Thank you to ThisIsAGuest and roguevixen2152 for following the story, and thank you to vermilion aura for the follow and for the kind review! On to the next chapter!

CHAPTER ONE

Fifteen Years Later

Breck closed her eyes and took a moment to breathe in the humid air of Britain. The smell on the wind, the pretty, plush greenery of the landscape, the sounds of woodland animals scampering through the forest and birds cawing overhead…it was all so familiar. It brought forth a sense of comfort that she had not anticipated, made her instantly feel more at ease than she had felt in a very long time.

Or perhaps it was not the land, but the knowledge of what awaited her at her destination that made her feel this way. She opened her eyes again, the blue color of them the exact same shade as her mother Emer's, and felt a small smile pull at her lips when she spotted Hadrian's Wall in the distance.

It had been a very long time since she had been to her old home. Fifteen years, in fact. And though she had only lived there for a short while half a lifetime ago, she had genuinely missed Hadrian's Wall. She had missed the easy, quiet life she had had there. She had missed the freedom she had felt. She had missed the safety and security.

Most of all, she had missed Arthur.

The thought of her childhood friend made her smile soften with fondness. They had managed to keep in touch when she had first departed for Ireland with her father, writing letters back and forth for a few years. But between the hardships Breck had endured since leaving the Wall, and with Arthur getting caught up in his own duties to Rome, their lives had eventually gone down two very different paths and they had fallen out of contact over a decade ago. It had not been intentional on Breck's part, nor did she think on Arthur's, but unfortunately that was just the way life went sometimes.

Despite not having spoken to him in years, Breck still thought about Arthur often. She had never stopped caring about him, had never stopped missing him. It had always been a hope of hers that she would come back to Hadrian's Wall, come back to Arthur and rediscover their childhood friendship. But life had not been kind to her, and the time had just never been right.

Yet Breck had been on a long, hard journey for a very long time now, which had left her feeling bone-weary and in need of a place to rest and recover, both mentally and physically. When it had come down to deciding where she should go for such a respite, only one place came to mind – Hadrian's Wall. It was familiar, it was safe, and it was the place where the only person in the whole entire world that she still cared for lived.

Breck only hoped now that Arthur would remember her, and that he would remember the promise he had made when they were still children.

She leaned forward and patted the large, muscular neck of her trusted steed, Lugh. The horse bobbed his head at the affectionate touch and then tossed his sandy mane.

"We are close," she said to Lugh, speaking the Gaelic language of her mother's people. "Just a bit further now." And with a click of her heels into his flanks, they continued onward.

It was late into the afternoon when she finally reached the Wall, much to her relief. Not only was she looking forward to sleeping somewhere other than the hard ground tonight, but she was also thankful she'd made it to her destination without encountering any Woads, the wild people who lived North of the Wall and attacked anyone who dared pass through their territory. She'd heard enough stories of them to know that they were not the sort of people one wanted to cross paths with.

As she approached the entrance to Hadrian's Wall, she saw some townsfolk straggling near the edge of the forest, foraging for berries and herbs. The gates were open, which surprised her – they had always remained closed when she had lived there previously – but she assumed that they were only open now so the townsfolk would be able to quickly retreat back inside in case trouble came along. A group of children had taken advantage of the situation and were currently trying to dare one another into seeing who could stray furthest from the gate. Despite the watchful eyes of the guards posted atop the battlements, none of the kids dared to go further than ten feet before running back to the safety of the Wall with mad giggles.

The townsfolk stopped working when they spotted her approaching, all of them watching her with slightly wary eyes as she and Lugh trotted past. Breck had hoped she might get lucky and be able to just merely carry on inside without anyone thinking anything of it, but she knew better than to believe it would be that simple. Her approach had caught the attention of the guards too, every single one of them straightening up with alertness, their eyes regarding her with undisguised suspicion.

"You there! Stop!" one of them called authoritatively. Breck obediently pulled on the reins, slowing Lugh to a stop, and turned her eyes upward to gaze at the guard that had addressed her. "Who are you?"

"I am merely a harmless traveler," she called to him, showing her hands to prove that she had no weapons in them.

The guard blinked in surprise, obviously not expecting her to be a female. "You are a woman?" he asked, squinting at her curiously.

Breck reached up to lower the hood of her travelling cloak, releasing her long, curly, red hair from its confines and confirming to the guards that she was indeed a woman. "Aye," she answered. "And I have been journeying a very long way and am very weary, so I trust you will understand when I say that I do not wish to be hassled. I would be grateful if you granted me passage," she added firmly.

The guard seemed rather taken aback by her directness. He shared a look with his comrade, then gave her another untrusting once over. "It is not common to see a woman travelling alone," he said. "What business brings you to Hadrian's Wall?"

"I do not come with ill intentions. I merely come seeking shelter and supplies, and to reunite with an old friend," Breck answered simply.

The guard shared another look with the other one and frowned, before looking back down at her. "These are troubled times we live in," he said slowly, eyes narrowing. "Woads run freely on that side of the wall and they have spies everywhere. How are we to know you can be trusted?"

