Disclaimer: We don't own anything here except the premise of this particular bit of fanfic and Evani and Mira and any other non-King Arthur characters! PLEASE don't sue, Tracy137's too poor already, all you'd get is a load of animals and a rust-bucket of a car and Sarah's a trainee nurse and is equally as destitute, perhaps even more so!
This is the first joint venture between Calliann and Tracy137 so please be nice as our already fragile egos are prone to tears or fits of violence! LOL
FlamezBlaze1: Glad you liked it – hope you like this chapter as much!
lilstrummrgrl527: Yeah, but the knight's would be too hard to cry right! LOL Well certainly more reason than they normally have! But yeah, the way the girls found was a bit hard, but at least they've got each other.
Sea Cucumber: They are definitely crafty ladies and play some rotten tricks on the knights! LOL So hopefully you will like the next chapters as much as the first one! No, well we like Tristan and Lancelot so it had to be them really! Oh, and thank you muchly for the flowers:O
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY: Hope you like this chapter too…..glad you loved the first one so much too!
June Birdie: Aww, Junie so glad you loved it and hope you continue to do so as chaos and mayhem reign! LOL
Lunawolf: Yes, they were admittedly – but there's only so much gutting you can do and as they were non-entities to the story it didn't much matter. For others though they will die harder. Glad you liked the chapter and hopefully find the tormenting of the knights amusing:O)
newsieskane: So glad you liked it so much and hopefully this chapter will make you smile:O)
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming or nitpicking please; and we will try to update regularly.
'……..' thoughts.
"……" speech.
Anyway…..chapter two!
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Duo Quadim:
Chapter Two – Partners
The next day, Mira was walking slowly down the street of the small town at the fort, her cloak loose around her shoulders and her hair falling easily down her back as she headed towards the market, looking to pick up a few things, the pendant nestled snugly against her bosom.
She had just pulled out her pouch of coins, and was seeing if she had enough for the supplies she and Evani needed from the market when a voice caught her attention.
"Lass! Lass! Wait a bit," she spun to see a red haired woman rushing towards her, a baby snug in her arm and several children trailing after her.
Mira looked about rather confused before the woman came to a stop in front of her, balancing the babe better on her hip. "You're a right fast one you are," she smiled at her. "I just wanted to thank ya for last night."
"Last night?" Mira asked bemusedly, wondering what this could be about, but knowing with a sinking feeling it probably had something to do with her darling sister….my, but Evani had been busy!
"You saved me from those bastards last night, don't you remember?" Vanora asked, herself now becoming confused as she watched the woman closely. Registering that something about the way this woman carried herself seemed different from the night before. Not as defensively.
The memory of Evani's adventure from the evening before came back then and Mira caught the mistake she was about to make. "Oh yes Vanora, so sorry. I just woke up not too long ago and am not quite myself yet," she lied, reaching over and taking the baby's hand in her own, giving it a squeeze and making a face down at him as he looked up at her curiously. "How are you today lady?"
"Right as rain, and please just call me Van," Vanora said, something about the young woman in front of her still seeming different than what she remembered. She quickly brushed it off and remembered what Bors had told her. "So you are Gareth's sister eh?"
Pain flashed over Mira's features. "Aye, I was," she answered softly, releasing the baby's hand and bringing her arms up about her chest, hugging herself tightly.
"He was a good man he was," Vanora said, balancing the baby again. "We all mourned him a great deal."
"Thank you, that means muchly to us," Mira smiled, her family's favourite word flowing from her lips without her realizing.
"So he wasn't the only one to use that, I see?" Vanora asked with a smile, picking up on the word that hadn't been heard about the fort since he had died.
"Yes, our mother invented it," Mira said with a smile. "For when things are more than much. Like the love we had for one another," she smiled fondly at the memory. "Now if you excuse me, there are some things I must purchase this morning."
"Will you be staying on then?" Vanora asked, as they both began to walk towards the market, the children trailing behind them, playing amongst themselves.
