Time's Bitch

Chapter One

Arthur looked out the window at the approaching dawn and sighed. Today would be the day his knights would regain their freedom from their servitude to Rome and he hoped there was no complications that could possibly stand in their way.

Arthur sighed again and decided he may as well as get up and get ready as his knights were probably already awaiting him in the stables eagerly awaiting their impending freedom. He washed his face quickly in the pan provided and hurriedly got his clothes and armour on before striding out the door.

As he predicted, his knights were waiting for him. He found his horse saddled and waiting for him. Arthur laughed out loud, “eager to get on your way men?”

“Aye, we would like to come back and relax in the tavern for the rest of the afternoon.” Galahad offered while smiling.

“Well let’s get on with it then. Knights mount up!” Arthur swung up in the saddle and made his way through the arena and out toward the gates, glancing quickly back to make sure his knights were all there.

* * *

Killisandra rose for her early morning ritual of kata just as the sun was rising. She dressed in her black outfit of tights with flowing silk pants over them with a black singlet and another matching silk top. She tied the top closed with her black belt.

Killisandra rose and walked into the adjacent room of her student, Nya and promptly woke her up by tickling her feet. Nya shot up out of bed and into her fighting stance. As she blinked her eyes awake, she realised that her sensei was the one who was waking her and rolled her eyes.

“Must you wake me like that, sensei?” Nya asked. “It’s positively horrid waking that way.”

Killisandra laughed, “it keeps you on your toes. Would you rather I dump water on you instead?”

Nya cringed, “no thank you.” Nya pulled on her whites and then tied her top together with a similar black belt to her sensei. Giving herself the once over,

Nya nodded, “I am ready sensei.”

Killisandra nodded, “let’s go greet the sun then.”

The manor was already in frenzy this early in the morning as everyone awoke to do his or her duties. Killisandra and Nya waved to everyone and bid him or her good morning as they made their way outside.

Once up on the hill overlooking the manor and it’s small grounds where the villagers were starting to stir from their dreams, Killisandra began going through the motions of kata with her student. As the movements flowed so did Killisandra’s mind. She let herself go blank as she reached out with her mind to do a quick check that all of her borders were protected from men or women who meant her friends and the people she swore to protect, harm.
Besides a small contingency of Roman soldiers moving toward Hadrian’s Wall, there was nothing worth noting.

Killisandra came back to herself just as she finished the last of her movements. As Nya settled down to do meditation Killisandra looked across the fields and decided that instead of training today, they should help the villagers work in the fields to gather food for the burgeoning season.

Killisandra sat down and let her eyes close as she remembered everything when she first arrived.

* * *

Killisandra or known as Sandra to most of friends here at the manor had lived in this timeline for 5 years now. After winning her freedom in the colosseum as she had been found by a local trader wandering the outer planes of Rome, the Caesar had been so impressed with her fighting style that he had given her a small plot of land with a manor on it in Britain.

When she had arrived with the Roman escort, she had been horrified to see the treatment of the people. Once the Romans had left, she set about fixing what she could and slowly gaining the trust of the villagers. The dungeon that had been built to house all of the prisoners who had refused to become the serfs was torn down and Sandra spent the better part of three weeks nursing the people back to health. The people that had not survived were buried in the customs of their forefathers.

Once the villagers were restored to full health, Sandra held a meeting with everyone in attendance. She had stated that anyone that would like to go back to their tribes is more than welcome to go, she would not force the villagers into servitude. But if they decided to stay, she would have new buildings erected so that the living conditions would improve. It would take time of course, but she was willing to help out as much as possible.

The villagers had been shocked that this woman, who they had all but feared was offering their freedom. Everyone took the option to leave and Killisandra was left to herself for the first few months.

Soon though, the Woads started to get curious about this place, as they heard stories of her deeds among their people. It had been six months since Sandra had seen anyone when a whole bunch of Woads came out of the forest and formed a small ring around the property. Sandra had been sitting up on the battlements at the time, drinking mint tea that she had salvaged from the forest and had all but snorted her tea through her nose when she saw that Merlin accompanied them for she had seen him watching her warily from a distance.

Killisandra had strapped her double katanas to her back and went out to greet the Merlin. She approached slowly and realised that she was completely surrounded. Sandra surmised that this was Merlin’s personal guard, as he would probably be protected with as many men as the elders saw fit.

