Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just Kaleigh and the premise of this story.
Author's Note: Not much time to do this. I really should be studying for midterms right now, but oh well. Hope you like it!
immortalwizardpirateelf-fan: SO glad you like the story! Here's the next chapter, hope you like!
dw: I'm glad that you forgive me for the cliffy! I hope this chapter makes up for it!
Aoibhinn: Hope I didn't take to long! I'd hate to be the cause for you to need two sessions. Oh, and all your questions will be answered in this chapter! Enjoy!
thesarahnater: Wow, I'm really sorry that you hate cliffhangers. I hope this story makes up for it.
Fuzzy Makes Me Happy: haha, don't kill yourself holding your breath. Then you'll never know what happens next in the story! I hope all your answers are answered in this chapter.
MORWEN12: Thanks for the review. And I'm so happy that you liked it. Hope you like this one just as much.
lucillaq: Wow, a lot of people hated the cliffhanger. Sorry, but it was necessary. There was no where else that I wanted to end the chapter and I didn't want to wait until I had typed up all 30ish pages. Hope this chap makes up for it!
Snape's Opera Rose: No problem. I get distracted when I think about Tristan too. And yes she kneed him! The bastard deserved it. All of the Romans did.
And no problem about replying to the review. I figure if you guys, er, girls, can take the time to review the story, I can take the few minutes it takes to respond.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
"spoken"
thought
Chapter 11: All Romans Aren't So Bad Afterall
Kaleigh heard the sound of steel meeting steel and opened her eyes to see Tristan's curved sword poised above her, stopping Cassius' sword from cutting her where she lay. The anger on the scout's face was the first obvious emotion that Kaleigh had seen on his face and the intensity of it made her eyes widen in shock.
Cassius looked at Tristan and drew back his sword to hit again. Tristan's fist shot out catching under Cassius' chin and sending him flying backwards to the ground.
Kaleigh tried to stand, knowing she was defenseless on the ground, but a giant hand came to rest on her shoulders, stopping her from moving. She looked up and saw Dagonet kneel down next to her. He quickly placed his free hand against her cut, trying to stop the life giving blood from pouring out of her as it did. She bit her bottom lip sharply to keep from yelling in pain at the pressure and Dagonet squeezed her shoulder sympathetically.
Kaleigh turned her gaze back to the large yard and was only mildly surprised to see that the rest of the knights had moved into defensive positions to shield her from the Romans. She was relieved to see that Lancelot had made it to her and he knelt next to her, his eyes scanning her injury, before moving his gaze quickly to Dagonet. Dagonet must have done something to reassure him because he stood and shifted into a defensive stance without once looking her in the face. She felt her heart clench, the only way she could explain his actions were if he were still mad at her. She felt a cold dread grab her stomach, had she found her brother only to lose him?
She returned her gaze once again to her surroundings and saw the Romans were nervously eyeing her companions. As a voice cleared to her right, she realized they were really looking at Marius and Arthur, though the fear was obviously in reaction to the later drawing his impressive sword.
Marius stormed forward, "What is the meaning of this!" he shouted in anger, his arm fanning the air in his agitation. He looked back and forth between the Romans and Sarmatians.
Arthur stepped forward to stand beside his knights, quietly conveying his support of his men. He turned his gaze to the Romans, "Why are you attacking my men?"
Kaleigh glanced around nervously, some one was going to be in a lot of trouble by the end of this and she feared she would take the complete blame. Well, I am slightly responsible, she conceded. And if it keeps the others out of trouble, perhaps it best I take full responsibility, she mused
Gaius stepped forward cradling his shoulder, "That wench attacked me for no reason. When I tried to defend myself that crazy one there," he gestured to Tristan, "and the others attacked me."
Kaleigh felt Dagonet's hand on her shoulder squeezing, bidding her be silent but she wasn't about to let that Roman pig blame Tristan and her brother for this when they were merely defending her. "Liar!" she growled, nudging Dagonet's hand away, trying to stand, only to sink back to the ground with a cringe.
Marius whirled to her, a look of outrage and disbelief across his face, "You dare question the word of a Roman officer?"
