"How is Aria going to contact us?" Galahad asked watching fires blaze from the fort. They were situated on a hill far from battle and safe from harms way. That fact not making any of them feel at ease, because though they were safe Aria was not.
"Aria will find a way." Arthur said.
"If she's alive…" Jameson said and the men looked to him to see his dread filled look.
"Aria can fend for herself…" Arthur said. Tristan knew what Arthur said was true but still he couldn't help but worry for her safety.
"I hate her being alone in there." Galahad said.
"We all do." Arthur stated.
-o-
Aria and Venora slowly came out of her home. It had been a long restless night. Spent listening to the sounds of battle and dying men. Now it was morning and both women were having a hard time facing the world.
"By the gods…" Venora said softly seeing many business's burnt to the ground.
"Stay Teleri." Aria said to her horse who had followed her to the hut.
"Look at all the bodies." Venora said with a horrified sound as she covered her mouth.
"Looks like the rebels won…" Aria said softly as they moved into the main area of Badon Hill. Hundreds of Romans lay dead and cold in the snow covered ground which seemed to be stained red.
"How horrible…" She said.
"Report to the fort!" A man yelled racing through the town on his horse. "Report to the fort!"
"Looks like we're going to meet our new leader." Aria said softly as they slowly walked towards the fort.
"I hate this…" Venora said stepping over bodies. "I wish Bors was here."
"He's close and safe take comfort in that." Aria said and the woman nodded as she took her hand.
"I'm glad you're here Ar-Isolde…"
"Me too." She said with a soft expression.
"Aria…" She turned quickly seeing Jols walking to her.
"Shh not Aria." Venora said. "Isolde…"
"What the hell is going on?" he asked. "Where is-."
"I need you to be very calm and not to ask questions." Aria said and he slowly nodded. "Just go with it."
"Hello fellow Britain's!" they looked up at the fort and Arias eyes narrowed seeing a familiar man. "My name is Agust Helms, and I am your savoir." He said with a smug look as he held his arms out wide.
"Why did you let us live!?" someone yelled and he smiled.
"Because you are not of roman descent and you all have done nothing wrong."
"He looks familiar." Jols whispered.
"He was a knight in training." Aria said.
"I have taken Badon Hill back from Roman hands!" He said and Aria looked around. "We are free from their command at last…" Aria spotted many smiling faces.
"I'll be back…" Aria said to Venora. "Stay with Jols, act as if he's your husband."
"Right." She said. Aria walked off not realizing she had drawn the attention of the latest leader who continued to shout promises as he watched her leave.
Aria walked through the deserted town which all its population had gone to the fort to learn their fates. She had to get word out to Arthur and there was only one way she knew how. She walked to Tristan's housing and headed down a hallway riddled with bodies of Romans. She finally got to his room and opened the door to see Glider perched on his window sill he squawked at her and she smiled softly.
"Alright let's see if Tristan's training has done some good…" She said walking to him. "Let's hope you can find your master wherever he is. After a long while of figuring out how she would secure a note to Glider she succeeded and opened the window. He went to fly off but stopped and looked to her. "I'll be okay…" he squawked before flying off.
"A peculiar place for a maiden to be." She turned around quickly to see Agust. She wondered what she should do at that moment. Slit his throat? Pledge allegiance? She settled for bowing her head and curtsying.
"My lord." She said and he laughed bringing her eyes to him.
"What is your name Maiden?" he asked.
"Isolde…" She said and he walked to her.
"Isolde… Any last name?"
"The Roman family I worked for didn't see fit to give me a last name." She said lying quickly.
"You worked for a Roman family?"
"More enslaved, your men killed them this night, but spared me."
"I'm glad they did." He said with a soft smile as he ran his hands through his black hair. "It would be a shame to cut down such a fair maiden…" She smiled softly. "You left my speech."
"I know… I am sorry, but I was scared…"
"Scared?" he asked with a laugh. "Of what?"
"Of the unknown… I do not know this land very well for I was taken from it as a small child… And I do not know anyone else here as well…" She said.
"Well… You know me now." He said as he put out his hand. "Come with me." She slowly rested her hand in his with a small smile and he led her off. "Such a fair Maiden shouldn't stay in a place like this… You shall come to the fort with me…" As they walked out of the housing area Aria spotted Venora and Jols who nodded at her and she nodded back telling them she was okay.
-o-
"When is word coming?" Bors asked pacing.
"She'll send it when she can." Arthur said starting to get worried for his female Knight.
"I hate sitting on my ass doing nothing!"
"You're not sitting on your ass your pacing and it's making me dizzy!" Gawain said.
"Shut it!"
