A/N: So I apologize to all my readers for the excruciatingly long delays between chapters. I just started college and its taking me a bit to get acclimated. But don't worry, I haven't found a life and I still intend to write fanfiction. Thus, here is a long awaited chapter. If you guys could review and let me know if anyone is reading this I'd love you forever.
Karissa, thanks for sticking with me.
As always, I own nothing.
Chapter Eight: On a Night Such as This
It was close to midnight and Inara had yet to retire. Instead she sat at her window, with a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. She rang her hands in her lap as her eyes were focused intently on the plethora of stars dotting the night sky. Running a hand over the linen bandage on her arm, she hoped that her mother would not take note of it.
She ached to ride and she missed Isis. No doubt her feisty mare, could do with a good run. Having made up her mind, Inara slipped her cloak over her simple night shift and made her way to the stables. She was careful not to disturb any in the residence hall, walking nearly on tip toes until she was out in the courtyard.
The night air stung her cheeks, her warm breath freezing moments after it left her body. The stables were dark, the only light shining in from the doorway. She felt along the stalls till she heard the familiar neigh of Isis.
"Ah there you are...Have you missed me, hmm?" Inara whispered softly as she made her way into the stall.
She rubbed her horse's muzzle, before slipping on Isis's harness. Inara did not bother with the saddle. Saddles were only useful on long journeys, but for a ride in the night, bareback would be just fine. Inara hoisted herself on to the animal's back with little difficulty. Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth she rode out of the stables like lightening.
The night watch did not take notice until they saw a white blur making for the gates. They opened them quickly, assuming that the rider was a messenger who needed to deliver urgent news to one of the ports. This was a fairly common occurrence at the fort so they thought nothing of it.
Inara could taste the freedom the moment she was free of the imposing wall. Isis's hooves dug into the ground propelling herself forward, while Inara kept herself on merely with the strength in her legs. Freedom was something she desired, but never truly had or would have. A woman had limited choice in life, and Inara was no different. There were many days where she cursed the heavens for not making her a man, but after seeing the Sarmatian Knights she realized not all men had a choice either.
The knights! She had grown fond of them, they intrigued her. Such odd men, but with ultimately good hearts that she could not deny try as she might.
"A lady so beauteous as yourself should not be out beyond the wall without an escort. Luckily for you, I am here, so you need not be afraid. I shall protect you.." Came a cocky voice from behind her.
Inara did not have to turn around to know who it was that had spoken. Only one man could be that arrogant and ego inflating while paying a compliment, Lancelot.
"Would that be before or after you are done examining your hair in a looking glass?" Inara retorted.
She couldn't see his expression, but she imagined it would border on outrage and pure hysteria. Inara kept her eyes fixed on the night sky, and the tree-line like a woman possessed. Lancelot rode up next to her, and tried to follow her line of sight to whatever she found so bloody interesting. But alas, twas only a patch of trees.
"So, why are you out by yourself?"
"I needed to get away to think, why are you following me?" Inara said finally breaking her gaze to look him in the eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself, I wasn't following you. I was on patrol." Lancelot said with a cheeky grin.
"Do women ever find your constant annoyance attractive?" Inara said when she could take his smug look no longer.
"Naturally, it doesn't help that I'm devilishly handsome either." Lancelot examined his nails in a nonchalant manner.
Inara began to laugh, and then she did something that made her only laugh harder, she snorted. Inara of the Pauli actually snorted. Lancelot couldn't help thinking that she looked like a lunatic at this moment, but something about the way she convulsed with laughter was in its own way, endearing.
"Please, it wasn't that funny." He stammered.
She continued to laugh, pausing only long enough to get some air into her lungs, but even with her futile attempts to breathe she was turning a lovely shade of red. Lancelot had to reach out to stay her so she didn't fall from her horse.
"Calm down woman, you are behaving like you are insane."
"Maybe I am." Inara said after she stopped laughing.
"Women, I'll never understand the lot of you."
"Don't try, we are far too complicated for you and I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself trying." Inara turned her horse with a soft click of her legs to Isis's side and headed back towards the wall.
"Ha! You are quite something Inara." Lancelot said as he followed her.
"Do you not understand, Sir Lancelot, that I wish to be alone. In simpler terms it means, that I don't desire your company this night." She said over her shoulder.
"This night? But you do another night? I don't know, I am a rather busy man. I am not sure if I can squeeze you in on another night. Unless of course you don't mind sharing a bed with two other people."
Inara's jaw dropped at his implications and she snapped it shut tight again, as her eyes widened in anger.
"Listen. I am not interested in you. I don't care if the wenches find your demented sense of humor and gluttony for punishment enticing, I don't." Inara rode through the gates and towards the stables.
Lancelot halted just inside the building shortly after her. He unsaddled his horse and led it into its stall. Not bothering to brush out its coat, the stable hands would see to that, he made his way to Inara and he wrapped his arms about her waist.
"Lancelot, please remove your hands." She said through clenched teeth.
