I think I mentioned this before but in case I didn't or anyone has forgotten, any words in italics like this are the Sarmatian language, since I don't actually speak it fluently just yet I thought this would be an easier route :) See y'all later!
Hopping across a stream Amaya balanced on two rocks precariously, biting her lip as she lowered herself down to allow the water to fill her drinking skin, letting it dip partially under the surface until she felt it was full. Glancing over to Arluin who was grazing happily on the bank, Amaya then stood to return to him. "Arluin." She called softly and the horse lifted his head, swivelling his ears forwards then waited as his mistress returned to his side.
Amaya attached the water skin to the saddle, making sure the nib was secure as well as checking the girth was tight enough before placing her foot into the stirrup to mount. Without warning Arluin snorted then gave a loud whine, jerking away from Amaya who quickly put her foot down. "What is it? Did I hurt you sweet friend? I did not mean to." Arluin scraped a hoof into the ground, twitching and snorting as his ears swivelled uncontrollably. Understanding that something was wrong, Amaya quickly drew an arrow, looking around as she trained it into the dark shade of the woods before her. Suddenly a howl pierced the air and Amaya tensed, sensing Arluin's distress so she soothed him with gentle words
"Easy Arluin, I shall not let them harm you." Taking long strides to reach her horse Amaya stopped when she heard a deep snarl. Arluin reared up, throwing back his head in fear as Amaya whirled around and did not waste a second, letting her arrow fly as the wolf leaped from the elevated position on the jutting rock.
With a loud yelp the heavy creature thudded to the ground, its shaggy fur now matted with blood. Drawing another arrow Amaya turned to the poisonous yellow eyes and released another arrow, snarling under her breath as it pierced through the skull right between the eyes, taking the huge wolf down to the ground with a dull crunch.
All of a sudden Amaya was surrounded, jaws full of sharp teeth and fangs snapping at her ankles as well as Arluin's who kicked up his hooves and struck out at them. Amaya shot several more arrows, killing three more wolves before one leaped at her back, going for her head as she whirled around.
Unexpectedly a spear shot from the bushes, hissing through the air with a shrill ring and struck right through the wolf, skewering it as it shrieked in pain before falling in a crumbled heap at Amaya's feet. Turning around she bellowed at the other wolves, snapping her jaws and they whined in fear before turning to flee, tails tucked between their legs as they disappeared into the woods.
Now Amaya turned, arrow trained on the tree line as several figures stepped out, all lifting their hands in peace. One grinned at her. "Nice shooting lass." He said to her. Amaya nodded her head simply, watching the brown haired man as he retrieved his spear, dragging it from the wolf's carcass then looked to Amaya who remained ready to shoot at any given moment. "Where you from?"
"Past the sea." She answered simply, stepping around him and putting her bow and arrow away. She caught Arluin's reins as he reared up again, whining fearfully so she brought his fine face down to her and murmured quietly, reassuring him that everything was alright. Her hand slowly stroked his face as he calmed down, relaxing into Amaya's touch but stiffened when he saw the four men behind her. He lifted his head and stepped forwards, protectively standing in front of Amaya who chuckled then touched his rump, patting him softly as she walked forwards. "Who are you?"
"We are a simple band of humble brothers." The first answered with a smooth bow, spreading his hands. A blond haired man with a stocky frame rolled his small eyes.
"Enough Daniel. Just ask her to bed with you then let's have done with it." Daniel pretended to look offended so Amaya laughed at his expense.
"I have no interest in a companion to rest with, sirs." She informed them simply then gestured to herself. "I am Amaya and this is Arluin. Be careful, he may kill you if he thinks you are a threat to me." The one named Daniel smiled warmly, his blue eyes the colour of the summer sky.
"Well lass, I'm Daniel. This bullhead here is Lionel." Amaya nodded to the man, who indeed resembled a blond bull, with a short neck and round figure though there was still considerable muscle underneath the thick leather garb he wore. He reminded Amaya of Bors a lot. "And my younger brother Kay, who can climb anything you point him to and finally, but certainly not least, my youngest brother Ector. Be careful, don't gamble with him or he'll have every coin you have until you are completely broke." Amaya gave them all a respectful nod in turn.
"Thank you for your assistance."
"Saving fair lasses such as yourself is our specialty." Daniel replied simply, shrugging as he dug his spear into the ground. Kay and Ector had already moved onto the wolves and were beginning to skin them, carving up the meat on the fire Lionel was building. "Will you join us?" Amaya nodded her head.
"For now. I will have to be moving on early in the morning." Lionel arched a bushy eyebrow.
