19 reviews on a king Arthur story I never expected to get any readership from! Sdfsdkfjhaldsfjhhhhhnnnnggg this is amazing. You all are by far my favorite fandom, just wondering though how many people here who are Tristan fans are also Hannibal fans? Because I have a Hannibal fic up… Just saying :-) You guys are awesome though thank you so much for reading this fic I never expected it to do as well as it has, and someone asked me if this is going to be a series and it is I plan on writing this fic up and maybe even past the point in time the movie was made because keep in mind these characters are ranging from the ages of 17-21 and they still have fifteen years of service to and yes the scene with Lanceot was super dramatic and angsty I thought a drunk angsty Lancelot would be kind of funny and super out of character I don't know why I felt the need but I enjoyed writing such angst. follow me on tumblr under the name karategirl666 for story updates and just good fun.
-o-
Aria smiled as she mounted her horse. She had gotten her uniform back and was glad to be back in leather and iron rather than the girly material the roman dresses were made from. She smiled as she sat atop the horse her hands braiding a few pieces of Teleris hair. The horse didn't seem to mind as it stood perfectly still for her. When she was done she threw up her hair into a messy bun and secured it with a bone pick.
"I see some ones all ready for our death sentence." Galahad grumbled as he walked in with Gawain.
"Don't get your dress in a knot." Aria fired earning her a glare. "I have a feeling we might come out of this A okay."
"Where do you get that feeling?" Bors asked strolling in.
"I came up with a plan." She said as the rest of the Knights walked in.
"A plan you say?" Lucan asked.
"I'm worried, is anyone else worried?" Jameson asked only to have a hand full of hay thrown at his head. "Oi!" he laughed as he brushed out his hair.
"Does Arthur know of your plan?" Dag asked.
"Yes and it's a brilliant one." The man in question said as he strolled in. "We have to wait to start it outside the wall… Do you have what we need?"
"I got it early this morning…" She answered. "Do you have what you need?"
"I do."
"Do we need anything?" Lancelot asked.
"No I should think not." Arthur said. "Get ready to ride we leave in an hour, Jols will be accompanying us."
"One more mouth to feed." Bors muttered.
"One more body to protect." Galahad said.
"Jols is a good fighter we don't have to worry about him. Do we Jols?" Aria asked.
"No…" he said with a small smile. Aria nodded at him as she began to ride off.
"I'll meet you all at the entrance I'm going to get things squared away."
"We'll see you soon." Arthur said and she nodded. As she rode she felt as though she was being followed and turned just in time to see Tristan trotting up beside her. She nodded at him, and he returned the motion. When they got to the wall Aria dismounted her horse and handed a paper to a guard. He looked it over before nodding and heading up a stone stairwell. She walked back to Teleri and mounted the horse quickly.
"How's your hand?" she slowly looked to Tristan before looking down at the hand she hadn't even bothered to wrap.
"I see you were listening in last night."
"Listened… Saw…" she looked to him. "He nearly kissed you."
"But he didn't." She said with a soft expression.
"Not because you stopped him."
"I stopped him." she said looking to him.
"Not in the way you should have."
"How should I have then Tristan?" she asked.
"You could have cut his head off, or his lips either one would have sufficed."
"Tristan he was scared, and drunk." She said looking to him.
"It isn't an excuse."
"To me it is…"
"Fine." He said.
"Are you mad at me?" she asked looking to him only to have an apple tossed at her. She caught it in her hand and looked to him to see he had a soft expression. "Good." She threw him a pear and he smiled down at it.
"I never liked pears…" he said making her look to him. "Till you brought me one…" he slowly caught her gaze to find she had a soft expression.
-o-
As they rode Aria caught many of the men looking over their shoulder at the wall. She could tell they were all on edge, and admittedly she was too. But she had to have faith in whatever gods she chose to believe in that day that Arthur would get them through it. She rode up alongside him and he looked her over.
"You nervous?" he asked.
"No, I'm ready for what is to come." She said.
"It was a good plan one I hope works for long enough."
"What are we doing out here, you still haven't said…" she said quietly.
"A roman girl went missing a few days ago. We think she was taken by woads we are to locate the girl and bring her back to Badon Fort for her family to collect her."
"If she isn't dead already." Lancelot muttered.
"If she's dead we are to bring proof or her body." Arthur said.
"Fantastic so we are to rescue a corpse." Bors said.
"She could still be alive." Aria said.
"She's a woman…" Lucan said.
"So am I…" He slowly nodded.
"You're not most women Aria." Jameson said.
