Hello, and welcome!

This story is one that I've always had a massive soft spot for. The original, titled A Lady's Vengeance, was written and completed back in 2012 (holy shit that was a long time ago), and back then I was so obsessed with it. I literally did nothing except live and breathe this story for two months straight. I loved the story, but after a couple years, I found myself looking at it with a more critical eye. As much as I loved it, there were certainly some parts that could have been improved on. So I made the decision back in (I think) 2016 to start rewriting it.

That's right. This rewrite has been a work in progress since 2016. It didn't go smoothly at first, though. I'd work on the rewrite, but then would get sidetracked by other projects and move on to something else. Then I'd come back and work on it some more, then get distracted again. I'm pretty sure there was a solid five year period where I didn't even look at this story.

Then sometime last year, I got hit with massive inspiration. I think it happened because I'd just had my second kid, and while I desperately wanted to get back to writing, I didn't have the brain power to write fresh material, so I turned to this story. Working on a story I'd already written was just so much easier. From there, it just took off. I got hooked again and dedicated all my free time to rewriting every single chapter of this story. No other projects. No distractions. Just all King Arthur all the time.

Basically, this has been a very long-winded way of saying that I've worked long and hard on this rewrite, and I'm damned proud of it! For those of you who read and liked the original, don't worry – I'm leaving that one posted in case you just want to stick with the OG story. The rewrite really isn't that different, though. The plot is the same, the characters are the same, there's just better dialogue, more detail, some things that didn't make sense the first time around make a lot more sense now, and there's some new scenes. Oh, and I threw in some spice, because all the fantasy romance novels I've been reading have corrupted me and I just couldn't help myself. (By the way, Mads Mikkelsen is still a babe. Is it weird to be lusting after a man who is now a literal grandpa? Maybe. Do I care? No.)

Anyway, I'm sorry if this long ass author's note bored you to tears. If you're still with me, thank you. Every single chapter has been rewritten, so this story is technically complete, but I'm only going to post one chapter a week so that I have time to meticulously comb through every chapter before I post it to make sure it's exactly how I want it to be. Also, for now I will keep the rating at a T, but it will bump up to M later on.

Now I'm going to shut up and let you read. I sincerely hope that you enjoy this story!

Fancast:
 Breck: Joanne Whalley when she played Sorsha in the original Willow movie
Kenrick: Kristofer Hivju
Emer: Katie McGrath

Cover art credit goes to flovaar! Thank you again for all your help!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to King Arthur, only the OC's. There will be cursing, lots of drinking, and violence in this story, as well as spice later on. There is a bit of a love triangle to start, but Tristan is endgame because, well...it's Tristan, dude.

PROLOGUE

451 AD

It was a wet and rainy night in Britain as nine-year-old Breck and her father, Kenrick, slowly trotted along the muddy road.

They both sat atop a tall steed, with Kenrick in the front to guide the horse, while Breck sat behind him clinging to his back. The two of them were drenched to the bone, hungry, and exhausted, both mentally and physically. After months of being on the run, months of hopping from one place to the next, they had reached a level of near desperation – desperate to find a safe haven, and desperate to finally put their pasts behind them and move on with their lives.

It was that desperation that had led them to the last place they likely would have ever gone – Hadrian's Wall.

The Wall was getting closer now, and as Breck squinted against the hard drops of rain, she could just barely make out torchlight in the distance and the shapes of guards posted by the gate. Her arms unconsciously tightened around her father at the sight of them. Guards usually meant trouble. Guards made her nervous.

Kenrick had felt the shift in her, had felt the way she tensed up behind him. He moved one hand to gently pat her arm. "Steady now, dear daughter," he muttered in their native, Germanic tongue. "Keep calm, and keep quiet. I will handle this."

"Yes, father," she replied, though she continued to eye the guards with wariness.

The guard shouted to them once they were close enough, speaking in a language that she did not understand. Kenrick understood the language well enough, though, and when he pulled their horse to a halt and held his hands up to show that he was weaponless, she had to assume that the guard had ordered him to go no further.

There was an exchange between her father and the guard as her father undoubtedly explained the purpose for their arrival. Breck held her breath, waiting in tense silence as they went back and forth, hoping with everything that they would not be turned away. They had come to Hadrian's Wall for safety, to find their footing again. They were penniless and homeless, and if they wished to make it to their true destination, they would need help. Her father had come to seek that help from Lord Uther, hoping that the valuable information he carried with him would be enough to bargain with.

