Jeez, I'm really bad at this whole 'updating' thing, aren't I? Sorry it took so long. Christmas break and all. I'll try and get another chapter out either tomorrow or on Monday, but no promises. I would, however, like to mention that this is the longest chapter I have ever written in my entire life. Or, at least, the longest one for this story in particular. If you have an questions pretaining to whats going on this chapter, feel free to message me and I'll try to clear things up. Changes points of view, if that helps any. Please feed the addiction and review. Thanks much to the ones that have.

Yes, I changed my pen name. My friends all got new ones, and I was like 'Hey! I want one too!'. This one is actually closer to my name than the last, but I answer to pretty much anything.

Own nothing, still. The legend of King Arthur, and those involved with it, are also NOT mine. However, Lira is mine and I'd like to keep it that way.

Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death.

-Harold Wilson

"I blame you."

The accusation came out muffled from beneath the scratchy, cloth gag that covered most of Lira's face and eyes. A Woad nudged her in the side with his spear, silencing the girl quickly, though unable to stop her piercing glare towards the boy across from her. Heath's feet were tied to hers, both of their arms tied behind their backs. They sat in the falling snow, face to face, caught in a test of the wills while the group of Woads looked on, unsure what was happening.

Only three men had been left behind with the newly found captives, the others disappeared into the forest silently. The three remaining had forced them to ground and bound them before taking a few steps away from them, as if they would catch a disease if they stayed too close. They conversed among themselves at first but had fallen silent to long after.

"How is this my fault?" Heath demanded, words coming out jumbled and causing the Woads more confusion.

Lira didn't seem to notice and understood her friend's words perfectly. She cocked her head to the side sarcastically, pretending to be stumped by the question. "Oh.. I don't know," she said in a sickly sweet voice, "Could it possibly be your idiot plan to run for our lives?"

Heath snorted and a few Woads backed away uncertainly. "I didn't see you come up with a better plan, Little Miss Scaredy Cat!"

"You did not just call me a Scaredy Cat!" Lira screeched indignantly. She leaned forward, glaring while Heath nodded his head smugly, and Lira was sure that if it were possible, his arms would be folded across his chest proudly.

"I wasn't the one who hid like a little girl," Heath shot to her truthfully. "Excuse me for trying to save our lives. Next time we get caught in a battle, I'll leave you behind to fend for yourself. I'm sure that would go over well. I'm sure that if you ask someone nicely, they'll give you a pretty horse and carriage and you can just ride out!" He gave her an encouraging smile, or the best one he could with the gag. Lira gaped at him, open mouthed and shocked by his comments.

A tall Woad man appeared out of the trees, stopping Lira from furthering the bicker-ment as she turned her attention to the new person. Behind the blue painted man followed a younger man, a dozen or so men that Lira guessed was the man's guard. None of the men were clean in any way, all covered in blue war paint and the blood that Lira could only hope was the Saxon's.

The northern brutes deserved all the Woads had thrown at them.

The younger of the two men talked in hushed tones with the three Woads that had been guarding Heath and Lira, motioning towards them a few times. Lira glanced at Heath nervously, instantly forgetting their previous fight and watched for his reactions. She thought worry flashed across his eyes but when he noticed Lira's watchful gaze, he sent her a careful smile. Lira returned it and looked back to the tall Woad, wondering who he was.

It was apparent that he was of some sort of higher stature, why else was there a need for the guard? He was tall and lean, his forearms could be seen as defined, even in the little light of the nearing sun. A leader with no issues being another of his people, wanting to show his people the way to be by setting an example. His hair was dark and and cut above the shoulders, where it lay limp and dirty. A sword was attached across his back, appearing to have been well used in th earlier attack. Despite his apparent air of danger, Lira couldn't make herself fear the Woad before her, he reminded her too much of a grandfather, not a heartless killing demon.

However, the younger Woad behind him, Lira had no difficulties fearing. At least a head taller than Heath, the Woad was more than intimidating. There was a hatchet hanging from the belt around his waist, still bloody from the battle. The blue paint covering his body was smeared and running in a few places, making him look even more fierce. His eyes were piercing as they ran over Lira and Heath, seeming to almost look through them and into the forest behind them.

