Time Goes On ((Marina))

[Marina Tertius]

Marina laid on the soft, comfortable bed in her sleeping chambers, smiling slightly as Lancelot brushed her hair back. She reached over, grabbing his free hand, and entwined the fingers together, as he spoke. Rolling over on her side, she faced him, kissing him on the lips, before leaning back. ”I,” Marina kissed him once more, before continuing, ”love you Lancelot. I always have.” She murmured softly, before curling up beside him, head on his chest, and soon fell asleep.

The Next Morning

Marina opened one eye, looking around her sleeping chambers, the chambers were still dark. Sitting up, she noticed Lancelot laying on his side, still asleep; so it hadn’t all been a dream. Sliding out of the bed quietly, she made sure she didn’t wake Lancelot up, before walking down the corridor to her servant’s quarters. ”Saddle Alcarius up for me, and saddle a horse up for Sir Lancelot.” Walking back into her chambers, she leaned over Lancelot, kissing him the cheek gently, ”Wake up, we need to leave soon.”

Turning around, she lit a few candles, allowing the light illuminate the room with a warm glow. Walking behind the curtain, she shimmied out of her night gown, and into a Roman wrap, one of the more common dresses found in Rome. Reaching over, Marina slid the knives into hidden sheathes, before walking back to the bed. Leaning over, she blew the candles out and looked around for Lancelot, he had probably gone to change into some clean clothes. Marina walked out of her chambers, closing the door behind her, and made her way up to Alcarius.

”You ready, boy?” She asked, patting him on the nose gently, as she secured her swords sheath. Marina placed her foot in the stirrup, and mounted the horse, turning the reigns in a tight circle, before he tried to gallop off. Loosening her grip, she kicked him the sides, sending the horse lurching forward towards the wall. By the time she had arrived, Lancelot and the majority of the trainee’s were waiting for her. ”We shall ride along the borders, keep quiet and have your eyes open. There has been rumor amiss the some Saxons wait for us to come through, so they can ambush us.”

Marina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, before riding off towards the main gate, the trainee’s not too far behind. ”Open the gate.” She yelled, glancing up at the soldiers stationed near the top of the wall. The group road past the wall, and towards the main trail, towards Saxon lands. By noon, the group had slowed down, nearing the border between Saxon lands, and Arthur’s land; they would be in danger here.

The young woman pulled Alcarius to an abrupt stop as they over came a hill, flabber gasted by the scene before them. The city before them was in flames, well parts of it had been, bodies were everywhere; Saxon doings. Marina swallowed, before glancing over at Lancelot, and riding the group a little bit nearer. ”See if anyone is alive, if so, they will go back to Hadrian with us. Split us in pairs.” Marina dismounted Alcarius, nodding for Lancelot to stay with her, and slid her sword into it’s sheath, at her side. Once the trainees were out of hearing distance, she looked to him. ”What have the Saxons done? Killing innocent people? This has to stop.. we have to alert Arthur when we ride back.”

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He hadn't meant to, but Lancelot fell asleep beside Marina. When the next morning rolled around, he heard her voice whispering to him to get up. He did. When she was lighting the candles, he slid out and changed into something clean. Lancelot went to get the servants to saddle his horse.

When he got to the servan's quarters, a servant stopped him. "Sir Lancelot, Lady Marina told us to saddle your horse for you, so we did." Lancelot looked at him. "Well then I am grateful." He turned and went back to his sleeping quarters and slid his swords into thier sheaths on the back of his back. Then he went back to the stables and climbed onto Ayceri's back. "Lets go, girl." He cooed his horse into motion, then galloped off.

The knight rode to where he was supposed to meet the trainees. They were just starting to gather. "Morning boys. Marina ran through where we're going to patrol, did she not?" They nodded thier heads yes. "Good." At the sound of hoof beats, Lancelot lifted his head. Marina had arrived. As she went over the basic rules of patroling, Lancelot searched around. He had no need to hear these rules, they were the first things you learned as a trained knight. Then they started off.

Ayceri rode easily behind the other trainees. His eyes saw the smoke coming from the city. Marina had seen it too, she had stopped. He rode up to her, and stopped. He listened to Marina's orders, then added his own. "And keep your eyes peeled for Saxons. They could still be lurking." When Marina dismounted, he did not. When Marina did not go with the trainees, he stayed also. He listened to her words, and nodded, dismounting. "Your right. Now come on." He grabbed her wrist and started running torwards the blazing fires, and let go of her wrist.

