Sorry about my Author's note last chapter, but that is one thing I seriously hate. I am 100% ok with flames, as long as there is something suggested to make it better.

Also this chapter does not reflect my beliefs, I am a evolutionist but remember this is based in the 5th century AD

The night passed by with the kingdom oddly quiet considering there is now a threat of invaders. However the people of the Kingdom of Ahnmarik know that they are safe. They have faith in the royal family and the soldiers that are their friends and family.

The dawn greeted the kingdom with beautiful colors streaming across the sky. It was to this sight that the princess awoke too. She groggily woke and as soon as she saw the colors painting the sky she realized the day, today was when her fiancée was to come. With Merlin and Guinevere. She had to get ready quickly to meet the Woads at the river on the South shore. She hurriedly put on a green dress that fell to the floor and cut off at the elbows. She brushed out her hair and plaited it down her back before running down to the dining hall. She was the last one there. Her family smiled at her, knowing she rushed.

"Sit down dear, you still have 20 minutes before you need to leave." She mumbled a reply and sat down to bread and fruit. She ate her fill and then looked at her brother since entering.

"Why my dear brother, don't you look nice today?" She teased. He was dressed in a sky blue tunic with silver accents and nice black breeches.

"Why wouldn't I look nice to see my future wife? You dressed up as well sister dear." He countered. She shrugged.

"It would be more acceptable for you to be poorly dressed than I."

"Yet I bet I am dressed better than your fiancée."

"Children!" Their father finally exclaimed. "Go to the stables and get your horses ready. Please."

They smiled at each other and raced to the stables. She started getting Sloane ready while Troy grabbed his grey stallion from the stall and grabbed his saddle.

"I still don't see how you can ride that beast of a horse."

"He picked me, I was the only one that he listened too. He didn't want to work the fields, do you boy?" In response Sloane shook his head and whinnied. The two teenaged adults laughed and continued getting ready. They didn't see why they had to have guards to take them to the river but followed their parents' instructions. After saddling, they went to the courtyard and waited while the soldiers came from the other barn.

"Everyone assembled?" the captain of her guard asked. There was a mumbled response as everyone made sure their partners were there. They then headed off through the village at a trot moving up to a canter past the orchards. After half an hour they reached the river where the Woads were gathering. It was Merlin with his family, his wife Nimue and daughter Guinevere. Then on his right there was a man with long hair which was currently tied back, a bow across his shoulders with long daggers on each hip, he was in pants and a leather cross straps to hold everything he had. Behind them was another 2 dozen or so people, some traders some performers.

At the river the prince and princess each cut their finger and started chanting together, "We the royal family of the great and secret kingdom of Ahnmarik. We spill our blood of our own free will to allow these allies of ours to cross onto our land. Take our offering and give them a passage." The water bubbled and a bridge appeared. Merlin walked across first with his family and 1st lieutenant. After they crossed the bridge Merlin went up to the two future rulers and bowed, as did the other 3 with them. The royal members then dismounted and hugged first Merlin and his wife, then Guinevere and finally the 1st lieutenant.

"Guinevere!" The prince yelled happily and pecked his fiancée on the cheek. Likewise the young Woad lieutenant walked up to the princess and kissed her softly on the cheek and held her close.

"My beautiful Ciara." He whispered and smiled. She blushed and smiled back.

"You are too good to me, Folant."

"Nothing is too good for my princess, and my future wife." He pecked her cheek again and she looked at him and then regained her composure.

"Let's head back to the kingdom. We haven't seen you all in a month!" There were cheers as the Woads all started heading towards the kingdom with the majority of the guards. The only ones not heading off immediately were Ciara, Folant, Guinevere, Troy, Merlin, Nimue, and Warrick as well as two stable hands that were leading extra horses. "Aiden, Kayne, give the extra horses to our guests then go back with the rest of the people." They did as ordered and handed over the reins of two bays, a chestnut, and a palomino to the high ranking Woads as they mounted. Guinevere rode off on the palomino laughing as Troy chased after her. Merlin and Nimue trotted with Warrick to the orchards while Folant mounted the chestnut and rode slowly next to Ciara.

"How have you been Ciara?"

"I've been well."

"What's wrong?"

"There is nothing wrong Folant." He gave a look. "Fine, you know how the Sarmatian's have a festival every year?"

"You didn't." He paled. So she proceeded to explain it to him. He was quiet.

"Folant, you know why I had too. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not mad Ci, just worried." He grabbed her hand. "I don't want anything to happen to you. I love you too much."

"I love you too Lan, you know I do. I need to make sure I take care of my people though."

"I know, sometimes I wish that you didn't have to put yourself in such dangerous situations. What if they kept you there, captive?"

"I would've fought tooth and nail to get back. Not that they could beat me. You would be worth anything though." They stopped speaking of sad topics and went on about the weather, the crops, their training. No one would know that by the time they arrived back at the castle they were so upset earlier. They went to the main hall and sat with the rest of the high ranking people, the others were all in the town.

They spoke of the Romans and Sarmatians, what could be possible for peace. It was how it was every month. After several hours it was time for the big feast which the cooks worked on all day. There were deer, boar, rabbits, pheasants, and fish. As well as plenty of varieties of vegetables and breads. The food was enjoyed with many laughs, drinks, songs and music. After everything was cleared a space was opened for dances. The King and Queen of both groups started, soon followed by their children. The groups continued to dance until someone started the Story Fire. Whoever starts the fire, has to tell the story. It turned out to be one of the soldiers of the Woads.

