Author's Notes: Another week has gone by, meaning new chapters are coming! Before we head into this latest chapter, I just want to thank everyone who has been taking the time to read this story, and I want to thank LittleRin26 and kimrobb91 for bookmarking and following on this site, along with 671bookworm for bookmarking on AO3.
Without further adieu, here's Chapter Sixteen! Enjoy!
Chapter XVI
A smile formed on Iliana's lips as she heard the waves crashing down on the shore and inhaled the salty scent of the ocean. The house she was staying in was close to the beach, and being able to hear the ocean reminded her of Corfu. Her old home on the island was also close to the beach, and for the first eight years of her life, she woke up to the sound and smell of the ocean. For a moment, she reverted to her child self, eager to run along the shoreline of the beach whenever she woke up to a new day.
Stretching her arms up over her head, Iliana cast the sheet aside and got up, making her way over to the window to watch the ocean. The waves crashed down on the white sand adorning the shoreline, and she hoped for the chance to walk the shore after training with the girls.
She changed out of the new slip she gained the previous evening, strapped her sword to her waist and swung her bow and quiver over her shoulder. Another bright, cloudless day greeted her when she left the house and made her way to what the village called their tavern. It was out in the open, with a bar and a plaza for dancing that was almost identical to the one back at Hadrian's Wall, and for a moment, she felt as if she was back there.
Her mind immediately went to Vanora, the children and Jols, wondering how they were taking the news of her departure. She imagined they were probably worrying about her, considering she never really said where she was going. Unfortunately, she couldn't afford to dwell on the thought of them for too long, for she had another mission to focus on.
She smiled when she saw Andres sitting at one of the larger tables with a plate of freshly made breakfast in front of him, and there was another plate placed in the spot across from him. When he looked up and saw her, he smiled at her as she got close.
"Well, good morning, my dear," he greeted. "I ordered that plate for you. You're going to need your strength."
Her smile widened as she sat down, seeing that the plate comprised fish, chicken, cheese and bread.
"Sounds like you got a busy day ahead of you after you eat, and I'm looking forward to observing from the sidelines," Andres announced.
His words made her chuckle.
"You were hiding nearby listening to our conversation atop the hill last night, weren't you?"
"Would you have expected any less of me?" Andres asked.
Letting out another chuckle, Iliana shook her head.
"However, I am proud of you. I have taught you well if you caught onto my presence last night, and I'm looking forward to seeing you train with the girls and get yourself back into gear with your fighting," Andres said. "I knew the journey getting to Britain would have taken its toll besides you getting settled in and forming a routine.
"However, better late than never, and it's about time that the sword your father had forged for you gets to shine after so long."
"Good morning, you two."
They looked to see the bright, yet half-asleep faces of Sophia, Estrella, Dimitra and Catalina as they approached the table and sat down, with Iliana in the middle of them. A barmaid then came around holding four plates, setting them down in front of each of the girls. They thanked her and ate.
"As soon as our breakfast has had time to settle in, we will begin our training," Iliana announced. "I want to know the weapons you prefer wielding, how skilled you are with those said weapons and your preferred methods and approaches to combat.
"In addition, I want to find out how well you can aim with a bow, and I want to test your stamina by running into the nearby forest."
"I've been curious about what lies in that forest. I guess we'll find out later today," Estrella stated, clearly excited.
"Might I suggest something?" Sophia asked.
"Of course. Go ahead, Soph," Iliana replied.
"When we're finished training for the day, we all belly dance to take the tension out of our bodies," Sophia suggested. "We probably will be exhausted, yes, but it will be a good way to relax and unwind, considering this training will probably go on for a while."
"You all know how to belly dance?" Iliana asked, surprised.
In response, they all nodded, which only surprised her even more.
"If I'm right, you mentioned you can belly dance, Ili. Is that true?" Catalina asked.
"Aye," Iliana replied. "I dance occasionally for the children of the barmaid I work under."
"If that's the case, then how about a proposal?" Dimitra asked.
