Disclaimer: As chapter one; so please, for the love of God, do not make me keep writing it out people!

WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE AND SOME SEXUAL REFERENCES (though not too graphic) SO READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

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Bethan & Lucan

Chapter Eight – Baited

When they reached their tent, Lucan gently laid Milo on the pelts "Kêmtir Mader?" he mumbled.

"Hush, it is time for sleep little brother; and I am here to hug away your nightmares…." Bethan murmured.

"Tell me what to dream of….." he whispered; so as she cleaned and stitched the wound on Lucan's arm, she told him what to dream as she did every night.

He was asleep before she had finished. She inspected Lucan's wound. "It will scar badly, it was left too long before I stitched it." She sighed "I am sorry."

He helped her off with her armour and gazed at all the scars she had on her arms and body "I have a few and you have many……what do I care if I look a little more like you?" She hugged him to her.

"You always make be feel beautiful" she smiled.

He took in her blond waist length hair, the plaits, the large blue eyes that could stare into your very soul; and the slender frame "you are….do you not know that?" he asked incredulously.

She shook her head "Nay, but you make me feel it" she rested her forehead against his and looked deeply into his eyes "I love you" she kissed his wound with gentle lips "You must be more careful….I worry…."

"You worry? I thought worrying was forbidden?" he grinned, pleased though she cared so much.

"Only for you…." she smiled, leaning into him.

He laughed out loud "Nay; I think it works for each, my love!"

She rolled her eyes with a grin, and changed the subject "It was good to see you ride with us today!"

"I will always ride with you now, but I will never enjoy the kill."

"That is as it should be - you are like Galahad, he hates to kill; is happy to follow Arthur's orders to spare those that flee or are injured. That's why it is me that usually goes and finish the others off."

"You enjoy it that much?"

"Nay, I enjoy knowing there will be one less enemy to regroup and attack again. We managed to kill many of them today, there will be a lot fewer for any future skirmishes; each time there will be less, until there will be none."

"Why do you always take their heads?"

"They cannot be healed….."

"What?"

"Other wounds, no matter how fatal they may appear, can sometimes be healed. If I take their heads off, they are dead…"

They snuggled down together; Bethan hugged her little brother, who smiled in his sleep – knowing it was his beloved sister that was holding him tight. In his dreams they raced across plains just as she told him…..

"Make me safe Lucan, please?" he wrapped his arms tightly round her.

"Are you alright?" he was concerned.

"I am now…." She sighed, snuggling back against his hard chest, his strong arms wrapped tight around her; the warmth of him flowing through her. "You did a good thing today with Lynette. She would never be able to run the Smithy on her own; you are a good man Lucan….I am so very lucky…" Sleep had begun to claim her, but still her voice held a strong pride and love for him.

He smiled and tightened his grip on her; closing his own eyes, he let sleep claim him.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The following morning Bethan was awoke by Guido licking her face. It would appear that both Lucan and Milo had decided to ignore the dog, so he had picked on her.

"Guido – sleep" The dog immediately went and lay down. She smiled at him, he was a quick study and was now the alpha male out of his litter which had already formed their own pack; and had indeed taken to guarding their children as Lancelot had suggested. But she was the one that ultimately controlled them.

She pitied anyone that would try to hurt or hinder the children - the hounds would tear them apart without a second thought; particularly if she gave the order.

She went to rise and noticed that Milo was gone – but knew he would go nowhere unarmed, he was a good boy. "I have to bathe and get the rest of this blood off myself." She said as Lucan's arm tightened possessively about her, she smiled at him and kissed him deeply.

"Then I will come with you!" as he scooped her up she quickly grabbed her tridents; he raised an eyebrow "I have to ask…why?" he nodded to the swords grasped in her hand.

She laughed "first rule of fighting, never go anywhere weaponless!"

"I will try to remember to take a sword to the latrine with me in future! Who knows a large spider might try to cut my throat!" He roared with laughter as she batted his shoulder.

He carried her to the stream; but instead of setting her down on the bank, he leapt in with her……she let out a small shriek as the icy water hit her hot skin! Luckily, she had a moment to drop her swords before he had jumped.

"God's teeth Bethan!" Exclaimed Gawain, as he came running; dagger in one hand and sword in the other. His tent was next to theirs and he had heard her "I thought for sure you were being murdered!"

She climbed out of the water with her teeth chattering "I was! I swear to God he is trying to kill me!" she laughed at Lucan.

All of a sudden she snatched up one of her tridents and threw into a tree….

"Why did you do ……" he never finished the question as a young Celt dropped from the tree onto the ground next to him, a bow and arrow still clutched in his hand. She took the sword from his chest and brought it down on the neck of the body, separating head from shoulders.

Gawain sighed, he knew her 'rule' for herself – always take the head, then they cannot be healed. This was the one thing about her Galahad hated, he agreed with Arthur; if they were fleeing, or already dead or injured, there was no need to brutalise them further.

But she would not yield on this point, and in the end Arthur had given in and allowed her to continue killing in her own way; but he was not happy about it and still regularly tried to dissuade her, causing them to argue on the issue frequently.