Sandra spoke first, “Greetings Merlin. It is my honour and privilege to meet you.” She bowed in respect to the man in front of her.

“You are the daughter of time itself. The elementals have much to say about you child. It is I, who am honoured.” Merlin had replied.

Sandra was a little shocked to hear this, as she had been very careful to not let her secret come out. “Then we shall both be honoured, Great Wizard.” Sandra had bowed again. “I would like to welcome you to my home, if that would please you?”

“That would be lovely.” Merlin motioned for her to lead the way into the compound.

They had sat down and talked for hours and Sandra was delighted to hear that some of the villagers from before would like to move back to the manor as their place in the tribes they had belonged to were getting antsy at how many people they now had to feed.

“I would love to have them return. But first I must build some new accommodation for them as the last versions of huts are just in horrible condition. I refuse to let anyone live there. However, if you’re running out of room, they are more than welcome to stay in my manor with me until such houses can be built.”

“You are most gracious. I will let them know and see if that is acceptable. I’m sure it will be. So what crops do you think you will grow here? As we were walking in, I spied a few plants I’m not familiar with.” Merlin questioned.

Sandra stood, “well if it would be agreeable I could show you my garden where I grow my food and you can ask me which is which.”

“Yes that is most agreeable.” Merlin stood as well and followed eagerly down to the small garden outside the kitchen.

“So many plants.” He looked at the garden in awe. He pointed at the tomato plants and asked Sandra about it.

“Those are tomatoes. It’s a common misconception that tomatoes are poisonous but in actual fact they are quite healthy for you and they taste brilliant. Here,” Killisandra plucked a ripe tomato off the branch for both her and Merlin. She used the dagger in her boot to cut it in half and handed the other half to the Merlin before sinking her teeth into the delicious fruit. She sighed in pleasure. She watched as Merlin sniffed it first and then took a hesitant bite. He sighed in pleasure before digging into it.

“Would you like to try some others as well?” Sandra asked.

“Absolutely.” The Merlin practically beamed at her.

They spent the better part of the afternoon walking around the garden tasting things Merlin had never seen before and laughing before Sandra invited him in for dinner. She had salted meat to last for the burgeoning months and decided to make a Bolognese sauce that she had learned to make while she had been travelling. She also pulled out some pasta that she had made the day before.

“Should I be making enough for your men outside?”

“No, no, they are using the fires outside and are just camping out the front until it is time for us to go.”

“Okay. This dish will take three hours to make but it’s well worth the wait. Would you like a glass of wine from my cellar? I had the wine shipped from Rome before I left, I’m so happy the Romans had no idea how to work the kegs.” Sandra laughed as she led the way down to the cellar where she had hundreds of different kinds of red wine. And in a secret compartment, a beautiful collection of white wines as well, collected through her travels.
She grabbed one large pitcher and filled it with a cheaper wine she used for cooking and set it aside. She then grabbed three bottles she had made herself as glass was a real rarity in these times and three corks she had whittled from the cork tree out the back, and filled it with a beautiful Pinot Noir she had gotten from off the coast of Australia the last time she had been in the 21st century timeline. She corked all three and then balanced them in her arms and grabbed the pitcher of cooking wine before leading the way back upstairs.

“All those barrels, they are filled with wine?” Merlin asked.

“No, not all of them, some are filled with oils that I use for cooking and some are filled with ale. I like to have a selection.” Sandra said smiling.
“Uh huh.”

Sandra looked over her shoulder and smiled. “I have a small passion for cooking food so I tend to like to get the best ingredients I can hence the reason for my garden.” She put the pitcher of wine next the saucepan she was cooking in and put the other three bottles of wine on the table. “Would you like to dine in here or in the formal dining room?” She removed two glasses from the kitchen cupboard and poured in the wine. She handed the glass to Merlin.

“In here is just fine.” Merlin said with a smile as he sat down on one of the stools under the bench. He watched this woman fossick around in the kitchen as she smiled while she worked and hummed an enchanting tune. “What are your intentions here in Britain, Killisandra?”

“I just want a place to live. I have really no intentions and honestly just living out my days would be nice.”

