CHAPTER FIVE
Suddenly Dryw launched himself onto Arthur and pushed him onto the ground as an arrow missed the latter by a hair.
Seath started to run towards the direction of the archer, being aided by her two brothers. The crowd watched as the threesome disappeared into the forest.
Seath had grabbed the blade her brother had been saving for her as they made their way through the dense forest, and only in the last moment had they noticed the archer. As soon as they found several marks, they realized that there were two archers present, and they split up and went after them.
Seath watched in horror as her brother was knocked to the floor when one of the archers landed on top of him, from the trees above. She quickly moved towards her brother, again her enemy was under estimating her because of her size.
"Why don't you go play with some dolls, little girl?" the archer said as he pulled out a dagger.
"I'd rather play with you." Seath circled the man and with lethal precision slid the man's neck.
"Fy, your okay?" Seath crouched next to her brother.
"Yes, just a bit sore on the backside." Fychan's pride was more hurt than anything else.
"Let's find Rhys." The pair made their way over to Rhys, who was standing over the second archer.
"Let's hope that there where only two and that others don't follow." Rhys looked at his siblings.
Merlin walked over to the threesome when they reappeared from the forest, dragging the two dead bodies with them. "Eastern Woads. Like I thought." Merlin recognized the markings on the man.
"Think there will be more?" Seath inquired.
"No, I think we've made our point." Merlin pointed at two of his man to take care of the bodies.
"She can't stand her like that." Guinevere shrieked as she saw that the former white dress had turned a lovely bloody red after Seath's little fight.
"Fine, I'll leave." Seath turned around, but Merlin prevented her to get away.
"Guinevere, be glad that she is here, for otherwise there would have been no need to continue." Merlin pulled Guinevere back to Arthur.
Not wanting to risk another attack on either of the couple Merlin sped up the ceremony. After finally having been made a married couple, Merlin proceeded in the crowning of Arthur as the new king of the Britons. He then declared the ceremony over and the festivities to begin start.
As the large crowed proceeded to start the festivities and commence the drinking and eating fest, the knights stood out like a sore thumb. Most of the Woads had been fighting the Knights for years, and the built in reaction to them hasn't even begun to fade. It was the same for the knights, they had been trained to kill Woads for more than fifteen years and all of a sudden they had become their allies.
"Ooh! Look Gawain, they're dancing." Raicheal looked hopefully at Gawain, because she loved dancing. She knew that Galahad wouldn't be caught dead dancing, but Gawain was always up for a little bit of fun.
But to Raicheal's surprise, Galahad grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the group of dancing people, where they quickly disappeared within the large group. Before Gawain had time to start pouting, Seath grabbed Gawain's arm and dragged him towards the group of people.
"It seems to me that you and your friends have a tiny problem in the matters of the heart." Seath whispered into Gawain's ear as he had lifted her and twirled her around as was custom. Gawain looked back at Galahad and Raicheal dancing.
"I think it's a bit bigger than that."
"Why don't you just share her? I know of men who have various wives." Seath was circling around Gawain.
"That's different." Gawain took the hand Seath offered and moved next to her.
"So a man can have more wives, but a woman can only have one man?" Seath raised her eyebrow at Gawain as he lifted her again. Gawain looked at her and was speechless, for what did she expect him to say about that?
"I think I see your new dance partner." Seath let go of Gawain and jumped in between Raicheal and Galahad. Seath grabbed Galahad's arm and yanked him to another part of the dancing group.
"I didn't know you danced that poorly." Raicheal looked at Gawain.
"I don't, she does," Gawain joked back as he took Raicheal's hand.
"What is wrong with you?" Galahad started to fume again.
"Nothing, but I suggest that the three of you do some talking. If you two idiots continue your stupid games with each other, you're surely going to lose her." And with that warning, Seath left Galahad behind in the group of dancing people, and went in search of her horse. She wanted to leave right now; she had done what was asked of her.
Tristan and Lancelot looked towards the sea as the heard Seath yell out in frustration, while waving her hands around frantically. "WHOA LOOK AT HIM GO! COME SEE, COME SEE!"
"Come see what?" Lancelot asked confused at the short woman before him.
"Murphy, the amazing Sea Horse." Seath said as she pointed towards the sea, where Lancelot could just see Seath's horse gallop into the Sea.