"All women have the capability to be warriors especially in the face of danger… I think we may just find this girl alive." Aria said.
"You have a feeling?" Arthur asked.
"I do." She said with a smile.
"Then a rescue mission it is." He said with a smile. Arthur led them into a grouping of trees and instantly dismounted. "Aria, the plan."
"Right." She said turning to the others who had gotten off their horses as did she. "We are going into woad territory there for…" she pulled out of her saddle bags a small canister. "We will become woads."
"What?" Gawain asked.
"The girls finally lost it." Lancelot said.
"Hush big brother." She said and he smiled.
"Hear her out." Arthur ordered.
"Black ink,.. blue war paint… We will disguise ourselves as woads…" she took off her cloak and revealed her arms which were a light woad blue. "You put the blue ink down first, then the black…" she said showing where she had encircled her arm in black armbands.
"That looks bloody authentic…" Bors said walking over and taking her hands in his.
"Then get to it. Gawain the rest of the canisters are in my saddle bags…" he nodded getting them out and passing them around. "Also you'll want to remove most of your shielding. We're woads in woad territory we don't need armor."
"This just might work." Galahad said.
"Nice job Aria." Lancelot said.
"Always the tone of surprise." She said with a smile as she took off her cloak.
"We should put blue on our faces as well…" Dag said already doing it.
"Good idea." Arthur said following suit. Aria spread it over her face making sure she spread it evenly. She had taken off her Chainmail and under shirt, she now just wore her leather pants and leather vest that laced up the back front and size enclosing her tightly and securely. It would still offer much protection if they were attacked.
"Aria come help me with my face…" Gawain said.
"Don't know if I can do much to improve it." she said making the others laugh.
"Very funny… Put some black markings on them?"
"Sure…" After an hour they stood in a line as Aria looked them over. She walked to Lancelot and shook her head. "You've got to get rid of the shoulder armor, they wouldn't have such a roman style."
"Right…" he cut them from his shirt and walked to his horse to stow them away. She walked past the others and stopped at Dag. "You're missing some on your cheek…" he bent down to allow her access and she slowly spread the paint over. "Better…" she then walked to Tristan and looked him over. "Something is not right here… You look way to much like a Sarmation knight." She took his hands in hers and removed his iron cuffs. She then looked at his hair and shook her head once more. She pulled the top of it back and twisted it into a Woad style bun that hung high on his head because of the length. She looked down the line. "Galahad do the same."
"Right…" he said starting to twist his curly hair.
"Arthur something isn't right here what is it?" He walked over and looked Tristan over.
"Something is off, he still looks like a knight…" Tristan was un moving under the scrutinizing gaze. "Maybe remove the necklace?"
"It stays…" Tristan said and Aria smiled softly.
"Oh I know what it is… He's got no black ink on him anywhere…" she pulled out the canister and dipped her pinky into it. She walked him over to a small boulder which she climbed on to better reach him.
"I have never noticed how short she was until this moment." Gawain whispered. Aria threw one of her daggers and it stuck into the tree next to his head. "Oi!" he said. "You could have killed me."
"I know…" she said with a smile as she painted two sideways bolts on either of Tristans cheeks. She tilted her head before nodding with a smile. "Yes much more fierce looking now." She jumped down from the boulder and walked away.
"Wait Aria, your cuffs." Lucan said, and she looked down.
"Oh thank you, that wouldn't have been good they're of roman design." She said slipping them off. Tristan looked at the light pink spiral that moved up her arm and stood out against her bluish white skin. It seemed not even paint could shroud it from sight.
"Knights we ride, and we ride loose." Arthur said. "We don't stay in formation feel free to chat, we're just woads passing by.
"Won't the woads think it's strange for us to be riding with a woman?" Jameson asked.
"The woads are a Matriarchal group." Aria said making them look to her as she mounted Teleri.
"Then she should act as some ones husband…" Lancelot said.
"Might be a good plan…" Arthur said.
"Really?" she asked. "We're going that deep under cover?"
"We're in blue paint aren't we?" Bors asked and she sighed.
"Choose your husband." Lancelot said. "Though I think we all know who you'll choose."
"Arthur." She said.
"What?" they all asked including the man in question.
"He'll be riding up front, seeing as the Woads are matriarchal group I should be up there with him, if I'm acting as his wife it just makes sense."
"It does good thinking Honey." He said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Tanks love muffin." She shot back making the others laugh.
"You missed out." Gawain said to Tristan who just ignored him as he mounted his own horse. In all honesty he had been expecting to hear his own name called as well. They slowly rode out of the forest.