"What are you doing all the way out here alone, missy?" He asked kindly, a concerned glint in his eye making Amaya smiled softly at him.
"I follow the army." She answered simply. "To protect someone I swore an oath to."
"Ah…a lover?" Amaya shook her head.
"My brother. A knight of Arthur's table." The brothers all looked to one another with wide eyes, stopping all their doings to then stare at Amaya.
"You know Arthur?"
"And his knights?" Ector added excitedly, standing up with bloodied hands. "You are their sister?"
"Through and through." She saluted her bow to them. "Why?" Lionel looked to Daniel then nodded his head so the dark haired man stepped forwards, looking to Arluin cautiously as the gelding snorting, signalling that Daniel should stop his approach but Amaya placed a hand on his neck to assure him she was safe.
"Well you see, since we are a family of many, many brothers, there is nothing more for us at home, we though we'd come find service elsewhere. With seventeen brothers and five sisters, our father cannot keep us all so we have taught ourselves to fight and live alone but…it is our dream to join Arthur's table of knights." Daniel said, looking to his brothers. "We are all well trained, we have had tutoring from various experts in weaponry and have lived in the wild for an entire year now." Amaya listened, keeping all expression from her features. Daniel sighed, looking down slightly. "Arthur says that all men are born equal, so we believed we had as much a chance as any to be accepted." Slowly Amaya began to smile, watching the four brothers as they inched closer together, standing side by side loyally. Finally she spoke.
"I cannot persuade the king to make any choice concerning who joins his table, however I do believe that should you ask for the chance, he would be more than willing to give it to you." They lifted their heads hopefully. "The king is in need of honourable knights but there is more to the title than just an anointment. You must understand you must be unwaveringly loyal to him, you must be prepared to sacrifice all else in the name of good against evil. Even if it requires your life." They all nodded their heads.
"We understand."
"But could you do it? Would you willingly stand in front of a blade for your king? For an innocent stranger?" Daniel paused, glancing to his brothers before shrugging.
"I guess we shall have to find out." Satisfied with the answer Amaya continued.
"As a knight's sister, I know how close they are. They are more than brothers, more than a family. Those knights would do anything for each other. Before anything else, I would advise you earn their respect. That way they will be more likely to pay you some attention." She suggested. "However you do it, you must be sure it shows who you all are as men and, more importantly, how you can be as knights."
"Thank you, lass." Lionel said to her. "Your words are a great comfort." He lifted his heavy looking hammer and set it against a stone before sitting before a fire. "Come sit down, you look weary. Have you been travelling all day?" She nodded her head.
"The army are not far from here, though I had to be sure I was well out of the way of their scouts." She explained. "Though I suppose this place is as good as any. Let me just settled Arluin." Normally Amaya would be wary of strangers, but these men seemed so honest and open that she could not help but trust them. She prayed her judgment of character had not decreased in accuracy since arriving at Camelot.
Silently Amaya untacked Arluin, patting his face as she tethered him to a tree then carried her saddle over to the fire, placing it down then set up her bed to be ready for when she wanted to settle down and sleep. It was already growing dark, the light quickly draining from the pale sky.
She shared a feast of wolf meat, which was tough and strange tasting but it was nourishing. In turn Amaya shared what little she had then saved the rest for to break her fast in the morning. Daniel brought out his flute and began to play merrily, making Amaya smile as she swayed with the music.
"Tell us about Camelot." Ector asked her and Amaya looked to the sandy haired boy. He gazed at her imploringly so Amaya nodded her head.
"It is a city both old and new. Arthur had much of the outer wall and the castle restored with architects working at the fastest pace to have everything finished in just under two years. The day I had arrived, I had not noticed but there were still a lot of renovations happening in the lower town to the wall and some of the houses. It is the centre point of all peace and new life, where hope is restored to the nation through Arthur's rule. He is a good king, nay he is a great one." Amaya explained, casting her eye to the city with a distant smile.
"If you ride out in the early morning before the sun rises, you can gallop to the hill at the forest's verge and turn to watch the light climb up the pale walls, casting them into a golden light and it continues to creep upwards. When the sunlight hits the spires and banners, the colours are so vibrant that you can see them clearly from the miles away you have ridden, flying on the morning breeze as proudly as new son given fathers. Everything is like a dream, a dream until you walk through the market and it becomes all too real with the life bursting around you from every corner." The four men leaned back and imagined what Amaya described, gazing up to the sky in wonder.
