I woke up and I was in my tent, bandages were across my back and my thigh. I got up and walked outside, I had to walk slowly my back was killing me.
"She's very lucky that it did not slice through her spine. Though all the scars on her back are very mysterious I would like to know where she got them," Dag said to the knights sitting around the fire. I walked over to them and sat down next to them.
"You should not be up, you need to rest," Arthur said and I shrugged.
"I am fine,' I replied and then I noticed all the knights eyes were on me, I smiled meekly. They sat and talked for awhile about important pressing information. I got up after awhile and went back to my tent. They talked in whispers when I left, but I could still hear them. They thought I went to sleep, but I didn't.
"Where is she from?" I heard Tristan asked and everyone was silent.
"I don't think she has a home. She said she traveled for most of her life," Dag said and then there was silence.
"Do you believe her?" Bors asked.
"She hasn't given us a reason not to," Arthur replied and I felt like running away right there. I was lying to these people, I was lying. They trust me and I am lying to their faces. Then tell them the truth! Another part of me screamed at myself. I shook my head, no one is to know.
I fell asleep before the sun set and woke up after it rose. I left the tent and noticed that most of the villagers were packing up. I grabbed my stuff out of my tent and then took it down. Tristan came over to help me.
"Thank you," I said when we finished, Arthur then came over.
"Come," He said to me, I grabbed my stuff and followed him. He led me to a wagon where a couple women were sitting. One of them was a Woad, I glared at her. Her kind had killed my eldest brother. "You'll be riding in this with Guinevere."
"Right," I said, I also learned from my instructors never to complain. I threw my bags into the wagon. I noticed that the entire camp had packed up and they were starting to head out. I climbed into the wagon.
I rode into the wagon until I was nearly ready to kill myself from being holed up for so long. My legs were cramped and I felt claustrophobic. I stuck my head out of the wagon and saw Dag riding close by.
"Dag!" I called and he rode over to me, "Can I ride with you?" I asked and he nodded. I climbed on in front of him and took a huge breath of fresh air.
"Well," Lancelot said riding up besides us, "Looks like I have a little competition." He smirked at me and I looked away from him. Sure he was cute, but I didn't like how he came on so strong. I had my fair of stupid men and I didn't feel like getting mixed up with another one so soon.
"How are you wounds?" Dag asked me and I shrugged.
"They are all right," I replied petting his horse. His horse neighed in appreciation from my affection.
I rode with Dag until Arthur said we would camp. I climbed off his horse first and then he followed. I pitched my tent and then Lancelot came over, I supposed he thought he could woo me.
"You are lovely with your long red curls and tanned face. Your green eyes piercing anything close," He said and I shook my head.
"Go away Lancelot," I said throwing my bags into my tent.
"I will not give up," He said smiling, he turned around and left. I supposed he meant he would not give up till he bedded me. I shook my head and heard a howling in the forest. My head perked up and I smiled. My friends! I snuck away from the camp and walked silently into the woods. The wolf pack was waiting for me, I knelt and they surrounded me.
"I missed you guys," I whispered, "They won't let me leave." When I said that one of them growled. "No, no. They're just worried I'd be hurt." I heard a twig snap behind me. "Go." The wolves ran into the wolves. With out moving or seeming like I noticed I fished a dagger out of my boots. I turned around quickly ready to throw the dagger at who ever was there. It was just Gawain.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Are you following me?" I asked arching my eyebrow, he shook his head violently.
"No, I was just checking that you were all right," He replied, I stood up and put my dagger away.
"I would have been fine. I'm not helpless," I replied as we walked back into camp.
"Arthur would have had my head if something happened to you on my watch," He said and I nodded. I went into my tent. I came out when I smelt food cooking, Bors was cooking something over the fire. I walked over to him and sat down next to him.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
"Yes, fetch me the spices in my tent. That'd be a darling," He said smiling, I went into his tent and grabbed his spices. I came back out and Tristan, Galahad, Arthur and Gawain had come to sit next to the fire. I handed Bors his spices and sat down on the ground.
"So Dorinda, have you been in these lands for awhile?" Arthur asked and I shook my head.
"A couple weeks," I replied nonchalantly, "It's very beautiful."
"Indeed it is. You should see our home land, it is much prettier," Galahad said and I nodded. We ate soon after that and after quieted because of it. It was awkward, every time I looked up from my food at least one of the knights was looking at me. It got to the point that I could not take it any longer. I got up and went into my tent.
The next day came too quickly, I once again asked Dag if I could ride with him and he nodded but we weren't heading out yet so I grabbed an apple out of one of the wagons and walked to the small clearing where the horses were picketed. I fed it to his horse and then I lied down on the ground. I stared up at the sky watching the clouds move and mesh together. I put my hands behind my head and sighed, Dag's horse nudge my side and I sat up, Lancelot was coming towards me with a grin on his face.
"What do you want?" I asked him when he was close enough.
"I have to want something to see my horse?" He asked slightly amused, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Go away," I said when I noticed he was staring at me, "I don't like you."
"Well I like a challenge," He said softly brushing his horse down. He soon left when I ignored him. I lay in the grass until it started to rain lightly. I ran back laughing to the camp. All the knights looked up at me when they noticed I was laughing. I stopped and walked softly into the camp.
"It's raining," I replied softly when they gave me quizzical looks. Not much could make me happy but when it rained, I felt alive. I felt free, wet and awake. Bors smiled and the other knights continued on what they were doing.
"Can you actually wield that sword of yours?" Dagonet asked and I paused.
"Yes," I replied quietly my mood dampening. I knew how to defend myself with almost every weapon but I wasn't great. I wasn't great enough to beat him or any of the knights. I only knew how to defend myself with the sword, it didn't really amuse me much…the sword that is. It was heavy and looked ugly. I rather daggers or fists.
"Would you care to spar then?" He asked and I shook my head violently.
"I know how to use it but I am not good with it and I'm still hurt," I replied.
"Nonsense, you seem do being heeling quickly and no pain no game," He said, "I will go easy on you."
"I don't really feel-," I started to say but Gawain handed me my sword which he got from my tent. Dagonet drew his sword and assumed the ready position. I followed suit and our blades crossed. He swung high and then cut low. I jumped up bringing my sword down but he blocked. I then twisted and tried for his legs but he blocked that too. He started slashing the air and I block every single one of them except on the last blow he knocked my blade out of my hands. He didn't notice and continued to slash at me, I heard the knights yelling at him but he had all ready swung his sword towards me. I did a back handspring to get out of the way. He still managed to knick my stomach a little. But I didn't falter; it was only a minor scratch that didn't bleed too much.
"Are you all right?" Dagonet asked me with wide eyes, "I'm sorry I didn't know that I knocked your sword away I would've stopped."
"It's all right," I replied pressing my hand against the cut.
"You're hurt," Lancelot said coming towards me. I put my hand out to stop him from coming any closer and trying to touch me.
"I am fine," I replied gritting my teeth, "Don't even think about touching me."
"But it is so fun to think about you," He said smiling and I shook my head.
"Come we will get that bandaged," Dagonet said motioning for me to follow him.
"I think not, for you to do that I would have to take my clothes off," I said shaking my head.
"Then let me bring you to another healer," He said and I nodded. He led me back to the wagon that I had first ridden in