Chapter 15

Tristan and Lyndsey woke the next day with a feeling of dread. This was not what they wanted to be doing. They would much rather be free, and be doing what they wanted to do. But they had a mission and there wasn't anything to do about it.


Lyndsey groggily rolled out of bed and got ready. She wore her black leggings with a dark green skirt over it with slits up the sides for easy riding. She then put on her black tunic. She then put her boots on, braided pieces of her hair and pulled them back so they wouldn't get in her way, the rest falling to her shoulders, since she had recently cut it. She grabbed her belt that held her two swords, her bow and arrow, and placed her daggers in her sheaths. For once, she was done before Tristan, but he wasn't to far away from her. As Lyndsey waited, Leena came up and began rubbing herself on Lyndsey's legs.

"O, no, you're not coming. You're staying here." Leena purred and looked up into Lyndsey's face. How could you say no to a cute little kitty cat? "Ugh! Fine but you better behave yourself."

Leena purred and waited anxiously next to her master.

"Are you done yet?" Lyndsey asked with a smirk.

"Just because your done before me doesn't give you any reign to badger me." He said with a lopsided smirk. "Ok, let's go."


They walked down to the stables to see everyone with a sad and angered expression. Usually Lyndsey would try to cheer them up, but she felt the same way also.

They all sat, putting there gear were it needed to be. No one said a word; the tension was too high to risk anything. Tristan went to his horses stall leaving Lyndsey alone. Bors walked up next to her.

"You alright luv?" he asked. He knew that she was pregnant and would do anything to protect her.

Lyndsey saw the meaning in his eyes and smiled. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

"I'll look after you."

"Don't. It's not necessary. I'll be fine, ok?"

"Well, that's a problem. I swore to Vanora that I would look after you. And you know that if I don't fufill that promise, I'm done for." He said with a smile.

"Yea, I know. Alright, but don't make it obvious. Can't let anyone find out."

"Find out what?" inquired Lancelot.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" said Lyndsey with a lopsided smirk.

Arthur soon entered looking as distraught as he could be. He obviously didn't get much sleep last night. But who could blame him?

Soon the bishop walked in, to everyone's displeasure. He looked around to see the looks of disgust coming from everyone, but mostly Lyndsey. She sat next to Tristan as he sharpened his sword. Next to her was Leena. Her eyes stared holes right into the bishop, and he turned away.

"To represent the holy court, my trusted secretary, Horton…Horton? Will accompany you on your quest."

"Don't expect him to come back alive." Muttered Lyndsey. She knew that it didn't get past the bishop for he looked quickly to her with a sharp glare.

"Jols, find him a horse." Replied Arthur.

"You are bringing the lady with you?"

"Yes. Is that a problem?" asked Bors.

"No, I just thought it was no place for a woman. Hopefully she will survive, yes?" he said as he looked around. He cleared his throat, "Godspeed, as you fulfill your duty to Rome."

"My duty is also to my men." Replied Arthur with bitterness.

"Then get them home." He said with one last look around.

As he began to leave a dagger was thrown and imbedded into the wooden post not 5 centimeters from his head. He turned sharply and saw Lyndsey standing there.

"Your are a poor shot my lady." He said with a hint of relief.

"I wasn't trying." She replied with a smirk. He gulped and hightailed it out of there.

Everyone mounted their horses and rode out to save the Roman family.


They rode on through the night and were heading through the forest. Woad territory.

"Woads. They're tracking us." Said Tristan.

"Where?" asked Arthur.

"Everywhere."

Suddenly arrows with vines attached were shot and cut off the path. Everyone turned around and darted in a different direction. They didn't get very far and were soon trapped in a clearing. Everyone had their weapons drawn waiting for a fight. But it didn't come. The Woads put down their weapons and retreated back into the forest.

"Why did they not attack?"

"Merlin doesn't want us dead."


They rode up to the village and saw many villagers.

"Who are you?" said the guard.

"I am Arthur Castus, Commander of the Sarmatian Knights, sent by Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gate."

"It is a wonder you have come. Good Jesus. Arthur and his Knights." He went to pet Lyndsey's horse but she pulled it away. "And a woman? What is she, your maid?"

Lyndsey sneered at him and wanted to kick that little smile off of his face.

"She is a knight and is of no concern to you." replied Arthur forcefully.

He just smiled. "You have fought the Woads. Vile creatures."

"Our orders are to evacuate you immediately."

"But that… that is impossible."

