I'm back! Sorry I'm late, but hey, you guys must be used to that by now :) Here's the next chapter, I hope you all enjoy! (Because, you know, it's really great, although I am biased so I'll let you all decide) :D
Lifting her head Amaya tasted the wind, letting her lungs inhale the freshness that carried a trace of pine from the forest, which instantly soothed her. Having been hunting for game most of the morning, Amaya still had her bow in hand, not quite ready to return to the castle. She walked the outer wall that surrounded the entire city, unable to shake the feeling of dread from her body. At first she had just assumed it was her concern for Tristan and the knights that kept her feeling on edge but lately, after a week of their absence, she began to sense that something was not quite right.
A cold nervousness continued to roil in her gut whilst her chest constricted constantly until she was struggling to breathe. Something was wrong, something was not right, something was going to happen. Taking a deep breath Amaya sighed and looked out to the flat plains that she and the knights had often before gone riding through when the call of the hunt did not tempt them.
Something flickered with a bright light over the hill and Amaya frowned, stepping closer to the wall and squinted, trying to see. The light flashed again with several more dots rising into view as small shapes marched forwards. An army. Was Arthur home?
When the blue banners came into view, the white eagle flickering against the harsh sunlight, Amaya's jaw dropped wide open. Taking in a sharp breath she ran forwards, gripping her bow tightly before lunging for the door to a turret, climbing up the stairs of the square shaped stature before grabbing the hammer. Without hesitating she struck.
Amaya struck as many times as her arms could bear, the shouts of men filling her ears so she stopped and leaned over the side. "Get the knights over to the eastern wall now!" She bellowed. "Archers, form your ranks!" They hurried to obey, the archers filling the hooks on the walls with arrows as they notched an arrow then formed their lines. "Get the outer wall sealed!" Amaya thundered down into the barracks and guards leaped at her orders, not caring that it was a woman delivering them. They were glad for any kind of order. "Evacuate the lower town into the middle ring, secure the queen inside the castle walls, block all doors and send a battalion down to the main gates!"
"Amaya!" Gawain called as he raced forwards, his face paling as he saw the army approaching. "No…What are they doing here? Arthur was supposed to meet them!" With a pang of fear, Amaya wondered if they had laid waste to Arthur and the army and had now come to finish the job. "What do we do?" Gawain demanded tightly, gripping the wall for support. "I…I don't know how to lead! What needs to be done?" Amaya shoved her hands harshly against Gawain's chest, making him blink in shock.
"Wake up! Stop your fussing and suit up into your armour, get Lionel and the others prepared for battle also. You and Lionel can hold the lower quarter but do not seal the gates until you have sent a messenger to seek Arthur and tell him we are under attack." Amaya took charge, striding forwards along the ranks of the archers. "Hold your ranks!" She shouted confidently, not knowing where this leadership had come from.
"Maya, what is happening?" Galahad demanded as Gawain shot off. Galahad had already suited up in his armour, the bright light shining boldly.
"We are under attack." Amaya answered simply, gulping as she tried to think. Even if a message did find Arthur safe and well, it would be too late for him to answer. They would break through the castle. "We are fortifying the city. Get some more messengers saddled on the swiftest horses." She ordered some guards as she passed. "They are to seek Merlin and the Woads. We need their aid to hold back this army." Looking out as the enemy ranks continued to march over the hill, she guessed there were at least four hundred men and one hundred on horseback. Where had he got these men from? Shaking her head Amaya continued down the wall, keeping her bow in hand as Galahad followed.
"I shall need you on this wall with me, take control of the third and fourth sectors whilst I take first and second. Bring me some healers! We will need them to be ready!" Amaya commanded and some soldiers shot off to do as she had ordered.
"You should get out of here, we can manage until Arthur returns." Amaya span around to face her brother, narrowing her eyes.
"We do not have time to huddle away, Galahad! We need to start making a stand now!" She took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing. "Arthur has been gone a week, it could take him just as much time to turn around and come to our aid. We are fortifying ourselves and we will defend the wall. We shall push them back." Amaya said determinedly then slid through the crowds. "Cover the main gates, I want archers ready to shoot down any bastards attempting to knock down our doors." A cheer rose to answer and Galahad stared at his sister, suddenly changed. She was stronger, confident and dealing out orders as if she were born a commander of men. "Galahad, make sure the castle is secure, Guinevere needs to be protected at all times should this go ill. Is there any way out of the city?"
