Ayla and Katarina

King Arthur doesn't belong to me. Heya, well I hope this chapter makes some of you feel better; especially all you Lancelot fans, I know some of you wanted him to grow up.

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"Solin!" called Ayla backing away from Tristan. Tristan stopped in utter shock and didn't move until Solin pushed past him. Tristan tried to step past Solin but Solin drew his sword and put it in Tristan's face.

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"Move."

"Never." spat Solin without batting an eyelash.

Tristan stepped back and drew his sword, "I will fight you."

"And you will loose." returned Solin. Ayla stood in utter shock watching the two knights begin to circle each other.

"Solin…."

"Ayla get out of here now." ordered Solin not taking his eyes from Tristan.

"But…"

"Now!" yelled Solin.

Ayla ran out of the stables, "ARTHUR!"

Arthur came skidding around a hallway, "What is wrong?"

"Tristan and Solin are fighting in the stables." gasped Ayla. Arthur didn't move, but his frown grew.

"With swords." added Ayla. Arthur cursed then ran back the way he came, running past with his sword. Ayla ran back to the stables in time to see Tristan lock swords with Solin. Arthur propped his sword against a stable wall and brushed his hands against his legs. Ayla couldn't breathe as she saw Arthur take a running dive at Solin and tackle him to the ground.

"Oh my god." Ayla ran over and helped Arthur to his feet, "Are you ok?"

Arthur nodded, "Thank-you. Now one of you will explain the meaning of this." Ayla helped Arthur dust off as the commander glared between two of his knights.

Tristan glared at his commander and Ayla, "I think you two should know."

"What do you mean?" asked Arthur.

Tristan turned to Ayla with his answer, "Before you accuse me of betraying your love then maybe you should think of yourself."

Ayla punched Tristan's jaw line, "Think about what you say before you speak. I have never done ANYTHING wrong to you; you picked that woman over me! You are the one who broke my heart! I would never do anything to hurt you Tristan, because I made the mistake of caring about you. Right now I couldn't care less if you burn in hell for all eternity." Ayla walked out of the stables.

"Ayla speaks brave words now but she would not if she knew I saw you holding her." Tristan spat at Arthur.

Arthur had a look of realization pass on his face, "She was upset because you wouldn't talk with her, I was giving her comfort and telling her to speak with you." The color drained from Tristan's face.

"Congratulations Scout you broke her heart." said Solin leaving the stables.

"Arthur I'm…I…I'm sorry I did not know." said Tristan.

"I am not the one who needs an apology." said Arthur leaving Tristan alone in the stables.

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Lancelot patiently watched Katarina jump around his room and kick several objects while cursing Tristan. She finally lost steam and crumpled to the floor with tears of frustration shining. He knew it was safe and sat next to Katarina then pulled her in his lap rocking her back and forth. "Why did he do it Lancelot?" asked Katarina. Lancelot kissed the top of Katarina's head and ran his hand through her hair several times.

"Tristan is a fool and he did not know what he had." Lancelot answered.

"Lancelot you know you will have to make sure that I don't beat up Tristan again right?" asked Katarina.

Lancelot smiled, "I think Tristan will run from you on his own."

"Damn right."

"Will you be alright?" asked Lancelot.

"I don't know I'm more worried about Ayla." said Katarina.

"I do not think I have seen you that angry before." said Lancelot.

"And with good reason." said Katarina, "Only a few things get me that upset."

"I hope I'm never at the receiving end." said Lancelot.

"Oh you think I'm upset then you should see Ayla angry." said Katarina.

"Is she worse?"

"You will know, trust me. When you see it; run, run for your life." said Kat.

"Is it that bad?" asked Lancelot.

"You remember when you broke your nose with the riffle?" asked Katarina leaning back.

Lancelot flinched at the memory, "Yes."

"Imagine that pain times ten." said Katarina. Lancelot gulped a little and remembered the promise that Ayla made to him that day in the healing room.

Katarina cuddled back into his arms, "I love moments like this."

"Excuse me?" asked Katarina pulling back.

"I meant moments where I can hold you because nothing else ever matters." said Lancelot holding the side of Katarina's face with a hand. Katarina felt herself melt at Lancelot's words. She knew that he could sweet talk very well but it always seemed to make Katarina feel butterflies in her stomach. 'Butterflies in my stomach? It is like a classic sign of love. Wait…does that mean I love him?' Katarina wondered.

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Ayla had no clue how long she had been standing on the wall. All she could feel was her aching heart and the cool night wind blowing her hair into a mess. She suddenly felt a little warmer and it took her a few moments to realize that a cloak had been placed around her shoulders. Ayla turned to see Tristan. She immediately shrugged off the cloak and let it fall while she headed to the steps. "Ayla don't go."

Ayla stopped on the top step. "I…I did not mean for you to be hurt." said Tristan.

