xforgottenxmemoriesx;
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Chapter 21
An hour before the knights arrived.
"They are already here." Aurora said and turned to face the forest.
"Do something!" The merchant ordered the soldiers, who merely looked at each other in fear.
Footsteps was heard, branches breaking, whispers in the wind.
"Why are they not attacking?" The women yelped. "They must know we can hear them."
Aurora continued to sharpen her ears and scout for any movement, but all she heard were whispers.
"They are playing with us." Aurora said smiling in realization.
"Why did they only shoot one arrow?" The soldier asked not hearing Aurora. "Perhaps they are moving on, leaving us in peace."
"There is no such thing!" The merchant said. "These are vicious animals we are speaking of."
"Can you two be quiet?" Aurora said hushing them. The footsteps sounded further away and the whispers began to fade.
"Are they going?" The woman leaned forward from her hiding place behind her husband.
"I believe so." Aurora answered still holding her eyes towards the forest.
"We should leave immedi.." the merchant began but was interrupted by the screams of men, of woads.
"Bloody hell" Aurora said to herself when she saw ten screaming woads rushing towards the group.
The soldiers took their weapons and the merchant ran to his carriage, leaving the two women behind.
"What should we do?" The woman screamed.
Aurora looked at the battle before them, the soldiers were soon dead and Aurora did the first thing that popped up in her mind.
"We must leave! Now!" She said and took the woman's hand and started to run to the forest behind them. Suddenly two arrows flew by Aurora and she heard a scream behind her. The woman had been hit with two arrows in her stomach. Aurora looked in panic as the woman fell to the ground. She looked at the battle, the soldiers were dead as suspected. The woads were now headed towards the merchant.
"Go!" She heard a whisper. She looked down and the woman gave her a stern look.
"RUN!" and Aurora obeyed.
She tripped over her dress just as she began to run and she felt dizzy after the fall. The dress was an inconvenience and she tore it apart and headed to the forest.
Her breath was heavy and she had absolutely no idea where she was going. Aurora just thought she had outrun them when she felt something hit her in her stomach. Caught by surprise she fell to the ground catching for breath. A woad had hit her with a tree branch just as she had glanced behind her back, she cursed herself for her stupidity.
A woad were standing over her, knife in his hand. She gave him a look of hatred. He didn't do anything though; on the contrary, he only stood there for what seemed like hours, guarding her.
At last something was happening. Aurora laughed at herself for this would probably mean the end for her. The other woads returned for battle, victory in their hands. They were talking to each other, in their language, so Aurora couldn't make out anything. She furrowed her eyebrows. They were more now, more in numbers. How odd, she thought. She was beginning to be very much afraid because the number of the woads had increased and now they were all turning their attention to her.
She was still lying on the ground, but now on her back. She felt very vulnerable, not only because she was in a threatening position but because she was only wearing a small white dress, which had been her under dress.
Aurora backed away as, she guessed the leader, was coming towards her. However, she only got so far until she backed in to another woad. She looked up to see a man with coldness in his eyes looking down at her.
"Opps." She said without thinking. The leader had now reached her and sat down by her side, he starred at her for a moment.
Finally he spoke.
"You doing here?" He asked while giving her a stern gaze.
She returned his gaze and decided she should not be cooperative.
He seemed rather upset when she did not respond and returned the favor by taking his knife and holding it in front of her.
"This cause pain." He said and toyed with it in front of her.
"No kidding," She finally responded making his head snap in her direction. Pleased his frightening tactics had made her speak he asked her the same question again.
"No particular reason." She answered but she didn't think he understood her. She thought he realized this as well because he gestured to a man and suddenly she was picked up and everyone began to walk.
"What are you doing?" she screamed while hanging upside down.
"Put me down!" she continued. "Put me down!" Her wish was granted and the man, who were holding her, dropped her and she fell to the ground. It was not a nice experience. She hit the ground hard and her lip burst open.
She felt someone turning her over and she saw the face of a woman. The old woman helped her sit up and took a cloth and held it carefully to her lip.
Aurora gave her a small smile.
The "leader" came back and seemed to order the woman ta back away but she refused and the man, to Aurora surprise, obeyed.
The leader once again seated himself by her side.
"You not in Rome now!" he said and took her arm in a firm grip.