"There are tunnels underground." Galahad answered with a nod of his head. "Amaya, I don't want you in danger."
"Well, seeing as neither you or Gawain know how to defend or fortify a clan against invaders, I suggest you listen to my orders and heed them!" Amaya answered boldly, lifting her chin. "This is not the first time I have defended my people against danger, Galahad. Have you heard nothing of the Huns attacking Sarmatia?" He shuddered. Yes, he had heard.
"You mean you led attacks?" She nodded her head.
"Someone had to lead." Her bitter reply came out darker than she had anticipated so she sighed. "Just trust me. I will do my best. Send Daniel, Ector and Kay my way. I shall need them." Galahad nodded then turned, hurrying to do her will. Amaya turned, facing the army as it came even closer. "Have heart men, they shall not break our walls. They shall not break us!" The archers nodded their heads, bows ready to draw back their arrows. "When I give the order, aim for the horses and the main core, we shall try to get them to break ranks." Amaya called loudly for everyone to hear, climbing up onto the battlements then crouched down, poised like a bird ready to soar. Then a thought crossed her mind. She turned around and her eyes fell on a fletcher, a young boy.
"You there, boy!" She snapped and the child leaped up, swallowing as he bowed. "Go to the dungeons. Have the prisoner Percival armoured and brought to me. Tell them it is an order."
"Yes milady." He called as he darted off, his quick feet flying over the ground.
"Maya!"
"Lucan! Gilly! Get down from here!" Amaya ordered them, leaping down and striding over. "What are you thinking?"
"What's going on? Why are you ordering the men to battle?" Gilly demanded then jumped up onto the stone wall before Amaya could grab him, his eyes widening as he saw the army approaching. "Oh no!"
"Go to your mother, tell her to start rationing the food. We're being laid siege to." The boys just continued to stare. "You hear me?" She shook their shoulders roughly but not unkindly, awakening them from their daze. "Go! We could be here for a long time." They nodded their heads and darted away. Amaya turned in time to see several riders dash from the city and head for the woods but a handful of horses from the enemy ranks broke off to chase after them, aiming to cut in front of their path.
Amaya drew in a breath as she nocked an arrow, drawing back the shaft before releasing. Swiftly she had another to hand and she was volleying arrows that sailed through the air. The last she held, turning her bow at an angle as the wind changed then fired off direction, watching and waiting.
Each arrow hit its mark, the greatness of the Sarmatian bow allowing her to shoot at a greater distance, taking down the pursuing group and the last arrow swerved around in a wide ark, chasing after the last before it split through his neck, throwing the rider from his horse as the others screamed and bolted. The messengers made it to the trees then broke off.
A hearty cheer praised Amaya as she continued to walk forwards, replenishing her quiver as bows saluted her. "Hold fast!" She called, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves. Finally they reached the walls. Amaya stood atop the gate, looking down at the silent army as they simply stood. Finally one rode forwards, a small collection of guards following him.
He had blond hair the colour of straw and Amaya could read his stern features from a mile away. Arrogant, cocky, proud and vain. He thought he had won. "I seek to converse with whomever is in charge of this city!" He bellowed but Amaya did not answer, merely looked down at him. "You there!" He pointed his sword up to there. "Speak man or I shall have my best archer cut you down!"
"I'm flattered you would use such a talent to ensure my death!" Amaya called back in a husky voice and a few of the archers beside her chuckled. Without a word Lazarus nodded to the man at his side, who wore the same garb as every other rider, including the blue cloak. The archer lifted his bow and let an arrow fly after carefully aiming.
Men moved to stand in front of Amaya but before they could even twitch she had let her own arrow fly, smirking as the sharpened head split through the cheaper metal and split the arrow in half. Slowly she lowered her bow and she listened to the deadly silence with a smirk.