"Okay boys… Relax you don't want to look rigid… You're woads this is your territory."
"I have something that could relax us." Lancelot offered. "A game."
"I like games." The twins chimed. "Why are you always copying me?" their eyes narrowed. "Shut up!" They all shook their heads.
"What's the game?" Bors asked ignoring the bickering twins.
"Aria, out of all of us here who would you like to marry and why? In fact to pass the time tell us why you wouldn't want to marry us."
"Great game." She said dryly.
"Oh come on I'm curious…" Bors said.
"Guys I'd marry any one of you you're all great men." She said.
"Good answer." Arthur said with a smile.
"I thought so."
"Okay then why would you want to marry any of us tell us your reasons for everyone…" Lancelot said.
"Alright… I'd marry Gawain because even after our service to Rome is done he can still make a right good living at Weapon making."
"Very true." He said.
"Then again I don't look forward to ginger babies so he'd have to find himself a mistress." They all laughed. "I'd marry Galahad because I think if we were graced with children they'd be adorable with his boyish looks and my blonde hair."
"Very true." He said.
"I'd marry Lancelot because… Actually no I wouldn't… So there's someone I wouldn't."
"Why would you not marry me?" he asked as the others laughed.
"Well what would be the point you'd be with tons of different women each night."
"That's fair." He said with a shrug which made her laugh.
"Why would you marry me?" Bors asked.
"We'll you're plain handsome aren't you Bors?" she asked and he laughed along with the others. "Also I think your children would make good fighters."
"Damn right they would."
"If they got married the children would be good fighters because they would be mine." Lancelot said and even Tristan laughed.
"Who's left?" Aria asked.
"Us." The twins chimed.
"Well I'd marry Lucan because he's funny, and I'd marry Jameson because I hear he's an amazing dancer."
"That I am." He said.
"I'd marry Dag because he's very kind."
"Thank you." He said with a nod.
"I'd marry Arthur because of the money." They all laughed even Arthur who nudged her from his horse.
"Tristan's left." Gawain said when she didn't say anything more.
"Oh I skipped Tristan." She said.
"Oh we already know why'd you marry him." Lancelot said.
"Because of his manly good looks?" she asked and they all laughed.
"No because he's your friend." She looked at him for a moment.
"Yes I guess that would be my reason…"
"Just so you men know if any of you marry her you have to get past my screening process." Arthur said.
"Nah I'll just marry you for the money besides I'd like to see Rome." Aria said and he laughed.
"You would huh?" he asked.
"Well of course, I want to see what the hell I'm risking my bloody life for."
"Same here." The men chimed and Arthur smiled.
"Woads…" Bors said and they all looked up to see a group passing from tree line to a tree line. They halted in the middle of the road as they saw them.
"Easy men Easy…" Arthur said. Aria smiled as she waved.
"Aria what are you doing?" Lancelot asked with a glare. He instantly relaxed when he saw the woads wave back and continue on.
"I vote that Aria is the commander of this mission." Galahad said.
"I second that." Gawain said.
"I third it." the twins said before glaring. "Stop copying me!"
"Is anyone else worried at how easily she's slipping into her role?" Lancelot inquired.
"Guys think of it this way… The only difference between us and them is our forced allegiance to Rome and our willing one to Arthur… They are just British men and women trying to keep their country free, and trying to give the choice to their children of who they want their allegiance to go too…"
"This is how you feel?" Arthur asked her.
"You forget Arthur, before I was a knight I was a young girl being ripped away from my mother's arms…" she looked to him. "Don't worry I would never betray you…" he nodded with a smile.
"See you say that but you also say you would marry him." Gawain said.
"The money…" she chimed and they laughed. "You are getting money right because if not I think I need out of this fake marriage." Arthur gave a boisterous laugh and she smiled.
"You two should start thinking of your children's names." Gawain said and Aria laughed.
"Oh I've already decided that Maxwell if it a boy-."
"Don't I get to name my own Son?" Arthur inquired.
"If it's coming out of my body I'm naming it." she said with a glare and they laughed.
"Trouble in paradise already…" Bors said and Aria nodded.
"Oh okay wait what if we name our children after knights… I choose Galahad for a boy."
"I'm okay with that." Arthur said.
"Ah yeah…" the man in question said.
"What if it's a girl?" Gawain asked.
"There's only been one female knight you." Arthur said.
"Then we take a variation on a boys name…" she said. "So… We'd name her… Luciana."
"I like it." Lucan said.
"So do I we have two fake children Galahad and Luciana." Arthur said shaking her hand.
