"What now?" Gawain bellowed back to the other ship, trying to be heard over the wind. Amaya signalled, telling them to go into port. Turning, Gawain nodded to Dagonet. "Take us in. I hope she knows what she's doing."
"She does." Tristan answered vaguely. "She'd never lead us into danger without at least seven contingency plans to get us out again." Dagonet chuckled, knowing this to be the truth. He'd seen the plans though he could not make any sense of them. Since Amaya could not read or write, she would make her plans with dots, crosses, various signs that no one else could understand but her as it was all in her head.
Amaya looked behind her, seeing the Saxon fleet just on the horizon as they pulled into the port. The ships collided but everyone braced themselves for the impact, the trembling judder leaving behind a shuddering clang of wood grating against wood before the knights quickly reeled the second ship alongside the other. They had painted the sails with Arthur's dragon emblem out of Woad, assuring that there was nothing for the port to fear as two Saxon ships came towards them.
Arthur stood on the cliff top with his army, their armour dimly lit in the low light of the sun but as the blazing golden warmth rose over the horizon, their armour shone bolder and brighter until they stood like sentinels against the wrath that was sweeping towards them on icy waves, rolling with curling fangs of frothy white.
Amaya nodded to Jols who held Arluin for her at the docks. "Hello again Jols. These women will need good food, somewhere to rest and blankets. Will you oversee their care?"
"Of course Maya, welcome home." She smiled to him, mounted up then rode up to meet Arthur on the cliffs, the knights following after her as the gold was reclaimed by the royal treasurers and the guard, ready to be counted then redistributed to the port towns where they had reported the numbers of their financial losses.
The army parted ranks to Allow Amaya and the men to the front of the cliff where Arthur turned to greet them. "Lancelot." Arthur smiled to his friend grimly, clapping his shoulder. "Men, I am glad to see you safely returned."
"No thanks to that harpy over there." Gaheris growled and Amaya shot him a filthy look.
"It's not my fault you ate all your share of the food in only two days on the way home." She argued simply. "I caught you some fish, didn't I?"
"Which I had to eat raw!" Gaheris complained, shuddering and the other knights all laughed.
"Can't have been worse than the muck we used to eat back in the arena." Elyan grinned, bounding forwards then punched Gaheris on the shoulder. Amaya turned to look at the Saxons as they approached, swiftly sailing closer and closer, all in formation.
"Maya, what do you require us to do?" Arthur asked but she said nothing, stepping right to the cliff edge and Tristan's hand twitched to pull her back but he stopped himself, knowing that she would not want him to coddle her. She opened her mouth and closed her eyes, tasting the salty wind before sighing. She looked back to the army and Arthur, who were all standing a fair way back from the cliff. She smiled.
"Why did the Britons name you Arthur Pendragon?" Amaya asked her friend, who frowned slightly.
"It is because they say that in the battle at Badon Hill, the sun shone through the smoke and formed five dragons over our victory." He replied, tilting his head to the side curiously at the question. Amaya turned around, her cloak swirling around her feet before pulling to the side, flying with the change of wind with her curling hair. She looked a powerful figure, her stance firm and her head lifted proudly against the oncoming invasion. She was unafraid, and her fearlessness instantly instilled the men with hope. They trusted their Wolf Maiden. She had protected the city or two weeks with little more than a hundred men. They would follow her as loyally as they would follow Arthur.
"How about we put some truth into the legend?" She murmured, her voice stretching back to the knights and king, who instantly all frowned. Her body began to glow, radiating a warmth that all men drew to them as if like a blessing from an angel to bring them luck and good fortune.
Amaya's light shone brighter, stretching out further and further until it towered over the army. They lifted their hands to shield their eyes, looking away and when the light began to disappear, they looked back to see a solid shape forming before them.
Arthur's eyes widened as he stared in shock, looking at Amaya's bowed head as the light finally disappeared completely before she opened her eyes, narrowing them instantly as she slowly drew herself up, the long arching neck drawing her to stand taller than the trees.
Anchoring a sharply clawed hand into the cliff the soft chalk crumbled beneath but then remained firm, holding her weight as her tail swept forwards, glistening with a sharp arrowhead at the tip. Everyone stared, some backing away in fear as Amaya's soft growl darkened, looking down at the knights as she shifted her wings, lifting them up then stretched them.
Throwing back her head she opened her jaws, roaring towards the rising sun as a burst of flames shot from her dagger fanged mouth, each scale gleaming a deep molten gold as the sunlight bounced off her hide, her long, agile body standing strong as the vibrations of her roar shook every man to the bone, some crying out in fear before Amaya closed her jaw and looked back to Arthur.
"Dragon." Was the only word he could breathe. Amaya dipped her head as if bowing to him, her furrowed brow softening slightly. Amaya snorted, a spark of flames igniting in her nostrils as she shook out her body then turned to face the Saxon fleet.
Tristan for once let his mask drop from his face to stare in shock at Amaya. She looked back to him then growled softly, the sound warm and inviting as she lowered her head to him. Tristan lifted a hand and rested it against her admittedly beautifully featured face. She still had her midnight blue eyes, though they were set like sapphires against the gold of her scales.