[Marina Tertius]

Marina shook her head in disgust as she maneuvered her way around the bodies; this was absolutely horrible. It was one thing to kill a single person, but to slaughter a whole village, that called for war. Marina glanced up at Lancelot, as he spoke, and then grabbed her wrist, running back towards the flames. As the pair came back to the gathering of trainees, she noticed that one of the younger trainee’s had found a little girl, probably 4 years old at the most, and held her tight; it looked as if she was the only one surviving. ”Soldiers, if have not figured it out by now, is the doings of Saxons. This is just another call for –“

The young girl was cut off as arrow flew past her, and hit one of the trainees. Marina jerked her sword out of the sheath in a swift move as a group of about 50 Saxon’s came running at the small group. ”Ambush!!” She yelled, watching as the other soldiers pulled their weapons out and held them at the ready. Within the next few seconds, Marina thrust her sword forward, mortally wounding a Saxon spearman. She could hear the groans of the Saxons, and the clanging of swords, and the whistles of arrows are they flew by. Turning around abruptly, she blocked a Saxon’s attack with her sword, pushing him backward with her foot.

A few minutes later, most of the Saxon’s were lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. At the sound of a whistle, Alcarius came galloping forward; Marina mounted the stud. Narrowing her eyes, she noticed another group of Saxon’s about 200 yards away, quickly moving their direction. ”Mounts now, bring the girl.” Marina wheeled Alcarius around, glancing back to make sure Lancelot was still with her, before kicking the stud into a fast paced gallop. The group had traveled farther than they had thought, within the past few hours that had traveled about 25 miles; this would be a long ride back.

About five miles of riding, Marina slowed her mount to mere a walk, glancing back at the soldiers. None were mortally wounded, probably a few scratches and cuts if that, she was proud; they had fought extremely well. ”You all fought well back there, Lancelot and I will alert Arthur of your improvements.”

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Lancelot coughed as he inhaled the smoke into his lungs. Bodys littered the ground everywhere, singed. This was wrong, merciless, murder. It fit the Saxon's perfectly. Lancelot sighed as he searched for survivors. When a little girl ran to a trainee, he smiled slightly. At least there was one less life taken away by the Saxons. As he was walking, some wood fell in front of him, grazing across his shoulder as he jumped back quickly. It didn't hurt, if just startled him. He should have seen that kind of thing coming though, considering where he was. At the sound of Marina's voice, he turned to look at her. Nodding at here words slightly, his hands flew instantly to his swords at the arrow and Marina's words.

He quickly drew his swords from their sheaths. and twirled them in the air at a 180 degrees angle. A Saxon was running up to kill him from the backside. He took his swords and shoved them behind them, and heard the Saxon grunt in pain before falling to the ground, where he would rest until he died. He held one sword above his head, the other at his side, both poised to strike, glistening in the sun with a deathly gleam to them, shimmering the sun's rays off of them. He dived them into another enemy before kneeing one, and then stabbing him too to death.

As fast as the battle had began, it was over. But the sound of more Saxon screams in the distance made him call to his horse. He opened his mouth to call to the trainees to mount their horses, but Marina beat him to the chase again. He went to the trainee with the girl. "Here, I'll take her." He took the girl and placed her on top of Ayceri before climbing up himself. He was feeling generous today, Then he galloped off, following Marina and soon catching to her when she slowed slightly.

When Marina slowed to a walk, he did the same. The young girl, he allowed her to slump back into his strong body. She had been in a fire, fighting for her life. She had to be tired. Although Ayceri was gentle, she wasn't the smoothest riding horse around. But she was good for Lancelot. He liked her. When Marina spoke to the trainees, he agreed with her. Nodding his head in a yes formation. He took his one hand off the reins and placed them around the girl, insuring she wouldn't fall off his horse. "This is why I think of saxons as worthless animals. They have no right to destroy innocent people. They murder without cause. Arthur wouldn't be too happy about this incident. But at least we can bring him some good news."

[Marina Tertius]

Marina drummed her fingers against Alcarius’s neck, listening as the trainees groaned and whispered softly behind the two leaders back, as they road hard and fast. The girl was surprised, she hadn’t expected the trainee’s to be as prepared as they were, especially when she thought back about their performance during training. There had been a few instances when Marina or one of the others had to pull the trainees away from each other while they fought; trying to prove they were better than one another. In a way, it was kind of pitiful, to become a knight meant that you had to trust your brethren no matter what, and work together as a team. It wasn’t the matter of working together, it was the fact that most of them tried to out do themselves, as if their training was only a game.