"For awhile yes," Mira smiled over at her, enjoying the company of someone who wasn't trying to get her into trouble for a change; she stifled a smile as she wondered what Evani was up to "There is business that we…I must attend to."
Vanora raised a questioning eyebrow at her but let it slide for now. "Well if you're lookin' for work, we can always use another pair of hands at the tavern. So long as you know how to slap you're in business."
"Thank you I will keep that in mind," Mira chuckled. "It was nice to meet you, properly I mean," she said before turning to head into the market.
"It isn't proper until I have a name lass," Vanora called after her.
"Mira," she said without thinking, pausing to kick herself momentarily. 'Bollocks -Evani's going to kill me,' she thought as she continued down towards the booths.
"Come see us later Mira," Vanora called after her, watching as the young woman turned to wave goodbye. "I'll introduce you to the other girls." Mira turned a corner and disappeared from sight. "Strange lass ain't she?" Van asked her baby, bouncing him a bit and earning a delighted coo. "Come on you lot, lets go find your Poppa." She added to her bunch heading towards the tavern. Yet casting another interested glance at young woman's retreating back.
0-0-0-0-0
Evani entered the tavern as Arthur sat down. She went to him and thought she'd have a little fun. He looked a little hung-over and she knew she could use that to her advantage…… she smiled.
Tristan stood in the shadows carving an apple and watched, he could see the mischievous glint in her eye and thought whatever happened next was likely to be entertaining.
"Hello Arthur." She smiled innocently and sat down.
"Oh, hello…" he held his head "I am not at my best today Lady…so please do not be offended if I am a little curt with you."
Evani rolled her eyes; God was he always so polite? Well, that was about to change – she wondered what it would take to either make him laugh or make him so angry he would wish to strike her?
"So Arthur…what is about your roman soldiers that makes them wish to rape?" she asked mildly enough, but saw with satisfaction the muscle in his jaw tense.
He glanced and saw a humorous spark in her eyes; he was confused, mind you she did that to him all the time, though he did wonder why was she deliberately trying to provoke him? He asked her just that.
"Because you're boring…." She shrugged. Tristan breathed through his nose and tried not to laugh; she was a handful this one, and nothing it would appear like her sister – looking the same, but characteristically the exact opposite.
"I'm…boring?" He sounded surprised, and a little hurt.
"Very….immensely." she nodded earnestly, keeping a straight face "I could fall asleep right now in fact, just from the little you've said." Tristan was now reduced to using his apple as a gag when Lancelot and Dagonet came in. Dag joined him in the shadows; where Tristan filled him in on the conversation reining in his laughter (but leaving out the important part of the twins), Dag grinned but said nothing.
Lancelot staggered to the table and went to speak to Evani but Arthur interrupted "She says I'm boring." He sounded very hurt now and expectant too, as if waiting for his best friend to contradict her.
"Not now Arthur, my head feels as if it is about to tear in two…." He stopped "She said you were boring?" His lips twitched as he looked at Evani.
She nodded seriously "I did because he is…very…very….."
"Yes! Alright…so you keep saying!" Arthur was getting testy.
"Well, I can't help it, can I?" she retorted, loving the fact she was finally getting to him. "Maybe you should do something about it?"
"Like what?" He looked balefully at her; glittering green eyes regarded glittering green eyes.
"Oh, I don't know – be more like Tristan over there. Don't speak unless you have something interesting to say." She thought for a moment and then gave a theatrical sigh "Of course, sadly in your case that means you may never speak again!" she leapt to her feet and shot out through the side entrance with a laugh before he could retort.
"She was joking, wasn't she?" Arthur looked at Lancelot.
"Don't ask me…I am merely waiting for my head to leap from my shoulders and so save me the trouble of cutting it off…." He groaned, resting his head on his arms.
Mira came in through the front, but thankfully no one noticed – she scowled at Lancelot "If you will get so drunk then you must expect to suffer the next day!" she barked at him, she had long since lost patience with this kind of behaviour due to her sister and brother. They were always getting drunk and then rendered almost unable to function the next day.
"Oh I suppose you have never got drunk?" Lancelot began to roll his eyes, and then thought better of it as his head throbbed again.
