"Court! Court where are you?" came the familiar voice of Dagonet.

"I'm back here Dags."

He followed the voice into the back rooms located behind the stables. "Ah there you are. I was wondering if you wanted to come riding with some of us this morning? We figured you would enjoy the time away from the fort like the rest of us do."

Court still had her back to him and was working on re-sewing a piece of leather that had ripped from a saddle. She turned to face him, "That sounds like a good idea. I could use a bit of fresh air."

He seemed thoroughly pleased that she had accepted. "Good, saddle up one of the young ones and let's head out."

She decided to give Calvo a day off seeing as how it was still raining hard and he had been out the day before. Today she would take Archimedes, a young black stud that had a sarcastic humor about him self. He was a few months younger than Calvo but was truly a magnificent stallion, one that loved him self and loved his job. Archimedes, unlike Calvo, adored being ridden in the rain and for this reason Court decided to ride him today. Once the two of them were ready, they galloped out of the stables and were greeted by the entire group of knights ready and waiting. Arthur greeted her with a nod of his head. It appeared that Galahad and Gawain had had too much to drink the previous night for they each cradled their head in their hands and only grunted when she said good morning. Tristan gave a shift of a smile before he raised his arm in the air and his hawk, Aiden, took off in flight. Bors and Dags where together laughing about Gawain and Galahads' current state and receiving evil looks from the two when Bors commented on how neither could hold their liquor. And last of the group sat Lancelot atop his impressive black stallion Draven. Although he only had the use of one of his arms at the moment, it did not stop Lancelot from coming on their morning hunt. He simple would not partake in the killing but would merely observe. Court rode up along side Lancelot and sat there patiently and peacefully as they rode deeper into the forest. Finally Lancelot spoke.

"Where were you last night? You missed a fine evening. Katrina brought a guest from the North and what a guest she was."

Court smiled to herself, "I was tired from the days work, Calvo was a bit of a chore and I was not in the mood to socialize. But you say Katrina brought a friend. Tell me, did you like her?"

Lancelot frowned at this. "You act as though you have already meet her."

"Aye, I have. Katrina brought her by the stables to introduce us before they left for the tavern. She was a nice little creature was she not, Briseis was her name, is it not?"

At the mention of her name Lancelot stiffened and let his mind remember the previous night. 'So it had not been a dream after all. This angel had fallen into my hell to give me a glimpse of what the heavens hold for me. I could die this very moment a happy man so long as I am able to be with Briseis for all eternity.' It was Court who brought him back to reality.

"So I see you liked her judging by the dazed look you hold in your eyes at the very mention of her name." Lancelot looked over to Court from hooded eyes.

"You have so much of Tristan in you that at times it scares me. Reading people just from the slightest expression." Together they smiled and went back to a pleasant silence. An hour into there hunt and still no sign of deer or fowl. When the rain had let up, Galahad and Gawain decided it was time for lunch. They un-mounted their horses and tethered them to a near by tree and proceeded to unpack the sandwiches and beer that had been packed by Vanora. While sitting on the grass with their back pressed against the trees, Galahad had picked up a dagger and threw it into a tree. Without thinking Court took out her dagger and threw it so that its point landed in the hilt of Galahads'. She smiled and continued to eat while everyone else stared at her in disbelief.

"By the Gods boy, since when have you been able to pull off a shot such as that? Only Tristan have I ever seen do that." Stated Gawain.

"Tristan and Briseis." Corrected Lancelot.

"Aye." Came the rest of the knights.

"I suppose you say you aim for them middle." Sneered Lancelot.

"That I do. I have long been able to do that, I just never felt like showing you lot." Said Court with an air of unease.

