Chapter 3: Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left To Lose….
Author's Note: I still don't own King Arthur in any capacity. If I did I wouldn't be broke and I could pay for school. In this chapter Galya will be playing the role of mother and warrior.
Galya pulled the hood to her cloak tighter around her face. She was putting on her mask again. She was now "The Shadow" again. She was going to keep herself distant from everything. She couldn't deal with Romans. They made her stomach churn and her mind reel. Everything about them made her sick. They had made her the way she was and told her that she was nothing and that she was lucky they had left her live. Her master had even told her once that she didn't have even the slightest right to her own life. Her life belonged to him. He could do with her whatever he wanted.
She had to be thankful though. He never touched her, indecently and never allowed such a thing to happen to her. She had never been with anyone so when she gained her freedom she was still an honorable prospect for marriage. Though if she ended up marrying a Knight, she knew that they would understand. She cursed herself inwardly. Why was she thinking about marriage and children when they were on a mission? She wondered if the conversation last night really had that much of an effect on her.
She snapped out of her trance and saw that there was a Roman man talking to Arthur, "Alecto is my son and everything we have is here on the land given to us by the Pope of Rome." He man said making it very clear that he had no intention of leaving.
Galya rode closer to Arthur and stared down at the man. He looked up wide eyed. So he did know who she was. She smiled under her hood and then Lancelot spoke, "Well you're about to give it to the Saxons." He said looking over at Galya.
"Then Rome will send an Army." The man said losing his confidence.
"They have us. We leave as soon as you are ready." Arthur said.
"I refuse to leave." The man said.
Galya moved forward again and stared down at the man, "I suggest you start packing now or I may have to convince you to do it in other ways." She said and everyone could hear the malice in her voice.
Gawain and Galahad rode up next to their sister and Gawain put his hand on her arm to try and calm her down.
"I will make sure your master knows of this. You will pay with your life for speaking to me that way."
Galya laughed. She knew the Bishop didn't care what happened to this man or his wife as long as he got Alecto, "Hush old man. Germanius doesn't care what happens to you let alone what I say to you. He only wants your son. That is all he cares about." She said trying to maintain her calm the best she could.
Then she heard Arthur say something about the Knights being hungry and the man sent his wife to get them food. Then Arthur saw a sight that made him seethe. He saw an old man chained up. He went over and asked why the man was being punished and Ganis told him that he was a village elder that had "defied" the man, Marius, by asking that they be able to keep more of the food that they planted.
Galya shook her head. They had a right to live. They had a right to nourish their bodies. They had a right to be treated like human beings. After Arthur had cut the man down, Galya dismounted her horse and went over to him and pulled out a blanket. She had the villagers help her get him on to the blanket and she looked him over, "He'll live. Get him loaded onto one of the carts. Be gentle." She said as she walked back over to her horse.
Galya didn't understand why she was feeling pity for these people. She had seen hell she had been put into conditions worse than this back in Rome. She thought that maybe she was pitying them because she knew how it felt. She knew what it was like to be hopeless. But now she had the Knights and they were taking care of her. She was starting to have hope again. Hope that things on the other side of this mission were better.
Just then something caught her eye. Dagonet was off his horse and kicking in a door. She went over to see what was going on. When the door finally opened she couldn't see anything. She walked up behind Gawain who was entering the building. He tried to tell her to stay where she was but she gave him a look that suggested that she was going no matter what he said.
When they reached the bottom of the staircase a horrid smell reached their noses. It was the smell of death. There was no denying that. Galya crinkled her nose and walked forward behind her brother. Then two monks appeared, "Who are these defilers of the Lord's temple?" One of the monks asked.
Galya scoffed. So they thought this was the work of God. She didn't know much about Christians but if Arthur considered himself a Christian and he was a really good person, their God must not want them to hurt others, "Well seeing as I don't believe in your God I don't believe I am defiling anything." Galya said looking the man in the eyes.
Then Arthur asked to see if any of them were still alive. Dagonet walked over to some cages and found a little boy that was still alive and right next to him a little girl. She had black hair and blue eyes like Galya. Galya quickly stepped forward and took the girl from Dagonet. When she looked at her, Galya wanted to cry. This girl couldn't have been older than five and she was being tortured by monks. Galya carried her back up to the surface and held her tightly as she yelled for someone to bring her water. She held the girl in her arms as Galahad brought her water.
The little girl in her arms tried to speak to her and she just told her to stay silent, "Rest now little one. Everything is okay now. I'm not going to let anyone else hurt you." Galya said loading the girl into one of the carriages with Lucan and Guinevere. Dagonet, Galya, and the Roman man's wife worked on healing the three, "Gawain, take Galen (her horse) with you. Take good care of him." Galya said.