"Let's not fight with one another." Arthur said with a sigh. "Besides we need to save our strength for the battle ahead." Tristan slowly stood as he heard a familiar squawk. The others watched as a Hawk flew down from the sky and perched its self on his arm.
"What are you doing?" Tristan asked.
"Is that Glider?" Gawain asked with a smile.
"Aria has sent a message." Tristan said seeing her bear claw necklace around its neck which had a note tied to it. He un wrapped the necklace and handed Arthur the note.
"What does it say?" Bors asked.
Badon hill taken, new leader Agust Helms former knight, not safe yet, blending in with Venora and Jols, wait, send glider back.
"She says that Badon hill has been taken by a new leader by the name of Agust Helms that it isn't safe yet, she's blending in fine and for us to wait and send glider back for further instruction." Arthur said.
"Well at least we know she is safe." Gawain said.
"She also said Venora and Jols are safe." Arthur said.
"Well at least we know she has allies inside." Galahad said.
"Can I send orders back?" Arthur asked walking to Tristan.
"Yes." Tristan said. "Write them out and I'll secure them."
"Here Arthur." Jameson said handing him graphite and papyrus.
"Thank you." Tristan walked away with Glider Arias necklace held in hand. He slowly put it around his neck and removed the one around his own that she had given him. He needed a piece of her in that moment and that piece would have to be her necklace.
-o-
Aria slowly looked around her room. It was convenient she was back at the fort. Her battle gear hidden under her bed ready for use. It seemed Agust had taken a liking to her, as much as she hated that fact, she knew she could use it towards her and Arthurs advantage. She heard a knock and turned her dress moving around as she did.
"Come in." The door clicked open and she forced a smile as Agust walked in with a pleasant enough look. "Good to see you again my lord." She said with a curtsy.
"Please none of this I am not like your Roman masters before you, call me Agust." She slowly nodded.
"Agust…" She said with a soft expression. Her only chance was to charm him, and she hoped her skills were up to par.
"You chose a nice room."
"Yes is it okay I chose this?" She asked.
"Of course I said any room… I'll have you know that I'm just across the hall."
"I will sleep better knowing so." She said as he walked to her.
"So I am throwing a feast for the men… They have invited lovely ladies to join… I was hoping you might join me…"
"Stand at your side?" She asked with a smile. "I would be honored." He smiled.
"Fantastic…" He said as he turned away. "I shall call upon you soon." He said before turning as he looked her over. "You know Isolde I feel… I feel as though I have met you before…"
You have you prat…
"Maybe we met in another life." She said with a smile.
"Maybe… I shall see you soon."
"Yes." He walked out and she smiled to herself.
Good on you for not calling him a prat… She thought to herself with a smile. She walked over to a water bowl and slowly cleaned her hands and feet and hair to make sure she stayed as clean as possible and as lady like as possible. She changed her dress into a more formal one, and was glad at that moment, she had taken the clothes from the roman parents of the girl she had brought the body back from. Just as she had finished with her hair a knock sounded and she stood with a small smile.
"Do come in." Agust walked in with a smile. He looked her over as she stood in a sapphire blue and gold Grecian dress that draped off her shoulders and flowed to the ground.
"You are a vision…"
"I hope I look worthy enough to stand at your side." She said and he smiled as she walked to him.
"You are more then what I deserve." He leant his arm and she slowly took it. As she walked from her room she heard a squawk and hoped that Glider had made it to the others and had not just found her by chance. Her jaw clenched as she felt Agust set his hand upon her arm as they walked.
If Tristan were here he'd slit this mans throat… And I'd gladly let him… I really hope Agust wants nothing more from me tonight then to just have me stand at his side…
-o-
"Movement towards Badon." Galahad said and everyone perked up.
"It's the men who fled…" Bors said seeing them ride up towards the fort.
"If they get inside they may recognize Aria." Gawain said. Before any of them could do anything they heard the swishing of arrows and watched as the five men were shot down. They slowly looked to Tristan who had his bow aimed.
"They won't recognize her now…" He said sitting back on a boulder.
"Well done." Arthur said and Tristan only nodded.
"I wonder what she's doing right now." Gawain said.
"Probably scheming." Galahad said and they smiled.
"Probably killing them all one by one." Lancelot said.
"Or she's been caught and they are torturing her." Jameson said.
"You're very sunny you know that?" Gawain asked and Jameson just smiled. Trsitan looked over the bear claw necklace which he held in hand. He hated the fact she was without it. Hated the fact she was alone. Hated the fact that he was so far away from her. He brought the necklace up to his face and closed his eyes as her scent flooded over him.
Soon Aria… We'll be together again…
"Can…" She walked closer to him, and Tristan took a deep breath as her calming scent filled his senses. "Can I ask what made you try to…"
"I don't know." He said.