"I am no Woad, nor am I a spy," she reassured them patiently. "I am a friend to Arthur Castus, the Lord of these lands. Inform him that Breck of Ireland has arrived. I have no doubt that he will vouch for me."

The guard straightened up at the mention of Arthur, taking a moment to think her words over. He seemed like he wasn't sure if he should believe her or not, but eventually he must have decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. "Very well," he reluctantly agreed. He turned around to address someone on the other side of the wall that she could not see from where she sat perched atop Lugh. "You! Go forth and inform Lord Arthur there is a Breck of Ireland calling on him. And make haste!"

Breck heard someone respond, then a man popped into view on the other side of the gate. He quickly mounted a horse and went galloping down the path that led to the heart of town.

"Come just inside the wall, but no further," the guard she had been speaking to instructed, making her look back to him. "We shall know soon enough if it is the truth you speak."

Breck nodded and clicked her tongue at Lugh, which had him slowly trotting forward until they were within the safety of the wall.

She recognized her surroundings at once. This was the same gate she and her father had entered through when they had first arrived at Hadrian's Wall all those years ago. In fact, as a few guards moved to stand close by and keep a firm eye on her, this entire scenario felt eerily familiar.

To give herself something to do while she waited – and not wanting the guards to know that they were making her feel a little uneasy – Breck dismounted Lugh and went to her saddlebags to grab some food for him to eat. The guards tensed when she reached into her bag, which had her pausing momentarily, but when she merely produced a few carrots, they eased off again.

Breck patted Lugh's neck absentmindedly, whispering soothing words to him while he ate. As the horse chomped on his carrots, she watched as the people that had been in the forest finished their task and made their way back inside. As soon as they were safely back within the borders of the wall, the doors were closed and securely locked. Breck found herself relaxing and letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

At least, if nothing else, she would be safe for the time being.

She waited with patience while the guards kept a close eye on her, all of them waiting for that messenger to come back. With only half her attention on the guards, Breck eyed the land around them and found herself swarmed with fond memories from her childhood at the familiar sights. She remembered climbing those trees in the distance. She remembered that giant hill, and how she used to roll down it like a log just for fun. She remembered trying – and usually failing – to climb the stone walls of the fort just down the path. And all those times, Arthur had been right there with her, laughing with her, teasing her, encouraging her, and quick to help her out of a pinch if need be.

There had been many times where she had imagined what a reunion with Arthur might be like, and most of the time she envisioned something happy and sentimental. Yet, there was a part of her that still felt nervous about seeing Arthur again. Fifteen years was a long time, and she knew that she had certainly changed much since they had last seen one another. What if Arthur had, too? What if they both had changed so much that they would not even recognize each other, let alone want to be around one another?

Breck allowed herself but a moment to mull on those possibilities, before shaking her head. Much had changed, yes, but something in her gut told her that reuniting with Arthur was the right decision. She was not one to place much stock in hope, but that was what she felt now – hopeful that this reunion would be as wonderful as she had made it out in her head to be, and hopeful that coming here would be for the best.

It took a long time for the guard to come back, longer than she might have expected. It was enough to make her start to feel uneasy, to make her wonder if perhaps Arthur had forgotten her, after all. But, eventually, she spotted the rider galloping back toward them, and Breck immediately straightened up as he approached, her eyes searching his face intently once he was close enough to try to gauge if his expression meant good news or bad.

Once he had reached them, he pulled his horse to a stop and glanced at her, before looking up to the guards. "Lord Arthur says that this woman is to be allowed passage with no conflict. She is a friend and he is eager to have council with her."

Relief flooded her, followed by a strong rush of excitement. Arthur remembered her. Smiling to herself, Breck looked at the guards before climbing back up into her saddle, eager to be on her way. The lead guard grumbled something she couldn't hear, but nodded his head anyway.

"Escort her to town, then," he begrudgingly instructed.

The rider moved like he was going to do as he had been told, but Breck quickly held up a hand. "That will not be necessary," she said. "I know precisely where I am going."

And with that, she dug her heels into Lugh's flanks and galloped forward, leaving the men in her dust as she headed toward town.

OOO

The town was bustling with people by the time she reached the main square. Children were playing in the streets while their mothers chased after them, men were going about their daily duties, and she even spotted a few questionably dressed women sauntering toward the town tavern, probably in search of a customer to buy their company.

Breck stared around in awe as Lugh trotted through the town, overwhelmed with a feeling of nostalgia as she discovered that the town looked almost exactly as she had remembered it. The only difference now was that there were more houses than there had been previously and a few new buildings, as well as signs of aging to everything else. Several people were staring at her as she made her way past, undoubtedly surprised by the appearance of a newcomer in their town. Breck, used to being stared at for being an outsider, paid them no mind as she navigated her way toward the massive estate she knew Arthur would be in.

