The Chronicles Of Pendragon

Ariel woke to the sun on her face, wincing as she quickly rolled over into the shadows. There, safe, she lifted a heavy hand to her aching neck. She quickly tried to think back on what had happened, but her memory stopped after she had left the feast. Ariel simply lay there, as she had no measure of the time, but as the rays slowly started to sink behind the trees she at last felt her strength return to her, along with a burning pain throughout her body.

XXX

Gwaine groaned as he rolled over ...

And promptly rolled down a small hill, landing on top of a young woman with long dark hair and sharp green - slash - hazel eyes.

''Omh'' was really the only sound that could be heard as Gwaine tried to avoid landing on top of the young woman but the end result was that he did not land on her face.

''My apologies for being in the way'' came a sarcastic tone of voice that penetrated Gwaine's skull as he lay, winded after the fall.

''No, milady, the error is mine'' was his reply as he got up and extended his hand to her.

''Maybe it was, but it doesn't explain what you are doing wandering around in Cendred's (A.N- I think I spelt it right) kingdom at nightfall.'' Came the reply as she took his hand and allowed him to pull the lady to her feet.

''Milady Ariel-'' was what he started to say as he gripped her elbow to gently lead her to one of the faint pools of sunlight still left in the forest, stoping when she dug her heels in.

''No, Sir Gwaine'' she teased, ''I am not going in the sunlight with you. For the two reasons  being that I do not like being treated like a doll and if you will wait a moment, I shall show you the other reason.''

''Alright, milady. I shall wait and then we shall head back to-''

''No. Look and see the reason why I can not return to Camelot.'' And with that, she reached out and gritting her teeth, slid her hand in the rays of sunlight. After a moment, a force tackled her, pining her to the ground, only to have the young man being thrown of her by Gwaine (or at least she hoped it was him).

However, like normal, luck wasn't on her side, as she looked into the face of Sir Leon, who image was tinted red and there was suddenly, a rather load thudding in air, almost like a ceremonial drum. She instinctively flinched away and flicked her gaze away as she tried to get her breathing under control, noting in the back of her mind that her heart beat had changed to match his.

''Milady. Milady. Milady''. I jumped as Leon's voice entered my mind, beating past the red haze and the burning that had spread through her body.

''Yes?'' she asked him, thankful that her voice didn't tremble- that much, anyway.

"We have to move now if we are to return to Camelot before nightfall." he replied, crouching next to her in the deep shadows.

"Yes. Yes." She replied, taking his land and allowing him to gently pull her to her feet. "Oh, and Leon?" She added lightly.

"Yes?" he asked, turning to face her.

"I'm not sure what to say here, but thank you and I apologize at the same time for what is about to happen."

It was easy to see the change in him. For all his kind words, Sir Leon was a knight of Camelot, sworn to Prince Author, and as such would ride into the mouth of hell for him, and there was no defying the sudden tensing of his shoulders and the sudden jump of his heart beat.

"Whatever for, milady?" he asked with a small chuckle, thinking she couldn't see the way his hand twitched lightly towards to sword. It was probably only their friend ship that stopped him drawing it on her.

"For this," she said softly, before moving so fast she was a blur, and pushing him against a tree, and sank her newly-grown fangs into his neck. His struggles quickly grew weaker as  Ariel gulped as much of the red liquid into her mouth as possible. Despite her wish, some still dribbled down her chin and onto the front of her gown.

Dimly, she smelt something that caused her to drop Leon's body and spin around, only to pull up short at what she saw.