"You must know…" She said. "I'm not angry Trist-."
"You should be angry!" He snapped and she jumped. "What I almost did was wrong, Aria, very wrong."
"I'm not angry." He shook his head.
"Damn it Aria-."
"Why should I be angry?" She asked.
"Because of what I almost did."
"Tristan in my life more men then I would like to say have tried to force themselves upon me… Kiss me, without my permission… I stopped them every time they tried…" She said now standing right before him. "Did it ever occur to you that I never once tried to stop you?" his eyes slowly rose to hers. "Why did you almost do what you did?" She asked softly.
"When I saw Lancelot…" he said his eyes locked on hers. "With his hand on your hip…" Tristan reached forward and his hand on her waist. "And his hand on your cheek…" He said softly as his hand slowly rested on the side of her face. "His lips… So close to yours…" Aria took a small breath as his lips neared hers. "All I could think was I had to stop him… I had to because he wasn't supposed to have his hand on your hip or his hand on your cheek… I was."
He couldn't wait to have her in his hands like that again. Couldn't wait for her lips to brush against his. Or to see the smile she only gave to him when she thought no one was looking. He just couldn't wait to be at her side once more.
"Tristan you alright?" Dag asked and Tristan's eyes opened as he looked to him.
"What's wrong?" Galahad asked. Tristan was always quiet but the quiet he had now was not a calming one but one that set the group on edge.
"He worries for Aria." Arthur said with a knowing look.
"I'm always there for her." He said surprising the group.
"You will be once more again soon." Arthur said and Tristan slowly nodded before looking over her necklace once more.
-o-
"What do you think of the feast?" Agust asked over the sound of music. Aria smiled.
"It is a fine one, I'm sorry if I'm not eating much but I'm not accustomed to such rich food."
"Nor am I." He said with a smile.
"Agust may I ask a question?" She inquired.
"You may ask me anything my fair Isolde." He said as his hand brushed over her cheek lightly before flipping her long hair over one of her shoulders.
"This fort has knights from what my masters told me." He nodded as he let his eyes travel over the curve of her neck. "Where are they?"
"Out engaging in some of my men on the outside."
"Will those men kill them?"
"No I'm sure Arthur and his knights have already killed them…"
"Won't that mean they are coming here?"
"There's no way for them too." He said with a smile. "Not unless someone comes in the way we did."
"How did you get in?" She asked with a smile and he looked to her for a long moment. She smiled brightly and watched as he was put to ease by the expression. "Oh please tell me Agust I do love a battle strategist." He smiled.
"There is a secret door, I discovered it when I was a small boy training here. I never dared to go through mind you but now I wish I had."
"A door?" she asked.
"It's on the outskirts of the town near the training facility in the barns. It leads to a tunnel that goes under the wall."
"Like an escape tunnel?" She asked and he smiled.
"Exactly. I snuck my inside men in one by one, so the Romans were never the wiser."
"Very smart." She said.
"You said you loved a battle strategist do you love me now Isolde?" he asked his eyes locking onto hers.
"I'm not so sure just yet…" She said softly and she tried not to stiffen as she felt his arm drape around her waist as he lent into her ear.
"I think I know how I recognize you now." She looked to him quickly.
"Really?" she asked his lips just inches from hers.
"We're soul mates… Soul mates always recognize one another." He went to kiss her and she turned away making him smile. "So shy." He said.
"I am… Pure…" He smiled even more.
"A fair pure lady… The perfect making of a wife." She looked to him. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on… A king deserves a beautiful queen."
"Queen?" She asked.
Well someone moves fast! She thought in panic.
"You and I will be married tomorrow night accompanied by another feast… It will give the people of Badon hill something to focus on and celebrate." She looked off.
"I am… Flattered…"
And sick to my stomach… Also inspired though…
"If I am to be a bride tomorrow I should get some rest tonight." She said with a smile which he returned. "I am honored Agust." He smiled. "Goodnight." He kissed her cheek.
"Good night my love." He said and she tried not to throw up at his words as she got up and left the ballroom. When she was out of sight of the rebel guards Aria ran through the fort to get to her room. She smiled softly when she reached her door and opened it up to see Glider perched on her bedpost. He squawked at her and she smiled softly as she rushed over.
"Glider I'm so sorry I kept you waiting." She smiled seeing a familiar necklace wrapped around the birds feet. She unwrapped it and brought it to her lips as she kissed the arrow. She took the note in hand and walked over to her desk to sit down.
Glad you're safe. Stay that way. No movement from outside. Awaiting your instruction.
Aria flipped the note over and taking her time to write out her note to the others. When she was done she searched her room and found a piece of twine and rolled the note around it before securing it to Gliders leg who squawked at her before flying off into the night. She slowly looked out her window and smiled to see a large hay stack sitting below it.
