Well, here it is. Only a couple more chappies to go, and I intend to have those up by the end of the week. Hopefully.

This is the longest chapter so far, though.

Thanks to Elyse3 for being the first and, uh, so far only person to review. Oh, well. As long as you like it, I'm happy!

Gawain's Journal- Journey to Ostar day Three

Poor Terence. Our 'friend' Mary Sue has been chasing him around the camp like…well, basically like a mink in heat! I found Terence sleeping with a frying pan under his pillow. Poor lad must have be 'protecting' himself from Mary Sue. She really seems to think that just because she's a 'rebellious run-away princess from a far away land' (or so she says. A lot) that Terence will fall all over her. Just one more day, and we'll get to Ostar. Wonder if Terence can last that long?

"So, where are we off to today, Terence?" Mary Sue asked, smiling perkily.

"Um, with any luck we'll get to Ostar before dark." Terence replied.

"Oh, how fun!" Mary Sue clapped.

"Just remember that we probably won't do any fighting." Gawain said, looking at Mary Sue.

"Oh, of course! I remember!" Mary Sue assured him, "But I'll be on my guard, just in case!" Gawain smiled.

"Well, that's good I suppose." Gawain said. Mary Sue nodded positively.

Terence sighed, then set about finding some herbs and vegetables to use in breakfast, which ended up being very good. Despite that, he still felt kinda sick. Maybe Mary Sue was just making him paranoid as her constant watching of Terence's every move and uncomfortable close proximity while packing made him nervous.

Gawain and Terence quickly brushed their horses down, then saddled them up. Mary Sue was ready and waiting. Terence sighed, mounted and prepared for a long ride.

"Well, Ostar! Here I come to…er, I mean..Here WE come to save the day!" Mary Sue said with a grin.

And long it was. Mary Sue filled Terence in on the latest version of her origin story (The one in which after a great battle fought and lost by her father, Mary Sue was banished by the new ruler, and had been wandering around lost and alone for the last year, fending for herself. Gawain found that redicoulously hard to believe, especially looking at her new, expensive clothes…)

Gawain was actually kind of concerned that Terence might fall asleep and topple off of his horse. Just as it seemed that was going to happen, Gawain spotted a small house a little ways up the road.

"Terence, look." He said louder than necessary.

Terence's head popped up and he asked groggily "What?" Gawain pointed to the house.

Only then did Mary Sue's mindless chatter come to a halt. "Oh, a mysterious house! Should I investigate?" She asked eagerly.

As they neared the house, Gawain dismounted. "No, I'm just going to see if anyone is home and if they know how far it is to Ostar." He said, handing Guingalet's reins to Terence, then started towards the house.

"Hello?" Gawain called, walking to the door.

"Oh, this is exciting! What if some evil force comes out and we have to fight it? I'll watch your back if you watch mine!" Mary Sue offered.

Terence watched as the door opened. "Honestly, I don't think I'm going to need you to protect me from an old lady." He said, nodding towards the small, chubby but friendly-faced woman who stepped out.

"Hello." The woman greeted.

"Hello. I was just wanting to ask you if you would happen to know how far it is to Ostar?" Gawain asked politely.

"Who's asking?" A much meaner looking man stepped out.

"Sir Gawain."

The man eyed Gawain suspiciously for a moment, then disappeared back into the house.

"Don't mind him, Sir Gawain. Ostar is maybe fifteen minutes away. Ride for another ten minutes until you reach a fork in the road, then take the right. Ride strait on through, and you should find Ostar almost immediately." The woman said.

"Thank you." Gawain said, smiling graciously.

"Your welcome." The lady smiled back, then turned and went inside the house and closed the door behind her.

Gawain walked back over to Terence and took Guingalet's reins back, then mounted.

"We're almost there, at least." Gawain announced.

"Awww…How sad." Mary Sue pouted.

"Let's go." Gawain sighed.

After about ten minutes they found the fork on the road and turned right. Soon, a few more houses started to appear, then more. Finally, they found themselves just outside a small, but bustling town center. Beyond the crowd, Terence spotted a house that was larger and more adorned than all the others. Gawain also saw it.

"Shall we check it out?" He asked. Terence nodded.

"Huh?" Mary Sue had been staring off at something and had missed everything,.

"Just follow us quietly." Terence said.

"Okay, I can do that." Mary Sue nodded.

Terence rubbed his eyes and sighed. He said 'quietly' for a reason: He knew Mary Sue would listen.