"How will you raise them?" Lancelot asked with a devious smile.
"Catholic."
"Pagan." Aria and Arthur had spoken at the same time before glaring at each
other.
"I'm not raising my children Pagan."
"They're coming out of my body!" she said and the boys laughed again.
"I think she wins that one." Gawain said.
"Of course she wins she's the woman." Bors said and Aria let out a laugh that rang like a tiny bell.
-o-
"Hold there!" they slowly came to a halt as a group of woads rode up to them on a horse.
"How goes it?" Aria asked as they neared.
"The day is fine and the ground is still woad…" A young man with braided black hair said as he dismounted his horse. Aria followed suit and Arthur followed. "I don't believe I know your faces, I am Cracus…"
"My name is Aria and this is my husband Artimus…" Aria said and Arthur looked to her surprised she had changed his name.
"Where do you hail?"
"From the north." Aria said shaking his hand. "We have just come through Badon hill."
"Did you have much trouble?" he asked.
"A little, but Romans they are easily scared." Aria said and the young man smiled.
"Are you in need of aid, I am a wondering healer…"
"No we came out unscathed thank the gods." Aria said.
"That is good… Where are you headed?"
"To find a place to make rest, my husband and I are with child and are looking to settle down." She set her hand on her stomach.
"A glorious thing it is." He said clapping Arthur on the back. "You must be proud I bet it will be a son the first is always a son. Though a girl would be just as a big a blessing for a blushing mother…" Arthur nodded with a smile. "Well if I can say just a days ride from here there is a nice village filled with our people and is hardly ever seen a roman pass through or around it. It would be a safe place to begin a big family."
"Thank you." Aria said. "Are there any other settlements around?" she asked.
"Yes three days from here there is a large dwelling but I would not go there." Cractus said.
"Why not if I may inquire?" she asked.
"Romans have been attacking looking for a little lost lamb that wondered into the settlement."
"I see." Aria said. "Thank you."
"You as well and many blessings to your coming family."
"Thank you." Aria said as she walked to her horse.
"Let me help you love…" Arthur said walking over and helping her onto the horse.
"Now that's how a man treats a lady!" a woman called from her horse.
"Good journey." Cractus said raising a hand.
"To you as well." Aria said with a nod before riding off Arthur and the others following. When they were a far distance off the men relaxed.
"You're far too good at lying." Arthur said.
"Why did you change his name?" Gawain asked.
"It sounds far too roman." Aria stated.
"Agreed." Arthur said.
-o-
Aria smiled as she set her hands up against a warm fire. It was their first night in woad territory and so far it had been uneventful other than a down pour of rain. They had set up far apart not wanting to seem to close nit if a group of woads came along. She smiled up at Tristan who walked over a cloak shrouding his features.
"You should rest I'll keep watch now." He said.
"I'm fine I'm not very tired." She said with a smile as she moved over so he could better have a shot at the small fire.
"You did well today, acting as Arthurs pregnant wife, the hand on the stomach was a nice touch." He pulled out an apple and handed it to her.
"I knew they wouldn't try to rob or hurt a pregnant Brittan." She said with a shrug.
"Do you wish to be pregnant some day?" she looked to him.
"That's a funny question."
"Not really, you are a woman you have to wonder about it."
"I have now killed too many sons and daughters to have any of my own." She said as her nails playfully dug down into the apples skin.
"Would you really marry Arthur?"
"You have many questions tonight." She said with a smile. "And no, part roman is far to roman for me." He slowly nodded.
"Who would you really marry out of all of us?"
"You know how I feel about discussions like this." She muttered.
"I'm just curious."
"Well you'll have to stay that way won't you?" she asked quietly.
"You gave reasons of why you would want to marry everyone yet you did not give one for me."
"Yes I did." She said looking to him.
"No Lancelot gave one and you agreed." She looked back to the fire.
"Well that's because that was my reason. Besides why would you care? You wouldn't want to marry a woman like me anyways… I'm far too stubborn."
"I like stubborn." She smiled softly. "You would make a fine wife to anyone."
"Not to you though?" She asked quietly.
"I would not make such a good husband."
"I think you'd make a great one to the right woman."
"What kind of woman is that?"
"The rare kind." She said nudging him and he smiled.
"You are… Rare…" She looked at him for a long moment as he stared into the fire. She smiled softly before looking down at the apple held in her hand.
"I guess I am…" she looked to him with a smile. "Maybe after all this we might end up married." He looked to her with a smile as she gave one of her rare soft giggles sound.
