AN: To the reviewer Brd: I would have PM'd back but you were signed in as a guest so I will say it here… Thank you so much for your review even as an anonymous posting it was quite brave of you to write what you said out in the open. I try to be respectful of people who have been in those situations and trust me when I say I would have never written such a thing if I didn't understand it in some way… Wish I was as brave as you… Anyways this chapter goes out to you and maybe send a request in a review of something you want written, a one shot anything and I will try and make that happen. It's the least I can do for such a brave review.

-o-

"You guys made it." Aria said with a smile as Arthur and the other knights rode into the clearing.

"Is Tristan here?" Arthur asked. "We sent him ahead."

"Here…" He came out of the cave Aria had just emerged from.

"You two weren't snuggling were you?" Bors asked with a playful expression and an accusing point.

"I don't think Tristan is capable of cuddling." Lancelot said.

"Forget Tristan. Aria is about as cuddly as a cold fish." Gawain said and she punched him hard in the shoulder making him yell out.

"Owe!" he said before laughing.

"That pain it's going to linger so look forward to that." Aria said with a smile. Tristan was glad to see her spirits raised. Since her confession she had been rather quiet which was something he wasn't used to.

"Arthur your face…" Aria said walking to him. "It's black and blue and still bleeding.

"I'm fine."

"Let me tend to you." Aria said.

"She's good at it you should let her." Dag said.

"She'll have you fixed in no time…" Bors added.

"If you think you can do anything." He said giving in.

"I can at least make sure you can see out your left eye…" She said sitting him down. "Tristan, think you can find me the herbs you use to pack wounds?"

"Yes." He said with a nod already heading off to look for them.

"Where is the head?" Arthur asked.

"Buried under that red patch in the snow." He looked. "To keep it from turning to rot." She explained as they headed into the cave.

"Good thinking." He said and she nodded as she packed a snow ball in her hand. "Alright lean back rest your head on my lap…" she said and he slowly did as she said. "Gawain hand me that bucket of water and get a fresh one."

"Here you are…" he handed it over. Aria took the corner of his cloak and dipped it down into the water before wiping at the blood around his face.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Cleaning the area so I can see what I'm doing…" she said quietly. "How was the ride in, any trouble?"

"We were ambushed by woads." Lancelot said. Aria looked up and gazed at them all.

"Did anyone get hurt?" she asked with a concerned gaze.

"We're fine." Dag said with a reassuring smile.

"Have you hunted?" Lucan asked.

"I can't handle a bloody bow with my hand the way it is." she said showing it was wrapped and still bleeding.

"Tristan hasn't tended to it yet?" Bors asked.

"It was night, too hard to find the herbs." She said with a shrug. "I'm sure he will when he comes back." She took the snow ball she had in hand and slowly moved it over Arthurs brow. He cringed and made a pained noise. "I know it hurts but the swelling will go down and you'll be able to see right again, that is if your eye hasn't been crushed."

"I don't think it is…" he said.

"Good, want to tell me what happened?"

"They were torturing me for information about Badon Hill… Didn't tell them a thing, proud of me?" She laughed.

"I don't know personally if someone was bashing my face in I'd tell them at least lies about what they wanted to know."

"I didn't think of that." He said. "I should have thought of that." She moved the chunk of snow down around the outer part of his eye. Arthur hand flew up but Aria caught it by the wrist. "Leave it alone…"

"I don't think you know what you're doing." He said in obvious pain.

"This girl nursed me back to health when I had fever that near boiled my skin." Dag said. "She can handle tiny flesh wounds like that."

"I wouldn't call it tiny… You're going to be sore for some time…" she said. "Are you starting to be able to see?"

"Little by little…" he said.

"Any other wounds?"

"On my back…" he said.

"Okay then hold this to your eye and take off the top part of your armor…" She threw more wood on the fire so it would be warmer for her commander.

"I found them…" Tristan said handing her the herbs.