When she reached the estate, she smiled to herself as she stared up at the all too familiar structure. How many times had she run through those halls with Arthur? How many times had they snuck food from the kitchens, or tucked themselves away in the library to comb through old books, or chased one another through the many hallways? Too many times to count. So many times that Breck was confident she would still know the layout of the estate like the back of her hand, even after all this time.

Breck slid down from Lugh's saddle and began to look around, wondering where she should leave him. The stables were not far away, but that was usually reserved for the knights' horses, so she didn't want to simply barge in and put him into a stall without getting permission first. Breck spotted a post not too far away and decided that was good enough for now. She was just about to head that way to secure Lugh when a deep, male voice suddenly reached her ears.

"By God's grace. It truly is you."

Breck paused, then turned towards the man who had spoken to her. He was tall and broad, boasting muscles that had likely been acquired through many years of hard training. He had strong features and a few days' worth of stubble on his face, as well as premature age lines, hints of a life that was not without its hardships and stresses. There was hardly anything about him that she recognized, but she knew those green eyes with the joy shining so clearly in them, and she knew that warm, fond smile playing at his lips. And she certainly knew that mop of curly, dark hair atop his head.

Something inside her immediately shifted, those tall walls she had built up around herself over these past years cracking and crumbling enough for her old self to break through at the sight of her old friend. A smile immediately spread over her face, and before she knew it, they were hugging each other. Whether it was her who had moved first, or him, she couldn't really say for sure. Either way, they embraced tightly, holding on to one another like they were both afraid the other would vanish if they let go.

"Arthur," she said, the name leaving her lips like a sigh of relief. "It has been far too long."

"Yes, it has," he agreed. He squeezed her before pulling back just far enough away to look at her. "I almost did not believe my ears when I was told you were calling on me," he admitted, that smile never leaving his lips. He stepped back a little further, bracing his hands on her shoulders and taking in her appearance with a grin. "My word," he said in astonishment. "The last I saw of you, you were a mere runt of a girl. Now look at you! You have blossomed into a beautiful young woman!"

Breck laughed. "And the last I saw of you, you were naught but a scrawny child who loved to beat me with wooden training swords and sling pig slop into my hair. Now here you stand before me, a grown man with muscles and facial hair," she said, poking his stubbly cheek and making Arthur chuckle. "Tell me, where is the boy I left so long ago?"

"Grown, albeit reluctantly so, if I am to be truthful," he answered. His smile, if possible, widened even more, before he pulled her back into another hug. "I am overjoyed to see you again, Breck," he said sincerely.

Breck pressed her lips together in an attempt to keep her emotions from getting the better of her. "And I am just as happy to see you, my old friend."

They finally released each other after a few moments, the two of them merely standing there like a couple of sentimental fools as they simply stared and smiled at one another. Finally, Arthur raised his brows at her. "You look in need of rest and food. Shall we go inside?" he asked, motioning to the estate.

Breck nodded. "That sounds wonderful," she said, before glancing to Lugh. "Have you a safe place to secure my horse?"

"Of course," Arthur said, his eyes turning to the steed. He stepped away from Breck to pat the horse's nose, smiling as Lugh nudged his palm. "He is a fine beast. What is his name?"

"He is Lugh," Breck answered proudly. "And he has been a steadfast companion to me the past few years."

Arthur grinned at the horse. "It is my pleasure to meet you, Lugh," he said. He then turned his head and called out a name she was not familiar with. A moment later, a boy who looked to be around twelve or thirteen materialized practically from thin air and came running over to Arthur with an eager expression. Breck smiled at both his enthusiasm and the way he looked at Arthur as though he were a God.

"Secure this horse in the Knight's stables, and treat him with the utmost care," Arthur instructed the boy before turning back to Breck. "That is the safest place for him. He will be well taken care of, I assure you," Arthur promised.

Breck nodded, moved to kiss Lugh's nose, then handed the reins to Arthur. After Breck had snatched her bag off of Lugh's back, Arthur passed the reins over to the boy and then the two of them watched as he led the horse away.

Arthur finally turned to her and took her bag before she could stop him, slinging the strap over his own shoulder. He then smiled and motioned toward the door. "Shall we?"

Breck nodded, then followed Arthur inside.

They began winding their way through the hallways, which looked exactly the same as they had fifteen years ago, almost making her feel as though she had stepped backwards through time. But they were not mischievous children running these halls anymore. They were grown now, and she couldn't help but notice the way servants scooted out of their way as they passed by, inclining their heads to Arthur respectfully or, in some cases, bowing. She had always known the future that awaited her friend, but it was still odd to see, firsthand, that the young, skinny, carefree boy she had once known had turned into a man with power. He was a warrior now, a Lord.

Breck wished she had been around to see the transformation.

They made one last turn onto a hallway, and Breck's heart immediately clenched. They were heading to Lord Uther's council room – or, she supposed, it was Arthur's council room now. This was where she and her father had come that very first night, when they had come to beg for Lord Uther's help. This was where she had first met Arthur, the boy with the blanket and the bread, the boy who had become her best friend in the entire world.

