Alice was already waiting in the carriage when Arthur carefully helped Beatrix in, shutting the door behind her and leaving the two women alone with their thoughts.
The jerking and shuddering that signalled the movement of the carriage as the gravel rumbled under the wheels compelled Beatrix to turn around and gaze back at the glowing shadow that was her home as she peered through the back window. Her father's shadow stood proud and wide in the doorway, his hand raised in farewell and Beatrix pressed her hand to the cool glass as she stared back at him and silently said her goodbyes.
"Miss Beatrix, are you alright?" Alice's small voice cut into her memories and Beatrix turned to her with glistening eyes; thankful there was little light in the carriage.
"Alice, please call me Beatrix. You are my companion on this new venture, you are my friend." Urged Beatrix softly, reaching across and taking Alice's warm hand and holding onto it tightly. "I'm just a little frightened that's all."
Alice smiled at the young woman's sense of truth and she squeezed Beatrix's slender gloved hand tightly.
"It'll be alright M-Beatrix."
Beatrix nodded to herself and let go of Alice's hand as she leant back against the cool leather of the carriage and stared into the darkness that surrounded them.
Usually this land would be rolling green hills, marked with lush woodland and the odd farm. But now it was completely black. An oblivion of darkness that Beatrix could feel herself being pulled farther and farther into it the further she travelled from home.
The carriage trundled along through the darkness surrounded by seven horsemen. Jols, Arthur's loyal manservant drove the carriage, with Arthur and Lancelot riding in front, Galahad and Gawain either side of the coach and Bors and Dagonet bringing up the rear. Tristan had ridden ahead as soon as they had pulled out of the manor searching for any signs of danger.
Arthur's body swayed as his horse ambled along the dark path and Lancelot watched him quietly.
"So where exactly are we to be depositing Miss Clarke to?" Lancelot asked seriously to Arthur's moonlit profile after clearing his throat.
"Westminster." Arthur replied smoothly and turned his head to quirk an eyebrow at his most trusted accomplice. "Why?"
Lancelot sighed exasperatedly and gave his commander a withering look.
"Just working out how many days we'll be on the road." He answered grimly, waiting a beat before adding: "And how many highwaymen we'll be likely to encounter."
Arthur chuckled and rolled his eyes at the serious mood of the man riding next to him. His friend was an unusual character at the best of times; one moment he was mischievous, the next serious, other times soulful.
They had first met a few years ago in London, at a horse auction. They had been contending for a particular black stallion, each trying to up the stakes slightly more than the other until finally Arthur had won with a slight nod of his head to the haughty young man over the other side of the packed room. Arthur had sought him out after the auction had finished and they had both marvelled over the power and beauty of the horse; Arthur quickly learnt that the man had travelled great distances to come to England and had ridden such large and powerful horses since he was a boy.
"Join me in protecting those from the highwaymen and the horse shall be yours." Arthur had announced as they both stood watching the testy black stallion.
Lancelot's mouth had dropped open slightly at the sudden exclamation and he turned his head to look at the other man.
"Why would you give up such a great horse?" He asked slowly, eyeing up the slightly older man with suspicious brown eyes.
Arthur laughed and without turning had said:
"I can't fight them alone. You have proven your worth to me."
At first the proud young man had been resistant but eventually had given in and had introduced Arthur to a number of others who had travelled from their homeland of Sarmatia.
Arthur smiled as he watched Lancelot pat his horse's neck soothingly and whisper a few hushed words to it as they continued their riding.
"Obstinate bastard."
None of the horsemen had spoken to either of the two young women in the carriage since they left the manor and they had heard little sound filter out of it since they had left the safety of the gates about four hours beforehand.
Beatrix certainly had caught all of their attention, her entrance was simple and discreet and yet all of them had found their eyes drawn to her as she cautiously made her way down the large oak staircase; her dress swaying lazily and the gold embroidery catching the torchlight as she descended.
