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| April 2008 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 5 2009, 10:37 PM (3,982 Views) | |
| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:08 PM Post #46 |
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Author: SarmatianKnight Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:37 am Lucius Lucius could not tell who finally reacted to the called name because his own name was shout loudly. Twice. The Roman almost jumped when he realised that he had been caught in doing nothing but standing around, watching while others needed help and things had to be settled. He felt guilty and slightly abashed. It took some time for him to find the two men in the crowd of people who shouted his name. The lifted hand of the Optio helped a lot. With a recognising nod Lucius made his way to his two superior officers, eagerly trying to follow the undefined order as quickly as possible. He realised that neither of them looked too happy. Slightly confused Lucius wondered why... Commander Castus returned with his men, the fort was still standing and the losses they suffered were sad of course but not disatrously high. "Sir...s." he added after a brief pause when he realised that in fact he had to greet two officers with respect not just one. "It is good to see you uninjured, Optio." It was not his intention to imply that he did not care for Barbattus but Amadeus had been very kind so far and his relief to see the man uninjured after the fight was honest. Of course Lucius saluted as it was surely expected from him. He was no dumb fool who followed oders and ideals without thinking himself but certainly he respected the hierachy - in the army as well as in a family. It helped to keep things in order as long as possible but a point could be reached when this hierachy did not work anymore. Like in his own family. He pushed the thoughts away and waited for instructions. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:10 PM Post #47 |
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Author: Kay Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:09 am Guinevere
Guinevere glared at her father; her cheeks burning in shame that he should chatiste her so in front of others; in front of that hateful man. She shot a quick glance in Ash's direction; his face betrayed nothing, but Guinevere had lived with the man long enough to know that he was laughing inside. "I'm sorry, Father" she mumbled, balling her fists in impotent rage.
Guinevere looked at her father; his face was set in a cold smile.
Guinevere was about to speak when Lourdes interjected:
Guinevere smirked a little at the suggestion of her importance, but she would not be left out of this. Lourdes moved away from the group and Guinevere seized her chance. "Father" she hissed. "You cannot think it would be wise to allow her to do this alone. I am willing to work with Ash if necessary, but please let me have this chance to help Neeria"
Ash began to move away; Guinevere suddenly reached out and caught his arm. "I hope we can put our differences aside" she said. "For the sake of our friends" Guinevere hoped that this gesture would help her cause in her father's eyes; she detested Ash with a passion, but she would profess love for him if it got her a place on this mission. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:11 PM Post #48 |
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Author: sabor ice Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:08 am Alina
Alina felt like a child enveloped in Galahad's strong arms. While she felt comfortable enough to just stand there and bask in his warmth, her mind couldn't help but to start to wander, drawing comparisons between Galahad and Kolya, their similarities as well as their differences. Galahad was far more considerate than Kolya, although Kolya had shown her a calmer side of himself once or twice. She could always wrestle out of Galahad what he was thinking, but Kolya was like a blank page, always keeping her guessing with his riddles. They were both handsome in their own ways, but they both were able to irritate her from time to time - Kolya more than Galahad, though. She was not about to let her thoughts stray into specifics concerning the 'bedroom,' although it had crossed her mind. She already felt bad enough as it was, thinking about one man when she was in the arms of another. When Galahad had paused in mid-sentence, it caused Alina to break away from her thoughts and suddenly focus upon him. Her brow creased in consternation as he pulled her against him again tightly, and she securely wrapped her arms around his waist. Lost...? Alina's gaze drifted over the courtyard's occupants. Arthur...Gawain...Bors...Lancelot... She silently located all of the knights one by one, her frown deepening as she found them all, but she still felt like someone was missing. But who? She scanned the area again until her brown eyes came to rest upon a small group not far away: Derfel, Dagonet, Linnesse, Linnette, Saoirse... And, then it hit her who was missing. Surely she must've been mistaken, though, it couldn't have been... He was so young and...no...it couldn't have been... With a tilt of her head, she looked up into Galahad's sorrowful expression. "Gedeon?" she whispered in slight disbelief, a hand already on Galahad's cheek in attempt to soothe the blow of her inquiry. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:13 PM Post #49 |
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Author: Unicorn Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:21 am Dagonet Dagonet expected Saoirse to be angry at him... at others for bringing him to her in such shape. He expected that look upon her. But when she was so close to him everything seemed to fade away for just brief second. Only brief moment of comfort. There was no way to get rid of the pain he was feeling right now. Gedeon was lost and Linnette without the news yet. It was he, who have to say her of his death. He was the one, who will bare the guilt for the rest of his life. As he had said those hurtful words... Saoirse's eyes froze on his face and he could not stop himself from leting another tear roll down his face, and slowly he bowed his head in shame and sorrow.