Her steps faltered for a moment, that night returning to her mind vividly, her heart thumping in her chest. Arthur slowed to a stop when he saw the look on her face, his brows furrowing together at first, but then smoothing with what seemed like realization. A small, warm smile pulled at his face then, and it was in that moment that she truly did see the boy she had known in the face of the man before her. It made Breck smile, too.

"Come. We have much to discuss," Arthur urged.

Breck nodded, and they continued on into the council room. As they stepped inside, her eyes were immediately drawn to the large, ornate, round table right in the middle. It was Arthur's Round Table, just as the rumors she'd heard on the road had depicted, and she smiled at the sight, feeling a bit awed. Her smile fell, however, when she spied a few abandoned goblets of wine resting in front of some of the chairs, giving off the impression that he had been visiting with someone before her unexpected arrival.

"Forgive me, did I interrupt you during your business?" she asked as he closed the doors behind them.

"Do not worry yourself. I was merely meeting with a few of my knights," Arthur said, waving off her apology, When she didn't look convinced, he raised his brows at her. "I can take time away from my men to reunite with an old friend. Now sit," he commanded, ushering her into one of the seats. "Make yourself comfortable."

Breck didn't bother arguing and took a seat, waiting patiently as Arthur set down her things and instructed a servant to bring them food and wine. After the servant left, Arthur took the seat next to her. Breck relaxed in her chair, soothed by the presence of her old friend, and smiled over at him.

"Lord Arthur," she mused aloud, trying the name out on her tongue and finding it a little odd. She glanced around the room, nodding with impressed eyes. "You appear to be doing well. I am happy for you."

"Many thanks," Arthur said, fetching the abandoned wine goblets and filling them with what was left in the wine decanter in front of them. She accepted the drink happily and clinked her goblet against his before taking a generous gulp. The wine was good, unsurprisingly, and she smacked her lips in approval.

"So," he said, giving her a curious look. "It is Breck of Ireland now?" he questioned interestedly. Being one of only a few who knew her true heritage, he seemed intrigued by the fact that she was not claiming her Saxon blood.

"Aye," she answered with a nod. "I find it is much easier for me to travel and trade when I do not tell people I am of Saxon lineage," she informed him matter-of-factly.

Arthur lifted a brow. "You travel much, do you?" he asked.

Breck pressed her lips together and nodded. "I have certainly had my share of…adventures," she said. And that was one way of putting it, she supposed.

Arthur nodded his understanding, his eyes never leaving her face. He stared at her for a long few moments, his fingers toying with his goblet, his lips slowly falling down into a frown. She recognized that look on his face. It was the one he had always worn when there was something on his mind, something that was bothering him.

"Breck…before anything else is said, you are owed an apology from me," he said seriously. "It has been so long since we last corresponded, and I feel I am the one at fault for it. I need you to know that it was never my intention to stop writing to you. I meant to write you hundreds of times since our last letter, but my duties have kept me very busy, and I – "

Breck reached over and placed a gentle hand on his arm to silence him. "Arthur, there is no need for an apology. I am equally at fault for us falling out of contact," she said, not wanting him to place all the blame on himself. "We grew up, and our lives went separate ways. There was nothing to be done about that."

"Still," Arthur insisted, covering her hand with his and giving it a squeeze. "I am sorry. And…I have missed you. Terribly."

Breck felt a lump of emotion form in her throat. "I have missed you, too," she said earnestly. She cleared her throat then, and released him so that she could wash away that lump with a drink of wine. "But I am here now, and we are together again, and, thankfully, you still remember me," she said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood a little.

Arthur grinned at her. "As if I could ever forget you, terror that you are," he teased, just as he would have back in the day.

Breck laughed heartily at that, her heart warming at the familiar banter. She took another drink, then raised her brows questioningly. "How has it been? Being Lord of Hadrian's Wall?"

Arthur let out a quiet sigh. "It can be quite taxing," he admitted, drinking from his own goblet. "The duties are endless, and it comes with its fair share of stress. But I have good men at my side, and that does help ease the burden." He took another drink, then waved a dismissive hand. "I do not wish to talk about me, however. I want to know what you have been doing."

Breck didn't quite know where to start.

The last time she had written to Arthur had been over a decade ago, just before her father had died. Just before her life had taken a completely new trajectory.

Kenrick had not just died, though. No, he had been killed by Cerdic, who had finally caught up to them in Ireland. How he had found them, Breck still didn't know. But he had come after them with his monster of an army, waging a great battle between his barbaric Saxons and the people of her mother's clan, as well as their allies. Kenrick had gone to meet him in that battle, and he had fought hard against Cerdic, to the point that he had nearly defeated him.

But Kenrick had not succeeded. Cerdic was not an easy man to kill, and he had taken Kenrick's life in the end.

Breck had been thirteen at the time, and completely lost as to what to do after her father's death. Alone and filled with both grief and hatred, she had fled the village she'd been living in, certain if she stayed that she would be found by Cerdic and murdered like the rest of the family. She had wanted to go back to Hadrian's Wall, back to Arthur, but had been terrified that she would only draw Cerdic there and bring death right to Arthur's doorstep.

