Chapter 3: New Arrivals
"Andraste, Tristan, Galahad!" Lancelot called, motioning us over to stand with the rest of the knights behind Arthur as he waited to greet a fellow Roman.
"So, who's this Roman?" I asked, holding my head high, shoulders thrown back in defiance to any who would dare deny me my place among these noble men.
"Arthur didn't say, only that they're important to him, family, I think." Bors replied, scratching his stubbly chin in thought, lips pursed. I nodded. We couldn't expect him to tell us everything. We had secrets from him about our pasts, our families; it was only fair he had his own. I watched, shifting my weight from foot to foot, as a smile broke out on Arthur's face when a lady walked out of the carriage, accompanied by a maidservant and a male escort.
"Calidia , my dear cousin, I welcome you to Hadrian's Wall." He beamed, spreading his arms wide. She smiled, a gentle, delicate turning of the corners of her pale lips. "These are my knights, they are like family to me and have fought beside me valiantly for many years." We nodded our heads in her direction as her dark eyes swept over the line, stopping on me for a long while. Suddenly, she gasped, mouth forming a perfect 'O'.
"Arthur, she is a Woad! And she is a woman!" Calidia protested, glaring angrily at me. I stared back at her, refusing to lower my gaze. She was no better than I, no matter that she was of Roman blood.
"And my sister-in-law; Andraste has fought beside me for years, it's because of her that we few stand here, alive and intact. It would please me if you would respect her as you would me, as she is your family as well as mine." He spoke, his voice soft as he gently scolded her. The woman had the nerve to blush with defiance at her king, her family.
"But, Arthur, it's her kind that killed all our people and your knights!" she argued, taking steps toward him, "I want her gone from the Wall! She has no right to be here!" Arthur's eyes slid over to me instantly and in response, I stepped forward.
"I will not speak to you with the courtesies I use to address my king, nor will I deem to associate you with him, but mark this, child, I am older than you, and deserve that respect, Woad or not. I have saved their lives more times than I'd care to remember; I have risked my own to find information to aid us in battle against the Saxons; He fell in love with my sister, your queen, and you would do well to remember all this I have said, for I will not repeat it. If you wish to disrespect not only myself and my family, but Arthur as well, then please, by all means, continue with this slander," I paused to take a calming breath, my eyes fixed her with a hard glare, "but do not think for a moment that I will stand idly by and allow you to say such things in my presence." Arthur placed a hand on my shoulder and I grasped it with one of my own. Guinevere appeared at my other side, arm laced through mine, and amplified my stony gaze with her own.
"Do not speak ill of my people, lady. I am your queen, deserving of your respect. I am also your family, deserving of kind words, not these bitter insults you spout." She hissed through her teeth, a bad habit that came in handy when she wanted to look fierce and angry, like a caged animal. I stepped back and was enfolded by the knights, Tristan at my left and Lancelot at my right; Gawain and Galahad stood on either side of them, and Dagonet and Bors, tall as they are, stood behind me.
"Calidia, it would be wise, while you are here, to keep slanderous comments about my people to yourself." He nodded, gentle scolding over with, he turned to us and dismissed us. "Andraste, before you go, I would very much appreciate your presence tonight at the table as we are celebrating the safe arrival of my cousin." The look he shot me told me that, although it was my choice, and he'd understand if I denied, he wanted me there so that she could see she was wrong and to show her that we are not all what stories claim us to be.
"Of course, brother, I will attend." I smiled, nodding my head.
"Thank you, sister." He beamed, hugging me briefly before sending me off with Guin to prepare. Her arm still linked through mine, we walked in silence to her chambers where her maidservants awaited us.
"Here you are, my ladies, we've pulled a steaming bath for you both and laced them each with pine and lavender." One spoke softly, face partially hidden by her hair. We nodded in thanks and disrobed. I stepped into my second bath of the day, but this was more relaxing than the first. It seemed as if the scented, steamy waters were whisking away all my aggravations. My sister and I let out simultaneous sighs as the women washed our hair and scrubbed us clean. Long ago they stopped trying to remove my tattoos and now admired them as they went about their duties. The ones on my face began with an upside down crescent moon; leading away from it were the swirls and knots of our culture, framing my face and continuing over my cheek bones, stopping beneath my eyes, forming a sort of mask. The rest of my body was covered in ribbon-like adornments, the lines flowing fluidly as a river, and on my back, a rose whose stems ended at the small of my back to create a knot.
"Andy, why did you get those permanently etched into your skin?" Guin asked, her head lolling to the side as her servant massaged oils into her shoulders and back.
"I wanted to always be connected to my people, no matter where I go or whom I marry, should I marry." I replied with a smirk.
"You will marry, Andraste, and I have a feeling I know who he is." She winked and giggled, attempting to make a stoic face. I laughed and threw a soap bar at her.
"Do not jest, sister! Tristan will not marry, and least of all not me." I smiled softly, a form of sorrow seeping into my bones. "No, he will never marry a woman like me. I am Woad, part of a people he has hated and killed and who have killed his brothers in arms for years. I would not expect him to marry a Woad woman, nor would I ask it of him."
"Sister, dear, you will marry, and I do not think you give him the credit he deserves. He will marry, I know the woman he wishes to marry. She's beautiful, kind, compassionate, and strong willed. Perfect for him, I think." She smiled mischievously, glancing my way before bursting into giggles.
"I care not of what she's like nor for who she is, but whoever she may be, she is lucky to have him wanting her." I replied coldly, dunking my head underwater to wash the soap and oils out before stepping out of my bath and being wrapped in towels and blankets to dry.
"My lady, your dress is on the bed, do you need help?"
"No, but thank you, Evana." I smiled, stepping over to the appointed bed and slid on the silk chemise, lacing up the bodice in the back to a comfortable tightness. Afterwards, I slipped the emerald velvet dress over my head, allowing it to glide along my skin with gentle caresses. Tying the gold and silver sash around my waist, I slipped the gilt bracelets onto my wrists and the torque around my neck. Guinevere smiled softly as she put on her own gilt accessories. She came over to me and placed something on my head, sliding it beneath my crimson locks.
"Father would want you to wear this, as you were meant to." I looked in the mirror to the side of me and saw the gold tiara with small emeralds encrusted into the four main points, signifying the four elements, in a knot carved into the metal.
"Thank you, sister." I smiled softly, eyes glistening.
"You're welcome, now, let us go enjoy the festivities." She beamed, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of our room, down the halls and to the room of the round table.