Tada promised I'd update soon this time!
Action Time, Part One
"This place sucks." Lea muttered as rain continued to fall down, it kind of felt like a bucket was being poured out over her head.
So now she was freezing, shaking and annoyed…bad combo.
"Sucks?" Lancelot repeated frowning.
"An other word for terrible." Jillian explained scooting a bit closer to her cousin. She really couldn't understand how these guys hadn't died of pneumonia yet.
"I can't wait to leave this island." Gawain groaned. "If it's not raining, it's snowing, if it's not snowing it's foggy,-"
"And that's the summer." Lancelot joked.
"The rain is good." Bors stated. "Washes all the blood away."
"Doesn't help the smell though." Dagonet added causing Lea to laugh a little to her Dagonet's dry humour was pretty funny. Dagonet just glanced at her and gave a small smile.
"Hey Bors," Lancelot started. "You intend on taking Vanora and all your little bastards back home?"
"Oh, I'm trying to avoid that decision by getting killed."
Gawain started laughing, Lancelot simply smiled. But the look on Galahad's face betrayed he didn't think it was funny. Lea had figured out the guy's only mission in life was to go home and live in peace, although it didn't really fit his character. He was far too hot tempered to become a farmer or something; he'd probably have a fit if someone accidentally stepped on his corn or something. Or if his chickens wouldn't lay eggs he'd probably shout at them...Nope he really wasn't farmer material.
"Dagonet." Bors said leaning over to the taller man. "She wants to get married, give the children names." He said in a "can-you-believe-it" kind off way.
"Women." Tristan said meddling in the conversation while sheathing his sword. "The children already have names, don't they?"
"What's wrong with women Tristan? Is it that bad that they're harder to tame than hawks?" Lea said looking a bit insulted by the annoyed use of "women". But Jillian soon shut her up by pinching her in the arm.
"Just Gilly." Bors said ignoring Lea's protest. "It was too much trouble, so we gave the rest of them numbers."
"That's interesting…I thought you couldn't count." Lancelot said rather comically.
"Numbers? He doesn't even name his kids?" Lea mumbled wide-eyed to her cousin as the knights laughed.
"You know, I never thought I'd get back home alive. Now that I've got the chance, I don't think I'd leave my children." Bors said sounding pensive.
"You'd miss them too much." Dagonet said with half a smile.
"I'll take them with me. I like the little bastards. They mean something to me…especially number three…he's a good fighter!"
"That's because he's mine." Lancelot said grinning smugly.
Gawain fell into fits of laughter and it looked like he was about to chock on his laughs.
"What is it with these guys and crude humour? I mean c'mon! Lancelot if you're really the father of one of Bors his kids come out and say it!" Lea said rolling her eyes.
"I just did."
"You know what I mean!"
The two of them argued as Bors; 'went out for a piss' as he so charmingly put it.
"No I don't." Lancelot said with a smirk plastered on his handsome face.
Lea just grumbled and mumbled something that sounded like: Next time I see Vanora I'm asking.
(An hour or so latter)
When it finally stopped raining they decided to go to bed…although that was relatively speaking seeing they had no beds. But Jillian, having a good idea for once, put the extra cloak Vanora had given them on the soaked ground so they didn't have to sleep sitting up. She folded her own cloak so they had a pillow (or something to resemble one) and Lea's was used as a blanket. It just about worked if they snuggled up real close, what they were planning to do anyway because it was freaking cold.
The knights were already snoring peacefully (accept Tristan who had offered to stand guard). The girls on the other hand were still awake not used to this way of sleeping, and they hadn't the faintest clue how these guys could live like this.
"Lea you still up?" Jillian whispered hoping Tristan, who was standing about ten feet from them, wouldn't hear.
"What do you think?" Lea mumbled staring up at the roof of the forest that was made of branches and leaves.
"Dagonet is going to die the day after tomorrow."
"Eh?"
"The ice thing, it's happening soon."
"No shit?"
"No shit…So any plans?"
"I'm still working on it." Lea sighed. It's pretty hard to come up with a plan while knowing that if the plan doesn't work some dude is going to die.
"So you don't have a clue?"
"I have an idea but I don't know if it will work."
"Are you telling me what your plan is or do I have to beg?" Jillian asked biting her lip.
"Let's just say…you'll see."
"Bitch."