All the while Tristan said nothing but stared at her with an unnerving gaze. 'Perhaps he knows that I am Briseis and not the boy Court.' She thought to herself suddenly becoming self-conscious of how she was sitting making sure that her legs were spread apart and not crossed like a girl would. Tristan noticed Court's sudden change in position. The young boy seemed more on edge at the mention of Briseis' name; he seemed to have recognized it, associated with it. Now that Tristan studied Court more closely he did in fact notice some familiarities between the two of them. Courts voice was not much different than from Briseis', their shape was exactly the same save for her curves but they could easily be hidden with an extra shirt. And their faces were the same shape as were their hair, same texture and color. The more Tristan thought about it the more it made perfect sense. All he had left to do was look into Courts eyes. If they were the same green eyes that had the different hues in them. However when Court looked up and at Tristan, his eyes appeared a deep shade of hazel, almost more brown than green. Court looked away from Tristan with an ashamed look as if he had been discovered. In one swift and graceful motion Tristan stood and walked over to Court.

"May I have a word with you?"

Court looked up slowly and nodded a yes. Together they walked off into the clearing. "Who are you?"

Court looked at him shocked, "I beg your pardon?"

"Briseis, are you Briseis? You are much in her likeness, and I have never seen a blade thrown the way you did just now. It was the same last night when she, or rather you threw."

Tears started to form around the corners of her eyes. "Please don't say anything. Please I beg of you."

"I shall say nothing but I only wish you to answer me these few questions." He looked her dead in the eye and waited for her to give permission before he continued. When he saw in her eyes that she had consented he asked his questions.

"Where are you from, what is your true name, and why, why all this trickery?"

Briseis inhaled and then spoke, "My name is Briseis Helena Court and I was raised by the Woads. My mother was Sarmatian and my father, if that's what he is to be called, was Saxon," at the look of surprise on Tristan's face she quickly added, "he raped her." This time it was Tristan's turn to inhale. "It matters not, I never knew my mother for she died in child birth but her last wishes was that I was to be name Briseis and that I be raised by the Woads."

"But why would the Woads agree to help a Sarmatian? They only help their own kind."

At this Briseis smiled, "My mother was in love with the son of Merlin. His name…was Court. When he found out that my mother had been raped he sought revenge and was murdered. So you see, the Saxons took both my mother and my would be father in the blink of an eye."

Tristan shook his head in sadness and anger. "I am sorry but I still do not understand the need for the disguise."

Briseis smiled at him and then looked him in the eye confidently, "Have you ever seen a woman become a Knight?"

He looked at her with question, "No."

"Neither have I. I seek revenge on the murders of my parents, revenge that my Woad tribe does not understand. Revenge is looked upon as sinful, harmful to ones psyche. They refused to let me fight in the Battle of Bradon Hill."

At this refusal Tristan raised an eyebrow. "But I saw you fight. We all saw you…you save Lancelot that day."

"Aye I save him. I went against my teacher, my mentor, against Merlin. I decided that my destiny in life was to become a knight but Briseis could not succeed in this. Briseis could not but Court could. I adopted the name of my stepfather and joined in the battle. The rest is history."

Tristan smiled, "You do not seem like a blood thirsty, revenge seeking woman. On the contrary you seem as though you would settle to becoming just one of Arthur's Knights."

Briseis considered his remark for a few seconds before answering, "I have not forgotten my quest for revenge. I will never forget. But being here has lessened my hate, hate that I thought could never lessen. I am not sure as to what has filled the void but it is something."

Tristan smiled, "May I make a suggestion as to what has replaced your hate?" he waited for Briseis to nod, when she did he proceeded. "Love"

She snorted. "Love! Love of what?"

"Briseis you have found purpose in life, purpose that you love and enjoy. You train these horses, see them grow and flourish by your hands. This is fulfilling. You love the land and the people who live at Hadrian's Wall. Although you are not a knight by right you have become a knight amongst us. Especially one Knight. You have proven yourself to him and in this friendship, you have fallen for him. So yes Briseis, I say Love has replace the hate in your heart."

Briseis continued to stare off into the distance letting his words register. She then stared back at him. He was looking at her patiently.

"Well now what do I do? I still wish to become a knight but…"

"You can still become a knight without hiding who you are." Tristan reached out for her hand, "Come Briseis, you have some more talking to do."

Together they walked back among the other knights.