Nobles:

Shakira rode beside Bors swapping crude jokes. Most of them had the Knights in stitches, even Arthur. They had been riding for two days now. They were close to the shores and could see the large ship and many Roman guards around it. Tristan rode back to them and reported to Arthur before riding beside his wife, who was watching Jet and Lancelot. 'She likes him,' Shakira told her husband.

'I see,' he said calmly, 'Do you feel he is right for her?'

'Yes,' she smiled, 'I heard from Bors he is a womaniser but…..I am sure her record is a large as his.'

Tristan lifted an eyebrow and knew his wife was correct. He had come to know is sister was very popular among men.

'She's not like that,' Shakira said, as if reading his mind. 'She has tried over and over again to find love, but it always falls the wrong way.'

'I see,' he said. 'See we were lucky then?'

'Very,' she grinned as she leaned over and kissed him lightly.

0-0-0

'Asturias!' said the Noble man.

'Maximus Honorius,' Arthur greeted with his hand outstretched. They shook hands briefly and swapped hushed words quickly before Arthur turned to the Knights.

'Maximus, my Knights.'

The Roman looked at them all with contempt and looked at Arthur quickly. 'Pagan Barbarians no doubt,' he hissed.

'If it pleases you to call us so,' Lancelot snapped.

Maximus looked highly affronted at being spoken to in such a manor and looked around until his eyes rested on Jet and Shakira. 'And these lovely women…,' Maximus said.

'Shakira, the wife of Tristan and Jezebel, Tristan's sister,' Arthur introduced.

'And 7 blades before you get anywhere near them,' said Lancelot glaring dangerously the Maximus.

0-0-0

As Tristan scouted ahead for a place to rest for the night. Shakira and Dagonet swapped healing secrets. He noted that many of hers were used by, witches. When he spoke of this, she smiled and said 'Maybe so, but it is effective.'

Jet spent her time laughing with the Knights and flirting with Lancelot. They had become close since meeting one another. She prided herself on not sharing his bed. She wanted him to get to know her. He did not press the point for he felt her cautiousness.

Tristan rode back to them a few hours before the sun was to set. They rode to a spot by the woods and Maximus and his four guards made camp with the Knights.

Shakira noticed one of the guards had a deep cut on his arm that seemed to be untended. 'I can heal that if you'd like,' she said to him.

He looked at her with a frown for a moment before looking down at his arm. 'Oh, I'm sure it will be fine.'

His accent was heavy but understandable. 'It could become infected. If it does you'd need to remove the whole arm,' she said looking at the wound.

The soldier looked in the direction of Maximus and then back to Shakira. 'Thankyou,' he said kindly.

Maximus was speaking to Arthur who was trying his best to keep Shakira and the soldier out of sight. He knew Maximus would be furious if he saw her healing one of his men. Maximus finally noticed and turned a dark shade of red.

'We have our own healer!' he growled at Arthur who was trying to reason with him.

'You did not heal it before,' Arthur told him. 'She knows what she is doing, leave her to her job. She was not forced.'

'I will not have one of my men, a man from a high family in Rome, to be healed by Pagan woman. She has no right! She is beneath us!' Maximus bellowed.

The Knights rose from their spots and drew their swords but Tristan arrived in front of him first. He lifted his dagger, so it was nose level with Maximus. 'If I cut out your tongue…..you will no longer be able to speak. I suggest you hold it,' he said in a calm voice. His face showed nothing, making him look even more menacing.

Gawain and Bors laughed loudly and Maximus looked as if he might faint. Tristan calmly replaced his dagger in his armour and sat by the fire once more.

0-0-0

'There,' said Shakira as she finished wrapping the bandage around his arm. 'You should change it when we get back to the Wall but until then, try your best not to move it.'

'Thankyou again Lady,' he said smiling slightly at her. 'You heal like my mother did.'

'Oh?' Shakira asked.

'Yes, she was from this land. She was what they called a witch. You should be proud,' he said.

'I am,' she replied. 'Thankyou.'