"Aye…once or twice, long ago…not any more. I know when to stop!" she said self-righteously.
She sat down next to Arthur "How fare's you Arthur, I doubt you were as bad he yester evening?" she smiled.
Hurt eyes regarded her "Should I speak? For I do not wish to be considered boring to you Lady!" he retorted sarcastically. Mira rolled her eyes, Evani had obviously been at work again.
"Oh, ignore my jesting Arthur – I did not mean offence." She smiled and touched his arm, and once again he was struck by the difference in her to only minutes before "You are nice enough, and I only meant to make you laugh…" she put her purchases on the bench.
"You shopped quickly…" Lancelot noticed surprised, "you could not have left more than 2 minutes ago."
"Nonsense, I left longer than that – your hangover wears you down Lancelot!" She looked around "Where is Vanora, I wish to speak with her?"
"She is out the back with Bors…" Arthur gestured vaguely, his green eyes still hurt and it tugged at Mira. Even Evani would not wish this; she knew her sister only wished to jest with him, not truly hurt his feelings.
"Arthur please – will you not forgive my foolishness, for never did I wish to hurt such a good friend and leader to my brother?" she spoke softly and touched his arm; her own green eyes hurting now.
He regarded her closely and then smiled slightly "Aye well, mayhap I was little touchy as my head hurts somewhat……forget the words we spoke…what is your name?"
"Mira…." A voice from the door spoke and Van popped in with the children and Bors in tow "Hello lass and what can we do for you?"
"I wished to take you up on your offer of work…." Mira smiled tightly; yes, Evani would kill her – but then in light of the mischief she had obviously been working her own indiscretion of giving her name paled!
"Right, can you start tonight?" Van smiled.
"Aye…of course. I'll be here in time for the evening rush…" she picked up her purchases and went to leave, just as Vanora turned to Arthur and Lancelot.
"What's your problem?"
"She is the most unsympathetic harpy I've met!" muttered Lancelot.
"She said I was boring….but we have agreed to forget it." Arthur smiled ruefully.
"That's a lot of upset to cause in a matter of moments!" Van laughed as Mira froze.
"Nay she was here before…." Lancelot put in "and much nicer she was then…" he added with a grimace.
"But that can't be…." Van began before catching an imperceptible shake of Tristan's head. Something was going on here, and she meant to get to the bottom of it; but she loved that daft scout so she would bide her time and do as he bid.
"What?" Arthur looked up.
"Nothing…I've got pots to wash." She caught Tristan's eye and he flashed a smile of thanks. Van went off racking her brains that she had the feeling she knew as much as he, if only she could remember.
Two minutes later Evani was back……she had heard from one of the tavern girls they were short-staffed and had come seeking work without knowing her sister had already secured some.
She came back in the side way, this time everyone noticed.
"That was quick!" Lancelot noted as she dropped down next to him. She liked him, she would never admit it but she did. He was more vulnerable than he was letting on; but he had a wicked sense of humour she could relate to and, best of all, he wasn't boring….
"I went for a walk.."
"To be that quick it could only be around the tavern." Lancelot replied sarcastically.
"It was a short walk…." Evani shrugged "Oh and I got you this…" she put some herbs in front of him and regarded him with merry eyes.
"What are they for?" He eyed her suspiciously "are you trying to poison me? Though to be honest I wouldn't care right now…." He groaned, holding his head once more.
She laughed "Nay, Lancelot I am merely here to help your weary head." She patted the back of his head gently "make a brew with these and drink it quickly – in about an hour you will feel better I promise."
"You changed your tune…." The dark knight regarded her incredulously.
Evani realised what had happened, and quickly backtracked much to Tristan's amusement; what didn't help the scout's mirth was he could see both Dagonet and Arthur looking completely confused at the comings and goings of the sisters, supposedly one girl, and the magical supplies that seemed to disappear and appear at random, not to mention the cloak that no one had noticed. Mira had hers on, the other sister did not. At this rate he would need to leave just to free the pain in his stomach from stifling his laughter…
"Well, two things made that happen, Lancelot. One a woman's entitled to change her mind - and two I felt bad for being nasty; it's not like I've not been there too….too many time to count."