"Perfect." She said with a smile before grabbing her cloak.
-o-
"Glider is coming." Arthur said hearing the bird.
"Finally." Gawain said. The bird flew to Tristan and landed. He smiled seeing that Aria had taken his necklace. He unwrapped the twine from Gliders talons and handed the note attached to Arthur.
"It's a long one…" He said. "Tomorrow I am to be married in the afternoon to agust Helms… My idea is this. They got through a secret escape tunnel, one I'm sure you know about. In the morning arrive there and Jols and Venora should be waiting disguises in hand. The whole town will be gathered for the wedding. Stay in the crowd and at the moment everyone least expects it slaughter the rebels, you'll know them for they wear white face paint like the woads wear blue face paint… Please don't be late, I do not wish to have to fulfill my wifely duties to Helms."
"We're not gone a day and she's already getting married." Lancelot said while Tristans jaw clenched.
"We have to stop this." Gawain said.
"And we will but we follow her instruction…" Arthur said. "Have restful night for tomorrow we battle."
-o-
Aria climbed back in her room through her window, and slowly shrugged off her cloak. She had hoped to see Glider waiting but found the bird nowhere in sight. She hoped the letter exchange had gone well. If it hadn't she would be the wife to a man she didn't not wish to be romantically involved with. Her fingers slowly went to Tristan's arrow head necklace that rested around her neck.
She missed him dearly. Missed him more than ever actually. It had felt wrong the kiss that Agust had placed against her cheek. Felt wrong because it wasn't Tristan who had done so. She slowly walked over to her bed and sat down as her mind drifted to happier times.
"When I saw Lancelot…" he said his eyes locked on hers. "With his hand on your hip…" Tristan reached forward and his hand on her waist. "And his hand on your cheek…" He said softly as his hand slowly rested on the side of her face. "His lips… So close to yours…" Aria took a small breath as his neared hers. "All I could think was I had to stop him… I had to because he wasn't supposed to have his hand on your hip or his hand on your cheek… I was."
"Tristan…" She said softly.
"You're my oldest friend Aria…"
"I know…"
"You are a female knight…"
"I know…"
"It's forbidden…"
"I know Tristan…" she said softly.
"There are a hundred more reasons I shouldn't but… There's nothing I want more…" He went to kiss her and she moved back slightly. His eyes searched hers.
"I don't want to stop you…" a tear rolled down her cheek and cascaded over the hand that cupped the side of her face. "Tristan if anyone found out…"
"They won't…" he said.
"Have we ever been able to hide anything from the romans?" she asked softly.
"Yes…" he said feeling the pull to her body more than he ever had before. "We hid the fact you were a woman…"
"No we didn't, they found out eventually and they'll find this out…"
"No…" He said his forehead resting against hers.
"Yes…" She said. "They always find out… This is just a temporary thing…"
"No…" He said and her eyes searched his. "It's been years for me…" he said softly. "Since that day with the romans whip… Ariadne…" her eyes drifted closed as he spoke her true full name. She took a deep breath as she felt his lips capture hers. Electricity shot between them and in that moment Aria knew there was no going back.
She smiled softly as she laid back in bed her eyes drifting to look at the ceiling above. She could still feel his hot breath against her lips. His strong hands secured on her waist. The feeling of his stubble rubbing against her cheek. It had been perfect. It had been a revelation. Her finger tips touched her lips as she smiled more and thought to Tristan and how she would see him once more the next day. Hopefully see him and not be married when she did.
"Isolde?" She slowly sat up hearing A mans voice. She walked to her door and made sure it was locked. "Isolde it's Agust are you awake my love?" she stayed quiet as she palmed a blade up on her thigh. "You must be asleep… good night my love…" She heard him walk away across the hall and go into his room. She let out a sigh of relief as she relinquished her dagger. She couldn't believe what a fool Agust was. How could anyone fall in love with any one in just a day?
"Fool indeed…" She muttered walking to her bed knowing she would not sleep that night.
-o-
"Dag." Arthur said as they walked to a trapped door which was recently dug up. He moved forward and lifted the heavy doors up.
"Hello Hello." Jols said and they smiled.
"Glad to see you mate." Bors said.
"I have cloaks ready." He said a stack held in his arms. "Make sure you cover your heads with the hoods." He coached as they all walked down into the dim tunnel.
"Where's Venora?" Bors asked looking around.
"She said she couldn't leave Aria to face the nuptials alone." Jols said.
"Good woman knowing Aria she must be livid."
"It's not Aria anymore it's Isolde." Jols informed.
"Isolde?" Dag asked perking up.
"You know the name?" Jols asked.