She walked back to the group happily and sat down beside her husband who wrapped an arm around her tightly and kissed her forehead.

'You're getting soft again Kira,' Jet said looking at her sister.

Shakira shrugged. 'At least I had the sense to heal it. If his guard was from such a high family in Rome why did Maximus not rush to heal his small wound.'

'You heard all of this then,' Lancelot asked her. 'Do you miss nothing?'

'No,' Shakira said. 'And I heard you too.' She looked at Tristan. 'You scared his toga off dear.'

Tristan smiled slightly. 'Good.'

Jet rolled her eyes at the kissing couple.

0-0-0

Shakira lay in her tent beside her husband, wide awake. That warning from Merlin stayed in her mind all day. Who was going to attack them? If she had to fight, should she use all of her strength? Should she keep them thinking she was a normal woman? She was, but she just had a tiny head start.

She rolled onto her side and closed her eyes. She felt amazing being with her husband again. No words could describe her happiness.

Tristan opened his eyes and watched her sleep. She looked a lot different to when he last saw her. Everything seemed darker. Her hair, her eyes, her skin, sometimes even her persona. She was intimidating at times, even to him. The way she would lift her eyebrow at times when she finished speaking could make any man tingle inside. Her lips, if it were possible, were bigger as well. A true Sarmatian beauty, which was what her father would call her. And there was no denying it. He lifted his hand slowly and moved some of her curly hair from her face. He kissed her temple and rested his forehead against hers as she took his hand in hers.

The next morning started early. Shakira woke up, without her husband. He had left as soon as the sun rose, to scout ahead. When Shakira made her way to the fire she saw Maximus standing beside Arthur and his eyes instantly fell upon her. She did not make eye contact with him but Lancelot seemed to see everything and stepped in between them, blocking her from his view. 'Good Morning,' she greeted happily.

'Morning lass,' said Bors who was eating quickly.

'Morning Kira,' Said Dagonet quickly followed by Gawain and Lancelot.

'What's up with the fat man?' Shakira asked, indicating Maximus.

'He want's to get to Hadrian's Wall as soon as possible,' Galahad said standing beside her. 'He's also brought a new mission for us which we must leave for as soon aw we arrive.'

'Oh,' Shakira said looking down at the warm bread Dagonet just handed to her.

'Have you seen Jet?' she asked Lancelot.

'I think she's still sleeping,' he smirked.

'Ah ha,' Shakira said happily, 'we'll she'd better get up soon, we'll be leaving soon.'

Tristan just arrived when she finished speaking and reported to Arthur who nodded before he made his way to his wife. He kissed her lovingly, and they received disgusted noises by the Knights. Shakira laughed at them and Dagonet winked at her.

Shakira was making her way to Jet's tent when the red head stumbled out looking extremely tired. 'Is it morning already?' she asked groggily as Shakira held her by the shoulders.

'Yes, you shouldn't have had sex while we were travelling. You know you always get tired after doing that,' Shakira said, trying to add humour.

'Ha ha ha,' she snapped. 'Anyway, we didn't do it for long. A few hours and that's it.'

Shakira rolled her eyes and handed her a vile. 'Drink this, all in one.'

'All of it?' she moaned, looking at the small vile with disgust.

'Yes,' Shakira said sternly. 'Do you want to travel with a migraine?'

'No.'

'Good, besides you need your strength. I think today is the day we are going to…..,' she dropped her voice in to a whisper, '….get attacked. Like Merlin said.'

'Great,' Jet said before drinking the liquid and making a disgusted face. She shook her head and squeezed her eyes closed for a moment. 'I swear, I will be a good girl…..until we reach the Wall.'

'Good,' Shakira said taking the vile from her. 'Make sure you're armed.'

She began walking to the campfire and Jet followed. 'We gave up doing that, ages ago!' she protested.

'I know,' Shakira said sitting down beside Galahad.

'You said you'd never slit a throat again ever since….,' Jet was cut off short by

Shakiras eyes flashing warningly to her. Jet sighed and nodded. '…fine.'