The guards seemed very suspicious of them, which Breck had fully expected. After all, Kenrick was an intimidating man, what with his large, muscular frame, his wild mane of red hair, and the very obvious battle scar that started at his left eyebrow and ran all the way down the side of his face until it disappeared beneath his collar. There was a roughness to Kenrick, a certain air of brutishness that, no matter where they went, made most people instantly fear him and most guards instantly untrusting of him.

As physically imposing as he was, his reputation made him even more frightening. His name was known far and wide, and not for good reasons. He was a fearsome Saxon warrior, known for being a ruthless killer on the battlefield. Furthermore, he was the right-hand man to King Cerdic, the notorious Saxon leader slowly building his empire by slaughtering all who stood in his path. The two had been fighting side by side for decades. They were comrades. They were friends.

Or, at least, Kenrick had been Cerdic's right-hand man…until things had gone very badly between them.

Her father had explained to her once that when he and Cerdic had met, they had simply been two men fighting for their country, for the betterment of their people. They had wanted the same things, and they had worked well together for many years. Yet, over time, Cerdic became greedy and tyrannical. And his biggest quest, which had once been to fight for his people's freedom and happiness, became simply to destroy any who were not Saxon and claim as much land for himself as he could.

Kenrick had gone along with it at first, though eventually he had begun to feel discontented with the new route Cerdic had taken. However, it was on one of their pillaging expeditions that things had changed forever. They had been invading a neighboring country, where they had taken over the estate of the ruling King. It was there that Kenrick encountered Breck's mother, Emer, a beautiful woman originally from Ireland who had been captured several years previous and taken on as a slave in the king's estate. Kenrick had been instantly taken with her, both for her beauty and her bravery, for apparently she had tried to fight off the Saxons to protect the other enslaved peoples. Kenrick had protected her and looked after her, adamant that if anyone so much as looked at her the wrong way that he would kill them without hesitation. When the time had come to return to Saxony, Kenrick had all but begged her to go back with him, not as his slave, but as his wife. Emer, equally taken with Kenrick in return, accepted his proposal, and they were married from that day forth.

Though nobody had dared to say anything negative about the match because of Kenrick's position as Cerdic's closest confidant, Cerdic himself had had no qualms expressing his disapproval of his comrade's choice in wife. He had never believed in mixing with people outside the Saxon line, had always thought it despicable, had all but forbidden it. But Kenrick had not cared, and it was only their many years of friendship that had saved him from the severe punishment that anyone else would have suffered for marrying an outsider.

There was a great deal of tension between the two from that point on, though, a tension that only grew worse and drove the men even further apart when Breck had been born. When Emer had become pregnant for the second time, Kenrick finally decided it was time to remove his growing family from the unstable life that the Saxons led. Only, once Cerdic had learned that Kenrick intended to abandon him, however, he snapped. He had ordered an ambush on Breck's family, which resulted in the death of both Emer and her unborn child. Kenrick and Breck had barely managed to survive it.

It had been a year since Cerdic's betrayal. A year since Breck had watched her pregnant mother die. A year since Breck had nearly died herself. She and her father might have escaped Saxony, but they had not truly been able to escape Cerdic. For he knew they had survived the ambush, and he had put a price on their heads. He wanted them dead. So they continued to run, continued to live in hiding, desperate to escape Cerdic and to find a place where they would not be found, where they might finally live normal lives.

The hope was that Hadrian's Wall could provide them temporary relief from long, arduous months of travel. That it could be a place to regroup and prepare to finally continue on to their final destination, Ireland. If Lord Uther would just help them, maybe their dream of being free of Cerdic would be one step closer to becoming a reality.

But first, they had to make it through the front gate.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the gates opened and they were ushered through. Guards surrounded them as soon as they were inside, making Breck tense again and tighten her arms around her father. The guards were speaking in stern voices, clearly motioning for them to dismount the horse, and a few had weapons trained on them. Kenrick, his expression calm, slowly dismounted, then helped Breck down and tucked her into his side with a protective arm around her shoulders.

The gates immediately shut behind them, making Breck look back in wariness as the doors came together with an ominous boom. There was no going back now. They were inside Hadrian's Wall, and they were now at the mercy of Lord Uther.

