Disclaimer: As before I only own Isulet.

Chapter 2

Isulet and the other knights went down to the tavern. Looking behind her Isulet wanted to see if she could see her brother. But Gawain touched her arm and shook his head. So, rather reluctantly she followed the knights. When they entered the tavern they were greeted by torches that lit up the courtyard, the light spilling out onto the street. She followed the knights in and reluctantly went and sat down at a table. Looking behind her she saw nothing, and so she ordered a red wine. Waiting was going to be the worst part for Isulet. She had always been impatient, and when she wanted to know something she tended to become even more impatient. But now she might be able to talk to the knights and forget about Arthur and the bishop, or so she hoped. But that wasn't going to be easy for someone as impatient as she was. When her wine came she sat sipping it, her mind in the great hall with her brother. The bishop had bad news that much her powers had told her. But what the news was she did not know. But it filled her with a fear. She was so preoccupied, that when Dagonet asked her a question she didn't answer. When she realized he was trying to talk to her she turned to face him, a blush rising on her pale skin.

"Are you all right?" Dagonet asked again.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." Isulet smiled.

"You just looked so far away." He smiled back.

"She's always like that, you never know if she's there or not." Bors added in, he was holding his youngest child and was rocking him.

"Shame we couldn't send someone to eavesdrop." Lancelot said, remembering when Isulet was little how she used to eavesdrop in on important conversations.

"I sometimes used to think she knew more about our missions than we did ourselves." Bors said, looking her up and down.

"I think you all seem to still see me as a little girl. But may I warn you that I did grow up and learnt a few things about self defence on my way." She smiled dangerously as she brought her cup up to her lips.

"That means she's warning you off Lancelot." Galahad seemed happy to be able to turn Lancelot into a joke.

"No, not warning him off, just warning him not to try anything." Isulet took another sip of her wine. It was fruity and spicy, and made her fell a bit heady, so she quickly put the cup down. She looked back at the villa.

"Stop that, you're making us all nervous." Lancelot ordered.

"You're not going to make him come just by willing it you know." Bors looked over at her kindly.

"I know. I just feel such a sense of dread. I know something bad is going to happen, and soon." Fear started to cloud her blue eyes.

"Sometimes I think she's to psychic for her own good." Lancelot said, trying to make a joke, but receiving blank stares instead.

Lancelot went up and got more drinks. Isulet had snubbed him time and time again, and he pretended not to notice. But inside he was seething. And just now she had turned the nights against him without even saying anything. But she was scared, you could tell that. Good, he thought, let her be scared. But looking back he saw how vulnerable she looked when she was scared and his heart melted. It took him back to the time when he had first come, and he had first seen her. She had been fourteen and quiet, afraid of her own shadow. She had looked like how she looked now, when she had run from her husband. He wondered why sometimes Arthur even bothered, but he just had to look at her when she was like this for his heart to melt. He saw Bors giving her a hug. Even the toughest of men couldn't resist her. Bors loved her as a daughter, the rest as a sister, apart from him and Gawain. Don't think I haven't noticed, he said silently to the two of them. Maybe she would get a nice surprise if he, Lancelot, proposed. But with the way she had treated him before; he would have to ask permission from Arthur. That's what he would do. He would ask Arthur. If he got his blessing, then Isulet would have to marry him, Gawain or not. But Arthur had learnt his lesson, so he would have to tread even more carefully. He placed the drinks down in front of the group, being careful to smile at Isulet. She smiled back, unknowing of his plan. Gawain looked suspiciously at him, but he placed the drink and turned around. He knows something, Lancelot thought.

"Galahad, how far can you throw a knife?" Isulet innocently asked. That sparked a whole contest.

There was a wooden beam with a bull's eye painted onto it. They decided that this was to be the target. Each contestant was to stand behind a line that was drawn in the dust. First up was Gawain, whose knife just hit the bottom of the bull's eye. He looked down heartened, until a serving girl came and sat on his lap. Isulet looked back with an annoyed look on her face. Next up was Galahad, who stepped up to the line. Isulet didn't notice his throw until there was clapping, as she had been too busy watching the tavern girl, who quickly found someone else to serve. Gawain came and stood behind her, looking like a puppy that had its favourite toy taken away. Isulet just raised her eyebrows. Gawain stopped looking so forlorn, because Isulet attempted to stand on his foot, which he hastily removed from the area of her foot. Tristan smiled at the two as he stepped up to the line. Then he threw his knife and it landed in the middle of Galahad's.

