Secrets in the Shadows
A/N: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Sorry, I needed to let that out. I hate my computer... actually loathe is more like it. I was typing this chapter in an email, and the computer decides to crash. Naturally I was upset, and I used a lot of choice words to describe my anger. I think "shit" was the overall favorite. But moving on...
I don't own anything sadly. I just borrow these characters for my own personal pleasure.
Chapter Four: Paying the Debt
"Arthur, you seem like a man who always knows a lot more than he says." Marcus said from his position seated across from Arthur in his chambers.
"I was told at a young age, it is not wise to share one's opinion on everything, only on the things that matter." Arthur said proudly remembering a conversation he had with Pelagius when he had been small.
"Very wise. Yet, I cannot help but wonder what your opinion is on my situation." Marcus knew that he was forcing Arthur to play a very dangerous game.
Arthur thought for a moment, suddenly finding much to look at on his callused and scarred hands.
"I do not think that you should be persecuted for your wife's choice in religion." Arthur stated firmly, allowing his eyes to meet Marcus's to show his sincerity.
"Perhaps not. But I am the Pope's brother, it doesn't really set a high standard for the rest of the Empire. Though I wish I could remain in Rome, I know it is better for me and my family here in Britain. Fatima sees this, yet I do believe Inara is still adjusting to the drastic change." Marcus rubbed his eyes absentmindedly.
"Britain is quite different from Egypt and Rome. She's a strong and intelligent girl, she'll find her place here in time." Arthur said comfortingly.
But the discussion of Inara, reminded him that probably at this very moment she would be sneaking off to the tavern. Fear clutched at his heart, hoping that Marcus would not think to look for his daughter this eve.
"She claims that she is ill. However, I think it is that she is saddened that she lost today against your Knight." Marcus smiled a little at this.
Arthur started to pale, not liking the direction in which this conversation was heading.
"It was all in fun, I assure you." Arthur defended.
"But of course. I am actually glad she lost, it will do her good to learn that one cannot always succeed in life." Marcus said thoughtfully.
"An important lesson to learn I am sure." Arthur wasn't sure how long he could stay on this conversational topic, but he hoped Marcus would move on to anything else so he would be alleviated of this discomfort.
"My wife however, believes that Inara should be protected from everything and anything. She was told she would not bear any children, so naturally Inara was a rather unexpected but delightful surprise." Marcus confessed.
'So, he had taken Fatima as a lover because she would never bear his children. And she became with child, so Marcus had to marry her less he have a bastard on his hands.' Arthur mused.
"I would assume so." Arthur said politely.
"I had never thought of having children Arthur. But once you have them, they become your entire world. You will know of what I speak when you have your own one day... If anything should ever happen to Inara, I'd never forgive myself." Marcus's voice wavered slightly.
"Inara is very capable, M'Lord. I would not worry so greatly. However, I fear the hour grows late and we have yet to discuss our route to your new home." Arthur expertly steered the topic away from one that he knew could get him into trouble.
"Of course, let me not burden you any further with the troubles of an aging father." Marcus said before pulling out a map and setting it on the table before them.
From a crack in the doorway, Inara watched until she knew her Father would be occupied for quite some time. She slipped back into her rooms, and fluffed the bolsters hidden under the blankets that she used to make it appear as though she was sleeping in her quarters. She examined her state of dress, she tried to wear the most common thing she owned. However, her wardrobe was designed for that of Rome and the sands of Egypt and would clearly stand out amongst the drab grays and browns of Britain. She finally settled on a dark green silk gown that fell to her ankles and left her arms bare. On her right arm she slipped a metal band coiled to resemble a serpent. She left her long hair down, so that it might obscure her face and she only rimmed her eyes with a tiny smudge of kohl.
She was about to step out her door, when she remembered her dark blue cloak and quickly slipped it on pulling up the hood. She shut her door silently behind her and crept down the hallway and out a side staircase commonly used by the servants.
Although most were eager to ignore the cloaked figure passing by them in the night, Tristan decided to follow. He wondered who would be slipping from the residence halls at such an hour, and having not been privy to the bet he would never have thought to guess it was Inara. He molded to her like a shadow, always a few paces behind and utterly silent.
Inara paused looking around, she could hear the rousing laughter coming from behind one of these buildings, but which one she was not sure. The streets wound about in an unorganized fashion, small huts crammed in here and there and alleys barely wide enough for one person to walk through lingering between them. She decided to try one of the alley's thinking that it would be the most direct route to the tavern. However she only got half-way down the darkened path, when a hand snaked out and pinned her to the wall.