She walked off, leaving Shakira feeling awkward around everyone.

0-0-0

Shakira rode silently. Her mind was plagued with the visions of her last battle. So much death had been caused by it. All of her friends died that day. One by one they fell at enemy hands, because of an ambush. An ambush she had seen in her sleep and ignored it because she did not believe. As the afternoon sun hit her breech covered legs Shakira concentrated her mind of the heat of the sun and steadily the heat rose and rose within her and she sent a fireball full of her anger in a nearby tree.

Jet watched the fireball burn the small tree and sighed. She had really messed up now.

Shakira looked to her left as she rode slowly down a hill and saw a light shine from a group of trees. She slowed her horse and looked to the trees and once again saw the bright light. She squinted slightly and put her hand on the dagger resting in her boot.

Gawain stoped beside her and looked at her curiously. 'What is it?' he asked her.

Shakira kept watching the trees and shook her head. 'I don't…,' immediately she stoped talking and caught an incoming arrow in her hand. Gawain stared at her in pure amazement before they both hear swords being sheathed.

Shakira took out her bow with lightning speed and shoot two arrows into the woods.

A short scream and cry of pain reached her ears before more arrows flew out from the trees.

'Ambush!' Arthur yelled.

Before her eyes men and women ran out of the trees with weapons in hand. Shakira drew her sword and began to cut them down one by one. When she came to a blonde women pointed her sword at her, Shakiras blood ran cold. 'Elen,' she hissed as she got off her horse.

'Well, we meet again Shakira,' she smirked. 'Where have you been hiding?'

'I have not been hiding,' Shakira snapped. 'You just never looked. Now lets finish what we started.'

Elen smiled widely. 'I'd be honoured. Then I can watch your husband cry over your dead body.'

Shakira attacked quickly and Elen quickly blocked her blow and attacked. Shakira took out a long dagger from her boot and used both weapons against her.

Jet stabbed a tall dark haired man in the chest and saw Shakira fighting with Elen. 'Oh my Gods,' she breathed. 'Elen.'

She ran forward but was blocked by another fighter, which she quickly dispatched.

'Elen!' she screamed. 'Forget it!'

Shakira slashed Elen's side and watched as the woman clutched her wound and blood poured out. 'Still want to keep going?' Shakira said angrily. 'Haven't you done enough?'

'No!' Elen yelled, 'He died because of you!'

'No he didn't!' Shakira screamed at her, 'He died because he lost in battle! That's the way it works!'

'You saw it! And you never told anyone!' she said as tears came to her eyes.

'Yes,' Shakira nodded, 'I did. I told him. Even thought I didn't believe it! I told him what I saw.'

'You're lying!' she screamed hysterically.

'No!' panted Jet, 'She's not. She told him. He just lost in battle Elen. You can't blame her for that.'

'I'm sorry Elen,' Shakira told her, 'but what you did to me after that was unforgivable.'

'I don't care,' Elen hissed.

'It's been over two years,' Shakira breathed. 'You caused me so much pain. For something that I didn't even do!'

A man rushed past Jet and drew his sword on Shakira.

'No!' said Elen. 'One day Shakira.'

Shakira just watched her leave silently beside Jet. Her eyes filled with hate and anger.

'She will not stop until you are dead,' Jet told her.

'And I will stop her every time she tries,' Shakira said.

Shakira put her sword back in its shaft and Tristan spun her around and hugged her tightly. He kissed her passionately and she gasped when they broke apart. 'Are you ok?'

She nodded. 'Yes, you?'

'I am fine,' he said as he ran his thumbs over her jaw. 'I love you.'

'I love you more,' she said as she hugged him.

0-0-0

Flashback:

Tristan was leading Shakira to a cave by the waterfall. It was a cave where lovers went to get away from the village and their families. Her hair was still damp from the water.

As they entered Tristan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. 'What exactly are you trying to tell me?' she asked looking at him accusingly.

