a/n: ok... so like i stated in the prologue... she's much much more insane and proned to attack. i hope you liked the ability that i gave her. i have to admit though.... the idea is not entirely my own. i actually got it from the twilight series. combining renesme's gift with edwards kinda. you'll find in here that she varies from viscious to fearful to sarcastic to happy and then back to her wish list of a killing spree. so i think that covers everything here, you can read now! r&r plz!

Feathers and Fur

Tristan

Chapter 1

It was 15 years ago they were taken from their homeland of Sarmatia; 15 years they have devoted their lives to serving Rome against their will. After these 15 years only eight knights were left out of the many that were brought from Sarmatia, including their commander, Arthur Castus; who was now their most trusted friend.

Those same eight riders set out from their post of the fortress better known as Hadrian's Wall to make sure that their freedom was secure. A bishop, who went by the name of Germanous, was to give them their discharge papers on that day, the day that they were to be liberated of the forced duty that Rome charged them with. With this thought in mind, Leana licked her lips in anticipation, and urged her mare to go faster, by passing Gawain and Bors to ride next to Tristan who was already well ahead of everyone else. She heard a bark not too far back and saw it was her black female wolf, Bane. She found Bane when she was just a small pup; an injured paw and alone with no one to care for her; so feeling pity for the small animal, she took it in and nursed her paw and kept her feed, and when it came time for her to go, she wouldn't. Leana offered the wolf freedom several times, and several times the wolf would go then come back, but always brought a freshly killed rabbit or hare clamped in her jaws. So she kept the wolf, giving it a home and the wolf gave her protection from any too friendly soldiers, soldiers that were drunk.

Up above, Leana could see Tristan's hawk circle around them before flying off to get her breakfast for the day. Leana skipped breakfast slightly; only able to get away from Vanora if she accepted an apple to eat. Vanora was sweet, kind, caring, and ruled her house with an iron fist. After all she now had twelve children to take care of. Bors, and his elven bastard children. Bors could be considered a child at heart; a bloody dangerous child at that. Vanora had to put up with him and her eleven children, the new borne was only a few months old and looked just like his father; though Lancelot deemed it debatable as to who was the real father; him, or Bors.

The knights came to a stop at the top of a hill, and watched as the carriage transporting the bishop, and more importantly their discharge papers, accompanied by Roman officers. Leana scowled at the sight of Romans. She still never forgot what happened on that day, but learned to put it on the back burner and focus on the here and now. Her hand twitched at her side, in motion to grab her bow and string an arrow so that it just hit one soldier, just one and she would be satisfied and she could go on with her life; it was not only the burning and massacring of her village and family that had caused a ruthless vendetta to rise up. It when she was of the age of 17 when a Roman nearly raped her. She couldn't scream, but she made sure that he did, out of pain of course. She managed to hurt so much that he screamed, almost breaking her ear drum but she didn't notice that much; she was too frightened of what this man wanted. Bane was near by thankfully and ran off to get one of the knights. Arthur, Lancelot, Tristan, Gawain, Gareth and of course Dag came to her rescue. All the knights had learned of her ability when they first got to the round table. Arthur had specifically said that there were no secrets. Dagonet mentioned it and she finished explaining it. Now it finally came in handy because she could not only tell, but she could show what was in her mind. The officer was sent away to somewhere else; still, this only fueled the already burning fire of her deep hatred for Rome. She wanted their blood, their blood on her, her and her father's swords, and she wanted their heads. But the only way that she could get anyway with a murder like that would be if an ambush attacked the caravan.

"As promised, the bishop's carriage." Gawain sighed out of relief. Her hand relaxed to the side of her horse, giving it a pat on the neck, the horse could sense her mistresses distress and gave a gentle neighing sound to calm her. Galahad was getting excited and turned to Bors.

"Our freedom Bors." Galahad remarked with a smile that he couldn't help. Bors gave a thoughtful look, as if savoring those words.

"Mmm, I can almost taste it." He replied licking his lips; earning a chuckle from everyone.

