Hello, Hello!

Sadly I do no own anything to do with the movie King Arthur, only that which you don't recognize.

I gladly welcome whatever constructive criticism you have to offer, since I myself miss certain things at times. If you have nothing but flame, please refrain.

Lastly, this is an AU of course, since I can't stand the fact that Tristan, Dagonet and Lancelot died, and it is mainly a Lancelot OC but I have not left out our other Knights. Some of it of course may be historically inaccurate.

So, with those opening words, I hope you like my first KA FF.

The rocking of trees and rustling of leaves was all that could be heard as the wind blew them around aggressively. The only indication of life in the forest was the occasional 'hoot' of an owl as it stalked it's pray. The spring air was cool and yet the four Woads continued to blend into the dark forest, unseen and unheard by any who should be daring enough to travel at night.

"Breena, I cannot believe we are doing this," Lorna whined for the hundredth time while whipping a stray strand of her brown hair out of her eyes.

Breena clenched her jaw in frustration and wondered why the Gods hated her this night. Spinning around to face her friend, her dark eyes blazing, she flashed Lorna a warning glare. She loved her hazel eyed friend, but she was also as whinny as they come and Breena had just about had it with her.

Lorna, who stood behind a tree staring back at Breena, was unfazed by the look and shot her own in reply signifying her impatience and annoyance with the situation.

Breena's wavy black hair flew wildly around her and did nothing to hide the deep, dark gaze that instantly whipped all defiance off Lorna's face. "Quite!" she hissed thru gritted teeth and spun back around to continue scanning the black forest that hid them.

"If she says that one more time, I am going to beat her," Breena whispered to Isolde who giggled while shaking her head.

"Lorna, for the sake of my sanity, shut up," Kora snapped at her cousin. "None of us like this, but we are here so there is nothing you can do about it." Kora's blue eyes were as cold as ice as she glared at her outspoken and often reckless cousin from behind her own tree.

Lorna scoffed and stomped her foot childishly. "There are plenty of things I can think to do about it," she growled back.

Breena had had it and twirled around so fast no one had even seen her move. "There are plenty of things I can think to do to get you to shut up!" she snarled. "Now just be quite. Vanora should be here any minute and if you blow this, I will kick your scrawny ass," she hissed in a low tone that left no doubt in any of the girls' minds that she was not jesting.

Lorna's eyes went wide and pressed her lips together tightly while nodding her submission.

Breena took a deep breath and turned back to Isolde who had a smirk on her face. Isolde was her closest companion out of the girls; she was Breena's balance. She was also the oldest of the four girls and therefore left with the duty of breaking up whatever squabble the other three were involved in. Not that Isolde ever minded since she was always thoroughly amused at how the three bickered like siblings.

"There she is," Isolde said nodding her head from behind the dense shrubs her and Breena were currently crouched behind.

When Breena was just 5 winters she had helped her father nurse Vanora back to health when she had contracted a rare sickness. The time they spent together had forged an unbreakable friendship that had lasted despite the very different lives each led.

"Breena?" Vanora called out softly into the dense woods while looking around and trying to control her fear. The woods were beyond eerie at night and she did not like walking around in them alone. She was glad, however, that Bors and the others were out on a mission or they would surely have killed her for what she was about to do.

Breena looked back at her three friends and nodded the command to reveal themselves.

"Vanora?" Breena called back as she stepped out from the underbrush directly in front of Vanora; Lorna, Isolde and Kora directly behind her.

Vanora visibly jumped but managed to swallow her squeal of surprise as the four girls immerged.

Before Breena was able to say another word, Vanora had flung herself into Breena which resulted in Isolde and Kora having to grab their Princess before she fell backwards from the force behind Vanora's lunge.

"Well the Black Princess sure lives up to her title for you have grown even more beautiful," Vanora praised as she pulled away from the younger woman and held her at arms length to look her over in the moonlight.

"Oh I like her already," Kora said so only Isolde and Lorna could hear; each nodded in agreement.

Breena smiled and pulled Vanora to her side and motioned to the three girls. "This is Isolde, Kora, and Lorna," she introduced pointing to each girl who nodded at the mention of their name. "They are my closest friends, other than you of course," she said fondly as she looked between them all.

Vanora beamed at each girl. "It is a pleasure to meet you all," she said genuinely.

Turning back to Vanora, Breena was able to take in the older woman's appearance. "How are you my friend?" she asked looking over the woman who was an older sister to her as a child.

