Chapter Ten
The next two weeks were a blur in cleaning and burning the dead bodies. The Saxons' bodies were thrown into a large pile and burnt while the other casualties were given proper burials. Many Woads were buried on Badon Hill as a sign of respect for all that they gave in the fight.
During those weeks, Meg and Tristan got to know each other. They would spend most of the day with each other and all of their nights. Neither of them spoke of what would happen when she left, and they both knew she was going to. When they were not together, Meg would help Gwen plan her wedding to Arthur. It was to be the biggest celebration that anyone had ever seen.
Gawain and Galahad were planning on going home. Lancelot and Dagonet were thinking of joining them. Bors was trying to dig up the courage to ask Vanora to marry him. The battle brought home the fact that he wasn't going to live forever and he wanted to spend the rest of his days with the red head next to him.
Arthur was the only one not thinking of the future, he was talking about it. He spent many of his days locked in his study with Merlin and a couple of other elders, making plans on how to make life better on the island. He was shocked to find out that the Woads wanted to crown him king. Arthur tried to get out of it, but Merlin was not going to let him. Apparently the Woads respected the person Arthur was, even though he had killed many of their comrades.
By the time the wedding came, Gwen was a nervous wreck, she kept changing her mind about each and every little thing. It finally got to the point that Meg dragged her to the training ring and threw a sword at her.
"I have had enough of your nervousness. We are going to work it out of you. This way you can leave the poor servants to prepare your wedding without the constant interruption of you changing your mind. They know what they are doing, so let them do it." Meg said in a frustrated voice.
Gwen was shocked to see her friend in such a state. She then dropped her head, remembering what her friend was saying was true. With an embarrassed flush, Gwen brought her head up and got into her fighting stance. By then several of the knights and heard Meg yelling at Gwen and came to see what was going on. Because everyone had been working non stop since the battle, the knights sat down to watch the show.
Meg and Gwen faced off, waiting for the other to make the first move. They knew each other's fighting style so; it took a while for the first strike to come. When it came, it was met with a resounding crash of metal on metal. Meg and Gwen blocked and struck with such speed and accuracy that the knights were having a hard time following who was attacking and who wasn't.
They fought for about an hour before one of them made a slip. Gwen came forward to attack Meg and left her left side open for a kick. Gwen fell to the ground winded and stayed there. Meg dropped to the ground next to her and smiled. That smile was returned by Gwen and soon it turned into laughter. The knights jumped to their feet and cheered and whistled for a well met fight. Meg lay down next to Gwen and chuckled.
"I don't think they would have lasted as long as we did, do you?" She asked with a little smirk on her face.
"I think you are right. They would have been begging for mercy under your attacks. Meg, you are a force to be reckoned with on the field but when you try to beat a lesson into someone, you are ruthless." Gwen said with a chuckle.
The knights came over to where the women were lying and helped them up. It was, in fact, Gwen and Arthur's wedding day and the women still had to get ready. When the women got up they thanked the knights and walked off to get ready, arms slung over each other and whispering in each others ears.
The wedding was set to take place at sunset. To make better use of the sunlight, and also to allow the bridal party some reprieve from the sun's heat. Meg was the first to walk into the circle of stones that was to be the wedding alter, followed by Arthur and Merlin. The knights and Vanora and the children were standing outside of the circle. There were many Woad archers standing at the edge of the cliff with their bows and arrows, ready for their part at the end of the ceremony.
Meg was wearing a flowing dress of deep burgundy with long sleeves that belled out at the wrist. The skirt was skimming the ground when she walked. The collar of the dress was square and was decorated with silver and gold threads holding small beads the shape of flowers. She had a belt of hammered gold around her waist that hung down to her feet. Her hair was pulled up in the sides and held in place by a wreathe of flowers. In her hands, she had a bouquet of wild flowers.
