Hey everyone! Sorry I didn't load this last night as I promised - With the clocks going back I was working and extra hour so it really buggered me! Anyway - Chapter 3! Enjoy!
Chapter 3 – Secret Whispers of the Night
Upon seeing all seven Knights dismount from their horses, Callandra breathed a big sigh of relief, before walking out to meet them.
The first to see her was Arthur, who hugged her fondly and kissed her forehead.
"It's good to see you are better," he said to her as the others joined them.
"Better now that you have all returned safely," She replied, "and if you go and fight without me again I'll skin you alive!"
Lancelot chuckled. "Yet it seems better this way, don't you think? Here we are: poor, tired and battle-worn warriors coming back from yet another slaughter, and upon returning are greeted by the most beautiful of ladies whose only happiness at the moment, is seeing us alive and safe. Now tell me, doesn't that sound like a more suitable arrangement that having you join us, covered in dirt and blood?"
Callandra smiled. "That silver tongue of yours never knows when to keep still," she answered cheekily, "you have much better prospects at using it against some poor defenceless barmaid and leave me in peace."
Lancelot feigned hurt. "And that is the gratitude I get for complimenting you? "Leave me in peace!" My lady you deal me a fatal blow!"
Everyone laughed, and it seemed the darkness that had previously hung over them all had subsided.
"Callandra," Arthur said, his eye catching the wounded villagers coming out of the wagon, "if you are feeling able, there are some innocents in need of your attention and care."
Callandra followed his gaze and nodded.
"Jols!" She called, bundling her golden locks back from her face and tying it with ribbon, "bring my bottles and help me with these people."
With Jols following closely behind, a small leather bag clutched in his hand, Callandra made her way to the wagon, and the knights dispersed to go their separate ways, except for Gawain, who stood watching Callandra as she helped and elderly man out the wagon and tended to his injuries. He smiled and his piercing blue eyes shone with longing, but after watching her a moment longer, he reluctantly turned away and went to change out of his armour.
In a cave hidden deep in the forests of Britain, a small band of Woads were huddled in a circle around a camp fire. At the centre of the circle, an old woman was crouched over the ground, scanning some stones in the firelight.
Her appearance was hideous: her greying hair, wet and matted with dirt, fell over her wrinkled, scarred, wart-ridden face.
As she scanned the stones with her black, beady eyes, she drew symbols in the sand with a long, yellow and chipped fingernail.
Those that surrounded her waited nervously for her to speak: for this was Mab, the most revered and feared elder of the Woads – more so than even Merlin, though he was their leader.
She hissed, she cackled, she mumbled; she picked up the stones, she scattered them and hissed some more.
Finally, a warrior stepped forward. "What do you see, Mab?"
Mab jerked her head up, and the disturber jumped back in fear, but a lopsided grin appeared on her ugly face.
"I see a ship with red sails..."
"A Roman ship!" someone gasped. "More Romans! They're meant to be leaving out country!"
Mab raised her hand for silence. "The leader's purpose is not to wage war with us – not his main purpose at least."
"Why do they come then?"
Mab stared so closely at the stones that her pointed nose nearly touched the ground.
"I see...greed and ambition: Pride...a thirst for power, and...Lust..."
She bobbed her head to the side, and taking a pouch from her robe she threw some white powder into the fire, making it grow and sparkle violet. Out of the flames, there appeared an image of a battle between Woads and Romans, and on the ground, amongst the dead, there grew a single white rose in full bloom."
"A rose on the battlefield..." Mab murmured, "Arthur's sister...he comes for her..."
Murmurs grew amongst the Woads. "How will this aid us, Mab?"
Mab smiled slyly. "A rose so beautiful is adored by many – and one woman amongst so many men is a perfect recipe for disaster."
The Woads looked at each other in confusion, making Mab roll her eyes and sigh.
"This Roman soldier that approaches is as venomous as a snake – his presence with cause disruption and will poison Arthur and his great Sarmation warriors. They will be blind to all else that goes on in the country – That will be when we make our move."
Whispers of awe and wonder arose, and the clink of metal as some Woads fingered their weapons in anticipation.
"But what of Merlin," someone said suddenly, "he has forbidden any direct attacks on Arthur – only on the Romans."
Mab frowned and wrapped her ragged cloak around her as she sat back on a rock.
"By the time Merlin discovers what is happening, it will all be beyond his control. Arthur's mother may have been one of us, but he has allied himself with the Romans – our enemy. He and his sister must be destroyed." She looked up and watched her people as they each nodded their agreement, "now leave and be patient; their blood shall be spilt on the land before the next full moon!"
p.s Thanks for the reviews! Chapter 4 will have a little Gawain and Callandra, and the introduction of the new mysterious Roman soldier!