Disclaimer: I own nothing except Syeira
Really sorry about the long wait; First computer problems then all the other things in my life got complicated…lets just say I've been really busy. Thank you everyone who reviewed, even though it was ages ago.
On With The Story…
Chapter 5: Festivities
All ready for the party, Syeira was standing outside Lancelot's room. She wasn't wearing anything fancy for the occasion; in fact she didn't have anything fancy left to wear. She had grown out of the two dresses that she had packed from home and only had breeches and tunics to wear. She chose the cleanest one; it was the color of parchment and was laced up at the neck. The shirt was a bit tight but she didn't think any of the knights would complain, certainly not Lancelot.
'That desperate sap.'
She wore rust colored breeches, her only pair that wasn't worn out. She would have to see Vanora later about that. Her long dark hair was pulled to the side in a thick braid.
Bringing up her hand she knocked briskly on the large wooden door.
"Who is it?" Lancelot called from inside.
"I'm a wild lady rogue come to kidnap and have my way with you." She called back.
'He probably thinks I'm serious.'
The door opened quickly and there stood a very shirtless Lancelot.
"No need to get dressed then. But instead of kidnapping me why don't you just do what ever you have planned here? My bed is much closer." He winked and Syeira couldn't help but laugh.
"Are you always like this Lance? You are beginning to sound a bit needy." He pulled on his shirt and maintained his grin.
"Hey a man's got to try. Shall we head to the tavern now?" He held out his arm for her to take.
"Lets, I haven't had any good wine in ages. This is sure to be a change."
"Not a big drinker?" he asked, leading her down the hall.
"Oh no, not in the least. I'll bet I can drink you under the table; I'm just a bit out of practice. I don't like to drink and travel, you know? Riding on the horse would make me throw up."
"I accept." He said leaving Syeira a tad confused.
"You what?"
"I accept. You said that you'll bet that you could drink me under the table and I accept your challenge." Syeira thought for a moment about what she was getting herself into but she never backed down from a challenge, even if she did accidentally initiate it.
"Fine, you're on." They shook hands and the bet was on.
The tavern was filled with laughter and high spirits. All the knights, except a bedridden Tristan, were there for Gawain's twenty-eighth birthday. Four mugs of wine later Syeira dragged Galahad onto one of the tables and they sang happy birthday to their friend. It was definitely one of the more memorable moments of the night.
Gawain's gifts consisted of drinks from everyone and little gifts here and there. After a few hours he was indeed smashed. Although he had drunk enough wine as two other men would, Lancelot and Syeira had more.
Lancelot gave her a crafty crooked grin. He was definitely feeling the effects of the intoxicating drink but Syeira looked at him unfazed. "So, if I win this bet," he started.
"Which you won't."
"But if I do, you…you…you have to warm my bed tonight." Syeira snorted.
"Your bed? Why does it always have to be your bed? Why not mine...hmmm? It's never the woman's bed. You knights think you are soooo great, always about you."
"Your bed it is then!" His smile grew bigger. This time she burst out laughing.
"Sorry Lance, but that is never going to happen. Like I said before, you're needy. I don't like needy men…you won't win anyway."
"Oh…"
Laughing Syeira got up and left a disappointed, drunken Lancelot with a barmaid at the table. Sitting herself in between Galahad and Gawain she felt a strong arm around her shoulders.
"I don't think I've gotten a gift from you yet?" said Gawain with a smile.
"I just found out this afternoon, definitely not enough time to get you a proper gift. But it is you're birthday so I should give you something. What do you want?"
Gawain shrugged then sat back and thought for a minute.
"How 'bout a kiss?" Piped up Galahad with a clever grin on his face. Gawain took another drink and hid his face but everyone could still see that his cheeks had turned a nice rosy shade of pink.
Syeira smirked at her blushing friend. "Alright then," She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek only making Gawain flush more.
Bors walked up to the table and scoffed.
"You call that a kiss?"
Syeira stood up, almost tripping over her own feet.
'Maybe I'm a little bit more drunk than I thought.'
"Fine then," She clasped Gawain on the back. "Galahad has been bragging, well more like complaining that you are quite skilled at throwing knives. He beats me every time, are his exact words."
"Did he now?" Gawain turned to his friend and Galahad just shrugged.
"Yes, so I challenge you to a little game of our own. If you beat me, I'll give you, and show Bors, what a real kiss is and if I beat you…well I'll think of something good when that happens."
"If that happens."
"So you accept?"
"I never back down from a challenge." Syeira rolled her eyes.
'Too bad you are going to lose to a woman…'"All right Gawain, ladies first." She said with a deviant smirk. A chorus of oooo's filled the tavern.
'Talk about shot below the belt.'
Gawain stood up as someone put a chair on a table across the room.
"I can't help it if you're jealous that my hair is prettier than yours." He said primping his tawny locks a bit.
'Oh Goddess…'
"Yeah, yeah whatever princess, just hurry it up." Syeira groaned. With a devilish smirk playing on his lips he reached for the knife in his boot and placed it on the ground. In a flash of quick movement (remarkably quick considering how much he drank) he flipped the knife into his hand throwing it directly on the target, a knot in the chair. A small crowd had formed around them and they all cheered.
Gawain turned around to face Syeira. "I'd like to see you beat that princess."
Syeira pushed past him pulling her own knife out of her own boot.
"I am sad to say I don't have any fancy tricks like you Gawain but I can assure you that you will not win. I was taught by the best."
Holding the thin blade between her fingertips she made a few drunken, over exaggerated arm movements, taking her aim. The tavern was silent waiting for this woman to finish her humorous looking display.
"While we're young, Syeira." Pushed Lancelot who was now teetering in the crowd watching the little game.
Before anyone knew that she threw it they heard the recognizable thud of a blade, embedding itself in wood. Syeira's knife was sticking straight out of the hilt of Gawain's.
"Not another one." She heard Galahad mutter.
"Syeira, how in the hell did you do that?"
"I aim for the middle," exasperated sighs. "But by that response I think you have heard that before, so lets just say it was a lucky shot."
"Do it again." Chimed Lancelot.
"Actually I am surprised I didn't kill anyone. I am definitely to drunk to concentrate that hard again, my head is starting to hurt."
Everyone went back to what they were doing and the two competitors sat back down at their table.
"She beat you mate." Said Bors.
"No I didn't, we were supposed to hit the knot, and I didn't. Gawain clearly won."
Galahad laughed. "Well let's see this kiss then." He said eagerly.
"Geeze Gal, don't get your hopes so high. I wouldn't want to disappoint you."
"You, don't have to Syeira. It was just a stupid bet." Said Gawain, trying to be a gentleman.
"No, no. I made the challenge and besides I'm in a giving mood." Catching the longhaired knight completely off guard she pulled him by his shirt and locked her lips to his. Gawain was frozen for a second before his body took over and kissed her back. The kiss was fervent and forceful, producing cheers from anyone who saw them.
Syeira pulled away with a pleased look on her face. "Was that better Bors?"
"Well, I wish Vanora kissed me like that." The dark haired woman laughed seeing that Gawain's face was now totally red and his eyes dazed.
"Hey, Syeira while you're in the giving mood why don't you come take a seat over here?" Lancelot called from across the room.
"Not on your life my friend. But how's the wine treating you? Ready to give up?" Lancelot raised his glass and drank the rest of it down.
"Not on your life, my friend."
A/N: By the way things are going heading towards being a GawainOC kinda fic but it could change at anytime to an eventual LancelotOC or even possibly a Galahad one. Review kindly and tell me what you think.