"What's he doing?" Tristan had never seen a horse act the way Seath's did.
"Why don't you ask him?" Seath herself didn't know why she had ended up with the odd horse.
They watched the horse run back on to the beach and then charge back into the sea. The horse repeated this couple of times, and it even put its head under water.
"That has got to be the weirdest thing I have ever seen a horse do." Lancelot started to laugh.
Murphy returned back to where Seath was standing and appeared to be chewing on something. "No Murphy, bad." Seath tried to open the horse mouth.
"Seaweed, stupid horse," Seath said to Tristan's silent question, and the horse neighed in return as if disagreeing with her.
"Eew! Horse drool." Seath cleaned her hand on Lancelot's cloak.
"Hey!" Lancelot shouted offended by the gesture.
"Don't you hey me." Seath glared at Lancelot. "Men!" Seath threw her hands in the air. "You hold my horse." Seath gave the reigns to Lancelot.
"Since when have I become a squire?" Lancelot looked at Seath.
"Do you want a drink or not?" Seath turned around as she had started to walk away from Tristan and Lancelot.
"What?" Lancelot looked at Tristan wondering whether he had missed something.
"Yes." Tristan yelled at Seath, as she stood waiting impatiently with her hands on her hips.
"Fine." Seath turned and walked away from them, maybe she could stay just a little bit longer. It would be fun to tease Lancelot, and who knew what the night would bring?
"That has got to be the weirdest woman I have ever met. She goes from warm, to cold and then back to hot." Lancelot tied the horse to a nearby tree and lowered himself next to Tristan on the ground, Tristan nodded in agreement.
Galahad stood in the middle of the group of dancing people, looking at Gawain and Raicheal dancing together. Although he hated to admit it that weird woman had a point in what she told him. Maybe I should get them something to drink?
Raicheal noticed that Galahad was staring at her and Gawain as they where dancing, he seemed to be pondering over something. I really need to get them drunk. Raicheal looked at Gawain and pretended to trip over something.
"Gawain, I think I sprained my ankle." Raicheal fake a hurt look on her face as Gawain looked worried at her. "Perhaps we can sit somewhere else?" she suggested.
"Of course." Gawain carefully helped Raicheal back to her feet and supported her over to one of the bonfires.
"Can I get you something?" Gawain looked as Raicheal rubbed her ankle.
"No, I'm fine."
"Here I brought us something to drink." Galahad sat down on the other side of Raicheal and handed each their mug of ale. Both Raicheal and Gawain nodded in thanks.
As they sat in an uncomfortable silence Raicheal started to fear that there was something very bad going on between the two men she loved dearly. "Okay what's wrong with the two of you?" She couldn't take the silence anymore.
"Nothing." Gawain and Galahad responded too quickly to make it sound believable.
"Right. If you're not going to tell me I'll leave." Gawain and Galahad looked worried at each other, neither of them wanted to lose Raicheal.
"Please sit, Raicheal." Gawain started to explain, "We have a problem."
"Gawain every problem can be solved." Raicheal smiled at Gawain for encouragement.
"I'm not so sure about this problem being solved." Gawain looked at Galahad for support.
"You see, recently when we have discovered that, erm…" Gawain wasn't sure whether he really wanted to tell just yet.
"Discovered what?" Raicheal looked curious at both knights.
"That we both like you." Galahad finished for Gawain.
"So I like you too." Raicheal had misunderstood the meaning.
"Not like that! We both love you," Galahad said and Gawain nodded his head.
"Very funny, haha. Now tell me what's really going on." Both knights had told Raicheal the same thing several years ago, only to have her find out it was a bet between Bors and the pair.
"It's not a joke." Galahad looked seriously at her. "You can ask Bors, or any of the others if you like. It's not a bet this time, it's true." Gawain realized what Raicheal had been thinking.
"No, it cannot be." Raicheal turned very pale as she whispered this. She needed to get away from the pair. Raicheal got to her feet and started to run away from Galahad and Gawain.
"Raicheal, your ankle." Gawain watched in amazement as Raicheal sprinted away from both knights.
"That went well." Galahad threw Raicheal's mug away in anger.
"I think we just scared her, I'm sure she's going to come back." Gawain reassures Galahad.
"Of course she will be back, you're both too cute to let go." Seath stepped around both knights with her hands filled with mugs.