"Are you two going to sleep or am I supposed to listen to you two arguing all night long?" A voice said from besides them. Tristan just HAD to sneak up on them didn't he?
"You sneak!" Jillian announced looking up at the lonesome scout. "You spooked me!"
"Didn't intend to." Tristan stated not looking the slightest bit fazed. "What were you on about?"
"Wow did we make you curious?" Jillian asked staring up at him surprised.
"No."
"Than why do you want to know?"
"To prevent you from doing something foolish." He said dryly.
"You're the only fool here." Lea said looking anywhere but at Tristan.
"Women." Tristan muttered.
"Like you don't think we have a use." Lea said finally looking up at him while sitting up.
He just smirked in reply.
"Oh god you have a Lancelot side." Lea said rolling her eyes.
"You know you brought it on yourself." Jillian said amused.
"Shut up." Lea said a tic occurring in her jaw line.
"But I do wonder is why Arthur a good Christian man whose teachers told him women are so easily corrupted by evil and have no place on a battlefield…why does he allow two young strange women who don't fit into this wretched land to accompany us?" Tristan asked although something in his voice made it sound like a demand. "What land are you from? What is your business with us?"
The girls stared up at the dark knight who seemed to be the only one to question their company. He had figured them out quite well, but than again this was Tristan the lone scout who kept an eye on everyone.
"Our business is our own." Lea snapped.
"Lea! Behave." Jillian ordered but Lea simply ignored her and glared up at Tristan.
"See, women in this land don't speak to men in that order. Wherever you're from it is neither this land nor any other land in the Roman Empire." Tristan said looking at the girls sceptically yet not distrustfully.
"Who are you to question Arthur's faith in us and our abilities?" Lea questioned ignoring the dark man's latest statement.
"I'm not questioning Arthur's faith. I'm simply wondering what your 'fabled' abilities are. Arthur is a good man but maybe a bit too gullible." Tristan said his face blank as usual.
"I know your futures and Lea knows how to save your asses." Jillian intervened not wanting Lea and Tristan to have a brawl. She unlike her cousin was very aware of the fact Tristan would have no problem in shutting Lea up for good especially if her cousin didn't learn how to hold her tongue. The man wasn't used to being talked to like that and sure as hell wouldn't stand for it all that long, or that was her reasoning.
Tristan simply looked at her blankly. "Meaning?"
"I'm a witch."
"Witch?"
"You know pagan sorcery?" Lea said glaring at the knight. If looks could kill…Tristan would be so dead.
"So you're a sorcerer?" Tristan asked not the leas bit disturbed by this knew fact.
"Yes…You're not angry about that?" Lea asked suspiciously.
"I have seen what Merlin can do; having a sorceress around ourselves isn't that bad of a thing." Tristan stated. "Now go to sleep you two might come in handy in the morning. You'll need your rest." And with that he walked off.
"You know in person that guy is even weirder than in the movie." Jillian whispered frowning.
(The Next Day)
They had been riding since this freaking morning and the knights seemed to have made this little pact of: Let's fuck with Lea's head and not tell her when the fuck we're going to be there!
And the horse, that horse of Satan! Seriously the horse was evil! When she said left the horse went right, if she said turn the horse simply pranced on into the freaking bushes! In chronological order Gawain, Dagonet, Lancelot and even Arthur him bloody self had retrieved her and that mad horse! And to top it of they were going at a slow pace, the horses were simply walking, which of course prolonged Lea's suffering.
She was hating Jillian more and more each second for putting that stupid poster under her bed. The horses in this universe/time/century whatever were pure evil!
"My ass hurts." Lea muttered to Jillian looking more than a tad annoyed.
"Want me to take a look at it?" Lancelot called back to them, he and Arthur were riding in front of them but behind Dagonet, Bors and Tristan.
"You'll have to knock me out first." She retorted through gritted teeth. "Dirty old man."
There would have been an insult competition, but Lancelot hadn't heard Lea's sweet little words. She was such an angel wasn't he?
"You know I'm started to agree with you." Jillian mumbled making a painful face. "Are we there yet!"
"No." Galahad stated sounding annoyed. Although they couldn't see his face, he was riding behind them; the girls figured he was making his 'nasty' face at them.
"Don't lie to them." Tristan stated suddenly. "There's a clearing up ahead. We'll be there soon and you'll be able to tend to your pains."