So she had run, cutting her hair short to disguise herself as a young lad in an attempt to evade any Saxon spies, until she had eventually found herself at a monastery in the south of Ireland. Thinking her a boy, the monks there had agreed to let her stay on, so long as she behaved herself and helped with manual labor. Since Breck had grown up working side by side with her father, the work had been no issue for her and she had settled in quickly.

Eventually, once she had gotten older and her body had made some noticeable changes, there was no disguising the fact that she was a woman. By that point, however, she had grown very close with an older priest named Padraig, who had vouched for her and made sure that she was allowed to stay. Padraig had taken care of her, taught her about the Bible, and was a large part of the reason Breck had converted to Christianity. There was nobody in the world who could replace her father, but Padraig had been very good to her, and she was eternally grateful to him for all that he had done for her.

But never once had she forgotten Cerdic, nor what he had done to her and her family. Hatred for him had still burned in her heart, festering like a bad infection and impossible to ignore. She might have been Christian now, but Saxon blood still ran through her veins, and with it the thirst for revenge.

While she lived with Padraig, she trained, making herself stronger, faster, and better. She waited patiently, biding her time, always keeping an ear out for any news about the movements of Cerdic and his army, always planning for the next step to come. When Padraig had eventually succumbed to old age five years ago, Breck had finally set out on her own with one mission in mind, knowing that she would never be able to move on with her life until it was done.

She was going to kill Cerdic and avenge her family.

She had started travelling, going from town to town to collect information on the movements of the Saxon army, keeping as close of an eye on Cerdic as she could as she waited for the right moment to strike. But Cerdic was not always easy to find, what with how frequently the Saxons moved, and even on the occasions that she could track him down, he was not an easy man to get to. There just always seemed to be something that had gotten in the way of her completing her mission.

Eventually she had grown frustrated with her lack of progress, and had grown tired from chasing after him for so long. And that was why she was at the Wall now, to get a much needed respite from her mission to hunt down Cerdic. To get herself back in order before she planned to go after him again.

Yet, Breck wasn't sure she wished to tell Arthur about all of this just yet. They had only just been reunited, and she didn't want to ruin it by telling him of her plans for revenge, nor how dangerously she had been living her life. Arthur was protective, always had been, and she was fairly sure he would not approve.

She took a drink of wine as she considered how best to answer Arthur's question. "I have been…well enough," she said with a nod, deciding to keep things vague. "I have kept myself busy, that is for certain."

Arthur nodded. If he noticed the fact that her answer was evasive, he did not comment on it. "Have you taken a husband?" he asked.

Breck snorted at the ridiculous question and shook her head. "The answer is a firm and resounding no," she told him with a laugh. "And I have no intentions of doing any such thing anytime in the foreseeable future, either," she reaffirmed, which made Arthur smirk. "How about you?" Breck asked in return.

"Well, seeing as I do not fancy men…" Arthur trailed off with a teasing smirk.

Breck laughed again and slapped his shoulder. "You understood what I meant," she scolded good-naturedly.

Arthur laughed and then shook his head. "No. No wife for me yet," he answered with a small, resigned shrug.

Breck's eyebrows shot upward. Though she would never see Arthur as anything more than a brother, that didn't mean she was blind. Arthur had grown to be a very handsome man, the sort of man that would likely have women falling all over themselves to get his attention. To hear that he was unmarried was very surprising to her.

"Are the women here mad?" she couldn't help but ask incredulously.

He smirked in amusement. "That is still to be determined," he joked.

Their conversation lulled for a moment as the servant returned with a new decanter of wine and a large plate filled with fresh bread, cheese, and cuts of meat. Breck and Arthur thanked him as he set the food and wine on the table before them, before leaving the room to tend to other chores when Arthur dismissed him. Then they both dug into the food.

"How is your father?" Arthur asked to break the silence that had ensued, looking a bit more serious now.

The mention of her father, as always, made her feel a small pang of grief in her heart. Breck took a gulp of wine to wash the feeling away and then smiled at Arthur sadly, fiddling with a piece of bread as she turned her eyes away from his searching gaze. "My father is dead," she informed him quietly.

The news visibly upset him. "I am sorry, my friend. You have my sympathies," Arthur said soberly, a frown gracing his handsome features as he reached over to grasp her hand. "I know how much you loved him, and I know how painful such a loss is. I too have lost my father," he revealed.

Breck squeezed his hand consolingly and looked to him with sympathetic eyes. "How?"

"He perished in battle seven years ago," Arthur told her. "How did Kenrick pass?" he then asked.

She had not wanted to delve into the matter of Cerdic just yet, but she didn't want to lie to Arthur either, so she didn't see a way to avoid it. "It was Cerdic who killed him," she revealed, the name tasting sour on her tongue.

Arthur blinked with shock, his hand releasing hers as he sat up straighter. "Cerdic? How?"

"He tracked us to Ireland. I still do not know how," she said with a frown. "He came after us with the whole of his army. There was a great battle between the Saxons and the clans we lived amongst. My father and Cerdic fought against each other, but…my father could not beat him."

