New Chances

He swung his sword towards my head, ducking low I rolled to his right side, the weight of the sword and the force of his swing had thrown him to his left and left his back wide open to attack. I quickly jabbed him and he leaped forward in pain. I started laughing as Artie once again turned to face me, his wooden training sword discarded to the floor and his brow crinkled in annoyance.

'I win again Sire.' I said as he rubbed his back.

'By God Lance that hurt. How do you do that?'

'It is rather simple, you need to work on your technique, you leave yourself wide open to attacks'

He was wincing at the pain and he jumped out of the training ring and strolled across the yard to where another squire named Rory was waiting, handing him a goblet of water. I followed and was handed one also, although I myself was meant to be a squire I ended up just being Arties sparring partner. Rory was a young irish boy who wanted to be a knight, he respected me as though I too was a knight, like Arthur.

'Good practice today sires. You both fought valiantly' He said.

'Rory, how many times, you do not have to refer to me as Sire, I am not above you, I am a squire also.' I told him smiling, it always pleased me. It felt so different from my life a year ago when Artie had saved me, I was respected here, mainly because I could easily defeat any knight in battle. Whether it was a sword fight or a fist fight, I was pretty much always triumphant.

'Not for much longer from what I hear' He replied. I stopped drinking and raised an eyebrow at him. Artie had returned to the training ring and was currently sparring with a dummy. Grunting and shouting as he executed his moves poorly, once again leaving himself wide open for attack.

'What do you mean?' I placed my goblet onto the bench and looked at the young boy before me.

'Well since the Prince here is due to marry his Princess Guinevere next month, the King needs someone to lead the expedition to Lunatog, to seize the kingdom. From what I have heard being said in the servants quarters, he was going to ask you.' I was stunned. Ask me? To lead an expedition? I said as much to Rory who shrugged. 'Aye, but I have said too much, it is up to the King to ask you. I am sorry for telling you' He ducked his head in shame as I smiled happily, I was shocked. I am not even a knight, only knights lead expeditions, not only that but I am a woman. I shook my head in disbelief.

'It is not important Rory, I thank you for informing me, although it is a shock. He probably won't ask me but if he does, I shall be sure to act surprised.' I leant forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and giggled again as I saw a blush creep across his face as he quickly busied himself with our equipment. 'Arthur, want some help?' I called as I jogged back over to the training ring. He nodded and I spent the next hour trying to show him how to fight without a blind spot, without much luck. Before long Rory came over to us and told us that we were needed in the throne room. Immediately. Taking off our armour and changing back into our robes we hurried inside.

We entered the throne room, where Uther stood discussing something in hushed tones with a young knight, he was tall and had tanned skin. He also seemed to have a dead squirrel on his head. Artie cleared his throat and both Uther and his guest turned to us. 'Ah. Arthur, Santana. Please meet Sir Mordred Puckerman, he is son to King Lot, he and his brother Agrafinn have come to us, asking us for aide against another Kingdom.' We shook his hand.

'Call me Puck' He said, smirking and winking at me, eyes never leaving my chest.

'Eyes are up here Puckerman.' I growled.

'Santana Lancelot and my son Arthur Pendragon.' Uther said smiling at me, he knew that I had a short temper and always found it amusing whenever I tore into boys who became greedy when they saw a female. The three of us knew that Puck had no chance as I was a known womaniser within the town. It's not that I deliberately go through women, it's just that I do not feel anything romantic towards them, so I find that they are good for relieving tension.

'Nice to meet you Puck. Father, what was the emergency? Santana and I were in the middle of training.' Artie asked.

'Well, I was training, Arthur was getting killed.' I chuckled as Artie shot me a glare.

'Hehe well, Arthur, Santana. As I said, Mordred and his brother came looking for our aide. Their Kingdom is having trouble with another, by the name of Lunatog. Arthur, as you know I would usually ask you to lead a small group of our finest knights to see King Lot and then onto Lunatog, to stop them, but due to your impending wedding, I decided to ask someone else.' He turned to me. 'Santana. Would you care to lead this expediton?'

Dear God. It actually happened. 'But Sire, I am not a Knight...'

'She is a woman!' Puck declared. 'Women do not fight. Let alone lead good men to their deaths.' He scowled looking down his large nose at me.

I glared at him. 'Perdón Squirrel Boy. Yo puedo patear el culo excesivamente blindado de aquí a España. ¿Quieres que me tratar? No me gusta!' I ranted at him. Artie chuckled and pulled me away while Puck stared back seeming almost terrified.

'I understand your confusion Mordred, but in fact Santana here is one of the most brave and skilled fighters in the entire Kingdom, it would be an insult to even think of not asking her to lead, and yes she may be a woman, and not yet a knight, but I am sure that given the chance she could succeed in aiding you with what you require. It is her, or no-one.'

'I do not believe my father would approve your highness, that is all...' He said looking at me warily as though I was a wild bear that was watching him, waiting to attack.

'I am sure your father would agree with me once he sees her in battle, now, the decision is up to her. Santana?' They all turned to face me, Artie and Uther looking expectant and hopeful, while Puck looked wary. Not wanting to disappoint my King I nodded and smiled.

'When do we leave?' I asked smirking at Puck who groaned.

'Excellent, you can leave at dawn, go get some rest, I shall inform the others immediately.' Uther said as he whacked me on the back, to him, it was as though I was just another son, and he was just as proud of me as he was of Artie who also grinned and congratulated me. I bowed and left the room waving smugly at Puck as he scowled at me, this was going to be fun.

