Violette woke at the sound of huge gates grinding open, as they approached the gate Arthur called for halt, "Please, I ask that you tell no one…of your…predicament."

Violette nodded her promise; they continued onwards, all of knights looked more relaxed. Mal was still asleep in Lancelot's arms; more then one woman looked peeved at these girls riding with the knights. Violette was blown away with the surroundings, it was a more then just a fortification; people worked and lived inside the wall. She looked around with eyes wide, it seemed as though there was a layer of dirt and grim that covered everything, including the people scurrying about in this huge confine.

The knights rode directly toward the stables where a man was waiting for them; he took the reigns of the horses while eyeing Violette and Mal. Arthur quickly introduced the girls, "This is Violette and Mary. Jols, they will be staying with us for as long as they wish; treat them kindly." At that Jols nodded and bowed low saying, "M'lady shall I prepare a room for your friend to sleep?"

Violette looked around at Mal and then told Jols, "We will need a room for tonight, thank you."

Jols hurried off, when Gawain stopped him, "Make sure their room is in the knights' quarters; we want to keep them close."

They all stood in the stables and Violette walked over to Mal, yelling, "Get up!" smacking her in the forehead. Mal jumped out of Lancelot's arms and slapped him in the face, "Why did you hit me?"

Violette put a hand to her mouth and giggled, as Lancelot stroked his sore cheek, "It wasn't me! Violette hit you!"

But Mal wasn't listening to Lancelot's defenses; instead she and Violette were standing at the stable doors taking in the sights. Both girls looked excited and wanted to explore, Mal took a step forward when Dagonet blocked their way. "Wait," was his simple statement and neither girl protested.

The seven knights asked the girls to come back, while the rules where explained; Arthur spoke first, "As we have already said, no one is to know about…this," he gestured with his hands indicating the entire journey, "but they will ask why you are with us. You are to tell them that you were in need of our protection and nothing more."

Mal and Violette looked at each other and nodded, neither were sure what to think with the serious nature of all the knights. It was Tristan who continued, "There are those here that will try and…have some excitement at your expense; be wary, but enjoy yourselves."

They began to break apart when Galahad rushed, "We'll always be close; and…umm…if you need us…" He stopped as Mal lifted an eyebrow, "Come on Vio, let's explore!"

Mal grabbed Violette's hand and pushed out of the stable gates. Galahad looked pleadingly at the other knights, "What if they get lost, or get into trouble! We're just going to let them…go!"

Surprisingly Bors answered him, "They're not ours, they can do what they want lad!"

Galahad sighed, but Lancelot retorted, "Just as we can do as we wish; let's follow them?"

The two men walked out of stables, with Gawain and Tristan trailing. Bors headed straight for a tavern closest to the stable, while Dagonet and Arthur went back up to the knights' quarters.

Violette and Mal walked ahead ignoring the stares from some of the peasants and continued looking awe-struck at the buildings when Mal suddenly pulled Violette into a tavern. The girls stood in a dimly lit room with bar stools along the edges; men looked up from their drinks as Mal walked straight for the bar, where she declared in her best British accent, "Give me and my friend a pint of ale."

The big man behind the bar replied, "With what coin will you pay for your drinks?" He paused and continued with a voice that made Mal step back, "I can think of a few ways to make the coinage." Both girls swallowed hard, but Mal, stubborn as she was stood her ground, "In your dreams, you fat bastard!"

She turned on her heels and headed out of the tavern, but Violette was frozen in place, rigid, as eyes looked her up and down. One particularly hairy man reached out and grasped Violette's arm, and pulled her into his lap. "So, you'll pay for your friend's big mouth!"

Violette just managed to shake him free, with tears running down her face; she ran outside where Mal was waiting, but just as Mal was about to hug her friend, Violette ran directly passed her and into Galahad's embrace.

The men from within the tavern scampered after Violette out onto the cobble stone road. Galahad roared angrily, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!"

"Nothing…yet!" barked the hairy man.

Galahad looked down at Violette, who was shivering in his arms. The hairy man took a step forward reaching a hand out for Violette, but Mal stood in his way.

"You'll do just fine too," he slurred grabbing her arm, which she yanked away, bringing her fist up and punching him directly in the face. He stumbled back a few steps, collecting himself he went for her again. Mal looked ready to fight, but Gawain stood between the man and Mal, "I wouldn't do that!" The man looked around and saw all the other knights poised to fight as he slowly back away.

"I could've taken him," Mal shot him a look and stomped on his foot, then whipping around to Violette, "And what the hell is this?" she waved her hands at Galahad, whose arms were still secured around her friend's waist.

"What's what?" Violette asked pretending to be clueless as to what is agitating Mal.

Mal didn't seem to appreciate Violette's dumb act as she stormed away.

Violette let out an uncomfortable groan turning to Gawain, "Good job. Mal doesn't like guy's making her look weak."

"Then why is she mad at you?" Galahad asked tightening his protective hold on Violette's waist.

"Once she's upset about one thing, everything seems to annoy her," Violette reluctantly stepped out of Galahad's arms and quickly followed after Mal.

Violette walked through the crowded streets trying to catch up with her friend; she looked about frantically losing sight of her and then ran straight into Mal who had stopped to allow her friend to catch up, "Oh, you're alone? I would have thought Galahad would be holding your freakin' hand!" Mal hollered at Violette.

"Mal, I was terrified, please don't be mad," Violette uttered softly.

"The only way I won't be mad is if we get drunk, right now!" stated Mal.

"That's very poetic," Lancelot said as the other knights had caught up to the girls and were standing in the entrance to the same tavern Bors had entered previously; Lancelot moved a step closer to Mal, but she glared at him, replying, "Come any closer and I'll make breaking your nose sound poetic!"