"When did this happen?" Arthur asked.

"I was thirteen," Breck told him.

"You were so young still," he said with a shake of his head. "What did you do after Kenrick passed?"

"I fled the village we had been living in and made my way south. I was fortunate enough to be taken in at a monastery, where I grew very close to a priest by the name of Padraig," Breck explained. "He took care of me as well as any father would have. He also helped me convert to Christianity."

Arthur's brows shot up. "You are Christian now?"

Breck nodded, then smirked jokingly. "I have left my heathen days behind me."

"You were never a heathen," Arthur corrected gently. His brows then pinched together. "Why did you not come to the Wall after Kenrick passed?" he asked. "Why did you not come to me?"

Breck sighed. She had hoped mentioning her newfound faith would steer the conversation elsewhere, but evidently that was not going to happen. "There was a target painted on my back, Arthur. I was certain Cerdic was looking for me to ensure that my father's bloodline was finished. I could not risk coming here and bringing his army to your doorstep."

"I would have taken you in regardless," Arthur insisted. "I would have protected you."

Breck reached for his hand again. "I know you would have. But I could not put you in danger. I refused."

Arthur sighed, but finally nodded in understanding. "You have been with Padraig all this time then?" he asked.

Breck cringed, knowing Arthur wouldn't like what she was about to say. "No," she admitted, which made him frown again. "He passed on five years ago, and after he did, well…." She glanced over at Arthur and braced herself for his reaction. "I went searching for Cerdic. I have been tracking him and his army for some time now."

Arthur blanched at her words and nearly choked on his wine. "You what?" he asked incredulously. "You have been tracking the Saxon army? Alone?"

"Arthur, there is no need to overreact – " she started to say calmly.

"Overreact?" he cut in. "Do you know what those men would do to you if they captured you? You would be tortured, or raped, or killed – or all three!" he chastised sternly, before leaning back in his chair and placing a hand over his eyes with a heavy sigh. "Please tell me that you are not searching for Cerdic because you seek revenge," Arthur said slowly, his hand still over his eyes.

Breck pursed her lips and eyed him hesitantly. "I could tell you that," she conceded. "But…it would be a lie."

"My God, Breck," Arthur said in exasperation, dropping his hand from his face so he could look at her as though she had lost her mind. "You are one woman. You cannot take on an entire army by yourself!"

Breck had expected that Arthur wouldn't take the news of her self-appointed mission very well, but as it was, there was nothing he could say that would change her mind. When Kenrick's dead body had been wheeled back to their home by his fellow soldiers so many years ago, Breck had felt her entire world cave down around her. Her father had been all that she had left of her family, and Cerdic had finally succeeded in taking him away from her. She had made an oath, then and there, that Cerdic would pay for the crimes he'd committed against her. Breck had lost her entire family because of his greed and insanity. She wanted to make damn sure that he paid for what he had done, that he could never do anything like that to anybody else ever again.

"I did not say I was attempting to defeat the entire army, only Cerdic…and that insufferable, pig-headed wretch he calls his son," she added, scowling as she thought back to the Saxon's oldest son, Cynric. He was just as much to blame for her mother's death as Cerdic was, and she hated him as much as she hated his father. "Unfortunately, it is a mission that has proven to be increasingly difficult. Cerdic is not an easy man to get to," she said with a shake of her head, taking another gulp of wine. Then she frowned at Arthur unhappily. "And what does my being a woman have anything to do with this?" she demanded, feeling a bit offended.

Arthur sucked in a calming breath through his nose. "I meant no offense," he said. "However, Kenrick sacrificed everything to keep you alive, including his own life. I may not have known him the way you did, but I doubt he would have wanted you to willingly put yourself in harm's way. What do you think he would make of this?"

"He would understand," she said firmly. "He lost his wife and his unborn child to a man he trusted above all others. That kind of a betrayal is not something to take lightly, Arthur, nor is it something that one forgets," she stated matter-of-factly. "He wanted to avenge our fallen family as much as I. Trust when I say that had I not survived Cerdic's ambush, my father would have hunted that bastard until his dying day."

"But he would never have wanted you to carry out the deed," Arthur countered swiftly, "and especially not alone."

Breck sighed and forced herself to hang on to her patience. It was endearing to know he still cared so much, but his overprotectiveness was also a little annoying. They had only just been reunited, though, and the last thing she wanted was for them to devolve into an argument straight away simply because they did not see eye to eye on this particular subject.

"I understand you are concerned," she said calmly, "but I did not come all this way to be on the receiving end of a lecture."

The look in his eyes turned rather flat. "You thought I would be happy to hear of your plans then?" Arthur asked with a quirked eyebrow. "That you tracking the Saxon army on your own would bring me joy? Honestly, Breck, do not be ridiculous," he said as though he were chastising a child. "Just because we have been separated all these years, that does not mean my feelings for you have changed. You are my friend, my sister. I do not wish to see you acting foolishly and endangering yourself. I wish only to see you safe and happy."

