The Dark Knight

Chapter 1 Kate

The Knights of His Majesty, King Arthur, rode there horses across town. The sun was shinning brightly and the sky was blue. The people of Camelot were scurrying about the markets and talking of new rumors.
"Did you hear that thy Majesty is looking for an bride?" One young woman whispered to another.
      "Yes. I did. Who will it be I wonder so." Asked the other woman. It was spread through out the lands like an plague. In my leather riding attire and my long golden hair swaying on my back, i headed towards my family stables.
    I walked down the dirt roads to my family stables, the Knights horses were standing by the road and the stable doors were open. I quickly ran towards the barn and opened it. My father and the knights were all staring at me.
"Hello Sir. Knights. Im sorry to intrude." I say, bowing my head.
"No heed madam." Said one of the knights. I look up to see the knights smiling.
"Gentlemen, this is my daughter, Kate. Kate, this is Sir. Tomas, Sir. Alex and Sir. Adam, Knights from the Round Table themselves." My father introduced. I bowed my head in respect.
"Hello gentlemen. Its an pleasure to meet you all." I replied.
"Same here, Miss." Sir. Adam replied. I smiled faintly.
"My child, take Sofie for an ride. The Knights and I have some business to attend to."
"Yes father. Gentlemen, if you may excuse me." I replied, walking towards the tack room. I entered with the sense of eyes boring into my back. I leave the door a jar and walk to my saddle.
"You didn't have to do that Mr. Powell. I would have loved for her to stay and talk." Said one of the Knights.
"No. May we talk another time?" My father replied.
"No. Thy Majesty wants an reply now. Will you or will you not?" Loud footsteps entered the barn.
"Sir, we are under attack. The bandits are attacking!" Yelled an solider. I ran out of the room and looked at the panicked solider. His face was full of fear and his body was shaking.
"Get more men! Now!" The solider ran out of the door. "Mr. Powell, I need you and your daughter should hide! Go now!" Ordered Sir. Adam. The Knights ran out the barn doors, mounted their horses and rode towards the village. My father and I ran to the hay loft and buried ourselves in straw.

We were in there for an good hour when footsteps entered the barn.
"Check to see if anybody is here. If not, take whatever you may find worthy and lets move along!" Order an voice. Footsteps scattered around the barn. Stall doors were opening and our horses were lead out. Still, we stayed still. Barely breathing for afraid to make an sudden sound.
"Don't forget to check the hay stacks as well!" Said the same voice. Footsteps walked ip our wooden stairs and entered the hay stacks. We held our breaths and didn't move. Footsteps stopped where we were hiding. I closed my eyes tightly and crossed my fingers. I could feel an strand of my hair getting touched by an rough hand. I held in my screams as he started to pull on my hair. The bandit grabbed my arms and pulled me up. Straw fell all over. He spun me around and held an knife to my throat.
"What do we have here? Hey!! I found something!" Yelled the bandit. He wore black leather all over. He wore an hood over his head an an mask that covers the lower parts of his face. Knife to my throat, he led me down the stairs and out to the middle of the hallway. He kicked my legs and I fell to my knees. An man with two body guards on either side of him stood an few feet away from me. He was wearing all black leather and an hood and mask over his face. All i saw were his dark, mysterious brown eyes. He was muscular. So were the others.
     "Whats your name?" He asked, his eyes darting to my breasts and back to my face.
     "Tell me yours and then, i will consider telling mine." I reply with venom in my voice. Inside i was actually cowering in fear.
    "Oh." He turned his head slightly and  narrowed his eyes playfully. "We have ourselves a brave one lads." The bandits chuckled at his comment. I rolled my eyes. He approached me and kneeled to my hight.
"Im not going to ask again. What is your name?" He asked with more venom.
"Kate and yours?" I replied, staring dead into his eyes. Under his mask, i can see him side-smile faintly. He rose and snapped his fingers.
"Tie her hands and legs up. Also, gag her mouth and put an bag over her head. We are taking her home lads." He ordered, walking out of the stables with two men at his side. The bandits roared into cheers. They tied me up and swung an bag over my head. Everything went dark.

I awoke in an red bedroom. The curtains were royal red and the bed sheets under me were red. There was an small table and an fire going. An headache throbbed and i pressed my hands to my head. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths as i sat up. The wooden door on the far side of the room unlocked and opened. I opened my eyes to see my capture. He wore the same thing but, without the hood and mask. The door closed behind him. He smiled faintly, walked to the table and sat down. He crossed his legs and rested his left hand on the table. He had short, choppy brown hair and brown eyes. He was pale with an little tan. His facial features were smooth. He had an scar going down the left side of his face.
"You are awake finally." He said, staring at me with an side-smile. My heart throbbed in my breasts and my stomach churned.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" I asked, slowly getting out of the bed. Not wanting to be venerable.
"Sit down first and I will answer as many questions as you please." He replied, pointing to the chair on the other side of the small table. I gulped and walked to the table. As I take my seat across from him, his eyes scanned up and down my body. His eyes showing him thinking of something i dare not mention.
"Who are you?" I asked again. Watching his every move.
"Victor. You should know my name. My face is on every poster and my name has carried venom in peoples voices. Especially in Camelot." He giggled. "For you see, I have an special relationship with thy Majesty." He replied.
"Why take me? What purpose do you have take an peasant such as myself?" I asked, urging him for more answers.
"Thy Majesty has a Debt to pay to me and my lads. His greatest friend was your father. Over the years, before the became king, Arthur had set eyes upon you. He paid me and my lads an good amount kill his enemy, Morgana. That High Priestess was after you. She knew how much you meant to him. She wanted to break Arthur by taking who he loves most. You. So, on his, and yours, behalf, my lads and I hunted down Morgana. Because of Arthur, most of my lads died. I reported to him that she had died. It was an lie. She actually escaped and killed Arthur's father. Arthur found his body an hour after he gave me my reward. He found Morgana's name on the wall. He summoned me. He slashed my face with his sword. Imprisoned my family and in the end, killed them. The End." He replied, he sighed and looked at the floor is hatred and anger.
"What does this all have to do with me?" I asked. He looked back at me. He stared dead into my eyes.
"You are valuable to both Morgana and Arthur. They both want you. One for "love" and the other to kill the other on the inside."