I'm sooooo sorry that this took so long. Stupid exams. But I got my many reviews and I'm happy to continue this story, its fun. Currently I'm still working on the 5th chapter, orignally I wanted to load both chapters up at the same time, but I keep running out of time... I hope you will forgive me.

Camlann – thanks for your review. I appreciate having a fan. By the way, a naginata is an old world weapon, and I put the description later in this chapter. It was used by noble women as a means to protect their virtue. And the blades idea I got from not only Bors but The Chronicles of Riddick. That movie was okay, but I liked the weapon he had

Verteri Lunum – hahaha, so now I've got six reviews, it's rather unconventional, or maybe it isn't. I really wouldn't know. And yes, I know that Aurora is a pain in the butt, but that was the point. Roxie kind of is aware of the attention, but it isn't a big concern right now.

Standard Disclaimer applies; King Arthur and all that is related to the legends and movie are so not mine. It'd be great though. Ah well, stuff you don't recognize, like the ideas and such, yeah that's mine.

Arthur led them through the woods, where they were stopped by the Woads briefly with gates of spikes and arrows attached to threatening vines blocking every means of escape. Arrows aimed at the enemy, and Roxie gripped the dagger in Galahad's belt waiting for an attack but the sound of horns had called them off.

"Inish! Devil Ghosts!" Bors yelled after the retreating Woads.

"Why do they not attack?"

"Merlin does not want us dead," Arthur replied.

"Oh… kay. Great. Should I be the only one concerned cuz I don't have a weapon!" Roxie pouted as they continued on their way.

"Worry not, I would have protected you" Galahad replied, he moved closer against her and tightened his grip around her middle.

"Hey now, don't get wet. 'Sides, you couldn't do much if you were dead. I wasn't the only one they aimed at," she said trying to shift away but he would not let go. "Could you move away just a smidge? There's a thing called personal space that I'd like to experience and you're not making it any easier." His grin fell as he obliged. Pulling her hood over her head, she smirked to herself then stopped; he reminded her so much of Connor. With that thought she swallowed a quickly formed lump in her throat and tried to focus on anything that would drive those thoughts away. Even the jokes that the knights made did little to lighten her gloom, although no one noticed her half-hearted enthusiasm.

After the brief encounter with the Woads, Arthur determined that they ought to slow down; at a nearby river, they watered the horses and ate a brief lunch.

"It's time for your riding lesson, Roxie," Dagonet said as he led her tan bay stallion to her. Roxie stared at the beast with wide eyes, then at Dagonet.

"You're jokin' right?" She looked between Galahad, Dagonet and the horse, the men simply grinned. "I don't believe this! Couldn't it wait?" Dagonet shook his head.

"But… but… the basics… yeah, I don't know the basics, haven't learned them yet. Studies show that crash course learning is very dangerous and could lead to… um… ulcers! Yeah, ulcers! And… and…" She stuttered trying to argue her way out of riding the large mount. She stiffened as Galahad gently pushed her towards the beast. Bors and Gawain joked at the many times she tired to run away from them, until Dagonet tossed her over his shoulder then deposited her in front of her horse.

"H-hi..." She quietly whispered to the horse. The bay stallion regarded her with one big brown eye before nickering and shaking its head. "See, it doesn't like me. Oh, so no riding lesson." She backed into Dagonet's chest and looked up. "Oy... you are a tall, tall man..." (A/N: a borrowed phrase from author MyDearDelirious. Sorry I just couldn't resist, hope you don't mind)

"Roxie, calm down, we won't let anything happen to you," Dagonet said gently as Galahad helped her onto the horse with much struggle. "Now, relax, do not fear the horse, he will sense your fear."

"No. nononono. Listen, I ride motorcycles, I drive fast cars and fly jet planes; but this is… I dunno, too much!" She tried to explain, they only asked what motorcycles, cars and jet planes were. Sighing, she let them lead her horse as she slowly got used to walking her horse, and then learned to lead and stop the horse.

"Ready to try riding by yourself?" Arthur asked as he mounted his horse. She shook her head fervently. "Good, we must hurry." And he galloped off, the rest of the knights followed as did Roxie's horse.

Roxie bit her lip to stop from screaming, mentally berating herself in this fear and weakness. Her knuckles were snow white from gripping the saddle horn tightly, the reins had fallen somewhere, she didn't know where because her eyes were tightly shut.

