A/N: Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews... I will try to check my spelling and all of that stuff (thanks for pointing out the mistakes), but I still think I need a beta. If someone would be as kind as to help me out of this mess, I'd be thankful forever. LMAO.

It's true that Vanora is Bors' lover, not his wife (or a second my mind forgot the whole 'pagan' plot point. LOL.), and yeah, Dagonet was spelled wrong. I went to a KA page with the proper knights and he is called Lamorak instead (but it's still the same guy). So bascally the page I checked didn't help me at all with the names (the ones I got right I already knew. :P). Sorry about that. Oh, and one more detail- Dagonet WILL have a girlfriend in this too (same as in the legends)... you just wait. ;)

BLOOD OF THIS LAND

The mountains were cold, way too cold for her taste. She hated the mere sight of them, the ice and the snow. But, over all, she hated to travel along with an army of Saxon soldiers who behaved like wild beasts. She watched them from her horse, walking and screaming as they examined the land that at some point she was sure they'd take.

And she would lead them. She was the daughter of one of the most important Saxon leaders, Pelleas, and the soldiers would have all died protecting her. But she would have not shown affection or remorse either if they lived or died for her- a lady of ice, that was what she was. Proud and high, strong.

''This land is taken for you, my lady.'' A soldier came to her, and knelt down as he let her observe the mountain villages that they'd made surrender or die. She looked at the soldier and managed a small, cold smile.

''And what is the name of my land, good servant?'' Her voice was icy and distant. Her sky blue hood covered her face and trimmed fur covered what would have been seen of her eyes. Only her hands were seen, pale and perfect, holding onto her mount.

''Shalott.'' He quickly answered.

She brought her hands up and retired her hood slowly, and could feel the gazes of the knights closest to her fixed on her face. Her eyes were blue, almost white, feline and hardened by all she'd seen. Her skin was flawless- it often happened with women who didn't have to work nor fight. Her pale pink lips curled in the stone cold smile that she'd managed earlier, still. Her livid golden hair was limp and fell losely around her face and disappeared under the rest of the cloak that covered her.

As the soldiers stared in awe or continued with their journey, the one who'd come to her continued.

''You shall now be named Elaine, the Lady of Shalott.''

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

''Welcome.'' A voice greeted Arthur as soon as he descended his horse. Dark grey eyes observed him from behind a mane of ebony curls. He smiled as he turned around to face his beautiful sister. The entrance was almost empty- when the witch appeared, everyone else decided to take off in different directions.

''Morgan.''He said, and embraced her. ''I would have come to your chamber anyway.'' She let out a small laugh and nodded.

''But I wouldn't have been able to see her.'' She pointed at Isolde. ''And I wouldn't have had the pleasure of feeling the wind on my face. There is just so much you can do between walls, Arthur. Keeping company is almost impossible.''

As Arthur opened his mouth to reply, Galahad practically tossed himself into Morgan's arms. She had raised him as if he were her own child. All of the knights had been in need of a female presence that would take care of them, and Morgan had been the only one brave enough to play the part. Many ladies had fallen in love with the knights and their pride, but none of them would have been able to handle Gawain's hangovers, Bors' songs at late night, Kay's temper and Galahad's nostalgic moments quite as well.

Except maybe Arthur.

''Welcome home '' She told the knights with a smile, and they all waited for their turn to see her and then headed to their houses. Bors left quickly saying that Vanora would have his head if he didn't appear as soon as possible, dragging Dagonet along with him.

Geraint parted with a smile on his face, thinking about his beautiful lover, Enid. Somehow, the sarmatian young girl he'd loved had come to serve the romans. She'd left her village and headed to the fortress ferlessly, until she was given a job at the tavern Vanora commanded. Arthur was conforted by this, that in a time of war they'd managed to find peace. They were about to marry.

The twins threatened to drink until they needed to sing, and Gawain decided to go with them (thus Galahad had no other choice but to follow him). Kay and Bedivere decided to go to sleep, and when Parsifal called them 'lazy bastards' he got slapped by Kay. He left to study his healing herbs cursing under his breath. Morgan let them all leave her, watching every single one of them get lost in the distance by turn. Arthur observed her patiently.