Perhaps from the distance, Lazarus could not tell Amaya was a woman, so she decided to hold his respect and pretended to be a man. "I hold this fort. I pledge you to leave. We have nothing of value you could desire."
"I apologise for not believing you." He sneered. "But I am sure you hold a certain Queen Guinevere within your walls. I should very much like to meet her."
"Her Majesty is indisposed." Amaya answered and the rich warlord and merchant below her snorted.
"We shall see. Open your gates, allow me to enter and no one shall be harmed. Fighting is futile, you have no hope against my army."
"Alas, I apologise for not believing you." Amaya answered simply, smirking a little more as she began to enjoy the conversation. "But with us way up here and you little runts down there, I fail to see how exactly you are a threat." The sneer dropped from his face to be replaced by uncontrolled rage. Good. Now Amaya knew exactly who she was dealing with. In her time in Rome, she had learned that men who were full of rage and pride often made mistakes, which she would be now counting on.
"Father!" Percival called and Amaya turned to look at him, striding forwards, though still pale, wearing a mail shirt, chest armour and bracers. She was surprised they had found him something that fit so well. "There is no honour in this." He called down to his sire, who snorted.
"No honour but a lot of land and wealth. You could be the ruler of this land, Percival, why can you not desire to reach out and take what could be yours?" The man beside Amaya sighed, shaking his head so she reached out and touched his shoulder, making him look to her.
"I was hoping you might be able to negotiate with him." Amaya murmured softly. "Would he be inclined to listen?" He shook his head slowly. "I thought not." With a sigh Amaya looked back to Lazarus who slowly began to smirk arrogantly again. "Listen well, tiny man. I shall not order these men to shoot you down unless you initiate an attack. As far as I am concerned, you are for the moment mere flies on my broth. Leave now and I shall harbour no ill feelings. You shall not be harmed."
"Fool! I did not march all this way just to return empty handed!" Lazarus bellowed. "I have worked too long and too hard for this moment. Relieve your grasp on my son and return him to me!"
"Nay!" Amaya suddenly bellowed, growing angry as her accent thickened. "You shall have nothing from me! You shall not have anything from this city. We are fortified! We can last for months within these walls! You shall not take us!" The men roared in appraisal and Percival looked to Amaya with admiration, the fire dancing in her eyes. "Archers!" They instantly drew back their arrows in one fluid motion, their helmets narrowing their eyes as they glared down to their enemies.
"So be it!" Lazarus bellowed back then cantered away. "Smash those walls down!" Amaya drew back an arrow to aim for him but the coward fled out of reach, even from her arrow. Growling under her breath she watched as ladders appeared from within the ranks, the soldiers carrying them over their heads as they marched up the walls whilst another group lifted up the battering ram and locked their shields into place. "Loose!" Arrows hurled down from the sky and Amaya locked another arrow in place as the ranks switched and fresh arrows stepped forwards. The first volley struck and Amaya surveyed the damage.
At her previous command, the arrows had been aimed mainly at the cavalry and central core of the infantry. The horses, terrified by the arrows broke up and fought their riders in terror. Amaya felt guilty for causing them stress and a fair number of them death or pain but she brushed the thought aside, she had to protect the city. The army broke a little but quickly knitted back together at Lazarus's command.
"Take down that ram and those ladders!" Amaya called, pointing with her bow. "Loose!" The next volley fired and Amaya shot down a soldier with her own arrow, turning to Percival. "This is your chance to prove yourself. Are you fit for battle?" Percival drew himself up.
"I can lift a sword. That's good enough." Amaya nodded her head.
"Arm yourself." She commanded him. "Then report back to me." Just then Lionel, Daniel, Ganis and the others came running forwards.
"Amaya!"
"Loose!" She commanded another volley. "Men! Arm yourselves, you are going to be fighting." They grinned at her and Ganis drew his long knives, furrowing his brow as he looked down to the enemy below. "Lionel, Kay, I want you to join Gawain down in the lower quarter at the main gate. On your way, get those still lounging around onto horses. If those doors break, they are to ride through and cut down anyone who tries to enter."
"Aye, aye!" The two men chorused and they darted off.