Every other few minutes, Marina would glance back at the trainees; the only audible noise was their mount’s hooves, colliding with muddy ground. They were quiet, looking straight ahead, or staring at the ground; maybe they had finally realized, that training wasn’t all fun and games, maybe they had realized it was serious business. Glancing up, she noticed Tristan’s hawk, falcon, whatever it was, circling ahead of the group. The young girl jerked her head to the left, as she noticed a village woman and her children, standing on the outskirts of the Woad haven, and nodded curtly.

After the group of riders had traveled about 5 miles, she slowed pace of her mount, automatically causing the others to slow down, as she spoke. Marina tilted her head to the side a few seconds later, listening as Lancelot spoke; and then one of the stubborn trainees blurted out, ”What good news, Sir Lancelot?” Marina concealed a smile, trying to hide the sparkle from her eye; must they be so ignorant. Sighing softly, the woman ran a hand through her brunette locks, allowing the wind to blow them backwards. ”This is,” She paused briefly, pulling back on the reigns slightly, before continuing, ”This is why, we are at war with the Saxons. This is why, you are training, because some day, their will be a bloodier war than the one back there, and you must be prepared, or you will die.”

A few seconds later, one of the trainees in the far back blurted out, his voice shaky, ”Do you really believe their will be another war with the Saxons, Lady Marina?” Marina slowed Alcarius to an extremely slow walk, glancing back at the Saxons. ”I know there will be.” She wasn’t going to lie to them, the girl believed they all should know what they were up against.

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Lancelot rode, Ayceri's pace matching Alcarius's exactly. His one hand holding the girl, the other gripping the reins. His swords were back in their sheaths, where they should have been through the whole ride. Because of the Saxons, Lancelot's wish couldn't have come true. But that's life. You either get what you want, or you don't. It's that simple. Nothing complicated.

He closed his eyes for a second, thinking about the future and what it would hold. Then his eyes fluttered open. More training, and other things Arthur wanted. After all, he was the new king, and they didn't have to deal with the insane missions the Pope had sent them on. Arthur was more reasonable. Lancelot looked over to Marina, who was looking at the trainees. He did the same. They were silenced, their eyes searching. The attack from the Saxons had really opened their eyes. Good. He then returned his eyes to the front.

Lancelot laughed as the trainee asked him. "You should know, Brendon." Then Marina started to speak. He listened to her words, measuring their meaning. When the trainee asked, and Marina answered, he opened his mout the speak. "Do not fear, trainees. You fought well today. That's how most of the Saxons fight. You knights, Arthur included, most likely will take on their leaders, meaning Caetrin and Cynric." His mind flashed back to the day at Badon Hill at the mention of Cynric's name. How he had taken that cheap shot with the arrow to prevent Lancelot from killing him. It worked, but Lancelot had survived, and Cynric had to hate that.

[Marina Tertius]

Lady Marina looked up at the sky, feeling anything but comforted by the pinkish sky, as she watched the sun begin to set. She had, had no idea that time could pass so quickly when you were occupied. The tree’s to their right, the tree’s that led to the Woads camp, cast dark shadows, making some feel uneasy. The group wouldn’t be able to travel much longer, unless they wanted to move around in the cold and dark, and Saxon infested lands. The horses needed a break also, they had traveled around 35 miles today; they could travel the other 15 miles back to Hadrian, tomorrow.

The girl reigned Alcarius to the side, trotting a few yards into the Woad’s forest, pulling him to a stop after everybody had followed. ”We will make camp here tonight, and head back to Hadrian tomorrow. Get some rest, we should be safe here.” Marina said, sliding off Alcarius, watching as the others followed her lead. About two hours later, tents had been set up, while the majority of the recruits had already eaten, and were fast asleep in their tents. Marina sighed softly, wrapping a cloak around her torso as she left her tent, and walked through the miniature camp.

A few minutes later, she stepped through the opening in Lancelot’s tent, and entered. Marina through the cloak to the side, adjusting the golden band across her arm, a piece of jewelry from Rome. The girl smiled slightly as she maneuvered over to Lancelot, tilting her head to the right as she rose on her toes, kissing him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into his body. ”I hope you don’t mind, but I’d rather stay with you tonight, unless you don’t want me to.