"Which is Alecto?"

"I am Alecto." Everyone looked up to see a young boy and an older woman standing on the bridge.

"Alecto is my son. And everything we have is here in the land given to us by the Pope of Rome."

"Well your about to give it to the Saxons." Replied Lancelot sounding rather fed up with this man.

"They're invading from the north."

"Then Rome will send and army."

"They have, us. We leave as soon as your packed."

"I refuse to leave." Ugh! Lyndsey was getting annoyed with this man. Much banter when on again as Arthur finally convinced him to come. Lyndsey tuned this out and focused on a small building off to the side. It didn't look like anything that she had ever seen. It wasn't an out house, or a storage shelter, or else they wouldn't be bricking it up. She noted it and put it in the back of her mind.

Tristan rode up and gave Arthur the news. Lyndsey's curiosity got the best of her, so she dismounted and strode over to the brick building. Arthur and Tristan followed.

"Move." Lyndsey said as she pointed her sword at the guard.

"Move!" yelled Arthur.

"What is this?" asked Arthur.

"You cannot go in there. No one goes in there. This place is forbidden." Said the monk.

"What are you doing? Stop this!" cried Marius. He was stopped by Bors' horse.

"Dagonet."

Dagonet busted down the door and Arthur, Lancelot, Dagonet, and Gawain went in. Lyndsey didn't trust her stomach.

She got back on her horse and waited.

They soon emerged with Dagonet holding a small boy and Arthur, a woman. Lyndsey dismounted and quickly went to the woman. She knelt down as Arthur gave her water.

"Stop what you are doing!"

"What is this madness?" inquired Arthur.

"They are all pagans here!"

"So are we." Galahad said bitterly.

"They refuse to do the task God has set for them! They must die, as an example!"

"You mean they refused to be your serfs!"

"You are a Roman. You understand. And you are a Christian! You! You kept them alive!" Marius hit his wife. Lyndsey exploded and went after him, but she was smacked in the face by a Roman guard. She fell to the ground, a large gash across her cheek. Tristan drew his sword and pointed it at the guard. Bors went over and picked Lyndsey up. Arthur punched Marius and the guards began charging towards them.

"No! No, stop! When we get to the wall you will be punished for this heresy."

"Perhaps I should kill you now and seal my fate." Said Arthur.

"Are you alright luv?" Bors asked Lyndsey as he looked at her face. Lyndsey wiped the blood that was coming from her mouth as well.

"I'll be fine."

Tristan walked up to her and looked at her cheek and her bloody lip. He took her to her horse and helped her mount it. She sat there a little dazed while the monks were sealed back into the building, and they were on there way to the wall.


As they were riding, Lyndsey went to see Dagonet about her face. Dagonet had to stitch up her cheek and make sure it wasn't infected. They rode for hours and Lyndsey was beginning to get tired. She heard a meow and mentally slapped herself. 'How could I have been so stupid!' she thought. She opened up her saddlebag to find Leena yelling at her. Lyndsey just laughed at picked her up.

"I'm sorry. I forgot all about you. I'm so sorry." Leena just looked at her and started licking her face, mindful of her cheek. Leena sat on the back of the horse the rest of the journey until they stopped to make camp. They had a fire going and everyone had their respectful sleeping areas. Lyndsey noticed Marius talking in hushed tones. Something was going to happen. They all ate some rabbit meat that Tristan had caught, and anything else they could find.

"Here, luv, you've got to eat." Said Bors. Lyndsey was starving but didn't want to eat for fear of throwing up. If that happened, everyone would be on her asking if she was fine, and she didn't want that. But her stomach and the baby thought otherwise. She took the meat from Bors and began eating.

"So, have you thought of any names yet?" asked Bors sitting next to her.

"No, I don't know. I haven't even really accepted the fact that I'm going to have a baby yet. It just seems like a fantasy."

"Yea, well, once you start getting those mood swings and such, then you'll know it's real. But there aint nothing like holdin your baby for the first time. It's wonderful." Said Bors with a smile.

"Don't let the other boys here you. They might think your goin soft." Lyndsey said with a smile.

"Haha, funny. How's your cheek?"

"I'll live."

"Hmpf, well im off to bed. You should get some rest also."

"Yea."

Bors went off and Lyndsey got settled into her bedroll next to the fire, Leena came and cuddled right under Lyndsey's arm. Lyndsey soon drifted off into exhaustion awaiting the day when they would finally be home.