him….oh aye….I definitely knew him; besides not many Romans have oubliettes, it was his speciality. What happened to him?"
"He's dead – he threatened Lucan and I; Guinevere killed him."
"Good, he was an evil man" she smiled thinly "Then Guinevere saved me a job, I should thank her." She brightened "What of you little man? You seem a brave boy to be without your……….Dagonet for so long?"
He nodded mutely and then spied the children all curled up together on the floor sleeping, he smiled. Dagonet also saw the sleeping children and quickly counted, there were 15! He didn't think they could all be hers, and said so.
"Nay, nay, not all mine…Heavens forbid!" she laughed, and he thought she looked like a different person when she smiled. Even though he realised she would not make eye contact.
"I've 'found' them I suppose you could say – as I travelled through some of the villages where Woads, Saxons and Romans have fought so I have found people sick and dying. I've helped where I can to heal those I could, and to aid those I could not on their way forward. There were always children left behind with no one to care for them; I know what that is like, so I took them on with mine."
"How many are yours?"
"Only she" the woman indicated a small girl of 7 rising from her sleeping place – long blond hair flowed down her back and past her waist, some round her face were in short plaits similar he thought to the scout's, her large blue eyes stared at him warily.
Dagonet nodded, she was a beautiful child like her mother, whose own clear blue eyes regarded him when she thought she wouldn't catch his eye, though a hint of something else lingered behind the coolness of the stare. But he did not say it out loud. "Will you at least come to speak with Arthur for a few moments? Lynette here from the tavern loves children, and she will stay if you wish to remain out here." He gestured then to a friendly young girl stood beside him.
The woman seemed torn, especially as some of the children were growing concerned and fractious as they all began to wake. Finally she made up her mind.
"Aye, but wait a moment." She turned back to the children, who were now nearly all awake. She crouched down to their level in one fluid movement "Listen to me; I have to go and speak to his leader about something. I will not be gone long, and I will return. The dogs are outside and they will guard you.
Do you trust me?" she asked, many heads nodded – one or two even murmured 'aye'.
But one little voice stuttered "we love you and will ….will…miss you…will we be safe?"
She regarded the small boy "Remember what I have told you all before Acton, what my name meant; it is protector of all mankind – but to me Sandrina only means to protect you and ensure naught harm befalls any of you.
Have I not fought and shed blood already to protect you? Have I not vowed to keep you safe? Then I will do that as I always have, ever since you all came to my care. Remember fear is a good thing; it keeps us on our guard and our wits about us, only a fool lets his guard down.
I will never leave you – no matter what….never. I will always be with you."
With that she stood and motioned for her daughter to come to her "If anyone tries to enter Bethan, anyone other than this girl, before I return – kill them." Her daughter, eyes bright with concern, merely nodded and took the dagger from her.
She turned to Lynette and smiled sweetly "If anything happens to any of them, I will hold you responsible." The iciness of her tone caused the young woman's smile to falter, as the full meaning of the words hit her.
At that, Sandrina swept from the tent. Outside she stopped to deal with the pack of dogs "stay and guard them…you" she pointed to the large black dog "come with me" as she walked away Dagonet was astonished to see the dogs separate and do just as she instructed.
He had to hurry to keep up with her, carrying Lucan to match her pace, "I see you gave your daughter a dagger?"
"Being able to protect yourself, at any age, is always preferable to relying on others."
Dagonet couldn't argue with that "Sandrina, that's an unusual name. Are you a Briton?"
"Nay, I am Sarmatian. I come from the west…the farmland side. Ours was the Aorsi tribe."
"I know of them they were a fairly peaceful, by Sarmatian standards anyway, semi-nomadic tribe. I heard they were all but wiped out…." He stopped, maybe she didn't know – maybe she didn't want to be reminded of it, of what happened to them all those years ago.
She shuddered, "I know what happened to them, thank you Dagonet…" she said sharply, but then softened "but we tried to be a peaceful people; strong, proud, able to fight our corner – but ultimately peaceful. I learnt the hard way there is no room for that sentiment where Rome is concerned."
