Chapter 8
Adena lay in Lancelot's arms wide awake, still the middle of the night. She watched the fire that continued to stay strong, the flames taking shape as her thoughts drifted to what was to come that early dawn. After living so many years at the fort and becoming close to the knight's, the young woman decided to save the last of them—despite the consequences. She wouldn't be able to stay sane if she lost another brother or the one knight she had fallen for. The last straw for Adena was when Percivale died only six months earlier.
'But all I can do is give them advise and warnings.' she thought sadly.
Hugging her knight tightly, Adena's thoughts wondered back to her life in the future. What would she have done after high school? What would she have become as a person? At the moment she was a shy, quiet girl because of the time era she was in, and didn't want to mess up the timeline. But back home she was outgoing, outspoken, and just a teenager.
The arm around her waist squeezed her closer to Lancelot's body, his low, sleepy voice bringing her out of her thoughts.
"You should be asleep, not thinking so deeply that you cannot hear your name being called."
Adena smiled softly, looking up at Lancelot's face to see his eyes closed. She loved the way the light from the fire hit him. It made the knight more mysterious, more handsome.
"And you should not be awake." Adena retorted quietly.
Lancelot chuckled quietly, Adena looking back at the fire. He opened his eyes and looked down at the woman who was once again deep in thought. He frowned down at her as he slowly began to wake up, wondering what it was that the woman in his arms was thinking over so much.
The thing was that it has been nearly two weeks since the Woad attack and has seemed even more quiet for some odd reason—despite that the new Romans with the Bishop had came. Adena, however, knew the truth behind the quietness. The Saxons approach and the Roman's are running away with their tail between their legs. Then again, Adena couldn't blame them as the Saxons coming were thousands of hundreds and only so few Roman's here.
The problem was brining more here because they didn't want to sacrifice more of their people then Rome can handle. Besides, Britain was just one island. Rome controlled, at the moment, all of Europe and half, now, going towards Asia. But Adena knew that Rome will soon fall. She only hoped it would be before Arthur would be crowned king of Britain as she didn't want to go through another war. That is to say if she even lives through this one.
"What is bothering you so much, woman?" Lancelot asked, making Adena looking up at him.
Adena couldn't help but smile with a frown at Lancelot, wondering why he never truly said her name… Well, he does, but not at the appropriate time. Adena blushes, shaking her head. She leans down and kisses one of Lancelot's many healed scars.
"Nothing to worry you, my knight." she whispered, looking up at his intense grey eyes.
Lancelot raises an eyebrow at her. "Really? If you are losing sleep over this, I believe that I should be worried."
Adena rolls her eyes and makes to move out of his arms but Lancelot brings her on top of him, Adena blushing madly.
"You will not go anywhere without telling me what it is that is worrying you so much." he told her firmly.
Not able to help it, Adena felt the tears and quickly turned her head, keeping the sobs within her body.
"I don't want to lose you, Lancelot! I don't want to lose any of you! What if you come back one more less? Who will be next to being buried in that damn graveyard that was put together?" she cried, now not able to help the sobs escaping her.
Lancelot was taken back but hugged the woman tightly to him, kissing the top of her head. He had only seen and heard her cry behind closed doors before. So seeing this woman he has feelings for, cry before him broke his heart; something that no one has been able to do since he came to this island.
"I promise you that we will all return to you safely, Adena." Lancelot whispered, messaging the back of her head. "I promise to bring back all the knights to you."
Adena pushed her hands up, looking down at Lancelot red-eyes and tear stains and all, surprised to hear her name come out of his mouth. To the knight, the young woman looked beautiful. How the light glowed her skin and how her hair hung down on the right side like a curtain.
"Promise that you will also come back to me safely?" she whispered hopefully.
Lancelot brought a hand up to her cheek, caressing it, before leaning upwards. He captured her lips in a slow and steady kiss, before backing up just a few inches.
"I promise to come back to you." he whispered back.
Adena smiled a little and kissed Lancelot, who rolled them so that she was now on her back. Adena wrapped her legs around his waist, knowing what was now to come, glad that he cared for her to make such promises.
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—Morning—
Adena walked towards the stables hand in hand with Lancelot, wearing breeches to his request. It confused her but didn't disobey as she missed wearing pants and a regular shirt. Though something was definitely going on for Lancelot has been acting strangely all morning. She felt as though he was keeping something from her; something that she was not going to like.