"How did you do that?" Gawain asked in awe.

"I aimed for the middle." Tristan said his arm waving.

Then it was Isulet's turn. She stepped up to the line and looked behind her. Gawain was sitting down again, and the barmaid was hovering suspiciously near. Turning round again she smiled and took aim. Gawain just couldn't help himself. He loved women. And he seemed to have no trouble attracting them, she had noticed that. But lately he had been acting strangely. He hadn't been worried about other women as much as he used to be. If only she knew. Gawain was hoping to get married soon, that much she knew, though to whom she didn't know. She was trying very hard not to fall for him, but was finding it very difficult. Taking aim again Isulet threw the knife. It landed right in the middle of Tristan's, exactly where she had been aiming. Considering the ivory handles were thin, she had done a very good job, and so had Tristan. There were cheers as she stepped down.

"How did you do that?" Tristan asked.

"Simple, I missed." Isulet coolly replied, walking back towards her drink. She had just about got to her drink when Lancelot caught her off guard and caught her around her waist.

"A kiss from the best shot." Lancelot begged, pulling his arms around her.

"I'm not the best shot, and please let go of me." Isulet tried to push away, but was held fast by his arms.

"Lancelot, let Isulet go." Bors commanded. Lancelot reluctantly let go and Isulet sat down next to Gawain. She took a sip of wine to revive her. Just then Arthur came in and all the knights turned to face him.

"Arthur!" Isulet turned in joy to see the look on her brother's face.

"What's wrong?" Isulet asked when she saw the look on his face.

"I have news from the bishop." Arthur said, looking at his sister's face.

"What news? Not bad I hope?" Lancelot asked. The mood changed suddenly.

"Bad news. The bishop has asked us to go on one last mission." Arthur looked at the knights' faces, "We leave in the morning."

"Where?" Isulet asked, her eyes clouding over.

"Far above the wall, into woad territory. It's to rescue a family stranded there." Arthur explained.

"But they don't have to go. They're free men now. You can't ask this of them." Isulet started to panic.

"Why shouldn't the Romans do it? We're not Roman, we never were. Our duty is done." Bors started to get angry.

"We have a duty." Arthur quietly said.

"That duty is done. I consider mine to be done!" Galahad's voice rose.

"You ask us to lay down our lives again?" Bors asked.

"If it's death that frightens you, you don't have to come." Tristan said from where he was sitting.

"Some of us have a will to live!" Galahad yelled, starting for Tristan. Gawain easily restrained him.

"Enough all of you!" Lancelot shouted.

"The Romans have broken their word, we have Arthur's. I am satisfied with that. I will prepare." Dagonet got up from his seat, "Are you coming?" he asked Bors.

"Of course! What did you expect? Someone will die if I don't!" He stormed off to his woman.

"We're with you." Gawain said, meaning himself and Galahad. Galahad stormed off in a thoroughly bad mood.

"Isulet, can I talk to you?" Arthur offered his sister his arm. She took it and they both walked outside in the direction of the villa.

"Where did it all go wrong?" Isulet quietly mused, staring up at the sky.

"I don't know." Arthur followed her gaze.

"What is it you want to ask of me, brother?" Isulet asked turning to Arthur.

"I wanted to ask what you think, about this mission." Arthur looked apprehensive.

"I feel a great fear that I cannot understand. I wish I could tell why, but I cannot." She looked wistfully at her brother.

"I would also ask if you would come with us." He looked at her puzzled face.

"Why do you need to ask me? I would come even if you told me not to."

"The bishop said it is, at the least impossible, for a woman to travel with our knights without something happening." He looked at her smiling face.

"Of course I will come, no matter what the bishop says." She smiled up reassuringly at her brother.

"Good, I will see you in the morning." Her brother left her.

Isulet walked into the villa seething with private rage. Why should her own brother have to ask her to come on a mission? It all seemed ridiculous to her. She had been a member of the group for four years. She had managed so far. And what had infuriated her even more was the nerve of the bishop. How dare he say it was impossible? She had been doing it for the past four years. And this last mission. It wasn't their concern at all, so why should they have to worry about this family. There was something her brother wasn't telling her, that much was certain. But what was her brother hiding? He needn't have hidden anything from her. She was sure she would have understood. Unless it was about her. Her brother often didn't inform her if it was about her. Maybe it was about her not being married. Arthur was being careful about that subject around her, or as careful as he could be. What would marriage entail, if she re-married? But she just didn't have the energy these days to go out chasing a respectable husband. So she would just settle with being single.

