At the castle of the island nation of Anmarik, before the sun even started staining the sky, a company of men and women on horses were riding through the village towards the bank that would take them most directly to Hadrian's Wall. At the lead were two men, both on powerful chestnuts, hair tied back, and with extra weapons attached to the saddles. All of the horsemen were armored and armed, all having bows as well as a hand held weapon. When the sun broke the horizon, they were at the riverbank and one of the lead men went forward and pulled out a small pouch and sprinkled a red powder on the water and said in a strong voice, "Let us, the guardians of the Royal Line, pass over your protective waters to rescue our future leaders." The river bubbled and the bridge appeared. The tall man with broad shoulders, dark hair, almost black, turned his steel grey eyes towards everyone else. "Hurry across men!" And they rushed across the bridge with the two previously in the lead going last. Once across more powder was sprinkled and the bridge disappeared.
"Warrick, you know this won't be an easy fight, if we need to fight, don't you?"
The dark haired man looked at his good friend and smiled sadly, "I know that Folant. I just hope Troy and Ciara are OK."
"They are, I can feel it. So can Guinevere. We will see them soon." And with that they took the lead and went through the forest towards the wall that marked the land like an ugly scar. A few miles out, they were on open plains and could hear alarms being sounded. It wouldn't be long now.
Warrick called back to the warriors, "Be ready to fight." There were battle calls sounding out and he knew that every one of them would fight to the death if need be. He silently prayed to their Goddess of War to bring them luck.
Arrows were shot before them, as a warning they slowed but continued. A man was on the ramparts as the sounds of weapons being readied were heard. "What is it you want?" He called down. Warrick answered back, in his deep voice,
"The prisoners that the Sarmatians took yesterday. We will fight if necessary."
The man, a Roman, looked confused. He knew of no prisoners. He sent a page to Arthur immediately as the Roman infantry was getting ready hurriedly while the great knights took their leisure. They only wore light armor, not worrying about these intruders. It was then that Gawain came down from a look over the ramparts.
"Guys, there are 25 warriors, men and women, out there. Some are painted blue-"
"Woads." Lancelot smiled.
"-the others are dressed how Troy and Ciara were. We have 25 pissed off people out there, all master warriors if their stances and weapons are anything to go by."
"Armor may be smart then, no?" Kay said leisurely.
There were grumbles, but they all put on their armor and were ready to fight if need be. As they finished strapping their armor in place and mounted their horses, the page reached Arthur who was in conference with Troy and Ciara.
"Sir, there are warriors at the wall. Ready to attack. Fully armed. Say they are here for the prisoners."
Arthur turned to the so called prisoners. "We told you it would happen Arthur. Our men are here. They will fight to the death. I don't want blood spilt. Let us go."
"Let us go stop the fighting and converse from there." The siblings weren't happy, but agreed. They all grabbed their weapons as they left the hall, the young page feeling abandoned in the Knights' hall. He hurriedly went to the stables, where the stable hands would hopefully be his age.
The three of noble status walked briskly through the courtyard to the Wall. Arthur stood next to his men while Ciara and Troy sprinted up the steps of the battlements. At the head of the mini-army, they saw two familiar men. After observing the rest of the people with them, Arthur had arrived. "Arthur, those two men at the lead, the darker haired man is my personal Captain, the other is my fiancée."
Troy cut in, "The people behind them are some of our, and the Woads', best people. Your knights wouldn't be able to fight them all."
"I beg to differ my Lord and Lady, but I want us to discuss a truce before you leave. They can come in the Wall, but most people won't be comfortable with the Woads."
"Take them straight to the practice fields. They will be fine there. Either way they will attack if we don't go out there and talk to them."
"Fine. But I will come with, along with a few of my knights."
"As you wish, commander." Ciara said with uncontained mirth behind her eyes.
"All Roman infantry, stand down and go to the Barracks until further notice. Now." Arthur called out. They looked confused while the Sarmatians looked smug, but obeyed. Once they were all gone, the three descended the stairs and went to the Knights. "Dagonet, Kay, Gareth, make sure that they all stay there." The three knights then headed, still armored and mounted, went to babysit the Romans. "Bors, Gawain, Galahad, please make sure that the practice area, and the path leading there are cleared. Of everyone, including civilians." The remaining knights were beyond confused but obeyed as well.