Lancelot, now accustom to her outbursts, recovered quickly and retorted, "I guess I can't buy you some drinks then, ah well…" He tottered away and snatched a random woman who was walking by, and asked, "My fair lady, may I buy you a…"

Before he could finish Mal seized his arm and kissed him hard on the mouth, pulling him into the tavern; she was now all smiles.

This tavern was different from the last; it was bright and people were singing loudly as cheers rose from the bar. Children wandered through the throng and looked inquisitively at the mugs full of ale. As the knights entered more applause rose and mugs were lifted high; they walked towards the bar where Bors sat with a woman in his lap.

"Oh Vanora, these are the lasses I told you about!" Bors stood up as the woman slipped from his lap. She was an attractive lady with auburn curly hair and a friendly face, she nodded curtly to the other knights and then took the girls into her arms, hugging them tightly, "I hope these boys, weren't too much of a hassle!"

Violette and Mal looked at each other while Vanora continued, "They rescued you from the woads, poor dears, must've been terrifyin'!"

They smiled kindly, realizing Bors' lie, then Mal asked, "So, am I getting a drink or what?"

Vanora and the knights laughed while Violette shook her head disapprovingly. Vanora handed each of the knights and Mal a hefty mug full to the brim of a warm auburn liquid. Violette politely refused the drink, but asked for water instead. After some hours of laughter and drinking, Dagonet entered the tavern with group of young women following him. He sat down in the empty barstool next to Mal who said, rather drunkenly, "I think they like you!" She hiccupped and began laughing to herself.

Dagonet looked at the girls and answered, "Now why would they like me?" as he drowned another mouthful.

"Why wouldn't they?" Violette reassured as she sat on the other side of him.

Dagonet turned back to Mal and asked, "Why isn't your friend drunk too?"

"She is! She is just a…classy drunk!" Mal burst out with glee.

Violette raised an eyebrow at her friend before continuing in her encouraging tone, "Dag, your different then the other knights; not as loud, but just as special!"

Dagonet chuckled heartily, when Mal got up and pulled two giggling women over to Dagonet, "Okay, here's the bachelor! He's tall, he's bald and he's single!..." Mal wavered slightly on her feet before collapsing, which put an end to her little game show.

Violette was bending over Mal when a tall silken woman walked passed and backend Dagonet to follow; he bent down and whispered to Violette, "I guess I am special!"

Violette gasped slightly as Dagonet followed the woman; both looked quite eager. Mal was mumbling some incoherent babble as she lay in a mess on the floor when Gawain walked by; he took one look at Mal and then swung her into his arms. "Oh, no you don't! I will not let you…take advantage of her!" Violette objected.

"Now now, I would never…" Gawain began, but was stopped as Violette stood her ground, holding up her small hands in fists, ready to fight. She looked rather fragile and was shaking slightly; Gawain immediately burst out laughing.

"I'm serious; I won't let you…do…anything…to her!" Violette's voice shook, but she didn't move.

Gawain looked her up and down before calling, "Galahad, call her off, will ya!" Galahad came up behind Violette, who turned around to meet him.

Violette was about to explain her reasoning for her mistrust of Gawain, when she heard a thud sound coming from behind her, she turned around and saw that Mal had pushed Gawain, who was now sitting in a big chair with Mal on his lap; kissing him intensely. Violette's mouth dropped and she yelled, "MAL, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

Mal looked over her shoulder at Violette and shrugged turning back to Gawain, who had a confused look on his face, "What's in your mouth?"

A smile spread across Mal's face and even Violette couldn't help but chuckle slightly. Mal opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, there was a small silver ball and Gawain cocked an eyebrow looking worried.

"It's called a tongue ring!" Mal said, rather soberly.

"You mean…you…put a hole in your tongue?" Gawain's face was a mask of disbelief and horror, "Why?"

Violette jumped on the opportunity to scorn her friend, "Because she's an idiot!"

Mal laughed, but turning to Gawain she replied, "It's a conversation piece! See, we're talking more already!"

Gawain simply laughed and then the two began kissing again, much to Violette's displeasure. Meanwhile Galahad gave Violette a curious sideways glance, but Violette assured, "Don't even think about Galahad, I haven't drunk enough for that yet!"

He smiled as he walked towards his place at the bar. Violette looked around, wondering what she was going to do when she caught sight of Lancelot who was sitting in a corner with two women on his lap, Violette thought, 'Wow, they're prefect for each other,' as she glanced back over to Mal, who was still keeping Gawain entertained.

Just as Violette turned around a tall blond man tapped her lightly on the shoulder asking, "M'lady are you Violette?"

She nodded as she took in the gorgeous man in front of her. He had defined features, high cheek bones, with a mess of blond hair. He stood well above the average man's height, but was well muscled; his green eyes shone mischievously, "I am Kay and Arthur has asked that I give you and Mal a tour, but seeing as how she is busy, it will be just the two of us." He winked and suddenly smiled so brightly, as if he was a child on Christmas morning that Violette could refuse him nothing.

Nodding once again he led her out of the tavern and into the cool night air. Kay explained that he too was a knight and knew about where and when the girls came from. Violette liked this man, he was funny and warm hearted, but something seemed misplaced about him. For all of his beauty and seemingly perfect grace, he was completely uninterested in the girls which fawned over him at all turns in the road; after some time Violette asked, "There are many woman here who look…longingly at you, and yet you don't seem to care? Why?"

They had been walking for quite awhile and were returning back to the tavern when Kay answered, "I much prefer the sweat of men fighting to the lure of a woman's curves."

Violette was taken back by this answer as Mal came running out the tavern door eyeing Kay sensuously, "Well now, that's the spirit Vi! Had some fun did you?" She winked to her friend. Violette shook her head and explained their excursion, she finished by saying, "Besides Mal, I think he's gay!"