"Thank you…"

"After him I fix your hand." he said and she nodded. Arthur took off his shirt and turned his back to Aria.

"That snow better be firmly against your eye." She said. "You won't like it if I do it."

"Right…" he pressed it and cringed at the pain that followed. Aria looked over his back and tilted her head as her hand slowly moved around a deep gash in his side. Blood was steadily leaking from it and she tilted her head.

"That's bad…" she said. "Arthur I don't think packing this is going to do much…"

"Do what you can." He said.

"If we don't close this up you could be in for a nasty infection…"

"What do you suggest?" he asked.

"Burning it closed maybe?" she asked.

"Do what you think is best…"

"We'll try packing it there's no need to cause un needed pain." She said taking some water and washing the wound Arthur jerked and Aria closed her eyes as the wound tore open more. He cried out and went to move forward. Aria quick wrapped her arms around him keeping him steady. "Don't fall forward, you'll rip it more…" she said before looking to Dag. "Get it ready."

"Right…" he said with a nod heading off to a cave where he set up a large bon fire and laid down some furs.

"That hurt worse than when they sliced me…" Arthur said as Aria clumped up his cloak and pressed it against the bleeding wound.

"That's because that was a slice and this was a rip…"

"I'm losing a lot of blood…" he said seeing it staining the white snow.

"I'm going to stop that, Tristan Lancelot help me lead him to the other cave." The instantly moved and helped him onto his feet. "Don't slump forward Arthur…" she said still holding the cloak to his back. When they got him to the furs she helped him kneel on the ground and slowly moved him down so he laid on his stomach.

"The blade is in there…" Dag said.

"You'll help me hold him down?" Aria asked quietly as Tristan and Lancelot walked away to the knights that had gathered outside the cave. .

"Yes…"

"Bors I need you…" she said kneeling beside Arthur her eyes going to the blade that had been superheated in the fire.

"Right…" he said walking and kneeling. "What do you need me to do?"

"Pinch the wound closed when I say and hold it there while I burn it."

"Is this going to hurt?" Arthur asked.

"No…" Aria said quietly as the other knights looked away. "You just need to remember to breathe."

"Alright…"

"And uhm... Bite down on this…" she put the handle of a dagger in his mouth. "Okay Dag hold him down." He set his large hands on Arthurs shoulders. Aria slowly clumped a large pile of snow together reading it for the cool down that his wound would need. "Alright…" she took the red hot blade in hand. "Bors the wound." He pinched it with both hands and Arthur cried out in pain. Aria took a few small breaths before sliding the red hot blade against Arthurs torn skin. His head threw back and he cried out in sheer agony. "Hold him down!" she yelled as he struggled underneath her touch.

"Stop stop!" Arthur bellowed.

"I'm almost done I'm almost done I'm making it a clean line!" she said quickly as she burned the wound closed. After a long moment she threw the blade aside grabbed the pile of snow and packed it onto his back and side. Arthur made a pained noise before his head rested against the furs.

"Is he dead?" Lucan asked his eyes wide.

"No just knocked out…" she said as she massaged the snow against his skin cooling the wound down.

"I'll see to him you get your hand fixed…" Dag said.

"No I'll look after him…"

"Aria get your hand fixed." Bors said.

"I can't leave him."

"Aria." She looked to them.

"Get your bloody hand, bloody fixed." Bors ordered.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Go…" Dag said and she nodded before heading out of the cave. Aria walked to the other cave and sat down next to Tristan who had readied the herbs for packing her wound. He moved so he was facing her and put his hand out. She slowly rested her injured hand in his palm and he carefully undid the wrapping around her hand.

"How is it?" she asked.

"It looks fine, but it is still bleeding, we have to pack it…" she nodded and allowed him to do so. As he worked over her hand she looked down at the fire. "You haven't spoken much…"

"I don't have much to say…"

"I don't think less of you…" she looked to him quickly.

"What?"

