A/N: Wahoo

A/N: Wahoo! SIX REVIEWS! I love you guys. And to prove it, I'm updating!

R&R

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Nenet was wide awake and enjoying the friendly banter between the Knights. Her friends were also enjoying themselves; especially Seda, who looked like she was about to have an orgasm right there.

"Why don't you just kill him, and discharge yourself?"

"I don't kill for pleasure, unlike some."

That brought forth a round of giggling from Seda, Demi, and Rosalyn. Nenet's eyes glared at them in mock anger and a ghost of a smirk lingered about her lips.

"Well you should try it sometime; you might get a taste for it."

The girls burst out laughing by then and Nenet crossed her arms and sulked against Tristan. "I do not have a killing problem." Her friends only laughed harder.

"Oh, really?" Some of her Spanish lilt entered Rosalyn's tone. "So you don't think that 'disposing' of the center and patrol guard doesn't qualify as a problem?"

Seda snorted, "By herself? Ha. Nets is good, but she's not that good." Realizing what she just said aloud, she stared down at hers and Lancelot's joined hands.

"Not you, too!" Ros scolded her friend and was shocked when Demi spoke. "At least we escaped for a few days. The plan worked."

They all chuckled at the look of outrage on Rosalyn's face. "There was a plan? Why wasn't I included?!" Nenet sat up, the top of her head grazing Tristan's chin. "If I remember correctly, you played your part by keeping the Main Guard so intoxicated that they couldn't even move when the alarm was raised."

"And just whose plan was this?" Ros eyed them all suspiciously, then felt her jaw drop at their smug expressions. "No. No, no, no. It wasn't—it couldn't have been…"

Seda's nose crinkled a bit as she playfully sneered, "You? Why, yes my good friend. It was definitely your plan."

Poor Rosalyn was beyond confused. "B-But if it was my idea, why did only you get punished, Nenet?" All eyes turned to the women's leader, who merely shrugged. "I killed the most so it seemed fair enough. It wasn't horrible if that's what you're thinking. My arm was fixed the following day. It was only pulled out of place." Her friends stayed silent; they were never fully aware of the abuse that she saved them from.

Tristan let his horse fall behind the carriage and lifted her right arm. Pulling back the loose sleeve, he gently prodded a small cut. "You're bleeding." He watched in amusement as she looked down. "Am I really? Huh. I didn't even feel it…" Her genuine surprise had him smiling, something he wasn't altogether used to doing.

"Oh, we've fallen behind." She gave the horse a small kick and laughed as Tristan—who, for once, was caught off guard—fell off the horse. She slowed his horse to a slow trot when they were a good five feet apart. She was still chuckling when he rejoined her on the saddle and took the reins from her.

"That was not funny."

His voice was a low growl filled with the promise of revenge. It both scared and excited her. So, against her better judgment, she elbowed him and whispered playfully, "Yes, it was" When he let out a soft grunt.

Seda glanced back at the gruesome twosome and grinned, "They look like they're having fun." She let out a pleasurable sigh as Lancelot wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered all the 'fun' he could to her. In his room. More specifically in his bed in his room.

"Ugh. Get a room, already!" Ros snapped at Seda, who stuck out her tongue in retaliation. Rolling her eyes, she settled herself against Gawain and looked up at his face. She reached up and twirled a lock of his hair around her finger. When he glanced down at her, she smiled and bit back the laugh that was threatening to spill out.

She didn't get how she didn't see it before: Gawain looked a little bit like a hamster. As he kissed her temple, she let a giggle slip through. Nope. He's more like a gerbil.

Demi shook her head, "She's lost her mind." Just what the hell was Ros laughing about anyway? Had all the fresh Briton air gotten to her? Looking at the way she was playing with Gawain's hair, Demi had to smile. All that Gawain must have gotten to her. Her smile froze at the sudden contact of Galahad's teeth nibbling along the nape of her neck.

She sighed, tilting her head so that he gained better access to the fluttering pulse in her neck. He dragged his teeth against the tender area, then left a trail of butterfly kisses along her jaw to place a satisfying kiss upon her lips.

Arthur couldn't help but his smile. These women were good for his Knights. They shared a common bond that most never experienced. His heart saddened at the words Nenet had used: 'a taste of freedom.' If this was merely a taste, then it would be cruel to send them back to the Bishop. He couldn't let that happen.

