OK people, first off I want to thank you for reading this story thus far. That being said, I would like to point out one reader that has caused me to write this, which I hoped I would never have to do. I don't care if I get flames, as long as there is something creative that you think could make the story better. This is a WORK IN PROGRESS which means there is time to change stuff that is happening, and none of the readers know what I am planning. So don't accuse me of doing something that you may very well do yourself. If this continues to happen, I will block you from my account. This is a promise, not a threat.
If you didn't read the warning, read it now or else it may cost you later.
"…Ciara Fallon. First in line for the crown of Anmarik. Daughter of Barry Crevan, the King and Caitlyn Keita, the Queen."
The knights were silent before Arthur spoke. "Why is it that you, who is the next in line, leaves to fight? Would it not be safer to stay in your keep?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Why do you go out and fight with your knights?"
"That is different my la-Ciara. I am not a ruler. Just a commander." He sounded deflated that he had to say that.
"Just wait. That will change. But think about it logically Arthur. Would your knights follow you if you didn't fight with them? What people could trust their Queen with their protection if she did not fight?"
There was a slight murmuring amongst the knights. They agreed as I knew they would. They came from a place that not fighting would show weakness. I smiled. "Just hope you don't have to fight against my people. After what I saw today you would surely lose. I am not the most skilled archer or swordsman."
Lancelot looked stunned. It was Galahad who said the next thing. "So all that you showed us, all that you did, you are not the best?"
A smile graced her lips. "No, not by a long shot. Just the most skilled and proficient in both."
Just then an arrow shot by the woman's head. She caught it by the fletching. "What is that?" a man with long dirty blonde dreadlocks asked.
"This, is an arrow of my body guard. They have returned. With reinforcements."
"Where are they, we see no men." Bors growled.
"Well, Lancelot was right. It takes spilt blood of the royal family to have the bridge appear. While chanting a certain phrase. Hence why it didn't work. But there are currently 50 armed men across this river, ensuring that you will be dead if you harm me. Now I suggest you leave so I can return home." She put the arrow in her quiver.
"We can't let you leave." Arthur yelled.
"You are asking for war then. Against my people and the Woads."
"Being allied with the Woads should be enough reason to cut your throat." One of the others that had me at point shouted.
"At ease Percivale. We wish for your training Lady Ciara. If you would, that is." An out roar from the knights. Loudest from Lancelot.
"Arthur, no! I will not take part in this. We have fought for a cause not our own for 10 years with what we were taught from our fathers! I will not take training from a stranger!"
"You should listen to them Arthur. No outsider is allowed to learn our ways. Be gone, now."
"You do not command me woman." Arthur realized that no noble should be talked to like that too late. Ciara's eyes flashed, darkness covering them.
"Leave, before my men do something that would be regrettable. If you want to learn, first you must observe." Arthur took her heeding.
"Men, back to the fort." None moved. "NOW knights!" There was disgruntled curses before they all left. She waited until they were too far away to come back and cross the bridge before re-cutting her finger.
The bridge appeared again and she galloped across on her great horse. She wiped her finger on the other side before going over to her men. She patted her horse, "Sloane, thank you." Then she went to the captain of her guard.
"My lady, we were worried. Thank the Gods you are unharmed."
"Thank you Warrick. For a moment I thought I would need more of you to shoot." She then rode halfway down the column of men to a man on a cream colored horse. "Bowen, great shot. Here is your arrow."
She turned to the rest of the men and called, "Let's head back! I'll make the announcement of the festival later this evening! Do not fear! You are all better than their greatest!" She took off at a canter towards the village. The men following and shouting. After a few miles the fields of wheat appeared, they rode on to the outskirts of the village, listening to them cheer. Up the cobbled streets to the palace. At the stables she dismounted and handed her horse to Warrick. "Please take care of him, my parents expected me back long ago. Give him a few apples too."
"Yes my lady." And with knowing her horse would be taken care of properly, she went in the doors to the palace and to the throne room. When the doors opened, she walked swiftly up to bow before her parents.
"Rise Ciara. What did you learn?" So she recounted the events to her parents, including the confrontation at the river. They listened and talked between themselves before responding. "We mustn't make an enemy of him. You will go back, with your brother, later and talk to them. We will discuss this more this evening when you are clean. Please send in Warrick as well as the other captains."