Her gentle fingers reached out to his lips and he breathed in a shaky breath. Gedeon was lost forever... he was dead. And now the pain became more intense... Gods! He asked them once more... why this have to happen to him? To his loved ones? Why? Saoirse said nothing more and bowed her head...
Dagonet let out a little hiss of pain as Derfel position himself in different way to be able to help him walking. Saoirse made the same movement and hopefully he will be able to complete this last task. Before he took first step, Dagonet gathered himself and breathed in deeply. He looked up and wished that his face wouldn't be so teary right now. His eyes searched for Linnette and found her just in front of him. He tried to pull his face straight, not to show his painful expression, deep frown of worry.... He tried but his eyes were already filled with much sorrow. As they were able to help Dagonet to walk few steps towards Linnette, his eyes never left her face. Linnesse and Derfel greeted each other, but Dagonet was not taking notice of this. His eyes were set upon Linnettte... His heart crushing against his chest with such force that it was almost impossible to breath... Linnette placed her hand on his shoulder and Dagonet's body shuddered under this touch. The mask of assurance on his face threatened to fall. But still his eyes were locked into hers.
There was panic creeping into her voice... worry. Dagonet still held her gaze. He felt that Saoirse's grasp on the tunic on his chest thightened... as his own chest also. His face was stern as Linnette looked over his shoulder in this brief moment of hope to see her husband behind Dagonet. The tall knight felt tears filling his eyes... but forced them not to fall. The way Linnette called him and questions which she asked broke his heart, torn his chest and made him breath out desperate sigh... his head went bowed and he could almost feel loosing his courage to look up at her. "Linnette...." he started, but words weren't willing to go out. He swallowed roughly and very slowly looked up. He took his right, bandaged in bloodsoaked cloth, injured hand and reached for Linnette's cheek, making her look into his eyes. "Forgive me...." he whispered. "I... I was not... strong enough.... I couldn't.... I did not...." his words were weak, shaken by emotions and he could not finish what he wanted to say her. His hand left her cheek and went to the pocket of his breeches. "He... wanted you to know that... he loved you... He wanted...." he swallowed once more roughly this time his head going bowed once more and he reached for Linnette's hand on his shoulder put Gedeon's ring in her palm and his hand withdrew trembling. "...you to have this..." he finished and waited for her reaction. Waited for anything... ready to hold her, ready to get a hit to his face from her... for anything. But his head remained bowed, he could not look up at her. Just couldn't! Tears almost fell... Almost, cause he was waiting for Linnette. His chest filled with so much sorrow that if he would look up at her he would cry out loud and curse the gods for making him endure this. He was too weak... He wanted to run away.... to escape... But he was too weak for this also.... |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:14 PM Post #50 |
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Author: lady ione Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:32 am Adian The healer wasted no time in carefully peeling away the deerskin tunic with the help of the other woman, casting it aside, and taking a look at Adian's wound after cleaning it out a good as she could. From what she could tell, the tip of the spear barely shone through to the other side of his shoulder. Hopefully, it missed the joint. Looking at her assistant, then back at the semi conscious young man, she said to him, "I will need to move you so that we can give you something to sleep through the proceedur." Adian looked at her as if to let her know that he understood. right now, his life just seemed a blur, and he just felt exhausted and in pain. Carefully, they manuvered him slightly so he could drink the fluid, and when he was finished, they placed his arm in such a way so as not to agitate the spear tip much. He moaned as they made ready tend to the wound... '...Thorn...have to find her....' he murmured before he succumbed to the drought. As he slept, the healer and her assistant began to gently remove the spear tip, and repair the wound. After removing the spearhead, they saw that it had missed the joint which was good, but the injury itself would take some time to stitch as they had to place some stitches inside then outside. As they worked, the one said to the other, 'I have seen him in the tavern with that woman laying over there...I wonder if that is who he is muttering about...' The other looked up from her work, then back down, '..Also saw him with another woman (Fiona) as well...' She looked back to her tedious work and whispered, 'That woman over there was pregnant when she was killed...' When he woke up, no doubt someone would have already buried her most likely the other man (Mirtha) who had carried her body into the infirmary and left her there... It was going to be a long afternoon, and possibly a long night... |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:15 PM Post #51 |
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Author: Darya Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:54 am Neeve While Neeve made sure that Linnesse remained on her feet, she once more scanned the crowded courtyard...and tried to read in the mens' faces. Except for a battle always being something unpleasant, the healer could not help the bad feeling she was having about the situation. Frowning, the Briton slowly walked behind Linnesse as the blonde staggered forward to greet Derfel. Should her patient stumble, fall or find herself exhausted, Neeve would be there to catch or hold her again. And when the blonde finally reached her lover, Neeve assessed the Saxon’s face for a long moment before her gaze shifted towards the man he was supporting: Dagonet. Oh no, not again..., the raven-haired thought when she looked at the once more injured tall knight. Yet at least he was alive... She would have hated to lose yet another old friend...