"Your passage to Rome Arthur." said Gawain. Arthur smiled and looked about. Everything seemed to fog over, that was nothing new, but it was getting quiet. Just then out of the blue, a Roman soldier collapsed off his horse, an arrow sticking up out of his chest. Leana blinked for moment and looked down to see if her bow was in the same place as it always was if not in her hand, it was to her slight relief. Then she heard the roar of battle cries coming from below.

"Woads!" alerted Tristan. At those words everyone flew into action; riding down the hill at break neck speed, flying in their dragon formation, Tristan, Leana and Bors acting as the "wings" as they fired their arrows at rapid pace. Arthur took a head off a woad who had successfully beheaded a Roman officer. Eye for an eye I suppose. Leana thought in her usual dark humor. She was more than likely the more dangerous fighter there out of all of them. She could torment her enemies physically and mentally, making her the best interrogator. She and Tristan began firing arrows, steering their mighty steeds with their knees. They continued like that until they had run out of arrows and were forced to fight on the ground. At the same time they dismounted and drew their curved blades. They were much closer than they were when they first met. Her new form of communication helped with this. They soon found that they were more alike then they thought.

They both kept their blades exceptionally sharp, so sharp that the opponent that lost a limb wouldn't even feel the blade cut through the skin, flesh and bone. They also had the same form of fighting style, it was like a dance when they fought. Tristan was less graceful than Leana but that was expected, women were always considered more graceful than men. Their dance continued until Arthur had the last remaining woad on his knees, Excalibur at his throat. Arthur didn't call Leana over; he knew she couldn't speak their language from previous attempts

"Why did Merlin send you south of the wall?" he asked, holding Excalibur to his throat menacingly. The woad warrior looked up at him with a glare and snarled something in his own native tongue. Leana ignored the scene and walked over to the caravan, where Bors and Gawain where staring inside with disbelief. She too gasped at the sight she seen. The man inside was dead; three arrows were poking out of his chest. Gawain filtered out his anger by plopping down on the ground and stabbed an already dead woad a few times until he noticed another man underneath the carriage praying in what sounded like Latin.

"Save your prayers boy, you god doesn't live here." Gawain panted. Leana was either in a state of shock, or just didn't really give a crap, either way she walked away to find her horse and pulled up the hood on her cloak, letting a minuet growl issue from her throat. Bane came up beside her and gave a sympathetic wine, earning her a pat on the head to assure the female wolf. Tristan came up to her with her horse and handed it to her. She nodded her thanks and mounted her mare then trotted over to Arthur who was now talking to Bors.

"Bors." called Arthur. Bors pulled the curtain back further to reveal the dead body.

"What a bloody mess." He remarked pointing at the body. Arthur too looked inside then turned to Bors.

"That's not the bishop." He assured. Gawain relaxed a little and Bors stepped away from the door to the back of the caravan. He noticed the bishop's aide shaking with fear.

"God help us. What are they?" he asked in a shaky voice.

"Blue demons who eat Christians. You're not a Christian are you?!" Bors turned around and pointed at the cowering man threateningly. Instantly, he clasped his hands together like he was about to pray. Bors looked at the hand gesture questioningly.

"Does this… really work?" he asked and clasped his hands together as well and started to mumble incoherently. He stopped and looked around him. "Nothing; maybe I'm not doing it right…" he said then got on to his horse.

One of the remaining soldiers approached the knights with a smile. He looked to be around his fifties and held himself with a regal poise.

"Arthur! Arthur Castus. Your father's image. I haven't seen you since childhood." The man exclaimed. He had an accent that could easily get on one's nerves. Leana busied herself with getting her horse situated, still keeping her hood over her head, her golden locks spilling out on one side.

"Bishop Germanous. Welcome to Britain. I see your military skills are still of use to you. Your device worked." Arthur said as he welcomed the bishop.

"Ancient tricks, for and ancient dog." He said laughing then dismounted from his horse walking so that he could see all of the knights. "And these are the brave Sarmatian knights that I've heard so much of in Rome. I thought the Woads controlled the north of Hadrian's Wall." He stated, looking at Leana with a suspicious look. She shifted in her saddle uncomfortably under his gaze. She didn't like him, that much was certain.

"They do, but occasionally venture south. Rome's anticipated with drawl from Britain has only increased their daring." Arthur explained.

"Woads?" asked the bishop's aide off to the side.