Heath looked almost uncomfortable and nervous under the gaze of the two Woads, Lira could feel him squirm behind her. She poked him in the back, silencing the boy's movements immediately. She wondered what was causing him to act differently, he seemed to always be the courageous one. Though he was younger, it hadn't taken Heath long to be the one that kept them both alive. He knew more about the ability to live than Lira could ever hope to, not to mention he never once complained or rained on a happy moment.

But now, his nervousness was starting to edge away her calm exterior. Together they had spend nearly two months within the boundaries of a Saxon camp, as slaves, doing the bidding of Cerdic and his baboons, and Lira had never once seen Heath the way he was acting in the presence of the five Woad men before them. Could there be something about the men surrounding them that Heath knew that she didn't?

The thought of the Woads being worse than the Saxons made Lira's stomach start to ache. It had been nothing short of a miracle that the Saxons had left her virtually untouched. She had heard the tales of women being taken against their will by the Saxons, none of them were good. God must've granted her luck by sending her Heath, who probably had saved much more than her virtue.

Lira would not be surprised in the least if she would be long since dead if it hadn't of been for Heath.

She had an aching feeling that if Heath was uneasy, she had every reason to be.

--

Gareth stared at Darh with a sick feeling in his gut. He knew that Darh knew who he was, what he was. There was no possible way that the Woad leader standing only a mere few feet away did not know his position. They had met too many times in battle for Gareth to go unnoticed. His heart started beating quicker at the possible outcomes of his situation.

None of them looked good.

Undoubtedly, the day would end with his death. Darh would be a fool to allow him to live, let alone set him free. It was an easy way to do away with one of the knights, a free-be in a way. Gareth could almost see inside Darh's head, watching the clogs turn as the ideas sprang through his mind. He had no doubt heard of the captured knight six months previous, a legendary knight of Arthur Castus himself. It would take a fool to not recognize Gareth, to see that he was in fact alive, not dead like much of Britain had thought.

Lira's sharp prod to the back brought Gareth back to the present, and he felt his stomach drop further. Darh took a step towards them, waving away the three guards around the two captives. They bowed and disappeared into the lighting forest silently. The younger Woad remained beside Darh, and Gareth had a sneaking suspicion that the man was Mairc, Darh's oldest son. Gareth stiffened reflexively as Darh crouched down before him, gazing him steadily in the eye.

"You are a long way from home, boy," Darh said in a low voice. He looked almost mockingly at Gareth and let out a soft laugh. "What happened to hiding behind your wall?"

Gareth said nothing and followed Darh closely as he stood up. Mairc stepped forward and Gareth felt Lira inch away indiscreetly. He was happy to know Lira wasn't stupid enough to believe the Woads meant them no harm.

"You're on our land," Mairc said, stepping closer as his father stared down at them. "Count yourselves lucky that you're still alive." He walked to them, pulling both Lira and Gareth up by their upper arms easily. Gareth stiffened as the Woad pulled a dagger from his belt and prepared to leap in from of Lira if need be. He stared in shock as Mairc cut the thick rope binding his wrists to Lira's and pulled them to him quickly.

"You're letting us go?" Lira asked in amazement before Gareth had a chance to speak. She looked at the two Woad men in astonishment as Mairc nodded his head.

"You may go," Darh said, putting his blue hand into the air as Gareth made to pull Lira away. She pulled her arm away from him, walking towards Darh in confusion. "You may go," he repeated, looking Lira straight in the eyes, revealing no threat. "But if you do, let me warn you. What is left of the Saxon army that imprisoned you will show no mercy to those they come across. I have little faith that you will be able to avoid them."

"Are you offering us a sort of safe haven?" Lira asked uncertainly. Darh nodded his head, much to the surprise of the girl. The Woad had little opportunity to move before Lira unexpectedly hugged the man around the waist. Mairc let out a slight laugh as his father awkwardly patted the girl on the back.

Gareth's eyes widened as he looked at Lira in shock. Was she insane? He was not going to risk their lives by allowing them to stay with Woads. For all they knew, it was a simple ploy to murder them in their sleep. Darh had more than enough reasons to do so, and Gareth had little trouble believing that his offer of 'safety' was nothing more than a trap. He had gone through too much to keep not only himself alive, but Lira as well, to just throw it all away on the word of a Woad. He was too close to getting home.

--

"No."