Now that question caught Neeve’s attention and she, too, tried to make out the young knight’s form somewhere nearby. She was sure that he would not leave his injured father’s side... But there was no sign of him... And there it was again...this bad feeling that made her guts churn... Clenching her teeth slightly, the healer remained in the background...standing behind Linnesse and Linnette...when...
Neeve’s lips pressed into a thin line, the only obvious sign of the shock...the disbelief in what her old friend was just telling a pregnant woman. The death of her husband, the father of her unborn child. Silently, the raven-haired looked from Derfel to Saoirse, who was of course near her lover...and then to Linnette. How would the hot-tempered sister would react? Unconsciously, the healer inched a step closer towards Linnette...and waited... |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:16 PM Post #52 |
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Author: lady ione Daet: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:31 am Vanora and Bors The red head noticed how Bors was standing, and looked down to see that he was bearly placing pressure on the leg. "Bors? Do you need your leg looked at?" Her eyebrow raised questioningly. Bors looked back at her, "Aye...I should get it restitched and cleaned. Just a minor cut though..." Vanora scowled, "Minor my fine arse, Bors! You are bearly placing pressure on it. Here let Fiona and I help you there..." She motioned for Fiona to take one arm and she took the other, and as they slowly began to walk, Vanora looked at Fiona then Bors, "We have two people missing, Bors...one is Javier...the other is Adian, the carpenter and hunter. Did you see either of them out there after the battle?" Vanora took #3 from Bors' arms, and said, "We need to find Adian...the woman he was with...Thorn...is dead..." Bors' eyes narrowed as he stopped them, and leaned against the wagon Dagonet had been in. It hurt for him to place pressure on it. 'I saw neither...there were so many bodies, I couldn't have found them. Perhaps one of the wagons will have picked them up...' He stopped and looked at Fiona, "You saw Adian last...do you know where he might have gone? Hopefully he did not go hunting prior to the battle..." Don't see Ione either....nor Isolde... There were a lot missing from the courtyard welcome. Bors had not asked her accusingly, but she was the last one he recalled seeing the hunter with... While Bors spoke, Vanora's eyes traveled to where she had spotted Derfel and Dagonet moving toward Neeve, Linnette, Saoirse, and Linnesse. He knew what was to come, and suddenly he felt luckier than ever to have been able to come home from battle...Gedeon had not been so lucky, and Dagonet would be the one to have to tell her. The mood suddenly seemed to dim a bit as his eyes met Vanora's questioning ones. The laughter of the children had died off a bit as he hushed them, and was about to address Fiona and Vanora in a low voice when he saw Gawain approach. Bors and Vanora had not seen Brianna for a long time, and perhaps Fiona knew where she was as they seemed close and would tell each other a lot. Bors and Vanora saw Fiona step away a bit to talk to Gawain... Vanora could not hear what passed between Gawain and the young woman, but she wagered it was about Brianna. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Bors, Gawain and then Fiona. Slowly, her eyes drifted to the rather emotional scene that was building not far off, and had noticed that Gawain had come from that direction. She nodded in the direction Derfel and Dagonet had taken to Linnette, Linnesse, Neeve and Saoirse, "What is going on over there, Gawain? Bors? What has happened?" In truth, she could not figure out what had changed about the group. She had seen a new soldier riding into the fort, and that was new. Her heart froze as she saw Dagonet addressing Linnette... Oh please...not Gedeon.... Bors looked at her, then at Gawain. He never had liked to be the bearer of bad news. As he shifted, he accidently stepped wrong on his injured leg, and winced. The infirmary was not far off, and he knew he had to get the injury looked after. "Gawain was...I mean....well..." Bors could find no words to tell what happened, and looked to Gawain for help. Screw the bet he had made with Lancelot, they would all need a keg a piece after all of this... |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:18 PM Post #53 |
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Author: Elessars Girl Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:24 am Arthur Arthur’s gaze lingered on the Optio just long enough to see what at first appeared to be surprise…no, protest….in Amadeus’ steel grey eyes. A flicker of intensity rose up in Arthur’s emerald eyes. Yet instead of questioning Arthur’s pronouncement on doubling the guard, the other Roman respectfully bowed and smartly turned to go and carry out the Commander’s orders. Arthur was too exhausted and nearly blinded by his own pain to actually read too much into Amadeus’ expression just now. Good thing. Arthur turned towards Lancelot and Tristan, noting the arrival of Barbattus as well. Thus the Commander was certain the captive girl would be taken care of properly until Arthur was ready to ride out again. His weary green eyes focused on Lancelot as Arthur awaited his lieutenant to accompany him to his quarters. Jesu, the pain in his side was almost crippling him now…Arthur once again placed his right hand over the wound and exhaled…..