Tristan ran up and saw the body; he raised an eyebrow at Gawain "not me!" the knight pointed to Bethan.

Tristan smiled "Well done; you do very well….."

"Aye, well, I had the very best teachers…." She walked over to him smiling, and embraced him briefly "one in particular…."

The other knights had appeared "Aww….." said Bors, preening slightly.

"She means Tristan, you idiot!" Sighed Lancelot, rolling his eyes.

"I knew that! But she meant all of us too!"

It was at that moment they heard a thin scream coming from further along the stream.

"SURIANA!" Lancelot cried, recognising his daughter's voice - terror writing itself on his face as he flew away from them.

They ran, all had their hearts in their mouths; Bethan overtook Lancelot - she was running flat out and had youth on her side. She adored all the children and would protect them to her last breath, but her favourites were all the knights' offspring -she would let naught harm befall any of them.

She reached the clearing a minute ahead of Lancelot and the others. What they all saw stopped them dead.

Suriana was hugging Milo, her head buried in his chest. A Celt was lying on the ground moaning as death claimed him, one of Bethan's daggers protruding from his chest.

Bethan recovered first and strode over, killing him by cleaving his head from his shoulders. She turned to the two children; kneeling in front of them in one fluid movement, reminiscent of her mother, she asked them softly "What happened here?"

Milo looked at her, his face as passive as hers and his father's – though fear and uncertainty shone in his eyes "I came for water and Suriana was here – we started playing and then he came…" he indicated the now motionless corpse in front of him. "He went to grab Suriana, but she dodged him and screamed – he came at me. I threw your dagger and he fell. Then you came….I brought your dagger because you said never go anywhere weaponless…." He smiled then "Did I do well?"

Lancelot was holding his daughter, his voice tight with emotion "You did more than well Milo…."

"You have the makings of an exceptional knight!" Finished Bethan proudly.

"Then I will be like you and father!" he grinned.

Bethan picked him up and swung him round "My brave brother, a knight - 'Sir Milo'!" She let him down and bowed low to him.

"I could not finish him as you do, I had no sword." He sounded almost apologetic.

"It is no matter, I have done it already and I doubt you would have had the strength…. you did so well Little Man; you have been learning conscientiously; as I knew you would. You did very well, and Suriana will love you forever!" she ruffled his hair and hugged him tightly. He was beaming at the pride and love in her voice.

Suriana nodded, came over and hugged him as well as kissing him on the cheek. "He is my hero!" she whispered.

Milo usually hated girls, and hated the 'kissy stuff' as he called it; only his sister and parents ever got to get all affectionate with him. But he hugged the little girl back - all the knights exchanged looks.

"It is these bloody two all over again!" Laughed Bors, pointing to Bethan and Lucan.

Tristan looked enquiringly at Lancelot. "I would not object – he is a good boy and I can see he is more than capable of taking care of her…." He grinned.

Tristan nodded. "Let nature take its course then…."

Bethan retrieved her dagger, wiping her blade on the grass. She swung Milo onto her back, "my brave little knight! Let us get you back and dressed!" She realised he was running around in just his undergarments, the same as she and Lucan.

She linked her arm through Lucan's as he spoke "Well, that answers my question…" he smiled sadly.

"What?" she looked up at him, her eyes shining.

"As to whether Milo here would be as much a cold blooded killer as you and your father; this proves he will…" His tone was non-committal. Gawain flinched and waited to see if she blew up.

"Aye he will; and I for one am proud of him. He will be a warrior one day, and make his Kêmtir Mader as proud as he has this day. He stopped both himself and Suriana getting killed, what would you have him do Lucan? Stand there and be murdered?" She smiled and kissed her young husband's shoulder.

Her words carried conviction; but instead of losing her temper as she would have before, she tried to make a point with a smile and a fairly easy tone.

"Nay, I suppose you are right…" he sighed "I know I would not have you any other way now – so I would not wish Milo different either." He leant down and kissed the top of her head.

As they wandered back to the tent, Galahad made a serious error "It looks like Little Scout has finally been tamed!" he laughed.

Gawain closed his eyes and waited for the explosion; Bethan let Milo down and went charging at Galahad, knocking him flying "Do not ever say that about me!" but she was laughing.

She was tickling the youngest knight unmercifully and he was screaming with laughter "Get off me you vicious harpy! Get off me!"

But she would not relent "Tell them I am not tamed….tell them!"

"Pax, pax!" he squealed "alright! She is not tamed…she is not!" She leapt up and returned to her husband's side, as a gasping Galahad tried to get to his feet.

"She is not..." agreed Lucan "I would not want her to be…." He smiled down at her, lips gently caressing her hair as she leant into him and gazed adoringly into his eyes "But she is mine…." His eyes looked hopeful.

"Always and forever; just never leave me Lucan, give me your word – for I could not be without you now." She gently caressed his bottom lip with her teeth.

He crushed her to him "You have my solemn vow Bethan, I will never leave you."

"I love you…" she sighed as she wrapped her arms round his waist.

Arthur smiled as he entered the clearing "How is love's young dream?" he asked.