"What happened when we were children… I don't think less of you because of it… I know you think less of yourself but I don't of you…" She slowly nodded before looking to the fire.

"Thanks…" she said quietly.

"Thanks what?" Gawain asked walking over.

"Thanks for him fixing my hand it already feels a lot better…" She said lying quickly.

"Good…" he said re wrapping it.

-o-

Aria sat by Arthur smoothing a wet piece of cloth over his forehead. He hadn't woken up since the burning ordeal, but she was confident he would eventually. They had to lay low for a week anyways so he had plenty of time to rest and heal from his injury. She just hoped that when he did wake up he didn't hate her for what she had been forced to do. She looked out at the camp and saw all the man sleeping, their heads resting on saddles and snow piles alike.

"Guess I'm on watch…" she said with a small smile.

"Not alone…" she smiled hearing Gawains voice. "How is he?"

"Resting but I think he'll live." She said quietly as she looked to him.

"You're taking good care of him…"

"I hope so… If something happens to him it will not bode well for the rest of us…" He nodded. "Also he had the doctors at the fort take such good care of me when I was hurt… I just wish I could do more for him…"

"You're doing what you can it's enough…" Gawain said.

"I should be carrying supplies on me for emergencies like this I don't' know why I'm not. Maybe the doctor at the fort would teach me what he knows."

"It's worth a shot. You do pretty okay on your own." She only smiled. "Have you eaten?"

"I'm okay but thank you."

"I caught some very nice vermin you should have some."

"See when you call it vermin it doesn't sound that appetizing." She said with a smile as he laughed.

"Okay how about I call it a nice slab of meat."

"Now I think I'd rather eat the grass from the ground." He laughed again before looking to her.

"You know this is the first time in all the time I have known you that you haven't laughed at least once in a day… That is except for the first time you were brought to the fort… What has the fair lass grieving so?"

"I'm not grieving Gawain I'm just worried about Arthur." She said.

"Something's different with you I'm sure of it."

"Nothing is different…" she said quietly as she ringed out the cloth she had been using to wipe the sweating brow of Arthur.

"Maybe you're just tired or hungry… When was the last time you ate?"

"I can't remember… After burning Arthur though I don't think I could stomach anything… Maybe tomorrow." He nodded.

"It was pretty hard to watch I can't imagine what it was like to do…" He said and she only nodded. Gawain slowly looked to her with a kind expression.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah I had to burn a wound for Dag many years ago so it wasn't as rough this ti-."

"I'm not talking about that." She looked to him.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about what happened in the dungeon." He said and she looked off her jaw clenching.

"Oh I was knocked around good enough but I'm fine." She said with a reassuring smile. "That big guy nearly did me in but I'm okay."

"What about the one you decapitated?"

"The last one?" she asked.

"Yes…" He said wondering why she was being so evasive.

"He just nicked my neck it was a scratch…" she tilted her chin to show him it had already started to heal.

"I mean about what nearly transpired…" He stated as he watched her tuck a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

"I don't think anything nearly transpired…"

"Aria… I saw the fear in your eyes."

"I think you are mistaking fear for hatred." She said quietly.

"Maybe…" he said.

"Gawain I could use some fresh water for Arthur would you mind fetching it for me?" She asked with soft expression.

"Of course." He said nodding before getting up and heading away. As Aria watched him leave her gaze fell upon Tristan who was eyeing her with a careful expression. She smiled at him softly before returning her gaze to Arthur.

-o-

It had been two days and Arthur had only woken up for seconds at a time. Aria had become increasingly fearful for his Health. She was afraid that she had not tended to his wounds carefully enough and that he was suffering for it. She smoothed a cool cloth over Arthur brow and smiled. His fever had long broken which had given her a tiny gleaming glimmer of hope. Something they all desperately needed.

"Come on Arthur pull through…" She said quietly. "We could really use our commander right now… Gawain keeps complaining about the weather and I think we're all sick of it." She whispered.