His name was spoken softly, yet Arthur heard it…heard her. So she had not been lost nor abandoned him in his absence…. Arthur slowly turned, not by choice but due to the pain in his side. Brilliant green eyes focused on Darya’s pale features. A gentle smile lit his craggy face and his eyes softened. But as Arthur continued to soak in the sight of her, he noted how she appeared to favor her arm and the blood smattered on her clothing….and the gentle expression on his face gave way to concern…. “Darya, have you been injured?” Arthur asked as he closed the short distance between them. He reached out with his free hand to gently touch her elbow as questioning green eyes searched her pale face for the answer. Derfel Linnesse practically fell into Derfel’s embrace and he squeezed his eyes shut as he half buried his dirty face in the soft sweet locks of her hair. Despite never releasing his grip on Dagonet, Derfel did all that he could to meld with his lover’s slender shape. Gods, how he’d missed her.
“Aye, I know luv,” Derfel gently whispered in reply, love and affection flooding his expression as their eyes met. And as Linnesse tilted her head closer to his, Derfel briefly brushed his lips over hers tenderly and sweetly….
“I love you too,” Derfel murmured into Linnesse’s sweet smelling hair. But before he could completely rejoice in their reunion…..
Derfel could hardly stomach to meet Linnette’s gaze as she looked fervently from Dagonet to him and then back to Dagonet. His grip around Linnesse’s waist tightened…and also his hold on Dagonet as if silently giving Gedeon’s father as much strength as possible. The knight briefly met Neeve’s concerned eyes as well and attempted some sort of a silent greeting to the healer as Dagonet began to speak….
Derfel pinched his eyes closed again while listening to Dagonet’s pained voice. He pressed a kiss to the crown of Linnesse’s head and braced for her sister’s reaction. Linnette would need them all now…. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:19 PM Post #54 |
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Author: Darya Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:56 am Darya Dark eyes never left the Roman as he slowly turned around and she could finally look at him again. Really look at him again. The Sarmatian could not help but take a deep shaky breath as she made a small step forward, too, to meet her lover sooner. She let her gaze lock with his emerald one silently letting him know just how much she had missed him...and how incredibly relieved she was to see him again...
The dark-haired breathed a barely audible laugh and let go of her left arm, lifting her right hand to gently place it onto the Roman’s chest. “Just a scratch...”, she replied quietly and tilted her head a little as she could still not bring herself to break the eyecontact. “It’s mostly Woad blood...”, Darya added honestly, knowing that there was no sense in keeping her involvement in the recent fighting the Woads a secret. Arthur knew her too well...knew that she would not hide somewhere and sit things out. Not when it came to battles. She was Sarmatian after all... And as if to prove her words, the woman moved her left arm, too and cupped the Commander’s cheek with her left hand. “And should I not be the one asking you this question...?”, she then asked with a small smile that had been meant to be somewhat...teasing...but did quite hit the mark. Instead, the female Sarmatian lifted her chin slightly and went on her tiptoes... Gods, how she wanted to kiss him...if just to assure him that things were okay...and that she loved him, no matter what... ...but from the corner of her eyes, Darya spotted Lancelot again, who apparently was watching them...and she stopped her subtle movement... For a long moment, Arthur’s lips were so close that she could feel his breath on hers...but then she retreated again and pressed her forehead against his chest instead. “I have missed you so much...”, she whispered with a sigh and closed her eyes for a moment, savouring her lover being so close again...yet aware of the fact this would not last for long for now; even though there was so much she had to tell him... |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:23 PM Post #55 |
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Author: Pinkie Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:30 pm Amadeus
Amadeus' head snapped towards Barbattus, his grey eyes narrowed. Did the man do that delibrately?! The Optio's nerves and patience were at a painful stretch right now. Lancelot's cursed words were sitting like a lead weight in his stomach, it made him physically ill to think that that dog had spoken so brazenly and Castus had not even lifted an eyebrow to it! It took all of Amadeus' patience not to rip Barbattus' throat out simply for having dark, curly hair like Lance-bloody-lot. Barbattus was doing a mirror-image of Amadeus' squinty, suspicious glower. Amadeus blew out an irritated breath and turned to glare at Lucius. Oh he liked Lucius. But right now he wanted to hurt someone, anyone. He had to be level-headed about this though. Just keep calm...
