Arthur; The Legend and Myth Chapter 51

51.

The iron fort at Badon Hill was situated on the top of the hill with a great view of the land to the horizon. It was a constructed fortified castle with the three layers of terrain cut into the hill slopes to form the defensive ring around it. Each ring was a dug out moat with the sharpened wooden stakes to deter off any invaders and with the depth to sink the rider for the foot soldiers to spear them. The castle wall was thick and the main wooden gate was fortified with the metal grille drop down gate on the outside.

Ambrosia then then Lord of the castle stood by the hill slope at the lowest rung of the ring. His eyes were watered with tears at the sight of the weary stragglers that had sought refuge there. He had set up the tents at the foot of the hill to accommodate the ones that were unable to climb on. His food supplies were low but there were charities to be done during the dire period. He saw the stragglers were of all age and gender but they shared one common fear; the fear of the barbaric Anglo Saxons.

“My Lord, we do not fear death but the mode of being kill by them frightens us then.” Ambrosia recalled the words of a wounded knight. The knight then was without his right arm had led a small group of the protected to the sanctuary they sought there. There were more accounts on the atrocities of the invaders.

“We were the lucky ones.” A survivor had said. “We ran for the trees on the hill but they came at us. We were butchered like animals. Their hammers and axes fell with on our bones and flesh. They sheltered no mercy for the young or old, man or woman. The later were worse if death had not taken their souls for their cries of mercy will always ring in mine.”

“You have left like the flock of sheep to the pack of wolves. You are a bastard to leave us to those heathens.” Another cursed at Ambrosia but he fought not against those words for it was the truth. He had no force big enough to stop the killing. He took the decision to fortify the one place where they may hopefully appease their desire for revenge. Ambrosia retreated back to the castle and locked himself in the chamber. He went on his knees at the altar in the chapel. He was not a believer before for he was brought up as a Roman with years of worshipping at the pagan gods.

“God, I am sorry if my mind is not with you. I am at a loss now. Can you show me the light or do I wield my gladius like my previous side?” Ambrosia had given up on his fighting to that of a leader. He had also given up his Roman heritage and joined the locals. He had acted as adviser to the castle lord before he was the only surviving one there. He had to organize the defenses with all the notable knights killed or on the plains somewhere. He had sent out scouts to call for reinforcement but there were no replies. He can only assumed that the scouts were killed or there was no reinforcement. He then prayed harder.

Across the land at Camelot, Arthur was once again at the round table. He looked at the spread out map before him before he looked up at the gathered knights. His trusted knights were at the table but there was one more seat taken by the newly arrived guest.

“Earl Sevain and his army are here. They are our allies.” Arthur announced. “His army stands at a thousand knights and eight thousands foot soldiers. If he added that to mine, we have a force of three thousand and fifteen thousand foot soldiers. That is a huge army but my scouts told me that the Anglo Saxons numbered over twenty thousand strong.”

Arthur then looked at the knights and the Earl.

“We will fight for they are spread out at different locations.” Arthur then pointed to the map. “We will take them here at Glein.”

The Glein was at the mouth of a river that flowed on the plains. It was an obscure location except it was near the borders where Arthur was heading first. He was told that a detachment was there. It was to be a morale battle. They all needed it then. The battle was swift with the overwhelming force that took back the village. It was garrisoned by a few hundred Anglo Saxon warriors and none were mounted. The Earl had part of his knight in what was a new form of armor with the metal plates and coverings to the whole body and including the horse body. It was a heavy suit to don but the so named knights fought with their extra armor. They also carry the long extended lance which was used to sweep the foes off the horses or pierced the armor. They numbered at over three hundred strong.

“The new knights we named the Cataphract will be the army of the Lords.” Earl Sevain marveled at the heavy armor knights that rode into the village and withstood the invaders. The new form of armor was heavy but the knights in it were trained to move with it. The horses were huge and with the armor, they wore out fast. Nevertheless with the shortcomings the Cataphract was a formidable foe.

