Glad to be back with another chapter and I promise I will have more on the way because next week I'll be going away again and won't have access to a computer :'( anyway, here's next chapter and I hope you enjoy it
With a dull thud another arrow struck the target so Amaya sighed, tilting her head to the side as she lowered her bow. All arrows struck fair but it presented very little challenge so Amaya walked over to the arrows she had already fired and gathered them up and placed them back in her quiver before heading over to the stables.
"Arluin." Amaya called out and the horse lifted his head, ears swivelling forwards then he called out a soft greeting. Amaya smiled, putting her bow and quiver down to start tacking him up. "We're going to go for a ride and hunt game." She said to him in a gentle whisper. "Would you like that my friend?" Arluin snorted then lowered his head as she put on his bridle.
Once he was ready she slipped the quiver onto her back, tightening the buckle then attached the bow also so that she could swing up into his saddle and walk him out of the stables. Amaya followed the path down into the main courtyard where she saw a large stage had been raised with braying crowds shouting and throwing rotten food at the figure who was being held down to the executioner's block. The assassin. Amaya's eyes widened in alarm before she regained her composure. The man stopped struggling as his chin touched the block, clenching his jaw as he faced down, awaiting his death.
Arthur stood in a galley, looking down from the balcony upon the prisoner with a sadness locked deep within his eyes. He lifted his hand and the sword was lifted up, preparing to strike. The assassin looked to the side, sensing someone's firm gaze on him and he was shocked to see the maid looking at him, wearing a dress of dark green with a large skirt to modestly cover her as she sat atop a powerful looking horse.
Seeing her there was a small comfort as she looked at him without pity but a sweet tenderness. He would have hated to have her pity, he wanted it from no one. He had made his choices and this is where they had led him. Looking at the woman was almost like looking at a friend, which appeased his mind as he relaxed. Arthur dropped his hand.
The swing was clean and fast but the assassin held Amaya's gaze till the last moment and then it was all over. She turned her head away from the spray of blood and moved Arluin through the crowd, pushing him through as they all cheered and shouted numerous curses and insults to the dead man.
Pushing all thoughts aside Amaya focused on the road, trotting out of the city as the bright daylight brought warmth and comfort to her. Once she was free she urged Arluin into a canter and rode into the trees, quickly abandoning the path and followed a stream, going deeper and deeper into the woods before dismounting and quietly drew her bow and an arrow after tying Arluin to a tree to keep him from wandering away, though she doubted he would.
She trod silently through the trees, listening carefully for any signs of something she could hunt. The dry ground was hard under foot but it did not affect her stealthy walk as there were sparse leaves on the ground to cause a rustle, save for the pine needles. Lowering herself down Amaya fixed her eye on a warren of rabbits, nibbling at a mound of grass.
She selected the largest one in sight then drew back her arrow slowly, taking aim. On the exhale she released, her arrow hissing shrilly on the air as it struck the rabbit through the neck, killing it instantly but the other rabbits bolted away, scrambling for safety and Amaya barely had time to catch one more with another quick fire before she stood, now completely alone.
Taking a length of string from her pocket Amaya tied the two rabbits together then carried them on her belt, stretching her arms upwards before tightening the laces of her bracers. She continued on, searching for more game but found nothing for a while, save for a herd of wild deer and she did not fancy having to haul a giant carcass back to the city so she left them alone.
Returning back to Arluin, Amaya froze when she saw an old man stroking her gelding's nose, carrying a staff in his other hand. His skin was tattooed heavily with various shapes and patterns though when he turned around, Amaya saw age and with it wisdom in his ghostly blue eyes. "Amaya. It is good that we meet." He welcomed, bowing his head so Amaya returned the gesture, bending her knees slightly to show deeper respect.
"You are Merlin." She guessed and he nodded his head. Amaya stepped up to the older man, casting her eyes over his wizened features and wild hair. "To what do I owe the honour?"
"Come, come sit with us." Amaya nodded her head and untied Arluin from the tree, leading him as she followed Merlin who had set up camp with his people not too far away. He had come only with warriors and a few councillors, all of whom watched Amaya with a curious expression before going about their business. They gnawed on the bones of animals they had hunted though Amaya could not see how they had managed to feed all that were here. "We are not the best of hunters. They remain with our clans to feed them." Merlin explained so without a word Amaya took the rabbits from her belt and held them out to a woman who sat by a fire. She looked up at the offering then turned to Merlin who nodded his head.
