At the Wall:
Arthur was walking around the market place, observing the stalls and occasionally stopping to talk or observe wares. At one stall, something caught his eye. He asked the vendor about it.
"Sir, what is that you have, hanging there by your head?" The man who was selling the wares reached up and took it off the hook, holding it into the light for Arthur to better see.
"Artorius, pleasure to see you, always knew you had a fine eye. This is a pendant that was found in the woods by some travelers, who sold it to me for some gold. It is a beautifully hand-carved leaf, carved in granite, then plated with gold. The veins are crushed and powdered emeralds. It was a shame for whoever lost it. 25 gold pieces if you're interested sire."
"I am interested, but I don't have the money on me right now. If you save it for a while, I will be coming back this way tomorrow."
"Ah, very good! I will wrap it and box it just for you! I shall see you tomorrow sire."
"Thank you-"
"Bartimeus."
"Thank you Bartimeus." They shook hands and Arthur continued on his way to the Tavern, knowing at least a few of his knights would be there. He walked in, and was immediately greeted with a call by a few of his knights.
"Arthur, come join us!" Bors called out, holding on to a tankard of ale.
"Yes, Arthur, come sit with us." Gawain added, with a knife in his hand.
He smiled and went to sit down with the Sarmatians that were his brothers in arms. "Enjoying your selves boys?" Their commander asked with an amused grin.
"RUUUUS!" Bors called out while Galahad and Gawain were throwing their knives at a chair that had a target painted on it. That was when Vanora came by and smacked them both on the back of the head.
"Unless you plan payin' for that chair, throw your knives at sum'in else."
"Such fire. Such passion." Bors commented while pulling her into his lap for fiery kiss. She hit him a few times before wrapping her arms around his neck.
The others ignored the passionate pair and talked amongst themselves until Lancelot came over and pulled Vanora into his own arms. "When are you going to come with me and have my kids?" He got a slap across the face from Vanora and once she went up to the bar Bors punched him in the back.
"What the hell was that for Bors?" he asked turning to glare at the bigger man.
"Leave my lover alone." Bors growled.
"Why, afraid that one day she might listen?" Lancelot smirked down at the man. It was that line that broke the small restraint that Bors remained.
"LANCELOT! Training yards, 15 minutes." And he stormed out of the tavern towards the barracks.
With a very audible sigh, Arthur turned to his best friend and asked, knowing he wouldn't like the response, "Why?"
The curly haired and overly confident knight turned towards his commander and friend and responded, "It is fun, and without the Woads to fight anymore I need to keep in shape somehow."
"If you get hurt I will not give you any sympathy friend."
"Who said I would be getting hurt?" Was the response as the dual-sword wielder left to get his weapons.
Arthur then did the most unbelievable thing that his knights, or rather anyone, has ever seen him do; cross his arms on the table and through his head on top of them. Then he mumbled into his arms, though not discernable, "Why God?"
It was several minutes later when Gawain asked, "Should we make sure they don't kill each other?"Arthur looked up at two of his youngest warriors and nodded pushing himself off the table, following the knights as close as brothers out. He was stopped by a hand on his arm though, turning he saw Vanora.
"Make sure they come back ok, especially Bors."
"I will. I will stop it before it gets out of hand."
"Thank you Arthur. You really are a good man." He received a smile before he continued on his journey.
He stopped and looked around the training field, seeming hard to believe that it was just 2 days ago that there were Woads and his knights fighting here together. He went to join his other knights who started to cheer and jeer their friends that started to fight one another.
"Lancelot! Your head is mine!" Bors yelled, getting blinded by his anger.
Lancelot sidestepped and turned to keep facing his larger opponent. "That is only if you can catch me." The fighting continued like this, Bors charging, occasionally remarking something. Then Lancelot blocking or dodging and retorting. It was about half an hour later that Bors started to tire and Lancelot hit him with one of his swords. A few more hits from Lancelot and Bors was calmed down and left.
"Good battle Lance." The larger knight said shaking hands with his friend. It was disbanded and the others went to various parts of the fort in pairs or groups, except one who instead slipped away to the stables by himself. He walked up to a white mare and stroked the snout gentley.
"Hey there girl. Wanna go out?" the horse nickered and the knight smiled slightly then went to grab the saddle and put it on the beautiful animal. He took her to the wall and had the door opened for him. As soon as he was clear of the wall he let out a high pitch noise, which a man like him would be unlikely to make. An answering call sounded as a beautiful bird flew above him. He rode for miles, the bird tailing him like a shadow up to a high hill. He looked out over the surrounding and sighed audibly then held out his arm waiting for the hawk to land on it.
"Girl, what am I supposed to do?" a large amber eye looked at him unblinkingly.