"But there still is this unsettled manner between us, m'Lady." He whispered into her ear, the warm breath causing the hairs on her neck to stand erect.
She turned to face him so that they were hardly an inch apart. Inara had to tilt her head upwards to look at Lancelot's eyes since he refused to lower them to her.
"And what precisely is that?" Inara said glaring all the while.
"This." Lancelot said softly before quickly capturing her in a kiss.
Inara was stunned, and kept her eyes open until, he became so persuasive with the use of his tongue that she gave in to him. Lancelot was certainly experienced, his kiss having been nothing like the awkward boyishness of Galahad's. It was more demanding, and like a second-nature.
Instinctively she wrapped her arms about his neck, as he backed her up against the stall wall.
His kiss was pure fire and it consumed her for those few brief moments. Forgetting herself and the situation, she was almost disappointed when it ended. As her eyes slowly reopened, she saw Lancelot giving her a smirk of satisfaction. Her hands clenched into a fist, and then unclenched at her sides.
"And all this time I thought you would take your prize in front of all of the knights..." Inara said finding her voice to be slightly shaken.
"If I did that, m'Lady, I am afraid that your father would have my head on a platter." Lancelot said with a smirk.
"No, my father would see to it that you never bred again. My mother is very fond of the platter."
"Oh I see. Well, in any case the situation would be terribly grievous," Lancelot said pausing when he saw a shadow briefly interrupt the light that was falling through the open stable door, "In fact, to avoid all chances of that happening, it might be best if you return to your quarters."
Inara gave him a slightly puzzled expression, but he was right. She gave him a small smile and whispered a few comforting words to Isis before giving her a piece of apple. When she looked back to say goodnight to Lancelot, he had already gone.
Inara stroked Isis's muzzle, then left the stables. She drew her hood up upon exiting to drive out the night air as much to hide her identity from the few Romans who remained awake at this hour. Her movement did not escape their notice however, least of all the notice of the Sarmatian scout who had been perched upon the wall for sentry duty.
He had seen Inara ride out and knew that Lancelot, who had been out surveying the permiter, would bring her back to the safety of the fort. The Woads had been uneasy of late, and though Inara was no doubt a formidable opponent when it came to a battle of wits and an excellent rider, she was no warrior. His dark eyes tracked their movements, wondering what Lancelot and her had conversed about. Surely he tried his flirtations upon her, and she rebuffed him for that was all they seemed to do.
Tristan was about to return to walking along the top of the wall, when a shriek pierced the night. He quickly ran down the stairs, drawing his blade as he did so. Upon arriving at the scene, the home of the Captain of the Roman guard, he found a bloody mess. His wife, had awakened to his throat being slit. And all she knew was that it was a woman wearing a cloak with dark hair who had done so.
The Romans who had followed shortly after, instantly remembered seeing a cloaked figure emerging from the stables and went after her. Upon Arthur's arrival, Tristan explained the details of the situation never once thinking that who did this still remained in the fort. As the Knight's conviened at the Round Table, none of which were happy to be awake at such an hour.
"Knights... a murdered has occurred within our own fort. Captain Ronatus is dead. And the murderer is within these walls. From what his wife, Arcadia, told us... A cloaked and hooded figure that she claims was a woman, stole into their bedchamber in the night slitting her husband's throat as she slumbered beside him. Arcadia awoke, screamed which Tristan and the others heard, and the figure fled out the back entrance. Now, Arcadia just said that they entered, killed off the Captain and fled. I noticed however, something slightly out of place. You see Captain Ronatus held a copy of the plans for the Fort. That copy is now missing."
"So you are suggesting, that some lass broke into a Roman soldier's home, killed the Captain of our guard, and stole the plans for our Fort. And escaped?" Bors said summing up what took Arthur ten minutes into one sentence.
"No, what I am saying is that a woman broke into a Roman soldier's home, acquired the plans, killed the Captain, the wife awoke, the other fled. And they are still amongst us." Arthur finished.
Just then several soldiers entered the room. They nodded their head in respect to Arthur who ushered them forwards.
"Sir, we have captured the murderer and she is safely within our jail cells being interrogated now. We haven't recovered the plans, but we believe that after the interrogation she may be a bit more willing to talk." The solider said shortly.
"That was fairly easy...now I get some actual rest." Gawain said with a yawn.
"Right, men. Lets finish this tonight so we can get some sleep, hmm?" Arthur rose and followed the soldiers out.
The holding cell for prisoners was located in a chamber beneath the wall. Though considerably better than most, it was still at any rate a prison. A few common thieves resided in the mostly empty cells, but in the very back chained to the wall was their captive.
Nothing could have prepared Arthur for when she raised her dark head to look into his eyes...
A/N: Yep, I gave you a cliff hanger. Yes I am that mean, and yes it is that obvious as to who's in the cell. But the plot is starting to unfold. A murder in the night, and missing plans for the fort? Dun...dun...dun... And what is going on with Inara and Lancelot? Well, you will have to wait to find out. And please review if you'd like me to keep going. Thanks.