"It's from an old Sarmatia legend." Lancelot said. "One my mother used to tell my little sister."
"Arias mother must have used to tell her." Bors said.
"Well it worked so far no one recognizes her, I nearly didn't… Looks like a right lady she does." Jols said.
"Lead us to the wedding." Arthur said.
"We have a marriage to stop." Lancelot said with a smile.
"I'm glad the brides in on it." Bors said.
"Yeah if it was a real wedding one she wanted Aria may have our heads for this." Gawain said and everyone but Tristan laughed. All he could think was the person he cared most for in the world was moments away from being handed over to another man, there was no way he could laugh at such a situation. Then again he could never laugh at all, not without Aria.
-o-
"It's too bad this isn't a real wedding… You look stunning." Venora said as she looked over Aria who stood in a long white chiffon Grecian gown. It draped over one shoulder and down the front before dipping in the back. It was an expensive dress, made of fine material. But Aria looked as though she was meant to wear it.
"This is surreal…" Aria said softly her hands shaking as her hands moved down the dress. "Why am I nervous this isn't even real…"
"Because there's a chance the boys might not show… But don't worry Aria if they don't you say I do you give Agust a kiss and you kill him in the marriage bed later thus ending the union." Venora said with a happy smile.
"I can't kiss him…" She said.
"Why not?" She asked. "I thought you would jump at the chance. I mean you never have been kissed or kissed someone before, this may be your only chance…" She looked Aria over. "I mean you never have right?" Aria looked down at the ground. "You're in love." She turned quickly and looked at Venora who was smiling. "Who is it?" She asked blinking. "It must be one of the boys… It's Tristan isn't it?" Aria looked around quickly. "By the gods…"
"Venora you can't tell anyone…" She said quickly as she took her friends hands in hers.
"I won't I promise… You two aren't…" She made a strange hand movement.
"What is that?" Aria asked eyeing it.
"It's you know… The... Deed."
"Stop making that hand movement." She said as Venora continued.
"I'm sorry it's just an example of what it looks like."
"Well stop it, it makes my uncomfortable…" She said and Venora stopped the odd hand movements.
"So are you?" Venora asked.
"No, we can't…"
"Oh he must love you if he's willing to wait fifteen years." Venora said with a smile.
"What if they don't show? What if I have to marry Agust and I have to kiss him?" She asked her eyes wide. "Tristan would never forgive me."
"Yes he would he would know you did what you had to do…" A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I also can't kill him in the marriage plan… It would ruin everything… I can't save this town on my own I need the Knights. If they don't show… I'll have to marry him. I'll have to kiss him… And I'll have to sleep with him…" Venora slowly nodded knowing what she was speaking was true. "Venora I don't want to do this." She whispered and Venora wiped the tear away.
"I know…" She said. "But you have to make that walk… You have too…"
"How did I get myself in this mess?" She asked and Venora laughed.
"By being so beautiful it hurts the eyes." Aria just laughed. "You really don't see it do you? How enchanting you are?"
"You're enchanting I'm just… Me." Venora smiled.
"I like how modest you are…" she said as she walked to her dresser to pick up a wreath of white flowers.
"Isolde its time." A voice came from outside the door.
"It's time." Aria said taking a deep breath.
"You'll do fine." Venora said securing a long white cloak around her shoulders which dragged a good fifteen feet back. "It will all work out." She said before placing the wreath on her head. "Ready?"
"No."
"Good let us go. I love weddings." Aria couldn't help but scowl at her friend.
-o-
The men were spread about the crowd in front. Their eyes were situated on the man who had taken over the fort. They all recognized them from their training days and knew what a skilled fighter he was. Still he was going to die that day. If taking over the fort hadn't secured his fate, then trying to marry Aria had.
"Make way for the bride!" A man yelled. Tristan watched from his standing position near the altar as the crowd parted and a woman dressed completely in white stood under a canopy held by four men.
"Oh my god…" Gawain said softly.
"Presenting Lady Isolde!" They called.
"She looks beautiful…" Many whispered as she slowly moved forward towards the altar.
Aria slowly looked around at all the faces. She couldn't see her fellow knights anywhere. She couldn't see a recognizable face at all. Only Agust who stood smiling like a fool up at the Altar. Her heart was pounding in that moment. Glider hadn't gotten the message through and now her fate was sealed. Her jaw clenched as she realized what she was going to have to do.
Tristan took a deep breath as he watched Aria move closer and closer. She was looking all around. He had to wonder if she knew they were there. They after all they hadn't sent Glider back with news, the bird being far too tired from traveling back and forth. Still through her nervousness her beauty shined through. Her skin seemed to glow from the white fabric and the sunlight beaming down on her. As she walked children threw flowers at her feet and men bowed their heads at her beauty. She was a sight to behold, and he knew just how lucky he was to know that his heart was accepted as an equal by hers.