"British rebels who hate Rome." replied Gawain. Galahad was soon to follow up.

"Men who want their country back." he added in obnoxiously. Of all the knights, he seemed to be the one was the most ready to go home. Leana had her horse trot over to him and place her pointer finger on the side of his head, telling him to keep a cool head and said that she didn't like this man either. Leana didn't know where she would go, but she wasn't going where the Romans were; not unless they wanted to be killed. She was probably the most intimidating up close on the battle field. And if you knew her from up close, you knew when she's in her happy moods and when to leave her be.

"Who is she and what was she doing?" asked the bishop.

"This is Leana; she is one of my knights. Her home was one that was pillaged and burned. Her entire family slaughtered like animals. She can't speak; she lost her voice on the same day Rome took her. She has a new ability to speak in other's minds. It is a wonderful gift that God has given her." Arthur explained on her behalf. Leana didn't smile; in fact, she expressed no emotion at all.

"She can speak inside other's minds?" asked the bishop's secretary. Dagonet came up beside her. Concealing her hand she managed to touch a finger to Dag's hand, giving him her thoughts on this man.

"I don't trust him Dag. He looks like he's hiding something… and he looks disgusting." She relayed to him. They broke skin contact and the communication was severed. The bishop and his aid were staring at her.

"As a bishop, perhaps I should see for myself if this is indeed a God given gift and not one from Satan the Devil himself." Suggested the bishop. He held out his hand like he was expecting her to just jump down from her saddle and take his hand and tell him every single thought that she had in the past 15 years. When she didn't move he took a step forward. She then placed her hand on her horse's neck and told him to back up a few steps. Leana didn't want any Roman touching her. Fear crossed her face as he took more steps toward her. Tristan and Dag sensed her fear and blocked the bishop from coming any closer. She was breathing rapidly and shaking. She couldn't tell if she was doing it out of fear or anger toward this man.

"Don't touch her." Came Tristan's hiss of a reply. He looked rather menacing with all the blood still splattered on his face. Leana reached for both Dag's and Tristan's hands. They took it and began conversing with each other, this being another perk that her ability gave her.

"Don't let him near me please. I don't know what will happen." Her voice sounded like she was sobbing "I can't let him inside my head, I just can't." she pleaded.

"Don't worry Leana, we won't let this pig touch you." Came Dag's assuring answer. She looked at Tristan who was glaring at the bishop.

"Over my dead rotting corpse of a body." He said finally. They gave her hands a firm squeeze and then released. Dag looked to Arthur and shook his head.

"My apologies bishop, but it appears that this is something that Leana highly disapproves of. And I myself can assure you that this is no gift from the Devil. Please bishop the matter at hand. You were asking about the Woads." Arthur intervened. The bishop seemed to forget about her for the moment.

"Ah yes, who lead these barbarians?" he asked, finally getting back to the matter at hand.

"He's called Merlin. A dark magician some say." Answered Lancelot, putting an eerie tone to spoke the bishop's aide. It worked too. Arthur then turned to Leana and Tristan, who were trying to get the blood off their faces and hands by licking them clean.

"Tristan, Leana, ride ahead and make sure the rode is clear." He ordered the two scouts. They nodded and rode off; Bane following shortly after.

She gave a sigh that told him that she didn't like the looks of things. Bane was soon with them, sniffing about for woads.

"It looks to be clear. Let's head back." He said after a few moments of silence. She knew he heard her, he just didn't say anything; not like she was expecting any less from him, it was the way he was. She nodded and followed him; whistling for Bane to follow them.

Soon they were riding with the rest of the knights, and stopping on top of a hill, watching the caravan make its way into the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall.

"Well now that we're free men, and women, I'm going to drink till I can't piss straight." Bors said happily.

"You do that every night." Remarked Gawain, looking out.

"I could never piss straight." Bors explained. "Too much of myself to handle, down there." He continued. None of the knights responded and one of the horses neighed. He looked about to each one. "Well! It's a problem! No really it is. Its like-"

"A baby's arm holding an apple." The knights finished for him, now looking at him with smiles on their faces. They laughed and rode off towards the wall.

While riding, they struck up the most common thing talk about among them besides women and ale; home. Leana tended to keep quiet about such topics, considering what had happened to her, not that she could say anything about it out loud.