As soon as Isulet pushed aside her curtain she was aware that there was someone in her rooms. How dare they? Unless of course it was someone she knew. But still they should have waited for her outside her rooms. The only person who she could condone not waiting for her was her brother. But he had gone off somewhere, where was none of her concern. But still, just to be sure. She carefully stalked to her room, where she took out her hidden sword, taking it out she felt the metal of the handle cool and reassuring against her skin. She had fought many battles with this sword, and it was a great comfort to her to have it by her side now. Slowly she walked towards where the presence she felt was. If it was one of Arthur's knights he was going to be in serious trouble. Of course she wouldn't tell Arthur. He wouldn't be too pleased and someone would get the blame. She hoped it wasn't a common thief. Then she would have to kill him with all the rage she had inside of her. But luckily it wasn't. She stealthily crept up on the back of him, his hair shining in the moonlight. He turned around when he felt her sword at the back of his neck. When he turned around he looked at her with confusion written on his face.

"Gawain, what a...pleasant surprise." Isulet seemed to be quite docile, but that meant nothing to Gawain, who stood as tall as ever.

"I came to see how you were." He said, finally breathing out as Isulet took the sword away from his neck.

"But why not wait for me outside of my rooms?" She asked, now sitting, her sword still at her side.

"I didn't want to run into the bishop. I didn't want to hurt him." He seemed somewhat tenser than usual.

"I never knew you could be so caring." She seemed to be teasing him now.

"I just didn't want to face the consequences." He seemed to be telling the truth.

"Well, I am fine, you may leave now." She seemed to be waiting for him to move, when after a time he didn't she gently asked, "Gawain?"

"I'm sorry; I was just a little preoccupied." He seemed to be embarrassed.

"Gawain?" She asked again, pleasant amusement written on her face.

"I'm fine, really." He added when she raised her eyebrows at him.

"No you are not. And don't you dare lie to me." He seemed to tense again.

"You seem to be easier to talk to than some people I know." He seemed to be evading her.

"Well, talk to me then." She gently prompted him.

"It's Galahad. I worry about him, I really do." He seemed slightly more relieved.

"He's young, don't worry. He has his whole life ahead of him. Of course he should be angry about the betrayal. We all are." Her quiet voice seemed to soothe him, "But there's something else, isn't there?"

"Yes, there is. I am upset about the betrayal as much as the next man, but I am afraid of death." He seemed to lose a few years when he made that confession.

"I cannot tell you when you will die, as I get many different deaths, all of them possible. But I know you will survive. I have seen your children." She reached out a hand and touched his cheek. Using that he pulled her to stand close to him, "Gawain." Was all she managed to hiss before he put his mouth on hers. The kiss was long and sweet, but finally Isulet pulled away, her breathing coming in shallow pants.

"What was that?" Isulet asked.

"A kiss." Gawain seemed to be stating the obvious.

"Well aren't you courting someone?" She demanded, back to her usual self.

"Yes, I am." He seemed to be smiling to himself.

"Well who then?" Her eyes looked up into his.

"If I told you she has a brother, goes with her brother and his knights on missions, is very good at evading questions, though she asks plenty and she's right here with me now." He smiled as the awareness dawned on her face.

"Oh so you mean, but why?" was all Isulet could come up with.

"Why? Well, I can think of a few reasons. One you're not married, and two, you're beautiful, if that makes any difference to you." He smiled at Isulet, who seemed to be shocked.

"I think you should go before I do something I may come to regret." Isulet seemed to have regained her composure.

"Not without another kiss." He seemed adamant about that. Isulet smiled and turned her head so he could kiss her cheek. But Gawain caught her face and turned it so he could kiss her on the mouth. It was draw out until Isulet drew back again.

"Now go." She said, feeling very weak at the knees.

"I'm going." And with that Gawain slipped out into the night.

Isulet just stood watching the spot where Gawain had last been. Slowly she raised her hand to her lips. Okay, she thought kind of dreamily. She just stood there before she managed to pull herself back together and walked through into her room. Taking off her dress she slipped into a cotton nightdress. It was very similar to her dress, only without the broaches and sleeves. Also it was white and thin. Then she slipped under the covers of her bed, pulled the net curtain around her and tried to get to sleep.

Author's notes: Well, here's another chapter. It took a lot of battling with my sister to help me with this, tough we did it in the end. It would be nice if you RR, but it's not imperative.