Disclaimer: I own nobody by the characterizations of Bedivere, Lamorak, Percival, and Kay (now 'Cai'). I would like to obtain the rights to the knights of 'King Arthur', but sadly that would be near impossible.

Rating: PG

Summary: When searching Sarmatians, what is noted above all is their history of warrior women. I am surprised, and slightly appalled, that they made no mention of this in the movie 'King Arthur', so I did. Happy day! I actually decided to add on to the one-shot! It's kind of a small back story; there might be a few of these. Tell me how I did! More Trist-Bed Bonding.

Silent Discovery

"Come now, Bedivere," Galahad insisted as we scouted further up the river, "the quiet ones are always the ladies men."

"I promise you, Galahad." I looked to him, with a smirk. "What I said was true. I've never had a woman—I can certainly get along without them."

Grinning, Galahad shook his head, watching his step. "You're my friend, Bedivere, and I know when you're lying to me. You may have always been older than me, protecting Percival and I whenever you could, but you never could lie well."

"Galahad, I've had enough." I grew weary of Galahad's questioning. "I'm not going to reveal my nightly habits—I do as I want, when I want and no parchment that will keep me from freedom."

"Now you sound like Bors." Galahad teased. "Only smarter."

We both laughed together. Galahad had recently turned eighteen and I was only nineteen at the time. "Somehow, I believe that's a compliment."

Galahad laughed and elbowed me, just downriver there was a new bridge being built. As we walked along silently, keeping an eye out for Woads, we heard a cry from behind us and then a great crashing noise. The ground beneath us quivered.

Instantly Galahad and I exchanged worried looks and then glanced behind us. "Arthur!" I cried out, running back toward the bridge as the others did. "Galahad, the bridge has gone under!"

The river was swift in the early spring and incredibly cold despite the warming temperatures. The Thames was a mighty river and very unforgiving in its exploits. "I can see that, Bedivere!" Galahad shouted back, trying to keep up with me.

I skidded to a stop seeing a man floating downriver and Galahad nearly slammed into me, but slid to a stop nearby. "What are you doing?"

"Dagonet!" I cried out in horror, seeing the familiar man in the water, being carried back out after helping another. "Brother, hang on!"

"Bedivere!" Galahad tried to stop me as I tore off my armor and ran to the bank. "You don't know how to swim!"

Nothing could hold me back, Dagonet was my gentle giant of a brother, my silent protector and I could barely watch as the current swept him under again and again. The strongest man I knew was overcome by this damned water. "Save yourself!" Dagonet cried out. "Don't come in, Bedivere!"

Nonsense, I growled to myself and then waded into the water quickly, though hesitantly. "You're daft, Bedivere!" Galahad cried after me. "Daft!"

"Go help the others!" I turned and pointed to my right, where the rest of the men were. "They need you—"

For a moment the waters took my under, even waist-high was a dangerous campaign, but I soon gained my ground and looked back. I batted at the water with my hands, for there was no time to panic, and in moments I learned to maneuver in the water, my hands like paddles.

"Dagonet!" I shouted hopelessly, bobbing up and down in the restless waters. "Dagonet, answer me!"

"I'm here, boy!" A breathless Dagonet cried and I felt someone grab me by my shoulders. "Bedivere, grab hold of the fallen tree!"

Out of breath and freezing, I let Dagonet drag me up beside him. We were so far from the shore, but the great fallen tree was the only thing keeping us from drifting further downriver.

"You bloody dolt, Bedivere!" I felt a resounding smack against the back of my head. "What were you thinking?"

I was shivering already and by the time I was able to gain my senses, a large piece of driftwood came slamming by, knocking the fallen tree we had hold of, and throwing Dagonet back into the water. "Dagonet!"

Seeing Dagonet falling, I quickly grabbed hold of his hand with my own, but it only ended up pulling the both of us into the frigid waters. Underwater, everything went black and I felt something come down on me, holding me there.

I gasped, feeling the chilled waters filling my lungs. Panicking, I kicked and wiggled, but whatever pinned me down wasn't budging. My lungs were burning and I could hear the calls from above as I was driven deeply into the mud. The last thing I remember is two hands hooking beneath my underarms…

The slap woke me up quicker than anything else and I instantly began to cough up the water filling me. "He's alive!" Dagonet laughed and slapped the back of my shoulder. "You lucky dog, Bedivere, old boy!"

"Bedivere!" Percival cried out in relief. "Thank God you're all right!"

I blinked from the sun and looked to Dagonet. "You all right Dagonet?"

"Aye, and we wouldn't have been if Trist hadn't come to the rescue." Dagonet smirked and slapped Tristan, who looked rather peeved with me while Dagonet moved off to help the other men.

"Good." I said and tried to stand, but a pain shot through my pelvic area.

Groaning, I lay back down and held my stomach. "What's the matter?" Galahad queried in worry.

Tristan knelt at my side. "Are you all right, lad?"

"Tristan," I looked to him, finally feeling the pain and gritting my teeth, "you can't take me to the doctors…"

Percival glanced at Galahad and then to Tristan. "What does he mean by that?"

Grabbing Tristan's shirt, I glared at him. "Tristan, if you are my brother, you will help me to return to my quarters and seek a private physician."

Tristan stared at me, his knowing silent look in his eyes and my confirmation was enough. "Galahad, go help Dagonet," Tristan commanded standing, "Percival, come with me."

"But, Bedivere—"

"Do it, Galahad!" I snapped unrelentingly and felt my odd bones shift as Tristan and Percival lifted me to my feet.

I cried out in pain, then bit my lip as Percival tried his best to be gentle and Galahad ran off. "Can you walk?" Tristan asked.

"I don't know…" I replied in agony, "I can barely move without screaming."

When I woke I thought my quarters were empty and there was a faint shaft of light from one of the windows. I turned my head to look around the room and saw Tristan. "Don't move." He said gently, placing his hand against my shoulder. "You've broken a very delicate bone."

I took his hand in mine, what pain relievers they had given me beginning to wear off. "Say you're still my brother…"

"I've always been your brother," Tristan smiled, for the first time in a very long time as he took a seat beside me, "I always will be."

Softly, Tristan brushed the hair from my face. "If I lost you, Tristan, I'd lose the world."

"I will say this once, lad, but listen well," Tristan insisted, "I have known for some time of your gender, there are ways of noticing differences. The bare, soft throat, you've hid things well…but there are men out there not as accepting as your brothers, even ones amongst them. This will never be spoken of amongst us again."

"And the physician?"

"I paid him well."