"I know that I am supposed to be at peace with the Woads, and even the Romans, but it is so difficult for one like me that loves to fight and to kill. And that princess, or whatever she is, why does she affect me like this?" his friend remained silent as he knew she would. He sighed heavily and his partner flew off circling above him. He took one last forlorn look over the scene laid out before him which reminded him of his home, high hills in seas of grass with a stream interweaving through them. In the distance there were mountains which seemed unreachable. He found this place within his first few months here, and always came to it to think, he turned and trotted back to the Wall, still cautious after years of training even though they were at peace. At the Wall he went to the tavern and watched his fellow friends drink and gamble while he sliced his apple thinly.
At Anmarik
Barking awoke the sleeping Princess from here dreams, seeing that her dog was trying to get out of her room. She got up and opened the door letting him out before closing the door once more to get dressed. Today she was going to go through the orchards and fields with the farmers to see how everything was progressing. As she dressed in a brown dress, she remembered what had transpired yesterday with her fiancée. She wasn't really mad at him just disappointed that he didn't tell her. She smiled to herself, thinking that she could still have fun with it. She went down to breakfast where her parents and the Captains of the Guards were already eating.
"Ciara, dear, where is Folant?" Her mother asked kindly.
"In the spare room down the hall from mine." She responded not looking phased as she sat down.
"What happened?" Her mother asked worriedly.
"I got mad that he didn't tell me that he was staying. So I told him to go to the spare room."
"You shouldn't be so hard on him, he wanted to surprise you."
"And he knows I don't like surprises Mother." She snapped back while grabbing a green apple off the table.
"You need to eat more than that being out all day." The girl humored her Father and grabbed bread and cheese as well. She finished her meal and left to go to the stables. After she left, her parents looked at each other and then to Warrick. He immediately stood and followed her out. It was several minutes after he left that Folant entered in his warrior attire of tan breeches and his chest harness for his weapons. He looked around the table and before he could ask a question, was answered.
"She has duties in the fields today. She already is on her way." Her mother answered.
"Where?" He asked, wanting to apologize.
Her mother remained silent while her father answered, "Start with the wheat fields, east." And he went to the stables to grab a horse. He rode out to where her father directed and found out he missed them, and the farmer didn't know where they headed next. He suggested waiting at the apple orchard, as that was usually her last stop. He thanked the young woman and went to where he knew the apple orchards were. He waited there for several hours, knowing it would be the last place she would visit for her favorite food, while he didn't know why she could stand eating apples. He noticed that she was with Warrick, which made him bristle having always competed with her captain of the guard.
"…and is everything being taken care of well? Have enough help?"
"Yes m'lady. Thank you for your concern. Would you like to take some apples with you? I know these green ones here at the end are your favorite."
"I would only want to take one. Thank you Nathaniel."
They then came into view, with them all noticing Folant at the same time. They all were shocked at first then they all had different reactions, the orchard-keeper bowed. Warrick grinned smugly and Ciara glared. She then spoke to Nathaniel, "Thank you for showing us around. I will grab one on my way, have a good evening."
He turned to her and bowed lightly, "No problem m'lady. It was my pleasure. And have a nice evening yourself." He then turned back and headed to where his house was.
She then turned to her captain, "Warrick, head back to the castle, I will be along shortly." He looked to protest but noticed the fire in her eyes and obeyed. She grabbed an apple that was above her and looked at him.
"You followed me." She stated simply.
"No, just waited here all day. Please let me explain?" he begged. She sighed and gave him a show to lead the way, and he led them to the river. They dismounted and he took her hand lightly, then lead her to the bank.
"Ciara, I love you and you know that. I wanted to surprise you to keep you from being too sad after your brother left, I know how close you two are. It was decided between the three of us, that is Guinevere, Troy and I for I to stay. When you do rule, I want to be able to help you, so as Folant is learning our ways, I want to learn yours. Please forgive me." He looked at her pleadingly.
She was silent as she looked to the water. When she turned back to him, she wore a look of neutrality. "I forgive you, just please don't do it again. You know I hate surprises." And she gave him a light kiss on his cheek. They headed back to the castle for dinner, and her parents smiled to each other as they sat down. When they retired, they stopped outside her room and he went to continue to his guest room.
"You can come back in." He brightened like a child on their first horse and he ran to get his stuff and came back to see her in bed. He stripped out of his harness and cuddle in next to her.
Woad Forest
It was early in the day, and there was already a lot of movement around the campsite of the Woads. Most around the fire, but there was a group that was outlying the campsite. There; a man stood in the middle of a circle of men and women. In the hands of each person was a small amount of blue paint, which they applied to the man in the middle. His chest and torso were currently bare except their paintings, arms more blue than his normal skin color. They stepped back when a woman approached.
"Here Troy, let's see how you do today with a single knife holder." She strapped it across his chest and stepped back to admire the new male.
"Guin, this is ridiculous. Why do I have to do this?" he complained. She walked close to him again and put a hand on his cheek.
She softly said, "One day, you will rule here, the Woads, with me. You need to know our ways." A soft peck on the lips and she stole away to the surrounding trees disappearing like a shadow. He sighed and followed into the trees looking forward to playing cat-and-mouse with his fiancée and her friends.
Please review
I'll love you more than Tristan (3) loves his hawk.