"I don't like it. Rome." Galahad started complaining. "If he's here to discharge us, why doesn't he just give us our papers?" he asked Gawain and Bors. Gawain looked to him with a smirk upon his face.

"Is this your happy face?" he teased his younger brother. Galahad scowled for a moment then cracked a smile, chuckling in the process.

"Galahad, do you still not know the Romans? They won't scratch their asses with out holding a ceremony." Gawain stated, looking up ahead at the carriage.

"Why don't ye just kill him, and discharge yourself after?" suggested Bors also in a teasing like manner.

Leana was next to Galahad and touched his arm. "I'll do it…" she offered with a smile; the same smile that they all knew her for when she was half kidding and half serious.

"No. I don't kill for pleasure… unlike some." Galahad said, intending that comment for Tristan and Leana whose heads perked up in interest. Leana got next to Gawain and gestured for him to touch Bors and Galahad while she reached for Tristan's hand.

"You should try it someday; you might get a taste for it." Stated Tristan. Leana smiled at the comment.

"I get board on the battlefield, sorry for enjoying the thrill of living one more day." Leana quipped in. Both of these comments earned a laugh from Gawain and a small chuckle from Bors. She separated from them and fell back to ride next to Dagonet.

"Its part of you. It in yer blood." Said Bors. Galahad shook his head.

"No, no. As of tomorrow this is all just a bad memory." Galahad said. Bors gave him a sarcastic "aw", and then watched him ride off.

"I've often thought what going home would mean after all this. What will I do? It's different for Galahad. I have been in this life longer than the other. So much for home – it's not so clear in my memory." Gawain said to Bors.

"Well, you speak for yourself; it's cold back there. And everyone I know is dead and buried. Besides, I have, I think, a dozen children." Said Bors.

"Elven." Corrected Gawain.

"You listen, when the Romans leave here, we'll have the run of all this place. I'll be… Governor of my own village, and Dagonet will be my personal guard and royal arse-kisser, won't you Dag?" Bors shouted over to Dagonet, who in turn looked away, trying to ignore the small quip that was sent his way. Gawain rolled his eyes at Bors fantasy.

"First thing I will do when I get home is to find myself a beautiful Sarmatian women to wed." stated Gawain.

Bors looked to him like he was crazy. "A beautiful Sarmatian women? Why do you think we left in the first place?" asked Bors. Gawain scoffed as Bors made a mooing noise. Leana raised an eyebrow and rode up behind Bors and slapped upside the head hard, making sure the thick ring on her ringer hit his head. The knights laughed at this action and Leana smiled triumphantly as the so called mighty Bors rubbed the back of his head gingerly.

"What about you, Lancelot? What are your plans for home?" Bors asked, still recovering from his current head injury.

"Well, if this woman of Gawain's is as beautiful as he claims, I expect to be spending a lot of time at Gawain's house. His wife will welcome the company." Lancelot answered smugly, sending a look to an intrigued Gawain.

"I see, and what will I be doing?" Gawain asked, arching an eyebrow.

At this Lancelot smiled smugly. "Wondering to your good fortune that all your children look like me." He said, earning a hearty laugh from Bors. Gawain gave him a threatening glare.

"Is that before or after I hit you with my axe?" Gawain muttered. Bors continued to laugh, and Leana chuckled as the trusted knight rode up to Arthur, either not hearing it or just ignoring it. Leana looked up when she heard a squawk from the sky. Tristan whistled three times and his hawk came descending from the sky and landed on his out stretched arm.

"Where you been, eh? Where you been?" he cooed to the hawk. Leana heard a howl close by and put her fingers to her lips and gave a high-pitched whistle. No sooner did she whistle, Bane came bounding out of the woods up to her. Leana leaned down and gave her a pat on the head.

"Getting your dinner where you? Catch anything good?" she asked the black wolf, who only padded along with her horse, looking up at her human companion, panting, and wagging her tail in happiness. She chuckled and the wolf barked happily. The rest of the ride was short and the talking of home soon ended, much to Leana's pleasure. The doors to the wall soon opened and the carriage rode in followed by the remaining Roman soldiers, Arthur, and the knights. Just about everyone was there to who was arriving in the carriage.