Aria took a shaky breath. She knew Arthur would have jumped out by now and stopped the wedding. She knew they weren't there. And in all honesty in that moment she could have let hundreds of tears fall. For she did not know what this union would do to the unspoken one between herself and Tristan. She watched as Agust walked down the steps and extend his hand. She took a deep breath and before she reached out to take it her eyes settled on a familiar face.
"Tristan…" She said softly as she watched him lower the hood of his cloak his other hand going to his sword.
"What was that my love?" She looked to Agust quickly as a tear fell down her cheek. She instantly took a shaky breath.
"I was saying thank you…" She whispered as she was pulled up the steps only to have her back turned to Tristan.
"Any time my love…" He said before reaching out and wiping the happy tear from her cheek.
"She seems so happy…" Gawain said seeing her smile.
"She knows we are here…" Arthur said.
"I bring together two extraordinary people… Lady Isolde and King Agust Helms… Today their union marks a special occasion, the freeing of the British people of Badon Hill… Agust you may profess your love." The random soldier said.
"There is no more a fitting woman to stand at my side…" He said
"Some proclamation…" Bors muttered to Venora who jumped as she turned to look at him with a bright smile.
"Lady Isolde profess your love." He said.
"I… I… Don't have the words…" Agust smiled as many others did.
"So in love your struck speechless?" he asked.
"I join now these two souls…" The soldier reached and took their hands to wrap in a gold ribbon. Before Arias hand could touch Agust Tristan rushed up behind her and through her arms stabbed Agust in the stomach. She leaned back against Tristan's chest as his arm encircled around her waist.
"Isolde?" Agust asked wide eyed.
"Aria Adne." She said and his eyes widened in realization before Tristan twisted the sword sealing the mans fate.
"Now!" Arthur yelled and Aria watched as the knights rushed out from the horrified crowd and engaged in battle. Aria turned in Trsitans arms as he pulled his sword from Agust stomach.
"Didn't think I was even going to let him touch you did you?" He asked as his hand went to her cheek. He went to kiss her but stopped when he felt her pull his other sword and stab it into someone behind him.
"Later, right now we battle." She said and he nodded with a smile as they turned back to back and cut down any man that rushed towards them.
"Aria!" Jols yelled in the crowd and she looked to see he held her battle vest and weapons.
"Go!" Tristan called and she nodded before rushing off. She grabbed her things and ran into a barn where she ripped the wedding dress from her body and replaced it with her battle clothes. She secured the corsets buckles before securing her weapons and running out into the open.
"Ah!" She yelled as she tackled a rebel off Lancelot who smiled as she pulled him to his feet.
"I like this look better!" Lancelot said.
"Thank you!" She called over battle before cutting a man's head off. They weren't just fighting rebels. They were now fighting men of Badon hill who had grown sympathetic to Agust Helms ideals. Women and children ran for cover while men engaged in war on either side. Some for Arthur most for the rebels. Tristan cut a man down and watched as Aria jumped onto the back of Teleri her blonde hair flying around her as she did and began riding through the town cutting any Rebel down she spotted. In all honesty he had never been so attracted to her then he was in that moment.
Aria raced towards the barns. The night before she had learned that not all the Roman soldiers had been killed. Some had been kept for gladiator like games planned by Agust. She jumped off her horse and ran to the training cells she had once inhabited herself. She rushed to the first one and looked inside.
"Aria Adne?" She smiled recognizing one of the guards who was stationed outside her door every night.
"Where are the keys?" She asked.
"Over there!" He pointed to the door and she rushed forward to grab them. Before she could a rebel the size of Dag kicked her to the ground. She ducked under his arms and grabbed the keys before slashing him across the back and running to the Lock. She placed the rightful key inside and went to turn.
"Look out!" Her guard yelled. She was knocked to the ground and hoisted high up into the air before being thrown into a wall. She went to get up onto her feet but froze when the mans head was cut off. She smiled seeing her guard standing his sword raised.
"Thank you." She said.
"What are personal guards for?" he asked and she looked to see the other guard releasing the other prisoners.
"Get on horseback we need the standing!" She ordered as she jumped atop Teleri. The men each got onto Roman horses and she smiled as she pointed her sword. "Charge!" she yelled as she raced out of the barn the men following her. "I've always wanted to say that…" She said with a smile as she cut a man down.
"We've got back up!" Gawain yelled and the knights looked from their position on the altar to see Aria followed by a group of horse riding Soldiers behind her cutting any rebel down that got in her way. She rode up to them with a smile. "Got your horses!" She called and they smiled as they all climbed on top of horses she had brought and raced out into battle. Aria spotted a group of men racing towards the escape tunnel and smiled. "I don't think so…" She said before racing after them.