There was some air about her that they had never witnessed in a 'proper and prim' gentlewoman before, and just the way she moved spoke of her creative flair but cautious approach to all things new. And those enchanting deep blue, almost purple eyes were intoxicating when they looked at you; drawing you in and making you want to know more. Her hair had gleamed in so many different shades of brown as she stood with them in the flickering torchlight of the hall and her smile lit up her whole face. An angel indeed.
All of them were interrupted from their thoughts when a sharp shriek of laughter erupted from the carriage and was quickly muffled. Arthur and Lancelot turned back to look towards Gawain and Galahad who shrugged non-plussed. Each of them ducked their heads to look into the windows of the darkened carriage and smiled amusedly to see Alice with her hand over her mouth shaking with laughter and Beatrix lying across the leather seat muffling her laughter into her dress.
Gawain caught Galahad's eye through the other window and winked at the younger man with a wide smile as they watched the two women fighting to keep quiet.
Finally their laughter subsided and Beatrix raised herself back up to a sitting position and wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes.
"Oh Alice, you should not say such things!" She scolded laughingly, a broad smile lighting up her face and the golden-haired innocent girl across from her let out a small giggle.
"Well, it had to be said. And you can't say the thought hadn't crossed your mind too." Alice teased and Beatrix had to agree.
Her attention was caught by the two men watching them through the windows and instead of composing herself straight away or hiding from them, she beamed at both of them and shifted towards one of the windows and opened it to the cool night air.
"Can I help you Miss Clarke?" Galahad asked charmingly and Beatrix took a deep breath of the crisp air that drifted past her face as she leaned from the window; a blissful look coating her delicate features.
"Oh no, but thank you very much…" She trailed off as she had no idea of his name and the young man grinned before bowing in his saddle.
"I am Galahad, Miss."
"Thank you Galahad." Beatrix replied smilingly and looked over the young man as he turned back in his saddle.
He could see her studying him from the corner of his eye but he kept facing forward and let her to her thoughts.
Dark curls and waves, soft green eyes and a handsome face; so much like her brother Beatrix mused as her eyes swept over the young man with a scrutinizing gaze.
"How long shall it be until we stop?" She asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence and Galahad shouted up to Arthur who hung back and came up to ride beside Galahad.
"We should come across an inn soon Miss Clarke. I trust you are well?" The man she knew to be Arthur asked politely.
His soft smile and thoughtful green-grey eyes caused Beatrix to return a small smile and nod her head.
"Yes, thank you Mr Castus. Everything is more than swell."
He nodded curtly and rose his head swiftly as Tristan raced back down the darkened woodland path towards the carriage. He seemed like some phantom horseman as he rode through the darkness, only illuminated briefly by moonlight every few seconds in some ethereal light. The grim expression of the man and his panting breath alerted Beatrix to the fact that something was wrong and she looked anxiously towards Arthur.
"Is something wrong Mr Castus?" She asked fearfully and he turned back to face her after Tristan had given him his hushed report.
"Miss Clarke please shut the windows and draw the blinds in the carriage. We will protect you, do not worry." Arthur replied firmly and Beatrix nodded hastily as she slammed the window shut and tore down the blinds, plunging the carriage into darkness.
"Beatrix, what is wrong?" Alice whispered in alarm, sensing the panic radiating off her companion and the look of fear mixed with wonder on her face.
"Highwaymen." Beatrix whispered, tilting her head to look at Alice serenely as the first shot was fired.
"Protect the carriage!" Bellowed Arthur as a gang of about 15 masked men on horses plunged out of the shadowy forest and fired their pistols.
Lancelot instantly whipped out his flintlock pistol and fired at the nearest man, shooting him square in the chest and sending him flying backwards off his horse: dead. He ripped out his second pistol and shot another masked man who was pelting towards Arthur, the sound of splattering blood filling the air beneath of all the gunshots and yells. He quickly tugged the small bag of gunpowder out of his jacket and began reloading his gun; his eyes searching fiercely for any oncoming attackers in the near pitch-black darkness.
