Hello all! I got the idea for this story actually while watching the movie and reading one of my absolute favorite fanfics Healer by GalahadsGurl. If you haven't read it you definitely should! At the moment I am quite obsessed with King Arthur, so I decided it was time for me to make a new King Arthur story! It will be eventual GawainOCGalahad because I simply adore the pairing and have only seen it been used successfully once. Please enjoy the first chapter! Reviews would be quite lovely!

Disclaimer : I own nothing, except my OC, Anouk. Anything you recognize does not belong to me!

XOXO Cuteepiee1

A young girl, no older than eight, sat beside a tent slowly sharpening a small, intricately designed, dagger. Ever so often she would hear hoof beats and look up, waiting for someone. When she saw it was not who she was looking for she quickly returned to her task, continuing until the small blade was sharp enough to reach her satisfaction. She then started fletching arrows, a simple, yet tedious, task.

Around midday hoof beats sounded, and the girl once again looked up from her work. Her eyes lit up in recognition and she quickly rid herself of the arrows, and set off towards the rider.

"Tristan!" The girl shouted, reaching him quickly and helping him dismount. "I have missed you brother, did the hunt go as well as expected?"

Tristan raised an eyebrow at her. "Anouk, you doubt my hunting skills?" He let a smirk grace his dark features at the look on his sisters face. It was well known that Tristan, despite his young age, was the best hunter in their tribe. Silent as the grave with eyes like a hawk, Tristan missed nothing.

"Brother, just because you happen to be the most skilled hunter now, do not be so smug, for one day someone will come along and best you!" She mimicked his smirk, almost a perfect replica of her brother, then laughed at the incredulous look on her brothers face.

"So says you sister, yet none have bested me." He glanced at his sister, who stood with her hands on her hips and a determined look on her face, and noted how she was quickly growing into the exact image of their mother, who had passed from fever not two winters ago. Their father passed soon after, unable to carry on without his beloved. Tristan thought his father to be selfish. He had two children, one barely fifteen and the other not quite six, yet he left them to their own devices.

Tristan quickly took charge and successfully raised Anouk for almost two winters, on his own. He was more of a silent boy at seventeen, and many were afraid of him. But not Anouk, never his little shadow. He saw himself as more her father than a brother, and the thought did not bother him quite as much as he supposed it should.

"Oh hush! Now tell me of the hunt!"

Tristan chuckled at his sisters wide eyes that eagerly awaited his regaling of the events of this morning.

The day passed smoothly and found Tristan and Anouk making their supper around dusk, talking, well Anouk did most of the talking and Tristan listened, yet he found comfort in her mindless chatter.

"Tristan?" Anouk turned to her brother, innocent eyes wide and held a bit of pain. He grunted in response to let her know he was listening. "Will…will you tell me a story about mother…its just…as the days pass it gets harder for me to picture what she looked like…" She trailed off, her voice holding more and more sadness with each word she spoke.

"You look just like her. A miniature version of her, even in spirit." Tristan set aside their meal, taking enough to place in her bowl and then his own. "You even talk like her, especially when you try and reprimand me." He let a small smile grace his face and set the bowl in front of his sister, then joining her. Her eyes never left his face, and a tiny smile was soon tugging at the corners of her mouth.

The siblings spent the rest of the evening talking of their parents and fell into a restful sleep, completely unaware of what the next day would bring.

As the sun rose that morning, the entire tribe was awoken to the sound of hoof beats. Their tribe, like most Sarmatian tribes, were not known to be hospitable, so Tristan quickly grabbed his sword and bow and made to leave the tent, looking to Anouk quickly "Shadow, do not follow. Stay here and keep your dagger close. If anyone enters that is not me or someone from our tribe, you incapacitate and run." He had gone over this with her many times, if ever something happened to him, she was to quickly eliminate her enemy and run to the nearest tribe and seek shelter.

She nodded her acknowledgement to her brother and he was quickly off.

Not longer than fifteen minutes her brother had been gone when Anouk heard cries of a woman. The utter despair in the woman's shriek made Anouk's heart clench in sympathy for her. Anouk never was one for violence, though she was good at it, she always enjoyed helping and healing. She had a natural gift at not only taking life, but restoring life as well.

Within moments of the woman's cry, the tent flap was opened and Anouk stood in a defensive position until she saw the familiar brown shaggy hair of her brother.

"Tristan, what is going on?"

Her brother had made his way into the tent and was quickly gathering his weapons and other important belongings. At her words his entire body stiffened.

"Ana…the Romans have come…I must serve." His eyes held all the emotions he would not share. She saw sadness and despair along with heartbreak. What would become of her brother? What would become of her?

It was silent for a few tense moments until Anouk looked her brother square in the eye, a look of pure determination on her face. "I will join you."

"No! That is out of the question!"

"It is not a question brother, I have no where else to go, and I will not let you go to a foreign land on your own. I would rather give my life up to servitude then stay here as an outcast."

Tristan sighed, his hands covered his face. He stayed that way for only a moment, then looked back at his sister. Anouk. Ana, his little shadow. Though she was only eight she had been through so much. Could he condemn her to a life of slavery as well? He was supposed to protect her, not lead her into more trouble. However…without him she was as good as dead anyways.

"Pack.." He whispered the word and as soon as it left his mouth Anouk was quickly piling her things together in a little sack. Within minutes they were ready and in front of the Roman guards.

One of the guards glanced and Tristan who was on his horse, Asanos, then glanced at Anouk, who was riding her horse Valora. He quickly turned to stare at Anouk again before speaking.

"Girl, what do you think you are doing? Only boys can be knights."

Anouk looked up at the guard, eye to eye, "My brother is all I have left in this world sir, do not ask me to part from him, please. I am quite good with a bow and dagger, and I am quite gifted in the art of healing. I would earn my keep same as any boy."

By now Tristan and Anouk had the attention of most of the other boys as well, they were all staring curiously at the young girl who would willingly bind herself to Rome for fifteen years.

The guard gave a sardonic laugh at her, "Very well girl, if you are willing to serve, on your head be it." He looked to the others, "Move out!"

There it is! Hope you all enjoyed! Reviews are most welcome!