Kaleigh saw the look that Arthur shot her, saw the look Dagonet shot her, but she ignored it, her adrenaline and anger not allowing her to remain silent, "Yes," she snarled, "when he's a lying pack of old horse shit."
Bors coughed and Gawain smirked slightly behind his beard.
Marius opened his mouth to yell at her, but Spurius stepped forward from amid the crowd, "She speaks truth Lord Marius." he ignored the glares the other Romans shot him, wiping his bloody lip with the back of his hand, "Gaius is the one who started all of this. He tried to take the lady's horse and he raised his voice to her. She merely was defending hers."
"Not to mention he hit a child." Kaleigh's eyes spit fire as she recalled the bruise on Laelia's soft cheek. Several of the knights, especially Bors stiffened, shifting their grips on their weapons, Dagonet's grip on her arm tightened, making her cringe.
Marius sent a withering glare to Spurius, clearly not pleased that the Roman was defending the Sarmatians, before turning to the rest of the legionnaires, "Is this true?" No one stepped forward, several mumbling that they hadn't seen the beginning. Marius turned to Arthur, a haughty smile plastered on his face, "You must forgive my men. Some of them came from lifestyles that were not blessed by the creator. All responsible shall be punished. I shall expect the same for your men."
Arthur nodded, "If my men are responsible, I will deal with them accordingly."
"What's it matter!" snapped Gaius. "She's only a wench. Who cares what we do to her? We should all just ki-" his words trailed off as Arthur leveled his sword at his throat.
"I advise you not to finish that thought." Arthur warned softly, his eyes flickering to the barely restrained fire in Kaleigh's eyes, as Dagonet forcibly held her in place with his large hand.
"I'm not a wench." she glared.
"What other scarred woman such as her would travel with such knights on a mission," asked Marius confused, "if not a wench to serve to satisfy their needs?"
Dagonet's hand was all that kept Kaleigh from attacking Marius, injured leg be damned.
"She travels with us as one of our men." Kaleigh looked to Arthur with gratitude.
"She's not for our amusement?" a voice drifted softly to Kaleigh's ears and she returned her glare to the group of Romans standing at the ends of the knights swords.
Bors chuckled, "Don't know too many wenches that can fight like that." Kaleigh raised an eyebrow as the Romans began to whisper amongst themselves.
Marius held up his pudgy hand, "Enough of this. I demand to know who she is."
Arthur nodded, "It is for her to tell, not me. She is not under my command."
Kaleigh hid her genuine smile, making note to thank Arthur for that at a more convenient time. She pressed her lips together, wondering how much was safe to tell, "I am Sarmatian. Kinswoman to a knight. Come to bring him home, only to find he had one more mission your God wished for him to fulfill."
The Romans moved nervously, realizing the mistake they had made. They might as well have attacked one of the knights. Marius looked at her, then at Arthur in astonishment, "This is not- not- possible," he stammered, "Rome does not allow woman to become knights. We wish only for your strong boy children."
"I'm not a knight." Kaleigh growled, she winced slightly, placing a hand over her neck wound, which had already begun to dry, "I'm a free woman. Not that Rome didn't manage to destroy my life and many others anyways."
Marius looked at her in fright, "You know not of what you speak."
"Don't I?" she growled.
Marius shook his robes out and raised his head, "Rome does not welcome your kind to these shores."
Kaleigh sneered, "But Rome is leaving."
"Lord Marius," Arthur cut in, shooting a look to Kaleigh that clearly said, 'no more', "as you can see she is wounded. I request a room where my men can tend to their injuries."
Kaleigh looked to see who else could be injured and saw for the first time a trickle of blood emerging from under Lancelot's right tunic sleeve which had a large slice in it. At the sight, Kaleigh finally realized just how much her own wound hurt as her adrenaline began to ware off.
Marius looked like he wanted to argue, but sighed, "Fulcinia!" the dark haired woman from earlier appeared and Marius nodded to Kaleigh, "My wife will show you to a room where you can tend to your wounded." He turned to his men, "As for the rest, finish packing my belongings, we leave shortly."