Ah -- the respect that this young man showed acted as something of a balm. That he disregarderd, in Amadeus' opinion, Barbattus in favour of noting his health, the Optio was somewhat appeased. But still, Lancelot's insubordinace rankled. Amadeus took a deep breath, growling it out as he shrugged his shoulder, giving Lucius a brief inclination of his head, the barest of acknowledgements for his respect and well wishing. "It is good to be uninjured, Aquila. A man can do so much more when unhindered with pesky injuries, is that not right Commander Barbattus?" Amadeus growled, turning a wary eye to the Roman captain. There was something infinitely unlikable about Barbattus. Maybe it was just the Optio's bad mood now, maybe it was because of his similar physical traits to Arthur's pet, or perhaps it was because he was just a Briton who wanted to be Roman but would never have that certain refinied, panache that was inherent in true Romans. Like Amadeus. Like Lucius. Mari Mari didn't understand the 'why' either. When Milan's shoulders slumped so did hers. She didn't feel dirty with Milan, she didn't feel threatened at all, or forced to talk about what had happened. In fact, there was a part of Mari that felt the overwhelming need to tell him precisely what had happened. To relive it so that he knew precisely what had happened to her and not have it hovering between them unspoken. But she didn't know how to verbalise it to him right now. She didn't know how to tell him that Mordred had covered her mouth, how he had forced her up against the cold, damp wall and hooshed up her skirt. Someday she might have the words for it, but right now she wasn't sure Milan would be able for it, and she wasn't sure she wanted to speak such things so soon anyways. But still, even speaking of the cruelty that befell her at the hands of Mordred, Mari still did not know the why of it. Had she insulted him somehow? Had she done something to make him think she wanted it? Did she do something... to deserve it?! Immediately Mari's mind scrambled to the lie she had told Rafe, about how she 'knew' men better than he thought she did. She thought of the 'tutoring' that she had sought from Rowan with the intentions of seducing Rafe, of the dress that she had been wearing when he had attacked her and... her cheeks flushed red. Milan's hand on her shoulder broke Mari out of the dark path her thoughts had been led. She looked up at him with sorrowful brown eyes, apologetic of all things. His gestures were easy to read for her now and she understood that her pain was his. A part of Mari didn't want that! She didn't want Milan to hurt just because she was, but another part of her was relieved someone else felt the pain that she did. She cuold see herself reflected in his blue eyes and sniffed. Tentatively, Mari stepped closer to Milan. Heedless of their nudity, she gently, slowly waded her body ever closer. Her head dropped and she placed her forehead against his shoulder, wrapping her arms about his shoulders and pushing off into the water. Weightless, Mari elegantly floated around so that she was behind him, her cheek pressed against his, gently, her body slowly falling down in the water so that her bare breasts pressed against his back. It didn't feel wrong, sordid or in any way sexual to her to be like this with Milan. "He hurt my body, Milan. But he never hurt my heart. He ... scared me. He ridiculed me, he shamed me but you fix all that. Just by being you, you help fix all that. Say my name... ?" Mari's whisper was pleading, turning her face into his neck, nudging her nose against his jaw lovingly. Catherine Ok, enough was enough. Catherine was quite pleased with what attention had come her way in the end. She had caught the tattooed Sarmatian looking in her direction and found it created a tingling, excited feeling in teh pit of her stomach. She recognised that as attraction but the whore was quite adept at dismissing such frivolous things. She never slept with a man for pleasure's sake, because she wanted to. Her mother saw to that. If Tristan offered her enough money then she would be in his bed. The blonde also noted a man on horseback looking in her direction and gave him a coy flutter of her eyelashes before looking around a bit more. But enough was enough. The rain was not lifting and the clouds were turning darker. Dagonet showed up eventually, wounded, and then accosted by his lover. Catherine flinched when she watched their reunion, noting the anger then the immense pain that suffused the two of them. It was then that the woman decided to bow out of there. She was getting dirtier by the minute. Perhaps if she went home now she would have time to fill a bath, even luke warm water would suffice, and put on some lotions and perfumes before heading to the tavern. With a flick of her skirts, Catherine turned, walking with seductive grace past the new Optio who was bristling next to Commander Barbattus. As she passed she glanced over the Optio's shoulder to see a handsome Roman male whose name she did not know. Picqued, Catherine fluttered her eyelashes at him, 'accidentally' brushing Barbattus' back as she passed behind him and lifted a strand of golden hair to her lips, trailing it across her mouth as she continued walking away from the courtyard, smiling to herself, planning her outfit already. Galahad Galahad was watching surreptitiously as Dagonet, Derfel and Saoirse approached Linnette and Linnesse. Seeing Linnesse and Derfel's reunion was bittersweet as Linnette rose on tippy-toes looking around. Galahad felt bile rising in his throat and bowed his head gently, looking down at the back of Alina's neck, the creamy flesh that disappeared under the shoulder of her dress - using the sight of her pulse in her throat as something of a balm to the pain of losing Gedeon.