She felt her hood be yanked off and she was met with the endless depths of Tristan's eyes. Though his face did not betray any expression, his eyes widened momentarily in shock to see that it was Inara he now held in such a provocative position. He quickly released her and took a step back.
"My apologies Lady, but you would do well to not sneak about in dark alleyways." He spoke slowly.
"You have no need to apologize...It was quite my own fault. However, now that you managed to have found me, could you lead me to the tavern, I am a bit lost." Inara smoothed out her dress and readjusted her hood so that she no longer could be seen.
"The tavern?" Tristan said amused.
"Ah, so Lancelot did not inform you then?" She said sounding surprised that everyone in the fort didn't know of what Lancelot had won.
Tristan held a hand up to her to signify he desired no explanation of Lancelot's exploits or how he managed to convince her to come to the tavern. He merely walked on ahead, listening to make sure that she followed him. Inara's instincts had been correct, the tavern was in this direction, she only would have had to turn down another side-street to find it.
He bowed low and with his hand ushered her forth towards the courtyard. She took a few steps before turning to look him in the eyes again. Those eyes would be her undoing, she was certain of it.
"Are you not coming?" She said as a mixture of emotions flashed across her face.
"I must return to my watch...but perhaps later." He said amused that she actually wanted him there.
She uttered a thank you, before stepping out into the crowd. She had no trouble locating the knights, they were by far the loudest group and by the looks of it, the life of the party. A tidy sum of empty mugs already littered the table, most of them located around Bors. She heard them laugh, and saw Galahad turn red. They always seemed to torment that poor boy and she could not figure out why.
An idea played in her head, and she smirked knowing that she would get a rise out of the knights, especially Lancelot. She pushed her cloak back behind her shoulders and removed her hood, shaking out her hair so it was harder to distinguish her. Slowly she walked up behind Galahad allowing her hand to trail over his shoulder before she placed herself in his lap and purred into his ear, "Play along."
Gawain whistled and seemed taken aback. He had been teasing Galahad about his lack of female companions just moments earlier and then this beauty perches herself in his lap. The gods clearly were intervening on this one.
"Maybe I was wrong, the young pup can get a wench after all." Bors laughed.
"She's too pretty for him, there's no way he can keep her." Lancelot firmly stated.
Inara took Galahad's face into her hands forcing him to look her in the eye. His eyes widened in shock, as he realized that it was the Roman Official's daughter in his lap not some common wench.
"In-" He started to say before he was cut off by her mouth on his, effectively silencing both Galahad and Lancelot at the same time.
Galahad didn't react at first, merely allowed his eyes to almost pop out of his head. But eventually, he continued to play up the theatrics and dipped her low, running his hands through her hair.
Inara then broke free, coming up from air, and pushed her hair from her face out of instinct. Gawain spat his drink out on to Bors when he saw her. Bors in turn spat his drink out on to Dagonet, who merely wiped at his face with his sleeve before turning with the rest of the table to stare blankly at Inara.
"Hello boys." She said smirking before sliding herself from Galahad's lap to sit between him and Lancelot.
"You... and Galahad? But.. I..what?" Gawain said dumbfounded.
"You are just jealous Gawain, that I got the prettiest girl in all of the fort." Galahad smugly before wrapping his arm around Inara's waist.
Inara swatted his arm away, and turned to Lancelot, clearly amused by the utter look of confusion on his face which was mirrored by the rest of the knights.
"I thought I made it clear, that I was to receive the kiss for winning." Lancelot whispered in her ear.
"And you shall, I keep my word. That however, I did for my own enjoyment." Inara winked at Galahad who now seemed to be occupied by a wench who had caught the earlier display before running a finger across Lancelot's cheek.
"Can I get one?" Gawain asked half-drunk.
Inara smiled and shook her head 'no.' Though she kissed the younger knight and found it to her liking, she wasn't about to kiss every man in the fort. Besides, winning over Galahad aided her purpose. She took Lancelot's cup from him and drank deeply, thinking that it contained water. She however couldn't have been more wrong. Her face contorted in disgust as the ale went down her throat, and she looked as if she had swallowed a bug.
"Can't take Vanora's ale?" Bors said with a laugh.
"How can you drink this?" Inara said in disgust.
"Hey, Vanora, she's insulting your brew." Lancelot shouted to the fiery red-head, who raised a brow in question to the presence of the roman official's daughter.