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The women were a success in the Tavern. Roman soldiers tried to grab their attention. Grab, being the keyword was never the best idea. Rosalyn passed a drunken soldier who ensnared her wrist with such brute force that she dropped the ale that was meant for the Knights.

Remembering the still-healing bruises that remained on her wrists, Gawain rose from his seat as anger coursed through him.

"Come here, darling. Spanish wenches are known for their talents with men. Come and give us a kiss." The drunken man yanked her against him, but instead of feeling her soft flesh, he felt the cold edge of a blade pressed against his jugular. Looking up, he saw his death in Gawain's eyes and released Rosalyn.

Seda watched with disgust as another whore approached Lancelot, or more specifically, his lap. If she had a knife on her, then the wench would be dead in seconds. When the bitch moved to kiss Lancelot, Seda moved twice as fast and had the whore head-over-ass sprawled onto the ground.

"How dare you—!"

If looks could kill, then this woman would be dead a thousand times over. The animosity in Seda's glare made the wench almost swallow her tongue. She mumbled a hurried apology and ran out of there.

When Seda rounded on Lancelot, there was a completely different kind of fire in her eyes. Her seductive smile made his pants feel just a tad bit restrictive. Seda patted said pants and leaned in to give him a mind-numbing kiss. His hand tangled itself in her chestnut locks so that when he pulled away, their lips were still a breath apart.

"I am yours, and yours alone, dearest Lady."

She nipped his bottom lip with a wink and a smile. "Good. I'll be back for more." He relaxed with a groan of disappointment. He wanted more now.

"Tristan. How do you do that?"

"I aim for the middle."

A third knife flew through the air, its blade hacking off a few strands of Tristan's hair before landing on the center of his knife's handle. Nenet walked by him and pulled the knife out. She clucked her tongue in disappointment.

"Such a pity, I missed."

Tristan's left eye twitched for a moment before he took a bite out of his apple. Rather than let anger get the better of him, he paid close attention to the forced smile Nenet was giving. It didn't take a genius to know that something was bothering her.

"Shut up! Vanora will sing!"

"Sing about home!"

"Don't drop the baby!"

"Land of Bear and land of Eagle

Land that gave us Birth and Blessing

We will go home across the mountains

We will go home, we will go home

We will go home across the mountains

Nenet turned away from the Tavern, fearing which she would hear once Arthur arrived.

Hear our singing, hear our longing

We will go home across the mountains

We will go home, we will go home

We will go home across the mountains…

"Arthur!"

"Artorius!"

Her heart was breaking inside her chest as the Knights received the depressing news.

"I am a free man!"

She tuned out their angry voices and ignored the pained stares of her friends. They knew this would happen, but they tried to push it out of their minds.

"My Lady Nenet," She jumped at the sound of Arthur's voice and turned to find him kneeling at her feet. "Forgive me. I tried to free you and your friends as well but in order to do so; the Bishop demanded that you and the others…partake in this mission."

"WHAT?!"

If the Knights tantrum had Arthur feeling guilty, then the ladies' verbal explosion would have made the Bishop jump into his own grave. However, the combined rage of both the women and the Knights would have all of Briton heading for the proverbial hills.

"I'm going to kill him!" Seda tried to rush out of there, but Lancelot held fast and dragged her out to his room. He locked her in before he made his way back to the Tavern.

Demi had slid from the bench to the floor, her eyes wide with shock. Galahad knelt by her side with a worried frown. When her eyes met his, all he saw were deep blue pools of nothing but tears. He gathered her in his arms and left without a word.

Rosalyn never had a chance to rant. Gawain had her pinned to his front, using all of his strength to restrain her without hurting her.

"Why, Arthur? We didn't ask to be saved! Why did you even—" The blade skimmed her shoulder and she fell silent.

"Come on, darling." Gawain led her away from the Tavern to soothe her frazzled nerves.

Tristan didn't move when she threw the knife, but his body was tense while his eyes watched her next move. She reached down to put a hand on Arthur's shoulder. Her hand was trembling, as was the rest of her body, but she kept her voice even.

"There is nothing to forgive. Thank you for trying, Arthur."

She moved to leave and as she passed Lancelot, he stopped to ask her, "Are you alright?"

Her laugh was short and humorless. "Yes, I'm alright. I just have to go kill something."

Alarmed, the three men looked to each other and then back to Nenet, who had already left. Worried, Arthur looked to Tristan, his silent command perfectly clear.

