DISCLAIMER: Still don't own anything at all from King Arthur. Not making any money on this just having some play time with the characters.


Kiana sighed as she straightened her back from bending over to clean up the tavern floor while wondering with faint disgust how grown men could create such a mess in one night's time. She was the last one to leave the tavern these nights and her ever present fear of Sinich finding fault with her work kept her busy far later than the other girls. Of course, the other girls were probably busy in someone's bed by then.

Hearing a rustling coming from the back door of the kitchen, Kiana rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the cloth she had wrapped meat scraps leftover from discarded dinner plates. She opened the door to admit a large cat who immediately began winding his way around her legs while purring loudly, "If you'd hunt more mice you wouldn't be so hungry." She mockingly chided the cat as she set the scraps down. The cat spared her a quick glance before diving into the scraps.

Kiana smiled fondly at the cat and set to making sure the kitchen was in order so Sinich would find no cause for complaint when he came in with the cook in the morning. Idly she chewed on a piece of bread and cheese the cook had tucked away for her. She was glad she had been able to make friends with old Sameal when Vanora had first brought her into the tavern. Sameal had made his distaste for the other tavern girls well known and had treated her with kindness and respect. Knowing how little money Kiana earned working in the tavern he had been quick to secretly set aside small meals for her to help supplement her limited ability to buy food. He had cautioned her to not let the other girls or Sinich see her eating anything he saved for her since Sinich would immediately throw them both out.

In exchange for Sameal's kindness, Kiana helped with his laundry and mending. She really hated any form of seamstress work but wanted to repay his kindness for risking both their jobs by helping him out in the only meaningful way she could. When there were quiet times in the tavern they would sit together companionably and occasionally speak of times past or wishes for the future. Sameal had been the only one she had told how much she had missed the life she had lost on her parent's farm. He had rubber her shoulders to console her when she had cried over the loss of her family and her fear for her future. Other than Vanora, he was the only friend she truly had at the fort.

Kiana's thoughts were interrupted by the cat bumping up against her legs again, "So now you want my attention too?" she asked as she sat down to pet the loudly purring animal. She had found the cat crouching and hiding behind the kitchen late one night. He had been thin and skittish and had looked at her with eyes that were both hopeful to get a scrap of food and fearful of being chased away. She had been touched by the poor animal's plight and had begun secreting small scraps of meat off the plates coming back to the kitchen each night. The cat had quickly learned she could be trusted and would come around only after everyone else had left for the night. She enjoyed his company and affection and made a point to spend time just petting him after each time she fed him. It was this small connection to another living thing that made the late nights in the tavern more bearable.

After she had sent the cat on his way she extinguished the lanterns and stepped out into the crisp nighttime air. She shivered a bit as the colder fall air cut into the light material of her dress. While working in the tavern kept her plenty warm, the dress didn't have thick enough material to warm her in the cooler temperatures. She knew she was going to have to get a winter cloak but didn't have the money to get one. She had been trying to save money for a cloak by hiding it in her straw mattress in the hut she shared with another tavern worker, Alys. She had recently discovered her savings stolen. She suspected Alys of the theft since the other woman wasn't opposed to taking anything of Kiana's that she felt she needed to use. It made Kiana angry but she had little choice but to put up with it since she could not afford a place to live on her own. She had been watching Alys closely after she discovered the theft but noticed that the other woman didn't seem to have bought anything new. She kept her accusations in check until she had proof of the theft.

Kiana looked around warily before she began her walk home while hunching her shoulders against the cold air. The hut she shared was a fair distance from the tavern and she had always been uneasy walking the distance during the night with no one around. While the penalty for a man raping a woman within the fort was severe, she had seen the terrible burden that befell the woman after the fact. She hurried to her hut while keeping a wary watch on the shadows.

Arriving at the hut she noted with relief that Alys was not there which meant she was probably going to spend the whole night out with whichever man was paying for her affections. Kiana sighed with relief and grabbed a bucket to get water to wash before going to bed for the night. She didn't like bathing in the cold water but hated the smell from the tavern that clung to her clothes and skin from working. Once she had bathed she was finally able to collapse into bed.