The woman motioned for a short blonde servant woman standing nearby to come to her as the Roman guards disappeared as quickly as they had come. Fulcinia whispered something to the younger woman and the serf disappeared quickly toward the villa. The Roman woman turned and motioned for them to come.
"Wait," Kaleigh called, "Valdeer needs tending and I must see to Laelia, the girl in the village."
Dagonet smiled, "I will tend the girl. Jols and Gawain will see to your horse."
The three knights and Galahad shot her looks of amusement before disappearing to tend to the various needs.
Kaleigh tried to rise to her feet, gasping as the dirt in her leg wound ground into her raw, tender flesh. She felt her leg begin to collapse beneath her again and braced for the impact of her body hitting the ground again. Instead of hitting the ground, strong sturdy arms wrapped around her waist, catching her. She leant against the chest for an extra moment, enjoying the feel of the hard, secure surface. She looked up and she fought the urge to let her mouth drop open at the sight of Tristan's face, inches from her own. He stared into her eyes for a brief moment before helping her stand fully on her feet.
"Thanks." she mumbled. She went to take a step and her leg turned to jelly beneath her. Strong arms caught her again, and this time they shifted, to her back and under her legs, lifting her off the ground. She was slightly surprised that Tristan would carry her but decided that she was in to much pain to complain. He smells so good. All woodsie and wild and manly. Rowr. Her eyes widened and she quickly averted her thoughts to other topics. She let her mind wander randomly and it went immediately to the pain coursing through her leg, twisting her gut into a hard ball. Knowing it was best to keep her mind from dwelling on the pain she looked over her shoulder to see Bors and Spurius gathering her bags and weapons. She was relieved to see that the other knights were being kind to Spurius. She saw Lancelot and Arthur ahead of them, following Fulcinia as she lead them into the villa.
Kaleigh spent her time in Tristan's arms focusing on not focusing on how cozy she felt there. She knew she might be thin, but she was tall and all muscle, making it uncomfortable for anyone to carry her for an extended period of time. And here Tristan was, casually carrying her down halls and up two flights of stairs without so much as a grunt. Her mind dared to think of just how strong his arms and torso felt around her body and the steady rise and fall of his chest against her side but she chased the thoughts away once more, taking in her surroundings.
It was not in her nature to go anywhere without knowing exactly how to get around and she made mental notes as the small group rounded one last turn and followed Fulcinia through a rough wooden door, into a small room.
Tristan gently set Kaleigh down then stepped back, allowing Fulcinia and the serf girl from earlier to tend to her. Fulcinia looked up from sterilizing the needle that would be needed to close the wound and saw the others standing, watching. She narrowed her eyes slightly, "If you are not helping, I ask that you leave me to my task."
Her tone was soft but left no room for argument. Kaleigh watched the others filter out of the room, rolling her eyes when the young blonde servant cooed at her brother, batting her eyes flirtatiously, saying something about properly tending to his arm in the other room as Arthur turned to close the door, chuckling slightly, "Kaleigh, I have questions you must give answer to." Fulcinia put one small hand on her hip and tapped her foot impatiently, "But they shall wait until later." he replied before hastily shutting the door.
Fulcinia carefully helped Kaleigh to remove the leather pants leaving the Sarmatian laying in only her underclothes. Fulcinia began to clean the wound with a rough towel and clean water and Kaleigh hissed at the scratchy feeling on her tender skin. The Roman gave her a sympathetic look before bending her head back to the task at hand. Kaleigh pushed the pain from her mind by studying the woman next to her. Up close she could see that she had been right in her first assessment. The woman had fair skin and long dark hair that shone in the dim light from the open window and the candle that had been placed next to the bed. Her eyes were a dark brown, nearly the same as her hair. Her face was kind, but worry lines were prominent, unusual for a Roman noblewoman. They usually had little to worry about, leaving everything to their servants. Kaleigh guessed that she was in her late thirties, though time had done little to mute her beauty. It was the aristocratic dignity, which showed in the way she moved, that had Kaleigh the most curious though. When Fulcinia had been around her husband and the other Romans her face had been timid and she had shrunk back at the slightest noise. Now that they were alone the woman moved with a confidence and grace that made Kaleigh feel all the more dirty and unfeminine.
