Tristan walked through the darkened street of the fort. A drunk roman soldier group slowly slushed by him muttering sarmatian slurs under their breaths. He ignored them just content in the knowledge that if he wanted he could slit their throat and get away with it easily. He took out an apple and looked up at the fort that Lancelot, Arthur, and Aria called home. He hadn't seen the one Aria in near three days. Not since the feast they had had upon returning from their captivity from the Woads.

He was about to walk away when he saw a window open up and Aria stand looking out before turning away and walking further out of sight into her room. He knew he couldn't go see to her, not with the guards that protected her room from any males. He slowly walked up to the fort wall and looked both ways before jumping up and grabbing onto two stones that stuck out of the un smoothed wall. He could go see to her if he took the entrance that didn't contain roman soldiers, the entrance called the window.

Aria smiled as she sat at her desk and worked over one of the bows she was making. It wasn't for herself but instead for Arthur as a gift of thanks for coming to the aid of her and Tristan. She knew he could have easily just left them behind but instead he had come for them and it was something she felt deserved some recognition. It was also a proto type. She was trying to make an Arrow that flew faster and truer than the bows and arrows the Romans made. She sighed heavily as one of her crafted arrows snapped in her hand.

"Damn…"

"You handled it too rough…" she turned and smiled at Tristan who was sitting on her window sill an apple in hand.

"How did you get up here?" she asked with a smile as she stood.

"Climbed." He said as he threw her an apple which she caught easily. She walked over to her door and locked it from the inside before turning with a smile. "Can they hear you easily?"

"No I think half the time they're sleeping." She said walking over and shutting the window shutters before sitting beside him on the sill.

"I haven't seen you in the barn…"

"I had to send my uniform out to be mended I've only the frilly dresses to wear and I'm not facing the guys like this."

"You look nice enough…" she took a look at the lavender roman style dress she wore and then up at him with disbelieving eyes. "It's a little out of character."

"Thank you." She said as she got off the window sill and walked to her bed where she sat down. "How's glider?" he walked and sat down next to her his head leaning against the head board.

"I'm training him to come to me on command with a whistle for when we're on missions."

"It's a good idea." She said.

"How's your leg?"

"My leg?" she inquired.

"You were cut by an arrow."

"Oh it's fine…" she said.

"Did you pack it?"

"I'm kind of leaving it to its own devices." He threw the apple core away and quickly kneeled at her legs. He took her foot in his and slowly slid his hand up her leg moving her dress aside as he did. Arias cheeks flamed as his rough hand moved across her smooth skin all the way to her outer thigh where he finally found the wound. He looked it over for a long moment before giving an approving nod and looking to Aria.

"Seems okay."

"Mhm…" She slowly nodded with a smile. He looked down to see his hand was still resting high up on her bare thigh, her dress just barely shrouding her from his vision.

"Sorry…" he muttered backing away.

"Nothing to be sorry about…" she said pulling her dress back down. "So what did you do today seeing as I didn't see you?" she inquired trying to change the subject.

"Traded my old sword for a new one…" he pulled it out and Aria looked it over.

"It's far different then I've ever seen…" he held it out for her to take.

"Are you sure?" she asked, and he only nodded. She slowly took it in hand and smiled. "It's lighter but it somehow feels more sturdy…"

"It's what drew me to it… It's a Mongolian blade."

"Mongolian?" she asked.

"I thought you might know what it was."

"I think it's more who it is… Maybe Arthur would know." He only shrugged as he took the sword back and sheathed it.

"I have something else…" he reached into his pocket and slowly brought out a necklace. He handed it over and Aria smiled seeing it was a string of bear claws with white beads separating them.

"Very nice." She said. "They will make you look like a true warrior."

"They are for you." She looked at him.

"Me?"

"I took them from the bear that attacked you…" he took the necklace from her and slowly put it over her head where they rested gracefully on her petite neck.

"Thanks Tristan…" she said with a smile as she touched them.

"Thought you should have them…"

"I have something for you as well…" she stood up and walked over to a small dresser. She took something in hand and strolled back to him with a smile. "I strung it myself, very feminine of me I thought." She handed over a leather braided necklace with a small arrowhead resting low in the middle. He took it in hand his thumb slowly moving over the smooth iron. "From the bear as well, I had to dig it out the eye myself but it was worth it." he looked up. "I dulled the edges so it wouldn't cut you if you chose to wear it."

"I will wear it." he said and he handed it back. She smiled as she moved behind him and fastened it behind his neck. She peaked over his shoulder her hand sliding down his chest to feel the arrow.

"I think it suits you." She said with a smile. "Yes very manly very warrior like." She took a soft breath as his hand slid over hers which resided on his chest.