The young Knight had felt Alina's head move against his chest as she perused the courtyard, searching for the missing face. He was too weak to speak the name himself, to utter it - and yet when she did it didn't seem like the world was trembling the way it had when he had first been told about Gedeon's brave but unfortunate death. Alina's gentle hand was on his cheek. Galahad swallowed roughly and pursed his lips, looking almost petulant as he peered into her face. He looked angry, his brows furrowed, his black beard practically bristling as he held onto the numbness of losing one of his brothers-in-arms. Quickly, he nodded his head and then abruptly disentangled himself from the woman's arms. He took her hand and nodded for her to come with him. He didn't want to be around to hear Linnette's reaction. He also, selflessly, didn't want Alina to hear it either. She had been through enough that involved the deaths of Sarmatians lately, this was one painful scene she had no need to witness. Clearing his throat, Galahad sniffed loudly and clicked his tongue to his horse. "Come on... maybe you can look at this." he offered, using his elbow to push his cloak back a fraction to reveal the dried blood about the side of his body armour from the wound he had taken to the stomach. It wasn't serious but it would be enough to keep both him and Alina occuppied. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:25 PM Post #56 |
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Author: Lancelot Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:55 pm Lancelot Despite not wanting to interrupt Arthur and Darya's "reunion," as it were, althought that's a giant lie, Lancelot, seeing the pain on Arthur's face, did just that. He noted Darya's hand on Arthur's cheek, the white, white, pristine skin, and felt a sudden rage fill him that was completely out of place. He had no right to Arthur - just as Arthur had no right to him. Lancelot could do what he liked, with whom he liked - and why did that thought make him feel bad? And even more to the point, why would Lancelot think he'd want a right to the Roman? Gods. He shook his head. He knew that something was healing between himself and Arthur - but that didn't mean Lancelot was ready to just up and abandon the way he'd been for so long...but by the gods, it was good to not feel the pressing need to fight with Arthur 100 percent of the time. And if that didn't say something, well...bah. "Forgive my interruption," Lancelot spoke up, his gaze cutting from Darya to Arthur, his tone indicated he wasn't too sorry he was interrupting. "Commander, you need to get to the medicus. And don't even think about arguing, unless you want another semi-fatal wound on your hands." Lancelot smiled, but it was a feral one and didn't reach his dark eyes. His arm twinged and he flinched, pushing his hand against the arrow wound harder. Fucking Woads. "I gave that wonderful girl you picked up for us over to Tristan," Lancelot added, a scowl replacing the strange smile he'd just offered. "I'm sure she'll be more than fine with him." He glanced around, noting where each knight was and what they were doing. All seemed well for now - and then he saw Dagonet and his fierce red head standing with the Saxon and the two sisters, one of whom was ... had been, Gedeon's wife. Fuck. Despite not knowing Gedeon very well, or rather, despite not having had the desire to know anything about Dagonet's son, Lancelot felt poorly about the knight's death. It was never good to lose a talented soldier, and besides... it made Arthur guilty and mopey and smelling of incense and that damnable church for weeks. Lancelot turned his gaze back to the two in front of him, and his lips compressed into a thin line. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:26 PM Post #57 |
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Author: Ranchera Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:19 pm Connell Connell carried the youth in his arms, the light rain dancing about them both. He placed the young soldier’s body at Merlin’s feet. He noticed Guinevere but just gave her the merest glance. “He’s not dead,” Connell said tiredly. “The lad is only fainted with loss of blood and exhaustion.” His gray eyes looked into Merlin’s face. “How many more of this generation will die at their swords? How many more? I had no side in this fight. I never chose sides, ever, but now—now I feel I must. Neeria and the young girl, Eala—they are gone. Gone. I could not find them. They must have been taken prisoner, surely.” Connell looked at the boy on the ground again, the youth’s eyes closed and lips parted in breathing. “What do we do, Merlin?” |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:27 PM Post #58 |
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Author: linnet Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:49 pm Gawain Fiona’s eyes met Gawain’s for only a moment before she turned and moved a few steps away from Vanora and Bors. And from that reaction to his question, Gawain clearly read that Fiona knew where Brianna was. He followed her lead and stayed close to her, watching her intently, waiting for an answer.
The young Woad released this information with obvious reluctance. Gawain could see her discomfort. His brows drew together in a frown and his eyes narrowed as he considered Fiona’s words. But it was her nervous silence following the words that told Gawain what he didn’t want to believe. Brianna hadn’t simply gone home for a visit. She didn’t intend to come back. Fear and anger tangled in Gawain’s gut, and he forced himself to control his voice enough to not frighten Fiona. The girl already seemed to be dreading his reaction. “Why?” he said, fixing his eyes on her face. The word was spoken low and soft, perhaps with a touch of menace, or perhaps a hint of desperation.
