Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of the King Arthur movie. I do own the rights to Kaleigh and other characters soon to be reintroduced.

Author's Note: I know. I know. It's been forever since I've updated. But in my defense, my life has been so hectic it's not even worth getting into. All I can say is sorry and that the next couple of chapters will be posted within a much shorter time period.

Chapter 16

Kaleigh stared off into the forest, her mind thinking back on the past. She thought about the people with her and the slow pace they were going at and she knew it was only a matter of time before they were forced to challenge the Saxons. She frowned, wishing she had more of her friends here to fight with. She felt eyes on her and turned to see Arthur studying her, his green eyes questioning. She met his gaze and knew he could see the turmoil of thoughts going through her mind. Her damn eyes always gave away what she was thinking, "Ask your questions Arthur."

"I did not ask you to explain when we first met," he paused, "but I must now. What are you hiding?"

She shrugged, "It's a long story."

"It's a long ride."

Kaleigh stared straight ahead for several minutes and Arthur was beginning to think she wouldn't respond when she spoke quietly, "If I tell you, you must swear not to say a word to any of the others. I will tell them what I am about to tell you in my own due time, but not 'til then."

Arthur nodded, "You have my word."

"I suppose you received word three years ago that the Saxons were invading Sarmatia?"

Slight recognition dawned in Arthur's eyes as he nodded, "Messengers from Rome told us they had stopped the Saxons before they reached the first village."

She scoffed, "Well, we all know that Rome has problems, so I won't bother putting it delicately. They lied to you." she turned to gauge Arthur's reaction. His mouth had set grimly. "When the Saxons invaded, they, -destroyed -- many villages. Mine was one of the first. I had been out overnight checking on several of our mares who were in foal. I smelled smoke, but I thought nothing of it. As I crested one of the hills my village lay at the foot at, I saw it. What was left of it. The buildings were burning and much of our livestock lay dead. I approached cautiously at first, thinking it was bandits and that all my people had chased them off."

Kaleigh paused as she pictured the village. She had thought everyone had left, until she saw the body. "The first body I saw was that of my dear friend Iona. Her throat had been slit and her clothes were in tatters, obvious that she had been raped. I only then remembered the rumors of Saxons coming from the west. I heeled Valdeer into the village and jumped from him. Several more village members lay dead on the ground. It was so silent, all you could hear was the sound of the fires crackling. I feared the worst for my father and brother and rushed to my hut, amazed to find it wasn't burning like the rest. I knew something was off, but I was so worried I didn't listen to my own instincts."

"Turns out the village wasn't completely deserted. When I rushed into the hut I saw three large, shaggy men. That was the first time I ever saw a Saxon. They grabbed me, I had left my weapons outside on my saddle in my rush. I kicked, bit, whatever I could do, but they just laughed and then one hit me. I'd never been hit so hard and must have blacked out for a moment because the next thing I knew I was pinned beneath one of them on our table, his two friends stood next to us, holding my arms and goading him on. I screamed, shrieked really, and they released me to grab their ears. Just long enough for me to knee the one who was trying to --"

Her voice trailed off as the memories came back in a rush. She could once again feel the rough wood of the table on her back and the weight of the Saxon pinning her. She could smell the stink of the smoke and sweat and filth that permeated the enclosure and the man on top of her, causing her eyes and throat to choke with tears. The feeling of dread that knotted in her stomach as she realized what was going to happen to her. The realization that she was going to die there, trapped and helpless.

She cleared her throat, looking down to where her hands played idly with the mane. "They had ripped my dress, about to rape me, when my brother, Severn appeared in the door way. He was holding my father's sword. He charged the Saxons and the two holding me still released me to grab their weapons and face him. I can still hear them laughing and taunting Severn. I watched them as they managed to get the sword from him, turning it on him. I managed to push the Saxon off of me, but then he hit me again. The fool was so sure that I wasn't a threat he didn't even seem to care that he had knocked me next to where one of their swords rested against the wall. When I looked up, they were running my brother thru' with my fathers sword. I grabbed the weapon next to me and I don't remember how, but I killed all three of them."