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Nenet should have known this would happen. The Bishop's earlier statement made it obvious. She was wandering down the hall, listening to Seda throw a tantrum through Lancelot's door.

She sighed heavily. "How will we live through this one?"

"You won't."

One of the Bishop's men had her pinned against the wall, his hand crushing her windpipe. She clawed at his face, his arms, anything she could reach.

"Your friends won't survive with you gone." His hand tightened his grip and black spots danced in front of her eyes. Her arms went limp at her sides before she was dropped to the floor. Her lungs labored for air and she blinked rapidly to clear the blurriness of her vision. Strong arms helped her up and carried her to a different room.

"It was foolish of you to go wondering by yourself." Tristan chastised her in a low voice. He brought her to his room and gently placed her on his bed. She was still shaking. Her hands trembled as she brought them to her face and wiped away her tears. She wasn't sobbing at all; she was just crying silent tears.

Unsure of how to handle an emotional woman, Tristan got onto the bed beside her. Using the sleeve of his tunic, he gently wiped away her tears. Her eyes flicked over to his gaze, dark chocolate pools that reflected her sorrow. Tristan felt his heart clench in pain, an unusual feeling of dread swept over him. He kept his face blank while he analyzed his emotions.

He felt…sympathy towards her. The only time he ever felt sympathy was when a fellow knight was put to rest up on Badon Hill. He didn't like it. This sympathy would bring out all the other emotions he had suppressed for years. Being a natural born killer, he was used to feeling his more primitive emotions. Except anger and fear. Those two emotions had no place in his heart.

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While Tristan was sorting through his feelings, the Fates above were practically rolling about with laughter. The fool had not yet considered the feeling of love. Love was lodged deeply within his soul the minute he laid eyes on Nenet. She would be his savior whether he liked it or not.

The same went for Lancelot. Seda would never let him perish without her. Oh, yes. The Knights and their women would have a very secure, yet hectic, life ahead of them.

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Nenet sniffled as she drowned herself in shame. Damn the Bishop for putting her off-guard and sending his men after her. Idiot! She cursed herself in an effort to reign in some motivation. She failed horribly at the attempt and her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Thank you, Tristan. I'm sorry that I bothered you." She got up off the bed and headed for the door, craving the solitude of her own room. She opened the door and was about to open it when it slammed shut.

She stiffened at the feel of Tristan caging her in. One hand was on the door and the other rested on her hip. What was he doing?

The hell if he knew. One minute he's watching her open the door and the next, he was standing behind her with his hand preventing her from escaping.

"Don't leave this room."

He was surprised at the raw intensity that filled his voice. Almost embarrassed, he lowered his tone to its usual growl-like pitch. "The Bishop's men might be waiting for you. You'll be safer in here." He spoke into her ear, his lips barely skimmed her skin, but he was rewarded with the shudder that wracked her body and the gasp of pleasure that escaped her lips. So she was affected like he was, then? Interesting.

The hand at her hip traveled upwards, his palm gently slid over the swell of her breast then rested on her shoulder. He was delighted with the small moan she tried to stop.

"Stay."

His whisper brought chills to her skin. Did he know what his voice was doing to her? She had to use every ounce of discipline she had not to swoon right there. She turned to face him.

…and found his gaze heated with raw desire.

Speech was impossible. All she could do was nod in agreement. He smiled then, a quick triumphant smirk that vanished in a blink of an eye. If she was like Seda—and thank the Gods she wasn't—she would have been drooling a waterfall and on her knees begging him to take her.

He led her back to his bed and she slipped under the covers without question. Her earlier emotions were numb; this new feeling was exhilarating. She didn't quite trust him, but her body's reaction to his smoldering stares said otherwise.

Tristan got in beside her, taking pleasure in the wary look in her eyes. She had the same look of a wolf sizing up its opponent. If she chose to strike, he would gladly welcome the challenge.

"Don't look so worried. I give you my word that you'll be safe tonight."

Her eyes narrowed for a nanosecond before they closed as sleep claimed her. He let himself indulge in a sly grin before wrapping his arms around her.

Of course she would be safe tonight. From the Bishop's men, yes. But was she safe from the man who held her so possessively?

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A/N: Oh my God, that took forever!! But yippee! It's a good second chapter right?

Oh and belated disclaimer: I don't own King Arthur or any of its characters except my own.