It was dark when they stopped to set up camp. The knights dismounted and were about to set up camp as Roxie and her horse galloped past them top speed. They laughed at her stiffness believing she was just joking until they realized she had not stopped and the reins were flying wildly beneath the steed.

"ROXIE! Where are you going!" Lancelot called to the dark-haired woman.

"Where's the brakes on this thing! How do I stop!"

"Pull back on the reins!"

"What reins? Aaaahhhhh! I wanna get off this ride!" Roxie's voice filled with panic. The knights looked at each other, Bors, Arthur, Lancelot and Dagonet scrambled onto their mounts. Arthur commanded Gawain and Galahad to set up camp and wait for Tristan and Jols.

The four knights raced after the frightened girl and stopped her horse, soon both were under control but Roxie looked worse for wear. She was pale and shaking, only her lips had color, they were red swollen from the biting she'd done to them. When they got her down, her knees buckled and she fell to the ground. Dry sobs escaped her throat as she repeated, "no more, no more…"

Becoming paternal, Bors collected the sobbing girl in his arms and tried everything to calm her, but she continued her dry sobs. Somehow, they had calmed her enough to convince her into the saddle of Bors because she wouldn't detach herself from his comforting form.

By the time they rode into the camp, Jols and the supplies were waiting with the other three knights. So far Horton had settled somewhere else nearby, but no one else really cared where he was. He was a spy; spies are bad blood by any means. Smiling slightly, Roxie gathered some things and changed clothes in the wagon; she was calm and the color returned to her skin by the time dinner was cooked.

"What's for dinner?" She asked walking to the fire, a loose shirt and breeches that seemed to flare at the bottoms graced her form; an outfit she'd gotten Vanora to fix for her comfort. She wore her converses and regular accessories, black chocker, pendant, bracelets, rings and wristbands. Her cloak on her shoulders, inwardly she felt like one of the philosophy majors at her school or one of the obscenely obsessed Dungeons and Dragons people. The knights looked at her and grinned, especially at her shoes. "What? The boots don't fit." Shrugging, Roxie looked into the pot bubbling over the fire and smiled appreciatively.

"It's venison." Tristan told her as he cleaned his blade. Roxie looked around as everyone else began to eat.

"Uh-huh… what's that?" They told her. "Oh my gawd! You killed BAMBI!" She pointed a finger accusingly at Tristan. The rest of the knights looked at her curiously and bemused. "Man, Disney jokes are wasted on you people..." she muttered before settling down, she plopped next to Gawain.

"What are you babbling about woman? Its food, meant to be eaten –she stuck her tongue at him- So eat, there's nothing else." Lancelot said as he passed her a bowl of venison stew.

"Fine, fine," She said accepting the bowl but didn't eat, "heeeyyyy, you didn't poison mine didja, Lancelot?" Her eyes narrowed at him. Then she sniffed it slightly for traces of anything unfamiliar.

"Only a little something to get you to warm my bed." He grinned as the others chuckled. She blinked twice then handed the bowl to Galahad, who just sat next to her unaware of the statement before, thanked her. The other knights laughed loudly at the bewildered expression of Lancelot and the unaware Galahad as Roxie filled a bowl for herself. She hummed a tune to the likes of "Roxie Hart" from the movie Chicago, although they wouldn't recognized it. She finished off her first bowl and was working on her second when Jols spoke.

"Roxie, I have those weapons you requested in the wagon, if you would like to see them after you eat," Jols told her from across the fire. She grinned and thanked him from her bowl. Gawain questioned what kind of weapons she wanted.

"Uh-uh-uh, you'll just hafta wait like a good little boy, because just seeing it is nothin' like using it. More food please," Roxie held out her bowl for her third refill and Bors teased her for eating so much, "Wha-at? I like to eat. Gives me energy and I'm a growing girl."

"Aye, you're growing in all the right places a woman should," Galahad said slyly next to her, he barely had a chance to grin when the young knight found his mouth full of dirt and Roxie's weight on his back. Raucous laughter reached his ears as his fellow knights made fun of him.

"Do you really want to try my patience Sir Galahad? Or am I gonna hafta teach you some manners?"