"Who knows." He said with a shrug.
"I think I have my own reason for wanting to marry you now."
"What is that?" he asked looking to the fire.
"How else am I going to get my apples?" she laughed and he smiled.
"Very true…"
"I think I will rest now."
"Go ahead I have the watch." She scooted back against Teleri who had laid down to rest just as she always did. After a long while of silence Tristan looked over his shoulder to see Aria fast asleep her head resting against the side of Teleri. He slowly shrugged off his cloak and rested it over her body knowing her bare arms in the cold weather wouldn't be such a good idea. When he turned back to the fire he caught the gaze of Lancelot who was watching him intently. Tristan stared back at him for a long moment unflinching. As Lancelot finally broke his gaze Tristan found an immense amount of pride come over him.
-o-
The next day of riding was uneventful. It had been a huge range of green mountains and hills and absolutely no woads. Which was just fine with the knights and their commander. That night they rested deep in a forest and set up camp. Aria was down by the water they had decided to camp by getting water for the men while the horses drank from the creek beside her.
"You there…" she looked up to see a young man in blue paint walking to her.
"Hello there." She said resisting the immediate instinct to grab her sword. He walked through the shallow creek with a kind enough smile.
"I did not think I would see someone on my travels, this area is usually bare of people. The name is Haggs."
"Nice to meet you I'm Aria."
"Sweet name for a sweet girl…" he said.
"You flatter me…" she said her jaw clenching.
"Mind if I have some of this water?"
"It's the lands water you should ask it." he smiled and Aria was surprised at how straight and white his teeth were.
"I think the land will think it okay." He said. "This is the freshest coldest water around…" he said.
"My father told me about it long ago." She said lying.
"As did mine." He said before taking his drink he stood and stretched and Aria watched the muscles in his chest ripple. "Soo are you traveling alone? I see you have many horses."
"My party is just over that hill…" she motioned.
"Many men?" he asked, and she looked to him. "I'm kidding."
"Very funny." She said dryly and he laughed.
"Where are you headed?"
"Not sure, just riding."
"Enjoying the land and what it has to offer I get that…" he said with a nod.
"Where are you headed?"
"Hadrians wall to do some trading."
"I see." She said.
"It's getting dark out."
"Yeah that tends to happen at night… Thanks for the chat but I must be arriving back at my party."
"Say do you think you can trade me a horse mine died on my trek here. Old age…" she looked at him for a long moment.
"No horse… Where are those the goods you planned on trading then?" he looked at her for a long moment before smiling.
"You got me… Now why don't lie back and take what I have to give you…" He rushed at her and Aria yelled out as she stepped aside and slammed her knee into his stomach.
"You bitch!" he spun around and went to hit her across the face, she ducked out of the way and kneed him again.
"What's this?" Lancelot asked as he and the others rushed down the hill they had been posted.
"Just a hot blooded male trying to take advantage of a young lady." Aria said.
"Need help?" Bors asked.
"No I'm good." Haggs ran at her and she flipped backwards her feet catching him under the chin.
"Oh nice one!" Lucan cheered.
"You bitch you bitch!" Haggs yelled.
"Ooh call me it again I swell with such pride." Aria said making the men who looked on smile. Haggs rushed at her again but she ducked under his arms slid across the grass on her knees before flipping onto her feet and punching him as hard as she could in his back. Haggs cried out in pain before turning quickly and catching a roundhouse kick to his stomach that made him stumble back. Aria rushed at him and threw a kick which he caught with both his hands.
"Got your foot!" he yelled. Aria smiled as she used his leverage to hoist herself in the air and kick her other foot across his face with such force his neck snapped to the side and he dropped to the ground dead.
"Got your face…" she said with a smile before looking to the others. "You know now that I don't have to act like a boy I think my fighting has improved." She said.
"I think so too." Lancelot said.
"It's oddly graceful." Jameson commented. Aria walked to the creek and washed the blood from her hands. She slowly got up and headed away from the creek to Arthur.
"Any idea what he wanted?" He asked.
"Me." She said with a shrug.
"What do you mean you?" Lancelot asked.
"He wanted her body." Dag said.
"Foolish of him to think he could have it." Aria said heading over the hill the horses instantly following her movements without her having to ask.
"Where are you going?" Arthur asked as he saw her gather some arrows and her bow.
"It's my turn to get dinner."
"Take someone with you."
"Woad women hunt alone." She said. "It's something I admire about them."
"Well you aren't a woad you are a knight so you will take someone with you." Arthur said.
"Sir yes sir, come on Dag you can carry the dead things." She headed off and Dag quickly followed.
