Author's Notes: Another chapter for you all! Enjoy!

Chapter XXI

Iliana led the way to the northern gate with her Sirens walking beside her. She and Catalina had their bows drawn and ready, while Estrella, Sophia, and Dimitra had their weapons drawn. While they didn't know how many Woads they were going to take on, they would not pass up this chance to fight and put their past week of training to the test.

When they arrived at the northern gate, a chaotic scene greeted them. The Roman soldiers on sight were attempting to fend off about fifty Woads that breached through the open gate, and Iliana could only assume they were lying in wait for the right opportunity to strike yet again. If they made their way into town, it only meant they were getting more daring. Did that mean Rome's withdrawal was approaching fairly soon?

Unfortunately, there was no time to dwell on the many questions running through her mind; all that mattered now was taking them out and preventing them from venturing further into town.

She and Catalina took aim and fired; her arrow hitting a Woad in the left eye, while Catalina's hit a Woad in the throat, making him gurgle blood before he died. They fired two more arrows each, and the Woads soon turned their attention to them.

"Sirens, prepare for combat!" Iliana announced, drawing her sword and pointing the tip forward.

Just as Catalina got into a defensive stance, a group of Woads came running at them. With a battle cry, Iliana led the charge, and the girls followed with their weapons ready.

Sophia blocked the impending attack of a Woad that swung at her and used her free sword to slash him across his abdomen. She then broke into a run, heading deeper into the bloodbath, and two more Woads fell victim to her blades. When another Woad dared to challenge her, she pointed the tip of a sword forward and stared him down. After a brief beat, he came at her, and with a quick thrust of one sword into the ground, pulled out her knife and stabbed him in the abdomen. Grabbing her other sword, Sophia positioned them at his throat in a scissor-like fashion, and following a slit of his throat, beheaded him. She shut her hazel eyes as his blood sprayed into her face, neck, and chest, her skin tingling as the grip on her swords tightened.

I'm just getting started, she thought with a gleeful smile as she ran at some more Woads.

Dimitra ran into the battle head on, tackling a Woad and knocking him into some nearby barrels. The surprise attack, besides her strength, shocked the native fighter, but he had little time to react when she stabbed him in the chest with her sword. Quick to get back up, she whirled around and swung the blade, blocking the sneak attack of a Woad that tried to catch her by surprise. He pushed her blade up against her, but she held her own, and she headbutted him directly in the forehead. The impact of the move was just enough to knock him back and stun him, allowing her the chance to cut him down. She then ran at another Woad, stabbing him in the back, and after throwing her sword down, grabbed another one in a chokehold and suffocated him to death.

Retrieving her sword, she silently dared the Woads to take her on, the challenge evidently clear in her grey eyes.

Estrella felt gratification when she struck a Woad in his head with her mace. The stunned look on his face before falling limp brought the hint of a smirk to her lips, and at the sense of another coming at her from behind, whirled around and swung, hitting this one in the neck. A spray of blood came out of his throat when she pulled the mace away, and she pulled her knife out, wanting it to be a part of this fight. From the corner of her eye, one Woad eyed her the way a predator eyed its prey, and she pointed the tip of her knife at him, tilting her head to the side. She and the Woad stared each other down for a minute, and with a battle cry, came charging at her. She blocked his intended attack, and with a spin, drove the blade of her knife into his stomach from behind. When she pulled her knife out, his limp body hit the ground, and the determined look in her emerald gaze wanted more for the anger coursing through her veins.

Catalina wasn't fearful of getting close to the Woads, greeting one with several punches to the stomach and jaw, knocking him and several of his teeth out. She then performed a quick turn and threw another punch, hitting another Woad, and followed it with a quick, roundhouse kick to the face. She reached for her knives holstered at her waist, throwing them up and catching them by the handles before performing another spin. This led to the deaths of three more Woads when she slashed their throats, blood splurging in almost every direction.

Unfortunately, she didn't have enough time to react when a Woad grabbed her in a chokehold from behind. She struggled against him, trying to get free or, at the very least, attack him so that he would loosen his grip. Just as he was about to kill her with his own knife, an arrow came flying out of nowhere and pierced his skull. When she looked, Catalina saw Galahad was the one that fired the arrow. Once she was free of the Woad, she dusted herself off as he came to check on her.

"Are you okay?"

"I am now. Thank you," she replied.

