Disclaimer: Don't own a thing. Funny about that isn't it.
PLOTTristan and Emile were barely any distance away from Camelot when Tristan's head started darting around in confusion. Emile recognised this as a sign her husband had sensed something. She moved her hand instinctually to the damning papers in her pocket. Papers that would prove the Saxon's were organising a rebellion against her beloved home.
Both figures narrowed their eyes when an unexpected burst of and stung their faces and swept back their hair. Even more unusual and suspicious was the rolling in fog. The horses the rode swayed uncertainly. Tristan reached for his bow and Emile for her dagger. They didn't look at each other, preferring to survey the forest in front.
Emile's heart pounded but she remained resolute as three figures walked out of the mist. She couldn't see them properly but they spoke to her.
"Greeting's friends of Merlin and Nimue," The middle person exclaimed in a light voice and all of them inclined their heads. At the moment their faces were free of the fog and Emile could see them clearly for the first time. She breathed a sigh of relief.
She would recognise the forgotten people anywhere. Anĩta, Avandé and Geerẫ looked on as the couple dismounted.
"It has been too long," Anĩta, breathed in her lovely lite voice.
"It is a shame we must meet under such sad circumstances," Geerẫ stated and his voice was identified as the one who had spoken first.
"We bring bad tidings, daughter of the Rouge," Avandé stated in his deep calm voice, his silver hair falling carelessly over his face. He didn't mind. He had not troubled with such things for an age.
Emile looked nervously from face to face, "Bad tidings? I really hate those two words. Most over used in history."
"News of a plot has reached our ears in the ethereal world," Anĩta's astonishing blue eyes flashed as she spoke.
Emile smiled tightly and ran her hands over the package in her pocket, "Thankyou wise ones but we know."
A smile reached up into Geerẫ's violet eyes and his brown hair shook as he laughed. Emile couldn't help feeling offended. Had she said something funny?
"That is Childs play compared to what comes," He explained, "this is much more well planned and will be much better executed. It will come from some one unknown."
"Some one from across the ocean," Avandé added his voice rumbling with seriousness.
Tristan glanced at his wife and arched an eyebrow. He had a peculiar feeling that some way, some how the rouge was going to be at the bottom of this. Emile didn't see his look. She was perplexed at the thought of another plot and one that she had not heard of herself.
"So are you here to help?" Emile pressed.
All three beings shook their heads.
"We can only warn," Geerẫ intoned.
"We dare not interfere," Anĩta added.
"We can not meddle in the events of humans. What will be will be," Geerẫ concluded.
"So you are just leaving?" Tristan spoke for the first time and his tone suggested contempt and accusations of cowardice.
Avandé inclined his head in confirmation, "Out of respect for your wife we alert her to the danger but we can not alter the course ourselves. Already we have broken too many rules of the forgotten with our friendship with Merlin and Nimue."
Emile opened her mouth to speak but Anĩta silenced her when she extended her hand, "Peace queen of the Rouge."
Emile realised the beings could not be persuaded and clasped Anĩta's hand. The two men bowed their heads.
Avandé smiled secretively at Tristan, "Your part in grander events is continuing sir knight."
Tristan's exterior did not falter but inside he wondered at the enigmatic way of the forgotten people.
Then, like a dream, they faded back into the mist and the same wind that had heralded their arrival swept the fog away leaving the forest as crisp and clear as it had been before.
"I have a bad feeling about that warning," Emile confessed to Tristan as they moved back to their horses. Tristan didn't say anything. He just double-checked his sword was easy to access.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Kel ran out of Camelot to meet them. She didn't have a smile on her face, which was unusual. Her dress was torn and her face was grim. There was a smudge of dirt on her face.
Emile dismounted and ran to her.
"Raiding party," Kel panted, "no warning at all."
"When?" Tristan asked gruffly as he reached for his sword.
Kel raised a placating hand, "Dawn. They're gone now."
"The children?" Emile demanded.
Kel's hand strayed to her swelling belly. "Fine," She murmured, "I left Larx with Alera."
Emile nodded and Tristan strode off towards the castle. Emile and Kel followed to the round table room, which was where all the families had congregated.
Tristan pushed open the doors. The Kaye and Garret both brought up daggers nervously. They were lowered quickly when they saw whom it was. Tristan's quick eyes took in the populace of the room. His children, Bors' and Galahads were here too. Lancelot and Alera's odd daughter curled up in a corner. Korella was stalking back and forward impatiently and Baltimore was watching her, irritated. Isolde was sitting on a chair reading of all things. In the room were also Vanora, Fulicina and Alera.
"Daddy," Dowanna shrieked and her and her twin Shadow raced across the room to be swept up into his arms. He held them close as they cried into his shoulder. Emile ran in soon after, saw her crying girls and practically strangled Tristan trying to hold them.
When they saw their mother there they cried harder. Emile released them to grab Larx. The baby had been squirming uncomfortably in the arms of his aunty but quieted instantly as soon as Emile held him.