"Beatrix what will happen if they find us?" Alice whimpered suddenly as she clung to her friend as they huddled on the floor of the carriage, listening to the gunshots and screams of pain as the shadows flitted past the closed blinds. Alice let out another muffled shriek into Beatrix's chest as someone hit the side of the carriage with a hefty thud and Beatrix watched as the figure slid down the window; very obviously dead. They had both heard the stories of the ruthless highwaymen that roamed the countryside; preying on the wealthy and vulnerable, robbing, stealing…killing.
"They won't find us Alice."
"C'mon then ya bastard!" Roared Bors tauntingly as he finished reloading his gun with powder and took aim at one of the masked riders who was racing towards him; loaded pistol outstretched.
Both guns exploded with flashes of lights mixed with small plumes of smoke, and both riders heard the similar ear-splitting gunshots. The masked rider gasped and let out a choked gargle as the small lead ball embedded itself in his throat and sent him sprawling back across the horse saddle; his body limp and blood pouring from the wound. The bullet that was fired at Bors missed by mere millimetres, but that was more than enough for the large man and he let out a loud roar of victory.
Tristan was nearby firing quickly and effortlessly. He had reloaded his gun and shot before any of the would-be thieves had chance to aim; his black eyes gleaming with adrenaline from the shoot-out in the moonlight beneath his unruly braids.
"How many alive?" Arthur shouted as he looked around and found no-one left to fight.
Gawain and Galahad both shot their guns one last time, finding their target and Gawain wiped a hand across his sweating brow as he breathed heavily.
"None."
The captain nodded wearily and cast an appraising eye over the men left on horseback; silently thanking his God that they were all unharmed and alive.
The silence in the carriage was only interrupted by Alice's soft whimpers and sobs and Beatrix's heavy breathing. She could feel the alarm rising within her as she held Alice tighter within her arms and watched a tall shadow come alongside the carriage. The shadow stopped and for a moment Beatrix shut her eyes and waited for the loud blast of a gun to greet her, or the chilling words of "Stand and deliver."
"Miss Clarke? Are both of you alright?" Called Arthur and Beatrix sagged with sheer relief; thinking it had been one of the dastardly highwaymen.
"Yes Mr Castus. Thank you." Called back Beatrix with a relieved sigh, shushing Alice and stroking her hair as she rocked the sobbing girl backwards and forwards on the floor.
Moonlight poured in on the pair as Lancelot opened the carriage door and Beatrix moved her head up to look at him, her large deep blue eyes soft but scared at the same time.
"Is she alright?" He asked gently but with a note of urgency in his smooth voice, moving towards the door and bending to look at her.
Beatrix watched him quietly and nodded, bending her head to whisper something in Alice's ear which seemed to calm the girl somewhat. "She's just a little shocked. Of course we'd heard the stories of those dastardly men, but…the reality was a bit different." She smiled slightly in a crooked way as she finished talking and Lancelot smirked as he backed out of the carriage door; bowing his head which made some of his dark curls fall into his eyes.
"Twas your curly-haired, fetching saviour." Lancelot thought he heard Beatrix whisper to Alice as he shut the door, receiving a giggle from the sniffling blonde and earning a knowing smirk to the young man's lips.
They travelled a while longer, only an hour or so, till they came across an inn and rode into the courtyard.
"Tie up our horses." Arthur commanded a stable-boy wearily and the boy didn't hesitate in running forward and taking the reins as he watched Arthur dismount with a look of sheer awe on his face.
"You're Arfur Castus, ain't ya?" The scrawny boy asked enthusiastically; excitement shining bright in his dull eyes.
The man with dark waves and a kind, if not weary, face nodded and sent the boy on his way scurrying eagerly away with the horses. The other men were also dismounting and handing their horses to various stable-hands, and each nodded in turn to Arthur as he strode over to the carriage. He was surprised when Beatrix opened the carriage door herself and stepped out into the fresh night air; breathing deeply as she smiled and looked around at the hazy lantern-lights that littered the small cobbled courtyard.
