A.N. : I'd really like to thanks Scouter and Priscilla2 for reviewing. I'd also like to say that this chapter is a tissue chapter. So grab and tissue, towel, or and shirt before reading. :)

Chapter Seven

Half an hour later, he got off the bed and stretched his cramped legs. Meg got off the bed as well. Stretching a bit, she took out her mirror and admired his handiwork. Not only had he placed a soaring hawk on her back, he had put matching arrows on her cheekbones.

Both markings matched his identically. After tiding up, he reached back into his bag and removed a cloth wrapped object.

Removing the cloth, Meg was astonished at the necklace lying in his hands. Still in awe, she looked up into his eyes.

"My mother wore this at her wedding as her mother and grandmother did. She gave it to me to give to the woman I was going to marry. I would like for you to have it. As a token of my love and devotion to you." A little shy of her reaction, Tristan watched her face.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, she smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. He stood in front of her and attached the trinket around her neck.

Touching it reverently, Meg stood and gave him a passion-filled kiss. She whispered into his ear while hugging him, "I love you too."

After another soul rattling kiss, she got her bags and left with fresh tears flowing down. Running as fast as she could, she made it to the stables without breaking down completely.

With a quiet sob, she walked to where Angel was stalled. When she got there, she found her horse missing.

"You didn't think I would let you go without at least a goodbye from you, did you Meg."

Whirling around, Meg found Jols holding the reins of her horse. Smiling she walked up to him and hugged him.

"Thank you, dear friend. May the gods protect you this day." She said with a final hug.

Climbing onto her horse, Meg looked at Jols and said.

"Look for the Woad riders in the battle. You will find me quickly. And put some armor on to protect yourself. I expect to see you when this is over."

Jols smiled at her and nodded. With that done, Meg rode off to the woods to get things set up.

At the Woad campsite, Meg untacked Angel to allow her some time to roam before the battle. Meg walked through the camp, nodding her hellos to everyone. Just before getting to her tent; a little girl, about six or seven, runs up to her calling her name.

Turning around, a smile forms on Meg's lips. Kneeling down to the child's level, she asked. "Yes, dear?"

The little girl's face lit up. "Lady Meg, Merlin would like for you to go to him. He said it was important."

Meg smiled. "Thank you dearest. I will see him after I put my things away."

She gave the little girl a hug and stood back up. The little girl nodded and ran off to play with her friends.

After putting her things away, Meg made her way to where Merlin was talking with the other elders. Most of the elders smiled at her and nodded their heads in greeting. The others just looked at her and sneered when they noticed her new tattoos on her cheeks. As Meg approached Merlin, she smiled to the ones who greeted her and glared at the ones sneering.

"Ah, Meg. So good of you to join us. We are currently at a stand still in our decision making. You have spent time with the knights, what can you tell us about them?" Merlin asked with a smile.

Meg, knowing Merlin, smiled and replied. "Well, Merlin, these last few days I have gotten to know Arthur and his knights. Arthur is a free thinking Roman. He believes that everyone is free and wishes he had known what Rome really was before too many of you had died. When he went to retrieve the Pope's godson, Alecto, Arthur had the villagers pack their belongings to go with the family to the wall. He knew that these people would slow the caravan down, but he did it anyway.

Now the knights are six different men with several different points of view. But they all agree that, had they not been indebted to Rome, they would not have been on this land killing innocent people."

Some of the elders nodded; however, one spoke what the other elders were not able to confer in words. "How can you say that? I have seen those knights fight our people for fifteen years, and they grew more blood thirsty every year. Take the one with the very same markings you have. He enjoys killing, it shows in his fighting. He knows no mercy and shows no emotion while he kills."

Meg looked at the elder who had spoken. Her eyes becoming ice cold with quiet rage. "Those knights were ripped from their families and made to fight for a country not their own. You have watched them become the men they are and condemn them for fighting for the only thing left to them; the right to live. They became more blood thirsty because every year they lost one of their own. They fight to honor those who did not live as long as they. As for Tristan, he shows no mercy because he was never shown any. He shows no emotion because he is afraid of losing another person who was close to him. I proudly bear his markings because this is his way of showing his emotions." She said passionately.

More elders nodded their heads, agreeing with everything she had said. Feeling a little calmer, Meg turned to Merlin.

"Merlin, I must get ready. For whether you choose to fight or not, Gwen and I have made our minds up and we are staying. I, also, have to gather her things together; she'll be here any time now." Merlin nodded and Meg walked towards Gwen's tent.

Gathering Gwen's weapons and paint, Meg left Gwen's tent and went back to her own. Not being able to sit still, she got her weapons and checked to see if they were sharp enough. After doing that, she called for one of the older women to paint her with the Woad paint. Getting painted took about twenty minutes. Still feeling restless, Meg went for a walk in the woods with only Lucifer for company.

Reaching the edge of the forest, Meg spotted several of her Woad Riders gathered at the edge looking out. Joining them, Meg was curious as to what was going on. She looked out and saw a massive caravan traveling down the road. She laughed when she saw who was leading the caravan. Chuckling under her breathe, Meg watched Germanis and Horton riding in the carriage. Both men were looking out of the windows, half expecting an arrow to come flying towards them.

Laughing a little, Meg looked further down the line. Her eyes found an open slatted wagon with eleven children and a recognizable red-headed woman in it. Her smile faded when she realized that the woman was Vanora and riding behind her were the knights. Taking in the sight of six well made men, Meg teared up a little. Seeing Tristan, Meg let Lucifer fly to him, wondering if he would get her message.

Lucifer cried out a welcome when he got close to Tristan. Hearing a call, Tristan looked up to see Meg's hawk flying towards him. Raising his arm, he gave Lucifer a place to land. Lucifer landed and gave Tristan a nip on the ear as a sign of affection. Stroking the hawk, Tristan scanned the forest to see if he could see Meg.

From the forest, Meg saw Tristan looking around for her. Despite the warnings of her Riders, Meg stepped out of the line of trees. She knew when he had seen her because his expression softened a little. Their eyes met and they exchanged messages of love. Dagonet, who was riding next to Tristan, noticed Tristan's attention focused not on the road ahead, but on something in the woods. Following Tristan's gaze, Dagonet was surprised to see Meg standing at the edge of the woods. She was dressed and painted just like any of the Woads. Meg raised her hand in greeting to Dagonet and Tristan. Tristan nodded his head in a sign of a response. Dagonet raised his hand in a way of acknowledging her.

Just then a silent call rang through the forest. Meg quickly turned to go back to the camp. With a quick look over her shoulder, she committed the picture to memory.

Realizing that she was getting called to battle, Tristan sent Lucifer back to her. Sharing a silent and sad look with Dagonet, they put their attention back to the journey.

As she ran back to camp, Meg wiped a couple of tears out of her eyes. When she reached camp, she knew, instantly, what the vote was. For sitting among the elders, was Arthur with Gwen standing behind him.