Karma could hear the people around her speaking, but she paid no attention. She didn't understand why the gun hadn't worked. A part of her mind recognized that the men she now traveled with were dressed strangely, and really, how normal was it to ride on horseback through the woods, but her conscious mind hadn't processed it yet. The man carrying her called out to a man standing a top a very tall wall, and her ears picked up the sound of scraping as some type of gate was opened. Why hadn't the gun worked? All six of the cylinder chambers had bullets. It was cleaned and oiled. The gun had been her stepfather's so she knew it worked. Maybe it had worked…maybe she was dead and now she was in Hell. Karma knew she wouldn't have made it to Heaven. She opened her eyes briefly only to assure herself that no, she was still alive. Hell didn't have trees or people trying to be kind.
Arthur's heart beat painfully in his chest. He was most certain that the girl they'd just found in the forest had been trying to end her life. He did not know what to make of this. Everything within him, every part of his being had always fought for life and for the lives of those around him. What could have happened to this beautiful girl to make her wish for this end? Arthur had the feeling that she had been sent to them so they could save her, and now he could only hope that they were able to. He would not permit her to harm herself while he could still draw breath.
Creed was silent. Finding the lass in the woods had been surprising. When his new liege Arthur, had told them that they patrolled that area more often he'd thought it was because of rogue Saxons, but as Arthur had approached the woman sitting at the base of a tree, Bors had mumbled under his breath. Creed had excellent hearing, and he'd heard the words 'that's seven now'. It was obvious the woman was not Saxon. Nor was she Woad or Roman. Her appearance looked to me perhaps that of the inhabitants of Southern Rome, but her dress and manner of speech dispelled that thought. Now she rode in Arthur's arms quietly. She had not spoken again since she'd told him to take her to the keep. Arthur had looked at Creed and Haven and told them that he would explain at the evening meal.
As they entered the keep the squire, Jols, called out for the stable boys to assist the knights. As they dismounted Creed moved quickly to take Arthur's burden from him so that the King himself could dismount. Lancelot, and his lady whom they'd seen teaching the children earlier approached swiftly.
"Another Arthur?" Lancelot murmured, but was still loud enough to be heard.
Kassidy had moved to the new Knight's side and spoke softly to the woman who seemed catatonic. "Are you all right? Are you in any pain?"
Karma looked at the woman curiously. She didn't sound the same as the man who'd found her. She sounded like she would be comfortable on the streets of Manhattan. Where the Hell am I? Karma thought as she tried to focus on the beautiful woman in front of her. "You were on Mtv." she murmured as she placed the woman's face.
Kass smiled hesitantly. The girl's voice sounded as if she was in shock. "Once or twice." she replied gently. Arthur was calling her over so she reached out and squeezed the girl's hand, "I'll be right back, I just need to speak with Arthur for a moment." She moved away from the knight who carried the other girl effortlessly.
"Kassidy, I need you to tell me what this is." Arthur's voice was grim. He held up a shiny silver pistol, and she gasped.
"That's a gun Arthur…a weapon. It can hurt or kill people. It's what one of the men who were chasing Terri and Mandy used to hurt Tristan."
"She held this below her chin to her neck Kassidy." His voice held sadness. "What would have happened if it worked?"
Kass felt numb. "It would have killed her Arthur…she was trying to kill herself." Kass took the gun from Arthur, who held it gingerly as if it were a snake which would rear up and bite him. She flipped out the cylinder to see each chamber loaded. She slipped all six bullets out and into her hand before checking the barrel to make sure no other bullets were in the weapon. Then she handed it back to Arthur. "It can't hurt you now…well, if you used it to beat someone with it could, but it won't fire anymore." Kass looked to the young woman who lay quietly in the knight, Creed's arms. She wasn't focused on anything.
Kass walked back over and spoke to Creed. "Sir Creed, why don't you follow me and we'll get this young lady settled in the infirmary."
Creed wasn't sure what an infirmary was, but he followed the woman until she led him into a large building that had obviously been set up for people who'd been injured. He set the woman gently on one of the empty cots. Creed looked at the girl one more time and then turned and left.
Kass moved back over to the girl and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm Kass. What's your name?"
For a moment it looked as though the girl wouldn't answer, but finally she whispered. "Karma…Karma Marquez."
"Well, Karma, welcome to Hadrian's Wall." Kass brushed Karma's hair back from her forehead. "There's a lot of stuff I have to tell you, but right now I need to know some things first."
Karma finally looked up and met Kass's eyes. Looking into the other woman's jade green eyes Karma finally felt herself wanting to talk to someone again. "I wanted to die…I was trying to kill myself when those men found me."
"Why did you want to die Karma?" Kass asked feeling tears welling up in her eyes. "Why would you try to shoot yourself?"