I know I had promised Gwaine that I would stay inside the castle, but that didn't mean I was going to sit around doing nothing.

Nobody paid much attention to me, seeing as there was a giant, scaly, thing with wings attacking just outside the walls. A teenage girl didn't really seem interesting in comparison to that at the moment. I even managed to take a spare crossbow without anyone asking me what I was going to be doing with it. Next, I grabbed one of my night dresses and cut it into strips before tossing them into a basket. Before I left my room, I grabbed a leather cord and tied back my hair. I didn't need it getting in my way.

Going up onto the walls wasn't exactly breaking my promise. Technically, I was still in the castle. I pulled a torch from the wall on my way up. Saying the archers were surprised to see me would be quite an understatement. Riley stared at me open mouthed. "Princess, you shouldn't be up here. You can't shoot."

"I can with this.", I said, setting down my weapon. "Wrap the tips of your arrows and lite them. The beast doesn't like fire." Several of the men stared at me with open mouths as I wrapped a few arrows for myself. I ignored them, setting my aim. I was used to being underestimated and discarded by now. None of these men could do anything to stop me.

If we could ground the gar, the men on the ground had a better chance of killing it. I didn't go for the main body. The flaming arrow tore right through the wing. It shrieks, losing altitude but managing to stay in the air. Barely. I couldn't help but smirk. Who couldn't shoot?

The archers were still just standing there, staring at me like I was part of a freak show. "To arms!', I yelled as forcefully as I could, making several of them jump. My men scrambled to get the pieces of the scrap cloth and set to work doing what I asked. The archers from Camelot soon helped as well. When they finished, they all pulled their bow strings back, armed with flaming arrows, but didn't fire.

I realized they were waiting for my orders. I now had their respect, they wanted me to lead them. It helped that most of the archers were Taharan and tended to do what I said anyway. There wasn't many from Camelot since a sword seemed to be a more popular weapon here. For once I didn't really have a problem with taking the lead. All I could think about was killing that thing before it hurt someone else. Someone I cared about.

I waited until I was sure at least most of the arrows would hit target. All of the civilians were now either safe inside or dead. So there was no danger of hitting them. "Aim for the wings. We need to bring it down, and cut its escape." I readied my own arrow, locking it into place. "Fire!"

We fired the volley, and most hit the intended target. It screamed as it plummeted towards the ground, unable to stay in the air any longer with scorched tears in it's wings. "Don't shoot unless you're sure you won't hit one of our own.", I ordered as the soldiers on the ground approached to creature in formation. They all nodded in agreement. We didn't need any more innocent death.

For a moment, surrounded by the arrows and war, all I could think about was Kayla. This all reminded me to much of that battle. Her death had been completely needless. But she had died trying to protect me, so I would fight to avenge her. All the thoughts of her did was fuel my anger toward Raul. He wouldn't get away with just taking away the people I loved.

As we prepared for another volley, we were suddenly doused from head to toe with water. It was as if a gigantic bucket of icy rain had just been dumped on me, the archers, and pretty much everything else. My torch and arrows was extinguished by the sudden torrents of rain and the clothes we were lighting got completely soaked. It was pouring so hard you could barely see.

Riley swore, the sudden rain plastering all of his hair to his face. "I hate sorcery.", he mutters as he prepares another arrow, without the cloth. That comment earned him several raised eyebrows from the rest of the men. "Don't look at me like that, I know who is responsible. What else could that have been? He just sent his little pet, and here we were successfully attacking it, so he makes it impossible for us to lite a fire. Besides, it makes sense that he would be here too." Nobody said anything because we all knew he was right. The war had begun, and it was quite clear Raul wasn't going to play fair. He was here, somewhere. Either him or Morgana.

I loaded up another arrow and fired. Just because we couldn't have the fire anymore didn't mean a normal, well placed arrow wouldn't hurt. As far as I could see, I hit its hind leg. Not my intended target, but it would do. Now that it was on the ground, at least Arthur and the knights had a better chance against it.

"Sarah Nicolette Talbot! Drop that thing right now!" I groaned as Uther came up onto the wall looking absolutely furious. The use of my full name meant I was in big trouble. I knew he didn't exactly approve of me fighting. Even if it was in good fun instead of a war. He didn't think it was right for a woman to be using weaponry. And he was even more outspoken about it then Henry. "You're completely soaked! And what are you doing up here? This is no place for a woman."

Riley gave me a sympathetic look as Uther removes the cross bow from my hands and practically throws it at the closest archer. "It's just a bit of rain. I can still help. Out men need aid.", I whined. I know I sounded like a five year old, but this whole sexist thing I got constantly was really old.

"Absolutely not. Not in this weather. You'll get sick before you can blink. Besides, if you want to help you can help with the injured. I'm sure Gaius would appreciate the assistance. I'm not taking a chance on you getting yourself hurt." I bit my lip. Now wasn't really the time to argue, no matter how much I wanted to. And I really wanted to. Uther scanned the rest of the men with a stern look, as if he couldn't believe they had even allowed me up here. Riley gave him quick explanation, including his suspicions of Raul or Morgana being near, which really only made Uther more eager to get me away from the wall.

I tried not to roll my eyes at him as he dragged me back inside. Tending to bloody wounds was not my idea of helping. I'd done it in Tahara, but only because there wasn't anything else I could do. The circumstances were different. But here, I actually could do something useful. I could fight.