Once the guards had relieved Kenrick of any weapons he had on his person, Breck and her father were flanked on either side and then quickly led through the town. The rainy weather had made it so that there were not many people around, but the few who were loitering outside openly stared as Breck and her father passed by. Breck practically molded herself to her father, feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable in this foreign place with its foreign people and their foreign language.

Eventually they were led to what looked like a castle, or at least what Breck imagined a castle might look like, since she had never actually seen one. Once at the doorway, the lead guard barked an order to the others, who immediately formed a tight perimeter around Breck and Kenrick to keep them from going any further.

The lead guard disappeared inside, and for several uncomfortable minutes, all they did was stand there and wait while the rain soaked their clothes. Eventually the guard came back and Breck and her father were permitted inside, though whether they were being taken to Lord Uther or to the dungeons, she had no idea. She stayed close to her father as they walked through the maze of hallways, until they reached another set of double doors. The lead guard said something to her father that made him frown and argue, but the guard countered with a terse response that finally had Kenrick reluctantly nodding in agreement.

Kenrick turned to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I am to meet with Lord Uther," he said in their native tongue. "You must stay here."

Breck's eyes widened. "With them?" she asked, glancing to the imposing guards before turning scared eyes back on her father. "Please do not leave me. I wish to stay with you."

Kenrick leaned down a little, so that he was not towering over her quite so much. "These men do not trust me, Breck," he told her seriously, his gaze flickering over the surrounding guards. "They believe if you stay behind in their custody that I will be less inclined to do anything…reckless." He sighed, looking as though he hated the idea, but resigning to it nonetheless. "It is the only way, daughter."

Breck glanced at the older, bigger men, an uncomfortable feeling forming in the pit of her stomach. She did not want to be left behind with strangers that could inflict all sorts of harm on her if they wished to, but she didn't see any way around it either. Finally, she looked back to her father and nodded.

"Alright."

Kenrick managed a small smile, pressed a kiss to her red curly hair, then finally, reluctantly, took a step back. He went to the door with two guards flanking him, then, after shooting one last look at her over his shoulder, he disappeared from sight.

Breck found herself alone with three guards. She wrapped her arms around herself, ignoring how uncomfortable her soaked clothes felt as they clung to her frame, then eased down onto a bench. The guards were watching her closely, she knew it because she could feel their eyes on her, but she refused to look at them. Instead, she let her blue eyes inspect the hallway they were in. It was nothing overly spectacular – just a regular hallway made of stone, with torches lining the walls to bring light to the area and large windows that the rain outside pattered against.

As her gaze turned in the direction they had just come from, she did a doubletake when she saw that there was someone watching her from around the corner of the adjacent hallway. It was a boy who looked to be around her age, with dark, curly hair and curiosity in his eyes. He did not shy away when their gazes met, as was usually the case when someone was caught staring at a stranger. He continued to watch her, as though he were interested to know who she was and why she was there.

Breck looked at the boy for another moment, then finally looked away and wrapped her arms around herself further, shivering as the coldness in the hallway began to set in. When she glanced toward the boy again, he was no longer there.

It was taking a long time for her father to come back. Longer than she would have expected. She sat there, shivering and wet, wishing she could be next to a warm fire or wrapped up in a thick blanket, her stomach growling for sustenance. Breck knew she presented a poor sight, what with her drenched clothing and skinny, undernourished form, but the guards did not seem to have it in them to take pity on her. In fact, when she chanced a look at them, they looked as though they didn't have a single care for her at all.

Footsteps in the hallway a short while later caught everyone's attention. Breck's eyes widened with surprise when she saw that it was the boy from earlier, only now he was striding toward them with purposeful steps and carrying a few items in his hands. As he approached, the guards straightened and began speaking to him quickly in that language she didn't understand. Breck almost felt worried for the boy, afraid that the guards would lash out at him for being somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. To her surprise, however, the boy spoke to the guards in an unexpectedly stern tone, saying something that immediately had the guards quietening down and then moving aside to let him through.

The boy came directly up to her. Now that he was closer, she could see that he was carrying a large blanket. Her nose also detected the smell of fresh bread, and her mouth nearly watered when she spied the loaf he had brought with him.