Vanora smiled and pushed a strand of Breena's wild black hair behind her ear. She just wanted to take in the younger girl's appearance. It had been three years since the last time they had seen each other and Vanora had missed her terribly. When a plump pigeon had perched itself on her windowsill with a note to meet, Vanora had been confused by the cryptic message but thrilled at the prospect of seeing her oldest and dearest friend. "I am well," she finally answered.

Breena smiled with a nod, but instantly sobered and grabbed Vanora's hand. "Are you sure you are alright with this?" she asked, her dark eyes searching Vanora's soft green ones for any sign of doubt. "You are risking a lot by taking us in," she finished squeezing her friend's small hand.

Vanora dropped Breena's hand, grabbed her face in her hands and looked her straight in the eyes. "Breena you are my friend and I love you dearly, I would do anything for you and your firends," she replied truthfully without a hint of doubt or regret in her voice.

Isolde, Lorna and Kora all looked at each other with large smiles on their faces. They were going to get along very well with this woman. They were worried about the welcome Vanora would give them for they had never personally met. For Vanora's safety, Breena thought it best to keep Vanora as far away as possible from her Woad life should their friendship ever be discovered. The less Vanora knew and who she knew the better.

Breena's heart swelled at Vanora's words and nodded. "Thank you Vanora," she said softly.

Living true to her reputation, Lorna's shoulders slumped. "Ugh! Do we really have to be around those wretched Knights?" she groaned. She was not looking forward to this at all. She disliked most men and had voiced her disgust with the fact that they were going to be surrounded by Romans and Knights; she would have preferred to take on an entire Saxon army single-handedly.

Breena looked up at the dark night sky in frustration. "Lorna!" she hissed in warning thru gritted teeth.

Feeling also disgruntled about the situation, Kora came to her cousin's defence. "Well it's true, I have heard about them," she said 'them' as if they were the scum of the earth, which they were in her opinion.

Breena let out a laboured sigh and looked at Vanora. "Shall get going before I kill them?" she asked nodding behind her to Lorna and Kora.

Isolde and Vanora just giggled while both cousins' crossed their arms and letting out a huff of annoyance.

"I have the loft of our home prepared for you. It's small and you will have to share the two beds, I hope that is okay?" Vanora asked as she outstretched her arm towards the Fort. The Knights had built her and Bors a rather large home over the years since their clan continued to grow and after rearranging a few children, Vanora had freed the loft.

All four girls nodded happily. They would have been satisfied sleeping in the stables and were just grateful Vanora had opened up her home to them.

As Kora, Lorna and Isolde moved to where they had hid their sacks of supplies that they would be taking with them, Breena moved to face the woods behind them and let out a long, loud whistle.

"What is she doing?" Vanora asked confused, looking between each of the girls who were watching Breena.

Isolde just smiled and continued to watch Breena. "Saying goodbye," she replied nodding to where Breena was now crouched low to the ground.

Vanora looked at her confused then turned her head back to Breena and let out a loud gasp, her eyes widening in fear when five black wolves came walking out of the woods. "What are you doing?" she cried fearful for her friend's life.

Breena just smiled as she turned to look at Vanora. "These are my guardians," she replied. "Do not fear them, they will not harm me…or you," she added reading Vanora's concerned look.

Turning her attention back to the five furry creatures who all sat in front of her, a particularly large wolf steeped forward from the centre and licked Breena on the cheek as she began to stroke his neck and scratch his ears.

"Arwain my friend, I must leave you now," she said softly to the large wolf as she clutched the sides of his face in her hands. "Protect father," she commanded then pulled him close and buried her head in his soft fur.

Pulling away, Breena just kissed Arwain on his long snout as he began paw at her knee and letting out a series of whimpers. Understanding what this meant, each of the other wolves let out their own whines of protest to their mistress leaving.

Vanora was amazed as she watched Breena bid each wolf farewell. She would have to find out the story behind them as soon as possible for she had never seen nor heard of such a thing.

Isolde met Breena as she walked to meet the girls when she saw the tears in her Princess' eyes. "You will see them soon," she said soothingly, her thumb rubbing circles on Breena's shoulder.

Breena only nodded, feeling ridiculous for getting so worked up.

Vanora linked her arm thru Breena's as she came to stand next to the older woman. "Come, let us return to the Fort before my children burn it down," she said causing Breena and the others to laugh.

Breena took a deep breath, shot one last look to the five wolves who still sat watching her, and let Vanora lead them out of the woods.

"So, how many more children have been added since the last time we spoke?" Breena finally asked as they made their way to the Fort.

