Disclaimer: - I do not own King Arthur, the characters or the previous events of the movie. I do however own Kaiden, and this new plot… but not King Arthur's characters… if that makes any sense whatsoever… any way most of the credit goes to Jerry Bruckhimer and his fantastic crew, the rest of the credit goes to history
Chapter 12
"What will become of her?" asked Kaiden pensively, watching Jezebel from outside the cell.
Arthur sighed sadly. "She'll be executed, traitorous behaviour and attempted murder does not sit well with Britannia."
Kaiden shook her head, realising this would be another death on her hands. "Can you not simply banish her?"
"I'm afraid not, she may return to Rome, tell them of what you have agreed to. I can not risk it." Arthur said solemnly, he hated executions especially when it was a woman.
Kaiden inwardly felt torn, she'd trusted Jezebel for so long, it hurt to see her like this, no matter what she tried to do to her. She took a step forward towards the cell, hoping for an explanation to explain her actions. "Why? Why did you do it?" she asked softly.
Jezebel didn't answer for a moment. "…Because I was told to."
Kaiden rolled her eyes, not happy with the answer. "It didn't mean you had to do it."
Jezebel looked up from the floor angrily. "My loyalty is to Rome, not this country. Your father bought me when I was but a young girl destined for prostitution, the least I could do if fulfil his wishes and if that meant by killing you to save him and Rome, then so be it."
Arthur stepped forward clearly vexed. "You told Tristan you had no choice."
"I didn't, Rome is at risk. I do what the Emperor tells me to, not a spoiled girl"
Kaiden looked away from her morbidly amused. "You see I thought you had a better reason than that… and to think I just asked for your execution to be revoked." she said storming out of the compound angrily, hating Rome more and more by the second.
8888888888888
"The first wave will attack from the west, a small group of about a hundred, they will be slaughtered. They are lead by someone dressed in a general's uniform as if to make you think that this is all the Romans have sent. No more will attack for about two hours, to catch you unawares whilst you're celebrating over the easy defeat. Than three waves of night arrows will come from the north, hitting you head on. This will normally cripple about half of your army. Then they set upon you full force, with half your army dead and with little to protect yourself." she said, motioning out into the setting sun. She was standing out on top of Haidren's wall, surrounded by Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin and the knights.
"They are most probably at the moment camped amongst those trees." she said pointing north-west to a large forest of trees. "It is the most protected and by far the most logical."
Arthur bit his lip in thought, hundreds of scenarios running through his mind. Then he turned to Guinevere and Merlin. "We will pretend we are unprepared, and do as Kaiden said. Celebrate the victory of the hundred knights, though as we are doing so myself, and the Woads will head out into their camp send our own wave of night arrows, see for myself how many we are dealing with."
"We'll come with you." said Lancelot speaking up for the group of knights.
Arthur shook his head. "No I need all of you here to help with the villagers and preparing them as we retreat from the forest. We need cover fire as we run back to the wall, drawing them out from hiding. The battle will be in our control, not theirs." he said turning back to Merlin and Guinevere. "Are the Woads ready for such an attack?"
Merlin nodded gravely and Guinevere gave a strong smile. "They are preparing as we speak, the fires have been ignited just as before so we have the cover of smoke should they make it within the wall."
"Good, Lancelot bring the arches to the wall, make them sit down so their heads are not seen by the incoming Romans, once they are in range, you know what to do. I want no lives lost in the first siege by the Romans, this has to be quick and precise." Arthur said, making his way down the steps, Lancelot quickly run behind him.
"Arthur." yelled Lancelot running in front of him so he'd stop.
"Please Lancelot, You be my friend now and do not dissuade me. Seize the freedom you have earned long ago and live it for the both of us. If you wish to leave I cannot follow you Lancelot."
Lancelot rolled his eyes; an amused grin breaking out across his face at Arthur's all too familiar speech. "Friend, I will not dissuade you, because for one in my life I have found a battle worth fighting in, this battle is one of my choosing."
Arthur looked slightly taken aback, staring at his brother in arms scrutinisingly. "…because you are fighting against the Romans?" he asked frowning.
"No…" Lancelot said, and then smirked a little. "Well yes, but that is not the whole reason."
"Pray tell what your change of heart is towards battle." said Arthur intrigued.
"Freedom Arthur, all my life that is all I've ever wanted, and I have only now found it, here in Britannia. Now it is being threatened to be taken away, I would rather burn in the fiery depths of hell then see that happen." he said strongly. "For at last Arthur, I see what you see when you look out across Britannia."
"A country worth fighting for." Finished Arthur, smiling broadly. "I am honoured to stand by your side Lancelot."
"And I yours. This is a battle we will win." said Lancelot confidently.
Arthur nodded. "I pray for that outcome." he said beginning to walk away.
"Arthur." said Lancelot again.
Arthur turned. "Yes?"
"Kaiden knows about you and Guinevere." he said suddenly.
Arthur turned a bright red. "When, for how long?"
"Since the first day, do not trouble yourself, for I believe she is falling for another." he said with a wide smirk.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, trying to think who she could have fallen for, he decided not to think of such things and focus on the positive this realisation brought. "Well I suppose that is good then." he said walking away slowly, lost in thought.
Lancelot grinned. "Yes, yes it is." he said silently.
88888888
Lancelot stood tall as the night wind whipped past him, it was a warm wind though it still sent a chill down his spine. Any moment now the Romans would come bursting out of the forest from the west and they would be slaughtered by Britannian arrows. He positioned himself in the middle of the villages, Bors, Gawain and Galahad crouched to his left and Tristan, Kaiden and even Jols to his right. Then spread about fifty meters both ways sat two rows of villages, ready for Lancelot's signal.
He could vaguely make out the familiar shape of Tristan's Hawk coming in for landing. Swooping in quickly it came to rest on Tristan's outstretch arm. He spoke to it in a whisper and the bird seemed to say something to him silently. He scratched the hawks neck lovingly in thanks. "They are where you said." he said turning to Kaiden on his left. "A little less then two thousand."
Kaiden nodded, "Less than we suspected."
Lancelot let out a breath of air he hadn't realised he'd been holding. It was then he noticed a small movement out the corner of his eye, what looked to be a general came riding out of the forest from the west, he was alone until a wild outburst of shouting came screaming out of the forest.
"They are coming." Lancelot roared. Kaiden was right, there was just over a hundred men running towards them, they were coming closer, only about two hundred meters from the wall now. "Ready!" he yelled, and all the arches stood in unison, bows strung.
The Romans kept running.
"Ready!"
Bows pulled back and took aim.
"Fire!" he bellowed.
Arrows flew from the bows, scattering through the sky. Most met their mark, very few missed. "Another volley!"
"Ready." Lancelot yelled. An enemy's arrow narrowly missed his shoulder as it flew past.
"Ready!"
Bows pulled back again taking aim.
"Fire!"
Silence followed his voice; no more shouts were heard from the Romans, as they all lay lifeless on the ground before them. He closed his eyes briefly, and then quickly opened them, his head darting from side to side to look for any dead on the wall. There was none. Two villages had received an arrow to their arms, but none were seriously injured.
"Good job, now I need you all to cheer as if the war is over!" he cried and they all yelled in glorious make-believe victory.
He turned to Kaiden with a small confident smile as she screamed a cry of victory, knowing full well the night was far from over.
A/N next chapter coming soon! Thanks for your continued support and reviews!