He spoke to her, and though she did not understand him, when he held the blanket and the bread out to her, his intentions were unmistakable. Breck glanced at the guards, who seemed disapproving, hesitant to take the boy's offering. When the boy insisted, though, she finally, carefully, took the blanket and bread. The boy smiled, his green eyes showing nothing but sympathy and kindness.

It had been a long time since anyone had shown her either of those two things.

"Thank you," Breck said.

The boy nodded, perhaps not understanding her language but seemingly understanding the gratitude in her voice. He then placed a hand on his chest. "Arthur," he said slowly, patting his chest to indicate that he was introducing himself.

Breck mimicked the gesture. "Breck," she said back.

Arthur nodded, then pointed to the bread and made a gesture like he was eating, before giving her a pointed look. She understood that he was telling her to eat, and after she wrapped the blanket around herself, she was happy to do just that.

Breck expected he would leave, but he didn't. When she saw the guards watching her eat with disapproval, she wondered if he had stayed to make sure the guards wouldn't take the food away from her. Whatever his reason, she didn't mind that he was still there. When she broke off a large chunk and offered it to him, he shook his head and pushed it back toward her, indicating that it was only for her. Breck hesitated, but then nodded and continued eating.

She was halfway through the loaf of bread when the doors that her father had disappeared behind opened. Breck quickly looked that way, then jumped to her feet when she saw Kenrick return. He was unharmed, and his expression seemed pleased, which made hope flare wildly in her chest. Kenrick paused when he caught sight of the blanket around her shoulders and the bread in her hands, then shot a slightly puzzled look toward Arthur, whom the guards had now moved to stand beside, forming a protective barrier around him. Kenrick gave Arthur a once over, then turned his attention back to Breck as he resumed coming toward her.

"What news?" she asked in a rush. "Will he allow us to stay?"

Kenrick smiled and placed a hand on her shoulders. "We can stay," he confirmed.

Breck let out a loud sigh of relief, then hugged her father tightly around the middle.

Finally, after so much suffering, after so many hard days fighting to survive, something good had happened. They would not sleep on the hard, cold ground tonight, being drenched by the rain and slowly starving. They would be some place safe, hopefully with a roof over their heads and food in their bellies.

Maybe things would finally start to get better.

The lead guard that had been barking orders at them since they arrived said something to her father, who nodded in response. "Come," he said to Breck. "We are being shown to our new quarters."

Breck nodded and kept her arm wrapped around her father as they began to follow the guards back down the hallway. Before they could turn the corner however, she could not help but glance back at Arthur one last time, giving him a small smile of gratitude. Arthur returned the smile just as they turned the corner, and as he disappeared from view, Breck found herself hoping this would not be the last time she saw the kind boy who had given her a blanket and bread.

OOO

One Year Later

"Come out, come out wherever you are!" a voice taunted from somewhere within the trees.

Breck held her breath and pressed her back tighter to the tree behind her, doing her best to become one with the trunk in her attempt to hide. She could hear twigs and leaves crunching underneath feet as they neared her hiding place, and as her pursuer drew closer, she was almost certain they would be able to hear her heart pounding away in her chest.

The footsteps were close now. If she were to look around the tree, she was certain her pursuer would be only feet away.

"I will find you, Saxon!" the voice called again, echoing loudly off the trees. "Mark my words!"

Breck sucked in a breath, tightened her grip on the sword she carried, then, when the footsteps were right next to her, she jumped out from behind the tree with a loud battle cry and swung with all her might. The person she had attacked made a sound of surprise, but managed to bring his own sword up in time to block the blow. Instead of the weapons meeting with a metal clang, however, there was a dull thunk as the two wooden practice blades connected.

Arthur recovered from his surprise quickly, then launched his own attack. Breck blocked two of his strikes, then dodged to the left and took cover behind a tree. They stared one another down around the trunk. If Breck took a step to the left, Arthur followed, waving his wooden sword at her threateningly, a challenging smirk plastered across his face. Breck stepped right, and Arthur followed again. Finally, she feinted to the left, making him lurch that way, before quickly changing directions and running right, making Arthur stumble in his attempt to correct himself.