Lancelot looked confused. "That's not what you said before…apparently you're some sort of paragon of virtue…." Evani laughed loudly.
"Aye, well mayhap I thought I was at that moment, but then I remembered I am human too."
Arthur looked at her "Where are your supplies?"
"What?" Mira had supplies? Bollocks! "Oh, I….took them back to the room, when I got the herbs." She smiled.
"You must run fast…..to do all that in so short a time." Dag mused from the far wall with Tristan. The scout bit his lip at the look of horror on the other sister's face.
"Aye, well, I work quickly. Speaking of which I came to see about work here…."
"You're starting tonight…." Lancelot looked at her as if she'd lost her mind "Remember, you spoke to Van?"
"What? Oh yes that's right!" she slapped her forehead theatrically and decided to leave while she could; they were all getting far too suspicious "I just forgot…."
"In two minutes?" Lancelot couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something very odd about this girl. Arthur obviously thought so too…
"I have a headache" he announced, after seemingly mulling over something in his head and then shaking it "and you are very strange…." He nodded at Evani as he got up "I need to lay down, this hang over is worse than I thought."
"Try the herbs……" Evani offered.
"If the you from before offered them to me, I would, but the you now scares me – but he likes the you from now and the not the you from before, so he might try them." The commander gestured to Lancelot.
"What!" she and the dark knight spoke in unison.
"That is why I have a headache…." Arthur muttered nodding his head as he left the tavern. They all heard a snort and turned to see Tristan laughing out loud.
"He never laughs….." Lancelot was heard to remark to no one in particular.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"Well it's good to see you lot are out here havin' fun while I slave away back there," Vanora stated, arms crossed over her chest as she stood in the doorway leading to the back room, her foot tapping angrily.
Tristan righted himself and wiped at the tears that had come to his eyes from laughing so hard while the others continued to stare at him oddly.
"UGH not so loud you daft woman!" Lancelot moaned, his head sinking into his arms. "And fetch me some hot water," he added, with a wave of his hand.
"Fetch it yourself," Van shot back, raising an eyebrow. "And you," she turned on Tristan, who stared back at her, mirth still plain in his eyes, his normal unemotional features having returned. "I need some help in the back movin' one of these barrels."
"I can help Van," Dag took a step forward only to be waved off.
"No, you get him his water and stay lest he needs to be carried back to bed in a bit," Vanora indicated Lancelot's still moaning form, sprawled across one of the tables clutching his head. "The scout will do fine," she turned on her heel, walking back into the room, Tristan following behind.
Once they were alone and the door was shut she turned on him. "Now talk. What's goin' on with those two?"
Tristan sighed and looked over towards the baskets of apples sitting behind Vanora, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh right then," she said exasperatedly, turning and finding a large one, holding it out to him. "Talk."
"Gareth had two sisters," he said, snatching it from her hand, his dagger already out and ready to carve it. "Twins."
"Bloody hell it makes perfect sense now," Van stated, slapping her forehead. "I should have known. So you the only one that knows?"
Tristan nodded, taking a bite of the fruit and chewing thoughtfully.
"You gonna tell the others?" she asked, anxious that he would. It had been too dull around the fort as of late and a little fun at the other knight's expense, especially her Bors, was welcome.
He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow, a 'You've got to be kidding me' look on his face. A grin spread across Vanora's features. "Good. This should be fun," she added her mind already plotting. After a few moments she looked up at him to see him snatching another apple and tucking it into his shirt. "Hey!" she slapped him with the cloth that was in her hand. "Get out of my kitchen!"
She slapped at him a few more times with the rag as he walked out chuckling, excited to see what else the sisters had in store for them.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"Okay we really need to organize this better," Mira said, not looking up from the book in her hand, as Evani strolled into their room and shut the door quietly behind her.
"I don't know, I'm finding it quite enjoyable," Evani answered, coming over and plopping down on the bed next to her sister, reading over her shoulder.