"Yes sire." She bowed once more before leaving. Upon entering the hall again she was pounced on by a red dog. "Hey boy, how are you?" She scratched the dog behind the ears as she walked to the Guards' command room. She opened the door and they immediately stood at attention. "At ease," she waved her hand. "Warrick, Damon, Zareb, Klaus. My parents wish to speak to you."
They nodded and left. "Chase, let's go up to my room?" The dog was running ahead. She followed and opened the large oak door to her room. A giant four poster bed lay directly across the entrance, a few windows, a fireplace and many dressers. In front of the fireplace a bath was drawn for me. I tested the water, which was still warm then pulled out a long blue dress for dinner. She dressed and left her hair down. She put on her crown, as they would address the village afterward, and went to dinner. She hugged her brother, closest to her in age, a tall man with blonde hair and brown eyes. She sat next to him and they enjoyed talking about their day. He wanted details to the festival. She wanted details about the village. May not be as glamorous but she was going to be in charge one day. After dinner they all stood and went to the balcony that looked over the village where all the villagers stood. The king started.
"My people! We all know what happened today. Our daughter, the future ruler of our glorious land, went to challenge the great Sarmatian Knights in their festival! She has good news! She is confident that if they ever decide to challenge us we will be victorious!" He was cut off as cheers ran throughout the crowd. He let them die down before continuing. "However they know that the river on our western border is a passageway. If any of you are out there and see Sarmatians, let us know immediately! Now, if you are willing, my daughter will speak." More cheers, completely genuine rang out.
"Thank you! As you all know, my guards and I set out this morning to the Festival." And she continued to awe the audience with what transpired. They were all clapping as she finished. She stepped back as the King and Queen stepped forward again. They told them about sending my brother, Troy, and I back to the King and his Knights. They were skeptical but were proud.
It was a long day when they went back to their chambers. Ciara changed into a nightgown and went to her windowsill. She sat upon it and looked at the stars, lost in thought. After a long while like that she sighed audibly and cursed very unladylike. "Those knights! The thought of them just gets my heart pounding. Lancelot is a charming man, confident, charismatic, and a wit sharp as a knife. Tristan, there is a great mystery in him, one I could spend lifetimes figuring out. I don't know why they are affecting me this way. They don't even know the real me." She looked back out to the stars until she felt a weight on her knee. "Hey Chase, what should I do?" He just sighed. "Lots of help you are. Maybe I will be able to think better in the morning. Or else I could talk to Merlin. He should visit tomorrow."
With that she went to bed. Not knowing that at Hadrian's Wall she was on the thoughts of two men.
When the knights returned to Hadrian's Wall Arthur called an immediate meeting. "Knights. What are your opinions on this matter? One at a time, please. Lancelot?"
"We should let her, and their entire kingdom know that we are not to be messed with."
"How should we do that?"
"I ummmm. I don't know."
That's how most of the Knights were, they wanted to take action, but they didn't know what to do though. Tristan's idea was the most logical.
"Set up a watch. Cycle the knights. Whenever someone comes across capture them. She said that only royal family members can cross afterall."
There was agreement. "Well then, who offers to take the first watch?"
"I will." Lancelot stated. He wanted to try and capture Ciara Fallon and get her. The other knights took shifts, they decided 8 hours. So it was set.
At the tavern that evening Lancelot was less intoxicated than normal. He was still mulling over the fact he was beat in swordplay. Even though her tactics were very different, there was something similar about her stance. It was if he had seen it before, which he immediately dismissed. The next thought that crossed his mind was how she knew his native tongue. He hadn't heard it in so long he almost didn't recognize it. And she knew Tristan's too, as well as Arthur's native Latin. This woman is a mystery. He thought as he took another drink.
Across the tavern, Tristan sat in his usual silence, only now he was thinking about what had transpired earlier that day. He didn't know many that split arrow that easily. It was almost like magic, as good as the Hunter goddess from his native lands. Not to mention that she could speak his native language. It was often considered one of the hardest to learn, him being from the high hills. He knew that he would take pleasure in his watch. He took a sliver from his apple and chewed it thoughtfully.