She laughed as she ran away, able to hear him growling with annoyance. Breck was more agile and far faster than Arthur was, effortlessly skirting around bushes and foliage and jumping over tree roots that posed a potential tripping risk. Arthur's heavy feet were following her as he tried to catch up, shouting promises that he would catch her and that she would be in trouble when he did. Breck just laughed again and quickened her pace.

She broke free of the trees a few minutes later, running through an open field now. Her favorite pond in all of Hadrian's Wall was just up ahead, and she ran toward it, glancing back over her shoulder to see that Arthur was catching up now that he didn't have trees in his way. Damn him and his long legs! Breck reached the pond first and turned, readying herself for his attack as she took a defensive stance. Arthur sped toward her, his own sword poised for attack and a cry tearing from his lips. When he finally reached her, the fight continued.

They went back and forth at a furious pace, their swords thunking together over and over again as each tried to best the other. Breck might have been faster than Arthur, but he was better with a sword than she was, and she quickly began to lose the advantage. She barely ducked out of the way as he swung at her head, but did not recover in time to jump out of the way as he whacked her on the knee with the flat of the blade.

"You just lost a foot," Arthur announced with a smirk.

Breck growled competitively, then lunged at him again. Arthur dodged out of the way, making her sail past him, then whacked her on the back with his blade. The stinging pain made Breck wince and curse. Feeling a little bruised and very annoyed, Breck let out another war cry and turned to swing at him again. As she lifted her sword, however, Arthur suddenly ducked and lunged at her, wrapping his arms around her waist. When he straightened again, he lifted her clear into the air and tossed her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing at all, making her drop her sword in surprise.

"You cheat!" Breck said, pounding her fists against his back. "Put me down! I demand you put me down!"

"As you wish, my friend!" Arthur replied with an evil sounding chuckle.

Breck stilled, that sinister laugh alerting her to the fact that he was planning something that she would likely not enjoy. She glanced back to see where he was carrying her, and when she realized he was about to throw her into the pond, she struggled even harder, making him tighten his hold on her.

"Arthur Castus! If you know what is good for you, you will not throw me into – "

She did not get to finish her threat, because the next thing she knew, she was submerged in ice cold water.

Breck resurfaced with a splutter, her entire body aching from the cold water. She swung incredulous eyes up at her friend, who was laughing so hard that he was doubled over and practically on the verge of tears. Breck growled, but the cold was making her shiver already, which made her angry expression a little less potent.

"You b-b-barbarian," she stuttered as her teeth clattered together. "Is th-this how you t-treat a friend?"

Arthur finally recovered, but was still grinning as he straightened up. "Forgive me, Breck. I could not resist."

Breck glared as she wrapped her arms around herself. "You c-could at least help me out, you sod," she growled. "This w-water is freezing."

Arthur nodded, then stepped forward and extended a hand to help her out. Breck, who already had a plan for vengeance in mind, took his hand and gripped it hard. Before he could pull her out of the water or even have a moment to realize what was about to happen, she smirked at him evilly and pulled with all her might. Arthur's eyes went comically wide as he lost his balance, realization of what was to come quickly flashing across his face, then he went head first into the pond next to her.

It was Breck's turn to laugh uproariously as Arthur resurfaced looking like a drown rat. He gasped in air, his expression one of shock from the frigid water, before swinging disbelieving eyes at her. "Breck!" he complained.

"That is what you deserve!" she shot back, still laughing as she splashed more water into his face.

Arthur made a sound of protest and shook his head like a dog trying to shake off water from its fur. "That is what I get for trusting a Saxon," he huffed, though his tone lacked any true malice. "Bloody hell, it is f-freezing," Arthur then said, beginning to shiver the same way that she was. "Let us get back on land before we turn into ice."

They clamored out of the pond, but it didn't feel any better being on land, since the wind only made the chill worse. Still, they collapsed on the ground next to the pond, smiling at one another as they took a moment to rest.

Breck and her father had been living at Hadrian's Wall for a year now, and for the first time in her ten years of living, she could say with confidence that life was good.

It had been hard at first, starting over amongst the people at the Wall. Most of the townsfolk had no idea who her father was, or that they were Saxons living amongst them, but the guards had known exactly who they were and had followed them for weeks, keeping a close eye to make sure they did not cause any trouble. Breck had also found it difficult to integrate into the community, since she hadn't known anybody but her father and had not spoken the local language, which made communicating with others nearly impossible.

