Caeli's POV

I took a deep breath as I pulled back my bow. The battle had begun and everyone in the archery line was now awaiting the signal to release our arrows. It soon came, and we all let loose our shafts, somehow knowing they would all reach a target. We shot another volley of arrows, then two Woads started making their way down the line, one was handing out arrows whose tips were wrapped in cloth, and another with a torch was setting the arrows alight. Moments after we shot our flaming arrow, Merlin had the other Woads launch the catapults.

A fiery wall ignited and divided the Saxons' army. The Woads in the archery line dropped their bows and picked up swords, daggers, and axes, and prepared to charge. Dwyn and I did the same, drawing our swords and giving each other one last nod before running forward alongside our allies.

I quickly lost sight of Dwyn in the confusion of the battle, but immediately noticed how easy it was to move in the Woad's clothing. I fought with all my might, as everyone around me was doing, considering that there were at least twenty Saxons or more to each one of us.

Dwyn's POV

The line of Woads charged forward, and I was engulfed in a flood of war cries and flying weapons. Coming toward us was a rush of Saxons, and I found that I had already lost Caeli in the throng of Woads. I could only pray that we would make it through. As we neared, my heart beat faster and I gripped my sword, my eyes open and ready.

I felt the cool metal of Trellicus' hilt in my hands, and felt strong again.

At last, the two opponents collided, and I found myself in a cascade of weapons beating against each other.

For the most part, I was aiming blindly, anything that looked furry, I hit.

As I went further and further into the midst of the battle, I felt my arms growing weaker. Soon, I would have to find a way to switch back to my bow. I looked ahead, and finally spotted a wall, and a set of stairs leading to the top ledge.

I made it my goal to reach those stairs.

Caeli's POV

The battle raged on, I had fought and killed my way to somewhere near the middle of the field. It was there that I saw a familiar face that was not a Woad ally – Arthur.

I quickly began fighting in the opposite direction, praying he wouldn't see me and start asking where Dwyn was…it was a lost cause.

"Caeli?" He called disbelievingly.

I turned after killing the Saxon I had been fighting. He looked at me questioningly.

"Where's Dwyn?" He asked firmly as he started fighting toward me.

'Damnit!' I thought, then did the only thing I could – run. I quickly dodged a Saxon or two and was soon lost in the confusion again.

Dwyn's POV

Stray strands of hair sticking to my face and neck in pools of sweat, I ran toward the stairs as fast as my legs would carry me. I liked this Woad attire, perhaps I would keep it handy for future battles. As I neared the stairs, I lowered my sword arm and relaxed a little, sure that I was going to make it…

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a Saxon slammed into me, and I flew to the ground, knocking myself out of breath. When I looked up, the Saxon was drawing his sword, and I lifted mine frantically, blocking his blow to my head only just in time.

Caeli's POV

The battle was coming to a close, the Saxons were just too proud to see it. We now outnumbered them and I couldn't help but smile. Most of the battle that was left had been pushed to the far left and middle field.

That's when I saw them – Tristan and the lead Saxon fighting. The Saxon had just stabbed Tristan in the ribs with a knife. I ran as fast as my weary feet would carry me. The Saxon slashed Tristan's legs and then his sword arm as he stood again. I could no longer see the battles around me, just the fight before me as I ran. The Saxon kicked Tristan's fallen sword back to him, and he took it, then stood on his unsteady legs. I raced them then, stepping in between them, ready to fight again.

The Saxon stared at me for a moment, then over my shoulder at Tristan. "Are you going to let her fight your battle?" He grunted.

"No. Caeli, please go back where it's safe." Tristan said, trying to push me from between them, but I stood firm.

"No." I said, not taking my eyes off the Saxon. I jabbed at his side, catching him off guard. The Saxon took a few steps back to steady himself.

(Note to Reader: I'm getting tired of calling Cerdic "the Saxon" and by now, you're most likely tired of reading it, so I'll be calling him Cerdic now. Just know that Caeli doesn't know who the bloody hell he is).

Cerdic again stared at me for a moment before moving forward, throwing strokes I parried moving back, happy to find that Tristan had moved out of the way. I ducked as Cerdic swung at me head, then sidestepped to the right and stabbed his leg. Cerdic retaliated by driving his blade as far as it would go into my left shoulder. The blade caught on a bone, but he still tied to drive it deeper, forcing me down on one knee.

Dwyn's POV

I placed my feet in his stomach and kicked hard, I was happy to see that he flew off of me, landing on his back a few feet away.

(Note to Reader: This "Saxon" is Cynric and like my sister/cousin/best friend, I am not calling him "the Saxon" through all of this. So when I saw Cynric, it doesn't mean Dwyn knows who he is)

I stood before he did, ready to fight.

Finally, he looked up, standing slowly and cautiously, and I realized that he looked familiar. It was the Saxon commander we'd fought on the lake, the one Caeli's final arrow had missed, the one who had ordered Dagonet's death.

Cynric smiled, a sickeningly evil display, and spoke to me. It seemed like his voice was all I could hear through the noise around us.

"I see you recognize me." He scowled down at me.

I took the advantage, using his haughty statement's time to lunge at him with my sword. I caught him off guard, but he still fought surprisingly well…for a Saxon. He parried my every blow, and I felt my arms giving way again. Not to mention that Cynric was slowly backing me further and further away from the stairs.

