15 Arrows
It was a long, hot day. When Tristan returned from his guard duty, he was all sweaty and grimy. His hair was sticking to his forehead and dust covered his face. He instantly threw off his clothes and followed Gawain and Gaheris back into the river. The three knights drifted in the water and allowed the river to take them along for a while.
Pelleas had taken over guard duty from Gaheris and Galahad tended the small fire. Lancelot lay on the river bank with his feet in the water, enjoying the afternoon sun. Arthur strolled leisurely through their encampment and Agloval was humming a song as he braided a colourful garland for his girl. Bors was fast asleep in the shadow.
Balan sat on the river bank, not far from Lancelot, when he began to feel slightly uncomfortable as if someone was watching him. He felt a sudden chill despite the heat and there was a prickling sensation in the back of his neck. Balan's blood rushed when he recognized the feeling: Danger! He looked around to warn Arthur, but before he could say a word, Brumear, Pelleas and Dagonet came galloping back into their camp.
"Woads on the opposite shore!" they shouted.
"Get ready to leave!" Arthur bellowed.
Balan snatched up Tristan's sword and ran to put it in his quiver. He stuffed Tristan's clothes and boots into his saddle bags. Then he mounted Tristan's horse, put the dagger in his belt and placed his hand on the hilt of the long-knife.
His eyes scanned the river. There was no sign of the three swimmers.
Pellinore, Bedivere and Lamorak came galloping back from the south.
Galahad also mounted up. He and Pelleas were holding the reins of Gawain's and Gaheris' horses, nervously awaiting their return. The knights had all drawn their weapons and were facing the river, ready for battle.
"Arthur, with all due respect, we have to leave the river bank!" Lancelot urged.
"Not without the others!" Arthur replied firmly.
"The others might be able to hide! If the Woads cross the river further downstream and surround us here, we will all die, including the boys," Lancelot persisted.
"They haven't surrounded us yet," Arthur replied.
At that moment, tumult broke lose just behind the next river bend. Moments later they saw Tristan, Gaheris and Gawain running towards them on the opposite shore, soon followed by a large group of shouting Woads.
"Cover them!" Arthur ordered. The knights grabbed their bows.
Balan reached for Tristan's bow, but then he realized that the three knights were never going to make it on foot. The group of Woads was gaining on them and more Woads were spilling from the forest beyond. The swimmers would have to fight, but they were naked and unarmed! They needed weapons!
Balan kicked Tristan's horse forward towards Galahad and grabbed the reins of Gawain's horse from his hand. "Pelleas, give me Gaheris' horse!" he yelled. He caught the reins from Pelleas and immediately urged the three horses into a gallop, plunging into the river.
"Balan! Come back this instant!" Arthur shouted.
"Balan!" Bors and Dagonet bellowed.
Balan urged the horses onwards and quickly tied the reins to his saddle as they headed for the deeper part of the river.
"We cannot call him back now, Arthur!" Lancelot shouted. "He might be their only chance!"
On the opposite shore a Woad with a spear ran into the river, glaring at Balan. Balan grabbed Tristan's bow and shot him. A volley of arrows flew over his head, killing five Woads that had appeared beside the first one.
Several knights made to follow Balan into the river, but Arthur raised his hand. "We will be at a huge disadvantage if we are all in the water when the Woads attack!"
The three horses started swimming and Balan had to hold on. Arrows flew high over his head from both sides of the river, but he kept going. Brumear, Pellinore and Galahad stayed behind to cover Balan where he was crossing the river, while Arthur led the others downstream to aid the fleeing knights from the opposite shore.
As soon as his horses regained their footing, Balan steered them out of the water and galloped flat out towards the three running knights, scattering Woads along the river bank.
"Hurry up!" Bors shouted from across the river.
As soon as he reached the fleeing knights, Balan threw the curved sword to Tristan, who immediately used it to cut down an approaching Woad. Gaheris and Gawain grabbed their axes from their saddles and Balan quickly untied the horses to turn them around.
"Retreat!" Tristan urged while slicing another Woad's stomach.
Balan flung Tristan's dagger into the neck of a Woad who was about to cleave Gaheris' skull. In one fluent motion Tristan snatched his dagger from the Woad's neck and plunged it into another Woad's chest. Then he mounted up behind Balan and took the reins. Balan reached for the long-knife in Tristan's quiver and gripped it firmly.
More Woads came running their way and the situation looked bad.
"Mount up!" Balan yelled.
Gawain and Gaheris were still fighting their opponents.
Tristan moved his horse between Gawain and three determined-looking Woads. His sword flashed through the air and one fell dead. The others reached up and tried to pull Tristan and Balan from their horse. Reacting instinctively, Balan slashed and stabbed at their arms until one let go. Tristan killed the other with a backward stroke, then swung his sword at a fourth blue painted man who came running from the trees.
Gawain killed the Woad he was fighting and mounted up, swinging his axe menacingly. Tristan's sword slashed through the flesh of three more blue attackers. Finally Gaheris managed to get on his horse, after killing five more Woads with his battle axe.
"Ride!" Gawain shouted. The horses leaped forward.
"Stay on this side of the river, we must gain enough distance before we cross!" Gaheris bellowed.
As they galloped along the river bank, Balan handed Tristan his bow and bent low over the neck of the horse to give Tristan a free shot. Several Woads came running out of the forest ahead of them. One by one they fell. The pursuing Woads behind them were assailed by arrows from Arthur and the other knights.
Suddenly a large group of Woads with spears streamed out of the forest ahead of them and blocked their way. Gawain urged his horse into the river. Gaheris and Tristan followed. They were about to reach the deepest part of the river when a cloud of arrows began to rain down on them.
"You'll have to swim, boy," Tristan stated. Without further warning he pulled Balan with him from the horse.
"Stay next to the horse! Swim, boy!" Tristan panted.
Balan tried as hard as he could, but for some reason he kept slipping beneath the water. Tristan pulled him to the surface. "Hold me!" he ordered. Balan gasped for air and clung to the scout. "Swim!" Tristan urged. "Use your legs!" Balan tried, but Tristan's body was in the way. To make matters worse, the scout didn't swim as fast as Balan wanted.
"Move more slowly, boy!" Gaheris panted behind him. "Let the water carry you!"
Exhausted, Balan wasn't able to think anymore. He let Tristan drag him along while he kicked his legs in panic. An arrow struck Tristan's left arm and the water instantly turned red. Just then the horses regained their footing. Tristan held on to his horse's mane and grasped Balan with his other hand, letting the horse pull them both out of the water.
"Ride!" Arthur's voice ordered. "The Woads are crossing!" Strong hands lifted Tristan and Balan back into the saddle and urged them on. Balan vaguely noticed Gawain and Gaheris riding beside them as they galloped away from the river.