Chapter VIII

A Plea for Freedom

In the heat of the summer, night does not last long. Hours seem more like minutes, minutes like seconds. Sleep and night travels far to fast, life goes on, pulling away the darkness of the night the sun rises. Pulling away not only darkness but sleep. She hears one awake, his heavy footsteps fall towards the ground over and over again. Like a drummer boy on its drum, he moves.

Perfect, slowly she allows her eyes to flutter open, realizing that the noise is coming towards her. It is no one, only Alan. His head held high, a smile on his face. Smiling back up at him she stands, letting him pull her into a hug that only she can understand. These knights indeed have brought a blessing with them. Alan does not look perfect, but it seems like ages since she has seen him smile.

They separate, her hand coming up to caress his cheek. "How are you?" Her voice seems distant, as if she was in a dream. Her eyes flicking up into his as he begins to speak. "Better, a lot better. I see that they found us." She doesn't reply to that, merely nods allowing him to take her back into a hug.

--

Days pass, and soon Rya starts to realize that they had traveled further then she had thought, days slip slowly away into nights. Nights sink away from the sun as day pushes the endless darkness away. Speech is limited between herself and the knights. She speaks rarely to them; her head bent low with shame as she thinks. Alan speaks to her, but it is awkward and she does not persuade conversation.

Remaining silent if necessary even in his presence. Day was once again slipping away from her grasp, darkness was pushing its upon them. In the distance a sun set disappears from her view, faint colours and light making the final steps into darkness. Arthur turns, his eyes flicking over her. Making sure that she has not done anything rash. She looks tired, her head bowed in submission as she moves the horse's reins with pale hands.

Shaking himself he turns forward once more, his eyes flicking over to the scout. "Find a place to rest." Is his only command before Tristan moves off into the darkness.

--

It did not take the small group long to find a place to rest. Only the strongest of stars had appeared when they had finally stopped for the night. Fires are made, and animals cleaned. Food is caught, and then cooked. An animal in the distance cries, but no one turns their head to listen. Horses snort in laziness, their eyes dropping as they slowly fall into sleep. The world is in peace, nothing to threaten them.

For it seems even the woads have decided to take the night off. No one noticed them, the women and her servant. The cheers and happy laughter of the men keeping them away from their true thoughts. They talk about home, something she also yearned for. A place where their where no responsibilities, for the men though it meant freedom. Something she had once had, just like them.

She had listened to many of their stories, some so child like and surreal she couldn't help but laugh. Other's deep and dramatic, stories that chilled to the bone. Making her want to run and cry at the same time. Alan had gone off for water, promising her to bring some back for her. It was odd sitting there alone, unsupervised by not only the men but by her servant.

He had been keeping an eye on her, she couldn't blame him. This whole mess had indeed been her fault. But she felt so alone now, now that Alan had turned his back on her. He was going to help these men bring her back. She had no doubt about that, he wanted to go home. Back to a warm bed and duties, which left him, satisfied. He didn't want freedom because he had never tasted it; from the moment of his birth he had been someone's.

No she was alone, Alan had indeed helped her but he would not do so again. He was smarter then that, he knew that there was no pot of gold at the end of this. He knew that for himself there was no hidden reward. He had come along for her and she had failed him. No the least she could do was make sure that he went back to his servant duties. No she would have to do this alone.

--

Another day and night passes, every step her horse takes she moves closer and closer to what she had before. Slowly a gloom seems to step in, an ever-lasting cloud that not even the fullest of winds can sweep away. The road soon becomes more and more populated. Some people she even recognizes, and some she does not. The days seem to speed up, even if they should be longer. Night seems to be nothing more then seconds, but like always darkness falls.

Night pushes away the living and welcomes the dying. Animals move towards their own homes; hoping for an undisturbed sleep. The knights like every night follow suit. Their horses tired and sluggish as they desperately wish for food and sleep. They soon find a place and following suit of the knights; she cleans and feeds her horse. Her eyes never drifting towards the knights as she does so. Dinner comes fast; she eats in silence her eyes flashing up from her dinner plate at the loud laughter that comes from the knights. Finished she hands back the plates and excuses herself, leaving Alan to enjoy the whiskey and ale they soon hand out. She walks slowly, making it look as if she has to do her business. Her eyes flicking up towards the stars as she makes her way towards the horses saddle bags.

But she is not noticed. None of the knight's turn back to make sure she stays in sight. Alan does not even turn to look; to over whelmed by the comfort and laughter around him. She does not grab what many would grab to go to the privy. Bread is one of the many items that work its way into her pockets. Next comes a dagger, and then a water bottle, half filled with whiskey. Taking a swing at the liquor to calm her nerves, she gags at the taste but washes it down anyways. Soon to find her hands no longer shaky and sweaty; she stands. Her eyes flicking over to the knights before finally disappearing from sight.

--

Her cloak covered her pretty well, the black hood keeping her face in shadows as she moved slowly along the tree line. Perhaps she should go back… no she told herself firmly, this was her last chance. Her last chance at freedom. God only knew how well she would be protected when she got back. There would be no turning back now. She would hide for a day or two and then with the little money she had left make her way back to her homeland.

To her father, her mother could not touch her there no one could. She would marry who she wanted, not whom her mother wanted. She would be someone that right now she could only envy. Making sure to make as little noise as possible she quickly got to the main road. She knew where she was, for she had studied a map before leaving. It would take her about an hour to get to the crossroads. There she would head to the right, to the great shores of Britain.

But the journey was harder then it had been on horse, she became tired easily. Her hands shaking for sleep as she took another swing of whiskey. A full day of riding and hopefully a full night of walking would leave her tired and in a daze. But it was worth it, every step she took seemed to be another leap towards her goal.

Cursing the fact that she only had whiskey she tried to drink as little as possible. A drunk lady would be tempting for any man she came across. And she would much rather be alert then drunk. But thirst clawed at her throat and so with another sudden gasp she took another sip of the liquor.

The sound of horse hoofs startles her and with a gasp she quickly moves of the road and behind a bush. Eyes flash as she watches the man, the knight. Bors was it not? Ducking behind a tree she waits, her hand over her mouth as she hears another horse approach.

Whispers, do they know she is here? Tucking her cloak around her she stands stock still. Her back up against a tree, her dagger ready in her hand. She felt a tug at her shoulder and with a yelp smashed the dagger into the mans arm. She hears a cry and with another quick yelp breaks forwards. Lifting her skirt as she runs into the bush. She felt another hand grasp her, turning her around she gasped as the man takes her dagger from her.

He was mad, fierce in anger. The man… the man from her dreams. Stepping back with a cry she watches him. His hand still holding her shoulder tightly. "Please..." She pleads, but is easily cut off . "Get back to the horses now."

--

AN: Sorry for the wait, and thank you reviewers for the lovely reviews.