As Fulcinia began to stitch the wound Kaleigh looked down, then averted her gaze, squeamish about the needle about to slide into her skin. As Fulcinia moved, the sleeves of her dress slid up one arm, revealing large, ugly bruises. The Roman quickly pulled her sleeve back down and looked up to Kaleigh, who was casually looking out the window.
Fulcinia went back to sewing and Kaleigh looked back at her from the corner of her eye, Poor woman. That bastard of a husband is no doubt to blame. "Thank you."
Fulcinia looked up at the two words, "For what?" she asked in confusion.
Kaleigh smiled, "For tending to my wound." The Roman woman nodded slightly, bending her head back to her work. "Have you lived north of the wall for long?" Kaleigh asked, trying to start a conversation.
Fulcinia nodded and finished tying the last stitch with a sharp tug, sending Kaleigh a sympathetic look at her wince, "Over ten years. Since Alecto was 6."
"Alecto? He's the reason we're here isn't he?" Kaleigh mused with a distant tone. The Roman woman nodded hesitantly, shifting away from Kaleigh, her eyes taking on a wary look. Kaleigh realized her mistake, "Don't worry." she reassured quickly, sitting up on the bed, "I don't blame you, or your son. I harbor no ill will towards either of you. Your husbands men however-" Kaleigh trailed off as she swung her legs to the side of the bed, her jaw set in a grim expression, both from the pain and the memory of her experience.
Fulcinia sat down on the edge of the bed gingerly, "Did you really fight all my husbands men?" Her tone was casual, but Kaleigh could see the excitement and wonder hidden in her eyes. Kaleigh smiled slightly and nodded. Fulcinia burst out in laughter and with a horrified look covered her mouth with the back of her hand, "Forgive me."
Kaleigh shook her head, "There is no need. You have only laughed."
Fulcinia lowered her hand, smiling slightly. She looked at Kaleigh and burst into laughter. Kaleigh was surprised to hear the clear, confident sound come from the woman, it was contagious and she smiled widely. Once Fulcinia had finished she sighed, "I'm sorry. It was just so good to see them all get what they've had coming. And from you!" Horror flew through her eyes, "But I should not speak so!"
"Why?"
"Because, the LORD says that vengeance is his alone to give."
"Your Bible also says eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth , does it not?"
Fulcinia's eyes widened, "You know the scripture?"
"A little. Traveling through Rome, one's bound to hear things if they have only the mind to listen."
"And still you fight. Do you kill as well?" Fulcinia's voice was hushed.
Kaleigh nodded slowly, "Yes I kill. I killed today."
Fulcinia frowned at that, "Are you a knight then?"
Kaleigh shook her head, "Only the sister of a knight. Rome did not deem girls fit to fight their battles for them." she chuckled at the irony of her statement that she knew would be lost on all but her.
"Doesn't your brother think it improper for a woman to dress as you do?"
"To be honest, my brother and I have been parted these last 15 years. He has had no say in how I look." She thought about how she must look. Her face she knew had several smaller cuts besides the slight split lip. If she wasn't mistaken, she was already developing a rather nasty bruise on the underside of her right jaw, where a fist had connected. Her hand wandered to absently brush at the hair that had loosened from her braid, which was most of it. She could feel it was a tangled mess and filthy. Her clothes, the breeches and tight tunic considered highly unacceptable by Roman standards, were dirty before, but now they were blood and sweat stained. She chuckled slightly, "I must be a sight, eh? I have not had the proper chance for a bath for near two weeks." she thought of the creek the day before and blushed slightly as an image of Tristan floated through her mind. She covered it with a laugh, "The more I think about it, the more repulsed I am!"
"I could have a bath drawn for you." offered Fulcinia.
Kaleigh raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn't you be preparing to leave? And I have duties that must be attended to as well."
