Frustrated Amaya threw down the sword with a loud growl then struck the dummy with her hand, flinching as the coarse wood firmly deflected the blow. Drawing her hand back to nurse it tenderly Amaya looked down to the training sword she had been using. She simply was not made for swordplay, she kept on forgetting the sequences and always seemed to lose her footing or overbalance. It was easy to evade attack, seeing as Amaya had excellent precision and could see where the blows would land before they struck and moved out of the way accordingly.
Also she was better at hand to hand combat, using her opponent's body against them as well as their weight and their own clumsiness. Her father would be ashamed of her if he could see her now. How many times had he drummed the practice into her? How many hours had she wasted on sword practice with hardly anything to show for it in the end?
Her mind wandered back to the day Maia had been kidnapped from the market. She had used a sword then but very poorly, though some had remarked that she looked magnificent when fighting against the brutes. Closing her eyes Amaya allowed her shoulders to sag. Perhaps she should just give up? Scouts had already reported Lazarus's army moving towards them and Arthur had already challenged the man to meet on the battlefield in three days' time. The plan he had devised with Amaya's help was risky. The infantry would have to face the enemy army a fair distance away from the cliff, meeting in an open grassland as to not draw suspicion but then at the call for retreat, they would have to run through the woods with their heavy armour and shields to reach the cliff.
It was taking a chance but Arthur was sure that the plan would work. All they needed was a way to stall the army to give the infantry a chance to make the run. With four days to go Arthur was still finalising everything and preparing his troops for battle as well as fortifying the city in case something went wrong.
Amaya had already decided how she was going to follow the knights. She was going to slip in with the army, dressed as a boy with armour then march with them to battle. The only thing was she did not know how she was going to sneak through undetected with her bow, seeing as it was the only weapon she truly trusted herself with.
She couldn't join the archers as they would go to the cliff top and Amaya needed with the infantry so that she could protect her brother from harm. It was a tough one, one that she intended to overcome. "Maya? Are you alright?" Galahad asked with surprising cheer as he walked over, a certain lightness in his step. Amaya cocked an eyebrow at him.
"What has you grinning like a fool?" She asked him teasingly and his smile only broadened.
"Maia and I are courting." Amaya threw back her head and laughed, making Galahad join in with her laughter also.
"Well, I am glad for you." Amaya said to him after her laughter had silenced a little. "I was wondering when you would gather the courage to tell her how you feel, I was beginning to wonder if I should simply smash your heads together to make you both see sense." Galahad shook his head.
"No need." She reached out and took his hand, smiling proudly at him.
"You deserve her." Amaya murmured, sighing softly as Galahad gazed at her.
"Maya?" She arched an eyebrow questioningly. "I am so glad you came to look for me." She shifted closer and took his other hand also, lifting them both to her lips as they sat on the sanded ground, completely alone save for the call of birds that twittered around the city.
"Me too." Her soft whisper spoke fountains of words to Galahad, a lifetime of lost conversations, years of no sibling affections and an abundance of emotion that stirred Galahad's heart to the core, threatening to let tears spill from his eyes but he blinked them away as he pulled Amaya into his arms, his leg propped against her back as she leaned into his chest.
"Now, what has you so riled up?" Amaya sighed then looked up at him with a soft smile.
"It no longer matters." She assured him. "Go little wolf, you leave in tomorrow. You should spend all the time you have with your dearly beloved." Galahad blushed slightly which made his sister chuckle at him. "Go on, you don't need to keep your boring old sister company, she has things she should be doing."
"If you are sure." Galahad questioned hesitantly but Amaya rose to her feet then pulled Galahad up as well, brushing off his shoulders from some sand he had collected.
"I am sure. Go on, you never know what may happen, Galahad, so make sure you make every moment count. Make them count because one day, you may find yourself waiting at the veil and you will be alone with nothing but those moments to remember until we are all once again reunited. Make them count, make them an abundance." Galahad nodded his head then placed a soft kiss on Amaya's cheek, making her smile.
