Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Tamura
Chapter 9
Dagonet had agreed to stay with Arthur to fight the Saxons. When Jols came and woke them to show Saxon army camped just beyond the wall, it only confirmed the need to stay and fight. The other knights disagreed. They believed that they had done enough fighting. Tamura couldn't blame them. She was battle weary herself, but she couldn't leave Arthur and the Woads to face the Saxons alone.
Lucan was unhappy to passed into the wagon with Vanora's children. He wanted to stay and fight. They were his people too. Tamura explained that yes, he was a fighter, and a good one, but that she and Dagonet had been fighting all their lives, that it was all they knew how to do, and that they would be very worried about him being in foray, to the point that they wouldn't be able to fight themselves. He seemed unconvinced but agreed to go anyway.
The other knights set out. They were sad to leave Arthur, Dagonet, and Tamura behind but didn't feel it was their battle to fight. Arthur, Dagonet, and Tamura dressed in full battle armor, waited on their horses at the top of the hill over looking both the caravan of people leaving, but also the Saxon army on the other side of the wall. They watched as Bors circled his horse around and screamed the Sarmatian battle cry to them. They too were sad to no longer fight with their brothers.
Arthur rode out through the gate. He wanted to see the Saxon leader face to face. His horse danced to see the tall bearded man. He looked battle weary almost.
"Every where I go on this wretched island I hear your name, spoken in whispers and half tones like you were a god. But you are no more god like than this beast you ride." The Saxon stated.
"Speak your terms Saxon." Was Arthur's only answer.
"The Romans have left you. Who are you fighting for?"
"I fight for a cause beyond Rome's or your understanding."
"You came to beg a truce. You should be on your knees."
"I came see your face, so that I alone may find you on the battlefield. And you would do well to mark mine, Saxon, for it shall be the last thing you see on this earth." With that Arthur turned and went back through the gate in the wall. He rejoined Dagonet and Tamura again on the hill.
As Arthur reached the knights, the Saxon drums began to beat once again. Below them on the road, the knights' horses reacted violently, their noise, and prancing drawing the attention of those on the hill. The quieted their mounts and turned to look at one another. They too realized that they could not let Arthur and the others fight alone. They were never meant to return home. Arthur had chosen to lead the Woads, then they would serve him as they always had. The dismounted and donned their armor and joined the three on the hill. It was time for one last battle.
The battle itself raged on for what seemed like hours. There were skirmishes and all out slaughters with the Saxons. Usually the knights and Woads came out ahead, especially since they had a cause worth fighting for. They were fighting for their home. The Saxons were not easy targets though. They fought hard, and seemingly without fear. In the end though, they were defeated completely, including their leader, but there were losses on the other side as well. Many of the Woads fell to Saxon swords simply because they did not make their lives on fighting, as the Saxons and the knights had.
When the battle was done, the counted their number and found Tristan and Lancelot gone from their ranks. The knights and Arthur mourned the loss of their companions. Tamura broke down, collapsing into Dagonet arms. Lancelot had been a friend and they had always been close. It was hard to see them lost, especially after losing so many over the years. She fervently hoped that they never had to fight again. She was so tired of it.
The next day was spent clearing the field of the dead. The Saxons were taken back behind the wall, and burned in a bonfire. They didn't know their burial customs and they didn't care. Tristan and Lancelot were laid to rest in their cemetery. Their horses were set free after the words were spoken and the knights at peace. They would never have to see battle again, like their owners.
A month later there was a ceremony on the hill over looking the ocean. Arthur wed Guinevere. The knights decided to stay and live out their lives there on the island with Arthur and build their own kingdom.
"Now I'm really going to have to marry your mother." Bors said looking first from Arthur and Guinevere to Dagonet and Tamura, who had stood with them.
"As if I'd have you." Vanora commented from his shoulder, taking the baby from his arms.
Dagonet placed a hand on Lucan's shoulder as they stepped back to allow their new king and queen to greet their people. Tamura wrapped an arm around his waist and put her other hand on Lucan's other shoulder. He looked up at them both, happy to have such a loving couple to care for him. His own parents were dead, that's how he had originally been captured. He knew that they would be good parents to him, that they would teach him to ride, to fight, to heal with herbs, to be the best man he could be, and one day he would pass that on to his own children. He noticed that Tamura had a far away look in her eyes. He tugged on Dagonet's hand and motioned to her.
"Is Mama ok?" Lucan asked. Dagonet was surprised to hear him call his wife 'mama'.
"Yes son, she is fine." Lucan looked unsure for a minute but glanced up again, this time to see tears in her eyes.
"Are you sure, Papa?"
"I'm fine Lucan. I have something to tell you both though." They both looked at her questioningly. "I'm going to have a baby. How would you like to be a big brother, Lucan?" He thought about it for a minute, before he let out a whoop of joy. Dagonet pulled her close and kissed her soundly, his silent way of stating his own approval.