She then noticed that the men arrived to assist them in the fight.

"Now that you and the men are here, let's wipe the floor with the rest of these bastards."

"I'm with you, my lady," Galahad declared.

Tristan was quick to run alongside the men upon the announcement from Jols that the Woads were attacking. Add the fact that Iliana and her Sirens were heading in to fight without waiting, and they were all out the door in a matter of seconds. While he had no doubts that the girls could hold their own in combat, it didn't stop him from being concerned about them getting hurt, especially Iliana. The thought of the Woads marring her soft, flawless skin with cuts and bruises angered him, and after the incident with Gregor, he would not let her get hurt again.

When they finally got to the northern gate, it was a bloodbath between the Woads and the Roman soldiers, with the help of the Sirens. However, he did not see Iliana amongst the fighting, and he could only hope the Woads weren't overpowering her in their usual large numbers. However, he would have to worry about her whereabouts later; the Woads needed to be taken down before they breached the town any further.

The men were quick to split up and aid their respective women, while Arthur got roped into a fight against a group of them that almost overpowered a few soldiers. As for Tristan, he pulled his sword from the sheath on his back and pointed the tip forward as two Woads came at him. All it took was a few swings and a graceful spin, and they were down in a matter of seconds. Four more of them met the same fate as Bors's familiar war cry bellowed throughout the area. Droplets of blood and sweat covered his face as he took out three more, and the sunlight soon broke through the clouds. He turned towards it, and he saw Iliana underneath it, her face glowing beneath the rays. Five Woads were staring at her, and she stepped forward with her sword drawn, ready to take them on.

Show me what you can do, love, he thought.

Iliana waited in the shadows quietly, watching as her Sirens inaugurated what they learned from their training. They were impressive, despite Catalina's hiccup of getting caught, with Galahad coming to her rescue when the men finally arrived. She found the scene cute and chivalrous; her little brother rescuing a maiden in distress, even though she knew Catalina was anything but, and that also applied to the rest of the girls.

Her heart fluttered at the sight of Tristan fighting. He was graceful with his sword, which was identical to their fight during the festival and when they trained with the girls. However, she didn't miss the ecstatic look he had on his face with each Woad he slashed. From their first meeting, she deciphered his killing for pleasure almost immediately with the knowledge of her father's mindset when he was a knight. Yet, she didn't let that fact deter her from him; just because he killed for pleasure didn't mean he was a person to stay away from.

She enjoyed the sight of him fighting for a little longer before she jumped into the fun herself. Her sword drawn, she stepped forward, and as if on cue, the sunlight broke through the clouds and shined down on her. Five Woads turned their attention to her, and soon enough, all eyes were on her as she prepared to fight and show the warrior spirit she inherited. She pointed the tip of her blade forward, and three of the five Woads charged at her.

She spun in a complete circle, swinging her sword and slashing them all across the chest. While they were all still standing, she bumped the hilt of her sword with her fist, and they fell at her feet, dead. When she pointed the tip forward again, the other two charged from both sides. She blocked their attacks with little effort, keeping her sword forward so that she could keep track of them and also keep her calm and focus. One of them made their move, and as quick as she was to block his next attack, she was also quick to kill the other with a slash across his abdomen.

She then turned her attention to the remaining Woad, who stood still with his sword drawn and ready. If there was one piece of advice she took to heart from Leoric and Andres, it was to wait for the enemy to make the first move, for it made countering easier. Thus, Iliana stayed patient until her opponent moved.

At the sound of a cry, he leaped at her with his sword raised. She blocked, using the momentum to perform a spin before thrusting the sword into his abdomen. Blood came out of his mouth as he attempted to raise his sword, and she pulled it out, causing him to drop dead.

But just as quickly as she pulled her sword out, she was thrusting the blade into the abdomen of another Woad that attempted to sneak up behind her. She could feel the shock coming off of him, the Sirens, and the men, and he dropped dead to her feet when she pulled the sword.

"A wolf's senses are keen. You can be as quiet as a mouse and I'll still feel your presence there."

When the sunlight continued to shine down on her, Iliana saw the remaining Woads that were still lurking at the gate retreat towards the forestry they came from. Now that they had seen her fighting prowess, they were going to have to think twice before they came around again.

"Ili!"

Sophia's call snapped her out of her daze, and she turned to see her and the rest of the Sirens approaching her.