"You're going to start having to treat her as an equal or you're going to end up like James." Lancelot said.
"Poor James…" They all chimed even Tristan.
"What happened to James?" Arthur asked.
"Did someone say James?!" Aria called.
"No!" they all yelled back.
"Good!" she called.
"Seriously what happened?" Arthur asked softly.
"Ears like a hound that one…" Bors said motioning to Aria who was already shooting furry animals from the trees while Dag caught them as they fell. "It isn't safe to say."
"I treat her as an equal still." Arthur said sitting down.
"No you don't. I mean she just took on a guy the size of Dag easy." Gawain said.
"Didn't even have to pull a bloody sword." Bors added.
"Yet you won't let her go off and hunt a few squirrels on her own."
"She's got a rough enough life she doesn't need men in woods or by creeks trying to take advantage of her…" Arthur said.
"That's how you don't treat her equal you don't worry about that with us." Lancelot said.
"Yes because you are men…" Arthurs voice trailed off.
"See…" Gawain said. "She's not equal to you…"
"How did she become equal to you all?" Arthur asked.
"She did something truly amazing…" Lancelot said. "Something that normally a young lady wouldn't do… Though she's already leapt from horse to horse in a middle of a battle."
"Come up with an amazing plain upon entering woad territory." Gawain added.
"Fought men bigger then Dag and won easy." Galahad mused.
"And tamed a wild horse." Tristan said.
"That was probably the hardest of them." Bors said.
-o-
Aria sat back against Teleri as her eyes watched the fire dance before her eyes. There was something haunting in the way it moved. Something that made dark thoughts rise to the forefront of her mind. Thoughts that she had a feeling she was always meant to forget.
"My child please don't take my child!"
"Momma! Momma!"
"Come on boy get to your horse and get to riding!"
"She's a girl she's a little girl! Please don't take my little girl! Ariadne Ariadne!"
"Mother!"
"Ariadne!"
"Aria?"
"Ariadne…" she said softly.
"I am to call you by your full name? First and Last?" Arthur asked and she looked up to see all the knights were looking to her.
"What?" she asked feigning confusion.
"You just said your full name…" Lancelot said with a smile.
"Sorry I was really deep in thought."
"We could tell you haven't even touched your food." Bors said.
"Is it not to your liking?" Lucan asked as he was the one who cooked it.
"I'm not very hungry any one is welcome to it." she said with a smile, instantly Bors took it. "I'm going to go fetch more water." she said heading off.
"That's not good…" Lancelot said.
"Last time we saw that look James happened."
"Poor James." They chimed softly knowing there was a chance she could hear them.
"I have to know what happened." Arthur said. "I'm starting to worry…" the men just smiled.
Aria slowly sat beside the creek her hands dipping into the water. She could see it clearer than she ever had. The romans tearing her from her mothers arms and throwing her to the ground before kicking her in the back. All while her mother cried and begged for her life. She closed her eyes tightly remembering the look as her mother sunk to the ground pulling out her hair and screaming her name at the top of her lungs. She felt some one kneeling beside her and she took a small breath.
"Ariadne is my real name…" she looked to Tristan. "Not Aria and then Adne but Ariadne I had forgotten… I had cut it down to Aria as soon as I was taken from my home. I thought I sounded more like a boys name… Not really though I guess."
"It fooled the romans didn't it?" Tristan asked.
"I guess…" she smiled sadly at the water.
"What is your last name if it's not Adne?" she stayed silent for a long moment.
"I don't…" she took a shaky breath. "I don't remember…"
"Do not feel bad, I don't remember my last name either." He said sitting beside her.
"I don't like this place, it's raising questions in my mind. Questions I have fought off for years…"
"Questions like?" He inquired.
"Like if the Woads are the good people and we are actually the bad people…" he looked to her. "These people they fight for their country and for the right to choose their destiny… What is wrong with that?"
"Nothing…" he said. "What is wrong is that even though we are forced into this life they still try and kill us…"
"I guess you're right about that..." he looked her over for a long moment.
"What would your destiny have been if you had not been taken?"
"A dull one, I would be married by thirteen and have children soon after… My people unlike the waods were not Matriarchal… My destiny would be in the home…"
"Then maybe the fact your destiny was chosen is a good thing…" she looked to him.
"Maybe…"
"Will you return home after your service to Rome?"
"I wouldn't know where home is…" she said with a shrug. "You?"
