Title: A Woman Among Men
Author: sabor ice
Summary: Where did Vanora come from? How do she and the knights meet? How did she meet Bors and fall in love with him? This is their untold tale.
Disclaimer: I don't anything, etc, except for any orginal characters and this story.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Two
The night was relatively quiet, for only the soothing sounds of nature's calls stirred. Even though the surroundings and conditions were different for them now, the boys lay in a light, relaxive sleep. The night owls in the trees called to one another as they hunted small game. The hawk that belonged to Tristan stayed nearby, catching small mice for her dinner.
Suddenly, a branch snapped and Galahad's eyes shot open. His nails dug into his pant legs as he listened attentively. Then, two more sounds of snapping twigs came. The younger boy sat upright, his eyes searching in the darkness for any sign of movement. He saw that the other boys still slept, so he thought he had been hearing things. Laying back down, he tried to find sleep again. Some time past and Galahad heard no more sounds of twigs snapping.
Light appeared over the horizon, but it was still a half hour or so before the Romans would come to collect the boys. Tristan was the first boy to awaken, but he stayed perfectly still as he heard a minor rustling sound behind him. He waited for the small footsteps to creep forward before he quickly turned on whatever it was, dagger drew and all. A startling scream aroused the rest of the camp.
Dagonet sat up and wiped his eyes, trying to focus them on the scene before him. The sounds of Tristan and another struggling was heard. The rest of the boys jumped to their feet as a small bundle backed away from Tristan's grasp.
"I told you we were being followed!" Tristan declared, pointing at the girl cowering on the ground.
"I knew I heard something last night," Galahad said. "That was you, wasn't it?"
The girl looked up at them, tears streaming down her face. "I only wanted some of your food. I was hungry, that's all."
Dagonet stepped into the girl's view. Her eyes lit up and she smiled slightly as she gazed up at him. "Dagonet!"
The auburn-haired girl lept into the big man's arms and hugged him closely. He ran his fingers through her hair, astonished at seeing her. The boys raised their eyebrows as they watched the two curiously.
"Vanora, where did you come from? How did you get here?" Dagonet asked, holding her face between his strong hands.
"Fifteen years was too long for me to wait for you, Dagonet! I wasn't going to let you go away without me coming with!" Vanora replied.
"You are foolish, Vanora, but I love you for it!" Dagonet hugged his friend again.
Lancelot cleared his throat. "Well, aren't you going to introduce us to your friend, Dagonet?"
Dagonet and Vanora spun around to the others. The auburn-haired girl still held the most memorable smile upon her face. Her eyes still held light in them, like a reflection of the new morning sun.
"This is Vanora, a girl I've known all my life. She's like a sister to me," Dagonet said. "Vanora, this is Lancelot, Galahad, Gawain, Bors, Arthur, and Tristan."
Vanora remembered the tattooed boy well and nodded to him.
"Sorry I frightened you," Tristan reluctantly said. "But, frankly you scared us first."
"I'm sorry I was sneaking around, but I didn't want those Romans to find me out," Vanora said.
Lancelot crossed his arms. "Well, they sure as hell know you're here now."
The boys and Vanora turned to see the few Roman guards trotting up the hill towards them. Vanora hid half-way behind Dagonet, but they had all ready seen her.
"You, girl! What are you doing here!" the first Roman asked sternly.
"I'm from the village," Vanora spoke up, showing the guard that he did not intimidate her one bit. "I'm a friend of Dagonet's."
"I don't care who you are friends with. This is no place for a girl to be. Go home," the guard replied coldly.
Dagonet stepped forward. "Sir, we are a league away from the nearest village.You cannot expect her to stay out here with no protection or means to aide herself."
"So, give her one of your knives," the second Roman said. "It's time to ride; let's go."
The third Roman, a larger man with a round face said, "Let her stay; she may be useful for something."
As the Roman reached down to grab ahold of Vanora's arm, Dagonet and the others stepped forward, weapons drawn half-way. The Romans looked up them with disbelief and rage.
"Touch her and there will be one less Roman in this world," Bors swore, glaring up at the guards.
Vanora looked upon the chubbier boy with gratitude in her eyes. When she first saw him, she thought he'd be the last one to say something like that.
The third guard chuckled heartilly and nodded to him. "I like you spirit, boy, but let's hope it will do you justice later on in life."
Scowling, the first Roman said, "Prepare now. We leave in two minutes. Bring the damned girl with you if you wish to carry the extra load."
"Don't worry," Vanora said defiently. "I can take care of myself."
The Romans shared a laugh as they wheeled about their horses and departed. Vanora turned back to the others, who resheathed their weapons completely.
"Thank you all," she said.
"A friend of Dagonet's is a friend of ours," Arthur said with a smile. "Right?"
The others nodded to her as they made way to their horses that grazed nearby.
"Come, you can ride with me," Dagonet said, tuging on her arm.
Vanora pulled back. "Just a minute, Dag," she said, rushing into the forest green.
Dagonet cocked an eyebrow and chuckled as Vanora came back riding a beautiful gray gelding. He coaked the horse's thick mane as a smiling Vanora looked down at him. The others, who had all ready cleaned up camp and mounted their steeds, watched the two with great intrigue.
"Would you look at that!" Bors laughed.
"Beautiful," Gawain acknowledged.
Bors leaned inward and said, "I wasn't talking about the horse!"
The knights smiled, bemused. Dagonet and Vanora joined them as the Romans whistled for them to ride up to them. Nobody moved. The guards whistled for them again.
"Do you think we should ride over to them?" Galahad wondered, his cinnamon colored curls swaying into his eye.
"I think we should make them come to us," Vanora suggested.
Lancelot flashed his grin and sat back in his saddle. "I like the way this girl thinks, Dagonet!"
Vanora smiled towards Dagonet and then back at the others. A few moments passed; the group made it clear to the Romans that they weren't moving. Flabergasted, the guards rode up beside the stubborn young people. The first guard, zoned in on Dagonet with his gray eyes. Then, without warning, he struck him across the face. Vanora gasped but Dagonet motioned that he was all right. The boys looked upon the men with deadly intent.
"Now, you all will well remember that you come to your commanding officers, not the other way around," the gray-eyed Roman scowled. "You will follow orders as they are given!"
Then, the guards turned and rode into a full cantar. Dagonet wiped the stream of blood that ran down his cheek. None of the boys or Vanora said anything, afraid that if they again challenged these Romans, someone would be hurt.
End, 'Two.'
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