Dagonet shot her a puzzled look – but then this night, of all nights, was puzzling him in many ways. "Did you not wish to bring a cloak?"
"Why? It is not that cold – and I like the feel of the wind on my face." She shrugged as she held her face into the breeze that suddenly blew towards her.
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By now they had reached the gate, and it swung open before them. They were confronted with a rearing horse that was almost hysterical with fear due to a snapping dog at its heels.
The other knights were watching in amusement as the rider desperately tried to calm the horse and shoo the dog away; Arthur, Tristan, Guinevere and Merlin were all approaching from the main building.
Instinctively, Sandrina walked calmly over to the horse; with a click of her fingers and a low rumble, which sounded strangely like a growl, the dog immediately retreated a short distance away. A further command of 'Back!" and he rolled on his back in an act of submission.
She then turned her attention to the horse; her mere presence so close to it had calmed it slightly, its shrieking cries had stopped, though it was still rearing.
Tristan more than most, looked on transfixed, as she put her hand on its neck and started making short snorting noises. The animal stopped rearing almost immediately, and she then rubbed its nose blowing gently on it. Within a few minutes the horse was completely calm and docile and she had handed the reins back to the hapless rider.
"He'll not trouble you now. But you must handle him with friendship and care, and do not be scared. If you show fear, he will feel there is something to be frightened of and you'll end up with the same problem again.
And as for you" she admonished the dog "what were you thinking? I am ashamed of you, you who I would normally call friend!" The black dog advanced and growled at the other, who rolled even further onto his back in submission.
"Midnight – enough! He will not offend again, will you?" As the large black dog fell back to heel, the other dog once more rolled onto its stomach and inched forward on its belly wagging its tail in contrition "Nay, I thought not…now, away with you." The other dog took off as soon as she finished speaking.
Tristan was fascinated, he had never seen anyone handle animals as well as she did; not even himself. She was almost one of them, she certainly had an affinity with them; he envied her and….admired her….she certainly had something ethereal about her. So many questions ran through his mind, and not only his.
Since being told by Tristan and Dagonet what they saw as they regained their senses out in the graveyard, Lancelot and the others were keen to meet this strange woman. On seeing her most recent display Lancelot was even more intrigued; what had happened tonight, why had they come back? What was her part in it? He intended to get answers.
Guinevere stepped forward as the other knights retreated to the main room, "Hello, I am Guinevere…..you are?"
"Sandrina…I cannot linger long as I have the children to return to. They will worry if I do not return quickly."
"I see – well, we will try not to detain you overlong" Sandrina had a severe coughing fit "but maybe you should bring yourself and the children into the fort so we can have a look at that cough for you" Guinevere added gently.
Sandrina straightened; "We will see, it is merely a cough. I feel we are quite alright out there" she considered for a moment "but if it might be safer for the children….I will think on it - but I do not trust easily. I prefer the option of flight if I cannot fight…in here that option would be severely limited."
"As you wish." Guinevere nodded.
Her hair had covered her face, there were parts that were plaited and it was quite long. Guinevere suddenly realised that she reminded her of Tristan. Her hair and her clipped way of speaking, the reluctant way she made eye contact, her affinity with animals and her lack of trust all smacked to her of the scout.
They made their way to the main meeting room. On being confronted with a round table Sandrina raised an eyebrow, but unlike Bishop Germanius, said nothing.
"Please, take a seat" smiled Arthur.
"I prefer to stand….."
"Why" interjected Lancelot "does our company offend you so greatly".
"No, but if I'm threatened I can kill more quickly and escape faster when standing" was the calm, matter-of-fact reply.
"You think you could kill me?"
"Nay…I know I could." With that her hand flashed out and a knife buried itself in the chair between Lancelot's legs.
"You missed."
"Did I?"
"What were you aiming at?"
"Your brains…" she tipped her head to once side "I wasn't far off….."