"Oi I heard that…" He said.

"Oh I'm sorry…" she said with a cheeky look which only made him smile. Her smile faded as they heard a low horn erupt through the woods.

"That can't be good…" Galahad muttered.

"They're still looking for us." Tristan said riding in on his horse. He had gone off to check the woods around them for woads.

"Did you find anything?" Aria asked.

"They aren't close, I do not think they'll find us where we are… Many of them are moving, I think they'll try and block us off…"

"Great…" She muttered.

"We should get moving." Jameson said.

"We can't." Aria said looking to him wide eyed.

"We may not have a choice." Lucan added agreeing with his twin.

"We can't move Arthur…" Aria said.

"We can't wait for him to heal." Lancelot said.

"If you all want to run back to the fort that's fine but I'm staying stationary with Arthur until he can at least sit up straight without help from one of us." She said.

"You know you're a little to doting upon our Arthur." Jameson said.

"Your meaning?" She asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"We've seen the way you look at him." The twins said.

"Constantly cleansing his forehead…" Lucan began.

"Checking his body…" Jameson added.

"Without so much of a virgins blush…" The twins said in unison.

"If you have something to say about her come out and say it." Tristan said with a deadly glare.

"Fine I will." Jameson muttered before looking to Aria. "I think you and Arthur may have an affair going on."

"I've heard whispers of late night visits to you…" Lucan said.

"To talk to me about missions." She said with a laugh. "You're being ridiculous."

"I'm just saying if it was one us you wouldn't be treating us as kindly…"

"That's a bloody lie." She said with a fierce expression. "If it had been any of you I would have been just as attentive…"

"We know…" Galahad said.

"Ignore them the cold has just put them on edge…" Dag said glaring into the twins.

"I'm just starting to wonder how pure she really is." Lucan muttered.

"I'd like to know how my purity is any of your god damned business." She fired her temper flying and instantly silencing Lucan. "By the by if I was sleeping with Arthur or anyone else which I'm not I think you and everyone sitting here should know it would be none of your concern."

"If you become with child it's all our concern." Lucan said.

"I don't think it is." She said.

"Well you'd be wrong about that." Jameson said.

"We'd have to protect you." Gawain said making Aria look to him in surprise.

"You're taking their side?" she asked and he looked down at the snow.

"He has a point." Bors said making her look to him next.

"If you became with child you would be all our responsibility." Gawain said and Galahad nodded.

"I think we deserve to know if you have taken to bed with someone especially the commanding officer." Lancelot said.

"You know I haven't." she said. "You sleep in his room the walls are parchment thin you'd be able to hear."

"Maybe you'd sneak off with him somewhere else." Bors said.

"Or somewhere else with someone else." Gawain said.

"That's what you think of me?" she asked looking to all of them. "That I'm some whore that gives it up to whoever approaches me?" she spat with a hurt expression. "After all the years we have stood by one another's side you think this of me?" She asked.

"Aria…" Gawain said quietly. "We don't think-."

"No to hell with all of you. I'm fetching Arthur more water." She got up quickly and stormed off.

"What's the matter with all of you?" Dag asked taking her place by Arthur. "The twins I get but the rest of you?"

"They brought up a good point." Gawain said.

"No they didn't." Tristan said already walking away.

"No they didn't…" Dag agreed. "You all want proof that she hasn't lain with a man think back to the dungeon when that Woad was on top of her… I've never seen fear in her eyes as she had in that moment… That's proof enough." They slowly looked down even the twins.

"It's the cold it's been putting us on edge…" Jameson and Lucan said in unison.

Aria bent down towards the creek her hands diving into the cold water and splashing it on her face. She felt as though she was on fire but knew it wasn't from the temperature that would be impossible seeing as it was the dead of winter. Instead it was from the intense anger she was feeling for the people she had thought of as friends. The twins she could understand, they hardly knew her. Still the others, she couldn't fathom how they could have thought so low for her.

