Chapter 1: The Drunken Brawl

A/N: Okay, so this is my first fanfiction... ever! Sooo umm yeah, please be nice and read and review so I can know if this is good or bad. So yeah. Review and let me know of ideas that you have for the story to continue.

Chapter 1: The Drunken Brawl

"Another ale!" yells Gwaine from the small wooden table at which he sits. Soon he is calling for another one as he has already completed the one that had just recently arrived.

Suddenly a blast of cool air whipped through the tavern as the cracked wooden door swung open with a great force and slammed against the wall. In the doorway stood two people, a young man and a young woman. The young man, decent looking with his length jet black hair and his piercing green eyes that peered out of his hair that was slightly falling in his face, stood ready for anything with his hand resting casually on the handle of the sword at his side. Beside him stood a young woman, clearly well-bred from the look of her clothes, but obviously scared with her unusual colored eyes darting left and right, her purple eyes seemed to flit from one thing to the next, never resting on one object for long, as she shrunk closer against her companion's side. Quickly the young man led her into the tavern and closed the door, and then led her to a table not far from where Gwaine was seated. The young man seemed very familiar to Gwaine, but he couldn't quite place him—probably because of how many drinks he had consumed in such a short period of time. Soon the young man left the young woman and headed toward the owner of the tavern.

Suddenly Gwaine remembered why the young man looked so familiar: it was his old friend Tayse Rider. Tayse and Gwaine had played all the time together when they were young; unfortunately Tayse's parents died and Tayse went off to work for Lord Locksley, in a different part of the kingdom so they hadn't seen each other in years. Gwaine sat studying the young woman, trying to figure out who she was and why she was with his friend. Not long after Tayse had gone to talk to the tavern owner, trouble arrived at the table of the young lady in the form of Camron Browdsky. Now Camron Browdsky was bad news; Browdsky was a thug, he would be basically anything you told him to do for a high enough price. Gwaine watched carefully as Browdsky slowly approached the unsuspecting girl.

"Hello, my lovely," said a deep voice in a drawling tone. Lady Madeline Locksley jumped slightly, startled at the unexpected voice so close to her ear. Turning her head she saw a man, a very big man. Tall and intimidating he easily stood close to seven-feet-tall, he did not look friendly looking at all. Madeline wished that Tayse would come back quickly from seeing if the owner of the tavern would let them stay the night. They had had a trying day, first Madeline, Tayse, and Madeline's father had set off for Camelot, for some important meeting with the king. But along the way they had been waylaid by a group of thugs who then proceeded to kill her father for his money, while Madeline and Tayse just barely escaped by hiding in the forest. Tayse being Madeline's personal bodyguard refused to leave her and so they set forth walking to Camelot, hoping that king Uther would let them stay there until arrangements could be made for her to become someone's ward, and for Tayse to continue to be her personal guard.

"Good evening," Madeline greeted the man in a small quiet voice, wishing that Tayse would return.

"You mind if I join you?" he asked. Just as Madeline opened her mouth to reply he said, "Of course you don't. A pretty little thing like you is probably trying to find someone to look after you. Well my sweet, my name is Camron Browdsky and I will be more than willing to be that man, if you catch my meaning," he said, wiggling his eyebrows and leering at her.

"Well Mr. Browdsky, as tempting as your offer sounds, I fear I am unable to accept it as I already have someone looking after me, and he should be returning any moment," Madeline replied in an ice cold voice.

"Well, I'm sure he won't mind sharing," Browdsky answered her grinning, showing all of his yellowing teeth.

"Actually, I'm sure he will. He is quite possessive, so it would be much more benefical for your health for you to return to the table you were previously seating at," Madeline replied somewhat desperately.

Standing up Browdsky replied, "Well, I guess your caretaker is just going to have to share you, or give you up once I'm done with you." As he stood, he had a vice like grip on her upper arm and started to pull her up and out of her chair. As Madeline filled her lungs about to scream another voice cut through the air, quite close to where Madeline and Browdsky were standing.

"Camron, I don't believe that lady wants to go with you. I know how her friend will react to her not being here when he returns; I can promise you it will not be a pretty sight. I would suggest letting her go now," Gwaine said, coming to stand by Browdsky.

Browdsky suddenly let go of Madeline's arm and she crumpled to the floor in shock. Slowly Browdsky turned to Gwaine with a look of pure hatred upon his face. "I don't believe I asked your opinion on the matter. But since you feel so vocal on the matter I guess I will just have to deal with you," Browdsky said, as he pulled his arm back and swung a punch towards Gwaine's face. Suddenly all hell broke loose in the tavern. Punches flew through the air, along with cups, plates, tables, chairs, and several people as well. Just as suddenly as the brawl had started, it stopped.

