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.

To All the Reviewers: Thank you; your feedback is much appreciated.

Seven

Vanora wanted to open her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. Somehow, she felt as is she knew this man, these men, that she knew them before. Whether it was in the present or past life, she did not know. All the question in her mind was resolved the moment another man stepped through the tavern door. He was tall, leaned muscled, broad shouldered. His face might have been handsome when he was younger, but years of hardships had melted away that faction. His nose was long and slightly curved at the end. His eyes were dark, clouded with many thoughts. She couldn't take her eyes off the older man's face, for a familiar scar ran from his right eyebrow to his cheek.

A few other men around her age and then some entered the tavern after him. She knew now, deep down inside, that she recognized these men. The older man's gaze shifted about the room until his eyes stared into her soul. He took a few steps forward in her direction, his comrades all watching in confusion and awe.

"It can't be," the man spoke, finally standing before her.

The men, now she counted as five, watched the two intently, waiting for someone to say something more. The woman choked up, her eyes nearly welling with tears.

"Vanora?" the older man uttered.

Vanora's eyes widened as brown orbs watched dark ones. "Dagonet."

Suddenly, Vanora's lithe form began to sway with uncertainty as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. All eyes were on her as she collapsed into Dagonet's strong arms.

Sighing heavily, Vanora shook her head slightly as she came around. She wiped her face over with her fingers and again through her hair. Opening her eyes, she saw Dagonet standing beside her. She gasped as she sat up, as if she had just seen a ghost. She was in her room and there were no others beside she and he.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You fainted. I asked one of the other girls where your hut was and I brought you here," Dagonet replied, smiling warmly.

Vanora looked up at him, returning the smile.

"Dagonet," she said, embracing him. "It's been so long."

"Ten years," Dagonet added. "Far too long, little one."

Vanora chuckled as she sat back again, taking in full view of him. "I'm not so young anymore. I grew up a long time ago. I had to, surviving on my own."

Dagonet's head dropped. "You work in a tavern? Of course you do, you need to make a living."

"Some living," Vanora said, standing. "I've been working in taverns since I was fifteen. It's nothing new to me."

"I'm so sorry, Vanora," he said.

"Don't be, Dagonet. You did what you had to do and so did I," she replied, still keeping up her smile. She hugged him again. "I'm just so glad to see you. I've missed you, big brother."

"The others are waiting outside," Dagonet said. "How would you like to go see your other long lost brothers, little one?"

Vanora took a short amount of time to clean herself and freshen up. She washed her feet, hands, and face until they ashy look was gone from her skin, revealing the natural beauty beneath. She ran her small comb through her auburn colored hair and blew out a sigh. It had been ten years since she had seen them all, not counting her brief encounter with them in the tavern. Vanora was not afraid to see them again, but overjoyed.

Venturing from her hut into the warm air of midsummer, Vanora shielded her eyes from the sun. Her eyes welled with tears, but she did not cry. They were all there, all seven of the boys now grown into men. Her eyes studied each of them before they noticed her presence. How much each man had changed, yet the simalarities from their youthhood was uncanny.

Galahad was the first to see Vanora as she exited her hut. He still had his boyishly good looking features that seemed to serve him well. His hair was a bit longer than she last remembered, and his face was more broad and strong. She had almost forgotten who they were now; they were knights. Joyous laughter arose from the men as they approached Vanora. Her eyes were bright and filled with tears as she first embraced Galahad, the youngest of them all. Then, she found herself in the arms of Gawain and Arthur and Lancelot.

"How much you've all changed!" she said.

"You've changed, too, little sister!" Dagonet grinned as he watched her greet the others.

When Vanora met with Tristan, the quiet, almost serene knight, she stopped. On his forearm was his beloved hawk, Illiana.

"That's a beautiful hawk you've got there," Vanora mused.

"She's missed you too," Tristan replied from behind strands of dark hair.

Vanora smiled to him again, slowly stroking the hawk's ruffled feathers as Tristan had showed her all those years ago. Memories flooded back into her mind. Though it was only a short period of time she had known them all, it seemed like an eternity.

The last knight, a bear of a man, approached Vanora. He was about the same height as she, bald, and stocky built. His body was like one big muscle. She remembered him clearly now from the tavern earlier.

"You were the loud one in the tavern earlier," Vanora teased.

Bors looked upon her with a serious expression. "And now, I'm lost for words."

"It's good to see you again, Bors," Vanora replied.

Bors managed a smile and nodded to her, for he did not know if she wanted him to hug her or not. Knowing that he wouldn't make the first move, Vanora wrapped her arms around the burly man's shoulders and embraced him tightly. As she released her grip, their eyes met momentarily. Vanora pushed some of her hair behind her shoulder and out of her face as she turned back to the group.

"What shall we do now that we're all together again?" Arthur, now tall and handsome in his commander's clothing, wondered.

"Are we still on leave, Arthur?" Lancelot cocked an eyebrow.

"Until further notice," Arthur answered, his green gaze was stunning.

"I guess I can take the rest of the day off; the others can manage without me this once," Vanora said.

"What do you suggest?" Galahad asked.

"Why not let Vanora decide?" Gawain chimed in.

She thought about it for a moment and smiled when she had an idea. At that same moment, Bors, who had slipped away from the group, rode up on his charger.

Vanora's eyes lit up and she replied, "You read my mind, Bors."

"Last one buys the first round tonight?" Bors suggested.

"You're on," Lancelot was the first to step up to any challenge. "You will not win, my friend."

"I've won the past three times, kid, nothing knew this time," Bors said.

Dagonet laughed. "There is something knew this time, though, a woman among the men."

The others averted their gaze to where Vanora all ready sat upon an unsaddled horse. She smiled proudly, not a sign of worry within her golden brown eyes.

"What was that, Bors?" Vanora said. "I think I heard something. it's the sound of a frustrated man buying rounds for all his good chums!"

Vanora was not about to be fair at this game, for she knew none of the others would've either. She kicked at her mare's flanks and sent her into a full cantar. The others found their horses that were grazing nearby and mounted; they needed no saddles as they followed in hot pursuit Vanora and Bors who had all ready received their one and only head start.

End, 'Seven.'

Please R&R! Thanks!