"Very well then," Mira placed the book on the bed and turned towards her sister. "But be a bit nicer to Arthur!"
"When you're nicer to Lancelot," Evani replied with a smirk.
"You know that you are simply impossible…" Mira began only to be interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The girls exchanged a confused look before Evani indicated for Mira to get behind the door again.
Grumbling she did so as Evani opened it to find Vanora standing there, an amused smirk on her face.
"Okay, where is the other one?" she asked, pushing her way through the door and looking about the room.
"What in the hell are you talking about?" Evani asked, making sure to keep her eyes on Vanora and not look towards the door her sister hid behind.
"Tristan told me Gareth had twin sisters, now come on, where is the other one?" Vanora replied quietly, in case anyone was walking near the open door at the time.
"The scout knows?" Mira piped out, her hands immediately flying to her mouth causing Evani to groan and close the door, revealing her sister.
"Mira!" she hissed, rolling her eyes at her sister.
"Well she already knew!" Mira defended herself, coming to sit on the bed.
"So you are Mira then. I did not know if it was a false name or not," Vanora said, realizing by stance and demeanour it had to have been the other girl that had saved her from the Romans.
"You told her your name!" Evani accused, whirling on her sister in frustration.
"It slipped," Mira pouted, looking away, finding a new fascination with the pelts covering their bed.
"I don't believe this," Evani said, throwing her hands in the air.
"So what's your name lass?" Vanora asked, highly amused with the scene before her. It reminded her of her children, or the way that Bors and Dag would argue sometimes and brought a grin to her face.
"Evani," she answered, not really angry that Vanora knew their little secret. Judging by the woman, it would most likely prove rewarding. "You're not going to tell the others just yet will you?"
"And miss out on all this fun? Not on your life," Vanora's grin broadened. "But only on the condition that you get my Bors as well."
"You can pretty much consider it done," Mira said from the bed, knowing the way her sister's mind worked all too well.
"What about Tristan, will he give us away?" Evani really didn't think it likely, considering the Scout's silence while she was teasing Arthur earlier, but it was good to check.
"Nay, he's having too good a laugh at it all," Van replied, looking between the two girls. It was quite a thing to see them standing next to one another. It was as if she had had too much drink and was seeing double. "You should both come to the tavern tonight. We can just keep one of you in the back at a time. Get them good and drunk and the real fun begins."
"My word Evani, she's as bad as you are," Mira said rather alarmed, turning to see a broad grin on her sister's face. "Those poor men."
Evani laughed loudly and the three women settled to talk for a bit, the sisters anxious to hear all about the seven knights and about their brother's life here.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Later that afternoon the knights were gathered outside the stables. Lancelot had taken the herbs that Evani had given him and was happy to find that his headache had subsided. Arthur also seemed to be doing better, having returned from his nap a bit more refreshed and sobered. They were busy training when Mira walked up, her cloak gone and her hands behind her back, an innocent look about her as she came upon the men, watching as Gawain and Lancelot squared off against one another.
In a few fast moves, Gawain had Lancelot disarmed and grumbling about his hangover slowing him down as he made his way over towards the other men.
"Serves you right for drinking so much," Mira replied testily. She hated it when her sister and brother would drink in excess and then spend the whole day whining about it. They knew the consequences so they should just live with it; preferably silently.
"Back to hating me again eh?" Lancelot asked, eyeing the woman closely. He knew women could be complicated, but this one took it to the extreme; he much preferred her the other way…funny, feisty and with that glint in her eye.
"I stopped?" she asked curiously, crossing her arms over her chest and looking sternly at him, merriment in her eyes.
"Harpy," Lancelot muttered while Arthur quickly stepped forward.
"Drunkard…"
"Cow.."
Bastard…"
Evani was watching surreptitiously from the doorway; she couldn't hear all they were saying but got enough from what she had heard and seen to know that Mira wasn't playing fair – right, if she couldn't be nice to Lancelot, Arthur was going to pay….she smirked, tonight would be interesting!
"Lady Mira, how can we help you?" Arthur stepped in before they came to blows. He knew women could blow hot and cold but this was ridiculous.