“You should try it, Arthur.” Earl Sevain told him. “I don’t want to lose my son to poor armor. However I do like your shield.”

Arthur had taken in the words voiced by Merlin and fashioned the image of the cross to his shield. He had brandished it to the knights and the words that he added to the shield were that he was fighting God’s war on the heathen. It was during the battle that the rift was sowed among the round table knights.

“I don’t care who they are but to me they are murderers.” Sir Kay shouted back to Percival when he thrust the sword into the Anglo Saxon captive. “I am here for vengeance. What Boudica did to the nobles, I am to recreate for fear will stop them from coming back.”

Sir Kay had seen the atrocities done by the invaders and with his anger he had killed the captives taken without mercy Percival wanted step forth to stop him but decided otherwise. Percival took a few steps forward and he saw Arthur. He then appeal to Arthur but the later had shied away from the matter. He told Percival that the invaders deserved no less than the mercy shown by them to the villagers. It drove Percival to anger and he rode off from the village to avoid being part of the killings.

“Despair not, Percival. We are at war now.” Lancelot had joined him and consoled the other. “Sir Kay was not of ours. He was Briton and he fought for them. This battle is his revenge for his people. He was for the Battle of the Queen Boudica. I heard him shout her name in the battle.”

“Killing and murder drew on a thin line.” Percival added his own view.

“Yes, I heard of it too but the Britons were no better than at it. They killed many of our nobles then.” Lancelot recalled that it was later discovered that seventy or eighty thousand nobles were killed by the Boudica rebels. They were massacred in the vile ways to the accompaniment of sacrifices and banquets.

“Nobles? Lancelot you are no more a legionnaire nor a Roman citizen now. You must remember that you were once a native of the land but your upbringing was Roman. You are a Briton by right but we are more civilized now. It was not the Legion nor the Romans that taught us that. It was our own wisdom.”

“The civilized or the killing?” Lancelot mocked at the wisdom bit. Percival had not listen to the other and was looking at the village. He sighed then for his battle was to end the fighting and killing. If he was to do that, he had to rout the invaders out for good. It was in Percival’s thoughts then but he was to see more that will challenged him. The army under Arthur fought on then into the region held by the Anglo Saxons. It was then he discovered a new threat to his rule.

“Arthur, the Scots are in league with the Anglo Saxons.” Earl Sevain threw the severed head of the Scottish leader. “We are fighting more than the invaders.”

Arthur cursed at the new enemy. He knew the Scots had been against him but to join in this war was unforeseen. He had thought the King of Scots had seen his way to maintain peace. He then issued the command that the battle was to continue.

“We will march on there.” Arthur pointed to the place on the map. “Dubgla in Linnuis.”

“Earl, you will go on ahead to Bassas river and take on the garrison there at Cumberlang.” The Earl was to take his column there but Arthur requested the Cataphracts.”

“Earl, we fight together or none.” The leader of the Cataphracts declined the command. “We are the Earl’ and none others.”

“Baron Rueben, you will ride with him. I have another to ride with you.” Earl Sevain called on the other to be brought over. It was a lady dressed in the green gown. “Take care of her well. She is my daughter Lisanor.”

Lady Lisanor stepped forth. She glared at Arthur and then at Baron Rueben.

“I will ride with you.” Lady Lisanor then turned to Arthur. “I will fight the Scots if it ends my life.”

That ended the discussion and the columns prepare to ride out. Arthur saw Lisanor walked to a nearby tent and he followed her there.

“Lisanor, I …” Arthur was dumb stuck then and his words were replied by the lady.

“”It’s has been over ten years, Arthur. Ten long years of waiting for you.” Lisanor snapped at him. “No it was ten years but only five years when the tears stopped falling and the milk from my breasts dried. Our son, Lohort asked of you and my reply then was you were dead.”

Arthur tried to place words into his tongue but she was already packing her things. Then she turned to look at him. “I hated the Scots more than you. I will fight with you as what my father had asked of me but I will not watched your back. You will do so yourself. Now leave.”