Silence filled the tavern as a big man with clomping footsteps walked into the room with a menacing look upon his face, he had a scar running from his right eyebrow to the left corner of his mouth, Angus Syre, the owner of the tavern was not pleased. Next to Syre stood Madeline's companion from earlier, Tayse, who stood ready to fight with his sword drawn. Tayse quickly made his way over to Madeline, who was still crumpled on the floor with a look of shock and dread upon her face. As Tayse was helping her up Syre demanded to know who had started the fight. Several voices rang out.

"It was the guy with the long hair," stated one voice.

"No, it was Camron," said another.

"No, no it was the girl," said another voice ringing out. However, most of the voices agreed that Browdsky had thrown the first punch.

Syre walked up to Browdsky and said, "What happened and why did you start a brawl in my tavern?"

"Well, I was talking to this girl here all nice like when suddenly, this chap over here decides that he takes a fancy to her and starts going on about she is his girl. Next thing I know he takes a swing at me, it was all safe defense honest," Browdsky claimed.

"That's a bold face lie, sir. I was sitting here waiting for my companion to return from talking to you, when this man, Mr. Camron Browdsky comes over here and starts propositioning me, after I refused a couple of times he became mad and decided that if I would not go willingly, he would just force me. This gentleman here stopped Mr. Browdsky from doing unspeakable things to me," Madeline cut in.

"And who might you be, little lady," asked Syre.

"I am Lady Madeline Locksley, Tayse here is my personal bodyguard and we are on our way to Camelot to speak to king Uther about some very important things," Madeline said.

"Well, my lady. I am sorry that you had to put up with this kind of riff-raff. I will show you and your guard to your rooms in just a moment," Syre said, "as for you Browdsky. I don't want to see you in my tavern every again. If I do I will label you as a law breaker and have you punished."

"You'll regret this," Browdsky claimed, as several of the men in the tavern started pushing Browdsky toward the door, "you all will regret this. You haven't seen the last of Camron Browdsky, especially not you; you long haired kill-joy!" Browdsky screamed at the top of his lungs, as he was pushed out the door and it slammed in his face.

"Well, that takes care of that. Now if you will just follow me I will show you to your rooms," Syre said.

"Actually, Mr. Syre, if I may I would like to talk to the man who helped saved my charge for a little bit; if you don't mind of course. I know where our rooms are, I can show Lady Madeline once I am done talking to her rescuer," Tayse said in his deep voice.

"Of course, Mr. Tayse. I will see you in the morning," Syre said and with that he ordered everyone to leave except those staying the night.

"Gwaine! It's good to see you again, my friend," Tayse said joyously as he clapped the other man on the back.

"And you as well, Tayse. What has it been fifteen years since we last saw each other?" Gwaine replied.

"It must be. Well let me introduce to you my mistress, the Lady Madeline. I went to work for her father when I left and I was promoted to her personal bodyguard a few years ago. We were on our way to Camelot when our party was attacked. Unfortunately Lord Locksley was killed, Lady Madeline and I barely escaped with our own lives," Tayse said, filling his old friend in on what had happened and answered the unspoken questions Gwaine's eyes.

"That's horrible. But I am happy that the both of you are safe. I am also happy that I was able to be of assistance, my lady," Gwaine said. "Well, where are you planning on going now?"

"We are continuing on to Camelot. There we hope to find someone who will be willing to take me as a ward, and keep Tayse on as my personal guard," Madeline interjected into the conversation.

"Ah, I wish you luck in Camelot," Gwaine said. Madeline yawned suddenly, and started to lean on Tayse, slowly falling asleep.

"Well, it appears that it is time for me to show Lady Madeline where she will be sleeping for the night; I hope I will see you in the morning Gwaine. It would be good to catch up some more before we head to Camelot," Tayse said. With those final words, Tayse waved goodbye to Gwaine and led Lady Madeline away, having her lean on him so she wouldn't crumple to the floor in a heap.

As Gwaine watched them walk away he wondered what would happen in the morning, and how good it was to see Tayse again. Suddenly, Gwaine felt extremely tired, as all the ale that he had drunk earlier that evening started to catch up with him as the adrenalin from helping Lady Madeline wore off. Slowly Gwaine headed to his room, wondering if he could maybe enjoy Tayse and Lady Madeline's company some more before they headed for Camelot.

A/N: So yeah, there is the first chapter, question for anybody who actually reads this: do you want Gwaine to go with Lady Madeline and Tayse when they leave the tavern, or do you want him to meet up with them later after they run into trouble of some kind? Let me know what you think. I will not update again until I at least get one review, so I can know what people think and want. Oh, and I realize that there might be some OOC with Gwaine, but please cut me some slack, as I said before this is my first fanfic. R&R please!

~Readaholic