"Oh I was just wondering if Tristan could come and help me for a moment." She asked, the picture of innocence, which Tristan could see straight through. "There is a rather large snake in my room and I was hoping that perhaps he could assist me in removing it."
"Wait a tick," Bors said. "You slaughter four Roman pigs and need help with a little snake?"
"Snakes move faster than drunken Romans," Mira replied after a moment. "And they frighten me dreadfully," she lied. She loved animals, and was pretty good at taming them, but it would not do to tell the men the real reason for coming to the yard.
"Why Tristan?" Lancelot asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Aye, I'd be more than happy to help you," Galahad said flirtatiously, coming to stand in front of her, looking down at her seductively.
"Because I did not see him stumble drunkenly from the tavern last night," Mira replied rather annoyed. "Please Tristan, if it is not too much trouble?" she looked over at the scout, getting a really good look at him for the first time since they arrived. He was handsome, in a mysterious sort of way, and the tattoos on his cheeks really brought out his eyes.
He eyed her for a moment before sheathing his sword. "No trouble," he said, having a pretty good idea as to why she really wished to speak to him. He had seen Vanora hurry off in the direction of their room not long after the two of them had spoken that morning. "Lead the way."
Smiling gratefully Mira began walking in the direction of the sleeping quarters, Tristan at her heels.
They walked in silence until they reached her room, and she opened the door, moving to the side and indicating for him to enter. As soon as he was in the room, Mira closed the door and Evani stepped out from behind it, both standing next to each other and looking closely at him.
Despite the knowledge that they were in fact twins, it was still a shock to see them standing next to one another, each one a picture perfect copy of the other and the sight of them together was a bit disconcerting.
"Oi look here," Evani said stepping forward. "Don't go and tell them about us alright?" she stated, cutting straight to the chase.
"I had no intention of it," Tristan said, his eyes immediately picking up on the differences between the two sisters, as well as the similarities they had with Gareth.
"Good – because we plan to have some fun with them, and Van agrees to help; you?"
"Whilst I cannot help as such, I will aid you where possible and ensure you know if any of them are becoming suspicious." He agreed calmly.
"Right to business then." Evani looked at him "Do you have any missions coming up in say the next few days? Most of our 'jokes' will only work if they're exceedingly drunk, and we do not wish to jeopardise their lives for the sake of some pranks."
"Nay, we have a mission in a week to escort a bishop to the wall who has come to give us our discharge papers, beyond that no." he looked slightly pensive for a moment "I am sorry your brother did not live long enough to receive his freedom."
Mira dipped her head in silent thanks for his kind words, but Evani glared defiantly "What care he for a scrap of paper? He was always a free man where it mattered" she punched her chest above her heart "in here…in here he was always free…."
Just as suddenly as it flared, her anger faded "But still, that is neither here nor there now. He is dead….but Vanora told us that you and Lancelot were his best friends, and glad I am of it." She looked the scout up and down "You seem a good man Tristan…..glad I would be to call you friend also." She held out her arm.
He grasped it and her sister's, who'd followed suit, "Aye, as would I with both of you – I know her to be Mira…what is your name?" he felt almost a jolt when he touched Mira's arm – but ignored it; though could see she had felt the same, as her arm had jerked also and an odd look came to her face as she examined her arm, rubbing her hand a bit with the other.
"Evani.." she gave them a smirk and then turned to her sister "Anyway, Mira I must away to commence the fun….especially with Arthur; after what I witnessed a short while ago with Lancelot, I shall be having muchly fun with the commander……" she deliberately let her words trail away.
Mira blanched "You wouldn't?"
"Aye, but I would sister!" Evani crowed.
"Why single out Lancelot and Arthur?" the scout asked, the girls shrugged in unison.
"I do not like the way he gets drunk….."
"I do not like the fact that he is so boring…." They spoke together and then giggled "We do that a lot…" grinned Evani.
"Aye I can believe it" Tristan flashed a smile and Mira thought it softened his face. "But why torment them?" Tristan asked intrigued.