"I wish you a good day, sister." He murmured then turned to find Maia. She watched him go silently, proud of the man he had grown into before putting the training sword away and moving off to collect the laundry that should be dry by now. She took the shirts, breeches, tunics and jackets from the line, pressed them until they were all crisp and neat then folded them systematically, using the last item of clothing to wrap around the folded the set of clothes for each knight before taking her large basket and heading over to the knights' quarters.
She slipped through the barracks, her presence drawing the attention of off duty guards, they eyes wandering over her form though none of them said a word. They knew who she was and that she was untouchable. Untouchable but still physical, they could look and dream all they liked
Shaking her head with a scowl Amaya stopped at Dagonet's room, which was first and knocked, though when she did not receive a reply she stepped inside and sorted out his clothing, putting everything away neatly then looked to his crumpled bed. Amaya sighed, shaking her head with a smile then shook out the blankets, neatening everything down then plumped the pillows, setting everything in straight order before collecting her basket and continued on.
Lancelot was in his room. When Amaya received a reply she paused, biting her lip with a frown before walking in. Without a word she walked over to Lancelot's chest. "Ah, beautiful Amaya. Come to keep me company?" He asked in his usual cocky voice but Amaya did not answer. Lancelot frowned at the cold reply, tilting his head to the side as he sat up in his chair. "Is something wrong Amaya?" She turned around, basket propped against her hip as she fixated her blank look on his face. Finally she spoke.
"The Queen adored the gift you gave her." His face paled and his eyes widened slightly before he quickly wiped the expression away and smiled, spreading his hands.
"I do not know what you mean." He brushed it off but Amaya was not convinced.
"A rather expensive gift, don't you think? What compelled you to spend such money on your queen?" Lancelot swallowed then touched his neck as he smirked.
"I still do not understand what you are talking about, sweet Maya." She could tell he was lying. It was written all over his face as a few beads of sweat began to roll down his face. Amaya shook her head in disgust then walked away. "Maya, Maya wait!" Lancelot called and darted after her, shoving his arm in the doorway to block off her escape. "Please, let me explain."
"How could you?" Amaya demanded with a sharp hiss? "This is not Sarmatia, Lancelot!"
"I know, I know…" The woman made to step forwards but Lancelot grabbed her arms and pushed her back into the door, making it clunk as it hit the wardrobe situated just behind. "No, you mustn't tell anyone. You can't. Promise me you will not say a word." His dark eyes blazed fiercely but Amaya was not intimidated.
"Why should I? Give me one reason why I shouldn't go to Arthur right now and tell him."
"Because it will tear us apart." Lancelot growled, gripping her arms tightly, causing her to flinch. "If you tell anyone, it will destroy us and we are going to war in only three days. Do you want that? Do you want us to stand divided?" With a pang Amaya realised he was right. She could not tell anyone. Not yet. Seeing that he had won, Lancelot sighed with relief.
"You must swear not to see her again." Amaya said to him. "By blood, swear you will not touch her again."
"I…I can't. I love her Maya." Amaya shrugged his hands from her, shooting him a sharp glare.
"I do not care. You must swear to me, Lancelot." Slowly he nodded his head then drew a knife from his belt and cut into his palm lightly, drawing blood then clenched his fist tightly, trapping the blood in his hand but it began to trickle down and hung like droplets off his skin, drop by drop falling to the floor.
"I swear, on my blood and the blood of my ancestors to never touch the woman in question again." He murmured sincerely and Amaya saw pain flash across his face and for a moment, she pitied him. With a sigh she touched his shoulder.
"It is better this way." He shoved her hand off, shooting her a look.
"There. Satisfied? May I be cursed forever, as I will not be able to keep this promise long." Amaya shook her head then turned to leave but Lancelot's hand shot out once more, trapping her. "I will never forgive you for this." He growled at her darkly and deep down, Amaya was terrified by the monster she saw before her. Lancelot genuinely looked like he was going to kill her, glowering down at her with a fiery intensity.