"Milady, where do you bid me to stand?" Amaya looked to the knight, who grit his teeth and twitched slightly at the shoulder, eager for the battle and another chance to prove himself.
"Why, Ganis, at my side of course." She answered softly then reached out to grip his shoulder. "I shall need you to help defend the wall." Nodding his head a short grin splayed across his face.
"Aye milady, I can do that."
"What about us?" Daniel asked, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Show me where I'm swinging old Bess."
"Right here. We won't be able to hold back the ladders for long. I need you two on the ground giving spirit to the ground troops." She looked at the base of the wall to the men who were twitching nervously. "Show them a real good fight."
"Aye sir!" Daniel grinned, clapping Ector's shoulder then darted off. Ector paused, looking to Amaya as she called out.
"Fire at will!"
"Maya, be careful." He said to her. "I don't know what it's like to lose a sister and I don't want to find out." Amaya smiled at him.
"Go!" He nodded his head and shot away as she turned. "Bring some pitch and torches!" She thundered as her arrows flew. They were persistent, she gave them that. As the ladders were latched onto the edges of the battlements, Amaya and another archer struggled to shove it away before anyone could climb on but somehow, they managed.
"Torches! Where are those torches?" She screamed over the noise of arrows hissing through the air. Suddenly they appeared as did the fuel which Amaya instantly directed to the edge. "Archers, stand back and keep those volleys flying!" She called, grabbing a bucket of the wet, slimy black liquid which stank, making her nostrils flare in disgust as she poured some of the gunk onto the ladder, letting it drench the wood. Despite his wealth, Lazarus seemed to have not taken care with supplying his men with good quality equipment.
"Light them up!" Amaya bellowed as she grabbed a torch then touched the flames to the pitch. Fire sprang into life, burning away the tops of the ladders and the men below screamed as they were burned. "Now for the ram, take it down!" Amaya pointed, letting the men do their work as she watched new ladders being lifted up, ones made of dark iron and although heavy and there being only three, they would not melt no matter how hot she could get the flames, unless they became a forge.
Arrows were hurled back at them so she turned and screamed to everyone. "Shields!" The archers pressed themselves to the ground, crouching as they lifted shields over their heads and the foot soldiers down below did the same. Amaya flinched as an arrow struck the shield she had lifted over her head but once the hissing had silenced, she looked up, glancing to Ganis to ensure he was alright before filling her lungs with air. "Continue fire!"
Several archers were shot down from the battlements, shot by arrows but Amaya did her best not to panic as she lost more and more men, the ladders now fixed in place. She grabbed a torch from one of the boys, looking to them. "Run!" She commanded and they scarpered quickly in fear. She bounded over to the closest ladder and waved the torch in front, making the soldier cry out in alarm and rip back, losing his grip on the bars and he fell to his death.
"Swords! Prepare for contact!" Amaya raged as she whacked another soldier over the head with the torch, its flames dying out from the blow so she dropped it and drew her arrows instead, shooting as men climbed up with speed. Ganis leaped out in front of her and with brilliant flashes of his blades, he opened the throat of one of the enemy men and quickly spun beneath another, his wrists bending flexibly and Amaya watched him out the corner of her eye, admiring how swiftly he moved for one who had not been training long.
Soon they were overflowing with men, both enemy and ally and Amaya became confused momentarily as to who was who, until a sword descended to her head. She turned, spiralling out the way then lashed out with a leg, kicking the man over the side then lifted her blade, quickly striking down another with her blade through his abdomen. "For Arthur! For the King! For Guinevere! For the Queen!" Amaya chanted at the top of her lungs and she was met with a thunderous reply.
"Arthur! Guinevere! For the King! For the Queen!" Amaya turned around, facing a new opponent but a blade was thrust by her side, skewering the man as a hand went to her waist.
"You know you look very attractive when fighting?" Daniel said to her with a grin, pulling her back as he lifted his longer, more powerful sword to finish off another soldier.
"I do not see how." She answered him gruffly, grunting as she shouldered a man aside then helped a wounded soldier to his feet, slipping his arm around her neck then passed him into the care of someone else who darted away with him. Ganis gave a yell and leaped onto someone from behind, stopping them as they swung their sword at Daniel and the man spun around and drove his own blade into their gut, smiting them down with ease. Whirling back around, Daniel shot Amaya a grin as she cleaved the head from a man who had dared tried to strike her down.