"I wouldn't know where to go either…"
"Oh I know I'd start my own village of woman warriors. Where the men stay at home with the children and the woman go out and hunt…" He laughed. "Why is that funny?" he laughed again. "Tristan don't make fun of my dream!" he fell backwards. "That's what you choose to go into hysterics over you're a mean mean man!" She said slapping his chest. Lancelot tilted his head from atop the hill as he watched Aria slap Tristen in the chest again only to have him take the arm and pull her to her chest as she too burst into hysterics. "Tristan!" She whined. Lancelot slowly looked down at his hand which still had the small slit in it before walking off his mind running away with him as he did.
-o-
Aria smiled as she rode atop Teleri, they were nearly to their destination. She was sure the girl was still alive. She expected that if the girl hadn't fought her way out. The woads were keeping her alive for ransom. Still she hoped the girl had done what she said. That she had found her inner warrior and fought back.
"There's the settlement." Bors said.
"Where do you think they are keeping her?" Lancelot asked.
"No idea…" Arthur said. "We'll have to spread out… You all better be as good as Aria when it comes to back stories."
"I've been thinking mine up all the way to my parents." Lucan said.
"You have?" Gawain said. "I should have done that." As they entered the town Arthur nodded at them with an expression that told them to be safe. As Aria rode off she looked over her shoulder at Tristan who nodded at her.
I normally wouldn't mind going off on my own. But this is woad territory and there are hundreds of them…
"Fine looking horse…" a young man said walking over and petting Teleri.
"Thank you…" Aria said.
"Are you looking to sell?"
"No I am looking for a watering hole to maybe get a drink for both her and I."
"I know a place, my parents run it." She followed him over to a large area filled with woads and horses alike. Aria dismounted Teleri and walked her over to a large trowel full of water.
"There you are lovely…" she said before walking off, she walked past a table of woman that seemed to be fresh from a fight, blood splattered against their skin.
These women are more hard core then I.
"Wine?" a man behind a bar asked.
"Yes thank you." She said. "How much?"
"First is free." He said.
"Thank you." She took a sip. "That's nice."
"We get it off Roman carriages. I hate the bastards but they make good wine."
"Agreed." She said. "Speaking of romans…" she looked both ways. "I heard this place has been having some trouble."
"If you call us beheading any roman who steps foot here trouble… But there have been more beheadings then usual…"
"Can I ask why?"
"A little roman birdie flew into our Woad nest… A daughter of a roman bishop."
"Really?" Aria asked with a smile.
"The bitch is in the square if you'd like to see her. It's quite a sight to behold."
"Thanks much." She downed the drink. "I won't have another but here's a coin for the trouble."
"Thanks much." He said with a nod. Aria quickly walked out and mounted Teleri. She quickly road through the village and stopped in the middle. She bowed her head for a long moment. Everything she had hoped for the roman girl had been dashed. Instead of alive being humiliated as she had expected. The quartered body of the roman lay hung up for all to see.
"I see you found her…" she turned to see Arthur on his own horse.
"It's a bloody mess…" she said quietly. "We have to get her down right?"
"Yes there is a body to take back so we will have to…"
"We should wait for a quiet time in the night, there's too many people watching now."
"Agreed… Find the other men we'll meet in front of the entrance to the village to hatch our plan."
"Right." She said with a nod before riding off. Through the large crowd of woads it was hard to see her comrades. It had been over two hours and she hadn't found one. She had checked all the watering holes and even some of the brothels, still she had found none of the men.
One last spot then I'll head to the front of the village to see if Arthur found them all… She rode to a boarding house, the only one she had seen. She had wondered if maybe some of the men had gotten a room for any appealing woad women they had found. She knew there was a chance she would at least find Lancelot. As she dismounted Teleri she was grabbed by the arm and thrown up against a wooden wall. As she pulled out her dagger a massive fist was slammed across her cheek and she fell to the ground.
"With the others…" A heavy slum accent muttered. She felt herself get dragged and looked to her horse which was fighting against five woads.
"Run back Teleri!" she yelled and she smiled as she watched the horse rear up into the air and then race off to safety. She struggled against two men who were steadily dragging her back into a massive stone building. "Get your god damn hands of me!" she yelled.
"Shut up knightess!" another fist came down on her cheek and she resisted the urge to make a pained noise.
"I said let me go!" She kicked one in the stomach and then launched herself up into the air slamming her elbow against a face.
"Bitch!" She was thrown into a room and hit the ground with such force the wind was knocked from her.
"Aria!" She looked to see the other knights chained to the walls. She quickly got to her feet only to be kicked in the stomach. The others watched in horror as Aria flew a good ten feet back up against a stone wall only to drop to the ground limp like a doll.