Everyone gathered around the young woman and sat waiting for the story to start. She threw powder from one of her pouches which turned the fire into a splash of green. Folant wrapped his arm tighter around Ciara's waist. The woman looked around the crowd then started out, "It was long ago, before your father's fathers were born, before any mortal man was born even. There was just the land, barren and flat. And lifeless. From the lifeless ground, a bump started to form. It grew larger and larger until it stood about two sticks high. The figure then started to take on a shape, that of a human. It kept forming until there stood a lone figure on the whole space. Hair as brown as the bark of a strong oak flowing to the waist, eyes as green as the new grown grass, skin as smooth as the stone at the bottom of the river. The figure looked around and noticed the bareness. She let her eyes glow and grass appeared. She raised her hand and a mountain formed, pointed her finger and a flowing river went to form a lake. She kept this up until the land was formed, trees dotted the landscape, fed by streams and rivers and brooks that criss-crossed the land and formed ponds and lakes. Mountains and hills with valleys and plains. Yet she still felt something was missing. She went to the nearest river and knelt by its edge, she picked up a nearby pebble and threw it as well as a few blades of grass into the water. The water swirled around the pebble and grass. It glowed and a figure took shape. Out from the water came a man, hair the color of sun touched water, eyes the color of a flowing river, muscled and tanned he went to the woman. She smiled at him and told him, 'You have the power to create fauna, animals to live in this world with us. I created this landscape, and you to help me.'" She spoke in a ethereal voice. She took a sip of wine before continuing. Before starting this time she threw powder in the fire that made it blue.

She started in a deep voice, "'I would be happy to live here with you, you are the Goddess of Creation, I am your humble son.'

'Not my son, my friend.'

'Friend then. What would you like to see first inhabit this land?'

'You decide.' He closed his eyes and held out his hands, moving them. A shape appeared in front of him. When he finished a medium sized black bird was there.

'Beautiful.' The woman said in awe. The man continued to create. And that is how they spend years together, enjoying each others company. But as always happens, they became curious. They did not wear clothes, as there was no need to cover themselves. They wondered, more so the man than the woman, as she created him. One night, while watching the sun set, she moved close to him and he smelt her scent, that over fresh mountain air and new grass and noticed his breathing increased. He looked down and became confused when his extra appendage started to stand up and get larger. She noticed too. Since they were the first beings, they decided to experiment. She summoned a fire and soft moss and he took her hand. He went and moved his mouth to hers and they both enjoyed the feeling, it went further. He moved his hands through her hair and hers down his back. He leaned her down to the bed of moss and kissed down her body, touching her in the most intimate of ways. That evening was the first time they preformed the dance of lovers. Several months later, it started too cool, which was strange to the couple. It was also the time the woman seemed to gain weight. The temperature continued to change and the woman continued to get larger, yet not knowing why. Then one day, the woman started feeling pain. She sat down and just wished that it would go away. The man not knowing what to do just held her hand. Then, all at once, the pain stopped. And a cry sounded. A baby was born. They didn't know what to do with the newborn, but care for it. In a matter of weeks it was almost full grown, hair dark as a moonless night and eyes as grey as an approaching storm, and depending on the son's mood was what the weather was like. They now knew what had happened. So that night, when the boy went off to explore other lands, they danced again. And again she became pregnant. This time she gave birth to a daughter. They tried to figure out what powers the daughter had. After an incident with her brother when she angered, it was discovered she could control the light of day, warring, and had a group of small creatures surround her. It was then that the four powerful deities of our time were together." The woman bowed and stepped away as applause shook the ground.

"Who was that woman?" Ciara asked Folant as they went back to the fort.

"A marvelous story teller." She hit him. "Her real name is unknown. We call her Aberfa, as that is where we found her."

"Found?"

"She was found as a child, scarred, cold, alone. When our scouts found her she tried to fight them off. Merlin spoke to her and she calmed down, said she was lost, didn't know where she was from, and Merlin asked if she wanted to join us. She agreed."

"Wow. Did you ever wonder where she was from?"

"We all did, but she didn't remember. Merlin thinks she hit her head on something."

"That's sad." Ciara yawned.

"Let's get you to bed."

"Only if you join me."

"Ci-."

She interrupted. "Just give me a body to keep me warm, let me know I am safe, a heartbeat to sleep with."

He had an internal battle but agreed. She bid good night to her family and went up to her room. She changed into a large tunic behind a curtain while he went down to just his breeches. They crawled into bed together and cuddled together.

"Good night Ciara."

"Good night Folant. I love you."

"I love you too." A kiss on her neck and they were off to sleep, unlike the Sarmatian on watch across the river.

Currently Galahad was on watch, sharpening his sword silently on a whetstone. He was hidden amoungst the trees and shrubs, no fire lit. his horse was back several yards just in case they rode across the river, a bow lay next to him on the ground. Bors reported no activity from his shift, and Lancelot nothing his before.

"Dear Gods, let something happen." Little did he know, that something would happen, just not soon. He had only been on watch for 2 hours and would prefer to be drinking with a pretty tavern girl on his lap. He started singing of home, as the night wore on.