Flapping her wing at him Tristan caught the gust of wind and he stumbled back a step, smirking up at her as Amaya's eyes gleamed the way they did when she gave him her special smile that was reserved only for him.
Turning to face the Saxons, Amaya whipped back her head and roared again, spreading her wings to lunge from the cliff edge. The knights ran forwards, watching in awe as Amaya flew flawlessly through the air, her great wings causing a thunderous rumble through the open skies. They could hear the screams from the port but all eyes were fixed on Amaya as she sucked in a deep breath, gathering her fire in her chest before letting it all go with a bellow.
The heat reached unfathomable intensity as she struck the first ship with a fireball, one that shattered the ship's mast and split the deck in half under the force as Amaya then banked around, opening her mouth and letting a long stream of fire run over the first line of ships.
The screams filled her mind so Amaya stopped, snarling as she slapped her tail into a mast, breaking it off easily as the Saxons tried to avoid being struck by one of their own flame lit boats and organise their archers to shoot the beast down.
Seeing the bows being raised, Amaya snorted then dived out of the way, streaking close to the water and spraying a wave beneath her from the speed she gathered. A few arrows bounced harmlessly off her thick hide though she kept her softer underbelly well protected.
Glancing back she opened her jaws and let loose another bolt of fire. On the cliff, the men roared in victory, lifting their shields and spears to the air as they chanted the Sarmatian war cry. Arthur watched at the devastation but felt no pity. These men were willing to kill his people over simple gold with the overall intent of stealing the land from its people. They will not have his mercy unless they begged for it on their knees.
Amaya pulled back, letting loose another fireball and struck several ships with it, keeping her efforts to the front. She allowed them the chance to escape unless they were unlucky enough to fall under fire of her wrath. Her fury was only just begun, yet she was willing to allow them to flee back to safety. At least they will know that Briton would not be taken by force. She would not allow any foreigner claim Arthur's land for their own.
Letting out another roar, Amaya watched as the boats began to turn around, smashing into one another. Satisfied that her work was done, she turned and flew back to the cliff. The men moved back, stumbling slightly as Amaya landed, her wings clapping like a thunderbolt before she began to gleam, shrinking back to size.
Amaya stepped forwards but, feeling deplaned of strength from the magic she had had to use in order to transform her body into such an ancient and powerful creature and then back to a woman again. Her body giving out beneath her, Amaya dropped to the ground but only her hand brushed the grass as Tristan caught her, shifting her into his arms as he slowly let her down to the ground. "Maya." He questioned quietly, looking down at her closed eyes. She murmured, frowning slightly before the lines smoothed away from her brow, recognising the voice that had called to her.
"Tristan." She sighed, letting him pull her body a little closer as his hand pressed against the side of her face. Galahad continued to stare, unable to move. His sister had turned into a dragon. A dragon! After he thought he'd seen it all, she threw that at him! He looked to the other knights who all seemed to be in a similar state as him.
Amaya opened her eyes a crack, blinking softly up at Tristan before offering a lazy smile. "I enjoy being unquestionably dangerous." He arched an eyebrow down at her then chuckled.
"Let's get you home."
"Where are my children?" Amaya murmured, reaching out across the grass as her confused mind tried to find them. "Where are Ruth and Tor? Where are my twins?"
"They are safe back at home, in the nursery. I'll take you to them." Tristan murmured. "We will be there tomorrow, tonight if you wish to ride ahead." Amaya looked back to Tristan.
"I want to see them." Nodding his head, Tristan lifted her up as she relaxed against him. Arthur stepped forwards, looking to Amaya with concern but Tristan nodded her head.
"She wants to return." The scout said quietly and Arthur nodded his head.
"Of course. Galahad, Gawain, Lamorak, go with them." The knights nodded their heads then moved off to get to their horses. Arluin lifted his head and called out to Amaya but grew worried when she did not answer. He stepped forwards, whickering with concern as Tristan placed her onto Ilana's back.
"Arluin, where is Arluin?" Amaya groaned, slipping forwards to get down but Tristan pushed her back up.
"You are too exhausted to ride." Amaya instantly threw him the filthiest look her tired body could muster.
"A true Sarmatian is never unable to ride." She slurred before slumping forwards again, Tristan only just managing to catch her before mounting up. He looked behind him to Galahad who now held Arluin's reins. At least she now had no reason to choke them when she woke up later and her horse was not there.
Tristan cantered forwards, one hand protectively on Amaya's stomach as her head rested against her stomach, grounding her to the saddle and keeping her upright as she slept, her limbs feeling like lead and her mind reeling with the ache of too much magic still flowing through her body, unable to settle. She groaned so Tristan glanced on her then placed a gentle kiss on the side of her face.
After being with her for so long, Tristan had learned many more things about Amaya, including that she always calmed down and felt soothed whenever he was touching her in some way, even if it was just a hand to her shoulder but the more effective method of comforting her was always a kiss, which he was always glad to give. Releasing a deep sigh Tristan rested his head into hers, nuzzling her gently before turning his attention back to the road.