The Meeting
Author: Samantha Worthington
Summary: This is a King Arthur fanfic. Galahad/OC. Galahad and the rest of the knights are on their way home to Sarmatia, after years of service to Rome. On their journey, they meet a group of Egyptian soldiers. Galahad falls in love with the General of this army. This is a three part fic. Thanks to I Fancy Hugh Dancy for the inspiration for this story! P.S, this is the first fic that I have let anyone read, so please take it easy on me!:0)
Rating: E for now. It will change eventually! Feedback is greatly appreciated!
Character list:
Galahad
Arthur
Tristan
Lancelot
Guinevere
Bors
Akil - meaning intelligent in Egyptian
Vanora
Katherine
Badru - meaning born under the full moon
Nailah - meaning successful
Mukamutara - meaning daughter of Mutara
Chapter 5
Galahad walked back to his campsite to wash up. He was greeted by Lancelot, Tristan and Arthur. Lancelot's expression was difficult to read, but he seemed to be in better spirits then when he left. He clapped Galahad on the back, "Forgive my rant earlier, brother, women play with the mind, make men mad!"
"I know you would come around eventually!" Galahad smiled, placing a hand on his friends shoulder.
"Well now, who's ready for a feast?" Bors called as he stepped from his tent.
"I am in need of some good ale, music and women!" Lancelot replied as he headed towards the main tent.
"Guinevere had a talk with him!" Tristan replied, "Well, it was more like scolding a child really! Nevertheless, it was entertaining to hear!" He loved it when Guinevere took over as mother hen to the men, until it was his turn under her wrath, then he kept his distance.
"I shall thank her later!" Galahad replied, a little embarrassed. Splashing some water on his face, he washed up.
"So, where did you get off too this evening?" Tristan eyed his filthy attire, "You look like you've been rolling around with pigs!"
"I went for a walk to calm down."
"And what, a tree attacked you?" Tristan scoffed.
"No, I ran into Nailah..." He saw the look Tristan was giving him, "She was sparring and needed a partner! God Tristan, I am not Lancelot!" He shook his head.
Grinning mischievously, "I wouldn't judge you if you did, she is breathtaking!"
"She really is Tristan, I can't explain what it is about her, she's just so different from other women, I don't know!" Galahad replied, pulling a clean tunic over his head.
"Love is a mysterious thing!"
"Why is everyone throwing that word around these last few days?" He replied defensively.
"Maybe it's the way you look at her, or the way you act when she's around that's tipping everyone off!"
"I barely know her, how can I love her? I don't know how to describe it, I'm mystified and captivated by her!"
"Well lads, let's go. The ale is singing to me!" Bors laughed as he headed away from camp.
Galahad stepped ahead of Tristan, walking backwards a few paces facing his friend, "Is that love? Is it possible to have love at first sight?"
"My friend, I have never experienced love, so I am not the one to ask. Arthur or Bors are better acquainted with love then I." They stopped a few yards away from the main tent. Lancelot had started a dagger throwing contest outside with some o the soldiers and peasants. Drinking back the last of the ale in his cup, he saw his friends approach.
"Ah, come lads, join us for a throw! Twill be awhile yet!" He motioned to the tent.
Looking over the men and women gathered around Lancelot, Tristan replied, "This should be an easy win or either of us!" Galahad nodded his agreement.
"What are the rules?" One female soldier asked, stepping forward.
"Well, milady, the point is to see who can come the closest to the mark I have made on yonder tree, do you see it?" Lancelot asked, the woman nodded, taking the dagger he offered. Stepping up to the throwing mark, she took aim and tossed the dagger with great force. It landed with a thud a food below the mark. She received a lot of 'Good tries' as she rejoined the onlookers. "Next?" A young man stood before them and his dagger whizzed past the tree altogether, which was met with laughter. Embarrassed, he moved back into the crowd. An older gentleman threw next and his dagger landed an inch above the mark. The crowd was pleased with this, murmuring to each other.
Then it was Lancelot's turn, he stepped up to the line, took aim, then closed his eyes and threw, the dagger had hit the mark. Congratulations and pats on the back met him as he took his seat beside the fire.
They continued their game for awhile before they heard music begin to play inside the tent. Each knight had gotten caught up in the game and wasn't prepared to give up just yet, until Bors stuck his head out of the tent door,
"Lads, I think you should come inside, the festivities are starting!"
"In a minute Bors!" Galahad replied, grabbing another dagger from Lancelot.
"I really think ye needs to see this, 'specially you Lancelot!" Their attention perked at this. They looked at each other quizzically, then grabbed their cups of ale and entered the tent, only to stop in their tracks at what lay before them.
Four women stood before them, adorned with beautiful jewelery, their skirts, layers of colored veils that hung low on their hips which where wrapped in coin belts. Their midriffs bare and chests covered by only ornately decorated bra. Their belts jingled as their hips shimmied to the music in unison. The dance had them mystified, but none more then Galahad, for the leader of this army stood in this group of scantily dressed women. Never in a thousand years did he expect to see her like this, only in his dreams.