"You're very passionate when you fight, it becomes you well."
"Is this to mean that I have another Lancelot to deal with?" Amaya queried with a cock of her eyebrow, slashing her sword to the side as she saw someone run at her out of the corner of her eye. Blood splattered her form but she did not care. She was used to the taste and smell.
"Milady watch out!" A soldier said to her and she ducked in time, twisting her body backwards then rose back up again, retrieving an arrow from her quiver to stab it into the soldier's chest then dragged it out by the tail, flinging it around and it pierced through another's neck with deadly accuracy. She nodded her head in thanks to the archer who had called out the warning then turned, climbing up a few steps to oversee the battle.
The steady flow of men was beginning to overwhelm them. They were pooling out onto the ground and with not enough space to push them back, her archers were losing the battle as they were no match for swordsmen, their arrows useless in close combat. They were being slaughtered.
"Archers fall back!" She commanded. "Infantry to the battlements!" She decided in a shout and the archers pulled away, allowing the soldiers to rush forwards with fresh energy and vigour. Now that the playing field as a little more even, Amaya turned to the battering ram. It was alight with fire but still going. Her method had been ineffective. Unwilling to give in, Amaya desperately sought for ideas. The shields over their heads meant that arrows would not penetrate them and she could see Gawain and his men struggling to keep the doors from collapsing, walling it up as best they could.
For now the best they could do was to just hold them back. Her arrows blurred and when she was out of the arrows Tristan had fletched for her as well as the ones she had replenished, she sought more from the braziers and continued to shoot, never missing a target. "Ector!" She called and the knight looked around in time to see the secret opponent advancing on his back. Amaya struck him down then turned, leaping off the wall as a sword was swung at her.
She flipped over the blade, landing gracefully then kicked up her foot, resting a hand against the wall for balance as she kicked the man in the face then drew a knife from her hip, driving it into him before slashing him once more to finish the job. "My lady!" Percival's voice rang in her ears and suddenly she was tackled to the ground by his shape, lifting his shield to block the sword that had been aimed at her then used it to batter the soldier away, forcing him over the side of the wall. The knight gasped for breath but turned, offering a hand to help Amaya up as she too tried to regain her breath. "It has been a long time since I have battled like this. I am out of shape!" She sucked in a deep breath, shaking her head. "Are you well?"
"I am." He nodded to her. "Though how this is looking…" He grunted, slamming his shield against someone to stun them then cut them down. "It might not be that way for long."
"Just keep defending. When they tire, we can withdraw and plan our next move." Amaya ordered, shooting an arrow just under Percival's ear to kill the man who had leaped at his back. He smiled.
"I have lost count how many lives I owe you, my lady."
"Well, you can start repaying me by calling me Amaya. All my brothers and friends do." She replied, ducking under a sword which came dangerously close to her head. In the fray she continued to seek for a plan but as none rose to her already distracted mind, all she could do was keep fighting. They were holding the wall well but their losses continued to rise. The only solace she could find was that Lazarus's ranks were also swiftly diminishing.
Time was lost to Amaya, she had no idea how long they had been fighting until a horn blared from Lazarus's ranks and a flag of brilliant white was waved at them. She snorted. "Hold!" She bellowed, leaping up onto the battlement wall to look down at the army before getting down again. "He has called for a ceasefire." The enemy soldiers all paused, staring in fear at Amaya. "He has abandoned you, which makes you our prisoners. Lay down your arms and we shall not harm you. This is now a peace negotiation." Instantly swords and weapons clattered to the ground and the enemy soldiers lifted their hands up in surrender.
Nodding her head, Amaya turned to Percival. "Do you know them?" He shook his head.
"My father imports his men from other lands as slaves. He buys them from trainers who breed armies or he pays mercenaries. That was what you saw in the first attack." Amaya looked back as the men were subdued and forced to their knees, blades held to them in warning. "Take them to the cells. Have any wounds seen to. They are not to be punished or harmed unnecessarily, however if any chose to fight back," she took a breath and glanced to Galahad as he approached. "Kill them."