"Fine…." Laughed Lancelot "If a little vomit inducing!" All the knights laughed, as did Bethan and Lucan.

"I think our king has come to fetch us to move on, is that not right Arthur?" she giggled.

He nodded "Indeed it is; I hear Milo has the makings of a knight?" He smiled at the boy, who beamed back.

"News travels fast!" laughed Bethan.

"I would be honoured to serve my king when I am of age." The boy bowed solemnly, and all the knights had to smother a grin.

"Train well with your sister Milo, and you will be - apart from your father, you could not have a better teacher." Arthur spied the corpse; a flicker of distaste crossed his face "I see Bethan must have her fun…"

Lucan saw Bethan's face become passive and her eyes glittered angrily….Gawain came over and drew Lucan to one side; he explained about the disagreement between the two over the way Bethan finished a fight.

Lucan eyed the two nervously. The other knights all drifted away knowing what was coming, taking the two children with them; leaving only Lucan, Tristan and Gawain remaining to watch the two square up.

"It is not fun for me, Arthur! What would you have me do, let them live to attack us again? This 'peace' of yours, this 'united land' that you love so much, is hard won with the blood of our fallen. I wish to ensure we do not have to keep spilling it!

I do not wish those I love" she indicated the three men standing with her, and the slowly retreating knights "nor myself to be the victims of your generous nature!" her last two words dripped sarcasm.

Arthur bridled "I know your feelings Bethan. I understand, but still…..is there need for such slaughter!"

"Nay Arthur, of course there is not……I cut their heads off for fun as you say!" she all but growled her frustration "If I take their heads, they are dead. If I do not, they could have injuries that can be healed and we have to fight them again.

I do not have the time, or the inclination, on a battlefield to run round checking every fallen enemy for a pulse! If they have no head, I know they no longer live! It is as simple as that!"

"I am your commander and I would like my orders obeyed!" Lucan flinched at the anger in Arthur's voice; but Bethan did not bat an eyelid, she was well used to this particular argument.

"I will obey a command that makes sense my king; not one that could cause the death's of more of my own people; or worse, those I love!

I love you Arthur; as my friend, as well as my leader - but I will not blindly follow you. I will not blindly follow anyone!"

"A knight obeys their king!" He all but shouted.

"I doubt all the knights have always obeyed you blindly Arthur - but even if they have, then maybe it is better you do not make me a knight, for I will not!" she all but yelled.

Gawain looked at Tristan and rolled his eyes "This could go on for hours." He sighed; the scout nodded and walked off.

"Do they often argue like this?" Asked Lucan, clearly rattled at his young wife shouting and yelling at the king of Briton.

"Aye; the trouble is she has grown up with Arthur, so the whole 'king' thing does not work on her - hence this…" he indicated the two of them still squaring off. "But you know…" he lowered his voice "I think Arthur likes it."

He pointed to the twinkle in the eye of their leader, despite the set of his jaw "He loves Guin, Amila and San for doing the same; though not so much now, families and everyday life have got them to the point they cannot be bothered to be baited - everyone else does what he says." He smiled.

"Does she know?"

"Bethan? Nay, she would not give in and row if she knew; that would be her way of winning!" he laughed.

Guinevere entered the scene, "Arthur…she speaks true." She said softly, smiling at Bethan "She is merely trying to protect us. What else would you have her do?"

"Obey me!"

"Why should she if you are wrong?"

"Why am I wrong?"

"Her point is if they are healed, or can escape, we will end up having to fight them again; that is why she does what she does…"

He stood still for a moment and then walked over Bethan "Alright….but I do not have to like it!" he growled.

"Do not then, do not like it - do I look bothered!" she turned and stalked away. Lucan went to follow, but glanced at Arthur who was watching her retreating figure - he was grinning!

"Feel better now you have argued?" Guinevere asked mildly.

"Aye…..much….she never refuses to rise to that argument!" he walked off, smiling.

"She would if she knew you were doing it merely to let off steam, my love!"

She turned to Lucan "he hates what she does, but accepted it a long time ago. Just sometimes, especially since he became king, he likes someone to argue with; the knights, San and Amila are all taken up with their families these days, I am usually too tired or just cannot be bothered to rise to the bait" she smiled "But Bethan - Bethan always bites…..without fail….every time!"

Lucan smiled "I see….."

"If he really meant it, she would obey…..I think…" Guinevere walked away laughing lightly.

Lucan grinned - if he lived to be a thousand he would never understand the relationship Bethan had with these men; but it was clear they all adored her - even the king.

He followed his wife back to the tent; he was not going to tell her the truth - he liked the idea of her being on the wrong step just this once.

He grinned "Bethan? Bethan wait!" He caught her up and wrapped his arms round her waist, nuzzling the back of her neck. She almost went limp against him.

She sighed; and he laughed...

"What?"

"I did not realise it would work that well!"

She understood what he was talking about and swung round slapping his shoulder, but then kissed him passionately. "Love you…."

"Love you on…we have got a long way to go" He dragged her back to the tent "Ride with me today?"

"Once we have scouted I will; just try and stop me!"