Lira pulled away from the mysterious Woad in confusion, ignoring her sudden move of emotion, to looked at Heath. He held a determined look on his face as he stared at the Woads. She took a step towards him as the Woads backed away a few, giving them room.

"What do you mean 'no'?" she questioned in a fierce whisper, grabbing Heath by the arm and pulling him forcefully away and turned her back on the Woad men.

Heath looked at her seriously and almost angrily. "I mean no, we aren't going to stay with them."

Lira did a double take. He was turning down a perfectly good offer, one, in her eyes, could possibly save their lives. She wouldn't be surprised if the Saxons were only a few miles away from them, recovering and angry from their loss. If she and Heath went wandering into the woods alone, there would be no way to know if they were heading towards the Saxons or running away from them. And if they did run into them, Lira shuddered to think what they would do.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't leave you right now and go with them?" Lira demanded, looking back to ensure that th e Woad men were still waiting.

"You wouldn't," Heath said seriously, though he searched her eyes to confirm it.

Lira let out a sigh, some of her anger leaving. She nodded her head, "Of course I wouldn't. But if I'm about to give up a good nights rest and some real food, I need a reason."

Heath quickly debated telling th e truth.. Mentally, he shook his head. Things were going fine the way they were, no need to screw things up more than they already are. The less she knew, the better off Lira would be. "I don't trust them," he said finally, half way truthful.

"You don't trust anyone," she fired back quickly, checking again for the Woads. They were watching the two conversing with amused looks on their blue faces, almost as if they could read their lips and mocking their childish arguing.

"I trusted you," Heath retorted, looking her in the eye, "didn't I?"

Lira let out a groan and stomped her foot on the dirt in an almost childish manner. She glanced around the forest for a few moments before looking back at Heath with a sigh. "Should I tell them, or would you like the honors?"

"Or we could just run for it."

"That would be rude," Lira said, grabbing Heath's arm and turning them back around to face the expecting Woads. They walked silently back to them and Heath looked at Lira expectantly. He gestured a hand towards the Woads and she rolled her eyes. She was about to open her mouth when Darh cut her off.

--

"They think you're dead."

Gareth resisted the urge to grind his teeth at Darh's words. He knew what the Woad was doing, and he wasn't going to let it work. He would get back to the wall, and no Woad was going to stop him.

"They stopped searching for you months ago," Mairc said in a low voice as Lira turned to Gareth slowly in confusion. "They have a new knight, did you know?"

"What are they talking about?" Lira asked, looking between Mairc, Darh, and Gareth in total confusion.

"You've been replaced."

Gareth winced at the thought of a new boy taking his place, sitting at his place at the table, sparring with his brothers. Laughing at Bors' horrible jokes, complaining about Tristan's incredible aim and Kay's stifling over-protectiveness. A stupid boy that was living his life, the one he had fought for. Gareth stared at the ground angrily, finally understanding that he was the only one who hadn't moved on.

"You're dead to them, Gareth," Darh said slowly, this time in a tone that wasn't meant to be hurtful. He took a step forward, resting a gentle hand on Gareth's shoulder.

"Gareth?" Lira echoed, more confused than ever. Mairc met her confused eyes and shook his head, silencing her.

"I'm offering you a second chance," Darh continued, completely ignoring Lira. Gareth raised his head, looking uncertain. "You don't need them, boy."

Gareth looked at the older Woad for a few moments, contemplating his choices. He knew that if he went back to the Wall, Arthur and his brothers would welcome him back with open arms. There was no doubt in that. But the thought of being replaced, to be forgotten, the thought of some other boy living his life, it killed Gareth. He had been with his brothers for six years, six. But, apparently, it had only taken them a matter of months to sever the bond between them and leave him behind in the dust.

With a nod of his head, Gareth silently agreed. Darh smiled and clapped him on the shoulder comfortingly. He took Gareth by the shoulder and led him into the forest silently.

--

Lira looked on as Heath agreed to stay with the Woads, utterly confused as to the happenings between him and the Woad leader. Everything about their talk confused her, especially when the man called Heath 'Gareth'. She looked at the remaining Woad, who was watching her with an amused look.

"Do I even want to know?" she asked, referring to the confusion.

The Woad thought for a moment and shook his head. "Probably not."

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