"I have always dreamed of becoming a knight. Even when the romans were here." Kay murmured softly, his long black hair pulled back from his face as his dark eyes reflected the firelight mysteriously. "Sometimes I would imagine that I were the one to drive them away, leading an army of Britons against their own forts and laying waste to them all." Amaya arched an eyebrow.
"Killing is not always the answer. It rarely is so." He blushed slightly, running his hands over his bearded chin.
"I know, I know, it was the glory I enjoyed mostly." His eyes lifted to Amaya's and she held them evenly without expression. "I was young at the time."
"Don't know what you're saying." Lionel grunted, taking off his boots. "I still feel as young as if I were suckling from ma's breast." Amaya glanced over to Arluin, making sure he was comfortable. "He's a fine horse."
"Bought him for ten gold pieces." The potbellied warrior bellowed with laughter, dropping both boots to the side as he clapped both hands to his gut.
"How'd you get that bargain?" Amaya reached out for her bow and touched its wooden shaft pointedly. Lionel snorted again then shoved at Daniel with a heavy arm.
"Not your kind of lass, I think." Daniel chuckled.
"No lass is my kind." He assured his brother with a simple look. "All complicated and wanting a serious relationship with a home, marriage and children on the go. Not for me." Chuckling Amaya shook her head.
"So you flirt with them to your heart's content for fun then leave them before the night is even begun?" Daniel paused before nodding his head.
"That sounds very accurate."
"Well, it is an improvement from Lancelot." Amaya said then inwardly flinched. She could not help but still feel guilty for making him swear that oath. The hate in his eyes had wounded her badly. "He will flirt with every women he lays eyes upon and take them all to his bed at once if he could." Daniel and his brothers snorted with laughter. Ector yawned, stretching up his arms then lifted his two axes, settling them beside his bed then began to settle down.
"Goodnight to you all." He murmured sleepily and Amaya watched him for a moment before copying.
"I pray you all sleep well. I must be off early before the sun rises, so do not be alarmed if you wake and I am not here." Amaya said to them. "Head to Camelot then inform them that Amaya sent you. You can rest and wait there until I return with the army and king."
"We are grateful to you, lass." Lionel said to her sincerely, touching his heart but she shook her head.
"You saved my life, I am merely repaying the debt however I can." She answered gently. "Goodnight." And so she slept soundly, only waking when she heard someone shift but it was only Lionel going to bed as Daniel had selected himself as the first watcher. Her dreams filled with the possibilities of battle and Amaya could not help but toss and turn repeatedly in the night until finally, when she saw a sword descending upon her neck, she sat bolt upright in a cold sweat, gasping for air.
The men around her were still sleeping and Amaya could see a touch of red in the sky so she rose to her feet and dusted herself off. "Arluin." She whispered softly, waking her mount who greeted her quietly. She walked him around the clearing to warm him up, checking for any injuries before saddling him up.
When Amaya heard someone approaching her she turned and nodded to Daniel. "We're coming with you." He informed her determinedly, placing his thumbs in his belt, sword resting at his side. "We're going to help you and Arthur in the battle and do what you said, prove to him we're worthy and earn his respect." Slightly surprised Amaya remained speechless, her mouth opening but no words formed. "We want to help."
"Daniel…this is battle. War. Are you sure you are ready for such a task? It is not as easy as the common brawl in a tavern." He nodded his head then looked to his brothers who were packing ready to leave but when they sensed Daniel looking to them, they all lifted their heads.
"We're ready." Nodding their heads solemnly, they all stood up tall. Amaya sighed, cocking her head to the side before turning to face Daniel.
"I will not be responsible for any wounds or deaths, do you understand? If you walk into this, then you walk in of your own free will." Her voice softened slightly as she continued. "And no one will call you a coward if any of you choose to back out at the last second." Tugging the girth into place Amaya guided Arluin's head around. "If you are ready, we need to set off now quickly. There is a fair distance to cover before we reach the battleground." Daniel grabbed his pack together then slung it over his shoulder, looking to Amaya who breathed in the fresh morning air then began to walk.
In the early morning light she tracked the army's movements. "Is this what you do? Track?" Kay asked her curiously as she touched the ground then rubbed some soil between her fingers. She nodded her head.
"In my clan, I used to hunt for food." Amaya told him quietly, stepping forwards to continue the walk. "I would track deer across several miles of woodland just to catch one then carry it back on my horse for the clan to eat." The men all glanced to one another, a brief glimmer of respect flickering in their eyes before they look back to her.