"If you want to live, shut up!" he said and let her go. The man who had held her before once again picked her up and this time she made no objections.
They had been walking for hours and hours. Aurora was tired, bored, terrified and much, much more. It was also cold, she only wore a little dress and it was November! Snow was falling from the sky making everything look so innocent. The snow made her remember the dream she had had when she had lost her baby. The snow, Lancelot. She didn't know if she missed him, but one thing was certain, she wished all of the knights were her, including Lancelot.
Suddenly the woads stopped and she could see they had arrived to a large camp. "Their home" she whispered to herself.
They were in the forest but the trees were not standing as close as they had before along the way. The trees were mostly oaks, big oaks and around them were small tents. The whole sight before her was very picturesquely.
She was carried to a tent and she relaxed when she felt the warmth from the fire. This didn't last long because once again she was thrown to the ground. The fall was softer this time around because she landed on cushions and blankets. She looked up at the man who had dropped her but he quickly went away. She was left alone. This is my opportunity, she thought. I can try to escape now. Suddenly, another man entered, not the leader but a slightly older man. He walked up to her and bent down so their heads were in the same height.
He studied her for a moment, he touched her lip carefully and she was surprised by his tender gaze.
"I am sorry"
"What?" she asked with suspicion.
"I am sorry"
"What for?" she asked but suddenly the man took his elbow and hit her in the head. She fell unconscious to the ground but the man caught her.
"For this" he whispered and laid her carefully on the blankets.
"Oh good God." Aurora said and touched her head when she woke up the next morning. I think I am going to die, she thought to herself.
"Ah, so you are awake now." A voice said from above. Aurora opened her eyes and saw the same woman who had helped her before.
"I thought you would never wake up. "The woman continued and went to stir the cattle.
Aurora made a grimace when she sat up and touched her head gently.
"Here" the woman gave her cup with something in it.
Aurora smelled the liquid, it smelled alright she tasted it and could not hold back what she thought.
She heard a laugh and saw the woman smiling at her.
"It will help you."
Aurora looked at the woman.
"So it is not poison then?" She asked, only making the woman laugh again.
"Not at all."
Aurora rolled her eyes and lay back down again.
"Darin was sorry he had to hit you so hard."
"Darin?" Aurora wondered.
"Yes, the man who hit you." The woman stated.
"Oh, he has a name he just skipped introductions last night." Aurora rolled her eyes.
"He didn't want to hit you but we were afraid you would try to escape."
"So you decided to hit me?" Aurora said in anger and sat up.
"Well, can you honestly swear that thought didn't occur to you?" The woman gave Aurora a questioning look.
"That is none of you business." Aurora said and starred back.
"So it did." The woman looked pleased.
Aurora rolled her eyes.
She was terrified but something told her she did not have to fear this woman.
"What is your name?" Aurora looked as the woman cleaned up in the tent.
"Is this your home?" Aurora felt a bit like an intruder but, she thought, she was an intruder.
"This is my home yes." The woman responded.
"And your name?"
The woman stopped what she was doing and went to sit next to Aurora. Aurora felt a bit uncomfterable by this. Sensing Aurora's thought the woman laughed.
"Do not worry, I mean no harm." She took Aurora's hand in hers and looked into Aurora's eyes.
"My name is Marly."
Aurora nodded, "Pretty." She said earning a smile in response.
"And yours?" The woman asked Aurora.
"Aurora"
"Pretty" the woman responded making both of them laugh.
Suddenly someone entered the tent and Aurora recognized the man who had hit her last night. Seeing her frightened demeanor the man stopped and raised his hands.
"Don't worry, I mean no harm." He walked slowly towards her and seated himself right in front of her.
"How are things out there?" The woman asked and gave the man, Darin, a cup of the same liquid she had given Aurora. The man made a grimace as he tasted the fluid and Aurora smiled a little.
"They have discussed all morning." The man answered.
"What have they decided?"
"Nothing so far. They want met her first."
They were talking about her, Aurora thought. She hadn't even thought about the rest of the woads and she started to panic. Sensing her distressed behavior the man took her hands in his.
She gave him a stern look.
"I am sorry I had to hit you last night." He began and glanced back at the woman. "I am sure Marly have told you why I did it."
"So she has." Aurora responded.