"Sir Gawain! Terence!" A familiar voice called; it was Lady Luci. "Oh, I'm so glad you made it!" She said.

"I did promise you, didn't I?" Gawain asked.

Luci smiled. "Yes, you did." She replied.

"Who around here could I talk to about this?" Gawain asked.

"Oh, Sir Cardanus. He lives in that really nice house up the street." Luci indicated the beautiful place Gawain and Terence had noticed.

"Okay then. Thank you." Gawain smiled to Luci and the three made their way up the street. Almost as soon as they stopped outside the house, a short, squat man walked out. All three dismounted and looked at him.

"What?" The man finally asked.

Gawain was slightly taken aback by his abruptness, but replied, "We need to talk with Sir Cardanus."

The man studied Gawain, Terence and Mary Sue for a minute, then suddenly shouted, "MICKAL!"

After a second, a boy of about ten came running around the side of the house.

"See to their horses, boy." The man ordered. The boy quickly obliged.

"Come with me." The man opened up the big door and allowed the three to enter.

"What's your name?" The man asked Gawain.

"Sir Gawain." He replied.

"Wait here." He turned and walked through a set of double doors.

Gawain took the opportunity to look around the room. It was nicely adorned with some paintings on the walls a couple of small couches.

"This is a nice place." Terence said, studying one of the paintings. Gawain nodded.

"Uh..." Mary Sue started, "I suppose. But the paintings are a little out dated, but yeah, it's alright."

Gawain covered his eyes and shook his head, exasperated.

"Sir Cardanus will see you now." Gawain turned around to find the same man who showed them in waiting by the double doors. Gawain, Terence and Mary Sue followed him into another room.

"Welcome, Sir Gawain!" A friendly man greeted them. He looked no older than thirty. "So, how can I help you today?" Cardanus asked.

"Well, actually, I had heard that you needed help. Something about a thief in the area?" Gawain asked.

"Ahh, yes. Listen, how about a dinner tonight? We can all discuss it then." Cardanus suggested.

"That sounds wonderful." Gawain replied.

"And, I would ask you to stay the night, as my guests."

"We would be honored, Sir Cardanus." Gawain replied.

"Great! Traze will show you to your rooms. Dinner will be in an hour and a half. Rest, clean up, whatever your fancy. While you're here my home is yours as well."

Gawain smiled his thanks and the three turned to follow Traze, the man who showed them in, when Cardanus said, "Gawain, wait. I want to ask you a question."

"Alright, you go and I catch up in a minute." Gawain told Terence.

"Okay!" Mary Sue said, grabbing Terence's shirt and pulling him next to her.

"Let's go, sweets." Mary Sue said. Terence shot Gawain a worried glance, then they disappeared around a corner.

"How'd you find out that we needed some help around here?" Cardanus asked.

"A young lady named Luci came to Camelot, seeking someone to sort this out." Gawain explained.

"Luci, huh? Yes, I know her. She is a sweet person, and if anyone would do this it would be her. Ever since the robbing, everything has changed here. People don't trust anymore." Cardanus shook his head. "Thank you Sir Gawain."

Gawain nodded. Cardanus gave him directions to the rooms, and Gawain was soon walking down the hall Terence and Mary Sue had been just a few minutes earlier. As he turned a corner, Mary Sue ran past him.

"What the…" Gawain followed her.

Gawain stopped as he passed a door that was cracked open. He walked into the room and looked around. There was only a bed, a lady's vanity table and a dress closet. Gawain walked over to the closet and pulled open the door.

"Terence, what are you doing?" He asked, looking at his squire in amusement.

"I..um..Picking out an outfit for dinner?" Terence replied uncertainly.

"Really?" Gawain plucked at one of the dresses hanging up.

"I had no idea you were getting back into wearing dresses again. I'd suggest wearing this one. Green is a good color on you. And don't forget your corset." Gawain jokingly pulled one of the dresses down.

"Oh, shut up. I'm hiding from her! When Traze left us by the doors to our rooms, she grabbed onto my arm and said that we 'needed to be more than just friends' or some rot like that. So I ran. She followed me, so I came in here and hid. Then you found me and here we are!" Terence said, flustered.

Gawain laughed. "Listen. Let's just get this recreant guy taken care of, then we'll find a way to get her out of here." He said.

"We've got fourty minutes before dinner. Let's go clean up." Gawain said, tossing the dress back into the closet.

Terence agreed and showed Gawain to their room.