"Then what did you mean by kissing that woman?" asked Ayla.

Tristan ran a hand through her hair, "I don't know."

"If you didn't mean for me to be hurt then what did you mean?" asked Ayla.

"I don't know. This is just some big…"

"Mess?" finished Ayla.

"Exactly."

"A mess doesn't even describe what has happened Tristan." Ayla said turning around. She walked up to him and he could see how red her eyes had been from crying.

Ayla took one of his hands in hers and put it over her heart, "Do you feel that?" Tristan nodded his head.

"My heart still races when I see you." said Ayla.

"Ayla…"

Tristan took her hand in his and put it over his heart, "I feel the same way Ayla."

"This though," she said holding her hand against his chest, "You gave to that other woman not me."

"It is not for her, it never has been and it never will be, but it is yours forever." said Tristan.

"Then why did you kiss that other woman?" asked Ayla.

"I…I thought that you were…I saw you with Arthur it the stables earlier today." said Tristan.

"How could you think that Tristan?" asked Ayla.

"I don't know I was being a fool." said Tristan, "But I love you and that is something I have never been surer of that then I am right now."

Ayla shook head, "Don't tell me that."

"It is true, I love you." said Tristan.

Ayla shook her head again, "Do not tell me that unless you mean it. Right now I don't think that you mean it."

"Then tell me what this is." demanded Tristan pressing her hand harder over his heart.

"Guilt at being caught."

Tristan let go of Ayla's wrist stumbling back, "Ayla I did not want to hurt you."

"Then what did you want?"

"For you to not be afraid of me!" yelled Tristan.

Ayla swallowed away a fresh batch of tears, "I was afraid that you were going to shut down."

"Shut down?" Tristan asked in confusion.

"I was afraid that you would stop talking to everyone, want to kill all the time, and never be close to anyone ever again." said Ayla. Tristan looked at Ayla in complete shock.

"I thought that I was falling in love with someone that would break my heart, and I didn't want to but I did fall in love with you. The problem is I was right, you did break my heart." Ayla turned and ran down the stairs.

&&A FEW DAYS LATER&&

"Oh Kat I'm glad I found you." said Ayla shifting the bags in her arms.

"Why? And why are you holding all of this stuff?" asked Kat.

"I bought that house." Ayla answered smiling.

"Come again?"

"Well we didn't have enough to buy it completely but for the most part we own a nice little cottage-hut-thingy on the outskirts of town." said Ayla smiling.

"You've got to be shitting me." said Katarina.

"No I'm not, and I'd love to stand here and talk about it but this stuff is getting really heavy and I've got to take it out to the courtyard." said Ayla.

Lancelot came out of his room, "Are you alright Kat?"

Katarina gaped like a fish out of water pointing at herself then the way that Ayla had disappeared, and then she scratched her forehead, "Um I think I'm moving."

"What?"

"Ayla just bought a house on the edge of town, and apparently I'm moving with her." said Katarina.

"When will we…"

"Relax Lancelot it has a third room." said Ayla walking to them.

"Ayla we can't just move." said Katarina.

"Why not, it's the same place that you wanted to buy a couple of months ago." said Ayla, "There isn't anything stopping us from getting it. Now get your stuff out to the cart or you can carry it all of the way out there."

Katarina watched Ayla walk back to their room, "That is some serious shopping therapy."

"Are you really moving?" asked Lancelot.

"You are more then welcome to tell her I'm not." said Katarina heading to her room.

"But…"

"Broken nose times ten." Katarina called over her shoulder. Lancelot closed his mouth and went to go help Katarina.

"Ayla where did you get the horse and cart?" asked Katarina putting her stuff in the back of the cart.

"I bought them." said Ayla getting into the bench of the cart.

"Is there anything that you haven't bought?" asked Katarina getting in next to her.

"There are several things, like a highchair and bib for Lancelot." said Ayla.

Katarina punched Ayla's arm, "As much as I appreciate that you're getting back to your regular self by making fun of Lancelot, cut it out already. Lancelot has changed a lot he's much more mature now."

Ayla sighed, "I know."

"What? You are admitting that Lancelot isn't a dolt?" Katarina asked shocked.

"Yep."

"Start over again I think I might have missed something." said Katarina.

"As mean as I am to Lancelot sometimes he isn't as dumb as I like to say that he is." said Ayla.

"What's changed?" asked Katarina.

"A lot, I've come to realize how much the two of you really are alike." answered Ayla.

"I'm still not exactly getting this."

Ayla groaned, "You are going to make me spell this out aren't you?"

"Yea pretty much." Katarina said nodding her head.

"You both act like complete goof-balls but when someone you care about needs you then you better get outa the way." said Ayla.

"Point and case me kicking Tristan's ass." said Katarina with a nod.