Arthur had to choke back a laugh…...though Bors, Dagonet and the others didn't bother; even Tristan let a smirk cross his face.
Lancelot too, stifled a smile….she had guts he had to give her that.
Arthur decided that it was better to seize the bull by the horns. "Merlin tells me you were the one responsible for raising my men, my friends. Is that true?"
She looked at the older Woad standing near Arthur. She immediately recognised him and a smile lit her face. To the knights it looked as if a bright candle had suddenly lit the room.
"Merlin! It has been many summers since our paths crossed. Did I do well?"
"Aye, my child you succeeded where any other would have failed. You remembered my instructions, even after so long. I am proud to call you friend." He smiled.
"I was seen though, was I not? Does that undo the magic?"
"You were; but it matters not. That instruction was merely a precaution; the spell remains. They are now alive until destiny decrees it is their time to go. But there are matters we need to discuss…."
Before he could say more Bors was across the room and picked Sandrina up and swung her round. "YOU! YOU were responsible for my friends return….especially my Dagonet….my brother!"
"Nay, nay I was merely following instructions. Please…." She frowned, wriggling to be loose "please you have no need to thank me." The other knights could see she was deeply uncomfortable with this sort of display.
Then of a sudden she softened and briefly patted him on the back, as you would an excited child "But I would be as pleased as you if my brother were returned to me from the beyond."
"What else do you wish to know, that Merlin has not already told you?" she asked Arthur when Bors had finally been persuaded to let her loose, even though he took a seat near her and kept attempting to pat her on the back.
"Why you?"
"That is something you must ask Merlin. All I know is about 7 summers past Merlin came to me and helped me birth my daughter. We both nearly died, and without him I know we would have passed on.
I asked what I could do in return, and he told me there would come a moment when three knights would pass before their allotted time.
When that happened, when all three were dead; I would use a charm to return them to the land of the living. He gave me all the necessary instructions to make the ingredients for the charm, and told me to guard my time. This I did.
The rest you know. I found their graves today, and at sunset performed the spell and they returned."
"How did you know it was not their time to die before?"
"I did not…Merlin told me and I believed him. He said if it was their time, then they would not return. They all did, as you see before you".
Lancelot interrupted "Are we now immortal? Are we invincible to our enemies?"
"Nay, you are not. As I understand it, you are like all men now. You will be injured and you could die with every injury you get. So don't be stupid in battle, I don't know how many times the charm works and getting the ingredients for it is bloody difficult. So mark me - the next time you die, you stay dead."
"Will we age?"
"Vain man…" she rolled her eyes "aye, your life is as it was before – everything carries on now as it was. You merely stepped out of the room of the living for a short while; now you are returned, your life starts again where it left off."
"Are we changed?" Tristan asked.
"Nay, your hawk will still be loyal to you, Tristan isn't it?" she remembered the descriptions that Merlin had given of each knight. "Aye she will remain with you, and your horse. Any special gifts or abilities you have will remain as they were. Is that not right Merlin?"
"You studied well child – once again I am proud of all you remembered."
"So, this is the first night of the rest of our lives…" said Dagonet with finality.
"Aye…you understand" Sandrina agreed, thankful that at least someone seemed to understand what she was saying.
She tipped her head, as if listening "I must go now – the children are becoming fractious." They all listened intently, but none heard a thing; except Tristan, who could hear a faint wail from somewhere in the distance.
Guinevere stepped forward, as Sandrina gave another hacking cough. "Will you come into the fort?"
Sandrina hesitated as Merlin interjected "She will, and she will bring her 'tribe' with her…"
The woman bowed in acquiescence to the Woad Shaman. "If you wish Merlin and you can vouch that we will be safe here…."
"We'll protect you!" cried Bors "Won't we?" he looked at the other knights.
All chorused "Aye, aye of course!"
Merlin smiled, one had accepted her – he looked around the room and spied both Dagonet and Tristan staring fixedly at her – maybe three……..it had begun.
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The wheels of destiny had once again begun to turn…..and fate would be able to play its final hand.