Controlling his laughter, Arthur commanded with a huge grin on his face "Roxie, let my knight up, I still need his service."

"I will, just as soon as I get my satisfaction from him –the knights cock an eyebrow- I deserve an apology for his lewd comments." A muffled apology came from the ground, laughing Roxie got up muttering that she had to pee. Galahad was spitting the dirt from his mouth as the rest watched the retreating back of the young girl humming Vanora's song about home. They noticed that she rocked gently with the tune and a few grinned. The knights, had never a more interesting journey since Roxie stumbled into their lives, they only hoped that they'd live to see that bright spark continue on.

"Has she ever said anything about where she is from?" Dagonet suddenly asked breaking the silence. The other replied no and chuckled as Galahad was desperately rinsing the soil from his mouth with ale. "Do you suppose that Roxie has none?"

"Has none of what?" Roxie appeared in their midst suddenly, startling Galahad causing him fall over. Grinning as the rest chuckled; Roxie helped him up then repeated her question settling herself between Dagonet and Gawain.

"Tell us of your home, girl," Bors said as he handed her a wineskin of strong ale, the bright smile fell from her face. Holding the wineskin, Roxie stared at the three rings on her fingers, one was a Celtic design, another was a plain band, and the third on her right ring finger was two butterflies that wrapped but never connected.

"What's to tell? No family there, I get an education, and I work. That's all." She strained to keep emotion from her voice, a lump formed in her throat. She shrugged off the comforting arm of Gawain on her shoulders and refused to look any of them in the eye. "You guys should get some sleep, I'll take first watch okay? Um, can I see those weapons now Jols?" Roxie followed the squire to the wagon after handing the untouched wineskin back to a very perplexed Bors.

Her reply had unnerved them. Although they hadn't known her for very long, they were each drawn to the charismatic young woman. On the trip she was such a pleasant person, unfazed by their lewd comments because she replied in turn, but this reaction was different, normally there would be an outburst; like most female reactions. Only, the lack of was downright scary. She was an enigma that needed to be solved, the change of mood could not be attributed to the women's red moon, they would have noticed if it was, or at least Tristan would have; this was something totally and completely different. There was something more to the lost home factor than she let on. There were more secrets under laying the secrets in the small woman, the mystery of who Roxie was deepened as they settled their bedrolls for sleep around the blazing fire. Tristan settled some distance away, tired as he was sleep denied him. And he got up to keep company with the girl at watch. How strange it was that he'd want the companionship of another person.

(A/N: Roxie POV. Weee!)

I was so surprised at how well and quickly made the naginata and hook blades that Jols gave me were. The mock- Japanese pole arm was about five feet of lead filled wood, with an eighteen inch folded steel blade. The staff was thinner than three of my fingers and the blade was sharp enough to slice a hair length-wise in half. Oh yeah, this is a good weapon, to save and take lives, this is my Darkness. I have to remember to thank Jols somehow, it must have been a lot to get these weapons done so soon… if I could bake, I'd make him a cookie, or a dozen! (A/N: yes, she often times thinks like an 8 year old)

I twirled the weapon as I would a baton, around my back and over my head. I needed to practice my battle dances, this staff was slightly heavier then my own weapon and if I didn't the weight difference would be an impediment that would cost me my life later. That's the last thing I need, but shirking my duty to the first… wait! What was that! A twig snapped somewhere in the brush. Slowly as if I'd heard nothing at all, I slipped the dagger I borrowed from Tristan from the sheath at my back. Listening again, I threw the dagger in the direction of the noise. The intruder grunted and I rushed to the sound, weapon ready.

There stood Tristan, a thin line of blood graced his cheek, the dagger itself firmly embedded in the tree next to him. The scout's face was expressionless, but his eyes showed complete shock. Sheepishly I apologized before taking the dagger from the trunk. He didn't say anything, surprise surprise, I didn't expect him to, "I thought you were resting, what are you still doing up?" I asked returning to my battle dances, my body focused on the precision instead of the usual flair and flamboyance I used before.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Liar. If anyone should be exhausted, it should be you, so go on. I'm fine," I stated shortly. After some silence Tristan spoke leaning against another tree.

"Why do you not use a sword or axe? You have the skill."

"Why does everybody wanna know 'bout my past?" I replied irritably. I don't mean to sound short, but really, my history is just that… mine.