Then Gwen came in the circle. All eyes were turned towards her and they were in awe at the sight of their new queen. She was dressed in a light blue flowing gown with her hair pulled back with a circlet and her hair was pulled up to allow her veil to flutter behind her as she walked forward to Arthur.
The ceremony didn't take very long. Arthur placed the ring from his finger on hers to signify his love for her, and Merlin gave Gwen a goblet with wine in it to drink then pass to Arthur. After that Merlin presented the King and Queen to the crowd and everyone cheered. Bors, getting caught up in the moment, took a step out and yelled Arthur's name and then saluted him with his sword. The other knights smiled and just shook their heads at Bors. The archers, then, did their duty by firing flaming arrows out towards the ocean from the cliff side.
When everyone got back the Wall, the women went to take Gwen's veil off. The banquet that was set out was something to see. There was at least five different kinds of meats, hunted by the knights and Arthur the day before. The bakers worked tirelessly to make all of the breads and desserts needed for such a feast. As soon as everyone had eaten, the musicians that Arthur found walked to the side of the room and started to play a lively tune. Bors drug Vanora out onto the floor, stepping on her toes more than once. Arthur and Gwen watched as the rest of the knights save Tristan go and find themselves partners.
Gwen got up and walked towards Meg, who was sitting next to Tristan watching the goings on of the knights. Gwen sat next to Meg and whispered something in her ear. Meg was thoughtful for a minute and replied to Gwen in a whispered tone. Arthur and Tristan were getting suspicious about the exchange. The women smiled at each other and stood up together. Gwen walked towards the musicians and spoke to them while Meg started to talk to herself; really she was warming her vocal cords up. After speaking to the musicians, Gwen walked towards the center of the room and tried to get the attention of everyone dancing. It wasn't working, so Tristan, who had been watching the women, whistled a high pitched whistle that effectively quieted everyone. Gwen smiled her thanks to Tristan and turned back to the crowd of people.
"I have asked Meg to sing a song for me, and she has agreed. But she wants both Tristan and Arthur to come to the middle of the room, because her song is for both of them with the same feeling from me. I would sing with her, but I won't subject anyone to my wailings." She said chuckling.
Arthur and Tristan looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They made their way to the center of the room where Meg was standing getting ready to sing. Someone had brought chairs for the three of them to sit in while she sang.
(Insert lyrics for: You Found Me by Kelly Clarkson)
The crowd cheered when she was done. Arthur and Tristan stood up from their chairs and hugged their respective women. Gwen smiled at Meg, who had tears in her eyes. Tristan let Meg go, but kept her by his side. Arthur let Gwen go and came to Meg to give her a hug and a kiss on her cheek as a way of saying thank you for the song. Bors came over and swung Meg into a bear hug and smacked her cheek with a drunken kiss and loudly proclaimed that, next to Vanora, she was the best singer he had ever heard. Dagonet came next and hugged her, not as tightly as Bors did. Gawain and Galahad came over and kissed both of her cheeks, while Tristan gave a playful growl. Lancelot was the last one to come and see her. He came up and hugged and tried to get a quick kiss in but she was too fast for him, so his kiss landed on her cheek instead of on her lips.
The feast wound down long past the midnight hour. But Meg and Tristan had excused themselves far before then. It was to be their last night together and they wanted to spend what time they had together. Meg gave Gwen a hug goodnight and Arthur a kiss on the cheek, and left to go to Tristan's room.
After making love for the third time that night, the couple held each other and whispered sweet nothings in each others ears. Not wanting to let go for any reason. With her back to Tristan's front, Meg let silent tears to fall. She had been dreading this day since they survived the battle of Badon Hill. Softly, she started to sing a song for just him. This way every time she heard it in her time, she would think of only him.
(Insert lyrics to: When you come back down by Nickel Creek)
As she finished the song, Tristan hugged her tighter to his side. Meg was a little shocked to feel wetness on her neck where Tristan's head was burrowed. She turned in his arm and realized that he was crying. Gently, she reached up with her hand and softly brushed his tears off of his face. She smiled a small smile and cuddled deeper into his embrace, just wanting to remember the feel of his arms around her.