"Are you okay?" she asked, taking a moment to study each one of them.

"We're fine. How about you?" Sophia asked.

"I'm okay," Iliana replied with a nod.

"So, those were the Woads spoken of in all those tales," Dimitra stated.

Another nod from Iliana confirmed her statement as she took a moment to clean her sword and then sheath it.

"Who leads the Woads, Ili?" Estrella asked.

"He goes by the name of Merlin," Iliana replied.

"The name sounds familiar. I've heard he's a dark magician of some sort," Catalina said.

"I have also heard that as well from the tales I've heard of him," Iliana said. "Rome is expecting to withdraw from Britain fairly soon, and they are apparently getting more daring in their assaults. We will have to stay alert as Arthur and his knights approach the end of their servitude.

"However, I also can't help the empathy I feel for them. All they want is to live freely in their own country."

She noted the empathetic looks in each of their eyes.

"What else is Rome capable of taking that they haven't already?" Estrella asked.

"Everything?" Catalina questioned. "They took Greece the same way they took this island."

"I would love to see the day Greece finally gets her independence back," Dimitra said.

"If Rome is diminishing in power, as suspected, Greece will eventually return to its former glory," Sophia said. "Same goes for the lands that they stole. They can't bring back the lives they've destroyed, but they will have to return the lands they've taken."

The sound of footsteps cut the conversation short, and the girls looked to see Arthur and the men approaching them. There was no missing their looks of awe; they did just fight against several Woads head on, and mostly, held their own.

"Color us all impressed, lassies. You all are far from damsels in distress," Bors commented, still reeling from the shock.

"Are you ladies okay?" Arthur asked, taking a moment to study each one of them for injuries.

"We're fine, Arthur. Thank you for asking," Iliana replied with a nod.

"Ili."

Her heart fluttered at Tristan's call of her nickname, and when she turned to him, she saw he was beckoning her to him with what appeared to be a wet cloth. With a chuckle, Iliana walked over to him, and he began cleaning her face and neck of the blood staining her skin.

"Aww…Ili and her knight being so cute," Sophia teased, making kissing noises.

While Iliana didn't move thanks to Tristan cleaning her face, she flipped Sophia the bird while keeping her eyes on him.

"It's been quite some time since we saw men with such chivalry in them," Estrella said. "I really thought there were no good men left in this world, but you and your men have proven me wrong, Arthur."

When the girls nodded in agreement, it brought a smile to the commander's lips.

"It is an honor to have given you hope, our dear ladies," he said before turning to the men. "We're going to investigate the outskirts of the northern forest and make sure there aren't any more Woads lingering. Tristan, I want you to ride ahead and flush out the Woads hiding in the brush and trees."

"You all be careful. We'll see you when you get back," Iliana said, stepping up on the tips of her toes to give Tristan a kiss on the lips. After chuckling and blushing at the cheers and whistles of both groups, she turned to the girls.

"Sirens, we'll head back to town, freshen up, meet Bors's lover, Vanora and her children, and I have to prepare to dance for them to make up for leaving without saying goodbye."

"Don't think you're dancing alone, Ili. We're joining you," Sophia announced. "Dancing solo isn't bad, but neither is dancing with a group. We can perform the dance we've been rehearsing back at the coast."

"Ooh. The children have gone wild over Ili's dancing, but they'll definitely go wild at the knowledge that she's got some friends to back her up," Bors said. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back and watch them."

Cheers and whistles broke out amongst the men, and when Iliana exchanged a look with the girls, it told them of what they were all getting themselves into.

"I am so relieved that you've returned safely, Ili. We missed you," Vanora said as she helped Elsie apply the finishing touches to Iliana's belly dancing outfit. It was a white bralette top with gold lace trimming, and a long, white chiffon skirt with slits down both sides. The fabric around the skirt was sheer from the hem going up, stopping at her thighs and showing off her slender legs.

"I am truly sorry for worrying you all. I felt I didn't have any other choice than to leave without saying a word. It needed to be done, though. I wanted to see my tutor again."

"I'm told he's one of your father's comrades and a very close friend," Vanora said.

"And you heard correctly. He's the only one closest to family that I have left."

"I don't believe that, dear," Vanora stated. "You have family in myself, the children, Jols, Arthur, and the men, and you have a wonderful man in Tristan. Plus, you have an elite group you command in those girls.

"You will never be alone again, and your father sent you here to make sure of that."