I retreated to my bed chambers where I procceeded to bathe, soaking in the metal tub I thought about the road ahead of me, I had gone from a measly peasant, to leading a band of brave and noble knights into battle for my King, and I was immensly proud. After my bath I ate the food left out for me. It was some kind of stew and some stale bread along with some mead to help wash it down. Quite a nice meal considering the slop that was usually served in the castle. We could use a new cook. One that actually knew what humans ate, and not wild boars. After I had eaten I called for Quinn, who was effectively my maid, to help me into my night clothes. Quinn was a fun girl, she often helped me with my... er, tension as she was very pretty. She would help me prepare for the day, bringing me breakfast, laying out my robes for me and helping into my armour for training. Then at night she would draw my bath, tend to any wounds I had sustained and help me again prepare for bed.

'Is it true?' She asked after I was dressed and climbing into bed.

'Is what true?' I replied, knowing full well what she meant.

'Is it true that you are to lead those men to Lunatog? To fight and seize the Kingdom?'

'Aye. I am to leave at dawn. I hope that isn't too early to call upon your services?'

'No it would be fine. Why did you not tell me? I have heard these whispers for days, ever since that handsome Prince came.'

'You think he is handsome? What about that dead creature perched upon his head?'

She crinkled her brow in confusion. 'Not him, Miss. His Brother Agrafinn?'

'Oh, I have not met him yet.'

'You still have not answered my question.'

'Mind your tone Quinn. I did not tell you as I myself only found out a few hours ago, just before my bath, and I knew you were going to ask me, considering you are the biggest gossip this castle has seen since Mrs. Avril passed.'

She scowled at me. 'You stay safe though Miss. Without you I do not know what I would do.'

I smirked at her. 'Is that your way of saying that you shall miss me?'

She kissed me softly. Her eyes shut tight as she gently cupped my face. 'Aye' She said once she pulled away. 'So you better return to me, or I will come for you.'

'Is that a threat or a promise?' I winked, she smacked my arm playfully.

'Not like that. Although, since you may be gone for a few months...' She trailed off biting her lip and looking at me through dark lashes.

'Lock the door then.' I giggled as she ran to the heavy wooden door bolting it shut before hurrying back to me and my bed.

/.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../

-Brittany-

It was late when we arrived at the castle, the soft glow of torches visible as we crested over the moutainside towards Camelot. It was a majestic Kingdom, one of the largest and proudest in all the land, rivalled only by my own Kingdom, Carmelide and that of King Lot, Lothian. Between us we owned most of the smaller Kingdoms within.

When my carriage stopped outside the palace, Elizabeth opened the door and helped me out onto the gravel. We were met by 4 guards who escorted me into the throne room. I was sad, I had managed to convince my mother that we should wait a year before marrying me to Arthur, so that I could grow up a little more. After all I was to bear him an heir and I at least wanted to be a little more grown up. My parents considered 16 to be old enough and so now I was to be moved to Camelot and in a few weeks I was to become Guinevere Brittany Pendragon. When we reached the throne room I was greeted by King Uther and Prince Arthur. He was older than me by a few years at 19 and once Uther had passed on Arthur would be King, making me his Queen. To say that I was nervous would be an understatment.

We dined together, Uther and Arthur discussing an expedition that would take place tomorrow, while I sat there pushing my food around. They both called me Guinevere. Urg. I wished that Mercy was here, so that I could have a friend my own age to talk to and help me get through this terrible marriage. It wasn't that I did not like Arthur, who has insisted upon my calling him Artie, it is simply that I believe in love. I believe that marriage is a symbol of your love for someone. That it was what showed you truly cared.

After dinner a maid named Rachel showed me to my room, Elizabeth was in the same room as me but cordoned off by another door at the side. Rachel explained that she was at out beck and call at any hour of the day and that I simply needed to ring a bell on the wall to call her to my room. She started babbling about something but I zoned out, she was really lively and gave me a headace, eventually she left and I sat on my bed head in hands sobbing in despair. Elizabeth came and sat with me, holding me close and comforting me as I cried myself into a deep slumber. I was in Camelot now, and like it or not, I was to be married.

/.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../

-Santana-

I woke up alone this morning. Quinn had left early this morning, knowing that I like to be alone, there are no romantic feelings between us, it is simply easier for me to have fun with her rather than go to a tavern or a whorehouse for women. I ate the meager breakfast of an apple and some dry grain and Quinn returned to help me prepare for the trip. After suiting up I went to the stables to get my horse, Sue. She was white and rather tempermental, but a rather good horse overrall, she wa fast and did not spook easy. I then went to the castle gates where the rest of the knights were heading to. Puck and a gangly boy were there already talking to another knight. I headed to the front of the crowd drawing everones attention. A few men sniggered when they saw me but most looked nervous.

'Good morn, I am Lancelot. I will be leading you all on this trip. I know that some of you do not think I am worthy of this, or that I will get us all killed. I know some do not respect me as a person, let alone a comrade. But you can all can it. I am in charge and I will lead us to victory. If any of you have a problem then be a coward and return home.' I waited to see if anyone moved but they remained silent and still. 'Good, the trek to Lothian will take 3 days then a further 2 to reach Lunatog, at least, weather permitting, I will not stand insolence or whining, anyone does then I will send them back to Camelot so fast their ears will bleed. Understood?' A few men nodded and Puck scoffed. 'Mordred, Agrafinn, care to guide us?' They nodded and we all rode to Lothian, dreading the next few weeks.

/.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../.../

A/N I know I said Brittana would meet but I changed my mind. Hehe, Agrafinn is based on Agravain, and is Finn. Incase you didn't guess. I merely changed his name so you knew whose face to grant him. :) Hope this was good enough, it is kinda short. Also I noticed my tumblr did not come up last chapter, it's awkwardteenagenerves ect ect. Please review and thanks to all who have faved/followed and reviewed already, much love to you. So yeah TTFN.

Gx