Note: Hey guys. I know it's been a long time. I'm sorry, I've been caught up with school and I haven't really had a desire to write about King Arthur lately. I'll try to start posting reuglarly again. ;) This chapter is kind of short, but whatever. I wrote it on a whim and I hope you enjoy it. Please review.

Chapter Six

Hit and Run

I idly looked out the window. The sun was once more disappearing from view as it sunk behind the hills. Memories from only days before resurfaced, leaving me in a sour mood. As the sky finally turned into a dusky night I slouched on a chair. The room was dark but a ray of light fell onto my lap as the door opened.

"What're you doing in here?" Aethel inquired, looking at me. "And you're in the dark too.. Don't you find it a little depressing?"

Frowning, I looked at her. "I'm truly not in the mood to dance and drink myself to the floor, Aethel. Besides, that truly isn't lady-like," a hint of disgust had sneaked into my voice as I spoke the last words.

Aethel looked a bit surprised but quickly looked down, seeming to remember her status as a slave. "I'm sorry, milady I did not mean to speak out of turn."

I continued to look out of the window and was soon lost to a seemingly endless tangle of thoughts and worries, most of which centered around the Saxons. The enemy seemed to be coming ever closer, and I wondered at the fact that even as I sat lost in thought, they were out there somewhere ready murder us all.

The next morning I woke late. It was at that moment I realized the extent to which I missed Rome and my family. I no longer cared if my mother threatened to sell me off to the lowest bidder, it seemed so much safer back in the beautiful city. I wanted safety now, and escape from this dangerous country. I didn't want to run like a child from these Saxons and their hate, but I knew the only way I'd see my beloved Rome again was to flee as quickly as possible.

Plans and ideas, most of which these seemed to be irrational and illogical, crossed my mind as I lied in bed, studying the patterns of the stained wooden ceiling. It was then that I picked the most absurd and dangerous plan.

I sat up, waiting for Aethel to appear. She soon did with a bowl of food in hand, which she gave to me. However I sat it aside and looked right at her. "Aethel. I think we should leave."

"What do you mean by leave, milady?" she asked, sounding worried but curious.

"What I mean is that I want to break away from this large caravan unnoticed. It may involve stealing two horses, however," I replied thoughtfully, realizing yet another flaw in my plan.

Surprise was painted on Aethel's face. "We'd be killed!"

"By Woads? They run around almost nude! How much of a threat is that?"

The knights had planned to stay in the inn for a few more days before heading off to Hadrian's Wall or wherever they planned to go. Aethel and I, on the other hand, didn't. My maid was most likely only coming because she was a slave and had no other choice but to obey.

The night shielded us as we carefully strolled over to where the horses were stabled. Picking a horse, we both saddled them in complete silence before leading them outside of the shed and mounting. Aethel and I kept our bows at ready in case of any attacks.

As we rode off, Aethel looked back with a mixture of fear and sorrow. I could tell why and it was cruel of me to not say 'we should turn back.' Her friendship with Dagonet had blossomed into something more then that and it was easily seen. I kept my eyes on the horse's mane for a moment before forcing her into a gallop keeping a wary eye on the dark surroundings. Eventually we slowed to a trot and Aethel urged her horse alongside mine.

"Arthur will come after us," her words were so quiet I strained to hear them.

"Hopefully he will not and just forget about us." I sighed when Aethel shot me a disbelieving look. "I know It's doubtful, though. He's too much of a good man."

"Guinevere picked the right man to fall for."

"Did she, truly?" I wondered. "A man as noble as that will always be sacrificing himself."

Until midmorning we rode with only short conversations, usually about nothing in particular. We soon slowed the horses and dismounted, pulling out provisions of cheese and bread. I grimaced. The meals at the inn had been better; had we stayed then we would be tucking into a decent cooked meal. I was used to better meals and foods then plain cheese and bread.

The horses looked tired and so did Aethel. Deciding to stop and rest, we hid the horses behind a cluster of trees and bushes. Using our cloaks as a makeshift tent, we brushed the snow away, put our blankets down and were soon fast asleep.

Aethel was the one who was the first to wake and was also the one to awaken me by shaking me a bit and whispering, "Caelia! Wake up!"

I mumbled incoherently for a moment before opening my eyes. It was late afternoon and the sullen clouds were hiding the sun from view.

"What?" I finally managed to say, getting to a comfortable sitting position.

"We have to move on. If we know anything about these knights it is that some of them will be close behind us."

I grumbled, but moved quickly. In what felt like seconds the "tent" was down, the horses untethered and the pair of us mounted and kicked the horses into a canter.

"I wonder how Guinevere has responded to this," Aethel vocalized her thoughts.

"She's probably extremely annoyed with us. I wouldn't doubt her to be one of the people Arthur sends hurtling after us."

"Where are we headed towards, milady?"

"Rome!" I said somewhat happily.

"But, how will we get there?" Aethel asked, looking at me with wide eyes.

"By boat, of course. The first ship we see that'll take us to Rome!"

We talked and laughed until night came. We both sensed that something important was going to happen. I looked around curiously, wondering what twist of fate was going to happen now to ruin my plans.

The forest was unearthly silent as we continued to ride. Even I, being a girl from Rome, knew that this was a very bad sign.

Woads were soon upon us. We hadn't heard their movements at all. Spears, swords and bows were soon pointed at us and rough hands pulled us off our horses. Aethel let out a sharp scream as a male Woad put a dagger to her back while another tied her arms behind her back. I looked around for help.

It was then I realized how much of a bad and dimwitted this plan had been. I looked on the bright side, though. At least we hadn't been the Saxons' next victims.