"Aria where are you going!?" Arthur yelled.
"To stop the rest of them from escaping!" She yelled over her shoulder and he nodded before he was nearly hit by an arrow.
"Their numbers are dwindling!" Gawain called with a laugh.
"The fort is nearly ours!" Galahad called.
-o-
Aria walked down the hallway with a smile. The battle had raged for hours, but she was glad to say that despite it all they had won. She had been split up in battle from the other knights when she had to chase down the rebels who were trying to escape. It had taken her longer to finish them off. After all she had been alone and there had been twenty five of the rebels left. Still she was glad to reunite with her knights once more.
"Aria." Jols greeted as he opened the door.
"Jols." She said with a smile.
"Here comes the bride!" Lancelot yelled as Aria came waltzing in blood spattered across her as the men cheered. Aria smiled as she gave a curtsy.
"Aria or is it Isolde?" Arthur asked with a smile as he handed her a goblet of wine.
"Aria." She said with a smile.
"I don't know I think Isolde suits you, the Sarmatia princess." Dag said.
"The who?" She asked with a smile as she walked around the table to get to her seat.
"That's where you got the name right?" Lancelot asked. "Isolde, it's from that legend…"
"It's no legend." Gawain said.
"Can someone catch me up here?" Aria asked with a smile.
"And I." Arthur said.
"Isolde was the only daughter of the last standing Sarmatia King, King Adair… A princess…" Gawain said.
"You have to start from the beginning." Lacelot said and Aria smiled.
"I don't know the beginning." Gawain said with a shrug.
"Let me." Dag said. "Alright once upon a time as most stories start there lived a king and a queen. The Sarmatia people loved them for they kept the land healthy happy and free from Roman rule no offense Arthur."
"None taken." He said with a smile.
"After trying for years the queen, queen Jocelin became with child… one day as she was riding through the country side with her husband early in her pregnancy she came across a grouping of boulders. Amongst those boulders she spotted a tiny yellow rose. She dismounted her horse and walked over enchanted by this flower… When King Adiar asked his wife what she found so interesting she said that she was amazed that such a beautiful flower could grow out of pure stone, that it must be a very diligent plant… She said 'Adiar, I wish to have a child with hair as gold as the light from the sun that shines on this bud, Eyes as green as the grass we walk on, skin as white as the clouds above, I want him or her to be as beautiful as this rose's yellow petals, I wish them to be as strong as the rock around it, and as stubborn as the flower which grows from the stone…' After saying this she plucked the rose and kept it as a reminder of what she wished her child to be…"
"What happened?" Aria asked with a smile.
"A few months later in the still of the night the queen went into labor… And a princess was born… She had hair so blonde it hurt the eyes of the king the first time he gazed upon it, it was nearly white…" the men looked to Aria to see her white blonde hair. "She had eyes as green as the darkest glen, and skin as white as the brightest clouds. She was also beautiful, so beautiful that anyone who looked at her loved her instantly…"
"I like this story." Aria said with a smile.
"Sadly this story is not a fairy tale and it has a rotten end… After years of fighting off the Romans, in the still of the night when the princess was just four, she awoke to the sounds of screaming and rushed to her parents room to find them being slaughtered by a group of romans. With her mother's last dying breath she yelled."
"Isolde run!"
"Isolde run." Dag said as Aria shook the foreign voice from her head. "The little princess ran through the castle the Romans hot on her heels. No one knows how she managed it at such a young age but she jumped onto the back of the horse and escaped into the night… Thus is the tale of the little lost Sarmatia princess." Dag said and Aria tilted her head.
"My mother used to tell my sisters that if the princess were to ever show her face again that every Sarmatia man would follow her into battle and reclaim the world from the Romans… That she would be the only person who would restore the natural order of things…" Lancelot said.
"Think she's real?" Jameson asked.
"Of course she was real, I remember the Romans coming to look for her in my village." Dag said.
"I wonder where she is…" Gawain said.
"Maybe she's sitting right here." Lancelot said looking to Aria who laughed.
"So blonde little Aria who has an uncanny connection with horses..." Jameson said and she looked to him with a smile. "Are you the little lost princess?"
"Do I look like a princess?" She asked still covered in blood from the heat of battle and they laughed. "I find it interesting that we just won a huge battle, our first huge battle, and we are talking of children's stories when we should be celebrating!"
"Here here!" Gawain and Galahad cheered.
"I'd like to make a toast." Arthur said standing. "To Aria." She smiled. "With whom without we would have never been able to pull this off."