But after a few months, Lord Uther had begun to trust Kenrick, and eventually the guards had decided they had no ulterior motives and had left them alone. Breck had started to pick up the language, had grown comfortable in her new surroundings. In Saxony, she had been hated for having 'tainted blood' and had never felt welcome in their village. Once she had been on the road with her father, they had constantly had to watch their backs and had barely scraped by. But at Hadrian's Wall, things were different. They had a home, and food in their bellies, and they lived a quiet life where nobody bothered them or went out of their way to scorn them. It was the first time she had been able to live a normal life. It was the first place that had actually felt like home.

Of course, a big part of her reason for loving Hadrian's Wall was the boy currently sitting next to her.

Arthur Castus, the boy with the blanket and the bread. He was Lord Uther's son and next in line to rule at Hadrian's Wall. He could have never spoken to her again after learning who she was, but he had befriended her instead. He had sought her out only a few days after they settled in to check on her and make sure she was doing well, and from then on, they had practically been inseparable. Their friendship had been instantaneous and effortless. They were close in age, like-minded, and enjoyed all the same hobbies. They had only known each other for a year, but Breck felt like she had known him all her life, as if they had always been meant to be friends.

No, Arthur was more than just a friend. He was the best friend she had ever had. The only friend she had ever had. He was like a brother to her. He certainly treated her like she imagined an older brother would have – he rough housed with her, teased her constantly, and they usually found a way to get themselves into trouble at least once a week. But he was also loyal, and protective, and always went out of his way to make sure she felt happy and included.

Breck didn't know what she had done to deserve a friend like Arthur, but every day she thanked her lucky stars that she had found him.

The sun suddenly broke through the grey clouds overhead, showering them with much needed warmth. Breck and Arthur both closed their eyes, relishing in the sun on their cold, damp skin. "You are getting better with your sword work," Arthur complimented, pushing his hair back as he looked at her again.

"There is room for improvement yet," Breck said, rubbing the leg Arthur had hit and knowing there was likely already a bruise there. "Did you have to hit me so hard?" she complained.

"That which does not kill you, only makes you stronger," Arthur said, giving her a hard pat on the back.

Breck just huffed and shook her head.

"Are you hungry?" Arthur asked, lifting his brows at her.

Breck hadn't noticed before because they had been too busy sparring, but now that he had asked, she could feel a distinct pang of hunger in her belly. "Famished."

Arthur smirked, then stood up. After he brushed dirt off of his bottom, he extended a hand to help her. "Come. Let us go raid my father's kitchen."

They headed back toward town, talking and laughing as they went. The clouds had cleared even more, making way for more sunshine, and though the air was still crisp and cold, the sun gave off just enough warmth to make it pleasant. They reached Arthur's home soon enough and made their way quickly to the kitchens, which they had frequented so much, they probably could have gotten there in their sleep.

They filled a large platter with all sorts of food, then grabbed a pitcher of water and went outside to find a place under the sun to sit. They ended up not far from the stables that housed the horses for the Sarmatian Knights that fought for Lord Uther. As they settled in on a patch of grass to eat, Breck's eyes were drawn to the stables, where she could see a few of the Knights ambling about as they carried out daily tasks.

Arthur had long ago told her all about the deal that had been struck between Rome and Sarmatia, how boys were recruited to serve within the military every fifteen years. The current Sarmatians were nearing the end of their service to Rome, which meant the next generation of Knights, the ones who would likely serve and fight under Arthur's command, were due to arrive at the Wall to begin their training soon.

Breck watched the tough looking Sarmatians work for a few moments, then quirked a curious brow at her friend. "How much longer until the new Sarmatians arrive?" she asked.

Arthur sighed, the question making him frown. "A month, perhaps two."

Breck noted his reaction. "You seem unhappy about that," she commented.

Arthur shrugged. "Much will change once they arrive. My father expects me to take on new duties, begin training more fiercely. He means to make sure I am thoroughly ready to lead," he explained. "I only hope now that I am ready for the task."

Breck nodded in understanding. "If you are worried about leading, there is nothing to be concerned about. I have little doubt that you will be a fine leader, Arthur," she told him encouragingly. "And should you prove to be anything less than magnificent, trust that I will be there to beat you back into shape."

Arthur, who had looked troubled, cracked a smile at that. "As if you could beat me," he said, shoving her shoulder gently. She could tell he appreciated her support, though.