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His eyes flashed to the sky as darkness set over. Lancelot sighed. The sky, set in an array of pinks and blues, and orange. As Marina looked over to the trees, he did the same. "Gives off an eerie feeling when its night, doesn't it?" The trees casted long shadows reaching out to the riders, of what you could see. The calvary rode on.

Marina, she had maneuvered over to the forest. When the other trainee's followed, he hesitated slightly, scanning the area for a possible threat from the Saxons. He hadn't wanted them to attack them while the trainees were sleeping. When he thought it was clear, he went and tied Ayceri's reins to a tree and started setting up a tent. The sound of footsteps caught his attention. He looked up, his hand going to his swords. He let them go when he saw who it was. "Tell Merlin we're staying here for the night." The woad nodded and ran back into the deph of the forest. That was settled, now they hadn't need to worry about the woads thinking they were Saxons invading and attacking them, by accident.

Two hours later, most of the trainees were already sleeping. He went into the dephs of his tent and layed onto the bed. He looked up as Marina stepped in. Smiling, he nodded his head. "Why turn away such a pretty woman? Come in, stay." The male scooted over to give the female some room on the bed.

[Marina Tertius]

Marina turned her head, glancing at Lancelot, a smile playing upon her lips, after his comment about the sky. ”Yeah, it does.” She felt a tad bit better, at least she wasn’t the only one who felt that way, the trees seemed creepy to her in a way. Turning around in the saddle, Marina looked the recruits over; they had been unusually quiet ever since the ambush. They looked tired, scared, and sore, they would have to stop sooner or later and make camp. Standing at Alcarius’s side, Marina tilted her head to the side as a Woad ran into the depths of the forest, after nodding; she glanced over at Lancelot, Marina would ask later.

After she had un-tacked the stud, and brushed him down good, Marina tied Alcarius’s reigns to a tree, giving him enough space to eat and drink though. Walking into her tent, she sat down and tossed her swords and knives to the side; she wouldn’t need them tonight, they were in a relatively safe spot. After she had changed into her night attire, Marina wrapped a cloak around her torso and made her way over to Lancelot’s tent, listening quietly to the silent camp; the recruits were already conked out. Walking into Lancelot’s tent, she tossed the cloak aside, smiling faintly as she made her way over to Lancelot.

”Good question.” Marina laid down beside Lancelot, placing her head on his shoulder, and one hand across his chest. After a few minutes in silence, Marina lifted her head, and rolled on her stomach, propping herself up on her elbow, smiling tiredly at him. ”Today was a close call… I wasn’t sure if we were going to get out of that mess, were you?”

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Lancelot walked into his tent and pulled out his swords, laying them down in the corner by the entrance. He was always prepaired for an ambush, although he figured there would be none. He also pulled a knife from his boot sheath and added it to the collection with his black swords. He glanced outside to make sure Ayceri was doing fine, then changed into a night wear, a white shirt with pants. At the sound of footsteps, he looked up. Marina was standing there.

He went and sat on his makeshift bed, and motioned for her to join him. When she was laying beside him, he placed his arm over her torso and leaned in to kiss her. "That wasn't our greatest war where we've been outnumbered and outflanked, I had a feeling we'd make it out alive, but with fewer recruits. They did surprisingly well today." He sighed, and gazed at the top of his tent, before his gaze returned to Marina. "Atleast we don't have to worry about the Woads thinking the Saxons are invading." He chuckled at his words slightly, before leaning in to give Marina another kiss.

[Marina Tertius]

Marina smiled as he motioned for her to join him, and took her place beside him on the makeshift bed. She pressed her forehead against his, as he leaned in to kiss her, returning the favor. The woman tilted her head to the side, taking in all that Lancelot had said, she had faith that they would get out, but she wasn’t sure how many casualties there would be. Marina glanced to the side, as a strand of wavy hair fell from the golden leaf pin that pinned the ‘shorter layers’ of her hair, back. ”They did do well, I never would’ve expected that from them, by the way they act during training at the wall.”

She titled her head to the side, gazing at Lancelot; so that was a Woad she had seen earlier in the night. Marina brushed her lips against his, laying her head on his shoulder. ” I have a feeling we will be seeing more Woad’s than usual.” Once they report to Arthur, Marina was positive he would send a messenger to Merlin, and ask for an meeting between the Woad leader, and the upper class knights.