As we descended the steps, he stopped me. "You are not to go anywhere alone. Do you understand me? I want someone at your side constantly." I nod bitterly, but only to appease him. Now I needed a babysitter too?

He sent one of my knights to escort me back to my room. I recognized him as one of the identical twins. They were somewhat of a commodity among my men, as well as being the youngest, and were hardly ever apart from each other. They were only a year or two older then me. They had been in training when I first met them, only squires. But with the small numbers of Taharan knights left, they had moved up the ranks quickly.

I just wasn't sure if he was Tolan or Thayer. I never was able to tell them apart. Not that they always told me the truth of who was which. They constantly pulled switches to get out of duties they didn't like doing.

"Thanks...", I muttered as he opened my door for me.

"Thayer. Tolan is out with Arthur's men." He didn't exactly seem happy about it either.

I nod, going inside. Even after I shut the door, I knew Thayer wasn't leaving. I felt like I was under house arrest.

I wrung my hair out as best as I could and looked for something to change into. Half of my wardrobe was full of ridiculous party dresses I would probably never wear willingly, but eventually something caught my eye. Familiar olive toned fabric. I pulled the dress off of it's hanger, completely surprised. It was the dress I had come here in. Gwen must have fixed the ripped sleeve and put it in here.

It was as good as anything else. I paired it with my good pair of worn-in boot and grabbed my cloak, just in case.

When I opened the door Thayer wasn't there anymore, and in his place was one of my least favorite people. "Do you have something against leaving me alone?", I grumble, pushing past him and walking in no particular direction.

Meliorn follows me. "No, I only have a problem with Raul being around. He really only cares about getting you. The rest is just to destroy anything you could want to leave him for. I know how he works more then anyone else. And since that... Gwaine isn't here, it should be me protecting you.", he stumbled over Gwaine's name with complete distaste, his nose wrinkling at the mention of him.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Thayer was doing just fine. And he couldn't possibly be in the castle. He doesn't sneak around. He likes to make a big show of things. We would know if he was here."

"Okay, fine. I'm here because I know you, and I know that you'd try something stupid and try to get out here to help on the front lines. You would compromise your own safety."

"Is that what you think? You don't know me at all. And you have no right to call me stupid. Just mind your own business and leave me alone."

"I didn't call you stupid! I said you can act stupid!"

"Save your speeches for someone who cares to hear them." He tried to say something more, but I stomped into the hall, weaving through the crowds to find Gwen and lose him. I really hadn't planned on coming down here at all, but it wasn't like I really had anything else to do. The alternative was being followed around by Meliorn and doing nothing. That man got under my skin more then I cared to admit.

I found Gwen ladling out water to the wounded. Luckily, there weren't many. But there was no way of telling how many dead lie outside. She tried to be soothing to a little boy who's arm had been raked by the beasts claws until Gaius could tend to it. The wound had turned slightly green, which was strange. A wound that recent couldn't possible be infected already. Gwen seemed to share my thoughts and grimaced.

She stood and came over to me. I could tell she was worried, and guessed that it wasn't just the wounded she was fretting about. "It's bad, isn't it? He isn't the only one with it either. Gaius suspects the beasts talons were dipped in poison."

I bit my lip. "I wouldn't be surprised."

She nods. "I heard you were up on the walls with the archers. Quite brave of you, really."

"Does everybody know about that?", I groaned. Nothing spread faster then castle gossip.

She smiles slightly. "Mostly. The king was quite angry when someone told him you had gone up there, I wouldn't be surprised if all of Camelot heard his rage. "

"Someone told him?", I asked. I was going to kill whoever had tattled on me.

"Yes. That new fellow. The one with the dark hair that's always sulking. He isn't very pleasant, is he?"

I scowled. Of course it had been Meliorn. I should have guessed that in the first place. "No, he isn't."

I felt paranoid after that, like someone was always watching me. I stayed inside like I was told, helping Gaius tend to the wounded. There was so much blood. Usually I would nearly be vomiting my stomach dry, but it didn't really bother me for once. I lost track of how many gashes I had stitched up and bandaged, working without paying much attention to the time. It gave me something to do, at least.

"Why don't you go to bed, dear. Gwen and I can handle the rest. You look tired.", Gaius says, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"No.", I say, shaking my head. "I'm alright."

Before he can argue with me, shouts ring out through out the walls. We all rush outside to see what was going on, following everyone else. The knights came wearily back into the courtyard, shoulders slumped from exhaustion.

"It is dead.", Arthur announced, but his voice held no victory in it. The lot of them looked dead on their feet. Gwen pushed past me, close to tears, and launched herself into Arthur's arms. He held her close without hesitation. I knew something was going on between those two, even if they both wouldn't admit it.

"You stayed.", says a very shocked voice.

I turned to find myself back in Gwaine's arms, as if I had perfectly fit there all along. "Of course I did. I don't make promises I don't intend to keep." He smiled shyly at me; one of the few of such I got. It was that shyness that told me it was real, that his affection for me wasn't just some game. I found it completely endearing.

I noticed Merlin moving to greet Gaius. He winked at me knowingly, which made me think that he had something to do with the gar's death. It wouldn't surprise me if he had. Merlin seemed to be at the center of a lot of things without anyone noticing. It made me wonder just exactly how many times Arthur's life had been saved unknowingly by Merlin's magic magic. Probably too many times to count.