Breck laughed and threw a piece of cheese at him, before grabbing another chunk and shoving it into her mouth. They stopped talking about the Sarmatians and all of the things that would be expected of Arthur and switched to more lighthearted subjects, chatting away as they finished up the food they had nicked from the kitchen. When they had cleared the plate, they lounged in the sun until their clothes and hair were completely dry, then went back inside to return the plate back to the kitchen.

It was as they were weaving through the halls, however, that they bumped into someone quite unexpected.

"Father," Breck said with surprise when they turned a corner and nearly ran right into Kenrick. If he was there, then she could only assume he had come from a meeting with Lord Uther, though she couldn't say with certainty why they would have been holding counsel together.

"Breck," he said in return, before inclining his head to Arthur. "Arthur," he greeted. Arthur quickly nodded back. "Causing trouble together again?" he asked with a slight smile. He was fully aware of the mischief the two of them could get into together, though he never truly was bothered by it. Kenrick just seemed to be happy that she had made such a good friend in Arthur.

"Not today," Breck said, smirking at Arthur and nudging him with his elbow.

"Well, I am glad I have found you," Kenrick said. "There is a matter I need to speak with you about…alone," he added, glancing apologetically toward Arthur for not including him.

An ominous feeling filled her stomach, because she knew the look on her father's face. It was the one he always wore whenever he had bad news to deliver. "Very well," she said, albeit reluctantly. She shifted her eyes to Arthur and squeezed his arm. "Perhaps I shall see you later?"

Arthur offered a small smile. "I will be here," he assured her.

Breck nodded, then released his arm and let Kenrick lead her away.

OOO

She had been right. Her father did have bad news.

They were back at the little home that Lord Uther had provided them with when they had first arrived at the Wall, and as Kenrick looked down at her with apology in his eyes, Breck could only stare out the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she fought very hard against the urge to cry.

"I am sorry, daughter," Kenrick apologized once again. "But we always knew this day would come. This has been our plan all along."

The plan he was referring to was their plan to only stay at Hadrian's Wall temporarily, long enough to make enough coin to travel and support themselves, then they would be moving on to Ireland, to live on the same land that her mother's former clan did. She had been in support of the plan at first, because she had had no sentimental ties to Hadrian's Wall and had loved the thought of being in Ireland, where she would feel close to her mother again.

But things had changed now.

She and her father had stayed at the Wall far longer than she had expected, which had given her ample time to grow comfortable with her surroundings. She liked Hadrian's Wall. She liked perusing the market square, and fishing in the ponds, and riding her father's horse through the open fields. She felt at home there. She felt like she belonged.

And she had Arthur. He was so important to her. She couldn't leave him. She couldn't bear the thought of it.

"What if I do not want to go?" Breck asked stubbornly, turning a hard glare on her father. "I like it here, father. This is the only place that has ever felt like home. I do not want to lose that."

Kenrick frowned at her sympathetically. "I know you have grown fond of this place, Breck. But this is a large town, with many people who pass through its borders. It is only a matter of time before someone discovers that we are here, before word reaches Cerdic and he comes to finish the war he started against our family. These people have shown us great kindness, and I do not want to repay them for that by needlessly bringing the enemy to their doorstep," he explained with a shake of his head. "We will be safe in Ireland. He will not find us there. Lord Uther has arranged a safe escort for us and we must take it now, otherwise we may never be presented with the opportunity again."

As much as Breck didn't want to admit it, she supposed he made a valid point. If Cerdic somehow discovered that they were at the Wall, he would come to Britain in a reign of terror, annihilating anyone who stood in the way of him getting to her and Kenrick. The people at Hadrian's Wall were at great risk so long as Breck and her father lived amongst them. Perhaps it was smarter to move on, not just for their safety, but for everyone's.

Still, it didn't make the thought of leaving any easier, and as Arthur's face flashed through her mind, her heart clenched painfully. What might become of their friendship if she were to leave? Would they ever see each other again?

"I cannot bear the thought of being parted from Arthur," she admitted, a tear finally slipping down her cheek. "He has been the best friend I could have ever dreamt of having." Breck shook her head sadly. "He will be so disappointed."