Understanding that they had no choice, the prisoners allowed themselves to be taken away and put in irons. Galahad walked up to her. "You did not mean that, did you?" Amaya looked to her brother.
"It was only frightened them. Of course I do not wish them harm but, should they do rebel, we cannot afford to use healing supplies as well as valuable food on them. They will have to accept whichever fate they choose." Turning around Amaya blinked away her tiredness. "A good battle, we emerge victorious but the worse is yet to come. Go now and rest, have your wounds treated." The archers and infantry nodded their heads.
Galahad helped Amaya to replace them with fresh, fully prepared men and stationed them in the towers to be called to battle whilst she set up a watch and patrols to be switched every three hours to ensure everyone had plenty of rest. Slowly they gathered up the dead, placing them in carts to be trundled away, a silent respect passing through the ranks as they watched their fallen brothers leave their sides to be buried and laid to rest.
Amaya sighed and wiped the thick layer of sweat from her brow, beads of it dripping from the loose strands until a movement caught her eye. "Ganis!" Leaping forwards and dropping her sword, Amaya fell to her knees and rolled the knight over, gasping for air before staring at the three arrows that pierced his body through his stomach and chest. "Stay calm, we shall treat you and make you well again." Amaya murmured to him as he wheezed, blinking as his skin turned paler by the moment.
"I am not afraid, milady, not of death." He rasped and Amaya felt her heart sink as the extreme damage to his body steadily sapped the strength and life from him. "I was proud...to fight beside...someone so noble and brave...as you." He murmured, coughing on the blood that swept through his throat.
"Shh..." Amaya soothed, lifting him up and laid his head on her lap, planting a firm hand onto his chest to try and stop the blood flow. There was nothing to be done, so she simply held him dying in her arms, rocking slightly as he struggled to breathe. "Your fetes shall be remembered, my brother. Your name never forgotten." She promised him gently. "I shall make sure that your name will join those carved into the memorial at the centre of the city, of all the other knights that have fallen since their coming here. You deserve it." A sad smile played on his mouth as he gazed up at her with slight awe, watching as the sky turned darker by the moment yet Amaya was still framed with light, her cloak of brightness gleaming as the stars began to frame her body, almost as if they were dancing in her hair.
A sad, melancholy song began to sound from her lips, easing Ganis into a peaceful sleep where the pain in his body ebbed away, soon forgotten as he rose up and soared on the wings of a brilliant form, Amaya's voice following after him until all that remained was the bright burst of brilliant stars and suns, where not an inch of darkness reached his mind even in the deepest caverns of his memory, and he truly felt alive.
Ganis went limp in Amaya's arms and she drew in a deep breath, closing her eyes to guard herself from the sadness that overcame her. She felt ashamed, ashamed that she did not allow herself to know Ganis better. "Take him to be cleaned. There will be a vigil for him tonight." Amaya ordered in a dark tone and then she felt the weight being taken from her as the knight was lifted up and carried away.
Finally she rose, once again stern and void of emotion as she head towards her brother, assessing his injuries before satisfying herself that he was alright. Her brother stood at her side, Percival a little way to the side as they looked down to the army. "I do not understand, how did he slip through?" Galahad demanded, looking with a glare to Percival. "Did you deceive us?"
"The water." Amaya murmured softly. "He must have shipped them from the south coast and sailed up the Channel with them then landed port. It does not take much to bribe people into silence. Namely, a few coins in their pockets." Amaya rubbed her face with one hand then flinched as it came away sticky with blood.
"You need some rest." She nodded her head in agreement. "Do not worry, we can handle the night watch. Gawain and I will keep an eye on things and if anything happens, we shall send for you." Amaya nodded her head again.
"Before that, you will wake me before dark." She said to him. "We will have to discuss what is to be done." This time Galahad nodded his head to her, placing his hand on her shoulder, not caring about the blood there. She was thankfully unhurt, which he praised the gods for.
"Now I know why Arthur really wanted you to stay behind." She looked to her brother with a frown and he smiled sadly. "He knew that you were the right one to lead should this happen."