"And I am grateful to you for it, honestly," Breck said, reaching for his hand to give it another squeeze. "But many things have changed, Arthur. I am not the same girl I was when I lived here. I am not weak or fragile or defenseless like I was then. I can look after myself now." When he still didn't look convinced, nor very happy, Breck sighed and released his hand. "I am sorry, Arthur," she apologized. "I did not come to cause you trouble, I swear it."

He still didn't look all that thrilled, but the tone of her voice made his expression lose some of its edge. "I am not so sure," Arthur grumbled. "If memory serves me correctly, trouble follows you wherever you go, regardless if you invited it or not. And it was always I who helped you out of said trouble."

Breck cracked a smile at that, which thankfully he returned. She saw no better time to refill their wine goblets and quickly did so, hoping if he drank more he'd lighten up some.

Arthur nodded gratefully and took a drink of wine. As he swallowed the drink, he shot her a curious look. "I do not wish to sound encouraging, but I must ask – is the Saxon army drawing nearer to Britain?"

Breck's brows furrowed as she sipped her wine. Her muscles were starting to feel a bit tingly now that the alcohol was beginning to take effect. "They are across the sea as of now," she revealed. "I have not heard any rumors of them coming for Britain, but Cerdic can be very unpredictable. It is always a possibility."

Arthur nodded as he mulled that over. "I see." He studied her for a moment over the rim of his goblet as he took a long gulp of his drink. "How long do you intend to stay, then?" he asked, changing the subject.

Breck was glad they were no longer talking about Cerdic. "I had not really thought about it," she told him with a shrug. "How long do you wish me to stay?"

"If it were my decision, I would have you stay permanently and begin a new life here rather than chasing after Cerdic and his Saxons," Arthur said unabashedly, shooting her a look that she chose not to react to. "But knowing your stubbornness as well as I do, I know that is likely asking too much. So, instead, I will propose this. Our service here will reach its end in a few months, and then I shall be leaving for Rome. I ask that you remain here with me until then. You have been travelling a long while. You should rest and recover. And after being separated for so long, I would like very much to spend as much time as possible in the company of my friend again."

A few months was a long time. It was certainly far longer than she ever allowed herself to settle anywhere else. She had set rules for herself when she had started chasing Cerdic, rules that she had hoped would safeguard her heart from being broken again. Breck never stayed anywhere for too long, so that she could not get attached to anywhere or anyone, lest that be ripped away from her too. It was just smarter, and simpler¸ to not get too invested in anything.

Yet being back at Hadrian's Wall and back with her old friend felt right…and normal. And normalcy was not something she'd had the luxury of feeling since she had decided to chase after Cerdic. More than anything, though, she just liked the thought of being around Arthur for so long. It would give them plenty of time to get reacquainted, to rekindle their friendship, time to enjoy being together until they had to go their separate ways again.

Breck met Arthur's hopeful gaze and, just like when they were children, she found it impossible to deny him what he wanted. With a sigh of defeat, she shook her head and smiled at him wryly. "Very well, then," she finally conceded. "I shall stay."

Arthur looked positively elated that she had agreed and grabbed her hand, pressing a kiss to the top of it. "Thank you," he said sincerely, the happiness in his gaze leaving her with no doubt that she had made the right decision.

After that Arthur released her hand and went to the door so he could call for a servant, informing them to send for someone named Vanora. While he did this, Breck gazed at his back, rather amazed that even though they had been separated for so long, time had not changed their bond. She still trusted him as she had when she was a child and he still was playing the role of an overbearingly protective older brother. Their friendship still felt easy, and it felt as though no time had passed. As if they had never been apart in the first place.

To know that she still had someone in this world that cared for her was a comfort, but she also knew that her plans for Cerdic might have just hit a bump in the road. Arthur would be none too pleased whenever it came time for her to leave and search for Cerdic again. Plus she had a feeling that once she settled in at Hadrian's Wall that it would be even harder to leave than it had been the first time. Arthur was the only person she had left, the only person that really mattered to her. They had history, and she loved him as though he were her flesh and blood. They had been each other's constant companions before they were forced to go their separate ways, and now that that friendship was being rekindled, she wasn't so sure it was something she'd be able to let go a second time.

"Breck?" Arthur asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

She snapped back to reality and smiled at him as he reclaimed the seat next to her. "Forgive me," she said with a small laugh. "The wine must be affecting me."

Arthur nodded with a small, amused smile and took a drink of his wine. "Good, then drink more," he urged, making her laugh before she did as he'd instructed. "I sent for Vanora. She is a good friend. You will like her," he explained as he grabbed a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth. "She will show you to where you shall be staying and provide you with some more suitable clothing."

Breck quirked an eyebrow and glanced down at her attire, which consisted of men's trousers, a worn tunic, a weather-beaten jerkin, and a pair of leather boots. "And what, pray tell, is so offensive about my current dress?" she asked him with a quirked eyebrow.