Arthur sighed deeply. "Beyond the gate, are very skilled warriors wanting our guests. However, we are not yet finished discussing our matters of a truce. So they, Woads and other, are going to be invited into the wall, without protest, until we are finished. Tristan, Lancelot, you will come with me to greet our guests. The rest of you make sure that the villagers aren't in the way when they enter." Lancelot and Tristan rode up to flank Arthur while 4 other knights went down different streets. The doors were opened and the two sibling walked out being followed by Arthur, his second in command and the stoic scout. Warrick and Folant rushed forward upon seeing the open doors, the other a little behind them. They slowed as they saw the two they wanted, but remained cautious seeing who was behind them. They started to draw their bows, but were stopped with a word. Troy and Ciara moved forward more, having the non-natives stay back.
"Warrick, Folant come here." Troy called out and they moved closer as the two afore mentioned dismounted. They both shook hands with Troy, and hugged Ciara, Folant adding a small kiss on the cheek.
"Are you ok?" He asked worriedly in hushed Woad.
"Fine, we can't leave yet though." She replied in the same context.
They both looked at her confused. "We haven't finished discussing the truce, you are all supposed to go to the practice field until we do." They frowned and said simultaneously,
"We are staying with you two." The siblings laughed but agreed. They then walked back towards the legendary knights, none noticing the jealousy in Lancelot's eyes over how close Folant and Ciara were, or the look of hunger in Tristan's upon seeing all the people that he could kill.
"Arthur, I would like to formally introduce you to my captain of the guard, Warrick, and the first lieutenant of the Woads, Folant. Warrick, Folant, this is the leader of the Sarmatian knights, Sir Artorius Castus." They shook hands as the mounted knights looked on warily and as the royals held the horses of their "saviors".
"It is a pleasure to meet people that care so much about their rulers that they come and risk their own lives to save them." Both men bristled at the comment Arthur made, and many of the other warriors that overheard as well. The siblings looked at each other and immediately stepped in front of the two irritated men, and noticed the tenseness in the knights' posture as well.
"Arthur, we are not rulers yet, nor will we be for a time still. We are friends with them, we walk with them, fight and live with them. Do not compare your obligated roman soldiers with our caring friends." Ciara all but growled.
"Let us return to the Wall and discuss matters while our warriors get to know each other." Troy cut in and Arthur was about to object then noticed the agitated men and women facing him and Lancelot spoke up,
"Arthur, maybe it is best if we listen."
"I agree." Tristan said while his eyes stayed pointed straight ahead.
Arthur looked ready to protest but stopped himself. "If you would invite your men in, ask them to not start fights please." The request was relayed and the group of 30 made its way back to the wall, following the cleared paths, staring at everything. Once at the sparring grounds, they all dismounted and the knights gathered staring down at the other warriors. Arthur, Troy and Ciara noticed the tension, and looked at each other. They went to the middle of the group and were nervous as they said this,
"Knights, warriors, if you can keep yourselves in check, maybe try sparring with each other?" There were looks of distrust as each group eyed the other.
"Arthur, let's go back and finish negotiations quickly." Troy suggested. Arthur quickly agreed and as they headed to leave, Tristan and Lancelot immediately started to follow. No way were they going to leave their commander with 4 of the enemy.
They called back to a few of the other knights, "Go and get the others, all of them, and bring them here. We are going with Arthur."
They hurriedly took their horses to the stable and asked Jols to take care of them, even though they wanted to do it themselves. Arthur was more important right now. They ran into the hall and took their respected places at the round table, watching the exchange between the three. They noticed the two men move towards them, though still keeping an eye on the exchange as well.
"I don't think I ever caught your names." The one with darker features said quietly.
"Lancelot." The taller man with curly dark brown hair replied.
"Tristan," the slightly shorter man with tattoos on his cheeks replied.
The one which initiated the conversation responded, "Warrick."
"Folant." The one next to Tristan supplied.
"Nice dual swords." Warrick commented. This grabbed Lancelot's attention as he turned his head slightly to the man beside him.
"Do you use them?"
"No, never was able to get the hand of them. I prefer a long sword."