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A breeze blew through the night, catching his hair in the process. He shook it back from his face. His hair was something he hadn't liked in his face. His head bobbed as she spoke. "I hear you, the trainees did do a remarkable job. It's such a surprise to me. I'd have to wonder if it even surprised them. You almost have to think it would the way they act. Wait till the other knights hear that. I can't wait to see Bors face when I tell him we were in a fight. That's something I'm looking forward to." A smile cross his lips at the thought of that. It was so much fun picking on him. He looked at Marina. God she was gorgeous!

He kissed her again and sighed. She had just rested her head on his shoulder. Good thing he had strong shoulders. I know I wouldn't be able to hold a grown woman's head on my arm. Back to the story. Her words were true. "If I know Arthur well, and I know I do, then he'd not want Merlin in the dark about this. Now especially since their not our enemies anymore. We'll have to tell Arthur about this soon. Merlin already knows we're here, but not why." His consience told him that Marina's thought were true, although he hadn't known them thoughts.

[Marina Tertius]

Marina pulled her lips into a smile, thinking about Bors reaction whenever Lancelot told him they were in a fight. Out of the knights, Bors had to be the rowdiest of them all. Lancelot, Gawain, and Tristan were laid back, and Dagonet, Galahad, and Arthur were the quiet ones. Marina couldn’t say much about Cassius, Fidelis, and Hector though, they were like her brothers. ”Bors will really enjoy that news.” Marina said sarcastically, smiling slightly. She could just see the two in wrestling, or at the least, stuck in a yelling match. That would be a sight to see, Marina most definitely wanted to be there whenever he gave him the news. ” Make sure I’m there, I don’t want to miss a chance like that.”

She lifted her head off his shoulder, slipping a hand under her own to keep it up, listening to Lancelot. So, Merlin already knew, that must’ve of been the person she had seen running away when they had arrived. ” I was wondering who you had been talking to earlier,” She muttered softly, glancing up at the canvas of the tent, watching as the tree limbs swayed with the wind, casting eerie shadows. ” We should be able to tell Arthur by night fall tomorrow, unless we are ambushed again.” Telling Arthur would make matters worse, but they had to tell him, Hadrian had to be prepared for anything.

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What a day, well more or less two days. First, he fnds out that Marina likes him also. Then the next day when checking the borders, they are ambushed when they see a burning building. If that wasn't enough chaos for the two knights, now they were set up in tents within Woad territory. Not that he didn't trust the woads, he did, it's just that it wasn't his place. He was used to having a nice bed to relax in.

His mind came back when he heard Marina speak. "Bors would do with the news quite well. I can't wait for him to give me a well done." He laughed slightly at his words. Bors would indeed not like that news, he was the rambunctious one of the group, killing for pleasure as Galahad had put it that day when they were coming back from fighting Woads who attacked the Biship. That same day they had to chase after the royal family. "I'll make sure to send news to you." The male smiled before looking up at the top of the tent, watching the tree limbs sway.

As she stirred, he looked back at her. She was so beautiful. "Just knowing him, I wonder how he'll take the news." Then he heard the rest of her words. He lifted his arm and lightly punched Marina on the arm. "Hey don't jinx it, we don't need any more casualties." Then he lowered his raised hand. "And besides I can't be watching everyone's back all at once." He leaned in to kiss her. "And neither can you."

[Marina Tertius]

Marina smiled as he punched her in the arm, lightly though. He knew she was tough; she had to be tough to be a knight. Marina knew how to hold her own with Bors, and the rest of the knights: there were times when part of her believed she scared them at the thought of a woman out doing them. She had heard many of the trainees complain about her, how she was too tough on them, and all that junk. In her mind, she wasn’t all that tough on them. ” Great point.” Marina smiled warmly, pressing her lips against his.

Movement at the front entrance of the tent diverted Marina’s attention, causing her to pull back. She watched silently as the little girl they had rescued from the burning village, shuffled in. Marina had no idea on how the little girl had managed to survive, every one else in the village had been burned up or slaughtered, except for her. Marina cast Lancelot a glance as the little walked over to Marina, and slid underneath her arms, curling up beside her. Flabbergasted, Marina placed a hand on the child’s head, stroking her hair. ”What happened to your village?”

By the time the little girl had finished with her recollection, Marina was leaned back against Lancelot, listening quietly. It seemed as if Cynric had approved the attack, and that Marina and her group had been at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Marina lifted the girl up gently, and placed her to the side so that she would have more room, and covered her with some furs. Afterwards, Marina kissed Lancelot good night, and curled up next to him, slowly drifting asleep.

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