"When I knelt next to my brother he was still alive, but barely. I gathered him into my arms as the death rattle passed through him. I realized my father was at my side the moment Severn's life left him. I was aware of my father taking Severn from me, and that he was crying, but I don't remember how I managed to stumble outside. The rest of my village was there and people pushed past me to get inside. Someone told me the Saxons had struck early that morning and that my people had been forced to flee. They told me the Saxons had split up and a group was two hours south of us. They tried to make me sit, to see why I was covered in blood, but I pushed them away, grabbed an extra quiver of arrows, swung onto Valdeer and raced in the direction they told me the Saxons lay. I found them several hours later and followed them until they bedded for the night." she paused to look up at Arthur, who had a horrified look in his eyes, his face a mask of grief for her, "I'm not proud Arthur, but I waited 'til morning. Then I attacked. There were 27 men when my arrows first started falling and by the time I was out of arrows only 8 remained standing. I mounted Valdeer again and charged them."

She stroked Valdeer's neck with a small, sad smile, "It was the first battle Valdeer was in, though you wouldn't have known it watching him. He must have been a great warrior before. He trampled one man while I knocked the head from another. It was the first real battle I had ever been in and they surrounded us easily, dragging me from his back. I tried to fight back, but they cut me," her hand went idly to her cheek, "and the pain was so great I felt as if I would die. I wished I would die, as they proceeded to pick up were the other three had left off. But the gods were with me that day, and two riders came upon them, killing the remaining 6."

"The pain from my injuries was so great I passed out. I spent the next week in and out of consciousness, fighting the fever and infection, as the two strangers tended to my injuries. I learned their names were Percival and Alyana. Her tribe had been destroyed and she had been tracking the Saxons when she came across Percival, a former knight who had returned to defend our land. They had joined up and several days later they had come across me. Once I was well enough to travel I rode with them back to my village. I think crowning that last hill and seeing the devastation before me is when I finally realized, things would never be the same. There were only several huts still standing, most of our livestock was dead. My father, the head of the village, barely even acknowledged my return. As I continued to heal I watched as slowly people began to leave, until two months later when the only one's who remained were my father, who had sunken into a depression so deep after the loss of his youngest son that he never made it out, Percival, Alyana and myself. The three of us formed a friendship so strong so quickly and they refused to leave me."

"One morning I woke and found that my father's spirit had left him in the night. We burned his body, gathered the remaining 23 horses in my herd, and we left my village."

"The three of us traveled throughout Sarmatia, gathering those who would and could fight. Those without horses rode mine. We did this for four additional months, until there were near 30 of us. Then we looked for the Roman legions that were stationed to fight in Sarmatia. We found one, joined and fought beside them for over a year and a half, against first the Saxons and then the Huns, until there was nothing left to fight for. When we left the legion our group had fallen to 11. We couldn't stay in Sarmatia, none of us could bare to see what our homeland had become, so we traveled to Rome, becoming mercenaries of sorts for an additional six months. Then we heard of you, Arthur, and the knights that served under you. We had nothing else to do, so we came here. Nine people and 15 horses."

She glanced sideways at Arthur who stared at her with disbelief, "There are so many of you! Why would only you come to the fort?"

She sighed, "Among the horses are very pregnant brood mares who will not be rushed. The foals from those mares are the start of a new herd and I would not risk our future by rushing." she smiled slightly, "We also travel with several girls who insisted on spending at least one night in a town. Therefore, when we embarked from the ship, it was agreed that one would go ahead of the group while the others came more slowly. I got the job because we had heard rumors Lancelot was here and I would probably be the least likely to get into trouble on the way to the fort."

"So you're friends, Sarmatians, are traveling to Hadrian's Wall as we speak?" Arthur asked.

She nodded and smiled slyly, "Among them Galahads' sister and Gawains' cousin."

Arthur shook his head in disbelief, "How has all this happened without any word reaching me."

She pursed her lips, "You should know Arthur, Rome knows how loyal you are to their men. They don't trust you with this information."

"How can you know this?"

"When in Rome, I befriended a man in the Church. One of our employers. He was a good man, told me of what happened in the political world. He was one of those trying to change the way of the world, to teach equality among the people. They had him killed. As well as two of our friends who were with him at the time."

"I am sorry for all of your losses."

She smiled weakly, "As am I. Now, you know why I asked for your word of silence. I don't wish any of them to become discouraged. For them to find out now about their homes, about how there is nothing waiting for them, when we may be forced to fight a battle that is impossible to win. I want them all to have hope and to fight as hard as they can for as long as they can."

Arthur nodded, "I understand your reasoning, but my men deserve to know the truth. The longer you wait to tell them, the harder it will become for all concerned."

"I know. But that is my burden Arthur. And if it saves even one of their lives, it is one I am most happy to bare." She smiled sadly as she held Valdeer back, allowing Arthur and the caravan to move past her.

Author's Note: Review, it's a great encouragement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!