Katemary77 having something dark around your eyes takes the edge off the sun… the people in the middle east used to do it and that's what football players are doing when they smear their cheeks with that black stuff

Dazzler420 yay you figured out what it was!

Mondieu666- yeah im trying…everytime I put an indention though, quickedit screws the whole damn thing up! hopefully it'll work this time

Catherine- I did describe it, but just in case someone couldn't really picture it.

I hope you all like this chapter…I had fun writing it.


As we rode back to Luguvalium, I thought about my life. At nineteen I had already been in many battles and I had fought with Arthur and his men. I had nine years left until my freedom was returned me. What would I do until then? I couldn't imagine going to back to Luguvalium and living as a glorified soldier. Even the skirmishes and battles had lost their splendor. There was something great coming Arthur's way. Men like that are put on this land for a purpose.

"Eager to be back?" Galahad asked riding next to me. Gawain rode on my other side. I gave him a look that conveyed my answer.

"If it were up to me, you would come back to the wall with us." Gawain said and I smiled at him.

"If it were up to you… That would be frightening." I said dryly. He gave me a sideways look.

"You could do worse." He said with humor. "For instance if Lancelot was in charge of things" He called that part out loudly so that Lancelot heard him.

"Talking about my due godship? I knew you would come to your senses." He said adding in his beautiful smile.

"I believe the Christians have a word for that." I said thoughtfully. He looked at me curiously. "Something like…apocalypse. Yes that's it. The apocalypse."

Everyone laughed, especially Bors who was delighted at the new amusement in their ranks. Even Arthur smiled despite himself.

"Your tongue is sharper than your sword lady." Lancelot said in mock defeat. I accepted my victory with dignity and nodded my head arrogantly. Arrogant. That reminded me…

"Princess seems to have managed to survive the battle…" I said mournfully. Galahad growled softly at the gilded soldier who rode with a few of his men in the back.

"He's quite pissy." Gawain said casually as he cocking his head at Scato. "I was very tempted to tell Tristan to put an arrow through him during the chaos."

"No one would have known…" Branwain sighed wistfully.

"Well there's always next time…" I said darkly. Even Tristan nodded. Scato it seemed annoyed everyone.


We reached Luguvalium with no problems much to my disappointment. Arthur and his men would stay the night and leave in the morning. I wanted to go with them more than I could ever have imagined. I had known them for only a few days, but I knew that Galina, Branwain and I no longer belonged anywhere but with them.

I reported to Junius the losses we had sustained and he squeezed my shoulder. It comforted me a bit, but I had already pushed my feelings of guilt down to a place deep inside of me that I rarely visited. It was easy I found, pretending that something wasn't there. Arthur entered war room and looked at me and then and Junius.

"Marcus Junius, I thank you for your aid in this." He said respectfully.

"Ah! It was my honor. Rome's enemies grow bolder and bolder. It is our duty to remind them of their place…" Junius said magnanimously. Junius was a good man, but he was still Roman. And Romans never understood the patriotism of other peoples, nor did they give the proper respect to it. "If you ever need something, do not hesitate to call on Luguvalium."

"If this is so, then I have something else I must ask of you." Arthur said and at once his voice was solemn. "I would ask that you allow me to take the Sarmatian women to be own knights."

Junius looked taken aback and all at once I realized how much value he put on us. We were his best fighters, and it would be a great loss. He didn't have much of a choice however. He owed any Sarmatians under his command to Arthur.

"Of course." He said but I could see his unhappiness. Arthur looked to me for conformation. Was this what I wanted? Yes.

"We leave tomorrow. Be ready in the morning." Arthur said. Junius nodded and I recognized my dismissal. I walked to the main hall with a strange feeling in my stomach. I strode to the table where my cousin and the others sat. Galina's face was pained as she watched Lancelot. She didn't want to lose whatever she thought she had found.

"Well Gawain. It seems Arthur agreed with you." I said quietly. There was silence. "We leave with you."

"I'll be damned…" Gawain said dazedly. Lionel pulled Branwain onto his lap and kissed her deeply. I raised an eyebrow at this and he raised one back. We celebrated long into the night until it was finally time to retire. Galina had not used her seeds for days, and I was surprised that she did not use them the moment we returned. She fell asleep with a dreamy smile and even the cough that sometimes shook her could not remove it. I gathered all my things into a pile and looked down as something clattered to the floor. It was the gold ring from Sarmatia…I had forgotten it. I slid it on my finger and was pleased to notice a perfect fit. It was the only feminine thing I owned.


I loaded everything I owned onto Kolaksay. My tunics, my cloak, my coins, my weapons, my armor… I hadn't realized how little I owned. Oh well. Lighter traveling. It would take us several days to get to the wall, and Kolaksay would need his strength. I was just about to hoist myself onto my horse when I heard Scato begin to speak.