"I said if she was nicer to Lancelot I would be the same to Arthur. She wasn't, so I will have some fun….." and with that she was gone, leaving Mira and Tristan staring after her.
"Is she always like that?" Tristan asked.
"Aye, always." Sighed Mira in tired resignation; well this time she had no one to blame but herself, she had had the offer to let it go but had ignored it. She wondered if it would end up with Evani getting put in the stockade again as it had in that little roman fort near Londinium.
"Should I follow?"
"If you wish to witness the fireworks…I would. If you wish to save her being run through or imprisoned…….definitely." She rolled her eyes "Unlike me, my sister has the unhappy knack of making men unsure as to whether they want to kiss her senseless or cut her down where ere she stands!"
He looked intently at her, causing her to blush "You are not the same….I like that." Before Mira had time to respond, he was gone.
0-0-0-0-0
Evani shot downstairs like a bat straight from Hades. "Do any of you wish to spar with me?" she brandished her swords as she skidded to a halt in front of the gathered knights.
"I will…." Lancelot stepped forward, looking balefully at Evani – but, on seeing the mischievous glint in her eye and the defiant stance once more in every move he could not stay angry at her and grinned.
Mira watching from a crack in their door saw her twin do something uncharacteristic of her, hugging a man….twice in 2 days.
Evani went over to him and gave him a quick hug. "Whatever I may say, if I look vexed at you Lancelot, ignore me…." She spoke loudly here "I am merely being a silly ass!" Mira glowered.
"Aye, I will try…but your rapid change in attitudes make my head spin!" he smiled, hugging her back, enjoying the feel of her warmth against him.
"Well, after the next half hour or so, I hope that will be a thing of the past!" She returned the smile; before pulling away and turning to Arthur.
"Well commander of the knights and this garrison…..will you not spar with this weak female?"
"I do not joust with ladies, Lady…" Arthur dipped his head in respect. Tristan watched Evani bridle and realised his friend and commander could not have made a more unwise move.
"I see…." Her eyes glittered and inside their room, Mira groaned. "Will you at least show me your weapon then? For I have a deep interest in blades…."
Arthur withdrew Excalibur and handed it to her "Be careful lady, for it weighs much."
"I will try to manage…" she pretended to stumble before changing stance and astounding the assembled men as she wielded it with great dexterity. Neatly slicing the head the off of the dummy in front of her.
"Hmmmm…." She studied it and hefted its weight some more before once again swinging it towards the dummy and rapidly lopping off its arms and legs.
Mira thought and prayed that she may have just gotten away with it this time, her sister merely showing off….but it was not to be …..
"I hear tell that a man uses his blade as an indicator to the size of his manhood." All the knights became suddenly interested in the conversation "Now….you might be mistaken in thinking that the larger the blade, the larger the size of the warrior's manhood – alas, that is not so….it appears the larger the swords, the smaller……" she let her voice tail off tellingly, all the while glancing at Arthur's crotch and then studying Excalibur.
Finally she handed it back to Arthur "It is a very large sword Arthur; in fact I jest not, when I say I have never seen a larger blade in any shape or form….." she flicked her large green eyes up to his innocently "It must be a to you…"
She glanced at the now scabbarded sword "To have something that big in your ….usage," she turned and made as if to walk away "I do not blame you for not willing to risk breaking the only large weapon you have…." She called over her shoulder.
A hand on her arm halted her, she turned to face incensed green eyes – 'finally' she thought 'I have touched a nerve!'
"I will fight you Mira…..I will fight you now!" He growled.
"Nay, nay I would not wish to be the one to deprive you of such a magnificently large weapon…."
"They say women who are wondrous warriors merely are so to cover for the fact they are desperate for a husband…" Arthur bit back.
She stopped and turned "Aye, mayhap you are correct – I had one, he died."
That stopped him dead, it stopped them all dead – Mira was surprised her sister was so blunt, she rarely spoke of Lensar. Her eyes narrowed as she glared in the direction of Arthur, her hand reaching out for her bow, sitting near the door. All she need do is open the door a crack further and she would have the perfect aim. No one hurt her sister.
