After a while I decided to open my eyes and check on the children and look for Nora. I found myself in a tiny tent. A mans back was turned to me and doing something I couldn't see. He probably knew that I was awake and he started to speak.
"How you feeling?" came the kind question. I was puzzled to hear such kindness in such a rock of a man.
Startled I answered him."I think I am fine. Mh, excuse me but who are you and where am I and where are the children and Nora? Are they hurt?" The man finally turned around and chuckled.
"So many questions. Your friends are safe and unharmed. The children are playing outside. And your friend is with them. If you are feeling better my commander would like to talk to you, but if not he understands" He looked expectantly at me. It was the man with the brown eyes I begged not to harm my little ones. He did not. And I am glad and liked him even more even though I did not know him very much.
"Oh no that's fine. Can I just ask what happened? I am afraid I don't know. I can't really remember. Just those terrible men were following us and I felt pain on my back and saw blood on my hands. I never saw so much of my own blood. And then I saw you. And I... the rest I cannot remember. He nodded.
"There is no more you can remember. You were unconscious since that moment. You were hit by an arrow. You were lucky. Not many survive that. I took care of your wound and bandaged it. It is pretty much closed. But you shouldn't do anything that could reopen it though" I was a little bit embarrassed to hear that he took care of me and bandaged my wound. Normally women get healed by women in our town but there is probably no other woman around so he had to. He stood up and was about to leave when I realized he didn't answer my first question,
"Wait, I still don't know your name!" "Its Dagonet" "Thank You Dagonet!" I said and he smiled and said "I get Arthur" And left the tent.
I did not want to wait in the tent so I slowly got up trying not to hurt myself to much and failed totally.I fell back onto the ground and winced as the pain from my wound shot through my body. Moaning painfully I laid back and shut my eyes, waiting for that Arthur to come. When I woke up again I was still alone. Thinking about what Arthur wanted to talk with me I heard some sounds coming from the entry and a little squeak when I was knocked over from little Ida.
"Pumpkin get off of her. She needs to rest" said Nora who came into the tent with Ida.
"Oh no that's fine. I missed my little girl. How are you sweetheart? Have you been a good girl?? Of course you have" I said and cuddled her and gave her little kisses. She just smiled her most beautiful smile and hugged me back.
"How are you feeling?" she asked me concerned. "Much better" I said, "But how are you and the children? Was someone else hurt? And who are those men that were helping us? And this Arthur, who is it? Or should I say where is he? He was supposed to come and talk with me but he didn't show up yet" I said a little bit sour.
"Well, he had been here already sweetie, but you were sleeping and he left. Its that easy" she said with in a matter-of-fact tone. Ignoring what she said I changed the subject and fumbled with Idas hair.
"Anyway, I think I should leave this tent for a while. I need some fresh air" I said, put Ida on the floor and stood up. I better said I tried to stand up, fortunately Nora was there and saw that I was not safe on my feet and helped me get up. With her help we left the tent and walked a little bit around. Some of the children came to us and hugged me, glad to see me and I was glad to seem them unharmed and happy, Nora told them quickly to leave me alone, that I still need some rest and they ran away and played again. I just smiled, never seen Nora so concerned and grown-up. Normally I was the responsible one but this time had been tough time and she had to take care of the children all alone. I was proud of her.
As we were walking around I saw some men, probably those who were helping us.And as I asked Nora she confirmed it.
"You don't have to fear them. Even though they look scary sometimes. There are so nice and funny and the children just love them. And I too and you will also... Well let me tell you about them" she said, cleared her throat as I looked curious at her and she began, "They are Sarmatian Knights who have to fight for Rome. Their leader is a Roman but he is a nice man and they love him like a brother as they love each other like brothers. Well, his name is Arthur. Then we have Gawain, oh there he is, with the blonde long hair" and she pointed him out and right after that showed me another man next to him "and this is Galahad. He's cute, isn't he?" she said dreamingly. Looking at her again and seeing her with that dreaming smile on her lips made me giggle. Gladly she did not notice. Then she showed me two rocks of men with bald heads.
"The one with the belly is Bors, weird name don't you think?" She looked at me interrogative but I just shrugged.
"And the giant over there is.." "Dagonet. I know. I spoke to him earlier" I cut her off and she looked stunned. As if he knew we were talking about him he turned around and nodded, I gave him a weak smile back and waved to him. Nora just gave me an odd look.
"Anyways, there are 3 more, Arthur of course, he should be here somewhere" and she turned her head in every direction to look for him but did not find him.
"He is probably walking around or so" she shrugged.
"And the other 2? Did you not say there are 3 more?" I asked her.
"Oh yes, almost forgot. Tristan, he is a scout, a little bit creepy if you ask me. And Lancelot. He is a charmer. I better say quite annoying. Well, I don't want to give you a wrong picture of those gentlemen. Wait until they come back. Oh look there is Arthur. I think he wants to talk to you right now. Actually I don't know what he wants to talk to you. He asked me already and you don't know more than I, do you? I mean you were wounded and unconscious. How could you know something that I do not know?" she said irritated. But smiled friendly too Arthur as he approached us.
"Good Day, Ladies" he said kindly.
"Good Day, my Lord" Nora and I responded and kind of bowed to him.
"Please, don't bow. There is no need"He said a little embarrassed.
"I would like to talk to you my Lady. We had not the pleasure yet. I would like to know the persons I protect and safe for Saxons" he said with a friendly smile on his face.
I just nodded and followed him a little bit aside from the others. I turned to Nora but she just shrugged and made her way to the children. He led me to a tree stump and offered me to sit. He probably thought I was exhausted. And I actually was. I did not realize first, but as I sat I was glad to sit and felt suddenly tired.