That lasted about an instant before all the other knights burst in. Lyndaal wasted no time in collecting her children; Korella protested loudly but was secretly glad to be showered in kisses by her mother.
Bors didn't want to miss any of his children so he just hugged everybody in the room. He realised he should probably be more selective when he embraced Galahad for the fourth time.
Dagonet shook Armand's hand warmly and kissed Fulicina. Arthur walked in last. Garrett looked at him expectantly and tried to hide his disappointed when Arthur simply nodded and pushed forward to find Emile. Guinevere put a gentle hand to his face.
"Bandits," Arthur announced, "Unorganised but enough to cause trouble."
"Thank the gods it wasn't serious," A small voice stated.
"Pardon," Arthur strained his eyes to see who had spoken.
Isolde had put down the book and her eyes were filled with a cold anger, "well if they had been organised we were missing one of the finest warriors," She paused for effect, "My father was too busy escorting a frivolous women in another court."
Emile looked up from doting on Larx in disbelief. This was the first time Isolde openly insulted her.
"Isolde," Tristan muttered in a foreboding voice.
"Next time they could be organised. And what happens then? We die?"
The knights were staring incredulously at the sixteen year old and the cruel words passing from her mouth. They understood she didn't know about her mother's real employment but to blame this on her was nothing short of unreasonable.
"And you'll all defend her. It's her duty you'll say," Isolde didn't halt her attack.
Emile was speechless. Her twins were clutching at her leg and glaring daggers at their big sister. They weren't the only ones. Vanora was thinking about ending this with a sharp slap.
"Be quite Isolde," Alera snapped.
"There you all go. Like she's a gift from the gods," Isolde snapped. Garrett winced as he saw all the knights stiffen. This wasn't going to end pleasantly.
"You should hear some things about your mother then maybe you'd appreciate her," Galahad stepped up. Gawain nodded in agreement. Korella shifted uncomfortably torn between her best friend and her father. She knew Isolde had gone too far this time but she was still her friend. Kaye just grinned with out humour. This just proved everything about Isolde. Lancelot was breathing hard, very thankful that he had a daughter like Shazara.
Isolde opened her mouth to retort but was cut off by her father.
"Get out of my sight Isolde," Tristan said quietly but deadly. Isolde looked quickly around the faces searching for support. Surely someone must see how useless her mother was. She saw nobody. No one met her eye except Garrett and they were filled with disappointment.
With a stomp she pushed past her father and ran out the door.
Emile's face was blank and she watched her daughter go wondering how she had ruined being a mother so badly.
"I love you mother," Came a small voice. Emile looked down into the face of Shadow and Dowanna who was nodding strongly. She grinned ruefully.
"You have information for us?" Arthur addressed the pair. Tristan was angry. It could be seen from his tense body. Emile answered.
"Yes. Blue's very fashionable with the Saxons," she joked. Arthur clasped her shoulder and they filed out of the room. Soon only two people remained in the room. Shazara and Garrett.
They looked at each other for a minute, not knowing what to say but not wanting to leave the room and mingle with the others.
"You looked surprised," Shazara finally commented.
"I am," Garrett, confessed, "I thought Isolde was better than that."
"So did I," Shazara tried to assure him.
"But there were so many clues. Look at the way she treated you," Garrett pointed out.
Shazara winced with a grim smile on her face, "Yes. But I'm odd."
Garrett shifted uncomfortably under the younger girls direct stare, "That's no excuse."
"Isolde's not bad she's just confused and Emile does keep secrets," Shazara pointed out.
"And everyone likes Emile. Maybe a little more than Isolde," Garrett guessed. Shazara nodded.
"Should have seen this coming," Shazara held up a little white note. Garrett stared at it. Time for the next meeting.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Kyrilla had seen Isolde explode at her mother and grinned. Perfect. This was exactly the kind of dissension he had hoped would stir in the ranks.
He had organised another meeting for tonight and was glad at his own spectacular timing.
He had lured the children there with the lie that he wanted to elicit the same secret out of the parents as they did. He certainly wanted to shine light on it but what they didn't know was that he knew the secret already.
Emile's work for the Rouge had all but ceased. It had been redirected into a more noble cause of a country and that irritated him to no end. Sure there was a little bit of stealing. Some nice jewellery and weaponry going missing here and there but nothing major. And with the Roman rouge following the same path with the king's son Kari being born. At least there were plots and plans hatching in Rome and that fuelled his power. But here in Britain things were failing.
If the children knew the secret than Emile wouldn't be thinking so damn hard about protecting her undisclosed information and focusing on doing her job properly. She didn't bear the mark of the dragon for no reason.
He supposed he could tell them but why would they believe him even if he was a god. Besides it was much more fun this way and it would truly teach Emile a lesson. Maybe to make amends he could also teach her unruly daughter Isolde a lesson too but he didn't have to worry about that.
That would happen in good time. Kyrilla was just as wise as the forgotten people and he knew what was rising.
AN: well not much to say except um hope you liked the chapter. I'll probably be updating Traitor tomorrow. It's lovely having free days to just update. I've felt really slack. Please review.
MD666