disclaimer: same bs
Anika followed Dagonet silently back to the tavern she had been in earlier that day and stepped inside. Only a few drunken village men and Romans remained, all other had obviously scurried home, whether it be cause of the storm, the late hour, or the attack of the Woads.
Looking about, she spotted five of the knights at the table closest to the bar, laughing and talking with Rosala. At Dagonet and Anika's entrance, she beckoned them over. Slipping between the tables, Anika sat on the bench beside Rosala as Dagonet sat beside the broadest man who was swaying lightly with drunkenness and laughed heartily at something the knight with the golden mane of hair said.
Rosala set a hand on Anika's right shoulder and gave her a gentle smile. "You are alright, yes?"
Anika nodded. "It'll take more than a little cut and a misplaced bone to slow me down, old friend." The broad knight lifted his cup in agreement and proceeded to empty it of its contents. Dagonet looked between Anika and the man beside him.
"Fire-eater, you haven't been introduced yet, have you?" he questioned. At the shake of her head, he gestured to the broad knight beside him as he continued. "This is Bors. Don't let his drunkenness get to you, its all too often he gets like this." The broad knight nodded in agreement before letting out a belch.
Shaking his head, Dagonet continued. "This is Gawain." He gestured to the man with the golden mane and amused eyes. "Tristan." The sharp-eyed, silent man with the tattoos on his cheeks and the dark hair full of braids nodded a little at Anika without actually looking at her. "Galahad." The young knight with dark curly hair and bright eyes smiled at her. "And lastly, Lancelot." The duel sword wielder with dark unruly hair watched her with flirtatious eyes, one eyebrow raised as he looked her up and down.
The fire-eater nodded to him, hoping he would look away so her voice wouldn't crack when she spoke. "Anika."
"I hate to sound like a kiss-ass," Rosala spoke up. Leaning forward onto the table, she set her elbows on the worn wood and her chin on her hands. Anika shook her head a little. In that position, her breasts would be squished together, almost bursting out of her tunic, and would no doubt get the knight's attention. "But it really is an honor to be in the presence of the knights of Artorius Castus. All I've ever heard were rumors that made you all sound like unbeatable gods."
Anika glanced around the table. Lancelot's attention was fully on Rosala's chest—no surprise—but the other knights didn't seem interested in what she was offering. In fact, Dagonet was watching Anika.
The fire-eater's cheeks grew red and she lowered her head so he wouldn't see. Bors was quick to distract the healer though when he bellowed to the barmaid to come refill his drink.
A redheaded woman with a very angry expression on her face stepped from behind the bar and smacked him over the head with her tray. Anika and Rosala's eyes widened greatly. How could she do that to a knight?
Bors turned to her and growled as he rubbed the back of his head. "Oi woman! What gives you the right?"
The redhead set her fists on her hips and gave him a look that was far from amused. "How dare I? You drunken fool, if you weren't the father of all those kids, I would have left you long ago. You will get no more ale tonight. It scares me when you drink so much I have to get Dagonet to check and see if you're dead."
Bors' eyes grew soft and he pulled the redhead into his lap before giving her a stern kiss on the lips. "Fine then, Ill just get bloody drunk tomorrow night." He grinned when she punched his arm. Dagonet finally caught the expressions on the girl's faces and smiled a little.
"Anika, Rosala, this is Vanora, Bors', um, lover," he explained. The fire-eater nodded in understanding. Dagonet looked back at the redhead. "Vanora, would you happen to have any spare clothes that Anika could wear? I'm afraid hers are a little bloodied from earlier."
Vanora looked across the table at the fire-eater and smiled. "I heard about the attack earlier, and the two girls who fought against it. You're very brave. Even I would have turned tail and run against a pack of dirty blue men." Anika blushed a little at her compliment. "But I'm afraid all I have are dresses."
Anika smiled and shook her head. "That's alright. I think I have some spare clothing back with our caravan. If not, Ill wash my tunic myself when I get the chance."
Rosala looked to Anika. "Speaking of the caravan, didn't you say we were going to leave here in the morning?"
Anika thought for a second. So much had happened since that time when they first arrived and she was finding herself reluctant to leave the interesting place. She shook her head a little. "I must have been mad from the heat. I don't know why I would say such a thing. No, we shall stay here for awhile. I need time to heal. And besides, the next village is 3 days ride from here. We'll need to gather supplies."
"But what if Tomes and Dani want to leave in the morning, as you said?" Rosala questioned. There was a silent pleading in her eyes.
Anika pulled her eyes from the dark skinned woman's and looked at Dagonet. He was talking to Bors, a small grin upon his face, and though Anika knew his kind, gentle nature, she still couldn't help but be a little daunted by his presence. She turned her attention back to her friend. "Then they shall leave without us. I find myself quite drawn to this place."
Rosala smiled. She felt the same way. "Then it's settled. We shall stay."
A/N: kinda short and slow. i had been looking for a reason that Anika and Rosala should stay at the wall. seems like i decided that they just want to. lol. nah, Anika wants to stay cause of Dagonet and Rosala wants to stay cause shes hoping there will be more excitement like the attack. and there will be more. much more. but with it, sadness and loss, comfort and love. still gotta work in how Anika is gona tell her sad story to the knights to get them to help her find out who she really is. i figure drunk Rosala will convince her to tell them. but then what? all she has is the tattoo and will eventually receive a lost token from Tomes. but how will they figure out who she is? and when they do, what then? sigh. i need to get my thoughts in order. i might feel more motivated to do so if someone R&R's... but no one has for awhile now. sadface. ill still keep checking though. R&R pleeeeeeease people!