Kiana was woken up early the next morning by Vanora pounding on her front door. She got up blearily and noted that Alys had not returned home that night as she went to the door. When she opened the door Vanora asked her, "Have you seen Alys?"

Kiana shook her head, "No. She wasn't here when I got home last night and she hasn't come home yet." She could see her answer irritated Vanora and asked, "Why?"

Vanora sighed, "She was supposed to be at the tavern this morning and hasn't shown up. Sinich is in a foul mood and sent me to fetch her. Her not being there has set Sameal behind."

Kiana thought of the stolen money for her winter cloak and offered, "If I can get a little extra money, I can come in to cover for her."

Vanora smiled thinly, "You worked until late. Get your rest now. I'll cover for her and give her a piece of my mind when she shows up."

Kiana didn't push the issue and bid Vanora goodbye and went back to her small bed. She looked around the sparsely furnished hut and thought of the farm she had lived on with her parents. Their home had been slightly larger than the hut she lived in now but had always been warm and full of laughter and love while this one was sparse and cold.

She and her sister had shared a bunk and her parents had slept across the room in their own area. She remembered fondly how her mother had taken such pains to keep their home so clean and fresh while still being able to help out their father running the farm. It had been a hard life but nothing compared to her existence now. Kiana feared the coming winter months with no extra money to pay one of the boys for firewood or buy lantern fuel.

She studied the furnishings with a detached eye and noted the threadbare cloth which acted as a window curtain and the heavily scarred wood on the makeshift table. There were two wooden chairs in the hut with one of them that constantly fell apart causing whoever was sitting in it to suddenly find themselves on the floor. Her three dresses were kept neatly folded on a small shelf by her bed along with her comb and two hair ribbons.

The only luxury she and Alys boasted was the bathing tub. Both women felt strongly about keeping themselves clean and had scrimped and saved to get a respectable tub that they could haul the water into and easily drain. Kiana was grateful that Alys shared her views on personal hygiene and keeping their hut clean if not well furnished.

Alys still had not returned by the time Kiana had to leave for the tavern and Kiana assumed she had finally shown up for work and had undoubtedly gotten an earful from Vanora and Sinich. Kiana smiled at the thought. While Sinich owned the tavern, it was well known that Vanora really ran the place. It was Vanora who had secured places for Alys, Cedany and herself after the knights had brought each of them into the fort from missions. Alys and Cedany had immediately begun whoring themselves out to make the extra coin while also holding the slim hope that one day one of the knights would see them as woman they could settle down with as Bors had done with Vanora. Vanora had pointed out to them that she had not been working as a tavern whore when she and Bors met. Both women chose to ignore the obvious implication in Vanora's reasoning.

When she arrived at the tavern, Vanora rushed over to her, "Have you seen Alys yet?"

Kiana blinked in surprise, "No. I thought she had come from wherever she was to here."

Vanora wrinkled her brow with the beginnings of worry, "She may be late at times, but she's always turned up before." She hurried off towards the kitchen with Kiana in tow.

That afternoon and evening were busier than normal with Alys not being there. She was asked where Alys was by a few of the Roman soldiers who Alys often shared her wares but Kiana could give no answers.

After a week no one asked about Alys anymore. There had been a search of common areas she frequented and questions asked of her more frequent customers but no clue as to where she would have gone. Kiana was given the extra shifts at the tavern and began saving up her money again hoping she could afford the basic necessities before the winter truly set in.

Kiana's back and arms were aching from constantly carrying the extra trays with food and drinks. She signaled Vanora that she was going to take a break and stepped out of the back kitchen door. She breathed a sigh as she stretched her arms away from her body and rolled her head on her shoulders to loosen the knots I her neck. The night air cooled the light sweat she had worked up while practically running to keep tables served.

Resting her back against the tavern wall she looked up at the night sky and studied the stars while thinking of her lost home. She was startled by a male voice slurring at her, "Pretty girl. You come out just for me?"

Kiana spun her head around to see a drunken Roman soldier leaning heavily against the tavern wall near an alleyway, "I only came out for air and need to get back to work." She said hurriedly as she turned to go back inside.

She let out a gasp of surprise as her arm was roughly grabbed and she was yanked back into a hard chest. She nearly gagged on the rank smell of the soldiers ale infused breath as he leaned over her to say, "You are working now girl. I've a few coins and a bench in the alley for you to bend over for me."

