My Sweet Lancelot
By ForestMoon
Chapter 5 – Star
The unpleasant smell of the used corn sack over my head was starting to burn my nostrils. I tried to pay attention to the turns and stops somehow hopeful that I would escape and find my way back. It just seemed too erratic to memorise. I definitely had no idea where they were going. Off road, on road, it all felt just as bumpy as the next. My behind was not too impressed with the accommodations.
It was a very long time before we stopped and the men became rowdy. I felt one of them yank me out the carriage and lead me down a slope. Next thing I know, I'm in some dark room. The sack is suddenly pulled off my face, the friction burning the tip of my noise.
A man unties my hands then tosses me to the ground giving me an unnerving wink. The weirdest thought crossed my mind, 'in your dreams pal.' Not sure where that came from.
I kept my eyes on him until he left the room never backing down. Once he was gone I quickly looked around adjusting my eyes to the darkness. The place stunk worse than the corn sack!
In the corner I noticed movement and then I heard the pigs. Great.
Feeling around in the room I tried to find a window or back door. There were two windows but they were shut closed. No back door much to my dismay. I slumped down the ground feeling tired and feint remembering that I had not eaten yet and it had to be midday by now.
As I sat there, a cold wet damp reached my skin. How perfect was that, I was sitting in some pig slosh. "Arrg!" I moaned to myself and jumped up. I swear the pigs were laughing at me.
Soon I managed to find some dry grass, or at least I hoped it was dry grass, and lay down to recover my strength. I tried very hard not to fall asleep but my eyelids had a mind of their own and I was exhausted.
I awoke to the sound of squealing pigs. Two men were now in the room with me and had just caught a pig. I assumed it was dinner. The door was not completely closed and I could tell it was nearing sunset outside. Watching the men, I plotted my escape out the door but as I tried to stand, I fell back down again. My entire leg was numb, I must have slept oddly. The sensation was slowly returning but not before the men left closing and locking the door behind them.
How useless did I feel just then. I got myself captured, failed to escape, I'm starving and the worst of it was the awful smell in this room. The pigs were very thrilled for my company.
A while later the door opened again. Another man, I did not recognise, entered holding a lantern in one hand and a plate of food in the other. He put the lantern down then brought me the food holding it inches in front of me.
I reached out to take it then he quickly pulled it away and smiled. "Ah-ah-ah." He said and looked over to the door, I noticed another man was standing there. They gave each other a smile and the other man closed the door.
A really horrible feeling entered my gut. The man held the food in front of me again this time caressing my face.
"You want it? Then you gotta earn it sweetness." He laughed licking his lips.
I felt numb, horrified, sick to my stomach—hungry.
Then, from the emptiness inside me, a storm began to brew. The man placed the food down near me and stoked my face. I was frozen unable to react. The storm grew in intensity—I was not afraid, or numb anymore—I was angry.
A voice inside my head screamed at me, I was sure it sounded just like Lancelot. 'Fight' it said. In my mind I screamed back in protest unable to find the words.
The man pushed me back onto the floor, I did not resist. As my dress began to slide up something in me snapped. The voice in my head grew louder, 'fight damn you!'
I was not sure how I did it but in a blur of fast sudden movements, much to the man's surprise, I quickly had him pinned under me. My one hand was over his mouth and the other, well, it was somewhere ensuring his cooperation.
Slowly I lifted my hand from his mouth giving an encouraging squeeze with the other hand. The man's eyes began to fill with tears and he bit his lip. I knew I had only a few moments to reach before he called out to the others.
I reached for the plate of food and with more force than I ever thought I was capable of, I smashed the metal bowl into his face rendering him unconscious. Not leaving anything to chance, I torn off a piece of my clothing and began tying his hands and feet together. It was not easy to tear the cloth, so I used his belt and various parts of his clothing to get the job done.
Just to be funny, who knows why, I stuffed his mouth with some of the pig sloth, a piece of cloth then bound another piece around. And all the while I made the occasional moan of pleasure just in case the other man was listening in.
