Disclaimer: As before, please for the love of God, don't keep making me write it out people:O)
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
KING ARTHUR:
Fallen Knights Return
Chapter Six – The Battle
Sandrina did not look back as the gates shut behind her; though she heard her daughter's final cry….a single tear wound its way down her cheek, but she ignored it and rode on.
Fear gripped her briefly as in the distance the sound of battle was already high on the wind. Back on the battlements Merlin stood and watched fate play its latest hand.
Sandrina soon lost herself with the wind in her face……taking her back over the years to when she was young; running and playing with her elder brother, Hunter. Battles then seemed thrilling; she made her first kill at 7 and was the toast of the village for her precision as she dealt the death blow – Hunter had carried her around on his shoulders for ages and they had laughed so much.
But too soon the battle loomed large in front of her…
She quickly picked out the knights; all were more than holding their own, Tristan was cutting men down in his path with a rhythmic action that was almost hypnotic. He was entirely emotionless as fought his way though the men around him; yet still avoiding killing any Woads, who were of course now allies.
Bors was cutting and chopping as he ran through the crowd of Celts and Woads, a little more indiscriminately than the ever precise scout – but luckily the Woads knew to steer clear of him as much as possible. Dagonet, Gawain and Galahad were also making a huge dent in the enemy mass. For their parts Arthur and Lancelot were making their usual short work of the Celts; Lancelot wielding his twin swords with his usual deadly precision.
Gripping her horse with her knees, she took her bow and loaded six arrows – letting them fly with an ethereal grace into a crowd of Celts advancing on a band of Woads.
Her anger rising as she saw their enemy fall before their allies, something in her took over "RRROOOOUUUUUUSSSSSSSS!" she screamed, her bow letting 6 arrows fly again and again as she flew into the thick of the battle – forgetting everything, but ensuring what she'd seen did not come to pass.
0-0-0-0-0
The knights, for their part, all looked at her on hearing a female voice using their battle cry (not knowing how she knew it) with such ferocity…shock registering on all their faces as they witnessed Sandrina riding into the thick of the battle; wearing her armour, her face wearing the black war paint of the Sarmatian Aorsis, gripping her horse with her knees so that she could let waves of arrows fly from her bow over and over until her quiver was empty.
The wind whipping round her she jumped on her saddle, as the horse moved through the throng of warring Celts, Woads and knights. Steadying herself and then pulling her sword; she leapt on the back of a huge Celt, easily cutting his throat, and then moving quickly through the crowd cutting and slicing as she went.
A breeze blew as a Celt came at her with a claymore; she dodged the thrusting blade and swung her sword with all her might taking his head off. Continuing the ark of her swing she took another Celt behind her.
She dodged another claymore, as Lancelot sidestepped a blade and came level with her "Surely you didn't miss us that much?" he panted.
She hacked another enemy's head from his shoulders "I had to come, I feared for you…."
"Me, us or…..him?" he gestured towards Tristan.
"I don't know…" she gave another wide swing, cutting down another Celt "I had a bad feeling….I just couldn't let you all come alone…"
Lancelot glanced and saw the fear in her eyes. He swallowed "watch your back, sister of mine…."
"I will brother….." then the battle pulled them further apart.
A group of Woads looked as if they were being overwhelmed and she rushed to their aid, the wind with her, and quickly helped them decimate the enemy.
She looked round and saw Tristan was being surrounded by a vast number of Celts as was Dagonet… "KNIGHTS!" She cried bringing all eyes on her; she gestured towards Dag and Tristan, indicating their peril.
As she flew against the rushing wind to Tristan's side; Bors rushed, cutting and hacking, to aid Dagonet – his best friend, his brother, was NOT going to be cut down again, not this day.
As they ran, cutting the down the enemy in their path, they shared a glance as he stopped a Celt from striking Dagonet – then she plunged on to Tristan.
Blood was everywhere and she had to wipe it out of her eyes to able to focus on the enemy, she stood with her back to him.
"You were tired of the fort?" a calm question amid the bloodshed.
"No, I had to come…."
"Why?"
"I feared for…."
They sprang apart as another group of Celts rushed at them, but they easily cut them down.
Sandrina saw a band of Woads attack a small group of the enemy who had started to run towards them. Tristan had his back to them, and she saw one about to thrust a Claymore into his back.
"TRISTAN!" She screamed as she ran towards him, the wind blowing hard in her face, as he swung round………………
A sharp pain, three voices screaming "SANDRINA!" And then wonderful blackness drawing her down into its warm depths….chocolate brown eyes following her down "Tristan"
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
But fate was not done, and so destiny's wheels moved on……….
