Chapter Four
Most of the evening went without further incident. Everyone was having a good time; laughing and talking. Arcadia had a lot of fun talking with the former knights about their adventures and homeland.
"What about your homeland?" Galahad asked Arcadia. She looked over at him and smiled.
"Its beautiful. The country side is like green waves and the sky is blue as blue." A far off look came across her face. "Its amazing."
All the nights smiled at her remembering their own homeland. They couldn't wait to get home. Arcadia was about to speak when a messenger from the wall came running into the dinning hall.
"My lord, more riders are approaching." The messenger was breathless as he spoke.
Arcadia, Mila, and Dameon both rose from their seats. They looked to the messenger expectantly willing him to continue with their gazes. Tension began to grow increasingly thick as the silent pause continued.
"They are all dressed in black with dark gray cloaks. They are nearing the gates increasingly fast, my lord."
"Holy hell!" Arcadia's eyes grew wide. "It's always bad timing." She said under her breath.
Chapter Four
"Do we move out, chief?" Dameon and Mila made their way over to Arcadia.
"Go get ready, we leave immediately." Arcadia whispered to them. They nodded before heading off to their rooms.
"Arcadia! You haven't even been here a full day. What's going on?" Guinevere rose from her seat.
"War, my lady." Arcadia looked to Arthur. "Will you open the gates, my lord? The riders are mine." Arcadia held her gaze with Arthur. He turned towards the messenger who silently waited for his next order.
"Have the gates opened immediately." Arcadia nodded her thanks before heading for her room.
The four knight's that had only moments before been talking with the carefree Arcadia also stood surprised.
"War?" Gawain looked puzzled.
Arthur, Guinevere, Gawain, Bors, Lancelot, and Galahad stood around the round table, which they continued to use it as a meeting place. There was a long pause before anyone spoke.
"I'm going, Arthur." Guinevere looked over at her husband. Arthur looked over at his wife and sighed.
"She is my best friend and I will not let her go into battle alone just like she wouldn't let me go out alone." Guinevere's voice began to rise.
"I will not let you go alone either." Arthur also rose to his feet his voice rising. The knights were surprised to see their commander in such a state. He had always kept his calm before. "I don't want to lose you Guinevere." He whispered to her.
"I understand, but you have seen me fight. If they have already reached the stronghold of Arcadia's people, she is going to need all the help she can get. She can not fight with only three trained warriors." Guinevere looked at all the knights. "The Saxon's are still scattered about this country, you know as well as I do when they regroup they grow stronger especially if they have a leader." Guinevere looked back at Arthur. "I will be leaving with her." Guinevere took one last glance around the table before making her way to her room to prepare.
Arthur put his face in his hands. He had no idea what he should do? How could he stop her? She is far too stubborn and loyal to be convinced to back down.
"What should we do Arthur?" Lancelot asked. He did not like the struggle that was going on in his friend's eyes. He would really allow Guinevere to leave?
"I cannot leave. There are still things that need to be attended to here." Arthur replied.
"Is it worth it?" Galahad broke the moment of silence. "Is it worth us going, Arthur?"
Everyone looked up at Galahad surprised. They heard him talk about how much he wished to go home. Why would he think about going?
"If what Guinevere says is true, Arcadia and her people were there when we were fighting the Saxons." Galahad explained. "I heard them talking. Most of Arcadia's people are half Woad half Samaritan."
Arthur was surprised at what Galahad was saying. "You want to go and fight, Galahad?"
"If not for the Woad half, for the Samaritan half." Galahad looked over at Gawain, Lancelot, and Bors. They all nodded in agreement. Then they looked to Arthur.
"You do realize you will be under Guinevere's command, if not Arcadia's?" They all nodded as Arthur took a deep breath and let it out. "If you all are willing, but you are not forced to go. I wish you all luck. I only wish that I could join you." Arthur shared a glance with his friends, they were still like his knights and although they are free men he knows they always will be his knights even if they are not in service for him. He nodded before exiting the room.