"What is it?" Iliana asked.
"You train and spar with us, like you promised, and you belly dance with us when we finish for the day," Dimitra replied. "You help us hone and improve our fighting skills, and we'll teach you some new moves in belly dancing that you can incorporate for those children when you get back to Hadrian's Wall."
Now that was an offer that Iliana didn't want to refuse; the thought of performing some new moves to stun the children and possibly even the men was an enticing thought as she imagined it.
"You got yourself a deal then, honey," she said after a moment of silence to think it over.
"Well, it seems like you girls have it all worked out. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're all capable of," Andres said with a smile.
"Savor your food and eat up while you can, girls. Once you're all ready, we will begin our training," Iliana announced.
The sun glowed on her, and she savored the bright light and the heat emitting from its rays.
If that's you, Father, do not worry about me. I'm okay.
Her thoughts then shifted to the men.
Father, if you can hear me, please watch over Arthur and his knights as they trek up the dangerous northern territory harbored by the Woads. Ensure that they fulfill their mission of escorting that Roman noble and returning safely.
With that prayer, Iliana went back to finishing her breakfast, a part of her eager to train.
Tristan was scouting ahead atop Siria, treading cautiously in the grass and dirt. Siria was still as antsy as ever, but for the moment, she was behaving and cooperating like she was supposed to. He had sniped two Woads lingering in wait amongst the trees, and it was thanks to the sun shining through the cover of the trees and giving away their positions. They had taken most of the previous day to trek through most of the forest and camped when it got dark. When the early morning rays of the sun broke through the cover of the trees, they resumed their trek, making some more solid ground. Once they reached the end of the trees, it was a clear ride down the dirt path to the estate of the Roman noble.
He breathed in the scent of fresh lilac from nearby, and he saw a few lilac shrubs that were blooming about. When the sun shone through the cover of the trees, he immediately thought of Iliana. It was as if her presence formed from the sun and the scent of lilac with a hint of lavender. He imagined holding her close in the comfort of his arms, breathing in her scent, and smothering her neck with the attention of his lips. He had a dream the previous evening of his hands and lips mapping out every part of her body, which only fueled his desire to complete this mission and reunite with her.
He pulled on Siria's reins, bringing her to a halt when he noticed that the sun shined brightly in three different trees. Pulling out his bow, he was quick to snipe, and three more Woads that were lying in wait had gone down. He wondered if Leoric was watching him and the men for Iliana's sake. Upon seeing and sensing that there weren't any more Woads lying in wait, he turned Siria around so that he could report back to Arthur.
He heard Talia crying from up above, and Siria whinnied and stamped her front hooves for a moment as she walked. The distress of his animals shook him to the very core, and he could only hope that it was just a mere feeling and nothing more.
Iliana stared Dimitra down, holding her sword up and pointing the tip forward at the brunette, who also had her sword up with the tip forward. They had just finished their sparring session involving the use of their weapons, and while Dimitra was breathing heavily, Iliana's breathing was heavier. This resulted from having done four matches in a row (at her own insistence), sparring with each of the girls. Besides being breathless, her body was also sore thanks to swinging her sword and moving around so much without taking a break.
Throughout the four rounds of sparring with each girl, Iliana learned a lot about each of their combat abilities. As Sophia said in her introduction, she wielded twin swords, and her ambidexterity meant that she could take out multiple foes from all sides. She could also counter just as quickly, and each counter meant another death with her other sword ready for the kill. Perhaps they could probably attempt a killing combo or two with what they could do after enough training on both their parts.
Estrella's preferred weapon of choice was a spiked mace with a spear at the very tip. When she struck her foes with it, she aimed for either the chest, neck or head, but with certain foes, she had to strike them in the calves or feet to get the opening she needed. In those said cases, her knife was her backup as she slashed their throats. When she has both in her hands, she won't hesitate to alternate between bludgeoning and slashing.