“And my people…”

“Can do whatever they like. I will be here if they need help and I can teach them things, like how to read and write, or herbology or healing or even train
them to fight. Honestly, I want no part in a war that is raging between you and the Romans but if it had to come down to it, I would be obligated to join your side just to piss that shit of Caesar off.” Sandra said with a deviant smile.

Merlin laughed heartily, “fair enough. I just would like to know if you mean my people any harm.”

“Of course not. I will not harm anyone that is not trying to harm me first.”

“Ok then.” Merlin toasted to her, “to a new friend. I look forward to our future together, Daughter of Time.”

Sandra bowed to him graciously while clinking glasses with him.

“That is nice wine.” Merlin stated.

“Hmm, it’s one of my favourites.” Sandra said with a smile.

Sandra and Merlin had spent the better part of the night drinking and eating and talking about all that was going on in Britain. Sandra was horrified at the treatment of the Britons at the hands of the Romans and was ready to eliminate the whole bloody lot of them by the end of the conversation.
It had been well into the night before Merlin left with one of her bottles of wine that she had corked and sealed with wax and instructions to drink it within the next three days. As she waved goodbye she was quite content with how the day ended up.

* * *

“Sensei?”

Sandra snapped out of her reverie. “Huh? What now?”

“You looked a little lost.” Nya looked at her concerned.

“Oh, I was just remembering the day Merlin and I met for the first time. It was a little under a month before you returned and I took you on as my student. Do you remember?”

“Yes, the best choice I ever made Sensei.” Nya looked thoughtful for a moment before looking back at Sandra. “Sensei? What’s wrong?” Sandra had gone deathly pale.

“They’re fighting again, just in the valley over from here. They have ventured into my territory. They have never come this close before.”

“Do we ride to their aid?”

“Gather the healing herbs and I’ll grab the weapons.” Sandra replied as she charged down the hill with Nya right behind her.
Sandra grabbed her and Nya’s swords as well as her armour that she strapped to her quickly and efficiently. She also grabbed her vambraces and slid her throwing knives into them. She quickly bridled their two horses, not even bothering with their saddles, as they didn’t have time.

Nya came flying out the house and threw the bags of healing herbs at Sandra before quickly getting into her armour and strapping her weapons to her. Sandra tied off the herbs to the back of her belt and urged her stallion into a gallop out the front gate.

Villagers stopped and stared as they watched their guardian and her student charge into the forest praying to the gods that they would keep them safe.

* * *

Arthur and the knights were fairly evenly matched as they fought off the Woads that threatened the Bishop’s life. There were many of them and few of the knights as most of the Roman officers had already been taken down minus a few who still fought.

He engaged many of the blue people, their faces a blur in the whirlwind of slicing and killing his way toward the carriage that carried his friends’, his knights’ freedom. He would not lose anyone in this battle, he vowed to God as he killed again and again.

* * *

Killisandra stopped just outside of the clearing as Callum dropped to his knees in front of Arthur Castus, the Roman commander of the Sarmatian knights.

“Shit.”

Nya caught up with her and gasped. “Nay not my brother.” She lunged forward through the trees ignoring Sandra who was screaming at her to get back here.

“Oh double shit.” Sandra cursed as she moved her horse after Nya.

* * *

The knights looked up to see a girl with blonde hair on a grey horse come charging out of the forest. They prepared for combat as they thought it was another wave of an attack. She was about half way there when another woman came charging out of the forest on a big black stallion. She was darker of the two with dark brown hair and she was dressed in all black whereas the blonde girl was dressed in all white. The darker of the two was urging her horse forward as if trying to catch the woman in front of her.

* * *

Nya slid from her horse and took up a fighting position, “harm one hair on his head and I will kill all of you.” She said venomously as she drew her sword.

“Nya you will stand down immediately.” Killisandra said as she stopped her horse in front of the knights and dismounted.

“No.”

“No?”

“He’s my brother, I cannot let him be killed.” Nya had tears in her eyes.

“And I will not let him be killed as he is in my territory. Now sheath your sword, now.”

Nya hesitated, “but sensei, they are Romans.”

“NYA! I ordered thee to yield!” Killisandra roared at her student.

Nya flinched and lowered her weapon before withdrawing to her horse.

“Now, who’s in charge here…” Sandra turned around and trailed off as she was now faced with Excalibur at her throat. “Really? You really want to go down this path with me?” Sandra questioned calmly while arching one eyebrow.