"Scrawny bitch… She likes to pretend she's not sick. If the cough doesn't kill her, the woads will." I froze as he commented to the man at his side. He was talking about Galina and he hadn't thought I heard. I looked out of the corners of my eyes to those around me. Galahad and Tristan seemed to be the only ones who had heard the soon to be in pain Roman's words. His words hit a nerve in me. I calmly stepped back down and clenched my fists. I swung around and slammed my palm upwards into his nose. It shattered and he was down on the ground bleeding and sobbing.

"Oh my. That won't heal pretty." I said coldly and mounted Kolaksay. Galahad's eyebrows had disappeared into his curls and Bors was laughing madly at the scene. Tristan looked down at the Roman and turned away, ignoring the man's pain.

"Get down from that horse you pagan dog! I'll show you your place you heathen bitch!" He screamed through the blood pouring down his face. I gave him a frosty smile.

"Going to bleed on me princess?" I asked softly. His face was filled with rage as he looked at me. He struck the man across the face who tried to help him up. He shamefully walked back into the fortress and I smiled with cruel satisfaction. Branwain looked at me to see why I had finally lost it with Scato, but I pretended I didn't notice her stare. Arthur walked out and looked at us; the blood on the ground, Bors' and Gawain's laughter, and Galahad, Lancelot and my satisfied looks. He looked at Tristan who only shrugged.

"Knights, let's go."

The trip was enjoyable for everyone. We joked and spoke of home during the day and camped at night. I got along with the knights even more so than Galina and Branwain. Their morbid humor amused me to no end. Branwain and Lionel's bickering picked up almost immediately and I was pleased to see that I was not the only person who found it hilarious. Bors was cheerful to an unholy degree. He cackled at everything. Dagonet seemed to have a soft spot for us as well and Gawain and Galahad were soon attached to my side.

The first night we camped I had managed to be squeezed in between Gawain and Galahad and I spent the first hour trying not to invade their personal space. I was not sure how comfortable I was sleeping so near the two men and I kept myself as stiff as a corpse. It was not good sleeping. The second night I gave up and made myself comfortable. I woke up to Lancelot's amused smile as he and the others looked down at the three of us. My head was nestled on Gawain's chest with his arm wrapped around my shoulders and Galahad had made himself right at home with his head on my chest and his arms sprawled across Gawain and me. It was rather funny I admitted to myself. I grinned unabashedly as Gawain felt the large spot of drool I had left on his tunic. I was surprised at myself. I was never this free. Not even around Galina and Branwain. I shrugged and straightened my tunic trying to get up. Galahad mumbled something and held on to me tighter.

"Wake up or I'll shave off your beard." I said darkly. He jumped up immediately. I began getting ready as everyone tried hiding their smiles. The next few days passed blissfully as we rode towards Hadrian 's wall. When we arrived, a young man called Jols showed us to our rooms. The knight's each had their own room down the same set of halls. Mine, between Lancelot's and Gawain's, was much nicer than our shared room at Luguvalium. A Roman style bed, a hanging oil lamp, a wooden chair, an old worn mat on the cold flagstones, a fireplace, and a chest decorated my room.

"Is it to your liking?" Arthur asked concerned. I was a Sarmatian knight, not some wilting girl who had never stepped outside. I kept that to myself and thanked my new leader.

"Of course if it's not, you can always come to my room…" Gawain said meaningfully.

"Or mine if it gets too cold…" Lancelot said in an even more seductive voice. I kept my face stoic as I shut my door in their faces. I unpacked everything and laid down on the bed. I wondered if it had belonged to some fallen knight. The idea was somewhat unnerving so I stood up and went to find Branwain's room. I realized as I stepped out into the hall than I had no idea where it was. I passed by the doors that I knew belonged to Gawain, Dagonet, Lancelot, Galina, and Bors. There were only four more left in that particular hall. That left Branwain, Galahad, Lionel and Tristan. I picked a door and knocked. It opened almost immediately, but it was not Branwain. Tristan stared at me, waiting for the reason as to why I had knocked on his door.

"Branwain?" I asked and he nodded at the room next to his.

"That one." He said in his heavily accented voice and then he nodded to the room across the hall helpfully. "And that's Galahad and then Lionel."

"Thanks." I said and he shut the door. I was still slightly uncomfortable around him and I somehow knew he felt the same. I shrugged and opened Branwain's door.