"Thank you Aria." She nodded and smiled softly as she moved around and sat in front of him as she looked down at her own necklace.

"I heard Arthur talking with someone yesterday… I think we may have another mission…"

"Somewhere far?" He inquired.

"I think so, Arthur didn't seem keen to do it, neither did Lancelot he was yelling the most. Then again a day doesn't go by where Lancelot doesn't yell about something." A knock on the door sounded and Aria jumped.

"Aria are you up?" Arthur called through the door.

"No!" she called. "Tristan you must go…" she whispered. "If you were caught in here as innocent as your visit is it could be taken the wrong way." He nodded and quickly rushed to the window.

"Aria come on open up." Arthur said and she could hear a laugh.

"One moment I'm just getting… uhm… Decent!" she called and Tristan smiled as he climbed out of the window. She smiled when she saw him disappear before running to the door and unlocking it. She opened it up with a smile and looked up at Arthur. "I was just heading to bed sorry it took me so long."

"Not at all, May I come in?"

"Of course…" she stepped aside and spotted Lancelot behind him. "You as well…" he nodded as he walked in. "So what's going on?" she asked. "I heard a big yelling match in your living quarters."

"It was a match we did not win." Lancelot said.

"What's happening?"

"We are to go on a long journey, south of Hadrians wall." Arthur said.

"I'm sorry I think I may still have water in my ears from my bath…" she said shaking her head. "I thought I just heard you say we're travelling south of Hadrians wall, which would be an absolutely terrible idea because that's Woad and Saxon warring territory with barely any roman outposts…"

"We're going to go tell the rest of the Knights we thought you might want to help…" Lancelot said.

"Sure I'll help, and try to avoid the daggers that will be thrown at my head." she said as she grabbed a cloak, Arthur already heading out. Lancelot slowly walked to the corner and spotted two apple cores both fresh laying in the bin.

"I see Tristan gave you two rather than the one tonight…" she slowly looked at him.

"What?"

"There are two apple cores here…" he pointed.

"I can fetch apples myself…" she said turning away and gathering her weapons. The door closed and she turned to see Lancelot had been the one to shut it. Instead of leaving though he now leaned against the door. "You're not supposed to be in here alone with me."

"Neither was Tristan but I can tell he was." She looked at him for a long moment. "Don't worry I know you would never do anything to jeopardize your status as a knight…" he said.

"Then why do you bring this up?"

"So Tristan was in here?" He inquired.

"He was giving me a gift."

"A gift?" he asked. "The apples?"

"No he took the claws off that bear that nearly killed me and made a necklace for me." She said and he spotted it hanging around her neck.

"Did you give anything to him in return?" he asked walking to her.

"Don't be vile Lancelot." She said with a narrowed gaze. He raised his hands in defense as he gave a dazzling smile.

"When a man gives you jewelry that means something Aria."

"He thought I should have it because the thing nearly killed me that is it."

"He cares for you."

"As a friend." She said. "Just like I care for him and I care for you and the others."

"Still I have to wonder, you were alone with him in that cave for well over a day… You were then alone with him once more tonight. Why the sudden need to be alone with him?"

"If I didn't know better I'd say you were jealous."

"Then it's good you know better." He said standing right before her. "There's nothing to be jealous about… Still what is it about Tristan you find so very fascinating."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She said going to walk away only to have Lancelot take a hold of her arm and halting her movements. "Let go of my arm…"

"You've been fascinated with him since we were small children. Always watching him out of the corner of your eye. Following his every movement during training. Learning his ways and then basing your own off his. Aria if the man would talk more I'm sure you could finish his sentences… Then again he rarely speaks because you do it for him."

"Let go Lancelot." She said trying to pull her arm away.

"Just tell me… Is it love? Admiration? Flirtation? Or is just plain obsession?"

"It's friendship just like I have for you and the others…" she said quietly.

"That's funny…" he said as he pulled her in closer. "Because you don't stick to any of us as close as you stick to your dear…" he cupped her cheek in his hand. "Tristan."

"I don't know what's gotten into you tonight…" she said. "But if you don't let go of my arm, I'll cut your damn hands off so you'll never grab at me again…"

"Think you can take me?" he asked as he slowly backed her up against a wall.

"I don't want to fight you Lancelot… Please un hand me…"

"Because you know you'd lose?" he asked as his eyes slowly took in her soft features.

"Because you're my friend." She admitted softly.

"So the cutting off of my hands? Just a threat?" He asked as his mouth slowly neared hers.

"If you set your lips upon mine it will no longer be a threat Lancelot…" he halted his movements feeling a blade resting against the hand that held her wrist in place.

"You are quite beautiful…" he said softly choosing to ignore the blade for the time being. "I guess I never noticed it until you were wearing a dress."