After making it to her room, Arcadia quickly changed into her brown leather pants but instead of her regular shirt she dressed in a brown bodice like shirt without straps. She adorned her twin swords on her back with her dagger hung low on her hip. She quickly put her hair into a bun then grabbed her bag. She flung her cloak over her shoulders as she made her way out into the corridor. Mila and Dameon met her in the main hall as they made their way to the wall to greet their friendly riders. They were surprised to see Guinevere waiting for them with her husband beside her. Arcadia paused when their eyes met.
"I'm coming with you." She declared fully dressed in her own battle gear and weapons.
"Like hell you are, my lady." Arcadia said. "No offense, of course. You are married women. I seriously doubt your husband would allow you to come." Arthur stepped forward giving Arcadia a slight smile and nod. "You better take care of her. She better be back in one piece." Arcadia nodded to him before making her way down the steps. Arcadia hadn't noticed that as she turned to walk away Gawain, Galahad, and Lancelot were following Guin who had started following her. Arthur had decided to keep Bors around for company.
"You can't fight them alone, Arcadia." Guin yelled to her friend. "They are more reckless then you seem to realize, especially if they are following a leader." Guin grabbed her friends' arm jerking her around to face her.
"You think I don't know that?" Arcadia was surprised to see the three former knights standing behind Guinevere dressed in light armor and weapons. She glanced at Galahad. He had wanted to go home so bad. Why was he doing this? "They move fast, I must hurry."
"Plus, it took a hell of a time convincing Arthur, you're not leaving here without me." Guinevere gave her friend a smile. "I will help you fight for your people, as you have helped fight for my own."
"You never could let me get into a fight alone, could you?" Arcadia smiled.
"And let you have all the fun? I don't think so." Arcadia laughed at her friends answer.
"And why might you boys be joining us?" Arcadia walked closer to the knights. "Especially you Galahad. I thought you wanted to go home."
"Its on the way." Galahad laughed.
"Just like Guinevere said. We can't let you have all the fun." Lancelot broke in. "We Samaritan's need to stick together."
"How would you know about my second half?" Arcadia looked at Lancelot then over at Galahad who shrugged and gave her a small smile.
"Arcadia!" She turned when she heard someone call her name. The three riders had just entered the gates and were galloping towards her.
"Brakin?" Arcadia walked up to the chestnut brown horse when it came to a hold. "John was suppose to come, not you." She looked up at her 14- year-old brother.
"He's gone, Arcadia." Brakin climbed off his horse. Even for his young age he was about as tall as his older sister. He had shaggy brown hair and hazel eyes.
"What do you mean?" She asked him softly.
"There was another attack on our village. John went out to fight...he never returned." Brakin explained softly.
"Shit!" She screamed as she kicked at the dirt under her feet. Mila and Dameon came up beside her for comfort. John had been an old family friend and all three of them had been close to him ever since they were young.
"I'll go get the horses." Dameon said walking off towards the stables. Gawain followed him to get his, Lancelot, Galahad, and Guin's horses.
"What's our plan, chief?" Guin walked over to stand in front of her friend.
Arcadia looked over at her younger brother, then at the two riders that were with him. She was glad to see that they were some of her own bodyguards that had escorted Brakin.
"I do not know." She looked away from Guin and turned back to her younger brother. "Where are the others?"
"They are with ma. They were just fine when I left to come get you. It was only a day after you left that some Saxons were spotted. There weren't very many so we didn't think that they would attack."
"What about pa? Where is he?"
"With John." Arcadia looked away from him when he answered. Dameon and Gawain had just showed up with the horses, saddled and ready to go. They handed everyone their horse. Arcadia climbed up on her brown and white mare (I think that is the correct word, sorry if it isn't) and everyone followed.
She turned her horse around to see that everyone was ready to go. Just before she turned back she caught Arthur's eye from the top of the fortress steps. He gave her a small smile before nodding. Arcadia returned the gesture before she turned her horse around. "We ride!" She yelled to her companions as she urged her horse forward.