Fulcinia's eyes turned stern, "You will not do anything until you've had a bath and even then I will not permit you to do anything but take it easy. Healers orders." Fulcinia raised her chin and nodded her head primly at Kaleigh. Then her expression softened, "As for me, my husbands men do everything around here. I have no say. In anything."
Kaleigh detected the sad note that had entered the others voice, "Is everything well with you?"
Fulcinia looked up at her, her eyes large and glimmering in the dim light, "My husband. He is not--" She stood and turned to look out the window.
Kaleigh felt her unease and changed the subject, "It would be wonderful to feel clean again." Fulcinia turned back to her and smiled softly before stepping to the door, "Thank you." Kaleigh said sincerely as the woman opened the door. The Roman nodded before sweeping out the door.
Twenty minutes later Kaleigh contentedly lay in the warm water filled basin. She had just finished rinsing her hair and now lay with her head back, eyes closed. She let her mind wander over the events of the past several days. She had found her brother, but had not told him the entire truth about why she had come for him. Her secret was laying heavily on her heart. She knew the longer she waited, the harder the telling would be. With a sigh she pushed those thoughts away, thinking instead about her new friends, the knights.
Dagonet was developing into a sort of uncle for her. He was older and far wiser. She hadn't had many conversations with him but he was a very good listener. When he had spoken to her during a conversation the night before about why he fought as long and as hard as he did though his words had given her pause, making her think back on her actions the past couple of years. He fought to protect others, to make sure his brothers stayed safe. He had told her that it wasn't about the glory, it was about the man next to him. She had understood him more than he could ever understand. She also enjoyed his quiet companionship though.
Bors was a also like an uncle. A loud, brash one at least. The others stories about him and his 11 bastards had made her smile, remembering her own childhood with her younger cousins and the chaos they had caused. And when Bors had spoken of his children she had seen a softer side of him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would die to protect any and all of them. The fondness in his voice when he spoke of Vanora made her envious. Sometimes, she wondered if she would ever have what they had, or if she would even come close.
And Gawain. He was like another brother already. Well not entirely, she thought with a chuckle. No brother would ever make the suggestive comments to a sister that Gawain made to her. She had seen that first day that he was a fierce warrior. And it was endearing the way he had taken Galahad under his wing and kept him there through all the years. If ever two people were like brothers, it was thoughs two. Gawain rubbed Galahad like Severn had rubbed her, knowing just the right buttons to push to get a reaction.
Poor Galahad. She honestly didn't know how the young knight had survived the amount of goading and teasing the other knights had dealt him. And yet he was still so mild mannered. Except when it came to fighting. Though he constantly proclaimed to abhor it, she had seen first hand the skill and intensity with which he wielded his sword. He wouldn't still be alive after these fifteen years if he was not skilled. She sighed, wishing that he would get his chance to return to Sarmatia. She hoped that he would get the chance to forget the fighting. Deep inside she knew, as he must, that you could never forget the fighting. That the faces of the dead would follow you forever, and it would take a very special woman indeed to be able to understand the influences it would have on him. She had seen firsthand the way it had affected the men who had returned to her village. They were always edgier, quicker to fight then others.
An image of Lancelot's angry face came to mind and she brought her hand up to idly rub at her temple. She wasn't sure how she was going to deal with her brother. She remembered him as the boy who had happily led her on her first pony ride after she had taken the blame for stealing the mince meat pie mother had made. This Lancelot was new. She didn't know how to deal with him. They had each missed so much in the life of the other she didn't know where to even begin talking to him. And of course every time she was around him the guilt of not telling him the truth, the reality of home, weighed heavily on her mind. She was going to have to tell him and the longer she waited the worse it would be. And still, she kept putting it off, wanting to believe that something would happen and she wouldn't have to tell him ever. Maybe dying would help her escape the inevitable.
She dunked herself completely under water, staying there even when the burning in her lungs became to great to stand. She opened her eyes and with a grunt burst up out of the water, wiping it furiously from her eyes and face, coughing to expel the liquid from her lungs.
"So much for drowning myself." she grumbled as she relaxed back, turning her thoughts once again to her companions.