"And what about you?" Gawain had seen Seath sitting with Tristan and Lancelot.
"What of me?" Seath raised her eyebrow at Gawain.
"Are Tristan and Lancelot too cute to let go?" Gawain winked suggestively at Seath.
"Cute isn't the word I would use for Tristan, and Lancelot…don't get me started." Seath sighed.
"So there is still hope for Tristan?" Gawain started to laugh. "Let me be honest, there is still a large chance that I will kill him before the next morning light." Seath walked away and winked at Gawain.
Bottom of Form
"Aha! There is the little minx again." Lancelot prodded Tristan who had laid back and closed his eyes.
"Wonderful!" Tristan murmured to himself.
"Did you miss me boys?" Seath handed Lancelot his mug and put one next to Tristan.
"No." Tristan answered honestly.
"So, Sir Knight, are you going to entertain me or not?" Seath looked hopefully at Lancelot.
"Am I supposed to be your jester now?"
Is he any good as a jester?" Seath poked Tristan in the ribs.
"He's better at prancing." Tristan slowly opened his eyes and looked at the clear blue sky, which was slowly turning red as the sun was going down.
"I don't prance." Lancelot threw an evil looked at Seath and Tristan.
"I'm supposed to be frightened by that look?" Seath looked at Tristan.
"No, his bark is far worse that his bite." Tristan wasn't one for jesting with other people, but Seath made it too easy for him to refuse.
"That's not what I have heard." Seath winked at Lancelot.
"Really Tristan! You're supposed to be on my side. Has the lady perhaps warmed your bed last night?" Lancelot smirked dirty at the pair.
"Why would I warm his bed when he can warm mine?" Seath smirked back.
"So that's what I heard last night." Lancelot liked talking to this little minx, she was very bold.
"No that would have been Gawain, Galahad and your healer." Seath looked very innocently at Lancelot who choked on his ale.
"What!" Lancelot choked out.
"Too bad you didn't think of that option before you fellow knights, I must say they make a lovely pair." Seath looked at her empty mug.
"Anybody else want something more to drink?" Seath got back to her feet and looked at Tristan. Tristan downed the remainder of his ale and held his mug up for Seath. The knights watched Seath disappear again in the crowed.
"Do you think she is right?" Lancelot looked at Tristan.
"I think she's right, for why would Gawain and Galahad spends that much time around her?" Tristan sat back up and looked for something to lean against.
"Because they are friends, and have been for a very long time?" Lancelot knew that the threesome went back years.
"Yes, they have been." Tristan moved to the tree where Seath's horse was tied to.
"So why would they want her to warm their beds?" Lancelot rubbed his temples, this day was getting to him. It had been long since he had such an eventful day.
"Have you taken a good look at Raicheal lately?" Tristan carefully sat down against the tree, his wounds were starting to ache again.
"No why?" Lancelot had never considered Raicheal as a possible lover. In his mind Raicheal was still the tomboy in the breeches that would not think twice about kicking against his shins if he was annoying her.
"I suggest you take a good look at her next time you see her." Tristan tried to get his body in a comfortable position but was failing miserable at it.
Raicheal had stopped on the beach; she needed to find somebody to talk to. Then she realized that whenever she had felt the need to talk to somebody. She had gone to Dagonet but he wasn't there anymore, the other two people she could honestly talk to where Gawain and Galahad and they were part of the reason she needed to talk. Perhaps I should talk with Vanora. She's a woman.
Raicheal dusted the sand from her dress and started to look for Vanora, as she saw Gilly she grabbed hold of him.
"Gilly, where's Vanora?" Gilly had looked angry when somebody had grabbed him, but when he saw it was Raicheal his angry disappeared.
"She went away with dad."
Raicheal thanked Gilly and knew that she had better not go and look for Vanora, because she didn't wanted to walk in on her and Bors again. She sighed loudly and looked around for help, as she spotted Seath she decided to take a chance on her.
"Seath, can I talk to you for a moment?" Raicheal grabbed one of the three pitchers Seath was carrying.
"Is this about those two idiots?" Seath appeared to know what was going on.
"Galahad and Gawain, yes it is. What do you know about this?" Raicheal wondered how an outsider could know so much.
"I made them talk to you." Seath put both pitchers on the ground.
"You did, why?" Raicheal stopped and looked at Seath.
