Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the film King Arthur, nor do I own the myth, or anything else, just the girl character who I realize doesn't have a name yet.

Hmm, I think when I started this fic I was kinda depressed, but hopefully it'll get happier or funnier, I don't really know where I'm going with it. But thanks for reviewing everyone!  Oh yes, I guess this is before the movie, because no one's dead. I don't know if it matters exactly how many years. Just make up an arbitrary number, because I really don't know yet.

Zelina: Opps, what I meant at the end of chapter 2 was that her idea of herself as this subservient, mindless person will die, and she would reassert herself in her own life, I guess. I suppose that would have been easier to convey had I given her a name, lol.

je suis une pizza: Yup, I'm a sort of computer-disoriented (no really, computers have it out for me, all of them) but I tried change review thing so maybe I'll be getting more. Thanks a bunch for the tip 

Chapter Four: Realizations in the Lake

The knights seem to have a soft spot for me. I think they understand being forced to serve, and though running is not an option for them, they can understand it. They seem to have a grudge about the Romans as well, and so don't speak of reporting me, though we still aren't back to their camp. The young Galahad is sweet and kind, almost to the point of naivety, but perhaps he knows more of the world than he lets on. They've all seen a lot. Gawain has a sense of humor, though is still always aware of his responsibilities. Tristan….Tristan I don't understand, he watches, lurks really. I can understand watching, it is the best way to learn, but he has a way of making it feel unnerving, like were being stalked. And the last, Lancelot, I do not trust him. He'll laugh with his friends, then see me and glare. He does not trust me, and I certainly do not trust him. I believe he would rather have just killed me to start with, or left me to the Woads, then to have bothered with taking me along. He watches too, but looks at me different than Tristan. Tristan is doing his job, he is a scout. Lancelot is searching for something, like he knows or suspects something about me.

It's obvious that they are in no hurry to get back to their camp. I think their trip hunting was a rare retreat for them, a chance to leave regulations and duty behind them and be free for awhile, and they are not eager for it to end. They meander by the lake, laughing at each other's attempts to skip stones. Tristan and Lancelot walk back up to the tree line surrounding the lake, leaving Galahad and Gawain to argue. They seem to be close friends.

"No, you have to flick your wrist, like this,"

"Flick? Flick? Who flicks? Honestly Gawain, you pansy, sometimes I really do believe you're a girl,"

"Right, says you with the rosy cheeks and skin as soft as a baby's---"

I think one kicks the other. I look up in time to see Gawain jump Galahad in a most impressive manner, and dunk him into the shallows, and then they are both up laughing and cursing at each other.

I turn around to see what Lancelot and Tristan think of this. Tristan is nowhere to be seen, but Lancelot is watching me again. He is always watching, he is suspicious, or knows something, I can tell. He makes me think, though. I cannot stay with these people. It was silly of me to think that strangers would welcome a rogue off the streets. Besides, they are military, not villagers, what could I do for them? And within a year or so, they would all grow suspicious when I don't grow taller, when my voice doesn't drop, when I don't start shaving or flirting with girls. I cannot stay here. I do not like the way Lancelot looks at me, it reminds me…it reminds me of the way Marius would look at me, and the men Secunda's villa. As if I was prey.

I decide to leave later, it was better that way. I don't want to hurt them, nor do I wish them to hurt me in pursuit. I will just sneak off. But when? We'd be back to the fort soon enough. I turn to look out at the lake, and interrupt my thoughts with my own laughter. Galahad and Gawain are so entwined trying to push the other into the lake that it looks more like a lover's embrace than a warriors brawl. They both look up and quickly come to the realization themselves, and push away from each other.

"What are you laughing at, boy?"

"Oh pray tell, what so amuses you?

I try to look very solemn, but Galahad has some absurd slimy creature attached to his face, and Gawain, from a distance, truly makes an attractive women with his hair wet. I snort, and laugh full out. Gawain and Galahad exchange a knowing glance, and then simultaneously lunge for me and throw me over their shoulder's into the water. Ack! Though the day is warm, the water bites at my skin and takes some getting used to. I stand up, I am farther out from shore than they, and can feel smooth stones under foot. I grab a handful and swim back to shore, handing them to Gawain.

"Why don't you stick to stone-skipping? It's much less painful..."

But now I'm wet anyways, so I swim a little further out, diving for more stones because I have nothing better to do. I see a large fish, so big! I follow it for awhile, and when I surface I realize how far out I am. They men are still laughing among themselves. I could leave, right now, in broad daylight! They probably won't notice my lone figure in the water until I am near the other side, and the last crossing was miles back. I doubt anyone would follow me, most feel the ability to float in water implies witchcraft. Which, I suppose, will really not help me if they do catch me, or worse, just shoot at me from the shore.

I swim quietly, trying not to splash, but not going to fast, so it looks innocent indeed. I hear Galahad yell. I smile and wave, then dive back under and swim beneath the water towards the other side. They don't know which direction I'm going. But when I resurface, I see that Galahad is following me! His strokes are childish though, and slow moving. He is not a threat. More yelling…But not at me, Galahad is struggling, and then disappears, leaving only bubbles. It is obvious that Gawain cannot swim, he just stands on shore and looks horrified. Tristan and Lancelot are far off, I can see them running, but they have light armor on anyways, despite that we are no longer in Woad territory, and it would weigh them down. I dive back under the water….and swim towards Galahad. I get there before the others, but there's no sign, they are shouting from the shore "Left! Left!" I swim that way and see dwindling bubbles and, underneath, a figure, a shadow really, sinking, down, down, down. I grab Galahad and haul his back up. I don't think he is breathing, he doesn't respond. If I go back to the first shore the knights may be able to help him, but likely kill me. The other shore is farther, I might not be able to carry both our weights. I remember Brutus. I swim back to the knights.