"Then you know I did what I had to do."
"Yes, I know you think you had to do it."
The man smiled but it faded quickly.
"We have to go." He stood up and held out his hand towards her.
Aurora looked at him in distrust.
"I don't want to go anywhere with you!"
The man leaned down and took a firm grip on her shoulders and pulled her up on her feet.
"Sorry, but you don't have choice."
"You like that word don't you?" She said and eyed him.
He laughed at her sarcastic tone.
"I feel very much obliged to excuse my actions towards you. You bring that out in me."
Aurora snorted and followed him out.
Woads gathered and looked at her as she walked by. They soon reached a large cave and they went inside.
The cave was lit by a hundreds of candles and fires were placed everywhere. She could see people gathered in a ring and the man walked to the middle and gestured for her to sit down. Then he went to join the circle.
In front of her was an old man and by his sides two other men. She guessed the leaders or the elders.
"Welcome." The oldest man said and gave her a nod. "You are the first outsider who has ever set a foot in our home."
She didn't respond.
"Tell me what is your name?" He continued.
"Do you see what I mean!" She heard and tuned to see the " leader" from yesterday speaking to the elder man but he only held up his hand.
"My name is Merlin." He said and pointed at himself. When she heard this her eyes went wide and she forgot to hide her surprise.
"So you know who I am." He concluded.
"A wizard." She answered making him laugh.
"Yes, well that is one way of looking at it."
She shifted uncomfeterably.
"Now tell me why you where together with the merchant yesterday and if you would be so kind, you name?"
Aurora thought for a second what to say but she concluded she had nothing to lose so she could just tell the truth.
"I met the merchant and his wife on my way from Camelot." She told them, the word Camelot seemed to take them off guard.
"Away from Camelot?" A man asked.
She nodded.
"Do you know Arthur Castus?" Merlin asked and eyed her.
"Is this an interrogation?"
"If you would like to call it that." He answered. "So, Arthur do you know him?"
Aurora had an emotional battle inside her. If she said she knew Arthur they would probably kill her, but hey they would kill anyway. And if she said she didn't know Arthur they would know she was lying because they knew she was a roman and the Romans usually stuck together.
"I do." Whispers were heard when she confessed to this and Merlin seemed pleased.
"Good." He said and caught Aurora off guard.
"Good?" she wondered but he didn't answer.
"Tell me, what was your name again?"
"Aurora."
"Ah, tell me Aurora. Do you believe in faith?"
"Perhaps."
Merlin nodded and started a conversation with the men beside him. The talked for a moment but finally turned towards the crowd and Aurora.
"We have decided now." Merlin began and looked at Aurora.
"This woman is a roman. A friend of Arthur Castus, our enemy." This is not good, she thought for herself.
"However, Aurora has not made us any harm and we have decided to let Aurora live."
"How kind of you." She muttered.
"She is to stay her until we say otherwise."
"What?" Aurora said and stood up. "That is not fair!"
"This is our decision."
"But, I.."
"It already decided, plus even if we were to let you go, there is no way to Camelot now that the winter has arrived. The road is closed. "
Aurora watched Merlin walk away and felt Darin take her arm in his grip.
"We are we going now?" She asked annoyed.
"To your new home." Was his only response.
"Am I not going to stay with Marly?" She asked with fear in her voice.
"No, you see Merlin only let you stay if," He looked at her. "If someone took you as their bride."
Aurora could feel her heart stop.
"What?" She whispered.
Darin nodded and continued to walk.
"Who have bought me then?" she asked disgusted.
"I have." He said and gave her a smile.
Aurora could feel panic coming over her. Lancelot, she thought, Lancelot.
Suddenly Darin began to laugh and Aurora looked at him with horror in her eyes.
"You are so funny." He said wiping tears from his eyes.
"I don't understand."
They approached a tent and stopped outside.
"We are not animals Aurora." He looked at her and gave her a smile. "I was joking."
Realization dawned on her face and she felt the air return to her lungs.
"Here are you new home and family" he said and lifted the blanket, which worked as a door.
Aurora looked inside and saw a woman sitting inside the tent. She reminded her a little of herself with her brown hair and eyes. The woman looked back at her in curiosity and suspicion.
"Aurora let me introduce you to Guinevere".
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