It suddenly occurred to me that it was a brilliant escape and I was not quite sure how I came to think of it. I collected the metal bowl and a handful of pig sloth, dimmed the lantern then walked up to the door. I really hoped that there was just one other man outside or I was in trouble.
I knocked and the door opened.
"Took you long enough." The man said as he stepped in. "Hope you did not break her too much and left some for..."
In his eyes—pig slosh. Then with less force than before but still packing a punch, I slammed the bowl into his face. He stumbled but did not go down. I reactively panicked and kicked him in the knee causing it crack. He fell down and I ran hearing him call out in pain behind me.
I ran in the dark pumped up on adrenaline. I had no idea where I was going but I knew I had to get away. My feet guided me and my hands aided my balance. I stopped for mere moments just to listen to the noises.
They were chasing me. Over my racing heart I could hear them—angry. I knew if I did not continue to run, they would surely catch me and my fate would be worse. I had no idea where I was or where to run to. I looked up and saw a bright star. It floated in the sky before me away from the angry men so I followed it. That star was my lifeline.
I was so determined to get away that I did not notice the scratches on my arms and face or the cold dampness on my feet. I ran, ran as if my life depended on it.
Eventually, I stumbled. I tried to get to my feet but my legs would no longer carry me. The ground was dry dirt and I could tell it was more open than before. I must have found the road.
The men were almost upon me. As fast as I ran, they were faster. I was losing my focus unable to now find where the sounds were coming from. I heard voices and another noise I could not quite place.
Crawling further into the road with my last ounce of strength, I looked once more up at the star that guided me and a cloud drifted over it. It was hopeless now.
The angry men broke free of the tall trees and laughed. There were three of them and they seemed rather proud to have caught me, again. So preoccupied with their victory, discussing ways to punish me, they did not hear the approaching hooves.
As the one man looked up, a horse and rider came charging in getting a surprise attack. A sword struck the man's chest and he fell to the floor beside me. His cold dead eyes looked past me into the darkness and I could feel myself drifting away.
Metal on metal, insults and a lot of movement buzzed around me. I lay down and placed my head on my arm. I felt safe in the chaos.
Suddenly it was quiet. A warm hand reached down and lifted my face. I recognised those eyes. "Lancelot."
"I am here, you are safe now." He replied in a calm voice. He lifted me up and carried me to his horse, as we walked I asked him, "how did you find me?"
He looked up and I followed his eyes. "I had a star guide me." He said.
The clouds were gone and true enough we were both looking at the same bright star. He helped me get onto his horse and got on as well sitting behind me. He held me tight as I finally gave in to the darkness of my consciousness.
____________________
Wet, cold, a sharp pain throbbing in my head. Unfamiliar voices. People helped me up and guided me to a shelter out of the rain. They were calling me by a name—my name?
A strong smell filled my nostrils and I suddenly snapped into focus.
"There. She's coming too." A woman's voice said.
I looked around and I was someplace else. "Where am I?" I asked not recognising my surroundings.
The woman leaned in close to me. "Sweaty, you slipped on a rock and hit your head. That rain storm came out of nowhere. Are you alright?"
It all began making sense now. I knew exactly where I was. England, the year—two thousand and eight. I was part of a tour group visiting the Hadrias Wall.
It had been all in my head.
I got up and walked in the rain over to a crumpled piece of wall much to the group's protest. Stroking it gently and recalled my dream. "Only a dream." I mumbled to myself.
The tour guide encouraged me to return to the shelter and then we sat there for several minutes waiting for the rain to stop. I looked out at the falling drops and as if to say goodbye, a small bright glare bounced off a coin washed out of the sand by the rain. It reminded me of the star.
I was sad to have to leave. This would definitely be one trip I would always remember.
The End.
Disclaimer: This is Fan Fiction – I only own the character portrayed as the Lady of the Lake known as Kera. Any similarities to other persons, places or events is purely coincidental.