Author’s Note: Please bear with me people on the quoting of the movie. I swear I will cut a lot of it out in the fourth chapter. I am really trying to keep in close with the movie, but add a lot of my own plot into the story. The fourth chapter will cut away from the movie mostly.

Chapter Three: Saxons on Ice

Arthur rode up to a large frozen lake and stopped his horse as the rest of the knights rode up next to him.

“Is there any other way?” Arthur asked Tristan. The scout shook his head.

“No. We have to cross the ice.”

“Get them all out of the carriages. Tell them to spread out,” Arthur commanded. He knew that the ice wasn’t sturdy. He couldn’t take any chances of it breaking on them

Everyone got off their horses and out of the carriages then started walk across the ice. Soon the sound of ice cracking could be heard and everyone looked at each other in fear. They knew that if the ice were to break there would be little time for rescue. Arthur held up his hand to halt the train of people. Soon the faint sound of the Saxon drums was heard. Bryony sighed as she and Guinevere got out of the wagon they were riding. Bryony had a feeling that Arthur was going to stay behind with his knights and attack the Saxons. It was sure suicide but she owed her life to them for rescuing her. She walked up and placed herself next to Tristan who looked at her in surprise. Arthur turned his horse around to face his knights.

“Knights…”

”Well I’m tired of running. And these Saxons are so close behind, my ass is hurting.” Bors quickly said before Arthur could say another word.

“Never liked looking over my shoulder anyway,” replied Tristan as he looked down at Bryony, who had placed a hand on his arm. Dagonet just smirked.

“It’ll be a pleasure to put and end to this racket.” Gawain muttered.

“And finally get a look at the bastards,” Galahad said.

“Here. Now,” Dagonet stated as he moved closer to his comrades. Lancelot just shook his head.

“Jols” said Arthur.

”You two, take the horses,” Jols called out to a couple of people behind him. He started to unravel the arrows while everyone else pulled over various weapons.

“Ganis, I need you to lead the people. The main Saxon army is inland so if you track the coastline till you’re well south of the wall, you’ll be safe,” Arthur said.

“You’re seven against two hundred!” Ganis said in disbelief.

“Eight,” Guinever interjected as she walked towards the men. “You could use another bow,”

“Oh, you are not leaving me out of this! I’ve been itching for a fight,” Bryony said.

“I’d rather stay and fight,” Ganis said with a sigh.

“You’ll get your chance soon enough,” Arthur comforted. “This man is now your captain. You do as he says, am I understood?” Arthur said to the “guards”.

“Yes sir.”

“Go. Go.”

“Right. Come on, then! Move on!” Ganis said to everyone else. The knights along with Guinevere and Bryony continued to unload the gear they would need.

“I am able. I can fight,” Alecto said as he walked up to Arthur.

“No. You must bear witness to what you have seen. There’s one thing you must do, and that’s get back to Rome.”

The carriages started to leave, as Dagonet waved goodbye to Lucan. Bryony also waved goodbye to the small boy. Lucan jumped off the wagon and ran to Dagonet and threw his arms around the man’s knees. Dagonet knelt down and hugged the boy. The boy wouldn’t let go, forcing Dagonet to pick him up and walk over to the wagon. He whispered something into the boy’s ear. Promptly, the boy let him go as Dagonet set him in the wagon.

It seemed as if only minutes had passed when the sounds of the drums got even louder. Soon the Saxons stepped out onto the ice.

“Hold until I give the command,” Arthur said.

“You look frightened. There are a large number of lonely men out there,” Lancelot teased looking over at Guinevere. Bryony, who was standing next to Tristan, laughed as Guinevere answered him, “Don’t worry I won’t let them rape you.”

Cynric called out as he saw a small group of people waiting for them, “Archer!”

The Saxon archer stepped forward and let loose an arrow. It didn’t even land close to the nine people on the other side of the ice. Bryony smirked.

“We’re out of range,” said the Saxon commander to Cynric.

“I can see that,” replied Cynric angrily.

“I believe they’re waiting for an invitation. Bors, Tristan,” Arthur said. Bryony stared at Arthur in surprise. He was crazy to think they would hit them enemy. The Saxon archer had just proved they were too far away.

“They are far out of range,” Guinevere said as she looked over at Arthur. Arthur just smiled as Bors and Tristan. They flew true and felled several Saxons. Bryony grinned at Guinevere as Arthur just raised his eyebrow. Guinevere glared at Arthur and fitted an arrow into her bow. Cynric snarled and started marching towards the small group. His second in command yelled out, “Let’s go!”

“Aim for the wings of the ranks. Make them cluster,” Arthur commanded as he loosed his arrow. Soon a barrage of arrows were in the sky. Several Saxon’s fell. The Saxons on the outside started to crowd into the middle trying to get away from the deadly arrows.

The sounds of the ice cracking sent the Saxons into a slight state of panick. Cynric and his commander soon realized what was going on and yelled out, “Hold the ranks! Hold the ranks, or I kill you myself!” Cynric threatened his men. The Saxons kept marching across the ice.

“The ice isn’t going to break,” called out Arthur.

“We need to fall back,” Lancelot said. Arthur nodded and pulled out his sword. The rest of the knight also pulled out various swords and axes.

“Guinevere!” Bryony called out. “Fire on my side!” She took out a Saxon drummer. Guinevere grinned as she fire an arrow in the direction that Bryony was shooting.

Bryony looked up from where she was aiming and formed a plan. She pulled the arrow back and let it fly with deadly accuracy as it found its home in the heart of a Saxon. He had just stepped onto the weakest spot on the ice. She watched him fall and then grinned as the satisfying sound of the ice breaking was heard.

“Fall back!” yelled out a Saxon commander, as he watched the ice break under their feet. The Saxons, that hadn’t fallen through the ice, turned and ran back to the safety of the bank. Guinevere shot one last arrow and tried to take out Cynric, but only ended up killing the man next to him. He skittered back behind his second-in-command as they turned to leave.

Bryony linked her arm through Guinevere’s and both headed to the horses while the rest of the men gathered up the weapons. Both women flopped down onto the snowy ground completely exhausted. Bryony turned to Guinevere and burst out laughing. Guinevere looked at the other woman then followed in laughter. Soon both of them were crying from laughing so hard. They couldn’t believe that they had just survive what should have been their death.

All the knights were watching the women like they had lost their senses. Arthur walked over to Guinevere and offered his hand to help her stand. She stopped laughing and took in a deep breath. She smiled as she accepted his hand and reached for Bryony when she was standing. Bryony stood up and smiled at her friend. She began wiping her clothes when she felt strong arms pulled her up onto a horse. She looked in surprise as Lancelot gave her his dashing smile.

“Excuse me, Sir Knight, but what right do you have to touch me without my permission?” hissed Bryony as she pushed him away and slid off his horse. The other knights pretended to be busy as they fixed their horses for their journey to catch up to the wagons. Bryony spotted Tristan and walked over to him.

Tristan got on his horse then looked down at her in surprise as she touched his leg.

“May I ride with you?” she asked trying to keep her voice from pleading. She didn’t want to resort to riding with Lancelot. She knew he was watching her. Undoubtably, he had already calculated that she would have to ride with him. She didn’t want to give him that satisfaction. His only reply was to offer his hand. She quickly swung herself behind the scout as he turned his horse towards the Wall and rode off. Lancelot looked incensed that Bryony would chose Tristan over himself.

“Stop pouting Lance. When we get home we are free men!” Galahad said as he rode past his comrade. The rest of the men let out a war cry as they too rode towards the Wall, to their freedom.