Vanora smiled proudly. "Lets see, when we last spoke I had five. I have had three more since and therefore have a grand total of 8. Oh, and I will be expecting number nine by winter," Vanora said pointing to her stomach

Realising she was walking alone, Vanora stopped and turned instantly letting out a roar of laughter at the horrified looks on the four girls faces.

"What?...How could you?...Eight children?" Kora chocked out as the girls found their feet and continued walking. She liked children but birthing eight, that was insanity.

"Soon to be nine," Isolde added dryly with a slight grin on her face.

Lorna just smacked Vanora on the back when she reached her. "Gods woman, what does that man do to you?" She couldn't imagine mothering eight children, soon to be nine. She had instant respect for the woman.

Breena just laughed. "Seems every time he touches her, she gets pregnant," she teased nudging Vanora.

Vanora also laughed. "What can I say?" she said with a shrug and winked at the girls as they all burst into a fit of giggles.

They had no problem entering the fort since all the guards knew Vanora. Breena and the girls were under the pretence that they were from a neighbouring village and were in search of work. Vanora of course being a tavern owner and always in need of new girls, had no problem backing up the girls stories and laughed at the scowls on their faces when the guards winked and promised to be the first to 'welcome' them properly after their shifts.

Breena, Isolde, Kora and Lorna could not believe the chaos they walked into as Vanora lead them into her home. Children were running around screaming bloody murder, some banging pans together creating "music", while others were engaged in what one would assume to be wrestling and not paying any heed to the damage that was left in their wake as they rolled around.

Vanora didn't seem in the least bit surprised as she walked into the centre of the living area. "QUIET!" she yelled. Instantly there was silence as each child immediately ceased whatever activity they were engaged in and filed in front of their mother.

All four girls stood deaf, dumb, and silent themselves.

After Vanora had introduced each girl to her eight children, all of whom were beyond thrilled to have four older girls living with them, sent them off to bed with each girl promising to play with them in the morning; 'each girl' of course meaning Breena since she was the best with children.

After the girls were unpacked, beds were turned down and all in their night garments, Vanora demanded a full explanation as to the real reason Breena and the girls were in need of her help. The note Breena had sent had been vary vague, for obvious reasons of course, but the curiosity was eating her alive.

Vanora, who had sat quietly during Breena's tale, looked at Breena with wide eyes. "So you are the reason why the Woads haven't attacked the Knights these past years?" she asked in disbelief.

Breena smiled and nodded. "When my mother married my father and became Queen, her first order was for the fighting with the Sarmations to stop. My father of course agreed, but it took years to convince the Woads that the Knights were not the enemy, just Rome. We did our best to avoid confrontation with the Knights; unfortunately though, there were times when we were battling the Romans and it couldn't be avoided resulting in some being lost," she said sympathetically.

"On both sides," Kora added sadly, each of the girls nodding in agreement. She and the girls had all lost family and friends over the years at the hands of the Romans and Knights.

Lorna, who was sitting on the bed next to her cousin, wrapped an arm around her letting Kora rest her head on Lorna's shoulder.

Vanora gave a sad smile, sympathizing with each of them. "Where is your mother? Surly she wouldn't have agreed to this," she suddenly asked Breena not recalling any mention at to the women's whereabouts. Vanora remembered Irma well and had always thought highly of her.

She instantly felt her heart drop though when Breena's face paled and tears formed in her eyes. "She was killed two years ago when there was a battle with the Romans," she said lowly. She still mourned for the woman who had been the light to her world and found it incredibly difficult to talk about it.

Isolde, who was beside of Breena, wrapped her arms around her friend in silent comfort.

Breena sighed into her friends embrace. "She never fought the Knights," she said whipping a fallen tear. "She defended them and eventually convinced the Woads to realize the Knights were as much a victim of the Romans as we are," she said softly.

Vanora had tears running down her cheeks and instantly flew across the room and hugged her young friend tightly to her. "I am so sorry," she whispered, pulling away and whipping Breena's tears in a motherly fashion.

"I can never thank you enough for what you have done for the men, even if some were lost. What you have done is… I can't even form the words to describe it," she chocked through her tears. Her damn hormones were getting the best of her and there were no stopping them now. She hated being pregnant at times.

Okay please review and let me know what you think. The revelation as to the exact reason Breena and the girls are at the Fort will be revealed in later chapters along with more detail as to why the Woads ceased their attacks on the Knights; have to keep you guessing. I just wanted to establish the presence of the girls at the fort.