Lancelot brought her over to the benches and sat down, unsheathing one of his swords to clean it before they rode off. Adena sat next to him, Gawain, who just entered and was a little ways from them, talked on, trying to make the young woman talk back. Conner jumped on to the benches and lay down next to his master, closing his eyes. Soon, the rest of the knights entered, sharpening their weapons or merely waiting for their commander. Galahad was the only one to be prancing his white stallion in circles. He was still angry, but of who or what was undecided. And if anyone dared near him, his anger will be targeted that person.
Soon Arthur walks into the stables dressed for the upcoming mission. He stops just inside the stable doors, looking at Galahad continuing to prance his horse in circles. Galahad looks at him angrily and brings his horse to a halt. Arthur looks at the young knight blandly and starts to walk into the stables. Galahad angrily kicks his horse to a gallop around the stables, encircling Arthur as he walks further into the stables; not once fazed by the angry knight.
Adena sighs, with a shake of her head, someone needing to talk with that boy—who was only two years older than herself. Then the bishop enters with two Roman guards and his assistant, Horton. Lancelot suddenly stands and walks over to Arthur, continuing to listen to Gawain speak.
"Arthur, I have a request to ask you." Arthur turned from his stallion, very curious as to the request of his second in command. "I wish for Adena to come with us."
The half-Roman stared at Lancelot in surprise, wondering about the request. "Are you sure that is wise?" Arthur asked skeptically.
"I do not trust that Roman commander we escorted yesterday, Arthur." Lancelot said heatedly. "Even with Vanora, Jols, or Conner, I do not trust that Roman to not just sit around and do nothing!"
Arthur raised a curious eyebrow. "Are you afraid that she might get hurt or that she will find someone else?"
Lancelot's eyes flashed dangerously. "I know she will not; I worry for her safety without me at her side!"
Arthur saw the determination in his knight's eyes. He sighed, looking over at the young mute woman that captured his second in command's wild heart. She smiled at something Gawain said, rolling her eyes. Even if he told Lancelot no, his knight will disobey.
"Very well, but you will be responsible to anything that happens to her, understand?"
Lancelot gave a quick nod and went to saddle the Thessalina. If it would let him, that is. Adena frowned as she watches Lancelot walks away, but looks back to Gawain as he starts to talk with Bors. However the two knight's quiet down as Bors nods towards the entrance. Adena and Gawain turn to see Bishop Germanius walking in with two Roman guards—one of them the commander who was after Adena—and Horton.
Jols looks at them before looking back at the equipment then looks back with surprise. However Arthur doesn't look impressed to see the bishop there. Bishop Germanius looks around at the knight's in disgust. When Bors pulls out his sword, the bishop looks at him, while Tristan continues to shine his own, admiring it. Dagonet walks up behind the bishop, deliberately bumping into the bishop's shoulder. The bishop looks angry but Dagonet looks away angrier.
Bishop Germanius then walks in further, Bors standing, while Galahad walks in front of Bors, watching the bishop's every move. Adena slowly stands, Gawain standing with her and moving on the step in front of her, looking angrily at the bishop.
"To represent the holy court, my trusted secretary, Horton," Germanius looks over to Horton, who walks up to him. "Horton… will accompany you with your quest."
Arthur continues to look unimpressed, staring only at the bishop. "Jols, find him a horse." He said almost with a bored tone.
Gawain stabs his dagger into the bench, as Jols turns to find a horse.
"This way." he tells the man.
Horton squeezes past the bishop and over to Jols. The two walk away, Adena the only one looking back to the bishop and Arthur.
"Godspeed, as you fulfill your duty to Rome." Bishop Germanius tells Arthur.
Arthur steps forward intimidating, Adena smirking at the look on the bishop. "My duty is also to my men."
Germanius smirked smugly at him. "Then get them home,"
Before any other word could be said, there was a few yells, everyone looking to the right. Arthur quickly moves out of the way as the pure black Thessalian gallops towards the entrance. But because the bishop and his guards were in the way, the breed rears up in his hind legs and starts to kick its upper legs.
Adena quickly moves past Gawain and to the Thessalian who was now on his four legs. She puts up her hands, making shushing sounds, looking at the stallion in the eyes. She slowly walks forward, reaching a small hand out to the muzzle.
"Do not tell me you have enlisted women in your force, Arthur?" Bishop Germanius said with a sneer.
Everyone watched in amazement as the Thessalian was calming down, letting the young woman stroke his nose.
"Nay," the bishop calmed down, "but she will be coming with us."
"What?" everyone yelled surprised, even Adena.
"Arthur!" both Bors and Dagonet said with confusion.
