Standard Disclaimer: KA and the legends are soooo not mine. The craziness of the characters is the only thing I own. Bad Language, Violence and Possible Sexual Scenes Warning. Don't like it, don't read.
A/N: Whoo hoo chapter 11! The last chapter was emotional neh? Well, yeah… that's how I wanted it. She's never had to experience something like that and so her reaction was hard to depict. Despite it all, Ria is a bit sheltered. Well, I hope this chapter is just as enjoyable.
Remember, any words spoken in Italics are supposed to be in English. And –italics- means actions during speech.
Taped Up Hearts
I had snuck into the stable, no longer afraid of the horses. Other thoughts clouded that fear. Gareth's horse was there sizing me up with one brown eye before whickering and allowing me to approach. I led her out the stall and to a forgotten hole in the wall.
The fact that I have practically no horse riding experience made little difference to Gareth's mare. I was clinging onto her mane tightly because 1) I don't know how to put on the horse's tack and 2) I barely knew what I was doing.
My mind was befuddled; I was heartbroken, betrayed, and most of all one mad-angry bitch. They had broken their pact with me and there will be retribution! The mare galloped steadily in the approaching night towards the dark forest.
The darkness was a bit disconcerting… but duh, its night in a forest Ria.
I tried to dismount the mare with a lot of struggle, until she lowered down to let me off. Patting her nose I walked further into the wood calling the magician out.
"MERLIN!" The wind carried my voice through the dark. "MERLIN! You have no honor! Your people broke our pact; I am NO LONGER BOUND TO HER!" Breathing hard I tore off the black stone pendant and held it high. "Do you hear me? IT IS OVER! I will do everything in my power to have you wiped out…"
"You need not shout, child." Merlin's ancient voice interrupted me. Spinning around I faced the dark wizard… and a small group of Woad Warriors. Fun.
Angrily I threw the necklace at the old man's face; the warriors gripped their weapons threateningly at the indiscretion. Merlin merely blinked at me and signaled for someone to give him the pendant.
"Victoria, those whom you grieve died not by the blade of my people…"
"Shifting the blame, how unlike the wise Merlin of my childhood." I drawled as the wind swirled my hair and clothes around my body making me shiver involuntarily.
"I do not, child…"
"YOU'VE TAKEN AWAY SOMEONE I LOVED!" I yelled drawing out my hidden dagger and pointing it at the man.
A young woman leaped defensively in front of Merlin… the same woman who attacked me back at Wren's Bend!
"You." Shock coursed through me when I realized how much this woman looked like Merlin… was she his kid? "Yours, Merlin?" He didn't have to say anything; the tension in the woman's face told me everything.
I didn't realize I had moved let alone lunged at them until I felt a jolt of pain in my side. Dropping my weapon I gripped my side to see my own lifeblood on my hands seeping through my clothes. The fucking bitch slashed me!
Falling to the ground gasping at the gaping hole in my side I could only listen to Merlin's words. "Return to the fort Victoria, our pact is not broken. Your mind is clouded with grief and your actions this night shall not be against you. I will have those that grieve your heart sought out and condemned, but know this it was not my tribe." Merlin had one of the Woads tie the pendant around my neck once again though I had fought and thrashed (in pain I may add) I was put back on the mare to be sent back to Hadrian's Wall. God, they couldn't even wrap up my wound! Those fucking bastards!
Somewhere along the way, I must have passed out or fallen asleep because I found myself being stared at by many pairs of eyes.
"¡Ai Dios Mio!" (A/N: Translation- Oh my God!) I exclaimed struggling to get up only to hiss in pain from my side. Cold and shaking I found myself in the grazing field just outside of Hadrian's Wall… surrounded by the sheep. Damn. Hugging myself, I saw that Gareth's mare was nowhere to be found. Double Damn. My body is so cold and sore, but somehow I managed to stagger to the gate of the Wall by dawn.
"Who approaches Hadrian's Wall?" A Roman soldier called down. They must've known it was me and decided to get on my nerves; it was too far to the forgotten hole so the front door is my best bet for help.
"Open the fucking door you butt fugly bastard!" I angrily replied. There was some commotion before the gates were opened to me and Dagonet ran out catching me as I fell from exhaustion, blood loss and cold.
The big man's words of concern were an inaudible babble. All activity around me as he carried me through the fort was in slow motion. The people of the Wall stared at me in disapproving looks or pity; I could only stare back blankly.
From there, everything was a fuzzy mess. I think Arthur was angry, I'm not entirely sure though… so was Brat and Vanora and some other people… but I couldn't really recognize who was who. I do remember warmth, I think Brat, Marion and Vanora gave me a bath to clean my wounds… and something soft, probably my bed and pillow… and someone's eyes watching me before I fell into complete unconsciousness.
The days following my confrontation with Merlin I was in a methodological stupor. Although it didn't seem like it to everyone else, my mind was at work. I wanted to protect those my heart had opened for, the knights. I found kinship in Lamorak and Kay, for they were Gareth's brother and cousin. They told me stories of when the three were children and made me smile. My heart was being taped back together until I finally got the courage to visit Gareth and Percival's graves.
Lamorak accompanied me as I held Gareth's finished armor to my breast. Gulping, I saw Gareth and Percival's swords embedded in the grass, the tears formed in my eyes as memories of the two played in my eyes. The most recent had been the fight and all the mean things I said. As I kneeled between their graves I gently placed the armor on Gareth's grave. "Good night, sweet prince…." I whispered quoting Hamlet and kissed my fingers to his and Percival's swords. I sat there until my legs were too cramped to move and Lamorak was forced to carry me back.