"Get the bitch in check Harias!" The man she had elbowed against the face ordered. Aria quickly got to her feet grabbing a chain as she did.
"I'm going to enjoy what's to come later little girl…" Harias sneered.
"I'm going to enjoy what's going to happen in just a few seconds." The man rushed at her and she leapt up into the air punching him down across the face. He fell to his knees and she wrapped the chain around his neck before rushing forward. As the woads neck gave a jerking twist a loud sickening snap sounded. His body dropped and she slowly looked to the one in the corner who was staring at her.
"You're next." She said.
"I don't think so." He rushed at her and she dove under his legs and leapt up into her feet before jumping onto his back and snapping his neck.
"Aria run! Get out of here!" Arthur ordered.
"Not without you all." she said as she grabbed some keys from the woad and rushed to Arthur. Before she could unlock the shackles a man rushed forward and tackled her to the ground.
"Aria!" Lucan yelled as he watched a fist slam into her side. She cried out before spitting a mouth full of blood into the woads face. She kicked him in the stomach and off her body before leaping to her feet rushing over and jumping on top of him. She grabbed onto his head and with a loud yell slammed it against the ground until it burst like a melon.
"Aria run!" Arthur ordered.
"Not until I free at least one of you!" she said as she grabbed the ring of iron keys and rushed to Arthur once more.
"Aria look out!" Tristan yelled. She ducked out of the way of two arms before slamming a fist into a massive belly and then taking one of the iron keys and stabbing it into the woads neck and twisting it.
"Help!" he shouted before she kicked him across the face knocking him out and to the ground.
"Behind you!" Lancelot shouted. Aria was grabbed from behind and hoisted high up in the air by a massive tall attacker. She struggled in the woads arms as she kicked her feet out in vain. She felt something pop in her side and cried out in pain before slamming her head back and catching the woad in the face.
He instantly dropped her and she slowly and painfully got to her feet as the woad rushed at her once more with a blooded face. She stepped aside throwing herself up against the wall beside Gawain before running and jumping onto the back of the waod. She placed her forearm against the waods throat before placing her other hand against the back of his head putting him in a standard choke hold. He backed up quickly and she cried out as she was slammed against the stone wall.
"Aria give in!" Arthur yelled.
"No!" she yelled. "I can take him!"
"Give in he's going to kill you!" He bellowed.
"He's going to kill me anyways!" She cried out again as she was slammed up against the wall.
"Aria that's an order stop!" Arthur yelled as he and the men watched in horror.
"There's no shame in it! Stop!" Lancelot yelled.
"I can beat him!" She screamed as tears of pain rolled down her face and the woads lips began to turn purple from a lack of oxygen. The woad reached over his head and grabbed onto Aria before grabbing onto the back of her vest and flipping her over his head where he slammed her to the ground. The others watched in horror as her body suddenly went limp and the woad fell back against the stone wall of the dungeons his hand clasped against his near crushed wind pipe. He slowly stood coughing blood as he did. Another woad rushed in with a group of five men readying to take on the female knight.
"Did you get her?"
"You better chain her up every time I think she's done she gets back up." The woad muttered. Aria was dragged to a wall by three men and hoisted onto her feet where her hands were chained up a good foot of the ground. She cried out in pain as her rib finally snapped and the men closed their eyes at the sound.
"You better make sure these chains are locked good…"Aria said making them look to her. "Because if they're not… I'll cut your god damn hearts out…" She muttered spitting blood off to the side.
"A firey one…" a man who was obviously a leader said as he walked up to her. "A true British woman." His hand slowly dragged down her cheek. "Such a beauty you are." She spit blood in his face and he backed away as a woad rushed forward and punched her in the stomach. She cringed as her head bowed forward and she made a pained noise through a tightly shut mouth. The leader wiped his face with a smile and walked to her once more as she slowly glared into him.
"Such passion…" He said gripping onto her chin and bringing her head up to look at him.
"Don't fucking touch me…" she said through clenched teeth.
"I will be touching you love… Very soon…" he whispered in her ear before turning quickly. "Leave the knights take the leader." As they un did Arthur his knights and Knightess struggled against the chains.
"It's fine!" He said. "Don't fight them just comply!" he yelled as he was dragged out of the room and out of sight.
"Arthur!" Aria called.
"Listen to what I say for once!" He yelled before the door was slammed shut.
"I swear to fucking god if you hurt him I'll rip your fucking spines from your body!" She yelled.
"Aria comply!" She heard him yell.