"How did you sleep?" "Mh... good actually. Are we leaving?" I asked with an raised eyebrow to the fact that he was starting to pack things in his bag.
"We have to. They tracking us. Tristan saw them" he stated.
"They...what? How? Oh my god. They will kill us" I started to panic. He stopped his doing and took hold of my arms to calm me down.
"Don't fret. Nothing will happen to you or the children. We just must hurry" I nodded my head and he went on packing things. I throw the blanket that covered me away and helped him packing things.
"What are you doing? Stop. Don't move or your wound will open again" he said scowling.
I stopped in my movings and looked at him. Not willing to obey him and rather help him than lying here quietly and watching him hurry. But I gave a promise that I would do as he says. And he said I should rest until he says I can get up. And I obeyed. I laid back down and watched him. When he had all his belongings out of the tent and put them on the horses he came back and lifted me carefully into his arms."Please, I can walk. It is not that bad that you have to carry me" I said embarrassed. "Didn't you give a promise?" he said with an raised eyebrow. I looked at him ruefully. Now I regretted that I gave that promise.
"Well, then I gave a silly promise. I am quite capable of walking" I said cheeky and I found myself already sitting on a horseback. I just shrugged. Looking around were the children were. I found them nowhere.
"Where are the children and Nora?" I asked and realized that she was missing, too.
"They went ahead. By foot. Otherwise they would slow us down" said Arthur from my left side.
I looked at him worried. "They will be fine. Tristan is with them" he assured me. I just nodded my head. And when we got all our things packed and stored we started to ride. In a quick speed we rode along and I just enjoyed the feeling of sitting on a horse again. It had been a while since the last time. I closed my eyes and leant back against Dagonets chest. I felt comfortable like I hadn't in a long time.
When I was younger, at the age of 10, my father would always take me in the noon, right after lunch to our horses. We had 3. 3 beautiful horses. 2 Stallions. Black. And one mare. Also black. But I was just allowed to ride our mere. Her name was Fila. I loved her. I rode her every day after lunch. And my father came always with me. Sometimes we went for a ride in the nearby woods or fields and would race each other or would just ride slowly along and enjoy the landscape.
But this would never happen again. My family is dead. They died in the attack of the Saxons. Sorrow overcame me at the thought of my dead family. But there was no time to mourn at the moment. I had to be strong.
After a while we reached some woods. We slowed our speed a little bit down.
"So where are the others?" I turned my head a little to Dagonet.
"They are waiting here" "Here?" I asked shocked "These woods are frightening. How can you let little children go into here?" I asked bewildered. They will be scared to death. Oh my little Ida. She needs me. She is always frighten in the woods. "They will be fine" he just stated. I snorted. Sure they will. Men just don't know children.
I shook my head in disbelief how they could act like that.
I froze when I heard crying. I nervously looked around to find the source. "See..." I said worried. He did not say anything. The crying became louder and I finally saw Nora holding little Ida as she tried to calm her down.
As soon as he stopped I jumped off the horse and ran to them.
Nora gave me a relieved look. Glad to see me she passed little Ida to me and spoke softly to her and stroke her back in a calming way. It took awhile but finally she stopped crying and fell asleep. Meanwhile we were walking deeper into the forest. The knights dismounted their horses and put some of the kids on their backs.
They were really tired and appreciated that they did not need to walk any longer.
Ignoring the pain coming from my wound I walked with the others. Still holding little Ida in my arms, when Dagonet suddenly appeared at my side. He looked at me worried and I just smiled at him weary.
"She looks heavy. Give her to me. I carry her. I can see that you are in pain" to tired to argue with him I nodded my head in agreement and carefully passed her to him. She gladly did not wake.
"Is she your sister or so?" he asked me quiet.
"No. I took care of her. Like I did of the children. I know her since she was an infant. Her parents are...were good friends of my family" I corrected myself.
He just looked on the ground as we walked.
"Do you have any family?" I asked him interested. He gave me a sad look and turned his gaze back to the ground.
"I am sorry. I did not intend to make you sad" I apologized. "It's alright. No, I do not have family. I don't want to bring someone in my life who has to worry for me, that I mayhap someday won't return" he said honestly.
I nodded my head but felt sorry for him. How could they live like this. I probably couldn't. And I would not let them. I would find a way to make them happy. Even just for awhile. They deserve it.