"Maybe we can duel sometime, in peace."
"Sounds good." Lancelot nodded in agreement.
Folant just observed the silent scout, and the scout did the same. Caution was always a good trait. They stayed like that for a while before the three under observation shook hands and stood, walking towards the observers. Ciara stood next to Folant who then wrapped his arm around her waist.
"What is the news?" Lancelot and Warrick asked in tandem.
The others just stared at them until Ciara said, "We have decided that as long as no provocation occurs between us, no fighting between our people, but we are to bring some of our people here every month to interact."
"What about the Woads." Lancelot asked while glancing at Folant.
They looked at each other uneasily. "That is what brings up trouble. They are affiliated with the Anmarikians, but at the same time they aren't. We decided to not make trouble, and only defend if they attack."
"So basically we will have no fighting for the rest of our time here." Tristan drawls out.
"Hopefully." Arthur says, even though he knew in the back of his mind it wasn't true. They walked back out to the sparring field to the sound of swords clanging. The picked up the pace. When they got there, all with weapons drawn, they were relieved to see it was friendly, or at least not vicious, sparring.
Some of the most notable fights they saw going on were Bors with his side axes battling a warrior with twin daggers. She was holding her own against the knight easily twice her size. Next was a young Woad man, his two handed sword was helping him keep ground against the Gawain's battle axe.
The one that most people were watching though was against Dagonet, a lumbering man, and one of the newest of the guard, a woman who barely reached taller than a long bow. She was using her speed to run around the giant man and avoiding his axe while dashing in and hitting him with the flat of her short sword. After the 5 joined them, everyone was watching the fight. Dagonet then got a gleam in his eyes and he flipped his axe around in his arms and threw it in front of where she was running, causing her to trip and fall only Dagonet caught her before she hit the ground. He then said loudly, "I win, little warrior." She really was small, reaching his mid torso.
"You got lucky, giant knight. If this were a real fight I wouldn't have held back." She shot back once on her own feet.
"We will hopefully never have to find that out. What is your name?"
"You can call me Bevin, and yours?"
"I am Dagonet." By now many had dispersed and were talking about fighting and weapons, one never being alone with a group of others. It was then that people noticed us and came over.
"Arthur, what is the decision?" Kay asked approaching.
"Troy, Ciara, what are we to tell everyone?" the man that was fighting Gawain, Blaine, asked.
We decided that Arthur would speak in Roman, and I would translate to Woad's common language. There were relieved looks as well as disappointed, but none knew how long this arrangement would last. One stray arrow hitting the wrong person, this whole thing would come crumbling down. After good byes were said between the knights that made friends with the warriors and vice versa, the visitors all mounted their horses and headed through the fort to the gate. Gawain and Bors were riding point to discourage any civilians from approaching the now-allies. Once through the gate, the leaders of the group turned to Arthur.
"Next full moon series, we will bring some of our merchants. We expect no hostility."
"I will give you protection that you deserve."
"No less is expected. See you then, young commander." With those words they headed towards the bridge that would take them all to the middle ground. The following day of when Troy, the only male heir, would leave with the Woads. Once arriving back at the castle and recounting their tales, they ate and quickly retired. Folant resting in bed with his red headed fiancée and comforting each other while down the hall Guinevere and Troy were doing the same. The Woads expressing their concern, Guinevere more than Folant as he actually saw his intended.
"Ciara, I was so worried about you. All that could have happened, I was sure you were in trouble." He stated while his dark green eyes meeting her black.
"I will tell you all about it, just not now. I could not sleep well last night, under guard, in Roman clothes, alone in a strange bed. Please, stay with me, I need you love."
"I will always be here." He said calmly with tons of feeling, kissing her gently on the forehead.
"Promise?" She asked with worry.
"I promise, as long as my heart beats, and beyond, I will always love you and stay with you." He kissed her to show her how much feeling he had behind those words.
With that they fell asleep curled in a lover's embrace before the sun even set below the horizon.
I am posting all my updates at the same time.
Whichever gets the most reviews in a 2 weeks will be the next one I update
Ergo, no reviews for a story, no updates.
I am doing this as it is reaching the last month and a half of the semester and therefore crunch time, more reviews, faster I post.