"That would explain the black eyes." mumbled Ayla. The rest of the ride was silent once they got to the cottage they began unloading the cart.

"Something crawled on my foot!" screamed Katarina dropping her bags and running outside. Ayla screamed and ran out right behind her and both women jumped onto the cart.

"I distinctly felt something fuzzy crawl across my foot!" exclaimed Katarina.

Ayla was panting and leaned back holding her chest, "Was it a rat?"

"I don't know, but what I do know is I don't…"

"Kat."

"deal well…"

"Kat!"

"with fuzzy…"

"Katarina!" yelled Ayla pointing.

"What!"

"Look." said Ayla pointing with both of her arms at once. Katarina looked in time to see a small cat bound out of the doorway.

"I really want to kick your ass right now but I still need your help." said Ayla jumping off of the cart.

Katarina let out a snort and quickly covered her mouth. Ayla turned to her friend, "You are seriously laughing?" Katarina covered her mouth trying to hide a laugh.

"What is so funny?" asked Ayla. Katarina exploded with laughter as Ayla looked at her as if she were mad.

"You are insane." laughed Ayla.

"I know I confused a rat with a cat remember?" laughed Katarina.

"That rhymed." giggled Ayla. Ayla soon found herself laughing along with her friend.

They calmed down and finally got everything put away, "I don't know about you but I don't wanna cook."

"Then to the bar we go." said Katarina walking out the front door.

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"Hey Vanora, could we get something to eat? Ayla and I just got done moving our stuff and we are starving." said Katarina as she and Ayla sat at a table.

"I told the two of you to let me know when you were moving, I coulda had Bors help you." said Vanora.

"Don't blame me Ayla is the one who decided to move at the last second." Katarina said holding up her hands defensively.

"That just means I will have to come by and see the place soon. I'll have you something to eat right out." said Vanora walking away.

Lancelot sauntered up with a smile on his face, "Good evening to you both." "Good evening."

"Hey you I haven't seen you in awhile." said Katarina pulling him in for a quick kiss.

"Oh yea cuz this morning was forever ago." muttered Ayla.

"Ayla may I steal Katarina away for a few moments?" asked Lancelot.

"You already stole her heart from her I don't see why not. Go on you two crazy love birds." Ayla said smiling. Lancelot bowed his head and escorted Katarina out of the tavern.

Vanora came over with two plates of food, "Where has Kat gone?"

"Off with Lancelot." answered Ayla with a sigh.

"So he is not scared of you?" asked Vanora sitting down.

"He has no reason to be, at least not anymore. I suppose that's the silver lining." sighed Ayla.

"What do you mean?" asked the confused Vanora.

"This…mess with Tristan, it has shown that I can trust Lancelot with Katarina's heart." said Ayla.

"What did Lancelot say?" asked Vanora.

"A day or so after the incident Lancelot found me and gave me the biggest hug he could and said that I shouldn't let anyone break my heart like Tristan did, and that I was too special for that type of treatment."

Ayla had tears coming through her closed eyes as she covered her mouth with one hand, "That's the same thing my brother would tell me, I'm sorry Vanora I have to go for a minute."

Ayla jumped to her feet and sped out of the tavern. Vanora was still sitting at the table a few moments later when Tristan tapped on her shoulder, "Do you have any spare apples?"

"Find your own damn apples!" yelled Vanora standing. Vanora then proceeded to stomp on his foot and walk away. Tristan sat in the chair holding his head in his hands.

"Will you be alright?" Tristan looked up to see Dagonate sitting down across from him.

"I don't think that it is good for you to talk to me, Katarina may be lurking in the shadows."

Dagonate laughed, "She doesn't scare me."

"She didn't scare me before a few days ago." muttered Tristan.

"Have you talked to Ayla?" asked Dagonate.

"I've tried."

"Obviously not hard enough, you know she moved out of the house?" asked Dagonate.

"What?" asked Tristan sitting up.

"Katarina and Ayla bought a house on the edge of town and moved in today." said Dagonate.

Tristan put his head back in his hands, "I do not know why I care."

"Because you love her." said Dagonate.

"I wonder sometimes."

"What?"

"Maybe she was right if I truly loved her then I would not have put her through that pain." said Tristan.

"You are a person Tristan people make mistakes." insisted Dagonate, "Talk to her."

"But…"

"Now." ordered Dagonate.

"I…"

"Ayla!" called Dagonate.

Tristan gave his fellow knight a murderous look but he did not move from his seat. Ayla sat next to Dagonate, "What's wrong Dag?"

"Tristan wanted to talk to you."

"Oh."

Ayla started to stand put Dag put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back into her seat, "Stay." Dagonate stood and walked away from the table.

Ayla sighed looking at the retreating Dagonate then she turned to Tristan, "Well?"

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So what do you guys think about this chapter?