"I am sorry you lost him…." He murmured.
Evani rolled her eyes and spoke sarcastically to cover the hurt she suddenly felt well up. "I did not lose him Arthur; it is not like I took him somewhere and forgot where I left him - he died, end of story."
"Still, it must still hurt…." Lancelot's voice spoke, if anyone knew of using sarcasm and anger to cover hurt it was he.
She swung empty eyes to him "Aye…it does." Then she smiled warmly at him "but then I make new friends such as you, and it goes away again."
Galahad grinned "You're in there Lance….I bet she'll be warming your bed this night, you lucky bastard!" Now Mira did take her bow and knock an arrow, trying to control her breathing and keep from releasing the arrow, which was lined up in a perfect shot for his eye.
The blow caught the young knight off guard as Evani passed him, knocking him out cold.
"Has a mean right hook hasn't she?" Lancelot smirked at the comatose knight, as she grinned at him.
"Aye I do…and don't forget it. But as to what he said….Hades will freeze first!"
Mira knew from the look Evani shot her, as she replaced her bow, that Galahad had sealed his fate to being their first victim.
Tristan for his part admired her sword skills and also realised she was the one who had inherited Gareth's sharp tongue and sharper fists. He had to admit he preferred the quieter and more observant one.
0-0-0-0-0
Mira's hair was pilled high on her head, a few wisps falling out about her neck and shoulders as she busied herself about the tavern later that night. Evani, who had recovered after her upset from Arthur and Galahad, was in the back, washing some mugs while Mira dealt with the customers.
Sad to say, she wasn't dealing well, as three drinks had found themselves spilled, all over Galahad's head, and a platter of food had found itself into Arthur's lap. Perhaps she would do better as the night wore on. She had been aiming for his face.
She walked back towards the knight's table, Arthur shifting uncomfortably while Galahad rose and hurried away towards one of the other barmaids, giving Mira wide birth as he passed, his hair falling over his darkened eye. She smiled triumphantly and placed another drink before Bors, accepting the bite of apple Tristan held out to her, munching it thoughtfully as she slipped yet another apple into his hand, exchanging a smirk and a wink with the silent scout.
Perhaps tonight wasn't going as bad as she thought.
"Lancelot, may I fill your mug again?" she asked sweetly, pushing the alcohol down him and the others as fast as possible, for once, not minding their drunkenness.
"Only if you promise more of those herbs tomorrow," he smiled lopsidedly up at her, his elbow resting on the table and his chin in his hand.
"Of course," she leaned over, smiling seductively at him, gagging internally. 'Let us see how my sister likes this,' she thought to her self, "I would never leave a friend in need," she picked up his mug, as well as Gawain's and Arthur's, before making her way to the back, pushing thorough the door to find Vanora and Evani already at work plotting revenge.
Tristan watched her closely, his mirth only barely contained. They were definitely a pair to be trifled with. And it amazed him how much of their brother he saw in them both. Evani definitely had his temper, and judging by the way her sister spoke, fondness for drinking; while Mira had his patience and gentle nature, the one that had drawn everyone in the fort to him. This would definitely prove to be an interesting night, and one that he did not intend to miss.
"I think they are almost there sister," Mira said, filling the mugs on her tray.
"Have you managed to keep Galahad dry this time?" Vanora asked with a smirk.
"Sadly he is avoiding me now," Mira frowned, filling the last mug.
"Sister, how are they to get drunk if you insist on them wearing it?" Evani asked, coming to wrap her arms about her sisters' waist, resting her head on her shoulders.
"Sister, how are they to get drunk if you insist on them wearing it?" Evani asked, coming to wrap her arms about her sisters' waist, resting her head on her shoulder.
"It's no less than he deserves," Mira stated, feeling rather annoyed. "Running off at the mouth as he did."
"And he will get all his just deserts," Evani assured her.
Mira sighed. "Very well then," she took the tray and pulled away from her sister and turned her back on the door, looking at both women with a grin. "Let the fun begin," she smirked, turning and heading back into the tavern.