Chapter Eight

Arthur was still discussing with Merlin about the coming battle. Gwen was with Meg in her tent getting ready. Gwen, noticing Meg's new tattoos and remembering the tears in her eyes when she joined the council, did not say anything. She did not know what to say. When it came time for the paint, Meg stepped out to talk to Arthur.

Upon stepping out, she noticed that her Rider's had grown in number in the time that she had been gone. Standing with the six original Rider's were about twelve more riders and horses. Smiling at the ones she called 'her six', Meg walked towards Arthur.

Merlin, noticing Meg come up, excused himself to get ready. Arthur looked up at Meg and stood while smiling.

"Meg. It is good to see you." Arthur said.

"Arthur, it is good to see you as well. Did you have an enjoyable evening last night?" Meg smirked.

Blushing faintly, he laughed. "I have you to thank. Gwen told me she would not have come to see me if you hadn't urged her to. But I see you, too, had an enjoyable night. He must care for you greatly to give you his markings."

With a blush rising to her cheeks, Meg ducked her head. "I did, indeed, have a good night. Tristan told me that this was his way of showing affection. He, also, gave me his mother's necklace as a sign of betrothal and his love. Which, coming from him, is something not to be taken lightly." She looked into Arthur's face and saw a mixture of amusement and sadness.

Smiling a small smile, Arthur put his arm around her shoulders. "I take it that you have not thought of what will happen when you leave?" He said, sadly.

Sighing heavily, she hung her head for a minute. "No, I don't think we were thinking beyond the battle. We just wanted to let each other know what we felt. I guess we will deal with my departure after we survive the battle. And speaking of battles, shouldn't you be getting ready? I know my Riders are ready. I don't believe they have seen a true battle such as the one we are about to partake." Meg smiled ruefully.

Arthur chuckled. "Yes. I do have to get ready. I will see you out there, won't I? I don't think I will survive without your help." Arthur says almost desperately.

Meg hugged him and held his head steady to look into his eyes. "You will see me. If it'll make you feel better, I will ride beside you. My Riders have done well without me for this long, they will have no need of me to lead them."

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. Gathering her into a tight hug, he says a thankful. "I would be honored to have you at my side. You are a true warrior and I am proud to call you my friend."

With a few tears in her eyes, Meg squeezed him and then stepped back. "You need to get ready. I know the perfect spot to sit in order to see everything. And if you hurry, you will get to see the knights embark on their freedom. I know how much it would mean to them to see you one last time. You never know, they may decide to stay and fight as free men for you."

Smiling wistfully, Arthur walked away to get ready. Understanding, Meg went and made sure everything was ready. Walking past Merlin and Gwen, both of which had watched her and Arthur's conversation, she nodded her head distractedly.

An hour later, Arthur and Meg rode up to the top of Badon Hill. From there, they could see over the wall at the Saxons, but they could also watch the caravan leave. Sitting on their horses together, Meg and Arthur glanced at each other as the knights and the rest of the caravan leave.

Smiling sadly, they watched the slow progression, but suddenly Bors rides towards them out of the line. He raised his sword and yelled. "RUS!"

Feeling honored and touched at the sign of respect, Arthur raised his battle standard and yelled back. After wiping a tear from her eye, Meg raised her bow in acknowledgment of Bors' show of respect.

Afterwards, Bors rode back to his spot next to Vanora and his bastards. Meg and Arthur exchanged sad glances and turn back to see where the Saxons were. Noticing two men break away from the army, Meg touched Arthur's arm and directed his attention to the men. They watched as they walked towards the gate. The men stopped even with a large tree and one of them unfolds a white flag. Waving it back and forth in the air to get Arthur's attention, the man looked to the man standing next to him.

Arthur and Meg spurred their horses into a gallop. Coming up to the gates of the wall, they rode slowly out of the smoke. The Saxon leader was a little surprised to see a nearly naked, not really, woman riding beside the 'great and mighty' Arthur.

Arthur drew closer to the leader and Meg let the two men talk while she surveyed the army behind the leader. Spotting the Saxon she saw on the ice, Meg smirked when she saw the fresh cut that traveled down his face from his eye to his upper lip.

"I didn't know you fought with a weak and useless woman. If she were in my camp, she would be tied up and beaten until the only thing she would think of is the pleasure of me and my men."

Meg's attention was abruptly brought back to Arthur and the slimy rat. She rode up to be beside Arthur. She let Lucifer fly off to meet with her later. Angel pranced around the rat.

"This weak and useless woman was the one standing between your men and a knight. And judging by the little weasel standing behind you, I believe I pissed you off. As to being tied up and beaten, you'd have to kill me before I shove one of my many daggers into your manhood and making you scream like a little girl. Then I would let Lucy eat your genetalia from my dagger. You see, he likes the taste of man, especially that part, and you would make a tasty treat for him." Meg gave an evil grin.

The Saxon gave a great shudder, even Arthur looked uncomfortable. With that said, Meg and Arthur rode back to Badon Hill.

When they got back to the top of the hill, Arthur started laughing. Meg smiled. "I take it you enjoyed my comment?"

Arthur snickered some more. "Oh, Meg. You just made my day. His face was priceless. I don't think he believed you would say anything to him." Arthur just sat on his horse chuckling and snickering.

All of a sudden, Meg heard several hoof beats coming up the hill. Looking over her shoulder, she saw all of the knights, led by Lancelot, in full armor riding the hill towards them. Smiling, Meg moved to the end of the line next to Tristan. Just as she was going to say something, one of her Riders rode up and asked for last minute instructions.

Meg gave the directions and then added. "Be sure you have at least one Rider keeping an eye on Guinevere and Lancelot. There is going to be a Saxon with a bald head and a fresh scar on his face that you will have to take down as fast as you can. If you can't, signal to me and I will do it. He is a danger to everyone here." The Rider nodded his head and rode off to tell the others.

Tristan took her hand and gave it a gentle kiss. Smiling, Meg said. "How good is your aim, Scout?"

Tristan smirked. "Better than yours, I should hope. Why?"

Grinning, Meg said. "How about a contest then? There is a traitor in the large tree beyond the Wall. We both shoot an arrow and at the end of the battle, we shall see who killed him."

Tristan agreed and they both launched an arrow towards said tree.