We fired at the wings of the ranks, as Arthur had ordered us, and as more and more Saxons fell, causing the rest of them to cluster together, applying more weight to the ice, the plan appeared to work. Yet this did not help the fact that we were faced with an ever-advancing army.
However, we all knew better then to expect that it was going to be this easy. And it was only moments later that we realized exactly that.
The Saxons clustered just as expected, however what we did not expect was that the ice appeared to be sustaining the weight.
As I continued to fire I could hear from the other side that the Saxon leaders were giving orders to their men to hold the ranks. One could only hope that the men would not oblige.
The more we fired the more they clustered and the more the leader got angry with them. And yet the ice showed no sign of giving way.
And then it came
"It's not going to break," Arthur said as he bent down to lay down the bow and to pick up Excalibur. "Back! Fall back! Prepare for combat!"
At these words, we all dropped our bows and picked up the swords that had been laid out before us, by Jols before he had left with the others. We moved a few places back, firmly planting our feet on the ice and preparing for the collision that was sure to come.
I looked to Gawain and saw that he had taken up a club, rather than the sword. He took a few paces back and looked to me, in order to make sure that I was still there. I gave him a small smile of reassurance, and that was when I saw it.
I looked to Dagonet and saw the look on his face; I knew instantly that he was planning something. I also knew that what ever it was he was not planning to survive it.
I wasted no time. Taking two quick steps to Gawain, I reached up and planted a hard kiss on his lips.
Breaking the kiss as quickly as I had given it, I leaned up and whispered in his ear, "I love you, please forgive me."
I moved quickly moved forward before anyone could stop me and took up a shield, just as Dag lay down his sword and took up his axe. As he, with a battle cry, ran out on the field, I followed him close on his heels.
"MERENWEN!!" I heard Gawain scream. Then came something that I had not expected. It was Lancelot screaming a name as well, however it was not my name, but the name of his sister, Luthien. I looked over and saw that she had also followed us out onto the ice.
Dagonet quickly reached the centre of the lake and began to hack away at the ice. Luthien and I both reached him not to long after that, and immediately used both shields to protect him from the incoming arrows.
"What are you two doing? Get back!" he told us as he tried to push us away, and as he did we both fell back, which resulted in Dagonet receiving an arrow to his shoulder and falling himself, just missing us both.
"Dag! Come on, get up! You have to finish this: we will shield you. DAG!" I yelled at him as I pulled him up onto his feet and once again shielded him from any incoming arrows.
After three hits the ice finally broke, and although no more arrows found their target in his body, the blood loss from the first hit, had taken its toll on Dagonet, and when the ice began to break all around us, he remained still. Luthien and I both tried to pull him back to the safety of the others but the dead weight of Dag was too much and he fell forward. I used all my weight to pull him back, and to keep him from falling into the water, but it was no use.
I felt an incredible pull in my arm as he fell forward, pulling Luthien and with him.
I watched in horror as Luthien fell into the water after him. I somehow managed to stay on land and saw that Gawain had grabbed me around the waist as Bors, Lancelot and Arthur worked on getting him them out of the water.
"Do not let go of him!" Gawain shouted from behind me. I nodded and held on with all my strength.
It seemed like an age before they had gotten them out.
Once they were both back on the ice, I mustered all my strength to get up, grab a shield and block any arrows as the men took Luthien and Dagonet back to the safety of the others.
By now however the waves of arrows coming from the Saxons were less as they struggled to stay on the ice. It was clear that Dagonet's idea had been the right one, but at what price?
When we were back in the safety of the group, I let my guard down, and felt my legs give way.
"MERENWEN!!" I heard Gawain yell for the second time as he caught me before I hit the hard ice. I looked up into his face to see him looking down at me in concern before I felt darkness take hold of me.