"I find that it always helps, to drink it slowly at first. Then once you have enough in your system, you hardly notice the taste at all." Dagonet said with a small smile.
Inara looked reluctant to try it again, but she brought the cup to her lips and took a small sip. It was still rather vile, nothing like the wines of home. However, once she managed to drain the cup she seemed to forget about her initial distaste for it.
"Whoa, now... don't drink too much or you'll never make it back to your rooms tonight." Lancelot said as he took her third mug away from her.
Inara giggled constantly, and swayed where she sat. Lancelot stayed her and looked at her eyes which were now slightly unfocused but as enticing as ever.
"Did I ever tell you that, you have very pretty eye-lashes?" She said as she looked up at him.
"I have pretty eye-lashes?" Lancelot said with a small laugh.
"Yep, just like my Mother's." Inara nodded over enthusiastically.
Gawain laughed to the high-heavens as he was listening in on their conversation, this drunk woman was too funny for words. Lancelot shrugged it off and pulled her closer to him, the drink no longer allowed her to object to the feel of his hands on her and he relished in it.
"Well, I most certainly...am not your mother." Lancelot stated.
"I know. You have a beard... and you have anatomy that I'm quite sure my mother doesn't have." When she referred to his manhood, she gestured wildly to the region and nearly hit him in his sweet spot.
He grabbed her wrists just in time, and she once more doubled over in a fit of laughter. How on earth was he going to get her back into her rooms without the entire fort hearing her?
At some point Tristan had silently joined their table, taking Bors's now vacated spot. He drank solemnly, not attempting to join in any other conversation but snorting to himself when appropriate.
"Lancey-lot, I want to go to sleep." She said yawning.
"Alright, but we need to get you sobered up a bit before when can take you back to your rooms." Lancelot said brushing the hair from her eyes.
"But, what if I want to go to your room?" Inara prodded him in the chest rather hard.
"As greatly as it pains me to say this, you can't come back to my room with me." Lancelot stated not wanting to take advantage of her.
Tristan now turned to watch their conversation, surprised that Lancelot would turn down the chance to bed anything. He let his eyes wander over Inara, she was so exotic, so foreign and when he first saw her she was entirely captivating. It was strange how the effects of a drink can change her into a giggling and loose maid.
"Fine, then can I stay with you tonight?" Inara turned to Galahad.
"Oh...how to answer this question." Galahad said licking his lips, savoring the sound of it.
"No you may not!" Gawain and Lancelot shouted.
"Can I sleep with you then?" Inara looked at Tristan.
Tristan stopped mid-drink and looked horrified. For a split-second emotion was written all over his face, and the other knights looked as dumbfounded as he.
"Inara, I really think that isn't a good idea." Lancelot stated slowly.
"I can look after her. And get her into her rooms once everyone has gone to sleep." Tristan said once his wits returned to him.
No one had expected him to make this offer, least of all Lancelot, but Inara seemed rather happy with the prospect of it. Granted, she would probably be happy if a leper told her she could stay with him at this point.
"Honestly Tristan it isn't necessary, I'll just take her back to her rooms now." Lancelot started to stand.
"Actually, its not a half-bad idea. Tristan's room is the closet to where they are staying and he is the most stealthy one of us all." Dagonet agreed.
Lancelot didn't want to take advantage of Inara tonight, but that didn't mean he didn't want to enjoy more time with her hanging on him and cozying up to him like she was her favorite toy.
Inara had managed to wiggle herself free from Lancelot's grasp and made to stand, but found her legs wouldn't hold her. She fell straight on to her butt, but was hoisted up by Tristan who had wrapped his arms around her waist.He at first tried to right her and get her to hold her own weight, but she kept falling forwards, leaving them in a very odd looking position. Finally he gave up and scooped her up into his arms. She soon blacked out and snuggled into his chest. He arranged the cloak to cover who she was lest, a Roman guard should see.
"Don't worry Lancelot, I'm not going to try and bed her." Tristan said with a smirk before leaving the tavern and a disappointed Lancelot behind.
A/N: So what do you think about drunk Inara? She's a bit horny to put it nicely. I had her kiss Galahad to show that she is more free-spirited and young and not just a pretty doll so to speak. The entire drunk Inara experience is a mixture of how my friend and I are when we are drunk. So yes, we do fall over the entire time and are very free with our affections to put it nicely. As for if they are going to get caught...well you will have to stick around to find out. Review!