Kiana tried to yank her arm free, "You are making a mistake. I don't do that. I can send one of the other girls out for you."

"I've had my fill of those dried up whores, I think I'll try you now." The drunk leered at her as he started pulling her towards the alley.

"Let me go!" Kiana yelled as she tried to yank her arm free in desperation. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head and her vision blackened as the soldier slapped her across the face.

"Snotty bitch. Come quietly now or I can make it rougher." He laughed then, "Maybe you like it rougher, huh?"

Kiana dug her heals in harder and opened her mouth to scream. Before she could voice the scream another male voice cut in, "Let her go."

She looked around and saw the large knight who had called her "lady" weeks ago. He was standing in the back doorway of the kitchen with his arms crossed across his chest. His gaze was focused on the soldier who still had her arm in a vice like grip.

When the soldier did not immediately release her he uncrossed his arms and took a step closer, "I'll not tell you again. Let her go."

"What I do with a tavern whore is none of your concern, Sarmation!"

"She is no whore and has no desire to go anywhere with you." The knight had now withdrawn a wickedly sharp looking knife from his belt and was advancing on the soldier.

The soldier suddenly flung Kiana forward at the knight and fled down the alley. Kiana stumbled and would have fallen if the knight's quick reflexes hadn't intervened to catch her arm. He steadied her with one hand as he put his knife away with the other, "Are you hurt?" he asked her.

Kiana looked up at the knight's face and noted that he seemed genuinely concerned for her welfare, "I'll be fine. Thank you."

The knight released her arm once she had her balance and studied her face a moment, "You are Kiana." He stated simply.

Kiana studied the knight. She had seen him in the tavern with the other Sarmation knights many times. While he would sit near the group he rarely joined in their revelry and heavy drinking. The soldiers at the fort usually gave him a wide berth due to his size and unnervingly quiet nature. He stood many hands taller that most men and his frame held muscle from years of fighting. His hair was cropped close to his scalp and a scar ran down the left side of his face from his forehead to the middle of his cheek. She wondered how he got it and thought him fortunate that the injury missed putting out his eye. His grey blue eyes held her attention a moment longer before she responded, "Yes. Thank you again. I haven't had trouble back here before and didn't expect it tonight."

The knight gave a slight nod and turned to open the door for her to go back inside the tavern. After she had gone back inside Kiana turned back to the knight who was looking down the alley with a slight frown, "Will you be coming back inside sir….?" She paused when she realized she didn't know his name.

"Dagonet."

"Sir Dagonet?"

"Only Dagonet. Sir is a title for another, but not me."

Kiana smiled softly a moment at his simple nature, "Ok then, Dagonet. Will you be coming back inside?"

Dagonet stepped back into the tavern with a backward glance towards the alley. When Vanora had told Bors about a tavern girl who had gone missing a week prior she had asked if he would keep watch on Kiana. He knew she worked late at the tavern and frequently went out the back door of the kitchen where there was no one else around. He had caught the imploring look Vanora sent him as Kiana went towards the kitchen. She was becoming more and more worried about another girl disappearing and was especially worried for Kiana since the girl had no one to look after her.

He had followed her and silently appreciated her lithe form as she stretched to relieve the sore muscles in her arms and back and had been able to appreciate her need for silence as she looked upward to the heavens. Idly he wondered what she sought with her longing gaze.

He had stepped back into the kitchen to respect her privacy and had not heard her initial cry of distress. The unmistakable sound of a hand meeting flesh had brought him back to the doorway to see a drunken Roman soldier trying to drag her into the dark alley. His anger and disgust kept him in his place knowing that if he moved he would likely beat the soldier bloody. While the thought of beating such scum didn't bother him much, the thought of his actions frightening the girl did. He didn't know why, but the thought of distressing her bothered him greatly.

When the girl was safely released he had practically held his breath as she looked up at him and truly saw his face. He expected the revulsion so many women expressed over his scar and size and found himself half hoping she wouldn't turn away from him in disgust. Her eyes had been soft and accepting when she went back inside and he felt a small thrill when she said his name for the first time. He decided then and there that watching out for her would not be such a great burden after all.