Gawain’s nerves were in no state to react well to any interruption right now, and he silently cursed at having his attention wrenched from Brianna’s sister. He hid his irritation as best he could though, since Bors and dear Vanora couldn’t know what was occupying him. He followed Vanora’s gaze to Dagonet and the others. “Gedeon died at Segedenum, Vanora,” he said quietly. “We never found his body.” Casting another look at the heartbreaking scene, the blonde knight understood his trouble was not of the scale of Dagonet’s and Linnette’s. But it was trouble that had to be faced, and right now he needed more information. He turned back to Fiona who still fidgeted as though she wasn’t sure what to do. “Why did she leave me, Fiona?” Gawain asked. This time his voice had lost all its demanding insistence. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:29 PM Post #59 |
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Author: LadyCastus Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:09 pm Captain Barbattus At the exact moment Amadeus and Malcus spoke at the same time, Malcus finally decided that he indeed hated Amadeus. The arrogrant little prick was now Malcus' enemy. The Captain cleared his throat and softened his gaze on the smug Optio, only out of respect of the higher rank and certainly not because of the man. Malcus took note as Lucius scurried like a scared rabbit out of his corner in the stable and made his way over to Amadeus and Malcus.
Good grief Malcus thought to himself, detecting a bit of obsequiousness in the tone of Lucius' voice. Malcus also took note that Lucius hadn't made such an observation of Malcus, his captain. I will remember that, Lucius. Malcus thought, making a mental note - something he did often and usually found helpful later.
"Ah, yes sir, that is very true," Malcus responded heartily, "I, too, am glad that you are uninjured, but it is often said that the true bravery of a warrior and the accurate assessment of his manhood is apparent by the battle scars he bears for they are the ones that tell the true story!" Malcus struck his breastplate for added effect then bore his dark eyes into Lucius. "Make yourself useful, soldier. Report to the watch commander where you be will assigned your guard rotation. However, inform the watch commander that for your initial rotation, I have ordered you to double watch duty for your lingering about in the stable. Do you understand your orders, soldier?" Turning back to Amadeus, Malcus saluted, "I must address my men now sir, they are awaiting dismissal. They are wounded, hungry and tired. I must now also post the double guard." Malcus closed his salute and turned on his heel, hoping Amadeus would just let him be. As he turned, Catherine brushed past him. He felt the softness of her fabric slide gracefully against his skin and the fragrance of her lotion wafted to his nostrils. The Commander looked at her as she moved away from him, a lock of hair across her face, and was instantly aroused. Later.... he thought to himself and tried not to smile. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 13 2010, 11:35 PM Post #60 |
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Author: golden_trillium Date: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:47 pm Linnette and Linnesse
"Wh...what?" Linnette closed her fingers around the object Dagonet gave her automatically, before she even really realized what it was, and the opened them again to look down at it. His ring...Gedeon's ring. She knew it well- the ring that did not fit him properly, the family heirloom that his stepfather had worn, the one that was too small for the large hands he had inherited from his true father, Dagonet. Linnette blinked and looked back up at her father-in-law, comprehension beginning to dawn, but resisted stubbornly to the last. "No...no, you can't mean..." Linnette shook her head fiercely, her yes growing wide with a palpable panic. Her breath came faster- she felt closed in by all the people around her, what seemed like dozens of people, all with the most morose, heartbroken expressions on their faces, the faces that were not buried in sadness against the chests of lovers, that was. No- this couldn't be happening! She took a step backwards, almost treading on Neeve's feet and jumping skittishly away from the healer, and cast another panicked glance at the dispersing column of men and horses. Gedeon was there, somewhere...wasn't he? Wasn't he? But no, he wasn't...and now her eyes spotted what they had not noticed before- Gedeon's beloved horse, Tirgatao, being led away to the stables by a stableboy, his saddle empty, his saddlebags bouncing just slightly, the only visible evidence of her husband at all. Linnette whirled back to face Dagonet; tears had popped into her eyes, tears of frustration and desperation rather than sadness; she still had the nagging idea that if she could just look in the right place, could just see properly, she would see Gedeon striding towards her, wounded perhaps, yes, she could take that, she could even take it if it he was so wounded that he couldn't stride but must lie in the wagon- but she would see him, for God's sake! "Where is he?" Her voice was just a whisper, an intense, angry whisper, and her hand clenched around the ring so tightly that her knuckles went white. Why did they all have to look at her like that- with such pity? Why did Linnesse not even seem able to look at her, but kept her face hidden in Derfel's tunic, her body trembling slightly, as if she were crying? "Where is he, damn it? Tell me!" Her free hand- just the one, she wouldn't let go of the ring!- shot out and grabbed the collar of Dagonet's tunic, pulling his face down to hers with a strength and a ferocity that she had never displayed in front of any of them before. If she could have wrung Dagonet's neck to get a satisfactory answer out of him, she would have happily done it. She would have done anything- anything!