Author: Well, here's chapter 17. Think a good fight is in order. Yup, that's right it's our special ice battle. And there could be a few surprises. Well, maybe. You'll just have to read to find out. CH33RS!

When you see me coming down

And I will force it on the ground

There's no one left to hurt but me

And that's because of me

Because of Me by Seether

Chapter Seventeen: Ice Battle

"So, what's ahead?" Arthur asks Tristan and Valerie.

"A frozen lake. We could probably make it over if we spread out." Val responds.

Arthur looks down and then to Tristan.

Can you lead us there?" asks Arthur.

Tristan nods his head.

"We're about 5 minutes away if all of us ride fast and wait for the caravan." He tells Arthur and Val sighs.

She's getting worried that the Saxons will catch up to them.

The knights ride ahead and stop in front of the frozen lake. Natalie looks and thinks there is no chance. Lancelot starts to think the same. Sabina doesn't know what to think but she moves closer to Galahad so feel a little safer. Evy looks down and Dag puts a hand on her shoulder and she looks up and smiles. And he smiles back. Valerie looks over the ice and starts to pray that they make it.

"Is there any way around it?" Arthur asks.

Val looks over at him.

"No, we have to cross the ice." Tristan answers solemnly.

Arthur looks back at Jols.

"Tell the people to get out of the carriages and spread out." Arthur commands and Jols rides to the caravan that comes into view.

Valerie looks over at Tristan.

"Do you think we have a chance of getting across." She asks.

Tristan lets out a sigh and looks over at her.

"We might, but we're most likely going to fight the Saxons." He replies.

Val nods in understandent and agreement.

She knows they would most likely have to stand and fight. She wouldn't mind to fight; it's if anyone gets hurt. Especially Natalie…or Tristan. She loved both of them and she wants to protect Natalie from any danger that she cannot bear on her own.

Tristan looks at Valerie again. She looks nervous. Not frightened, but nervous. He doesn't want anything to happen to her. He admits that he loves her, but he's not sure that she loves him back. It seems that everyone else could see it because they found love, but Valerie seems to be ignoring that fact that everyone has someone now. Tristan knows how she feels. She's never been with someone and he's guessing she's afraid to show her feelings…or love. It's most likely from what he father did to her and Natalie is what she figures. But it he could get Valerie to understand that he has no intention to hurt her, and then he'll be glad that she trusts him. But it seems that now, she can't really trust anyone. He just wants for her to know how he feels.

(There scouter. There's some Tristan Val. They're thinking about each other…constantly. There will be more about them after the ice battle.)

Dagonet had know doubt that Evy could handle herself if anything bad would happen, but he just wants to protect her from anything bad. That's how he's been feeling ever since he met her. He'd feel better knowing he is there to help her and protect her. Like how he protects Lucan. What he does hope, is that they do not face the Saxons. He doesn't want anyone put in harms way. Dagonet has an unknown feeling for Evelyn. He doesn't really know what it is. He looked at her and saw the fear in her eyes. She was scared of crossing the ice. If he could, he would hold her. Be there for her.

The knights dismounted their horses and walked across the ice. The caravan was spread out and they crossed. They took their time, but then Saxons drums could be heard. Arthur turned his horse around. Valerie looked at him.

"They're too close Arthur." She says and Arthur nods.

"Knights…" he says.

Bors comes forward.

"Well, I'm tired of running. And these Saxons are so close behind, my ass is hurting." He says.

"Never liked looking over my shoulder anyways." Tristan says and walks forward a little and Val smiles but it fades quickly.

"Put an end to this racket." Gawain says fiddling with his horses reins.

"Here," Evy says coming forward.

"Now." Dag finishes walking forward also.

Arthur looks over at Natalie and Lancelot who both merely nod.

"Jols." Arthur says and Jols has to mercenaries take the horses.

"This man is now your captain. Do as he says." Arthur says to two soldiers referring to Ganis.

All of the knights were lined up with bows ready and weapons in front of them. The caravan got off the ice and the Saxons approached walking on the ice. Lancelot looks at Guinevere and Natalie.

"You two looked frightened…there's a lot of lonely men out there." He says with a smirk.

"Don't worry we won't let them rape you." They say at the same time and smile.

The lead Saxon has an archer come up and fire. The arrow only lands about 250 feet away from the knights.

"We are out of range." A Saxon says.

Cynric looks at him.

"I can see that." He says in a smart ass tone.

"Tristan, Bors, Valerie." Arthur says and they load their bows.

"We're far out of range." Guin says and Arthur smirks.

The three let loose their arrows and they hit at least 6 Saxons. Natalie smirks. The Saxons start coming forward. The knights nock their arrows pointing at the Saxons that are now coming forward.

"Aim for the ranks make them cluster. Wait for my command." Arthur says.

Arthur lets his arrow fly first and everyone else follows. They fire arrows and arrows. The Saxons start to cluster.

"Hold the ranks! Hold the ranks! I kill you myself!" Cynric yells at his men.

They Saxons start to hold the ranks and Arthur stops shooting.

"The ice won't break. Prepare for combat." He says to everyone.

The knights drop their bows and grab their weapons. Lancelot unsheathes his swords and Natalie does the same. Dag grabs his axe and Evy grabs another. The Saxons draw out their weapons. Valerie looks over at Evy who seems to be hard thinking. Then Evy did the unexpected. She ran out onto the ice.

"Evelyn!" Dag yelled and picked up his bow and immediately started firing. The other followed. Valerie watched at Evy through his axe against the ice making it crack. The archers for the Saxons started to come up and fire. Dag got more scared by the second. Natalie's eyes widened as an arrow hit Evy in the shoulder. Dagonet couldn't stand there anymore. He through his bow down and ran out there.

"Dag!" Bors yelled.

Bors started firing three arrows at once now. Evy got hit with another arrow in the chest. She though up her axe and the ice broke. She felt her self go weak and she fell into the water. Dag ran and fell by the water and pulled Evy out. Bors ran out with a shield and covered them. Dag picker Evy up and she is unconscious but is breathing slightly. The Saxons were defeated. Dag put Evy down.

"Evelyn, stay with me. Evelyn!" he cries out.

But her eyes close and her head goes off to the side. Sabina kneels next to him.

"She's not dead. She's going into hypothermia. We need to get her warm." She says and whistles.

In about 3 minutes her horse comes running and stops near her.

"Take Dag and Evy back to the caravan." She whispers as Dag mounts her horse with Evy.

"Ride fast." She says again.

The horse takes off to the caravan. Valerie feels tears come down her face. Tristan notices this and pulls her into a hug. Lancelot does the same with Natalie who is just sobbing. Arthur looks down and then at his knights and the girls.

"Come on. Let's get back to the caravan." He says and starts heading back.

Sabina looks at Guin who has tears going down her face. Sabina walks over to her.

"'m sure Evy will be okay. Come on, let's get Natalie taken care of." She says.

Lancelot is still with her trying to calm her down.

"She'll be okay. In Dag's care, she'll be fine." He says comforting her.

Sabina puts a hand on Lancelot's shoulder.

"Guin and I will take of her. Go see if Arthur's alright." She says.

Lancelot nods and kisses Natalie on the cheek and walks over to Arthur. Guin pulls Natalie into a hug first…