She murmured something and bowed her head in gratitude before taking the animals and began to prepare them for cooking. "I can hunt for more, if you like?" Amaya offered. "I am good with my bow, I too hunted for my clan." Merlin smiled and rested his hand over her head in blessing.
"We would be grateful, but we are moving on soon. Do not fear, we can manage until we return back to our people." Merlin brought Amaya over to his own fire where the woman tied Arluin up close by then sat down opposite the Woad leader, who regarded her with a distant yet analytical expression. "You were the one to warn Arthur of his enemies?" Amaya nodded his head. "He will have no threat from my people. I have assured him any resistance north of the wall will be dealt with by myself and my warriors. They will see in time that this change is for the good."
"Arthur still has enemies to the south." Amaya reminded him. "The threat is not over."
"No, less than two weeks." He agreed. "This faceless man will not be easy to defeat, he has many men at his command, bought from his own lands and from across the seas." Nodding her head Amaya looked into the flames, listening to the relaxing lilt of the ancient man's voice. "He will need you to help keep him strong."
"I am just a maid."
"You are a hunter, a warrior, a woman of strength unparalleled." Merlin correct firmly, lifting his head as he set his staff before his feet. "You will be important for the victory of Arthur, I foresee much greatness and toil ahead of you. You will need all of your strength to keep walking forwards even when the day is darkest."
"What can I do? I am not a part of Arthur's council and do not know anything about his plans. I am just a maid and that is all I shall ever be." Merlin regarded the woman silently. He saw a great light around her, pale golden white. Her aura. It was powerful yet gentle, warm to touch and be in the presence of. This woman was destined for great things, Merlin could sense it.
"Beware, Arthur will need you at his side, both in battle and away from fighting. He faces many challenges to secure his throne but I believe in time, he will emerge victorious. He will need his knights by his side. Make sure nothing breaks them apart." Instantly Amaya's mind flickered to Lancelot and Guinevere. If they truly where lovers then they could rip the entire kingdom apart. Arthur would be heartbroken, the knights would turn their backs on Lancelot out of disgust and they would cease to be a brotherhood.
"I shall." Amaya nodded her head. "I shall protect them." Merlin lifted a hand in blessing which Amaya took as a sign that she could go. She rose to her feet, bowed her head again to the renowned leader then returned to Arluin's side, whispering to him gently as she led him away.
Once they were a fair distance from the camp Amaya mounted up and trotted forwards, guiding Arluin around the trees as she headed away from the sun, which took her west towards Camelot. "What am I to do, Arluin?" Amaya asked with a sigh. "I am no use at this sort of thing. I am just a maid, not a great leader like Arthur. I do not know what it is I need to do in order to protect them all."
The horse snorted softly in reply and Amaya smiled, patting his neck gently. Once they found the road again Amaya eased Arluin into a canter, smoothly journeying back to the city. Without warning Tristan's kiss replayed in Amaya's mind, causing her to blush heavily and bite her lip. She did not know what had overcome her to kiss him back, or rather what had propelled him to do such a thing but all Amaya knew was that she wanted him to kiss her again, with more fire and less chivalry.
Her hand curled around the necklace Lucan had made for her, rubbing the mark with her thumb as the trees brushed past her. The bottomless and seemingly undeniable attraction she felt towards Tristan had fuelled her response to his kiss, for definite, but what about him? It was so sudden she had not expected it. She had always believed Tristan thought of her as a simple person who was sometimes there, or even just a maid as she was.
Yet he had kissed her. Groaning aloud Amaya tilted her head backwards, praying for the gods to simply show her what to do. She was no leader, she was always the follower. Though when living with her clan she had often led them to safer places or organised the hunts. They had always looked to Amaya for answers or advice, letting her direct them to keep them safe.
This was different, however. This was not the wild, it was an entire country on the verge of war. Amaya knew that when Arthur had ordered Bacchus Aurelius to be brought to Camelot for questioning and to face judgment, he had fled and in turn, taken his own life when he knew there was no escape for him.
Cornelius Francesco Lazarus, however, posed a greater problem. He had ignored his summons and Arthur did not dare send an escort to retrieve him as he held enough influence and power to simply do away with them. He was also not prepared to assemble his army to ride out and meet him. Yet. Amaya believed Arthur was planning on drawing the battle away from the city to protect his people from harm.
Perhaps it was time Amaya quietly begun searching for some armour to wear for battle.