- to make those last words Dagonet had said to her not be true. Tristan Wordlessly, his face set in a grim expression, Tristan turned from Lancelot, now back to chivvying at Arthur, and tightened his grip on the now-conscious body of the Woad woman slung over his shouldder. This was something he could take care of- and if he was a little less gentle that perhaps Arthur would have wanted him to be, the scout was not inclined to care right now. He ignored her words, acknowledged her intermittent struggling only enough to adjust his grip to prevent her escape, and continued his inexorable march towards the dungeons, and this bitch's place of habitation for the time being. Fortunately- fortunately for her, that was!- she was weak with her wound, and did not put up too much of a fight. Tristan gained the dungeon entrance with little problem, and stated his purpose bluntly to the guards. "Some Woad bitch that Arthur wants kept. Wants her ready to go out again in an hour." Tristan took leave to insert some skepticism into his voice there. Arthur himself did not look ready to ride out in an hour, in the scout's opinion- but those were the orders. Tristan grunted what passed for thanks as a guard walked ahead of him over to an empty cell and unlocked the door with one of the keys from his big, rusty ring. "We'll give her one of the nicer rooms, then," the guard smirked, and it was true, in it's way- the woman was getting one of the temporary holding cells near the entrance, not one of the colder, damper cells farther down the corridor. And that was as much consideration as she could hope for. Tristan stepped inside and began to lower her down onto the pile of straw provided, not gently, but he did make an effort not to damage her any further. Arthur would be displeased if he did. Merlin
"Much better." Merlin nodded in satisfaction and allowed himself a small smile at the sight of Guinevere making that conciliatory gesture. Good. She would be fine, Merlin knew- she understood what was riding on this, and when the pressure was on, she would do whatever needed to be done. But...Merlin cast a glance over his shoulder, checking that the Lady of Avalon was indeed occupied in tending to the wounded, then set a hand on each of the other two Woads' shoulders and steered them a couple of steps away. When he spoke again, it was in a very low, serious voice that did not carry beyond the confines of their group. "I do not know whether the Lady will assist our cause or not. You remember what happened the last time she was here." Merlin paused a moment, letting that point sink in, then continued. "You are not to trust her. If she contacts you when you are in the fort, let her think she is helping, and do not antagonize her, but be wary of her at all times. She may play us false." Merlin snuck another glance over his shoulder; beyond Lourdes, who was still safely occupied with her patient, Juna was bending over another, and Merlin felt the corner of his mouth turn up wistfully despite himself. Reprieve- something gone right for once. And if it please the Gods, let this rescue be another. He looked back to Ash and Guinevere again, his face falling once more into sternness. "Go and prepare, Ash- collect as good a disguise as you can and be ready to go to the fort at sunset. Guinevere..." Merlin paused thoughtfully for a second; another thougth had just occurred to him, an additional safeguard, perhaps. "I think I will add someone else to your group- Connell. He is a steady man, a good observer, and his skills may come in handy." Yes- a healer might be just what they needed, particularly if, as Merlin suspected, Lourdes proved more loyal to her brother than she was to the rest of her countrymen. "Would you find him and fill him in on the plan, please? And then the two of you prepare whatever you need to bring." Merlin paused for a moment- then reached out for Guinevere's shoulder as she began to turn away, giving it an affectionate squeeze. "I'm glad you're safe, daughter." He was only sending her back into danger, true...but still, nothing could compare with the relief of seeing his offspring unwounded after such a fierce fight as they had suffered, after she had been such a long time out of his sight. It was no less than a gift from the Gods themselves. Merlin started to turn away, confident that his will was being done- when he was confronted from the other side by Connell, the very man he had sent Guinevere to seek, who rather disconcertingly lay the limp body of a boy down at the Woad leader's feet. Merlin glanced impassively down at the still form, then cocked a questioning eyebrow at the healer.
"We have a plan," Merlin put in placatingly- but then the stress of the moment broke through the veneer of inaccessability, and he bowed his head tiredly, scrubbing at his closed eyes with the fingers of his unwounded hand. "Just don't give me this nonsense about taking no side, Connell. I need your loyalty now, not your arguments. Guinevere will tell you what you must do." By all the Gods, had his whole army turned against him this day? But considering their losses, it was perhaps no more than what he deserved. Merlin gestured towards his daughter, referring Connell to her- then crouched at the side of the wounded boy. Unconcsious- limp, but breathing. And right now, Merlin wanted nothing more than to carry this boy to shelter, to prove in some small way to Connell that he really did care- prove, in fact, that this loss broke his heart. But he couldn't- he couldn't. With his own wounded arm, he was incapable of bearing the boy's weight. The Woad leader sighed heavily, ran his good hand over the boy's forehead in a tender, sympathetic gesture, then stood up and beckoned for a couple of the men who sat near the fire, poking at the brewing stew there, to come and carry the boy to one of the huts. They could take care of it- and once more, Merlin found himself turning in the direction he had last seen Juna, wondering selfishly if she had a few minutes she could spare for him. |
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