"What did you say Ria?" he asked as we made our way back to the forge.
"Someday… someday I'll tell you. Thanks for taking me, it really meant a lot," I shook my head and hugged him tight. I found solace and reprieve from my emotions that I knew everything would be better.
In my room I found a little feline messenger from Merlin. A tiny wildcat with bright green eyes stared at me with a bit of folded parchment.
They are found. The note said.
The little tabby-like kitten circled a spot on my bed before doing what I had originally intended… she fell asleep. Petting her soft baby fur, I reread the message countless times trying to make sense of it.
I can barely tell you what I thought… those that killed Gareth and Percival have been found and killed. I don't wish for anyone's death, except maybe Charity but she's an entirely different manner. I felt the twinge of guilt on my conscience at that.
I really wanted everything to be better.
Once I had recovered fully from my wounds and deemed healthy, I threw myself into blacksmithing with Merlin's gift at my heels. The little wildcat followed me everywhere; it would have been annoying if she weren't so cute. Despite my efforts to give the animal back, she would always manage to return to my side that I just gave up. Because of it, I started calling her "Loca" and I guess it stuck.
In the melting weeks I didn't just occupy my time with work from Argon, but also on my plan to protect my knights. I refused to abandon anyone to the embrace of Death, so I worked on the creation of unique armor for them.
"God Vicky, you're so boring. All you do is work, work, and work. You've not even bothered me in so long." Charity drawled behind me. Oh Gaad, not her again. Ignore, ignore, ignore… she'll just go away if you ignore the annoying pest. She didn't, actually my ignoring her led Charity to believe that I was giving her time to talk.
"DAMNIT!" I yelled pulling back my hand; I had almost slammed the hammer on my finger instead of the steel. Whipping my head around to glare at the pest; I growled, "Go away," pointing the glowing red-hot sword at her.
Pouting she started back towards the exit muttering, "You need to get laid Vicky. You're too uptight." With that she knocked down some of the armor I had finished.
"Yes, you can bite her heels Loca," I instructed as I went back to work. The little wildcat growled and padded after the bitchy blonde. Terrified squealing rang through the forge making me smirk. Moments later my little pet stalked back to my side purring with a piece of Charity's skirt in her little jaws. "Good girl."
Countless months later, the knights were in the training court outfitted in new, bright, shiny, light, steel armor. They donned my labor of love proudly and I was beaming. In the time it took for everything to sort of pass, my heart was taped back together and it felt so much better watching the knights of Arthur's Legendary Round Table strut like bright, shiny peacocks in my creation.
The making of the armor wasn't the hard part; I mean I did spend a lot of time trying to get it just right with the measurements and all. Really, spending afternoon after afternoon chasing grown men in the hot sun with a measuring rope was not my idea of fun (despite how funny it must have looked). The most difficult part was engraving the right tribes on the right armors.
Few of them even talked about home to me. Other times I had to be sneaky and research in Arthur's library (which usually led from one thing of interest to another). I even had to get Brat and Loca to sneak me info.
But… in the end it all paid off. I really couldn't begin to describe the joy I felt then. It was watching a kid at Christmas when I pulled the sheet off the armor.
Bors and Dagonet both nearly crushed me in tight hugs, Vanora had to slap Bors over the head just to get him to let go and give me air. Darren and Lamorak smothered me with kisses to my cheeks. Lancelot pulled me to him suggesting that I stop by his room for a proper thank you. Gawain and Galahad offered to buy me drinks for the rest of my life. Lionell, Tinnius, Kay and Belvedere were speechless and in shock until I suggested to Brat to get Charity's make up bag.
When I present Arthur his own armor, he too was surprised I even considered him. "Ria, I do not understand. Why did you do all this?"
"Let's just say this was my way of taping my heart back together and leave it at that, okay?" I grinned.
Tristan's reactions… well, I was really hoping for something, anything. But he just took the armor and nodded. "Fine, be like that! See if I ever make you anything again!" I called after him.
Their appreciation for my work elated me. Even when they left for a mission against bandits, I wasn't worried. I've tested their armor myself against heavy sword and impact, I wasn't that good, but I know the armor was.
But all the beautiful protective covering, strong and sturdy, couldn't always have protected them. It was at least eight or nine months from Gareth's and Percival's deaths that winter came. With it, influenza settled over Britain
Whew! Another chapter done and this was a pain in the ass. I'm trying to get everything into play. And it hasn't really been easy. Papers, midterms and the like are driving me up the wall, but I try my best to make it interesting. Reviews are always appreciated!
Thanks much to my reviewers, YOU GUYS ROCK!
KnightMaiden: Thank you for the review. Pairing will have to wait… well shit happens and so maybe a new pair will happen or not. You'll just have to wait and see. Thanks again.
The Wild Woman: Thanks for the review. Yeah the heartbreak was bad, but in a way necessary.
Evenstar-mor2004: Sorry for not leaving Merlin castrated, although it was anticipated I couldn't do it. He's supposed to help her on this path, if he was castrated then the likelihood he would help Ria would've gone down. Thanks for reviewing.
mysticpig: A new reviewer! Coolness! Thanks for your review.