A familiar warmth coursed through her skin, as if the sun's warmth made its way inside the shop.

I know, Father. I see it now, Iliana thought.

"Ili! Jols is here to get you! Arthur apparently wants to see you!" Elsie called from the other room.

"Okay! I'll be right out!" Iliana called back.

"Here. Put this on," Vanora said, handing Iliana a black cloak that she wrapped and helped tie at her neck. They made a couple of adjustments, and when it was done, the long black fabric concealed Iliana's outfit.

She then made her way to the other room, where she saw Jols waiting for her at the door.

"Sirens! Arthur wants to see me! I'll meet you back here when I'm done!" she announced.

"Okay, Ili!" came the voice of Sophia.

She turned to Jols and nodded, and she followed him out of the shop towards the council room. When they got there, she saw the men holding a meeting that included Andres.

"Ili! There you are!" Arthur exclaimed as he saw her, making the men turn.

"Your face glows brighter than the sun, dear Ili," Lancelot said. "If we only knew what you're wearing underneath that cloak."

She shook her head and smiled at his flirting; even though her heart belonged to Tristan, it still didn't stop him from flirting with her entirely.

"You'll find out when I dance in just a moment. So, what have you summoned me for?"

"We've told Andres this, but we wanted to tell you and be the first of the Sirens to know of the good news," Arthur replied. "The men will receive their discharge papers as early as next month. A Bishop will come to Britain with a cavalry of soldiers to deliver their papers."

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped, as if she couldn't believe what she just heard. It took a minute to sink in before she finally found her voice.

"Oh, my word! That is wonderful news! I'm so happy for you all! I'm sure a celebration will be in order at the tavern later."

"I suggested that just before the two of you walked through the door," Andres said. "It has been a while since I enjoyed a good drink."

"I still remember you and Father's attempts to outdrink each other on some nights," Iliana commented, which piqued the men's interest. "I beg to wonder if you can outdrink Big Boar over there."

She gestured to Bors, causing Andres to turn to him.

"Think you can outdrink an old veteran?" he asked the rounded knight.

"We can find out after Ili dances!" Bors exclaimed, earning some laughs from the men.

"Well, the sooner I get to dance, the sooner we can get to the tavern," Iliana announced. "Just so you know, Big Boar, my bets are on Andres."

Bors gave her a look of disbelief.

"Challenge accepted, little lassie."

"I'll see you all at the plaza," Iliana said.

She turned to Tristan, and after staring at him for a moment, winked at him before turning on her heel to leave.

"Let's hurry and get to the plaza as soon as we can," Dagonet announced. "A certain someone is dying to watch his lady dance."

It was clear in Tristan's eyes as he watched Iliana leave; he was ready to watch her, and they could only imagine his plans once the performance was done.

Iliana was trembling as she attempted to steady her erratic breathing. She and the girls were standing by on a makeshift stage that was set up for them, and they were simply waiting until their audience had settled in comfortably.

"Are you okay, Ili? You look a little pale."

Sophia's call snapped her out of her daze, and she looked to see her best friend eyeing her curiously.

"I'm nervous," she replied. "The men encouraged me to dance for a vast crowd once, and I improvised the dancing since Gawain and Galahad threw me under the spotlight."

Sophia reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"You're going to be great, especially with the girls and I backing you up. Other than dancing for a crowd that includes Vanora, her children, and the men, you won't be dancing alone on this stage."

"The outfit I'm wearing underneath this cloak is the most I've ever exposed myself," Iliana said.

"As are the girls and myself," Sophia said. "We'll have the knights on their knees and drooling by the time we're done. It will be the performance of the century."

Iliana gave her a small smile, returning the squeeze of her hand with one of her own.

"Sorry to interrupt the moment, but it's time," Estrella chimed in. "We have to get into position."

"Are you ready, Ili?" Sophia asked, her hazel eyes boring into Iliana's bright blue gaze.

Unable to speak, Iliana nodded.

"Then let's do this and give Tristan and the men something to remember this night by."

The word "antsy" didn't even come close to what Tristan was feeling as he got comfortable on the stool he sat on with his back against the wall. He and the men chose a table that was just a few feet from the makeshift stage that was set up, and they were waiting for the performance to start. Bors and Vanora's brood of children were sitting in a straight line just a few meters away from them, eager to see their "Auntie Ili" dance. The scout could only wonder what Iliana was wearing, and a part of him loathed sharing the sight of her with so many people. While he was the only one ever to see her bare and vulnerable, it didn't ease him of knowing that she would expose so much of her body.