"I know how much the two of you care for one another," Kenrick said, reaching out to gently wipe away her tears. "But just because you must say goodbye, that does not mean your friendship will cease to exist. He will always be your friend, just as you will always be his. And while I am sure he will indeed be grieved to see you go, he will understand why we must depart. He too has his responsibilities, his own duties that he will have to tend to soon enough," he reminded her.

Breck just nodded, too sad to say anything in response. Kenrick sighed, smoothed her hair down, then leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

"Say your goodbyes, dear daughter," he instructed with a note of finality. "We leave in two days."

OOO

Breck probably should have gone to Arthur immediately to tell him the news, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She spent the rest of the evening packing, crying off and on whenever her emotions got the better of her, already dreading the moment she would have to say goodbye to her dearest friend. After a sleepless night and a half-hearted breakfast, Breck went out to walk around Hadrian's Wall, taking in the sights and the sounds and doing her best to commit them to memory.

After all, there was no telling when – or even if – she would ever see the place again.

Eventually she made her way to the pond that she and Arthur had been playing around in the day before. She sat on the banks, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her shins, staring at the water forlornly. Breck was going to miss the Wall and the life she and her father had started to build there. But most of all, she was going to miss Arthur.

She didn't know how long she sat there for, but it was long enough for her bum to go numb and for the cold to seep through her cloak, making goosebumps rise up on her skin. Eventually, though, she was pulled from her thoughts by a familiar voice.

"I have been searching all over for you."

Breck would have known that voice anywhere. She looked over her shoulder at Arthur, who stood only a few feet away. He had his hands tucked in his clothing to shield them from the cold, and there was a distinctly sad look on his face. Breck knew then that she would not have to break the bad news to him – it seemed he had already heard that she and her father were leaving, likely from Lord Uther.

"You have heard we are departing then?" Breck said miserably.

Arthur nodded, then walked over and plopped down next to her. He studied her at first, then sighed and frowned. "Were you planning to inform me yourself?" he asked.

"Of course," Breck said at once. "I was…merely trying to locate the courage to do so," she added with a helpless shrug.

Arthur's expression eased as he nodded in understanding. "When are you leaving, then?"

Breck mindlessly tugged at one of her long, red curls. "At daybreak tomorrow," she revealed, which made Arthur frown even more and hang his head. Breck reached for his hand to give it an earnest squeeze, which had his sad, green eyes looking to her once more. "I wish with everything in me that I could stay, Arthur. I do not want to leave you. If there was anything I could do…" She trailed off, pleading him with her eyes to understand her predicament.

Arthur squeezed her hand back, his frown lifting into a half-hearted smile. "I know, Breck. I know." He scooted closer and dropped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. Breck immediately leaned into him, accepting the comfort and support he was offering. "I do not wish you to leave either," he admitted. "My life will simply not be the same without you."

"Neither will mine," Breck said. She hugged him tighter, her lip trembling as tears filled her eyes once more. She wanted him to understand how much she cared for him, how grateful she was that he was her friend, but it was hard to find the right words. "I cannot thank you enough for the friendship you have given me, Arthur. I had never known what it felt like to be accepted for me until I met you. You…you are the best friend I have ever had, and I will cherish these memories for the rest of my days."

Arthur immediately pulled away, his brows furrowing together seriously. "Do not speak as though we will never see one another again," he said firmly.

Breck sniffled. "What if we do not?" she asked fearfully, admitting to her worry that this actually would be their final goodbye.

"We will," Arthur countered swiftly. "You are my best friend. I consider you my sister. I refuse to let this be our last goodbye." He took a breath, then grabbed her hand again to squeeze it tightly. "I will rule these lands someday, and I swear to you here and now that as long as I am here, you will always be welcome. You will always have a home here," he vowed, eyes holding hers intently. "Come back, Breck. I care not if it is next year, or ten years from now, or a lifetime. I will be here, waiting to share in more adventures with you."

Breck, overcome with emotion, threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Arthur immediately returned the embrace, his arms tight enough to the point that it made it a little difficult to breathe, but she didn't care. "I will come back, Arthur. I do not know when, but I will. I promise."

There was nothing more to be said after that. They sat by that pond for a long time, arm in arm, just enjoying each other's company while they still could. For after tomorrow, they both knew it would probably be a very long time before they saw each other again.

I hope you enjoyed the prologue! See you at the next chapter!