Most of the evening went without further incident. Everyone was having a good time; laughing and talking. Arcadia had a lot of fun talking with the former knights about their adventures and homeland.
"What about your homeland?" Galahad asked Arcadia. She looked over at him and smiled.
"Its beautiful. The country side is like green waves and the sky is blue as blue." A far off look came across her face. "Its amazing."
All the nights smiled at her remembering their own homeland. They couldn't wait to get home. Arcadia was about to speak when a messenger from the wall came running into the dinning hall.
"My lord, more riders are approaching." The messenger was breathless as he spoke.
Arcadia, Mila, and Dameon both rose from their seats. They looked to the messenger expectantly willing him to continue with their gazes. Tension began to grow increasingly thick as the silent pause continued.
"They are all dressed in black with dark gray cloaks. They are nearing the gates increasingly fast, my lord."
"Holy hell!" Arcadia's eyes grew wide. "It's always bad timing." She said under her breath.
Chapter Four
"Do we move out, chief?" Dameon and Mila made their way over to Arcadia.
"Go get ready, we leave immediately." Arcadia whispered to them. They nodded before heading off to their rooms.
"Arcadia! You haven't even been here a full day. What's going on?" Guinevere rose from her seat.
"War, my lady." Arcadia looked to Arthur. "Will you open the gates, my lord? The riders are mine." Arcadia held her gaze with Arthur. He turned towards the messenger who silently waited for his next order.
"Have the gates opened immediately." Arcadia nodded her thanks before heading for her room.
The four knight's that had only moments before been talking with the carefree Arcadia also stood surprised.
"War?" Gawain looked puzzled.
Arthur, Guinevere, Gawain, Bors, Lancelot, and Galahad stood around the round table, which they continued to use it as a meeting place. There was a long pause before anyone spoke.
"I'm going, Arthur." Guinevere looked over at her husband. Arthur looked over at his wife and sighed.
"She is my best friend and I will not let her go into battle alone just like she wouldn't let me go out alone." Guinevere's voice began to rise.
"I will not let you go alone either." Arthur also rose to his feet his voice rising. The knights were surprised to see their commander in such a state. He had always kept his calm before. "I don't want to lose you Guinevere." He whispered to her.
"I understand, but you have seen me fight. If they have already reached the stronghold of Arcadia's people, she is going to need all the help she can get. She can not fight with only three trained warriors." Guinevere looked at all the knights. "The Saxon's are still scattered about this country, you know as well as I do when they regroup they grow stronger especially if they have a leader." Guinevere looked back at Arthur. "I will be leaving with her." Guinevere took one last glance around the table before making her way to her room to prepare.
Arthur put his face in his hands. He had no idea what he should do? How could he stop her? She is far too stubborn and loyal to be convinced to back down.
"What should we do Arthur?" Lancelot asked. He did not like the struggle that was going on in his friend's eyes. He would really allow Guinevere to leave?
"I cannot leave. There are still things that need to be attended to here." Arthur replied.
"Is it worth it?" Galahad broke the moment of silence. "Is it worth us going, Arthur?"
Everyone looked up at Galahad surprised. They heard him talk about how much he wished to go home. Why would he think about going?
"If what Guinevere says is true, Arcadia and her people were there when we were fighting the Saxons." Galahad explained. "I heard them talking. Most of Arcadia's people are half Woad half Samaritan."
Arthur was surprised at what Galahad was saying. "You want to go and fight, Galahad?"
"If not for the Woad half, for the Samaritan half." Galahad looked over at Gawain, Lancelot, and Bors. They all nodded in agreement. Then they looked to Arthur.
"You do realize you will be under Guinevere's command, if not Arcadia's?" They all nodded as Arthur took a deep breath and let it out. "If you all are willing, but you are not forced to go. I wish you all luck. I only wish that I could join you." Arthur shared a glance with his friends, they were still like his knights and although they are free men he knows they always will be his knights even if they are not in service for him. He nodded before exiting the room.
