Becoming of Age Again
By: Sheiado

Author's Note: I haven't done any chapters for this story for awhile. However, I am going to publish out random scenes that I had written out in a notebook. All are during different age periods for my character, Claire, and the Knights. Some are comical, some are romantic, and some are very serious scenes. Due to it being so long since I've last written, I figured that I can at least publish what I had to get my idea out. So, here we go.

Random Scene III: Age 19-20

"Bors, you're a big, huge-ish man -" I began.

"Aye! In more places than one, actually!"

I grimaced at his interruption, my nose crinkling in disgust. "Ew! So not what I was implying or referring to."

"Well, what were ya goin' ta say then?!"

In the distance, I heard my name being shouted, followed by loud curses.

"Oh shit," I swore, then scrambled behind Bors and a VERY amused Tristan. "Hide me!" I said quickly.

Bors turned his head to look down at me with a furrowed brow. "What'd ya do this time?"

"Shhh! I'll explain later," I whispered. "In the meantime, act like I'm not here and you haven't seen me!"

Lancelot's amused voice floated over the table. "Well, this should be interesting..."

A loud ruckus soon erupted toward us and I looked up to see Bors flash me a huge grin and a conspiratory wink before turning back around in his seat with a blank face.

"Lancelot!" I heard Galahad shout breathlessly from where he approached with what sounded like hysterical laughter following at his side. Had to be Gawain, I decided, smothering a grin.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" He demanded, wasting no time.

"Where is who?" I heard Lancelot ask, feigning confusion. I smiled.

"You KNOW WHO!" Galahad bellowed accusingly, "That damnable witch that's your woman!"

If possible, Gawains guffaws of laughter got louder.

"Last I saw her," Lancelot lied in a smooth voice, "she was with Arthur. And why are you bellowing all around the fort like one of Bors' bastards trying to look for her?"

"Mark my words," Galahad hissed with vehemence, "once I find that insufferable woman she's as good as DEAD!"

"Hmm," Lancelot replied lazily while rolling his dice in a cup, "I might have to take issue to that threat otherwise. As you did so eloquently point out, Dear Galahad, she is my woman."

I could hear Gawain's laughter slowly start to calm.

"She won't be any longer if I find her first!"

"Well," Bors grumbled, "Why don't you quit your bellowing and blubbering like a little girl pup an' go find 'er then. Some of us would like ta get drunk in peace!"

"Likely, he'll try to stop me," Galahad accused, likely referring to Lancelot.

"Now why would I do that?" Lancelot countered, "Claire doesn't need saving... although we all know that you do. And besides, the only person likely to get killed between the two of you is yourself. So, by all means, go look for her."

I heard a muffled grumble, followed by the acute sound of stomping feet that soon began to fade away in the distance.

"So, what'd she do?" Bors asked. Gawain still remained, I noted.

"Oh, earlier she made off with Galahad's clothes while he was in the bath house," Gawain supplied with a merry chuckle, "He had to run all the way to his quarters in nothing but a short scrap of linen."

After the table had a brief short laugh, I heard, "And just why did she do THAT...?"

I knew from the way Lancelot drew out the question that it was an inquiry meant for no other but myself to answer... uh oh. Play time was over...

I popped up behind Bors and Tristan, much to the surprise of a VERY wide-eyed Gawain, and looked at Lancelot with a mischievous grin plastered across my face. "For revenge, of course," I answered.

After getting over his initial shock, Gawain howled with laughter, obviously reliving the memory.

"Hmm. Revenge for what purpose, Claire?" Lancelot questioned. I couldn't tell from the poker face he was giving me if he was mad or if he was at least mildly amused with my antics.

If it wasn't the latter then at least I was on the opposite side of the table, I conceded... and behind Tristan.

Yeah, standing behind Tristan was good...

I knew he was wondering likely also just what exactly would have me going into the men's quarters of the bathhouse during the day hours if he wasn't there.

I put my hands on my hips, refusing to be cowed by him. "Galahad's been spying on all of us," I stated, "I had to plug up a VERY big peephole that was the size of a coin in the women's quarters."

"How do you know it was him?" Tristan asked offhandedly, ever the astute one as always in the group.

I shrugged. "Besides knowing that the four of you wouldn't stoop yourselves to the antics of adolescent boys, a little birdie named Eliza told me."

Bors laughed. "So, the lad was caught red-handed by a child scullery maid! That's funny."

"And you decided to invade the men's bathing quarters in broad daylight-"

"To meet out poetic justice for us women," I interrupted, knowing what road he was headed toward in his questioning. "Not only is it a lesson for Galahad but also one for any other future pervert planning on following his example... would any of you want to follow in his footsteps after what happened today?"

I heard a barely audible snicker escape Tristan's lips just as Bors and Gawain bellowed with laughter.

Dropping his disappointed facade, Lancelot smirked at me. "I didn't think so," I responded with an equal smirk of my own, quite satisfied with myself.

"Well, don't be a makin' anymore women's justice fer awhile," Bors replied after his laughter calmed. "I don't want Vanora t' be gettin' any ideas. God knows with yer penchant fer mischief what she'd come up with."

I couldn't help but smile sweetly. "Don't worry, Bors," I consoled him, "anything involving YOU will have clothes... I'd probably have to gouge my eyes out if I had to see you running around the fort like Galahad."

I exaggerated an involuntary shudder that had everyone else chuckling except for Bors who frowned into his mug, grumbling, "Never had any complaints so far..."

Lancelot crooked a finger at me and, knowing that the 'interrogation' was now over, I smiled and walked around the table.

Before I could even react, his hand snaked out around my waist and I soon found myself looking down into a pair of dancing brown eyes from my perch on his lap.

He had "that look" on his face.

Instead of falling for it, I gazed at him with my best version of a poker face. "How much did you have to drink?" I asked.

"Two cups."

"Hmm," I replied, feigning a wistful demeanor. "Guess I need to catch up then."

I heard a snort from across the table and I looked at Bors who was shaking his head in amazement. "I'll never understand how such a small lass such as yerself can drink so much and cause such a ruckus in the most unlikely of places."

I smiled at him brightly. "Was that a compliment, Bors?"

"I wouldn't put it that way," Tristan murmured in objection.

I raised a sardonic eyebrow at him. "You're just jealous you're not as good at it as me," I stated, my lips turning into a smug grin.

Tristan rolled his eyes and asked, more to himself than me, "how can someone so small be so grating on one's nerves...?"

"Aye," Gawain agreed, "and for a full seven years too..."

"Hey!" I shouted, feigning a look of indigence. "I'll have you know that it takes a master with skill at grating on someone's nerves and believe me, I AM one. And, it's not the size that counts, it's the motion of the ocean!"

Bors spit out some of his drink, narrowly missing me, while Tristan chuckled and Gawain all but gaped at me.

I felt Lancelot's chest rumble against me with laughter.

"What?" I asked, tossing Gawain one of my most cheekiest of grins. "You didn't think Bors was the only one that can tell lewd jokes?"

"Gods, Woman, the things that come out of your mouth," he mused, grinning and shaking his head.

"I have my moments," I replied, "You have to be spontaneous in order to keep things interesting."

"Hmmm, I like the way this conversation is going!" Lancelot drawled, his nose nuzzling my neck.

Looks of disgust collectively crossed the faces of the other knights. Not that I could blame them. All of them, save for one, looked at me just as Arthur did as practically being their kid sister.

To Be Continued... (Till the next scene...) Reviews are Welcome!