He took a moment to observe the men, noting that they were just as antsy as he was. The only difference was that he could hide it, despite them already knowing.

"Excuse me! Can I get your attention, please?"

Jols's call made everyone quiet down and focus their attention on him.

"I hope you all are ready. Our beloved friend, Iliana, whom you all know as Ili, will be belly dancing for us tonight, and she will dance alongside some new friends she made on her trip. Enjoy the show!"

Clapping and cheers broke out amongst the crowd, the children cheering the loudest, and when Jols stepped off the stage, a few torches were soon lit up. The stage glowed under the hue of the flames, revealing Iliana and her Sirens. When the band played a tune, Iliana stepped forward, and with her sweetest smile, she and the girls removed the cloaks covering their bodies to reveal their outfits.

Tristan had to cross his legs right over left to ensure his hardened bulge didn't burst out of his breeches. Iliana looked so sexy and erotic that if it was just the two of them right now, he would have pounced her on that stage and just taken her. The children cheered for her, and she blew a kiss to Gilly, causing the boy to be embarrassed before she led the dance, with the girls dancing in sync with her.

Their performance primarily focused on their sides, hips, and legs, highlighting their slender figures and movements. They moved so gracefully there was no flaw in the dance, making Tristan wonder how often they had been practicing in between their training. Andres introduced her to some amazing women, and to see her befriend and take them under her wing after what they had been through was a very selfless act on her part. Even with her jumbled mess of thoughts, she took the time to hear them out and ensure they settled in comfortably.

He didn't dwell too long on his thoughts when the girls got off stage to mingle with the audience. They started with the children, ensuring each one of them got an equal amount of attention. Iliana saved Gilly for last, scooping him up in her arms and spinning in a circle. He wrapped his arms around her neck and held on tight, her skirt twisting as she spun, and when she stopped, they exchanged a tight hug before she set him down.

The next person they mingled with (to both Tristan and the men's surprise) was Jols. Dimitra wrapped her arms around his neck from behind and kissed the top of his head with a small smile. Estrella and Catalina kissed a cheek, Sophia kissed his brow, and Iliana blew him a kiss. To Iliana's surprise, Jols blushed with embarrassment, but with Dimitra holding him, he could not escape. When Iliana glanced at Tristan from the corner of her eye, she didn't miss the glare in his brown gaze. However, the smirk on the corner of her lips confirmed she had him right where she wanted him.

The Sirens then turned their attention to the men as they sashayed their way over to them. With a wink to Arthur, each one of them flirted with whoever they chose, performing a little dance pertaining to them individually. Tristan watched as Iliana swayed her hips and spun in a circle. She allowed him a full view of her back, seeing that her top tied at the nape and mid-back, giving him the view of her tattoo. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but considering there were children present, he had to keep himself in check until he got her alone. She knew what she was doing to him, and she was enjoying how he couldn't do anything for the time being.

With another sashay of her hips, Iliana led the girls back up to the stage, and as the song reached its climax, they each performed a different pose to conclude the performance.

Cheers, screams and whistles broke out amongst the applause of the crowd, and Iliana couldn't help her widening smile as she glanced between each of the girls.

"Blimey! That was incredible, ladies!" Bors exclaimed after they stepped down from the stage. "Well done! Except for Arthur, I think the rest of the men are still reeling in from the shock."

When they looked to see that the men were staring at them in shock, they couldn't help but giggle.

"Okay. You ladies follow me back to the shop. I have some dresses picked out for every one of you," Elsie announced.

Before Iliana could leave, Tristan was up from his seat and standing behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her neck. He heard her gasp at the feel of his bulge pressed against her backside, and he knew she was aware she would have to answer to that.

"I plan to borrow Ili for a moment. She and I are going for a walk," he announced.

The smirks on the faces of the men and the girls were clear, and he saw the blush form on Iliana's cheeks.

"I'll see you all later, and Elsie, I will be at the shop. Expect me to be late," Iliana said.

Tristan then took her hand and led the way with her following, not missing the snickering of their respective groups.

End Notes: We are two chapters away from starting the plot of the movie! I can't believe we're almost at that point in time! Check back next week!