With that Arthur was sent off back to his column. He had relented then to talk to her and rode with his knights.

At Dubla, it was another village by a stream but there was a change to the enemies.

“We will hold our position here.” Arthur called out to the column. Baron Rueben rode up from the head of his own column and questioned Arthur.

“We need to form our lines. The Anglo Saxons are backed by the Scots and Picts.” Arthur motioned to the stream. The enemies were crossing it and there were several thousands of them walking over and they have their supplies wagon being dragged over. There were the Scots and Picts among the ranks. “We have to let them cross over.”

“Why can’t we attack now?” Earl Sevain asked back.

“The ground is soft. If we attack now, we will risk our horses to be caught in the mud. We must bring them from the stream towards us. Shield the Cataphracts. They need to be hidden. Move also the knights back and cross at the far side to flank the enemies. Let them see the foot soldiers.” Arthur then changed the order. “Give me fifty knights.”

The alliance of Saxons, Picts and Scots saw the army that was lined up and took their lines on the stream bank. They looked at the lineup of foot soldiers and the few knights. They were almost equal in strength.

“The knights are few.” The shouts went among Anglo Saxons and Arthur took to the front with his round table knights. He had the ten knight ride down the line up and taunted the enemies. Sir Kay was the most vocal with his expletives and curses. Lancelot stayed by Arthur’s side with Percival watching the parade of the others. It was Arthur’s idea to bring the enemies to them.

It did not work.

“Lancelot, ride up and challenge them.” Arthur told Lancelot but the later hesitated. He used his excuse that he was not keen to take the challenge. He was to ask Arthur for another challenger when Percival rode out. The later rode towards the Anglo Saxons and then threw down his shield. It was a challenge to a duel. A warrior stepped out to meet Percival. He was a tall and lanky figure with the thick fur coating but the two feet length hammer he held was menacing with the head and the spike on the other end. Percival dismounted from the horse and then drew his gladius.

“Beaduleoma…” (Translated as sword.) The warrior muttered to himself on the sword used by Percival and without warning charged. The hammer came swinging down hard but it missed Percival who had side stepped. Percival moved in with his gladius on a wide swing and cut at the other on the left forearm but the thick coat protected the other.

“Arghh…” The Anglo Saxon cried out from the impact pain and then swung the spike handle towards Percival. The later fell back to avoid the blow but he lost his balance on the soft ground. The Anglo Saxon went forth for the killing blow but he was stopped by the gladius thrust into the lower chest. Percival pushed the gladius across the wound with his voice screaming out. The Anglo Saxon fell on the face screaming the death throes. The defeat of the Anglo Saxon raised an alarm on the line up and they charged out.

“Run!” Lancelot saw the mass of warrior converging on Percival. He decided then to ride out to help his friend. Meanwhile Arthur had given the command for the foot soldiers to brace for an attack while he drew out his sword. Lancelot riding out then saw Percival running for his life. Lancelot rode harder and then stopped before Percival. He grabbed the later onto his horse. The rode hard then back to their own army and somehow they survived it. Percival dismounted and rushed to be in the front line. Lancelot turned the horse and joined the line. The battle then began with the clash of bodies and the bloods flowed.

It was just then Arthur signaled the retreat at the center. It was a hasty one and more bodies were strewn in the ground but it worked. The gap deepened and Arthur was moving the pincer move. He saw the bodies falling; his own foot soldiers were not as great compared to the enemies. They lack the ferocity needed.

It was time for him to call in the riders.

The Cataphracts charged in like the boulders in an avalanche. They tore into the enemies with their heavy armor on the more solid ground there compared to the trampled soft ground. The retreating foot soldiers turned on their retreat and formed the pincers on the enemies.

“Ambush!” The call was late but it was heeded in a defeating rush for the river. The enemies stopped there when they saw the knight line up across the river. It was a time to surrender.

“Kill them!” The call from Sir Kay was heeded. The killing began even before Arthur could stop it. For that time, Arthur felt that being the King was sometimes powerless at times.