"Aria…" she sighed heavily.

"Come to ask if I'm a whore yourself Tristan?" she asked.

"No…" he said kneeling beside her by the creek.

"Think what they think?"

"No…" she looked to him. "Neither does Dag he's giving them a good talking to."

"Have I done something to make them think less of me?" She asked quietly.

"No…"

"I'm tending to Arthur so careful because if he dies we'll all be separated, sent to much worse outposts with horrible commanders… Gods know where ever I'm sent I won't last long… Even still I'd be just as careful with any of you if you were hurt-."

"I know." He said stopping her. "You don't have to defend yourself with me…"

"I can't look them in the eye now that I know how they think of me…"

"Then don't… Do what women do when angry, ignore them…"

"I hardly ever do what a woman does… It's so much hard work. I'd rather just beat the hell out of them and get it over with…"

"That's from being around men too long."

"Aria." She looked up to see Dag running from the camp.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Arthur is up and asking for you."

"Right." She got up and rushed back as fast as she could. When she made it to the cave she smiled seeing Arthur sitting up on his own.

"How are you feeling?" She asked kneeling in front of him with a warm smile.

"Like some one burned me with a knife…" Her expression softened and her brows knitted in sheer remorse.

"On a scale from one to ten how mad at me are you?" she asked.

"Ten but I'm not angry at you more at the pain…"

"Here…" she balled a bunch of snow in hand and moved to his side slipping it on the wound. He hissed but instantly relaxed. "Better?" he nodded. "How mad now?" He laughed.

"I'm coming down from a seven…"

"Oh good I'll just keep doing this until you hit like two or negative twelve." He smiled.

"You've been taking care of me?" He inquired.

"It's my job… I'm sorry I didn't have any supplies on me to better help you… I'll make sure to carry them on me next time."

"It's alright, thanks for tending to me…"

"I don't mean to rush you seeing as you've just woken up but the horns of battle have been sounded, Tristan thinks the woads around us have planned to cut us off… What should we do, stay or ride on?"

"Ride on; we leave as soon as possible." He said.

"Arthur do you think that's wise, you're injured." She said.

"You've tended to me well enough that I can at least ride a horse… You'll take point though."

"Lead rider?" she asked. "You serious?"

"That's right."

"Of course…" Jameson muttered getting up and heading away.

"What's wrong with him?" Arthur inquired.

"The cold." Aria said as she watched his twin trail off after him. "I'll get the horses ready you rest… Dag get him some food he'll need his energy."

"Right."

Aria tended to the horses as best she could. They had been suffering in the cold weather and was worried that they wouldn't be able to ride as well as they would need them too. Teleri though as she stomped around the snow made her confident that at least she'd be strong and fast despite the weather. She felt something hit her nose and slowly looked up to see snow steadily falling.

"Just wonderful…" she muttered.

"I thought you liked snow." Gawain said walking beside her. She only shrugged as she tightened the saddle on Lancelots horse. "I remember it was the only time I ever saw you play was during the first snow that fell at the fort." She shrugged again and Gawain sighed. "Aria I'm sor-." She walked away from him and he looked on in shock. Never once had Aria just walked away from a discussion.

"Ready?" Aria asked Arthur who was walking to her.

"I am, are you?"

"Yes…" she whistled and Teleri trotted over, Aria took a hold of the saddle and easily lifted herself up into the saddle.

"Everyone ready their bows." She ordered and they nodded taking their point from her as Arthur had instructed.

-o-

The ride had been quiet everyone keeping their eyes and ears peeled for Woads. After a day of riding with no sign of them the nervousness of the group was heightened to paranoia. On the ride in they had run into a few groups of Woads, now there was no sign of them. They had decided not to ride out in the open but stick just inside the forest lines.

"Where are the blue bastards?" Galahad asked.

"Aria do you hear anything?" Lancelot asked knowing she had the best hearing of the group. She didn't say anything as she looked around the forest and the men exchanged looks except Tristan who couldn't help but smile.