Arthur sighed with a small shake of his head. "That was the order of her betroth."
"Betroth!" the Knight's yelled, Adena blushing in confusion.
"Do you all have a problem?" Lancelot asked, walking over to Adena and the Thessalian stallion.
Adena looked over to Lancelot with confusion, wondering what the hell was going on. Knowing she might not get anything until they are away, Adena looks back to the horse.
"How was it possible that you were able to tame that horrible beast?" Bishop Germanius asked angrily.
Adena made soothing sounds to the Thessalina, caressing his muzzle. She didn't want anything to do with the bishop, and so decided not to say a word to him, let alone look at him. The bishop's face turned red from both anger and embarrassment.
"Answer me, wench!" he yelled.
The stallion neighed, both Adena and Lancelot stepping back quickly as the stallion reared up on its hind legs once more. The young woman began to speak softly in a language the men didn't understand, but was almost similar to Latin. Slowly, Adena took careful steps to the stallion, stroking his muzzle and neck to calm him down once more. She glared at the bishop and coaxed the Thessalina to the side to put a saddle and bridle on him.
Lancelot followed her, walking backwards with a deadly glare at the bishop, a firm hand on one of his swords. Arthur tried to hide his smirk from the bishop.
"Because Adena was able to tame the Thessalina, he now belongs to her." Arthur told him.
Bishop Germanius glared angrily over to the couple, not able to believe this fine, rare; horse is in the hands of a female peasant. He then glares at Connor, who barks a warning at him before following his master. Lancelot quickly instructed the woman how to place the saddle on, Adena quickly catching on as it all came back to her. She was about to mount the horse when Lancelot caught her arm.
"Are you mad with Arthur for saying we are betroth?"
"Nay, only confused." Adena whispered, blushing lightly.
"He would have gone off on me if I said you wanted to come." Arthur said next to them.
Adena frowned. "But I don't want to come." she told them. "I don't know how to wield a sword or shoot a bow. I'll only just be in the way."
Arthur placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You will lighten up the group, believe me."
Adena chuckled, looking at Lancelot. Arthur left them to speak, glad that his best friend has found his happiness after so long. Lancelot placed a hand to her left cheek and caressed the soft skin.
"I promise to always protect you on this mission."
Adena blushes, leaning into his hand. She smiles softly, wanting nothing more then to kiss the knight.
"Come, we must quickly mount and leave." Lancelot told her softly.
Nodding, Adena was about to face the horse when Lancelot leaned in and kissed her. The other knight's whistled and cheered, making the couple part Adena blushing furiously. She then kneeled down and rubbed the back of Connor's ears.
"Go to Vanora and stay with her, okay boy? And behave yourself!"
Connor barked, wagging his tail, before running out of the stables. With a smalls mile, Adena quickly mount's the Thessalina, Lancelot going over to his own stallion.
Adena sighed, a bit tensed as she can't ride a horse in a gallop only on a very slow walk. Dagonet rode next to her, smiling softly.
"Try to relax; a horse can always feel your emotions."
Adena nodded, inhaling and exhaling slowly, trying to be less tense. The stallion neighed, shaking his head and stomping his feet. He turned his head to the right, his black eye looking at her sternly—almost in a glare. Adena raised an eyebrow in a challenge, the Thessalian neighing and nodding his head before looking forward. The young woman rolled her eyes, looking up at Lancelot ridding up to her. In matter of seconds, Arthur gave the order to ride and the knight's all rode fast and quick, Adena and Lancelot at the rear.
At first Adena was a little hesitant, but she soon got used to the feel and the motion. Once they were outside the north of the wall, Lancelot looked over to Adena before ridding off to speak with Arthur. Both Gawain and Galahad slowed down to be level with Adena, keeping her company. They rode on until mid-afternoon, Arthur stopping the group near the woods cautiously.
"We should rest and perhaps eat something." Arthur informed them.
Adena rode up to Arthur, stopping close to him so the others wouldn't overhear.
"Arthur, if you are stopping because of me, don't!" she told him sternly with a frown, "I won't slow you guys down. Remember it was not my idea to come."
Arthur blushed lightly—which Adena found adorable—smiling at the woman, "Alright, just enough to rest the horses then."
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
A/N: Aww, Lancelot couldn't help but be apart from Adena! Though, of course, after her fearful confession, he, too, thought it might be the last time he might see her! Or was it because he knew the Roman after Adena will force her to things she didn't want when he wasn't around? LOL, Please review to let me know what you think!