After making it to her room, Arcadia quickly changed into her brown leather pants but instead of her regular shirt she dressed in a brown bodice like shirt without straps. She adorned her twin swords on her back with her dagger hung low on her hip. She quickly put her hair into a bun then grabbed her bag. She flung her cloak over her shoulders as she made her way out into the corridor. Mila and Dameon met her in the main hall as they made their way to the wall to greet their friendly riders. They were surprised to see Guinevere waiting for them with her husband beside her. Arcadia paused when their eyes met.
"I'm coming with you." She declared fully dressed in her own battle gear and weapons.
"Like hell you are, my lady." Arcadia said. "No offense, of course. You are married women. I seriously doubt your husband would allow you to come." Arthur stepped forward giving Arcadia a slight smile and nod. "You better take care of her. She better be back in one piece." Arcadia nodded to him before making her way down the steps. Arcadia hadn't noticed that as she turned to walk away Gawain, Galahad, and Lancelot were following Guin who had started following her. Arthur had decided to keep Bors around for company.
"You can't fight them alone, Arcadia." Guin yelled to her friend. "They are more reckless then you seem to realize, especially if they are following a leader." Guin grabbed her friends' arm jerking her around to face her.
"You think I don't know that?" Arcadia was surprised to see the three former knights standing behind Guinevere dressed in light armor and weapons. She glanced at Galahad. He had wanted to go home so bad. Why was he doing this? "They move fast, I must hurry."
"Plus, it took a hell of a time convincing Arthur, you're not leaving here without me." Guinevere gave her friend a smile. "I will help you fight for your people, as you have helped fight for my own."
"You never could let me get into a fight alone, could you?" Arcadia smiled.
"And let you have all the fun? I don't think so." Arcadia laughed at her friends answer.
"And why might you boys be joining us?" Arcadia walked closer to the knights. "Especially you Galahad. I thought you wanted to go home."
"Its on the way." Galahad laughed.
"Just like Guinevere said. We can't let you have all the fun." Lancelot broke in. "We Samaritan's need to stick together."
"How would you know about my second half?" Arcadia looked at Lancelot then over at Galahad who shrugged and gave her a small smile.
"Arcadia!" She turned when she heard someone call her name. The three riders had just entered the gates and were galloping towards her.
"Brakin?" Arcadia walked up to the chestnut brown horse when it came to a hold. "John was suppose to come, not you." She looked up at her 14- year-old brother.
"He's gone, Arcadia." Brakin climbed off his horse. Even for his young age he was about as tall as his older sister. He had shaggy brown hair and hazel eyes.
"What do you mean?" She asked him softly.
"There was another attack on our village. John went out to fight...he never returned." Brakin explained softly.
"Shit!" She screamed as she kicked at the dirt under her feet. Mila and Dameon came up beside her for comfort. John had been an old family friend and all three of them had been close to him ever since they were young.
"I'll go get the horses." Dameon said walking off towards the stables. Gawain followed him to get his, Lancelot, Galahad, and Guin's horses.
"What's our plan, chief?" Guin walked over to stand in front of her friend.
Arcadia looked over at her younger brother, then at the two riders that were with him. She was glad to see that they were some of her own bodyguards that had escorted Brakin.
"I do not know." She looked away from Guin and turned back to her younger brother. "Where are the others?"
"They are with ma. They were just fine when I left to come get you. It was only a day after you left that some Saxons were spotted. There weren't very many so we didn't think that they would attack."
"What about pa? Where is he?"
"With John." Arcadia looked away from him when he answered. Dameon and Gawain had just showed up with the horses, saddled and ready to go. They handed everyone their horse. Arcadia climbed up on her brown and white mare (I think that is the correct word, sorry if it isn't) and everyone followed.
She turned her horse around to see that everyone was ready to go. Just before she turned back she caught Arthur's eye from the top of the fortress steps. He gave her a small smile before nodding. Arcadia returned the gesture before she turned her horse around. "We ride!" She yelled to her companions as she urged her horse forward.