Arthur. The first Roman in a very long time that she had respected. She saw why her brothers and the others had gained such a wide spread legend. Arthur was wise and calm, the perfect counterbalance for the more brash and rowdy Sarmatians that he commanded. She had seen at the tavern how much it had torn Arthur to have to lead them on this mission. He had wanted them to go as much as they had. What meant more than anything though was the way that the knights looked at Arthur. He was one of them. Respected and considered their equal, and he likewise considered them. She had never seen a Roman commander that cared for his men, any of his men, like Arthur did.
And then there was Tristan. The silent scout intrigued her. Every time she thought of him her heart skipped a beat and try as she might she could not explain this reaction. Except, maybe, it was because she saw so much of herself in him. Saw the same love for fighting that she possessed. And they both hid their emotions. He with his damned impassive face that she couldn't even begin to read and her with her ever changing personality. She remembered Percival had once told her that she changed personalities with 'more frequency than the damn weather'. She still wasn't exactly sure what he had meant, but it had made her and the rest laugh in a time when laughter had been hard to find.
But something worried Kaleigh. She wasn't sure what, but something seemed off between her and the scout. True he had acted the same around her, even carried her up here, but something was definitely off. She felt awkward around him and call her crazy but the scout didn't seem as relaxed around her either. She desperately wanted to find out what was off so that she could make amends. It didn't sit well with her that something would be off between her and the man who had saved her life twice now. She would just have to find a time to talk to-
A faint knocking registered in Kaleigh's mind.
"Come in." she answered automatically as she swirled the bubbly suds with a finger. Wait, bubbly suds. Her eyes widened in alarm. "Stop!" she called to late.
The door swung open and Tristan took several steps in before freezing at the sight of her. To Kaleigh's horror Gawain and Galahad entered, walking around Tristan. Galahad saw her first and stopped short, making Gawain crash into him. The three stared at her in shock and she crossed her arms over her chest, sinking as far into the water as she possibly could. She mentally blessed Fulcinia for insisting she have the extra bubbly soap which clouded the water.
"What are you doing standing there?" she managed to ask, rather calmly considering the situation.
"Wow." Galahad mumbled. Her eyes popped open.
Gawain grinned, "Is that what you've been hiding under your clothes."
"Get OUT!" she yelled at them, throwing one soapy arm up to point them back in the direction they had come.
At his fellow knights words Tristan had turned ready to push them back outside, making Galahad drop Afsati who yelped when he hit the floor unceremoniously.
Kaleigh began to rise to help the pup when she remembered the situation and sank back into the tub. "You can stop gawking now." she hissed trying to keep her cool. She looked at Tristan and blushed at the intensity in his still blank gaze as he held his eyes to hers. She forced herself to tear her gaze from his and glared instead at Galahad who was happily staring and Gawain who was focusing on the water she sat in as if his sheer will power could make the murky water clear.
These men were incorrigible. "GET OUT!" she screeched, grabbing the bar of soap and chucking it at them, nailing Gawain in the chest.
"What's going on in there?"
Kaleigh groaned as Arthur and Lancelot rushed into her room, weapons drawn in preparation of fending off whatever had made her yell. Arthur's eyes widened at the sight of her and Lancelot threw his arm up over his face, moaning in disgust.
"OUT!" she shouted again.
Arthur and Lancelot grabbed Gawain and Galahad, dragging them from the room.
Tristan backed up slowly, keeping his gaze locked with hers, "So that's where your other scars are."
Her mouth dropped open as he closed the door securely behind himself. She could hear Lancelot shouting incoherently as she stared in complete shock at the door which cracked open, "-mean by other scars. I can't believe you-" Afsati was shoved through the door and she caught a glimpse of her brother before he slammed it shut.
She was fairly glad that she wasn't one of the other knights right then.
Author's Note: There ya go. The end of the latest chapter! Hope ya all liked it and my attempts at humor. As always, please leave a review. I don't care how long or short it is or what the contents are, anything helps me to know what needs improvement. So go ahead and push the little bluish button! Thanks!