"Ah, Miss Clarke. We shall be retiring here for the night. Would you like some food, or just rest?" Arthur asked kindly, slightly amused at the variety of characteristics this young woman had shown them in the past few hours.
Beatrix ushered Alice out on the coach calmly and turned to Arthur with a thoughtful expression.
"Perhaps t'would be best for us to freshen up before we meet you for dinner?"
"Of course Miss Clarke." Arthur said, bowing low and escorting the two ladies into the calling warmth of the inn.
Beatrix gave Alice a comforting pat on the shoulder as she set down the bowl of water in front of the girl on the vanity dresser. Alice frowned as the dark-haired girl stood behind her; a mirror image of how they had been mere hours ago in Beatrix's room.
Beatrix watched in satisfaction as Alice splashed her face with the refreshing liquid and patted it dry with a nearby cloth, only stopping and trying to turn when Beatrix began to undo her hair.
"Beatrix what are you doing?" She asked with mild confusion, frowning at her friend in the mirror and watching the dreamy smile that graced the other girl's lips.
"Fixing your hair."
"But I should be the one tending to you-"
"No Alice." Interrupted Beatrix firmly, grasping hold of the younger woman's shoulders and resting her head on top of Alice's. "You are my handmaiden no longer. You are my companion and you will be wise to remember that."
Alice laughed at Beatrix's failing straight face and mock-angry tone and instead relaxed and let Beatrix undo her hair and brush it gently.
"My mother always used to brush my hair for me when I was a little girl. I loved it so. Sometimes I'd even brush her's too, she'd teach me how to pin it up in just the right ways and she'd always tell me the story of Rapunzel when she put me to bed." Beatrix recalled delicately, her slender fingers drifting through Alice's golden locks and fixing it effortlessly with some of her own flowered pins. "When at first you arrived I remember thinking that you must have been the girl from the fairytales and that it was your golden hair that would one day be let down from a tower."
Alice shook her head and chuckled at her friend as Beatrix told her many other stories about her mother; all the while pinning up the golden locks into a striking style.
"Oh Beatrix, it's beautiful!" Gasped Alice once the older girl had finished.
She sat staring wide-eyed at the mirror, not daring to touch her hair should it fall out of place and ruin everything. Alice couldn't believe her eyes; she, a simple handmaiden, looked like the princess from the fairytales. Her blonde ringlets were swept up on top of her head in the most extraordinary design and fell about her face perfectly; framing her rose-blush cheeks and china blue eyes, making her look like a small porcelain doll. "But what are you to do with your hair?"
"I'm going to leave it down." Beatrix stated defiantly and Alice span around in shock at the statement.
"Beatrix! You can't do that! It's…it's…not proper!" Hissed her friend, making Beatrix's smile grow larger and larger until at last she had to laugh at the aghast expression on Alice's face.
"Oh darling Alice," Sighed Beatrix lovingly, hugging her friend who till sat on the vanity stool. "You are such a dear."
Brushing her hair quickly, and letting the dark brown waves and curls float about her middle, Beatrix grabbed Alice's hand and dragged her from the room.
A/N: Hmm well...here I am meant to be doing my dreaded german orals and look where it's got me...another new chapter! As you will quickly find out, I do like my drama as you can see so it was only right to add a little bit in this chapter. Got lots of ideas for other chapters too, but don't hesitate to give me your's too! Very much appreciated, and let me tell you when I got home from my friend's this morning I was smiling like I had a hanger in my mouth after all those lovely reviews! Thanks so much everyone, I'm so glad it's had such a good response and please tell me what you think about this latest chapter as I'm not quite sure if I like it or not..hm..ah well. (P.S. I'll get round to individual reviewer thanks at some stage...eventually lol)Thanks everyone xx