"Lancelot…" she tried to push him away only to find he held steady. "I do not wish to fight a friend."

"We could be so much more then that…" He said softly.

"You have never found interest in me before, I think you are drunk you've just had so much wine you can't tell."

"We will travel south of Hadrians wall and will most likely die… I think I deserve one night in the arms of a beautiful lady. You've said it before we're friends, so we already have a connection built you and I… Besides if we lay with each other tonight you will not have to fight tomorrow or any other day, you could stay here raise the very adorable child our union would produce."

"So that's what this is about…" She said softly and she watched as his jaw clenched and his eyes well up. "Lancelot…" She looked at him for a long moment before moving forward and wrapping her arms around him. Lancelot slowly embraced her as well as he bowed his head into her neck and slowly sunk to the ground Aria held tightly in his arms.

"Ever since I was a child I've had this voice screaming at me I was going to die before I would ever see my home again… Now I know that voice is right… We won't survive going south of the wall… I won't survive."

"Nothing is going to happen to you Lancelot…" she said as she pulled away and gazed at hm.

"I don't see how I will I'll die before my service to Rome is over…" She looked at him for a long moment before placing her hand against his cheek.

"I make a promise to you now Lancelot…" she said softly. "You will see home again… I will not let anything happen to you…"

"How can you make sure that happens?" he asked.

"If ever an arrow fly's your way I will be there to take the hit…" she pulled out her dagger. "If a sword is ever readying to stab you I will have it stab me instead." He watched her drag the blade across her palm. "If I see an ax readying to cut you down…" she sliced his palm open. "I will have it cut me down instead…" she placed her cut palm against his and held it to her chest. "I make an oath to you now Lancelot; you will never die at the sword of a Woad, an Ax of a Saxon, or the arrow of a Roman not so long as I am here to shield you from them…"

"You make that oath to me… Why?" he asked softly.

"Because… You're my blood brother now…" He smiled softly looking down at their clasped bleeding hands.

"Then I make an oath to you sister…" he said looking to her. "That I shall let you take that arrow, ax, or sword for me." She laughed as she pushed him away. "No…" he said with a smile shaking his head. "I make the same oath you make to me, if I am to die in my servitude to Rome I will have it protecting you, my little sister."

"Could I be the big sister?" she asked and he pulled away with a smile.

"Absolutely not." He said standing.

"What why?" she asked following his movements.

"Because you're littler then I."

"So?" she asked.

"Go to bed you rascal… I'll alert the others sissy."

"I'm regretting my vow!" she called and he laughed as he closed the door.

-o-

Tristan walked down the street his mind filled with images of Aria holding Lancelot. He knew it had been in friendship, still he felt oddly uneasy about the visual. The image he couldn't get rid of was the one of Lancelot's lips just inches away from Aria as he cupped onto her cheek with a rough hand. He had thought about running into the room from the window he was perched throwing him onto the ground and disemboweling him. But a thought had halted his movements. A thought that was now troubling him more then he liked.

Why would I even want to disembowel him for kissing her or nearly doing so?

He walked into the boarding house he resided in and strolled past a drunk Galahad and Gawain. They didn't seem to notice him as they laughed together at something unknown in a drunken stupor. Tristan quickly opened his door and closed it before looking around his room. He wasn't sure why but he was angry, very angry.

"I should have cut his head from his body…" He grumbled and Glider squawked at him in reply. He walked past the bed his bird occupied and went to the corner where he normally rested. He sat down his head resting against the stone. He knew he wasn't angry at Aria, it was hard to be after all. So all he could think was that his anger rested on Lancelot.

Then he remembered the way Aria hadn't even fought him as he pushed her up against the wall his lips slowly nearing hers. She had seemed distressed, she had seemed not to want to kiss Lancelot, so then why did she not immediately fight back? He had to wonder if deep down Aria had wanted a kiss from Lancelot. He quickly shook his head, if she had wanted it she would have taken it. That was the type of woman she was. It was something he admired about her. His fingers slowly touched the arrow that hung around his neck.

"From the bear as well, I had to dig it out the eye myself but it was worth it." he looked up. "I dulled the edges so it wouldn't cut you if you chose to wear it."

That was kind of her, to think that it might cut me… Very kind…

"Let go Lancelot." She said trying to pull her arm away.

"Just tell me… Is it love? Admiration? Flirtation? Or is just plain obsession?"

"It's friendship just like I have for you and the others…" she said quietly.

"That's funny…" he said as he pulled her in closer. "Because you don't stick to any of us as close as you stick to your dear…" he had cupped her cheek in his hand. "Tristan."

"Am I dear to her?" he wondered aloud. Glider flew to his shoulder and pecked at his ear affectionately. "You're right… I shouldn't think on it…"