Later that night Dagonet knocked on the door and told us that we could meet them at a bar later if we wished. We immediately followed him down to the small courtyard that served as a bar. Gawain already had a voluptuous blonde in his lap and Galahad was looking around as if to find his own woman. Bors cheered vociferously as we walked into the space and I shook my head. What had we gotten ourselves into? Galahad pulled me into his lap and I received foul looks from a gaggle of women who had been eyeing the handsome knight. I smirked and kissed his cheek. The heat from their glares could have roasted a person… Tristan and Lancelot watched amusedly as the women continued to whisper and hiss my way. This could be fun I realized and I decided to press my luck. I nestled even more into him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Tristan's lips twitched as his eyes went between the women and me and then to Galahad who was looking quite pompous thinking I had suddenly noticed how desirous he was. Lancelot's roguish smile was growing larger by the minute. Galahad, who was watching Bors and Lionel's game of dice, absentmindedly laid his hand on my outer thigh. I cocked an eyebrow at his hand and looked at Lancelot who was grinning madly like a young child who had caught a priest doing something naughty. I let one of my fingers trail slowly down his forehead, nose and it stopped at his lips. I traced his lips, torn between laughing and some strange feeling I couldn't place. I was nineteen, but the opportunities of courtship and love had never presented themselves in Gaul or Luguvalium. I had never even been kissed or had a boy even show any interest. Neither had Galina or Branwain as far as I knew. Galahad looked at me half delirious and smiled. I couldn't hold it in any longer and I began to laugh. I slid off his lap next to Tristan who was having trouble not laughing himself. Lancelot handed Galahad the entire flagon of mead and Galahad, realizing what had happened, downed the whole thing. I itched to climb back in his lap, but I refused. Lust was a new feeling for me and I was eager to explore it.

"Sorry." I choked out and Gawain looked over.

"What you do to the boy?" He asked looking at Galahad's crimson cheeks.

"Nothing." I said quietly and kept a straight face.

"Then why are you blushing?" Lancelot asked coyly. I looked him expressionlessly, willing my cheeks to fade.

"Not used to men eh?" Tristan said but it wasn't much of a question. Gawain shook his head. An hour later Galahad was leaning against my shoulder and slurring his words.

"You know, I've only got two more years in this place and then I'm free. Free." He said. Free was the only word he said clearly. Gawain looked at him and began to stand up.

"Better get him to bed before he goes off about Rome again…" He said and hauled Galahad to his feet. I took one arm as Gawain took the other. Gawain I noticed watched out for Galahad like an older brother.

"Is there a reason you take responsibility for him?" I asked as we reached Galahad's door. We heaved Galahad onto his bed.

"I had a brother here at the wall once. Agravaine… Galahad reminds me of him." He said and splashed Galahad's face with water. The effect was immediate and I made note to remember it.

"What? Oh…" He said suddenly noticing his surroundings. He pulled me down beside him and laid down, still quite drunk. "I'd kiss you if I could sit up." He said as seriously as a drunken man could manage. Apparently I had drunk more than I realized for I bent down and kissed him unceremoniously. He threaded and hand through my hair and deepened it. It wasn't romantic in the least and I was more interested in how it was supposed to work then why it was supposed to be done.

"I'll never know why women find him attractive when he's drank too much." Gawain said dryly. I waited another moment before finished it. Kissing was nice I realized. I suddenly realized how it must look. I had not known the knights for long and already I was on Galahad's bed kissing him while Gawain was still in the room.

"That was stupid." I said and tried not to berate myself as a whore. Gawain's face changed as something suddenly dawned on him.

"You've never-" He began.

"No." I said shortly. He snorted and pulled me towards him. Galahad's kiss was enjoyable, but sloppy and tasted of drink. Gawain's however had an element of attentiveness to it. He, as opposed to Galahad was not drunk. The kiss was even longer and more passionate. When he let me go, my knees were somewhat weak. He opened the door and we both stepped into the hall.

"Galahad and I understand. A girl needs practice." He said while his eyes dances..

"You sound like you actually believe that." I said equally as dry. He opened his door and went in.

"I do." He said and shut the door. I went in my room and laid down. They would most certainly not tell anyone I knew. They were honorable, if a bit rough around the edges. And not to mention they probably hoped it would be a recurring thing. It would not I told myself sternly.

"Can't go around kissing friends…" I said to myself as I closed my eyes and went to sleep.


"You're improving." Galahad said as I rolled off of him two days later. So much for not kissing knights I thought sardonically. Gawain was out practicing, but he had already got to me earlier that morning. It was just fun and we all knew it. They still bedded women at night and kissed me during the day. Even if I had allowed them to take me to their beds, they wouldn't. Our fun remained innocent, to a degree. Galahad took off his tunic and rolled on top of me. The next two hours were spent in hopes of "teaching me the essentials" of kissing. At noon however we both sat up and decided it would be wise to quit before we got carried away. I went and sat next to Branwain who was eating as if she hadn't eaten in days.

"Have you been out running?" I ask looking at her face. She had wonderful coloring.