"Welcome back Arthur." Welcomed Jols as they all dismounted. Bane went over to him and licked his hand in hello and barked happily. Jols gave her a scratch behind the ears and she walked away, satisfied with what she got.

"Jols." Arthur returned.

"Lancelot." Jols welcomed. Lancelot nodded his hello and thanks. The bishop came out of his carriage and looked around in what seemed to be disgust. Arthur walked up to him with his usual facial expression.

"Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you." Arthur said, being the courteous gentlemen that he was. The bishop smiled his thanks.

"Ah yes, I must rest." He said. Leana and few of the other knights rolled their eyes at his exaggeration. Last I bloody checked we were at one of Rome's outposts, not in the theater. Leana thought to herself scowling in distaste towards the fat bishop. He's rather plump for a servant of God… then again he's Roman. Her thoughts were shattered by Vanora slapping Bors across the face as she passed by the two couple. She couldn't help but chuckle at the redheaded woman's furry, then grimaced as the two started kissing in mad passion. Bane followed closely behind, growling when a Roman got a little too close to her liking. Like Leana, she hated the Romans with a passion, more than what the other remaining knights felt towards them.

"You should be more relaxed now." A voice said behind her. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice a concerned Dagonet walking up behind her, his voice made her jump a little. She grabbed his hand.

"Can't help it. I won't be relaxed until every Roman is back in their Goddess be damned city." She said to him. She didn't realize it, but she was gripping the handle of her dagger that was strapped to her side. Fortunately Dag noticed and placed a gentle and comforting arm on her shoulder, helping her relax her hold.

"You do that all the time you that?" he stated pulling her close to him like an older brother walking with his little sister, bonding as if they were a real family.

"Do what?" she asked, grabbing hold of one of his fingers and looking up at the gentle giant beside her.

"Grip the nearest or effective weapon on you at the moment when Romans are near. It's an unhealthy grudge." He answered; a little too honest than what she would have liked, then again, Dagonet wasn't one to sugar coat words either, that's why he hardly ever spoke.

"Well the Romans have an unhealthy case of greediness, so you tell me who's at fault here." She stated with a smirk. He smiled down at her and yanked down her hood then ruffled her blonde hair. Her green eyes were a mixture of contentment, happiness, fear, and anger; though Dagonet knew she was feeling a more balanced mixture of happiness and fear. He knew why, and he felt she had every reason to slit the Roman's throats, but he also knew she had more self control than that. Leana always thought about what would happen if she did something, unless she was attacked first then she had the right to strike with full force who ever struck her first; no matter who that person was; and Arthur didn't object to it either, knowing well enough the Sarmatian woman's wrath.

A rush of children came behind them and the two of them smiled at the sudden stampede of miniature versions of Bors and Vanora. Gawain and Galahad had joined the two knights walking to the knight's quarters to become more comfortable.

"How in the name of the seven hells can one have elven children and still be well today?" asked Gawain in bewilderment.

"That's because you don't 'have too much to handle… down there'." Leana quoted with a laugh when she poked his arm.

"And how would you know?" Gawain retorted. Leana raised an eyebrow up at him, knowing what game he was playing.

"Because I have been inside your mind, I think I would know one or two things about you." Leana replied with a rueful grin. Galahad snickered at his older brother, who in turn, was staring at the female knight shocked. Dag on the other hand, was smiling at his little sister's retort to the dirty blonde haired knight. She then wrinkled her nose in disgust and looked to Gawain again.

"How much woad blood did you get on yourself today?" she asked him in curiosity.

"Maybe ten, eleven, why?" he asked looking to her.

"I think you need to wash up; with soap this time. I think we all do as a matter of fact." She stated, taking a whiff of her tunic and gagged to prove her point.

"I think a bath would prove to be a wonderful idea. Leana would you mind helping me with mine?" asked a smiling Lancelot who had just joined them. Leana rolled her eyes at the dark curly haired knight. He had his hand on Gawain's shoulder.

"Not even if you paid me Lancelot." She answered in a monotone like voice. Lancelot never seemed to stop chasing skirts; neither did he ever stop gambling. The knights laughed at Lancelot's humiliation while he only smirked his distaste.