"I did not ask about your past, only about your weapons choice." Damn, that's true. I looked at his impassive face, and his eyes, but his braids obscured my vision. Good tactic.

"…Because I lost Connor to the sword…" I replied softly, my movements stilled. I hadn't thought or spoken about Connor for two years now. It clawed at my heart to do so, more so now than ever before.

"Family, friend or lover?" hn. That's Tristan always straight to the point, I can admire him for that, lotsa other people jump around and never get straight to the point. But his question made me wince, oh well if I'm gonna open up to someone, I guess opening up to the person who holds the most secrets is fine.

"He was a friend before a lover… he knew my secrets, but still loved me despite them. At first he used to get like really freaked out because of them, but then everything became okay… he tried to help me, to get out… would've worked too, but there is no getting out, not without a whole shitload of problems… I should've known too. I didn't realize until it was too late, until a professional took him out in front of my eyes..." I swallowed the lump that formed there, the unshed tears burned my eyes and I laid my head against the tree, I hadn't even realized I sat down. Tristan sat next to me and I felt the comfort in his warmth, it wasn't that he put his arm around me like Gawain or one of the others would, rather he was just there and I felt drawn to him like I've never felt before. Not a sexual kind of way but more of a familial bond or something, I just couldn't explain it. My mind wandered to the dream I had last night… it was really, really, REALLY weird….

Dream

I'm in a green field, surrounded by mist, it should be cold, but I'm not. The mist fades to the blue flames that brought me here. A voice called to me speaking my name, my Real name. Only I don't remember that part –it's the only part I don't remember—my name. I turn my head looking for the voice that summoned me and I see my family smiling and waving, looking exactly how they did 14 years ago… when they died. My mother's beautiful tan porcelain skin under dark red brown hair, her hazel eyes gleaming full of laughter, the same hazel almond eyes I share. She was a wonderful El Salvadorian Japanese woman with a fiery spirit and charismatic nature; I always wanted to be just like her when I was a child. My father was there smiling, most thought he was just tall and intimidating, but he was also gentle and brave and had a creative mind and imagination. His dusty brown black hair was pushed back and he had the same smiling grey eyes my sister had. And then my sister, she looked just like Dad… seeing them I felt like I was six years old again, innocent and loved.

I called out to them, but my voice doesn't work, they just smile and slowly fade away. I try to run after them, but I'm glued to spot all I can do is watch them fade. No amount of struggling I do helps me. Then that same voice calls me again. Suddenly there are so many people surrounding me, I can't see their faces but they are all familiar somehow, I feel safe there when I would normally be claustrophobic and alert.

"This is your great family, –my real name- This is your heritage. It is threatened; the first of your line is threatened… Protect him, protect you line…" the voice repeated over and over, the figures join the chant and begin to part like the Red Sea and one figure turns to face me, my body suddenly works and runs towards him and as I reach him I see his face…oh gawd…TRISTAN!

I jolt with a start, shit! I fell asleep! Gaad Damnit! I'm on first watch and I fuckin' fell asleep! Tristan looks at me, his countenance expressionless. "Um… how long did I sleep?" I asked, my cheeks burning hot. Damn!

"Asleep?"

"Yeah… wasn't I? I mean I was talking to you and then I sat down and … didn't you notice?" He told me that just as he sat down, I had suddenly gasped and asked how long I'd slept. "Oh… k … never mind then. You should prolly head back, my watch isn't over and you need more sleep then I do. 'Sides I'm not entirely used ta the weight diff with this bad boy yet." I lifted the naginata indicating my point. He nods and heads back to the fire. Although he doesn't seem convinced until I stand up and begin swinging the weapon around my back, using the flare to try and convince him that I'm capable of doing what needs to be done.

Alone again, I vigorously work on my battle dances to keep warm and my mind off of other depressing things, this time without the unnecessary flare. So… I'm the last descendant of Tristan… whoa.

A/N: Like it? Hate it? Yeah it was a bit inevitable right? And as much as I like Tristan, I kinda like a few of the other knights more. Besides I'm trying not to be too predictable with the romances, and let me tell you they are hard. Anyways hope you liked this chapter. Again if I get some new readers and more reviews I'll post up and update as soon as I can. My weakness is these reviews! Good feedback makes happy writers better! Wee!