"Nothing…if you wish to be mistaken for a man," he shot at her cheekily, making her glare and throw aome bread at his head. He chuckled to himself for a moment before sobering up. "You will need coin while you are here. What shall you do for work?"

"I had not considered it, seeing as I had not planned to stay for long," she admitted with a shrug. "Now that you have charmed me into extending my visit, I suppose I shall have to find work."

"And what have you been doing for coin in other places?" Arthur questioned, looking as though he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"Nothing like that," she scolded with a scowl and a firm slap to his shoulder, knowing exactly what he was hinting at. He just held his hands up defensively, smirking at her reaction. "I work whatever jobs I can find," she said. "Training children in fighting, selling trinkets, working in stables…that sort of thing. Being raised for most of my life by men means I am not as skilled in 'womanly duties' as others," she added with a wry smile.

"Ah, well, Jols always could use help at the stables – you remember Jols, do you not?"

The name was familiar, and as Breck wracked her brain, she could vaguely recall a faint image of a chubby, brown haired kid a few years younger than them who had practically worshipped the ground Arthur walked on. "Aye, I do. He would employ me?"

"I am sure of it," Arthur said with confidence. "If not, then extra combat instructors for the men in town are always welcome," he added with a nod. "Would you be willing?"

"I would," Breck agreed, even as she frowned with a hint of skepticism. "Though I do not see a grown man being particularly pleased with the idea of being trained to fight by a woman."

"Perhaps they shall just have to keep their complaining to themselves and accept it," Arthur shot at her, which resulted in them sharing a grin. Arthur then clinked his glass against hers again and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I am glad to have you back, Breck," he said, fondness both in his voice and gaze.

Breck reached up to place a hand over his, smiling warmly. "I am glad to be back."

OOO

Vanora, the woman Arthur had sent for, arrived about an hour after Arthur sent for her. By that time, Breck and her old friend had left soberness far behind. Having dubbed the night one for celebration, they had not shied away from the wine and were in the middle of reminiscing over a particularly hilarious memory, the two of them so doubled over in laughter that they didn't notice Vanora's presence until she cleared her throat to catch their attention.

"Vanora!" Arthur greeted loudly, standing quickly and then instantly stumbling into one of the other chairs, the alcohol making him unsteady on his feet. Judging by the surprised look in Vanora's eyes, Breck had to guess that Arthur did not usually partake in drinking as much as they had been. "I thank you for coming," he said respectfully, looking as though he were trying very hard not to look as drunk as he actually was. "Allow me to introduce you to Breck, one of my very dearest friends," he said, placing a proud hand on Breck's shoulder.

Breck stood from her chair and went to meet Vanora halfway with an extended hand, shaking the woman's hand once she was close enough. She was a pretty woman, with red curly hair, pale skin, and kind eyes. Her coloring was so similar to Breck's that they looked like they could have been sisters.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," she said with a polite smile.

"And yours as well," Vanora responded.

"Breck, forgive me, but are you terribly opposed to staying in the same quarters that my knights reside?" Arthur asked with a guilty expression. "You will be close to the estate, and you will have your own room for privacy, plus the added benefit of their protection. But I must warn you – they are not the finest of accommodations."

Breck shook her head, used to sleeping in not so wonderful places. "I do not mind, so long as your knights mind their manners and keep their hands to themselves," she said with a shrug.

Vanora laughed sharply, drawing a quizzical look from both Breck and Arthur. The woman immediately pressed her lips together, but there was still amusement in her eyes. "Forgive me for laughing, but I know the men very well. It is hard to imagine that they will be able to 'mind their manners' – or their hands, for that matter – around such a pretty woman."

Breck grinned and then shot Arthur a playful look. Normally, hearing people compliment her appearance made her feel a little uncomfortable. But thanks to her good mood and all of the wine in her belly, she rather liked it now.

"Did you hear that, Arthur? She called me pretty," she said, motioning to Vanora. "You were right. I do like this woman."

Arthur laughed and then placed a hand on Vanora's shoulder. "Vanora, if it is not too much to ask, could you please provide Breck with some new clothing for her stay?" he asked, fishing out some money from the pouch at his hip before handing the coins over to the redheaded lady.

"Of course, my Lord," Vanora readily agreed, tucking the coins safely into one of her skirt pockets.

Satisfied, Arthur patted Vanora's shoulder before turning back to Breck. "Will you join me in the tavern tonight?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "So that we may continue our celebration, of course."

"Surely," Breck happily agreed with a nod, more than excited at the idea of a night of fun with her friend. She couldn't even remember the last time she had let loose, nor done anything that could even remotely resemble fun. "Will we be joined by the famous Sarmatian knights?"

"I am sure we will. They practically live in the tavern," Arthur answered with a nod. "Now leave, you two," he said, shooing the two women away with his hands. "I need to finish some business before Breck has me intoxicated beyond the point of coherency."

Vanora smiled, nodded, and then motioned toward the door. "Shall we?" she asked Breck.

After Breck nodded, she let Vanora lead her out of the council room, glancing back once more at the door to share a fond smile with Arthur before leaving him to his business.

See you next Friday!