"To Aria!" They cheered and she smiled as she raised her glass to him.
"I have to make a toast to you all whom without I would be married and probably having to fulfill wifely duties to Helms."
"To us!" They cheered.
"I have to say it's a shame." Dag said.
"Shame?" Aria inquired.
"It was a beautiful wedding." He said and she threw a roll at him.
"Shut up." She said.
"I almost didn't recognize you dressed all in white." Jameson said. "You looked like a little lady."
"I will slit your throat." She said and he laughed. "It was a glorious battle though…"
"Wait until Rome hears of this you all will be legends." Arthur said.
"Think they'll write scrolls on us?" Aria asked.
"Arthur and his knights…" Lancelot said before shaking his head. "Sounds bloody awful."
"Doesn't have a ring to it at all does it?" Arthur asked as dinner was brought in.
Aria felt something slip into her hand and she slowly looked down into her lap to see Tristan holding her hand in his. She smiled softly as she looked forward. Everyone was talking loud and joking around as music began to be played. She leaned into Tristan with a soft expression. They didn't have to talk, they knew what each other was thinking and both agreed in that moment. He let go of her hand knowing it wasn't wise to leave it there for long. Aria looked to Arthur who was watching her carefully.
"So tomorrow do we start rebuilding?" She asked.
"Yes… I should think so." Arthur said.
"Poor Venora…" Aria said.
"What about Venora?" Bors asked.
"Her fathers place was burned down, him with in it…" He looked off guilt etched in his expression. "Did you know?" She asked.
"No… I didn't…"
"It'll be one of the first places we tend to." Arthur said and Bors nodded.
"Arthur should we post guards at the tunnel?" She asked. "To make sure no one else sneaks through?"
"Already have." He said with a smile.
"Let's stop talking of business and start talking of pleasure." Lancelot said with a smile. "Think about how much tail we're going to get after this battle! Even Tristan will get some."
"Tristan you don't chase the girls?" Arthur asked.
"Sure he does, he's just discreet about." Aria said and Tristan looked to her.
"Discreet as he doesn't get any remember we live next to him." Gawain said with a smile. "That's okay Tristan Galahad hasn't gotten any either."
"Rough patch to be in…" He muttered and Aria just shook her head.
"Is that all that matters to you all sex?" She asked.
"Don't knock it just because you can't have it." Lancelot said.
"Don't knock her just because you can whenever you want…" Tristan said. "At this rate you won't die in battle you'll die curled up in a bed covered in sores earned from loose women with loose morals." Aria smiled softly.
"That is the most I have ever heard him say in one sitting." Gawain said wide eyed.
"I think he just used his words up for the week." Galahad said and the others laughed as Lancelot just glared at him.
"Thank you…" Aria said softly and Tristan just nodded as he handed her an apple. She smiled as she took it in hand and looked it over before handing him a pear. Arthur tilted his head as he watched the exchange. Something had shifted between Aria and Tristan and he wondered what it could be.
"Well the would be kiss got me thinking." He nodded. "Normally I wouldn't ask but you're the commanding officer and the boss of me so you would know."
"Go on."
"It's just I want to be sure where I stand with my freedoms…" she said quietly as she looked down at her hands. "I understand that I am to remain… Pure, and I am happy to do so." He nodded. "It's just, we live a dangerous life, and none of us can be sure of what tomorrow holds… I can die without ever having consummated a partnership… That's probably one of the good things about being pure I don't know what I'm missing." He smiled at her sensibility. "But…" She slowly looked to him "Arthur I don't know if I can die without ever having loved someone and be loved back…" He slowly nodded. "I hope I don't sound like a true woman when I say that."
"No you sound like a poet." He said and she gave a soft expression. "We can't risk you ever being with child…"
"I know…" she said softly as her head bowed. "I am grateful for what I am allowed." He looked her over to see her soft expression. "So very grateful…"
"If you find someone you love, you love them and be loved back." She slowly looked to him. "You have my blessing… But please I ask you never become with child… The consequences…" he shook his head. "Aria even I could not protect you from…" She smiled softly.
"Thank you Arthur…"
Arthur watched as Aria was taken away from Tristan to dance with Gawain. He studied Tristans face as he watched Gawain handle Aria. It was like a husband looking after his wife when dancing with a close friend. His eyes went to Tristans neck and stopped seeing Arias necklace. His eyes then went to Aria to see Tristans necklace rested around her neck.
His mind went to the wedding. The way Tristan had been standing right at the Altar. As if he wanted to see what it would be like to watch Aria come down the aisle. He remembered the way Aria had looked nervous as she glanced around until her eyes had settled on Tristan and the happiest of tears had streamed down her cheek.
Could it be?
-o-
AN: Anyone still reading this?