Gawain nodded and took the horse by the reins. The little girl in Galya's arms fell asleep and she held her closely to her. Galya felt anger throughout her whole body. She wanted to kill Marius for treating people like this. She wanted him to suffer the way he made this little girl suffer. Dagonet looked over at Galya who was rocking the little girl in her arms. He had never seen her off the battlefield nor had he seen her interact with anyone other than the Knights. She looked like a mother holding her own child. He smiled at her slightly. She looked up at him and nodded,
"I've always wanted children. I practically raised my brothers on my own. Our mother withdrew from everyone when our father died. So I had three very active boys to take care of. I knew I'd be a great mother." She said finally laying the girl down in the furs and covering her up.
Dag smiled at her, "I'm sure one day you will be a great mother." He said. "If you can raise Gareth, Gawain, and Galahad by yourself I am sure of it."
Galya laughed. She and Dag got along great. He was like another brother to her. Then she looked up to see Tristan riding behind them. She smiled to herself and looked to Dag, "I think I'm going to ride for a while. Have someone get me if she wakes up."
He nodded and she jumped out of the cart. Tristan starred down at her. He nodded to her, "Need a ride?" He asked. He was surprised that he even asked her.
She simply nodded as he put his hand down for her to grab. He pulled her up and she settled behind him putting her arms around his waist, "Thank you."
What she couldn't see was the hint of a smile that graced his face. She leaned against him and held on tightly as he kicked the horse into a canter. He rode with her until they caught up with Gawain and Galya transferred to her own horse.
Gawain looked from her to Tristan and gave Tristan a look that warned him that Galya was in fact his sister and that he should not hurt her. She laughed at her brother, "Gawain, I know you're my brother but if Tristan wants to give me a ride, he can."
Gawain smiled. He knew now that his sister had a thing for the scout. Tristan made her curious. He knew Tristan and his sister were pretty much the same. Each of them enjoyed being a warrior and cared fiercely about those that they loved. He knew that there was a possibility that Tristan and Galya had the same feelings for each other but that neither would act on them without a push because they both valued their personal freedom.
Soon the Knights and Galya were surrounding Arthur after a long day of traveling, "We'll take cover in those trees." Arthur said.
Tristan looked at his bird and asked, "Want to go out again?"
The bird flew off and they all watched after it. Then they began to get the caravan ready to stop for the night. Once Galya had some time she went back to the wagon to check on the little girl. The rest of the Knights besides Dag were around the fire, eating when she left. When she got the wagon the little girl was wide awake. Galya got into the wagon and the girl flew into her arms. Galya held her close and rocked her gently, "You don't have to be afraid now. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. I promise."
The girl looked up at her and tried to smile. She held on tightly to Galya and put her head on her chest. Galya looked down and spoke, "What is your name, young one?"
"Niamh." The girl said.
Galya had never heard a name like that before. It sounded beautiful. Then Galya looked down at the girl, "I'm Galya. I'm from Sarmatia. Where you from?"
"Hibernia," the girl said, "I'm hungry."
Galya nodded and grabbed the blanket and wrapped the girl up in it and picked her up. She then jumped out of the carriage and walked with the girl and walked over to the fire. When she sat down next to Gawain he looked over at her, "Gawain." She said stealing some of his food from him and sharing it with Niamh.
When Gawain tried to talk to Galya, Niamh curled up closer to her, "Her name is Niamh. She's from Hibernia," she said holding her close, "You don't have to be afraid of them dear one. They won't hurt you."
Gawain chuckled when the girl looked up at him through the spot between Galya's arm and the blanket. She pointed to herself and said, "Niamh."
"I'm Gawain," he said then he looked over at Galahad and pointed, "This is Galahad. The one next to him is Lancelot. Next to him is Tristan. Then we have Bors and Dagonet and over there is Arthur."
Niamh nodded and ate the food she had been given. The Knights looked at Galya and this whole other side she was showing. Dag had always been the one that was kind but the only side most of them had seen of Galya was cold and hard. Now she was smiling and Niamh wanted to hear a story. Galya nodded and told her a story that she had told to her brothers many times when they were little. The story had been pasted down in her tribe for generations. She told it in a longing way and her brothers, as they all were now, listened, longing to go home. When she finished, Galya looked down and saw that Niamh had fallen asleep. She smiled and made sure she was comfortable as she spoke with her brothers, "Sister, you look so peaceful with a child in your arms." Galahad said smiling.