“Who are you?” Arthur asked.

“My name is not important. What are your intentions for this man?”

“Answer my question before I sever your head.”

Sandra laughed, “My name is Killisandra.”

To the side Bishop Germanius gasped. Arthur turned his head to look at him, “you know of her?”

“Aye, she is to be said to be the best female warrior in the world. Has never been defeated in battle, ever.” The bishop looked at her with something akin to lust that made Sandra want to vomit.

“I would greatly appreciate it if you would not kill Callum. He is very dear to my student and I do not like to see my friends in pain.” Sandra requested.

* * *

Tristan cocked his head to the side and listened to her. Studied the way she stood and came to the conclusion that she would kill every last one of them if they didn’t cooperate. He was definitely sure that she could too as she stood confidently against his commander.

Tristan tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, ready to spring into action if need be.

* * *

“This man just tried to kill me. Why should I allow him to live?” Arthur asked.

“Because despite everything that happens, you still have a good heart that would not kill an unarmed man.” Killisandra said while looking deeply into her eyes.

Arthur blinked and looked away. It felt as though she had been peering into his very soul and it scared him a little how well she seemed to read him. He lowered his sword and sighed. “Take him if you wish but he’ll probably just try to kill you later. Just warning you now.”

“Thank you commander.” Sandra turned to Callum and held out her hand. She spoke in native Britain, “come Callum. You are spared today so you may fight another. We must tend to the wounded and I will need your help to get your brothers home.”

Callum nodded and embraced her briefly before going to embrace his sister.

“You speak like they do?” Arthur asked.

“Aye, I find it hard to communicate with people when I don’t know their language.” Sandra headed toward the wounded Britons, briefly nodding to bishop as she passed by.

She stopped at a fallen soldier and gasped. He was breathing heavily as he had arrows that had pierced his lung. Sandra dropped to one knee and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Brother?” She whispered, fighting the tears that threatened to escape. “Bryce? Please don’t go…” She trailed off as she cradled his head in her arms, “I love you, please don’t leave me…” Teardrops splashed on his forehead.

“Sandra, I tried...” He gurgled, blood bubbling from the corners of his mouth.

“Hush, save your strength. I can fix this.”

“I love you my sis…” He trailed off as Sandra looked down at him sadly.

“Nay!” Sandra bent her head down to his and kissed his cheeks while pulling him close. “My brother…”

Sandra took a deep breath and pushed her sorrow to the back of her heart before she turned back to her student and Callum, “find the ones that are still alive and we will take them back to the manor.” She spoke in Latin so that everyone could understand.

“Sensei?” Nya moved forward with compassionate tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

Sandra nodded “I shall grieve later, first we need to tend to the wounded. Spread out and find them.” Sandra ordered as she shouldered past the knights repeating her mantra in her head, ‘I will not hate, I will not hate.’

The bishop snorted at her display of apparent weakness for the rebels. “He was nothing but heretic Killisandra, why would you care?”

Sandra stopped short, her back straightened as she carefully slid the knives from her vambraces. She spun quickly, throwing the knives underhand with a spin, straight at the bishop. The daggers embedded themselves on either side of the bishop’s neck, immobilizing him save he slit his own throat.
Sandra straightened her stance and silently made her way back to the bishop.

The knights were so stunned that in their shock they didn’t move to aid the bishop who was now showing the whites in his eyes as he carefully drew his sword.

Sandra countered by drawing one of her blades and looking disdainfully at the one in front of her. In one quick movement, she sliced through the top part of the sword, where the metal was weaker, removing the top. The Bishop looked at his sword in amazement.

“You’re asking me why I’m sad to lose my brother?” Sandra whispered, her voice deadly.

“Uh…” The bishop found himself hard pressed to find an answer.

“As per usual, a Roman speaks without judging the meaning of his own words.” Sandra approached and removed her daggers in one swift movement, without causing the bishop harm. She gave him the once over before moving off to help Nya and Callum with the wounded.

* * *

The knights looked after her as she made her way to a Roman soldier and pulled out the arrows in his legs. She pulled out bandages and herbs to bind his wounds while whispering words of comfort to him.