That was a very un-Tristan thing to say no?
"I bet ya'd like to tend to their pains eh?" Bors said amused.
"I'll leave the healing to Dagonet; I fear my methods of healing are a bit to tough on frail women." Tristan stated absently. Didn't he get Bors his slightly suggesting comment, was he simply ignoring it or was he just playing along?
"That sounded shifty didn't it?" Jillian said frowning as the knights laughed it up.
"I thought that guy was a bloke of ice?"
"My thoughts exactly." Jillian stated. "The only thing that gets his affection is the bird and his precious apples."
"Apples?"
"Haven't you noticed? That man has an apple…fetish! He's always eating apples."
"Can you two stop analysing Tristan?" Galahad's annoyed voice called out to them.
"Jealous we're not talking about you Sugar?" Jillian called back to them.
Judging by Gawain's fit of laughter; Galahad was looking a bit uneasy.
"I know you want me." Jillian joked.
"Girl stop it the poor boy is scandalized." Gawain laughed.
"I saw that boy flirt shamelessly, I'm pretty sure he's used to more than a bit of teasing." Jillian stated.
"Yeah I'm sure he's a real whore." Lea added.
"Say Galahad what's the current price for a night?" Jillian laughed.
"You two stop it I think they're going to fall of their horse." Dagonet said sounding amused.
"Yes, Gawain from laughing Galahad from pure shock." Lancelot chuckled. "And Jillian my dear I'll service you for free."
"Oh brother." Lea muttered rolling her eyes while Jillian blushed a bright scarlet colour.
"We're there." Tristan said suddenly. Because of all the talking neither Lea nor Jillian had noticed they were finally riding into the clearing. In front of them was a large villa with a lot of tiny houses and people working like ants in front of it.
Lea and Jillian were feeling fairly uncomfortable because of all the looks they were getting from the 'serfs'. They were staring at the small company on horse as if they were some sort of Gods. This was awkward to say the least.
When they were about to reach the villa, the gates of the wall surrounding it were closed. Didn't these people WANT help?
"Who are you?" A guard called.
"This is just great." Lea huffed.
"I am Arthur Castus, commander of the Sarmatia knights and by Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gate." Arthur called back to the guards.
"Pretty please." Jillian added dryly before putting her hand on her mouth, she obviously hadn't meant to say it out loud.
Lea snickered at her cousin as the gates opened yet she kept an eye on the many people who were know gathered about them, they looked a bit awestruck? Looks like Arthur had groupies and fans.
A short chubby man dressed in a white-cream coloured toga came out accompanied by several men who were dressed for battle.
"Look Jill, bodyguards." Lea snorted rolling her eyes, but she said it quiet enough so only her cousin and maybe an attentive knight would hear.
"It's a wonder you have come!" The man in the toga announced. "Good Jesus! Arthur and his knights!" He moved to pet Galahad's horse but an angry looking Galahad made the animal step back.
Temper, temper, but they couldn't blame him. Jillian actually had to contain herself or she would have shouted: "Go Galahad!" But that really wouldn't have been the wisest thing to do now was it?
"You have fought the Woads; Vile creatures." The toga dude stated.
Lea just couldn't get why for crying out loud the man was making Smalltalk. Hello; army of angry Saxons approaching! Or didn't he know?
"Our orders are to evacuate you immediately." Arthur said not even making an attempt at a polite conversation.
Now this seemed to worry toga dude: "That's impossible!" He stuttered.
Arthur however ignored him and looked around: "Which is Alecto?"
"I am Alecto!" A lanky dark haired boy with sad eyes stated from on top of the wall, he was standing next to a short pretty woman.
"If that guy's Alecto, than who's chubby?" Lea whispered to her cousin as Alecto and the woman she presumed to be his mother walked down to where the knights and Toga dude and his guys were gathered.
"That's Marius, the bad guy." Jillian answered also in a whisper.
"Alecto is my son. And everything we have is here in the land given to us by the Pope of Rome." Marius said sounding annoyed that Arthur was ignoring him a bit.
"Well, you're about to give it to the Saxons." Lancelot stated rather dryly and tactlessly.
"They're invading from the north." Arthur soon added.
"Then Rome will send an army." Marius said confidently
"They have; us. We leave as soon as you're packed." Arthur said looking a bit annoyed.