Amaya noticed they all carried different weapons. Lionel his hammer, Daniel his sword, Kay a double bladed axe and Ector two smaller handheld axes that he gripped with pride. They all strangely different from one another, save for Lionel and Ector having the sandy blond hair and the other two darker tresses. "Are you all from the same mother?" Amaya asked curiously. "Only I find very few similarities between you."
"No, our father never married our mothers." Ector explained to her with a shrug. "Each of his children are bastards and sired from different mothers, perhaps one or two are the same. We have twin sisters, Kaya and Lilith." Amaya nodded her head, fixing her eyes on the road ahead. Arluin carried the wolf pelts on his back along with the light bundles that were the blankets that the men had used to sleep in the night before. He seemed perfectly happy with the weight so Amaya did not fuss.
To lighten the mood, Daniel began to sing a song.
"Bird on a briar, bird, bird on a briar,
Mankind is come of love, love thus craves.
Blissful bird, have pity on me,
Or dig, love, dig thou for me my grave.
I am so blithe, so bright, bird on briar,
When I see that handmaid in the hall:
She is white of limb, lovely, true,
She is fair and flower of all.
Might I her at my will have,
Steadfast of love, lovely, true,
From my sorrow she may me save
Joy and bliss would wear me new."
Enamoured by Daniel's fair voice Amaya joined in, harmonising softly under her breath until Kay prodded her to sing louder so that they could hear her, so she complied humbly, keeping her face turned to concentrate on the road.
"You have a pretty voice, lass." Lionel complimented her once the song was over. "Do you sing often?"
"Only when I am alone." She answered simply with a careless shrug of one shoulder. "Or when I am ordered to by someone."
"Why then, we order you to sing!" Daniel declared with a laugh then brought out his flute again which he began to play a tune that Vanora had recently taught Amaya so she sang along as best she could, though when she muddled the words the other three joined in and prompted her, their deep voices helping her to relax further until there was silence after.
"I do not remember the last time I played that song." Daniel sighed then played part of the tune again. "It is one of my favourites."
"Did you teach yourself?" Amaya asked him but he shook his head.
"No. My pa carved this for me and showed me how to play for a while before he lost interest. It is the only thing I am grateful for towards him." The man told her proudly, twirling the wooden item around his fingers then tucked it the small instrument into his pocket. Amaya had seen many different sized flutes but Daniel's was by far the smallest, though it produced the sweeter sound.
The sunlight began to grow in before them, treading soft patterns into the earth and was spreading watery pale colours of pink and purple across the sky as the sun continued to rise just as they reached the abandoned camp the army had made. Amaya looked around at the earth, sodden with footprints and groves where men had slept, several campfires lazily having been kicked out. She rolled her eyes at the lack of care the men had shown in covering their footsteps.
Amaya looked towards a low branch just before her and drew out a long horse hair, running it through her fingers before dropping the pale strand to the ground. "We should hurry. Their marching pace is far quicker than the one we have been taking." Amaya said to the men as they looked around the encampment. "And they would have set off earlier than us."
"Who is Arthur meeting in battle?" Ector asked curiously. "Is it that Roman lord we've heard about from down south, the one who kidnapped his bride and forced her to marry him?" Amaya chuckled.
"Yes, it is he though he stole no bride. I rescued her before she could suffer such a fate." Amaya answered, leading Arluin forwards after he had finished sniffing the tree where the horses had obviously been tethered to. "I rode into her after she had escaped her escort and carried her back to Camelot where she claimed sanctuary." Ector grinned, whirling one of his axes around then struck the air.
"This should be interesting. My bet is on Lionel taking the first hit." The eldest brother snorted with displeasure.
"Mine is on you, you little weasel!" He scowled with utter brotherly affection. Daniel rolled his eyes then clapped Kay heavily on the back.
"We all know that Kay is most likely to die, he can't tell his left from his right." In answer Kay simply sprang onto Daniel and wrestled him to the ground. Amaya sighed impatiently. Had she not just informed them that time was of the essence? She allowed them their brawl, playful fists swinging before she cupped her fingers to her lips and whistled sharply, dragging their attention to her. She laughed at their oddly scrambled mess, limbs being tugged at all angles as eyes blinked at her.
"If you are quite finished, there are some mercenaries that I would very much like to shoot my arrows at. Care to join me?" They all leaped up, dusted themselves off then jogged to catch her up as she strode relentlessly forwards.
"Can't change brothers for who they are." Lionel sat to her with a grin, punching at Kay who jumped back and allowed Daniel to take the blow. "Men will be men and brothers shall always be brothers."
Notice how I'm gradually introducing more knights from the table? Yay! This is so fun!