All of a sudden, he turned his blade over his shoulder and used the blunt hilt to ram me in the chest, I fell back, coughing and gasping for air.

Cynric raised his sword for the final blow, and I prepared to block it, but before his sword made it to me, two more blocked it, inches from my own raised blade.

It was Lancelot.

I rolled out from under them and ran for it. Thankful to Lancelot, somewhere deep down, but thinking bitterly the whole time that I could have taken care of myself.

At last, I reached the stairs, looking back one more time at Lancelot and Cynric locked in combat behind me. With one brief wave of guilt, I turned and made my way up the stairs, climbing quickly past Woads and Saxons alike, the muscles in my upper legs on fire within.

Caeli's POV

I let out a cry of pain as Cerdic sharply removed the sword to fight off the person who had just slashed his arm – Arthur. I quickly got to my feet and out of their way as the two met in battle. I ran back to where Tristan now sat on the ground, trying to bandage his wounded arm, I knew Arthur could take care of himself.

Dwyn's POV

With one last surge of energy, I made it to the landing. I used my dagger to take care of the few remaining enemies up there, driving them off the edge or chasing them away.

When I finally had the ledge to myself, I sheathed my sword and dagger and took up my bow. Faster than ever before, I took aim and shot over and over. Once, my eyes fell on Tristan, fighting a huge Saxon and not noticing the one coming up on his back. I shot and killed the one sneaking up on him just as he finished off the one he'd been fighting. He felt his back opponent brush his leg as he fell, and he saw my arrow. He looked up and saw me. For a moment, he looked surprised, but not so surprised that he let his guard down. He nodded his thanks and I nodded in return, then he fought on, soon lost in the frenzy again.

I began shooting randomly into the horde of Saxons, knocking arrow after arrow.

'I'm sure to run out soon…' I thought as I reached back for another arrow…

Then, out of nowhere, I was slammed into yet again, and before I even had time to panic, my bow had been thrown from my hand, and my attacker and I were flying down the stairs. As each step hit me, I winced, but still managed to somehow kick the Saxon off of me. It seemed like I hit 1,000 stairs before finally slamming to the ground.

To my disadvantage, my attacker was quicker and more protected than I. He was on top of me before I could think, a dagger to my throat. I sneered in his face, and he smiled smugly.

I kneed him hard, and he cried out, I took the advantage and shoved my dagger into his shoulder.

In revenge, as he cried out, he drove his blade deep into my upper left thigh. I screamed in pain, and could hear him laughing as my eyes began to water. He wrenched the dagger out of my leg and I winced.

He raised it again, this time, intending to finish me off.

I closed my eyes, preparing for the bow…

Which never came.

An arrow flew in, striking my attacker square in the chest, he dropped his dagger, and it thudded to the ground next to me. He fell forward, all of his weight crashing down on my chest.

I pushed against him, but I wasn't nearly strong enough, he didn't budge. Then, I felt strong arms next to mind, and looked up to see Galahad.

He rolled the Saxon off me and looked at my leg briefly.

"Thank you." I whispered.

He nodded, then rushed back into battle.

I had no choice but to lie and wait, listening to the noise around me. Luckily, the battle was almost over by then, and I prayed with all my might that everyone was all right.

Where was Arthur?

Was he safe?

All I could do was hope someone would find me…and soon.

Caeli's POV

I dropped down beside Tristan, after sheathing my sword. He gave me a small smile.

"You shouldn't have come." He said.

"I know." I said, taking the length of cloth he was trying to use as a bandage and starting to wrap it around the wound. "But you're lucky I did."

He nodded, "And you're lucky Arthur got there when he did." He pointed to my shoulder that was stinging badly and still bleeding.

"Hold still." I told him as I tied off the bandage, knowing he was right.

"I never would've made it in time." Tristan said, hanging his head.

"It's all right." I answered, smiling at him, just happy we were both alive and praying as hard as I could that Dwyn and the others were the same. "Now, let me see your side."

"Your shoulder." He said, not moving.

"It'll be fine for a few moments." I answered him.

He nodded and let me examine his side. I frowned. "This is going to need to be cleaned, but you can bandage it." Tristan nodded. "Just keep pressure on it to help stop the bleeding."

I then turned to look at my shoulder, I bit my lip. It was deep for a shoulder wound. I bandaged it the best I could, then sighed.

"We better try and find the others." I said.

"They're over there." Tristan said, pointing to a small group just visible through the smoke.

I helped Tristan to his feet, then we set out toward the others, his hand on my unharmed shoulder to help his balance.

We found Arthur and the other knights gathered around Lancelot's body.

"My brave knights." Arthur said, pained. "I have failed you. I neither took you off this island, nor shared your fate."

Merlin came toward us and looked down at Arthur. "No fate is shared." He told him, then looked at each of the Knights. "No fate is shared!" Merlin then walked away silently.

There was a moment or two of piercing silence, Arthur looked around at all of us, a worried look on his face, he then jumped up and took me by my forearms. I took a step back out of surprise.

"Caeli." Arthur said worriedly. "Where is Dwyn? Is she here? Did she come with you?"

"I came with her." I corrected, my own worry sounding through my voice. "I'm not sure. We got separated during the battle."

Arthur let go of my arms and started running across the field, calling Dwyn's name.