Catalina enjoyed throwing knives and swinging a pair of them with guards for her knuckles, which gave her the opportunity to throw a few punches that hit hard. Add her agility to the mix, and she was more than capable of taking out multiple enemies with either her fists, knives or a combination of both. Her tiny frame was a bonus for her agility, allowing her the chance to strike before her foes even had the chance to register what was coming.
Finally, Dimitra preferred a Damascus style sword in combination with using the full force of her strength when she fought. The element of surprise and charging in head on was what she liked to use. She had thrown off a few of her foes with her strength, not expecting a girl of her stature to possess such drive and force, and that was probably the case when she killed the Saxons that intended to rape her. Taking advantage of their surprise, she killed them quickly. She was very efficient when she swung her sword, and she didn't waste time when she had to kill.
If there was one thing they definitely all had in common, it was their anger towards the Saxons. Their sadistic ways turned them into these distant, vulnerable machines that did what they needed to do to survive, even at the expense of their wicked ways (at least, in Estrella's case). While she hoped that none of them would ever have to face the Saxons again in this lifetime, she wanted them to be prepared in case they ever did. If that time ever came, she would be there with them to fight.
"Wonderful match, you two," Andres announced, clapping his hands. "You possess the element of surprise, Dimitra, and I know most enemies wouldn't think that a girl would have such an ability.
"One thing that I want to point out is that while you possess the ability to surprise your foes, be mindful of the way you use it when you enter a fight. You don't want to make the mistake of entering a fight that you can't win. Logic and reasoning can save you just as quickly, okay?"
Not speaking a word, Dimitra nodded, and Andres continued with speaking to each of the girls.
"Sophie, the knowledge that you are ambidextrous is one of those rare gifts. You're able to kill twice as many enemies and deplete a foe's numbers even quicker. However, that leaves you more vulnerable to be attacked because you're focused on more than one enemy. Be mindful of your surroundings when you are dealing with more than one foe on your back.
"Estrella, when you strike in the right spot with your mace, you kill them quickly, be it with the mace or your knife. Just be careful when you miss your foe and get that mace stuck somewhere other than your enemy, for that can decide life or death for you, depending on who it is that you're dealing with.
"And Cat, always be mindful of who could come up behind you. While your agility and tiny frame serve as your two advantages with your knives, someone else can outrun your pace and slice your throat just as quickly as you slice theirs. Sometimes, stabbing them in the abdomen or another vital spot can save you."
Each one of them nodded, and Iliana saw the determination in their eyes. She felt her pride swell up at the progress she made within these past few hours, and she felt a little better with herself.
"And don't think you're off the hook with feedback, Ili," Andres announced.
"If I wasn't getting any kind of feedback from you, I would have thought that something was wrong with you," she said, a small smirk forming on the corner of her lips.
The older Sarmatian chuckled before he continued.
"Anger, revenge, or both may not fuel you in this case, but I know that the guilt of your father's death is still holding you back from your full potential," he said in a stern tone that Iliana immediately recognized. "I know there's a warrior in you, but you need to let her come out if you want to awaken the true extent of your Sarmatian roots. If there's one thing I'm definitely certain of, it's the empathy that you feel for the girls and their backstories with the Saxons.
"Let go of the guilt surrounding your father's death. You had absolutely no reason to feel that way when it wasn't your fault to even begin with. Leoric did not leave this earth wanting you to be unhappy. He wanted you to find your place in this life and wanted you to keep smiling for him. He didn't tell you he was dying because he didn't want to lose the smile that kept him going.
"Let the empathy and pain you feel for the girls be the fuel you need to awaken and channel your warrior self."
Fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill from the corners of her eyes, Iliana took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay. I suggest we go take that run in the forest and blow off this emotional steam that we're feeling after all of this," Catalina suggested. "While we're feeling tuckered out from our recent spars, it's an opportunity to see if we can keep up."
Iliana smiled as she sheathed her sword in its sheath.
"I'm dying to find out who's fastest between the four of you."