"It appears to me that the three of you really like each other, and that you have liked each other for quite a while. So it appeared to me that those two boys needed a kick behind their backsides." Seath explained.
"But I cannot choose between them, and I don't want to lose them as my friends." Raicheal suddenly realized what the biggest problem would be if she decided to admit liking both knights.
"Why don't you take both then?" Seath wondered what the problem was.
"Galahad isn't one to share things but Gawain might." Raicheal knew that for sure.
"There is always a first for everything, and if he doesn't want to lose you nor Gawain he will have to share." Seath knew that men would do odd things when they were in love, and she was sure that there was love here on all the sides.
"Now if you would excuse me I have to annoy a certain scout and tease my date for this day away from me." Seath lifted both pitchers and started to walk again.
"Wait I'll come with you! I have to check on them anyway." Raicheal lifted her own pitcher higher and followed Seath.
"We already feared you had found something more interesting to do." Lancelot continued the friend bantering as he saw Seath return with two pitchers of ale.
"There is always something more interesting to do." Seath handed one pitcher to Lancelot and put one next to Tristan.
"Are you trying to get us drunk?" Tristan watched as she filled his mug.
"Is it working?" Seath leaned dangerously close to Tristan's face.
"No," came the dry reply.
"I have also brought somebody with me, who wants to check on you two." Seath turned around and walked towards Raicheal who was standing a little away from the threesome. Seath grabbed the pitcher of ale and put it down between Lancelot and Tristan, she then sat down on the ground.
Raicheal walked towards Tristan, immediately noticing his forced posture. "Tristan you are in pain, so why didn't you tell anybody?" Raicheal sounded worried.
"It's not that bad." Tristan again shifted his body, but he was unable to find a comfortable position.
"It is! I think you need to go back to the fortress." Raicheal said sternly. "What about you Lancelot?"
"I'm fine." Lancelot lifted his mug with his injured arm a little to enthusiastically causing a flare off pain to go through his arm, dropping the mug. "Bugger."
"That's it, I'm going to get Galahad and Gawain and then you're going back to the fortress for some rest." Raicheal stood up and walked away before any of them could respond.
"Your right Tristan." Lancelot had taken a good look at Raicheal and noticed that she had turned into a fine woman.
"He's right about what?" Seath asked curious.
"That's none of your concern." Lancelot refilled his mug. "Do you think we can sneak these pitchers into the wagon?"
"Sure, but there is plenty of ale and wine at the fortress so why do it?" Seath pointed out.
"Because I plan on getting very drunk this night, and I doubt Raicheal will let us drink when we're back at the fortress." Lancelot admitted with a wink at Seath.
"What about you Lady Seath?" Lancelot inquired, after realizing that Merlin had only wanted her around to protect both Arthur and Guinevere; he knew she was bound to go back where she came from.
"What of me?" Seath looked confused.
"He wishes to know whether you want to warm his bed tonight." Gawain came walking towards them.
"I'm sure you would make a much better bed warmer, seeing how you are that much larger than me." Seath got to her feet and went to her horse.
Gawain started to laugh again as he walked towards Tristan and help the scout to his feet. "Where do you want him?" Gawain looked straight at Seath.
"Perhaps he would make a nice table ornament?" Seath started to tap her lips again. "What do you think?" She looked at Gawain inquisitively.
"I think he would look best on top of you." Gawain said innocently but Gawain's laughter died as Tristan pulled a knife on Gawain.
"I think you would look nice with another hole," Tristan growled into Gawain's ear.
"Someone does sound frustrated to me." Seath managed to worm herself in between Gawain and Tristan.
"See it does have its upside." Seath turned her hear head towards Raicheal.
Even in the beginning darkness nobody could fail to notices the redness on Raicheal's face, Gawain quickly stepped away from Seath and let go of Tristan.
"Why don't you be a good boy and climbed into the wagon already, hey?" Seath said to Tristan as if he was a five year old.
"You cannot tell me what to do." Tristan got in her face and then stalked of to sit into the wagon.
"Then why do you listen to me?" Seath yelled after him. "Oh and Gawain?" Seath asked.
"Yes, fair lady?" Gawain hadn't lost his sense of humour by the incident.
"I think he looks better with me on top." Seath whispered into his ear, and Gawain's laughter managed to startle several Woads walking passed.