Amaya was about to fight him off and run for her life when Tristan announced his presence. "Let her go Lancelot." The knight growled but pulled back, letting Amaya step out of the doorway and he slammed the door shut behind her. Amaya flinched but sighed with relief. "Did he hurt you?" Amaya felt the hypnotic pull towards the scout throb in her chest but she pushed it aside as she shook her head. "What…"
"Don't ask." Amaya muttered and turned away with a bowed head. Tristan winced, closing his eyes before following. Amaya heard his steps behind her but paid him no mind, opening Tristan's door to stride inside and put away his clothes as quickly as possible. The scout entered his room and put down his bow and sword, setting them on the table then glanced to Amaya. A great tension resonated between them, escalating to soaring heights as she looked up at him for a brief moment then hurriedly looked away again.
His eyes followed the inward curve of her waist and the wide shape of her hips and yearned to know what it felt like to simply hold her close to him. "Good day." Amaya shot at him as she stood and walked past. Tristan reached out and snagged her arm, pulling her around.
"Can't you at least be civil?" He growled at her, the flames in his chest similar to that of hate but not quite the same. He couldn't quite explain it, these sensations were painfully new to him.
"At least I bade you a good day." She snarled back, wrenching her arm free. "Don't you dare touch me again." Spinning around she strode from the room, leaving Tristan seething and at a loss for words. The woman was so infuriating! A damn nuisance and trouble maker.
That man was so vexing! A damn pest and time waster. Amaya scowled all the way through the laundry sort and as she swept through the barracks, grateful that she did not have to clean the men's rooms. Yet. It was still to become one of her chores.
Amaya only calmed down when she was laying back in bed, relaxing after a strenuous day. Her mind turned to her task in three days' time, sneaking her way into the ranks. She decided that it was not possible, simply because she would be too noticeable and she did not want to leave her bow behind.
Instead she would simply have to sneak after them and track them. It would mean she could take Arluin with her which brought a lot of comfort. Maia looked to the maid sleeping soundly in her cot. Maia no longer had nightmares so it was not necessary for Maia to keep her company.
Turning over Amaya wondered what she could do for armour. Perhaps she could use the armour young boys wore when training, it would be more likely to fit and it was better than nothing, at least. Her mind settled Amaya tried to get some sleep but, like it often did, her mind could only think of Tristan.
Tristan. Tristan, Tristan, Tristan, Tristan, Tristan! It was exhausting, trying to fight with the attraction and feelings she had for him whilst trying to loathe him also. The sheer effort alone made her want to just collapse. He said the kiss had meant nothing then he expected things to just go back to how they were before? How could she not despise him a little? It was cruel to toy with a woman's emotions and Tristan seemed to enjoy tugging on every string of her body to his amusement.
Turning over again Amaya frowned. Yes, she was attracted to Tristan but she seemed to hate him also. Why was that? It seemed like an unkind oxymoron, twisting and manipulating Amaya's mind into thinking things she knew she shouldn't be thinking. Like what lay underneath Tristan's shirt, for example. She had seen him shirtless only once before and it had left her staring in a daydreaming state for the rest of the day. There was a lot of muscle tone going on under that shirt.
Taking a deep breath Amaya turned over for the last time then cleared her head, pushing all thoughts of Tristan out of her mind so that she could rest.
Whoa, tensions are rising a little, aren't they?
Amaya - "Well you wrote this stuff!"
Me - "Yeah but...it's still amusing to me, you know you like Tristan, it's totally obvious!"
Amaya - "Sh! He might hear your big fat mouth!"
Tristan - "Hear what?"
Me/Amaya - "Nothing!"
Amaya - "Just go away, plait your hair or something useful, stupid scout."
...
Me - "You got it bad." Quickly runs away as Amaya reaches for an arrow.