And back again, with the second chapter ! Enjoy, and thanks a million times to those who left reviews.
For the pairing, I can't decide. Galahad is out of the question coz he irritates me, as well Dagonet cause he's not good looking enough, Bors coz Vanora'd kill him if he so much as looked at another woman, and Arthur coz he has Guinevere, so that leaves Tristan, Lancelot and Gawain. Help!
Chapter 2
She wasn't exactly pretty, Lancelot decided, but there was something about her that made you want to look at her again. Her features were too sharp to be beautiful, and she wasn't as feminine as Vanora and the other women at the fort. He had never met anyone like her. She hardly let any emotion slip, except when she laughed. She was like Tristan in that respect.
He glanced back to where she was talking to Gawain and Galahad. The younger of the two knights was quite taken with her, while Gawain seemed to have reached a point of easy conversation with her. Her eyes danced with laughter at something he had said. Her dark hair was quite long, but drawn back by several braids forming a crown around her head, itmade her look more severe than Lancelot thought she was.Lancelot drew back to join their conversation.
"So what did you do in Rome for fifteen years, my lady? If you don't mind my asking?" Gawain asked.
"Why do you wish to know?"
"Pure interest."
"I was an assassin."
All the knights looked stunned. Lancelot found his voice first.
"Why?"
"For the same reason that my brother fought here in Britain, as one of you. To survive."
"Who did you work for?" Arthur demanded, clearly outraged that anyone could order an assassination.
Akira grinned. "You really don't want to know."
"Why not?"
"Let's just say that it would shake your faith in your religion somewhat."
"Who?" he tried again.
"The Pope."
"What!"
"I did warn you."
"I've never liked assassins." Bors grunted, eyeing her balefully. "Cowardly way to kill someone."
"I agree. But if you're told you'll die if you don't kill them, it's much easier to reconcile it to your conscience."
"It doesn't bother you, then?" Tristan spoke for the first time. "Killing someone in cold blood?"
"I try not to think about that part of it." Akira looked at them all, smiling ruefully. "Are you going to hate me for something I was forced to do?"
Lancelot moved his horse next to hers.
"I could never hate a beautiful woman." He smirked at her.
"Charmer. I'm not beautiful, that I do know." Most of the knights laughed at seeing Lancelot losing a battle of words to a woman for a second time. Tristan smiled slightly.
"We don't hate you, my lady. It just came as a surprise, that's all." Galahad attempted to smooth things over. He was rewarded by a smile from Akira.
By this time they had reached the fort. Arthur and Lancelot led the way through the gates. A stable hand stepped forward and was duly greeted by the two knights. Akira dismounted and handed Myrrah over to the nearest stable boy. She stood with the knights as the Bishop descended from his carriage. He immediately requested to speak with the knights, and motioned for Akira to follow. She did so, but not after throwing a contemptuous glance at him. He looked outraged, but she didn't care. It was good to let people like this know that they didn't control everything. He was too scared of her to do anything.
Akira stood behind the Bishop, eyes cast down, listening carefully to everything that was said. She started when His Eminence requested a private audience with Arthur.
"We have no secrets." Arthur said immediately.
Lancelot was the next to speak. "Come. Let's leave Roman business to Romans." One by one they all left, until only Akira remained.
"You too, girl. Leave." She nodded, expertly hiding her anger at being dismissed in such an offhand manner.
She followed the knights to the tavern, listening to their joking, smiling every now and then. On entering, they were immediately approached by a woman Akira remembered well from her past visits.
"Hello Van."
Vanora looked surprised for a second, then her brow cleared. "Kira! It's been, what, five years?"
"Six, last time I checked."
"Good to see you. Come sit down and tell me what you've been doing with yourself."
Akira followed Vanora to a table, ignoring the amused glances of the knights, who quickly came to join them.
Bors cut in on their discussion. "How do you two know each other?"
Vanora turned back to him, looking annoyed at having her conversation interrupted. "Kira danced in this tavern one night about eleven years ago."
Lancelot smirked. "You can dance?" he asked Akira.
"All women can dance."
"I haven't had much opportunity to see a woman dance. You'll have to perform for us later."
"Perhaps."
Galahad grinned. "And Vanora will sing."
"If I have time, I'm working."
"I notice that didn't stop you sitting down to have a conversation with the lady." Gawain teased.
"Would you all please stop calling me a lady? An assassin does not qualify for the term. And don't look so shocked, Vanora has known for eleven years what I was."
Vanora laughed and moved off to serve someone else.
Long chapter! Usually I only do two pages, this one's three! I would really appreciate help with the pairing. Thanks in advance. I'll try to update ASAP.
Carline