"I've always wanted children of my own but I never thought I'd ever get the chance," she said looking at the sleeping child in her arms, "she may not be mine but I'm going to raise her like she is."
"Do you want to have your own too?" Galahad asked.
"I want as many children as the gods will bless me with. I also hope they choose to bless me with a good husband as well," She shook her head, "Why am I telling you all this?" She laughed.
Tristan's POV
It was a beautiful sound, Galya's laugh. He studied her and how she was with the child. If he wanted a wife, he would want one like Galya. She could take care of herself and she was devoted and loyal. She cared for the girl in her arms though she wasn't of her blood. I could see myself being able to one day being like that. One day when all of this life is in the past. He also envied her. She was a warrior same as him and she could so easily slip into the role of parent. When she said she wanted children and a husband I knew that she wanted this life to be over just as much as all of us did, if not more. But I don't understand what I am feeling for her. I don't understand this feeling.
_End POV_
Galya stood and bid all the Knights a good night and went to put Niamh to bed. Then she went to sit near the bank of the lake they were by. She gazed out into the water and didn't even notice when Gawain and Galahad came to sit by her.
"Did the Roman Bishop do anything to you that we should know about? Did he touch you indecently or let anyone?" Gawain asked.
"No," She shook her head and continued to stare out across the water, "He didn't touch me. He never let anyone touch me. I'm as pure as the day I was born I assure you."
Gawain nodded. Galahad had his arms around her. She leaned into him and she felt safe. She had been afraid for ten years. She had been afraid that she would never see her family again and that she would never be able to be a wife and mother. She remembered when she didn't want these things. She remembered that when she was in Sarmatia and her Uncle had tried to marry her off she flat out refused to do it. Then after a few years of being a slave and seeing the women walking around with their children, she wanted them badly. She also wanted to know what it was like to be touched by a man in a loving way. A way that she had never known and feared she never would.
In her mind at that moment, Tristan was touching her. She was writhing with pleasure under him. She wanted to know what that felt like in real life. She wanted Tristan to take her. She wanted him to let her know what it felt like to be loved or at least what it felt like to lie with a man. She was 26 summers old and she was still as pure as freshly fallen snow.
She shook her head to rid herself of thoughts about the scout. She knew she liked him. He had a way about him that made her feel that it was alright to be the way they were. It was okay to be closed and cold. But that night on the Wall she saw something in Tristan's eyes. Something she had long forgotten you could feel. He felt hurt, betrayed, and he was angry. Though he hid it well, Galya had always read people like a book. She knew what he was feeling and she had a feeling he knew everything that she was as well. But most of all Tristan made her curious and Galahad and Gawain will attest to the fact that once she was curious, Galya always followed her curiosity to the end of the puzzle. Tristan was now her puzzle and she would figure him out.
"Galya." Someone said and Galya, Gawain, and Galahad turned towards the voice. Galya looked at the person and thought, 'think of the scout and apparently he really does appear.'
"Yes Tristan?" Galya asked as she smiled up at him.
"I was going to scout and I wanted to know if you would accompany me?" Tristan asked looking back at her.
She heard Gawain and Galahad laugh and Galya looked to her brothers, "Did they put you up to this?" She asked looking back up at Tristan.
He smiled and nodded, "Yes the Pup and Gawain put me up to this."
She nodded, "I'll go." Was all she said as she got up from her spot on the ground. Then she turned to her brothers, "You two can clean up dinner."
They groaned and then laughed while Galya went to get her weapons and her horse. Then she and Tristan rode out. She kept pace with Tristan perfectly. She enjoyed having someone near her that did things the way she did. It made her feel normal. She and Tristan then stopped and went to scout the area. Tristan was as quiet as the grave but Galya moved like a shadow. The other Knights said Tristan was a shadow but he marveled at the way she moved. She moved quietly and swiftly across the ground until she stopped in front of Tristan. There was no one around at the moment. If there were they had all made camp for the night and no one was going to be attacking anyone's camp. Tristan gazed down at the woman in front of him and he felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her.
Galya looked up at Tristan and felt the need to do the same. But she restrained herself and waited to see if anything would happen. Then she felt bark on her back and realized Tristan had her against the tree. She looked at her face and she smiled a wicked smile that told him everything he wanted to know. She wanted him. Then he leaned in and kissed her.
Author's Note 2: The name Niamh is pronounced "nee +iv" or "neev" It is the name of the daughter of a great Irish King who married a great Irish Knight. Next chapter we find out how our newly formed couple defeat those Saxons before heading back to camp. We may also find out how Galya ends up maybe, just maybe saving a Knights life.