"No." She said in between a bite of bread and cheese. I shrugged and grabbed my own food. Galahad came in a few minutes later and sat next to me. There was nothing awkward or forced in our conversation I realized happily. No one knew, and Galahad and Gawain still only thought of me as a friend. No less, no more. I did however smile as his hand slid up my thigh under the table. I slapped it away and he grinned. I gave him a warning look. Tristan, ever watchful, gave us a calculating look. I kept my face neutral, waiting to see if he would show any judgment on my actions. He held my gaze for a moment and I looked away.

Eventually I stood up and went to go practice with my sword. I had barely drawn Pata when Tristan stepped out of the shadows. He had his curved sword in his hand and looked at me expectantly. I nodded to the challenge and we circled each other. When I looked past the stone like countenance, I saw the relaxed self-indulgence in his face. It was one of the few times he allowed himself to be untroubled. His gait was slightly eager, but with the laziness and confidence of a predator who knew the limitations of his prey. I felt my face become taut with anticipation. How would the predator like to become the prey? I had seen him fight. His unnerving calm and serene face would drive any enemy to attack recklessly. He was used to a sloppy first attack. One of passion. I shrugged inwardly. I wanted to see how patient he was. I straightened my back from my assault position and carelessly walked around him. I twirled Pata lightly in my fingers as I strolled around him. He was ready for me to swing at him and it was annoying him that I didn't. Several minutes passed and we had an audience. Gawain, Galahad, Lancelot, and Dagonet all watched on intently. I only saw this out of the corner of my eyes however because my eyes had not left Tristan's. His face conveyed nothing of what he felt as he stared piercingly at me. Other than the small knowing, upturned corners of my mouth, which I knew to be quite infuriating, my face was as void of anything but focus as the scout's. He seemed to have realized I was in no hurry to attack him and I saw his muscles tense slightly. It reminded me of his hawk. The way her wings stiffened just as she was about launch herself into what would inevitably be the other creature's demise. As coordinated as he was, there would be one moment when he was vulnerable, and that was when he moved to attack me. I saw his arms begin to rise with his sword as he simultaneously moved towards me. Before he could take a full step, I had used a burst of energy to strike at him with the blade. He parried it just in time and then tried to propel my own sword downwards and away with his own. The sound of steel sliding on steel rang through the air and I whipped my blade out from under his. We both stepped back momentarily.

The look on his face was one of newfound respect but then it quickly went back to his calculating look. I shook my hair confidently. Years of battle had snipped off odd ends of it, leaving me with haphazard layers scattered through my hair. It was virtually impossible to keep it out of my face by pulling it all back, so I resorted to braids. Most of my hair was separated into messy sections and braided. It still fell into my face occasionally, but mostly the braids kept it pushed back.

"Nervous Tristan?" Lancelot asked provokingly. The scout made a disgruntled sound and I was pleased to note he sounded just as unsettled as me. I may have surprised him with my skill, but it would not happen a second time. He quickly slid sideways and attacked my right side. I met his sword and we fought fiercely for several minutes. I was sweating as we stepped back from each other and so was he. His sword movements became wondrously fast and I struggled momentarily to pace my own to his. He took the opportunity to step right up to me and attempted to stab his sword into what would have been my lungs had it been a real battle. I stepped back and rightwards and slashed right across his chest. He stared bemusedly at the thin slash that now ran across his tunic. I raised an eyebrow at him in challenge. I wasn't done with him yet. There were cheers from our audience but we paid no attention. I was ecstatic to have found someone who could last more than a few moments against me.

Feeling even more confident, I decided to make the first move this time. He was ready and swirled to swipe at my knees from behind. How had he known I would go first? I was forced to make an awkward jump and I landed on one knee. I grabbed Pata with both hands and raised my sword up in front of my head as a shield against his sword. We stayed like that for a moment, looking past our swords. I knew he had won even before he snaked the thin blade under my own to flip it out of my hands. He looked down at me as the edge of his saber rested against my throat. I watched in fascination at his cold eyes as they looked at me. The look on his face was so solemn as if it were a real battle. He had proven that I was not better the same as I had proven I was his equal. He could have slit my throat with the sword right then and there and I couldn't have wished for a better death.

Lancelot helped me off my knees and I gave Tristan a quiet smile. It was a strange smile, one I couldn't place and he returned it. It was almost a smirk but with respect of kindred spirits. I no longer felt so uncomfortable around him as Galahad and Gawain threw their arms around me in congratulations.


Oooh controversy! Its soooo hard to keep my character to one hot guy when there were so many of them in this movie… So I figure, hey nowadays its ok for people to screw around before they settle down…why not then? Who knows who she might get with? Actually all of you probably do…REVIEW