With those words, she jumped off of the arena and took off into a run, and the girls had to scramble to put their weapons away and follow her. Andres couldn't help but laugh as he watched them go.
Hopefully, my advice was the push she needed. I'm doing the best I can, Leoric, and I know she will pull through.
The breeze hit Iliana's face as she sprinted down a beaten dirt path heading into the nearby forest. The girls were about fifteen meters behind her, and she could hear them bantering between each other. However, she knew it was for morale, for they were pushing each other to be at their best.
She followed the road, deciding to let her feelings and instinct guide her down this unfamiliar path. If it were to serve any kind of purpose, it was to show her not to be fearful of the unknown or what may lie ahead in the future. At that moment, she immediately thought of her relationship with Tristan, and she felt that fear stab her in the chest. Rather than slow down, it pushed her to run even faster and harder. This seemed to encourage the girls, for she heard Sophia yell they needed to pick up the pace.
Up ahead, Iliana saw an opening in which the sunlight gathered, and when she passed through it, she was awestruck at the sight before her. In the middle of the clearing, surrounded by the vast, luscious trees, was a set of tall pillars that she assumed was one of the ancient Roman architectures built throughout the surrounding lands. Thanks to weathering over the years, they were slowly deteriorating, and thus, they were not as polished as they once were. Yet, it was still a sight to behold as she allowed herself to collapse on the fresh grass beneath her.
The sound of voices snapped her out of her temporary trance, and when she turned towards the opening she emerged, she chuckled as the girls appeared one-by-one. Catalina was first, followed by Sophia, then Estrella, and last, Dimitra.
"Not bad there, girls," Iliana said. "Given enough time, you'll keep on pace with me, or even run past me."
"At the very least, let us match your pace first," Dimitra said with a heavy huff as she and the girls sat on the grass near her and looked at the ruins.
"Wow. I'm surprised that there's an ancient architecture of Rome still standing after all these years," Catalina commented. "Even through the weathering and deterioration, it still looks beautiful."
"As majestic as these ruins still look, they also serve as a reminder of Rome's greed," Estrella said, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "They will never have enough to achieve true satisfaction."
"Then let the deterioration also remind us that the Roman Empire is declining in power," Dimitra announced. "It will only be a matter of time before they leave the lands they've stolen for good."
"Not soon enough, though," Catalina chimed in. "Rome has a lot to return and repent for everything they've taken and the lives they've destroyed."
"Just have faith that Rome will finally leave, and it will be fairly soon," Iliana announced. "Hopefully, by then, Sarmatia and Greece will finally be free from their greedy grasp."
The girls all looked at her, noticing the longing and sadness in her eyes.
"Ili, you need to listen to Andres," Sophia stated. "That unnecessary guilt is holding you back, and if you keep letting it define your life, the real you will never come out for us and for Arthur and his knights to see, especially your knight."
Her emphasis on Tristan made Iliana blush, and she swallowed the lump that threatened to form in her throat.
"Do the knights know you left the Wall for your self-appointed mission?" Estrella asked.
There was a brief, yet eerie, moment of silence before Iliana spoke up.
"Nay. I waited for them to leave for their mission before I left."
"Ooh. I have a feeling they will not be happy when they realize you left without saying a word about it," Dimitra pointed out.
"Andres plans to pen a letter to Arthur in the next few days," Iliana explained. "He encouraged me to come out and see him, and considering he's my teacher and my father's comrade and friend, I wanted to see him again. I hadn't seen him for several months since I left Sarmatia and came to Britain."
"At the very least, Andres is taking responsibility for being the one to initiate this trip," Catalina said. "That should redirect some of the tension away from her."
God, I hope so, Iliana thought as she gazed at the ruins and thought of Tristan. The thought and image of him angry at her for keeping secrets sent a shiver down her delicate spine, and she could only hope Andres's letter would take that tension off her shoulders. Regardless of how Tristan and the men would react, she was going to have to answer for her actions.