He kissed her lips lightly and she put a hand on his cheek to keep him from breaking the kiss. He ran his hands down her sides and lightly brought them to her chest causing her to moan slightly. As a reaction to her sounds he pinned her against the wall and deepened the kiss that soon became rough and desperate.

Soon he stoped. He could not do it like this. It was cold and unromantic. All that was around them was stone wall. She looked at him, full lust and wanting in her eyes and realised what he was thinking. 'Tristan, I don't care……,' she said. He shook his head. 'It shouldn't be like this. At least let me get a fire going.'

'Ok,' she said leaning her forehead on his chest.

End of flashback:

0-0-0

Shakira lay down in her tent that night. She had just finished healing all of the wounded men, with the very much needed help of Dagonet. Luckily there weren't many but as soon as she had begun to help the Roman soldiers Maximus immediately protested and almost slapped her, but she got to him first……..

Whack!

Maximus stumbled back looking dazed. Arthur held back a laugh by putting ah and over his mouth.

'Would you SHUT UP!' she yelled at Maximus. 'Your soldiers are wounded! Are you going to heal them?'

'This…..Pagan! Asturias you cannot…..,' he spluttered dumbly at Shakira and Arthur while the Knights laughed openly at the sight.

'Listen…..little man,' Shakira said with a huff, this caused a roar of laughter from the Knights, 'I am trying to make sure your guards can fulfil their duty. Sit down and shut your mouth.'

Maximus gapped at her and looked outraged. 'You DARE order me about! A Pagan…..whore with a……,' he gasped and stoped speaking when he felt a dagger to his throat and heard many more swords being unsheathed.

'What did I say before?' Tristan asked him holding his dagger to the fat mans throat.

Arthur did not know what to do. He stood beside Tristan contemplating what to say and made up his mind quickly. 'Maximus Honorius,' he said causing Tristan to look at him. 'She is only trying to help you. There is no reason for this.'

Maximus looked at the dagger that was now causing a light cut and nodded. 'Very well. But I will in from Rome of this,' he nodded to Tristan and Shakira. 'Walk with me Asturias.'

Arthur put a hand on Tristan shoulder as he lowered his dagger and followed Maximus.

'Wow,' said Lancelot, 'I'm glad someone hit him. I'm sorry it wasn't me.'

Shakira looked at the soldier she was healing and he smiled and nodded at her. 'You'll get your chance,' Shakira told him………..

She smiled at the memory when Tristan walked into the tent holding his armour. He smiled down at her as she sat up and pulled him down. 'You have a strong hand,' he said.

'Lucky,' she said smiling widely. 'It just happened. I suppose I was frustrated because of….'

'Elen?' he asked.

'Yes,' she said looking down. She sighed. 'She hates me for something I didn't do.'

'What is it?' he asked her calmly.

Shakira closed her eyes. 'Nearly two and a half years ago, I was with a hunting party. We were on our way back to the village when we were attacked. I had dreamt of it. But I didn't not believe what I saw. But I told Ewen of my dream to warn him, just in case. But he did not believe me. We had not been on good terms for a while. As the battle was on us everything I saw in my dream happened. Even Ewen's death. Elen said nothing straight away but soon after she blamed me. We did not speak for weeks until she came to me saying she had a message. That was when she told me you were dead. That's when I left with Jet.'

Tristan looked at her silently and took her hand in his. 'She should not blame you. He died in battle. He could have chosen not to fight.'

Shakira nodded and wiped her face of a tear. 'I know.'

Tristan took her in his arms and kissed her lovingly before gazing into her eyes lovingly. 'I love you.'

She grinned and straddled his legs before kissing him. He pulled off her tunic and kissed along her collarbone as she closed her eyes and smiled.

They made love that night not thinking of anything around them. Not Maximus, or Rome, or Elen, or the Knights. It was just them. Their love. Their bodies.

0-0-0

Author Note: Thankyou to everyone who is reading, even if you are not reviewing. Thankyou sissy-sara88 for your review. I hope this one is as good as the last chapter. PLEASE….I'd love more reviews!