The next morning dawned hazy and gray. The day promised an onslaught of rain, and it helped with the feeling of the riders heading into the forest. Arthur and his knights plus Meg and Gwen rode in virtual silence to the clearing the woods where Meg was to leave. As they rose, Meg kept her ears open for any strange sounds. It was a little before they reached the clearing that she heard a faint cry coming from off the path. Stopping Angel, she got off and wandered in the direction of the cry. Tristan, seeing her stop and dismount, went after her to see what she was doing. It was just the two of them when they found an injured baby hawk. Meg picked him up and cradled him to her chest and looked at Tristan with pleading in her eyes. He looked at the little bird in her hands and sighed a heavy sigh.
Smiling a little at his love, he took the bird from her and cradled it much like she did. "I will take care of him for you. When you come back, he will be healthy and in need of seeing you as much as I will. So please, don't stay away too long."
Meg smiled a tearful smile and took his hand in hers and walked back to the other riders.
Five minutes later, the little train of riders entered the small clearing. There in the center was Merlin, waiting for Meg to join him. Everyone dismounted and waited their turn for a goodbye from Meg. Arthur and Gwen were the first.
"If ever you need me, just ask Merlin to summon me. I will be here no matter what is happening at home. And Arthur, you take care of her, if I hear you haven't, there will be hell to pay." Meg said while hugging her best friend and Arthur. Arthur nodded his head and whipped a tear from his cheek with a small smile.
The next were Gawain and Galahad. She hugged them both and gave them each a kiss on the cheeks. "Take care my brothers. You had better be here when I come back, or I will hunt you down faster than the Roman army can." She warned them. They laughed a little and agreed to be here for her.
Dagonet and Bors were after them. They both gathered her up in bear hugs and got kisses on the cheeks as well. "Bors, you take care of your family. Don't make me want to beat you over the head for doing something stupid. Dag, keep him in line will you?" They both chuckled and agreed to do was she said.
Lancelot came next. He stepped up and tried to get more than a little kiss from her, but a quick smack to the back of his head got rid of that notion. "My friend, take care. You might want to go home to see your family, but, like the twins over there, you had better be here when I get back." She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "She is taken, try to find another. If you continue down this path, you will hurt not only yourself but her and him as well." Lancelot looked shocked at her warning, but nodded his head and let go of her after a quick hug.
Tristan was the last one. She went to him and gave him a passionate kiss and didn't want to leave. "I will be back. Take care of Aryn for me. I will think of you always. I have your markings and your mother's necklace to remind me of you. Just don't forget about me. I would be too hurt if you forgot me." She kissed him again and petted the baby hawk, Aryn, and whistled for Lucifer. She whispered something to him and let him take off of her arm. He flew into the air and circled the clearing once then landed on Tristan's shoulder.
Smiling sadly, she walked towards Merlin and took off her cloak. The people in the clearing got the first good look of her 'travel' clothes. They were a pair of dark blue jeans, a white long sleeved shirt and a pair of tennis shoes. She turned to the knights and Gwen and waved one last time to them. Turning to Merlin she spoke to him quietly.
"Keep them safe for me. Tell Tristan that he has Angel until I return, and that I expect her to be in prime condition for a race. Also, promise me that you will contact me if they ever need my help, no matter how small." Merlin smiled at her and agreed to her terms. She hugged him and kissed his cheek.
As she let him go, Meg felt a slight tug on her stomach and she fell forward.
A.N.: In my original story, I had the lirycs for these songs in it, but I didn't wantto piss off the powers that be by leaving them in there. If you'd like to have them, send me a P.M. and I'll send them to you. Hope you enjoyed the story, there's only one chapter left, and then I'm going to start working on a sequel, I may need some ideas. Feel free to send me some of them if you'd like me to write it, have a beginning, but not the rest. :)