Isolde and Tristan still stood where they'd descended the horse. Morgan turned to them, never losing her smile. Tristan greeted her without smiling- not because he didn't like her, simply because it wouldn't have been like him to smile in a moment like this. She would have pointed it out too.

''The Celt Princess'' Morgan saluted her and then spoke softly in the language of her people. Isolde looked surprised for a moment, but quickly nodded and smiled. ''Welcome.''

Isolde and Morgan spoke a few sentences more under the stare of the men. Morgan finished the conversation with a final, wider smile, and turned to Arthur.

''What did she tell you?'' Arthur asked as the Celt and Tristan walked away.

''Her name.'' She simply answered. Arthur looked about to say 'impossible', but his sister continued. ''To you and to your knights she is Isolde. But to her people, she is the Hawk Lady. ''

''And?'' The Roman asked, guessing that there was something she wasn't telling him, judging by her smile.

''And her trip had gone well.''

''Morgan, please.''

''Alright. I asked her about the knights, and she said she'd felt confortable.''

''And that means...?'' He asked.

''And that means that if Mark takes a long time befote he comes back, he may have no wife.'' Morgan finished. She would have laughed if Mark hadn't been one of the most feared men in Britain.

''So, that will be a problem.'' He said, biting his lower lip.

''It may, but I'm not certain.'' She casually corrected him. Arthur remembered the way Tristan had spent the journey just watching her laugh, how she looked back at him every moment, and how they'd left the conversation to look into each other's eyes before someone cracked a joke and there was a roar of laughter.

''I am.''

&&&&&&&&&&&&&

''You will stay here until your future husband comes back from war.'' Tristan said as Isolde stepped into the room he showed her. A fire had been lit in the room, the wide bed seemed comfortable, and the fur carpet warm. Isolde was happy with simple things. She looked back at him.

''And how long will that be?''

''We suppose it shouldn't be more than a few days.''

''I will miss this place, I won't have time to know it.''

''You'll be glad to leave if Kay decides to bother you, believe me.''

Isolde smiled. Tristan watched the reflection of the fire on her auburn locks, but quickly looked away and foccused on... the carpet. As if he hadn't noticed it before or found it extremely interesting - none was true.

They fell silent again. Isolde started to notice that Tristan didn't talk too much unless he was asked or he had to make a funny comment. But she was glad for that- at least she didn't have to deal with more ranting men that wanted her attention. And for once felt rather sorry, for she would have wanted his.

The sun had set and Tristan used it as an excuse to leave before he blew Arthur's plans for peace between Romans and Celts. He lifted his gaze to her again to see that she was still staring at him.

''It's late. I'd reccomend that you sleep before the twins' songs don't let you anymore.'' He said with a hint of a smile. She nodded and swallowed hard, but said nothing. He took this as his cue to leave, and turned on his heels.

''Where do you sleep?'' She asked once he'd just crossed the treshold. She blinked right after that because this looked abrupt and... not quite right. But well, the Romans already considered her savage and wild, so it's not as if they'd think worse of her.

''Next door.'' He answered. He knew the other knights would have whistled and made wolf calls if they'd heard it. Come to it, he could almost hear them... and actually, he did. He turned around to see Kay rushing upstairs making fun of him as he recovered some arrows he'd left in the wrong house as they prepared to leave.

Isolde almost laughed, but then just decided to let him leave and go to sleep. As it it were possible. Tristan went up to Kay, who was pickig his arrows and readied himself to leave right after that.

''You love torturing me.''

''It's nothing personal. I love torturing anyone.'' Kay answered with a wide grin, slightly cruel. His trademark smile. ''So, I will leave now and let you... sleep.'' The last word was uttered in a tune that made Tristan grimace slightly under his braids. Kay just let out a laugh and went out of the house. In the streets the songs of the twins were starting to be heard.

''It's going to be a long night...'' Tristan muttered.