"We'll worry about that when the time comes," Dimitra announced. "After we rest here for a moment, why don't we teach our new friend here some new belly dancing moves and maybe see if we can help her come up with a new dance to perform for the men."
Iliana felt her cheeks grow warm, and the girls chuckled when they saw her cheeks flush a slight shade of pink.
"You'll love these moves, and when we incorporate them into a dance, the men and the kids will love it," Sophia said with a smirk.
Tristan was lying on his back in a guest room of the Roman nobles' estate, wearing only his trousers as he got as comfortable as possible. Following his scouting venture and killing the few Woads that were hiding in the trees, the remaining trek towards the estate had been fairly smooth. When they finally arrived, the sun had just about gone down behind the horizon. They would leave at first light to go further north, and it was there that the ship escorting the noble to his intended destination waited.
He could hear how restless the horses were from the stables just twenty meters away, which only added to the unnerving feeling coursing through his veins since departing from the Wall. He then thought of Arion and the sad expression he had in his eyes, despite his calm demeanor, which got him thinking of how Siria had been during his scouting and the distressed cry Talia gave earlier in the day.
Thinking it over for probably the umpteenth time today, Tristan was almost certain he didn't see, much less sense, anything off regarding Iliana's behavior the night of the festival. But as he replayed their moment alone, something clicked in his mind. It was the way she trembled in his hold when he kissed her tears away that night, and it was out of dread. Either she had a feeling regarding their mission, or there was something else that she didn't want him to know about.
A soft, yet sharp cry snapped him out of his thoughts, and he looked to see Talia perched on the sill of the window he left open. Getting up, he pulled out the same batch of seeds Iliana used, offering them to her in his palm. She scooped them up in her beak without a second thought, and as soon as she finished, she let out a soft, distressed cry.
"I know, girl. I know," he cooed, stroking her chest with his fingers. "I miss her too. We'll be back at the Wall soon."
Another fresh whiff of lilac soon hit his nose, and once again, he found himself enveloped by thoughts of Iliana. He pictured her hair as it blew along the breeze, the way her cheeks flushed pink from either drinking too much or being teased by the men, and the way her eyes glowed with affection when she looked at him. He imagined that bright blue gaze looking at him lustfully as he hovered over her, ready to make love to her as he slipped her dress off of her.
Talia soon flapped her wings, snapping him out of his trance, and Tristan gave her a friendly knock under her chin before she took off into the night. He watched as she flew up into the clear, midnight blue sky, and with another whiff of the fresh lilac, shut the window and headed off to bed, his thoughts and dreams drifting to Iliana as he imagined her sleeping next to him.
End Notes: So, in my favorite King Arthur stories that I've been fortunate to discover on this site, I've noticed that not all the knights get enough love, and three of my favorite stories involved a love triangle of some sort. I'm not against the idea of love triangles since they make such good plot points in stories, but I personally wanted all the knights to have some loving in their lifetime. During my first few attempts at putting this story together (and while I was still tinkering with Iliana's backstory), I had this image of Iliana being the leader of her own band of warriors, which led me to create Sophia, Estrella, Catalina, and Dimitra in the process. At first, I attempted to introduce all five of them right away, but with me still trying to figure out Iliana as a character overall, I scrapped the idea. However, I didn't want to scrap the four girls that took time and effort to create, and when I finally had my map outlined, I leaned on the thought of them being refugees on the run. With that, I managed to squeeze them in this specific point in the story, and not only did it fulfill my wish of giving the knights the much-needed love I felt they deserve, but also helped me to further develop Iliana's character at this very point in time. Basically, I got the best of both worlds in the end.
Anyways, I hope you guys are continuing to enjoy the story, and check back tomorrow for the next chapter! If you guys want to read some other good King Arthur stories on this site, I suggest Eyes Of Faith by BlackWiltedRose, A Lady's Vengeance by Carrot Top, The Virgin Lover by Silver as the Rain (this story is one of the best first-person stories I've read thus far), and Little Bird and the Hawk by Tracy137. Check them out, for I've read these stories more than once!