"Aria?" Dag asked.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Do you hear anything?" He inquired.

"No it's dead silent." She answered.

"They've most likely already made the line." Gawain said.

"How will we break through it?" Galahad asked.

"We stay on our horses rush at our top speed shoot a gap in the line and get to the gate of the wall." Arthur said.

"Sounds simple enough…" Aria said. "Or not…" they all looked to see a line of at least a hundred woads set up a good hundred yards in front of Hadrian's wall

"Take out the archers first…" Arthur said. "Go!" they kicked and sped forward, Aria a little surprised Arthur hadn't at least waited a few minutes to talk out the plan. As Aria rode she raised her bow which had three arrows resting in it. She smiled as she pulled back and let the arrows fly, they each hit three archers who fell dead to the ground.

"Then lines moving!" she yelled seeing the waods rush forward.

"Behind us!" The twins yelled making everyone look over their shoulder to see a group of woads rushing out from the tree lines behind them.

"It's a trap!" Aria yelled firing another round of wads which struck two horse riders that were nearing the twins.

"Tristan, Aria cover the back!" Arthur ordered. "Everyone else break the line in front!" Aria fell back to ride along Tristan. They fired arrows one right after the others Tristan hitting every target Aria missing nearly every one. Tristan looked to see blood dripping from Arias injured hand and coating her bow string in blood making it near impossible to hold on for accurate aiming. She threw the bow onto her back and started pulling her daggers. She smiled as she threw them and they hit them one right after the others.

"Take that you bloody devils!" She yelled with a laugh as one of her daggers hit a rider right in the middle of the forehead. She went to reach for another dagger but found all of the ones on her thighs were gone. "Damn it…" She watched as a rider sped past her on a horse that looked much like Teleri. "No you don't…" she leapt off her horse and jumped onto the back of the one riding past. She pulled her sword and slit the throat of the rider. "Go Teleri!" she ordered seeing they were breaking through the front line, she didn't want her horse to get left behind. She pushed the body of the rider off the horse she was on and watched him slam into the ground. She had expected the horse she was one to keep going but instead it came to a complete halt.

"Aria!" Tristan reached out his hand as he past and she grabbed hold of it. He swung her onto the back of his horse and she held on tightly as they rode past fifty waods.

"Open up!" Arthur yelled. "Open the gates!" he saw the romans atop the wall yell down to someone and was confident they would open before too long. Aria looked over her shoulder to see Lucan struggling to keep up with the group. She watched in horror as his horse was hit with five arrows. The horse went down along with Lucan who rolled across the dirt. Aria leapt off the horse and dove down to the ground where she rolled up onto her feet and rushed to Lucan. She slid down to the ground as she pulled his shield from the horse.

"Come on get up… Get up!" she yelled before looking down and seeing he was completely knocked out. She looked back up as three arrows slammed into the shield she was holding. Ten woads were running and closing in on them fast. She grabbed onto the back of Lucans armor and with a yell began to drag his body weight to the gates that were fully open.

"Aria…" she looked down to see Lucan had an arrow sticking through his shoulder.

"It's alright, I'm going to get you out of this!" she yelled.

The others rode through the gate and looked around with a laugh until they noticed two people were missing.

"Aria?" Tristan asked seeing she wasn't on the horse behind him.

"Lucan!" Jameson yelled seeing Aria dragging his brother towards them.

"Cover them!" Arthur ordered pulling his bow. Aria cried out as an arrow slammed into her back and she fell to the ground. She quickly got to her feet and threw his shield aside as she grabbed onto lucan with both hands and with a yell dragged him faster than she had before. She quickly pulled him into the safety of the wall and smiled as she doors began to close.

"Dag get him atop Teleri." She said and he did as she said. "She'll take good care of him and get him to the fort fast." She said to Jameson. Aria took the hand of Tristan who lifted her up onto the back of his horse and kicked off.