"I refuse to leave." Marius said stubbornly while eyeing Arthur, the knights, and the girls who both really wanted to stick out their tongues and make a rude hand gesture at him but were just about able to restrain themselves.
There was already tension in the air and the current silence was making it worse.
"Go back to work! All of you! Get back to work!" Marius said obviously refusing to look weak in front of his servants.
His 'soldiers' repeat his orders but add a bit of pushing and bossiness.
They knights, and the girls watched the scene with distasted.
"Freaking bullies." Lea muttered but kept quiet after receiving a scolding look from Dagonet. Jillian noted that Dagonet was one of the few people whose looks could shut up the mighty Lea…but than again he had never seen her at her most pissed.
The company watched the scene go on for a little while before a really angry looking Arthur dismounts his horse and approaches Marius who seemed about ready to piss his pants…oh wait his toga.
"If I fail to bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land." Arthur said threw gritted teeth obviously venting a bit of frustration. "So you're coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way to Hadrian's Wall myself…My Lords"-he added a very sarcastic bow before turning to Marius his wife- "Lady, my knights are hungry."
The woman looked at 'the bully' aka 'toga dude' aka Marius askingly.
"Go." He mutters and the woman walks off.
And right than and there Lea decided that if she was going to stay here she'd make sure feminism and the anti-slavery thing starts a few centuries earlier than they normally would.
But anyway right now she was a bit too preoccupied with the staring competition that was going on between Marius and Arthur. Marius loses, turns his heel, and commands his son to follow him but the boy does no such thing.
"Come let's go." Bors says to Arthur.
But Arthur was a bit too busy gazing at the ill treated serfs. For some reason Lea didn't really get Arthur drew Excalibur soon followed by Bors who caught his drift.
When Lea saw Jillian dismount, Lea followed her lead only her dismount went a little less smoothly and she nearly fell on her ass because the Satan horse wouldn't stop moving around.
"Sir! You're famous!" A skinny man said to Arthur, oh great a fanboy. "You're Arthur aren't you! I'm Ganis, I'm a good fighter and I'm smart. I'd serve you proudly!"
Lea and Jillian tried to keep a low profile as they followed Arthur.
"Are you from Rome?" A man asked an annoyed Bors.
"From Hell." Was the short reply.
"Sir-"Ganis started again but this time Arthur interrupted his rant and pointed with his sword at an old man who was tied up and really didn't look al that healthy.
"Who's that man?"
"He's our village elder." Ganis replied.
"What is his punishment for?" Arthur asked still looking at the old man.
And when no reply came Arthur shouted: "Answer me!"
Sadly enough a large crowd of serfs gathered around, Arthur, Ganis, the old man and the girls who had accidentally worked themselves into the centre of attention.
"He defied our master, Marius." Ganis said. "Most of the food we grow is sent out by sea to be sold. He asked to keep a little more for ourselves, that's all.
My arse has been snapping' at the grass, I'm so hungry! You're from Rome! Is it true that Marius is a spokesman for God? And that it is a sin to defy him?"
"That's why I'm not a Christian; the people with the power have too much of an ego, they're all send by God jadjadjada…" Lea muttered to Jillian.
Arthur rather untactfully pointed his sword at the crowd of serfs, who were a bit frightened by the whole sword pointing.
"I tell you now, Marius is not of God. And you…all of you…were free from your first breath!" Arthur said before slicing the village elder's chains and by doing so freeing him. "Help this man." Arthur ordered.
But the serfs were a bit apprehensive, well who wouldn't be when controlled by a little dipshit dictator like this Marius guy. He kind of reminded Lea of Napoleon but than stupider, meaner and with much less power.
"Help him!" Arthur ordered shouting this time. There was something in his voice that was just so compelling that a few serfs rushed forward to help the old man to his feet.
"Now hear me," Arthur started. "A vast and terrible army is coming this way. They will show no mercy, spare no one. Those of you who are able should begin to gather your things and move south towards Hadrian's Wall. Those unable shall come with us." Arthur turned back to Ganis. "You serve me now, gather these people."
TBC
Review please, I'm dying to know what you guys think.
I've been out of the game so long I don't know if I still have my "groove"if I don't get reviews againI'll assume you don't like it and I'll rethink writing.
XXX