His eyes never left her moving form, gracefully moving to the music, throwing sharp hips, shimmies and Egyptian hips along with the others. Finally, the music stopped and the women bowed at the wave of applause they received.
"If all Egyptian women can do that, then I say forget about going home to Sarmatia, Egypt it is for me!" Lancelot replied slapping Galahad on the back, bringing him out of his trance-like state.
"That was, it was..."
"Amazingly exotic!" Tristan finished Galahads sentence. Who nodded his agreement, eyes glued back to Nailah's form as she took her place next to Arthur at the head table.
"That was extraordinary!" Guinevere replied in awe.
"Yes, quite!" Arthur agreed.
"You enjoyed our belly dancing then?" Nailah smiled, "That is good, we have more entertainment later if you would like to partake!"
Guinevere stared at her in question, "You mean,...me...do that...no I couldn't possibly!"
"And why not? Tis not hard milady, it tis controlled movements. I will show you!" She smiled, "Come!" She put out her hand for Guinevere to take. The knights, especially Arthur, now looked on at the two women. "Do what I do!"
Nailah stood, knees bent and pelvis slightly extended, and began to shimmy her hips, causing the coins on her hips to jingle. Guinevere, who had borrowed a belt from another dancer, followed. Sticking her right hip out, as if to hip check someone, she continued with sharp hips, that swirled their way into figure eights and mya's! Nailah was impressed how fast Guinevere caught on. "Very good! Excellent!" She replied as the men applauded. "Now all you need to do is practice! Twill drive the men mad, milady!" She laughed as she scanned the room, eyes landing on Galahads face, observing this with great interest. Guinevere blushed a little as she saw her husband's face.
Tearing her eyes away from Galahads, Nailah raised her hands, clapping twice. At the sound, servants filed into the tent, carrying trays of food, setting them down before the men. She took her spot next to Arthur once again as she remained standing, she took her chalice and lifted it into the air, "Tonight we feast with Sir Artorious Castus and his infamous Sarmatian Knights! Sir Lancelot, Sir Bors, Sir Tristan, Sir Galahad and Lady Guinevere!" She motioned to each, lingering on Galahads form, before motioning to Guinevere. The others raised their glasses and drank to the knights.
"So milady, tell me, what exactly are you and your men doing here in Britain?" Arthur asked as they indulged in the feast.
"The peasants are traders, they come to Crows nest Pass each year to trade their goods in great numbers, as you can see." She waved a hand around the room. "The Pharaoh has heard the stories of Rome abandoning Britain and the Saxon's attacks. He ordered my soldiers and I to travel with his people to protect them from those attackers!'
"I see, and what of your armor? It fascinates me!" He replied.
"Ah, well, I am pleased you take interest in this, as it was I who suggested this to the Pharaoh. Tis a distraction tactic. Each of my soldiers have chosen one God to represent, Badru has chosen the God who passes judgment upon the dead, Thoth, who is represented by the baboon and I have chosen Ra, our sun God, represented by the hawk!"
By now, their conversation had captured the attention of the knights. "Well, that was an ingenious plan, using the art of distraction. It works quite well, as my men and I did not know what to think upon arriving in that meadow today, Saxon's fighting off half human, half animal warriors!"
Nailah beamed with pride at this, "Thank you milord!" They continued their conversation throughout the meal, Guinevere wondered of Nailah's position when a horn blew and two female soldiers entered the tent. Bowing to their audience, they unsheathed their swords, ready for a duel. As they watched the women expertly block one another's attacks, Nailah reiterated her life story to Guinevere and Arthur.
"So, please tell me, what brings you, Artorious, to these far parts of the Britain?" Nailah asked.
"My knights and I are on our way home, Guinevere and I to Rome, and the knights to their respective territories of Sarmatia!" He replied.
"I see, you all must be so relieved to be going home after so long!" She replied, receiving nods from the men, "And which route will you take, if you do not mind me asking. It's just that the Saxon's have moved far inland. We have encountered them as far as Partha!"
Arthur was taken aback, he had not realized how far the Saxon incursions had gotten in this land. Soon, they would be knocking on Romes door!
"We had been planning to stay south as much as possible until we reach the Sarmatian boarder." Tristan replied, beckoning for more ale.
"We have ships anchored in the English Channel, if you like, you and your men can travel with us until then." Nailah offered, "There is safety in numbers, no?"
"When do you leave for the English Channel, milady?" Arthur asked, "My men are anxious to get home!"
"We begin our return in two days!" She replied.
"If my men don't mind staying and resting or a few extra days, men?"
They looked to one another, knowing that their bodies needed the rest and so did their horses, they nodded their agreement.
"Excellent!" Nailah smiled, secretly glad to spend more time with a certain knight, or so she hoped!
The Green-eyed, curly-haired knights heart skipped a beat at the thought of spending the next few months with the beautiful General!