Arthur looked at the bishop who was still shaking after his encounter. He then looked at Lancelot who was barely hiding his smile at the display before him. Dagonet looked thoughtful, Gawain and Galahad were looking at each other and scratching their heads in confusion, Bors was glaring at Horton and Tristan was eating an apple while studying the women and man in front of him.

Arthur turned back and looked on in awe as he watched this woman tend to the wounded both Roman and Briton. To say the least, all of the knights were a little stunned at her behaviour.

Dagonet had moved to help them and the woman warrior had been courteous in her instructions to him while he tended the Roman soldiers.

“So uh, do we help them?” Galahad asked, scratching his head a little perplexed.

“Only help Dagonet with Roman soldiers, we should not leave the wounded behind.” Arthur asked as he escorted the Bishop to the carriage. “Don’t worry Bishop, we will protect you.” Arthur stated as he helped the bishop into the carriage.

“I have no doubt Arthur. No doubt at all.”

* * *

Galahad made his way over to Dagonet and the girl Nya who was strikingly beautiful with dark blue eyes the colour of a stormy ocean. “Can I be of some assistance?” He asked quietly.

Dagonet looked up at him with painful eyes. “These Britons are vicious killers. This man did not deserve to die like this.”

“And what of everyone else? Do you think we dream of dying in battle? Thank you but I would rather study for the rest of my life than put it on the line because Rome is so keen on expanding their empire.” Nya bit out before returning to her work.

Galahad and Dagonet were taken aback by her outburst. “We are sorry if we have offended you my lady but this is not our fault. We do not want to be here either and yet here we are doing what is ordered of us because it our duty to Rome we must fulfil before we are released from our service. And then I will be more than happy to leave this land and travel home to my family.” Galahad retorted before turning and stomping off in the other direction.

Nya had dropped her mouth open in shock half way through Galahad’s speech and was feeling quite ashamed of her behaviour by the end of it.
“Oh crap. My sensei is always saying I should look at both sides of the situation before I pass judgement. I’m sorry if I have offended you Dagonet. It was not my intention, I am just sad at the passing of my friends.” Nya got up and patted him on the shoulder as she went off to apologise to Galahad.

“She still has much to learn but thankfully she learns quickly.” Sandra said behind Dagonet who was so startled by her presence that he promptly lost balance and fell over.

Killisandra laughed, “Here let me help you.” Sandra held out her hand to help Dagonet to his feet, which he gladly accepted.

“Thanks. I’ve got to ask. Why do you help both the Britons and the Romans?”

“What makes a Roman’s life more valuable than Briton’s life? I help all those in need no matter where they come from. Ok, that’s a lie, I help all those that aren’t Saxon.”

Dagonet nodded in agreement, “fair enough. Shall we finish this together?”

“Yes that would be the most efficient.”

* * *

Killisandra and Dagonet worked hard for an hour before the Romans were ready to leave. The knights helped with the wounded and would stare angrily at Callum every time he passed by to help his people.

On more than one occasion, Killisandra would walk past Callum and smack him upside the back of the head and speak angrily at him in his native tongue before moving on to the next wounded soldier.

The knights found Killisandra’s antics amusing and would often laugh and point where she would glare at them with her hands on her hips.

Only once all was finished, the Romans packed up and were on their way, did the remaining Britons in the trees come down to collect their wounded and their dead.

Merlin was with them. He raised an eyebrow at Killisandra.

“What?”

“No fighting, you achieved all that without shedding a drop of blood. I’m impressed.”

“Well if you can’t talk it out with words or at least see where someone is coming from, what’s the point of trying to coexist in the first place?”

“I guess that is true. Or it might be that you are pure of heart also, Daughter of Time.” Merlin replied.

“Must you keep referring to me as that?” Sandra said as she rolled her eyes.

“Yes.”

Sandra just rolled her eyes in response. “Are you coming by for dinner tonight?” She asked as she helped haul one of the wounded into the carriages.

“What are you making?”

“My braised lamb.”

“I’ll be there at dusk.” Merlin said with a smile as he faded into the trees along with the other Britons and their wounded. Sandra laughed as he disappeared. The Merlin would never refuse her braised lamb dish for the world.

“Nya? Can you please help me sling Bryce’s body over the back of my horse? I would like to go home and bury him according to his wishes.” Sandra said quietly.

“Of course sensei.”