Author: Well, I went horseback riding yesterday and my ass is really really sore. But I had fun and I rode a beautiful white Arabian named Sanada. And if any of you are confused, Natalie's horse is a girl, but I thought Tyler or Ty was a good name for her. So just bear with me. And if in the first chapter it said the Natalie's horse was a boy my mistake. It's a mare not a stallion. And Val's horse is a mare. CHEERS!
(Sorry no song today but a quote.)
"You can't even read."
"It's the bible. You get credit for trying."
Chapter Nine: Marius
They rode for what seemed hours until they reached a forest. Arthur stopped them into a walk. Valerie looked around her in the forest. She knew that they were being watched.
"Woads." She said to Arthur.
"Where?" He asked.
"Everywhere. They're watching us." She said and Tristan came up next to her.
"You seem to know what's going on. You're good at scouting and knowing what's going on in the forest." He said.
"Where I used to live, there was a forest and I'd ride my horse through it everyday. I know my way around." Val said and dropped back behind Natalie.
Natalie took in her surrounding's. She wasn't scared or nervous, she was cautious. Her browns eyes gazed through bushes and tree branches. She knows that woads are following them but she did not fear them. Lancelot rode up next to her and studied her. He noticed no emotion in her eyes. Nothing.
"You're not frightened. Most woman would be." He said.
She looked at him.
"I don't have any fears. I don't fear death nor pain." She said looking ahead once again.
"That's a good thing that you're brave like that. But you should be careful. You're the only one who's not wearing armor." He pointed out.
Natalie didn't look back at him; she just let out a sigh.
"I know. But I prefer it that way."
Lancelot nodded and didn't say anything else.
Then an arrow flew past Natalie's head. Arthur noticed this and turned them around.
"This way!" he called out as the others followed.
Natalie took out her sword and followed. Val got her bow out as they ran. Then, they were cornered. Valerie pointed her bow at the woads on ground and so did Tristan. Natalie pulled the reins on Ty by to make sure she did go anywhere. But, the woads disappeared into the forest.
"Inish. Devil ghosts." Dagonet said.
"Why didn't they kill us Arthur?" Valerie asked.
"Merlin doesn't want us dead." Arthur said walking back on the trail.
They got onto a rode that led to the Roman estate. Valerie looked around at the peasants and knew that this Marius wasn't a good man. They neared the gate but the mercenaries closed it.
"Who are you?" one asked.
Natalie shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"I'm Arthur Castus, commander of the Sarmation Knights. Open the gate." Arthur replied and then commanded.
The gate opened and short man came out. Valerie and Natalie figured that that was Marius.
"It is a wonder you have come. Good Jesus, Arthur and his Knights." Marius said reaching to pet Natalie's horse but she pulled Tyler back. And she gave out a snort.
"You have fought the woads. Vial creatures." He said.
"Out orders are to evacuate you immediately." Arthur told him.
"That is impossible." Marius replied.
Valerie stepped in the conversation.
"Which is Alecto?" she asked and Marius glared at her.
"I am Alecto." A boy answered from the wall.
Marius looked at Arthur.
"Alecto is my son. And everything we have is here. Given to us by the pope of Rome." He said clapping his hands together.
"Well, you're about to give it to the Saxons." Natalie and Lancelot said at the same time.
They looked at each other and quickly looked away. Bors looked at the two of them and knew something was going on.
"The Rome will send an army." Marius said getting angry.
"They have, us. We leave as soon as you're packed." Arthur replied.
Marius glared.
"I refuse to leave." And he looked at the villagers who were watching the scene.
"Get back to work! All of you!" he yelled at them.
Mercenaries started forcing the villagers to work. Natalie had had it. She just wants to get the out of her. She dismounted her horse and went up to Marius.
"Hey, buddy. If he fails to bring you and your son back, his men can never leave this island. So, you're coming whether Arthur or I tie you to a horse and drag you all the way back to Hadrian's Wall, our self, my lord." She said and crossed her arms.
Marius glared at her and walked back into his estate followed by his wife and Alecto.
Lancelot, still on his horse, walked next to her.
"That wasn't like you." He said.
"I want to get the hell out of here, that's all." She replied.
"I think we all do." He said back to her.
Arthur looked at a man who was being hung by his wrists with chains. He took out his sword and walked over to him. Lancelot and Natalie both rolled their eyes.
"Okay, why do you guys do the same thing at the same time? Or say the same thing?" Gawain asked.
Natalie and Lancelot looked at each other.
"I don't know." Lancelot answered.
Gawain looked at Natalie and raised an eyebrow. She just shrugged. Gawain looked at Bors who just shook his head.
"You're Arthur, aren't you? I'm Ganis, I'm a good fighter, and I'd serve you proudly." A man said to Arthur.
A man came up to Natalie. Well, a monk.
"Are you from Rome?" he asked.
She looked at him.
"From hell." She simply answered and walked over to her horse handing her to Jols.
"Don't worry. The only men she trusts is Arthur, Lancelot and you." Natalie said with a smile and walked over to Valerie. Val was still on her horse.
"Who is this man?" Arthur asked pointing to the man in chains.
No one answered him.
"Answer me!" he commanded.
"He's are village elder." Ganis answered.
"What is this punishment for?
"Well, most of the crops that we grow are sent out to sea to be traded. He asked that we keep a little more for ourselves, that's all. My ass has been snappin' at the grass I'm so hungry," he took a breath; "you're from Rome. Is it true that Marius is of God and it's a sin to defy him?"
Arthur looked at the elder and then back at Ganis and the villagers.
"I'll tell you now, Marius is not of God. And you! All of you were free from your first breath!" he yelled.
He took his sword and cut the chains and freed the man.
"Help the man." Arthur commanded.
No one moved.
"Help him!" he said more sternly.
Arthur didn't put his sword back let it drop by his side.
"Now listen, a Saxon army is coming this way. They will spare no thing and no one. Those of you able should pack and move south to Hadrian's Wall. Those unable shall come with us. Ganis, you serve me now. Get these people ready." Arthur said and walked over to his knights.
Tristan came riding back from his scout and went to Arthur and talked to him. When he was done, Arthur looked where monks were walling a door up. Arthur unsheathed his sword. Natalie saw this and did the same and followed him.
"What is this?" Arthur asked the monks.
"You can't go in there. This place is forbidden." The monk replied.
Arthur glared at him.
"Stop what you are doing!" Marius yelled running up but Bors blocked him with his horse.
"Arthur, we don't have time." Valerie said.
"Do you not hear the drums?" Lancelot and Natalie, once again said at the same time.
Everyone looked at them. Natalie put on her best innocent look and Lancelot just looked away.
"Dagonet." Arthur said.
Dag took his axe and walked up to the door and hit it until it crumbled to his feet. He kicked the door but it would not open.
"Key." Natalie said.
"It is locked." A mercenary replied.
"No, really?" Natalie said sarcastically.
"From the inside."
Dag looked back at Arthur.
"Okay, movie Dag." Natalie said going up to the door.
She sheathed her sword and held the door frame with both hands and kicked the door open. A fowl smell came from inside.
"Now it's unlocked. But unfortunately, it smells like shit in there." She said with a smirk.
Lancelot stared in awe and Dag looked at her pretty impressed. Arthur grabbed a torch and walked in. Lancelot got off his horse and unsheathed one of his swords. Natalie unsheathed her sword again and followed Lancelot inside. Dag went in and Valerie pushed a monk in there.
"Come on get in there." She said.