"What are we to do during the day Lilith?" Vesna asked in confusion.
Lilith looked and saw the same looks on all of the women. "We train. We learn this Keep. From beginning to end; we learn its strengths and weaknesses. We learn the people; who they are, what they can do. We learn of the Woad. We hunt and destroy any rogue Saxons that escaped yesterday. There are many things for us to learn here. Do not think we are trapped in a world where we can do nothing. And perhaps, just perhaps, one day we will find a way home. Perhaps we WILL find a way to save our future. "
"You're still hoping to go home?" Rhiannon asked.
"There are things here worth staying for, but I have a duty to Balthazar and Simon Maxwell above all others. All I know for certain is that our lives are not ending today. There are many years we have to figure everything out, and to give up now would be a mistake."
"Let us discuss training." Kali spoke.
"Everything. Everything we practiced at our training center will be fine tuned here. That includes weapons, hand to hand, security, stealth…"
"We'll have to work with Alchemy. Maybe try to figure out a way to make explosives." Hecate murmured.
"It will not be easy. The men are not used to women warriors, and even though they've been mostly accepting of us so far…now that the major battle is over they will not want us to do these things." Vesna interjected.
"That's a shame really." Lilith said with determination. "We don't embroider, and we don't drink tea, so they'll have to get used to it or we can leave."
As a group the women headed out to the living areas of the Keep. The men were already out there helping merchants and others rebuild. Without waiting the women began assisting. Lilith was in the process of lifting a wooden beam when Arthur finally noticed them. "What are you doing?" he asked her.
"I'm helping your people rebuild their world." she stated matter of fact.
"This is not necessary."
"On the contrary, it is very necessary. They need the help, and we need the work." Lilith gave him a half smile. "Seems to work for everyone doesn't it?"
"Lilith, I don't want you doing this hard manual labor." he spoke softly.
"Arthur. I'm accustomed to work. And I like it that way." she told him and walked off.
Merlin chuckled behind him. "She is a hard woman."
Arthur watched her retreating back. "Indeed she is."
"They're coming changed the way of our world. It changed their future as well. Nothing is the same now as it was. Even in their time the changes have already shifted."
"How is Guinevere?" Arthur asked.
Merlin sighed. "She will become accustomed to this new reality. She is young, and she will mature." Merlin walked forward and Arthur walked with him. "Arthur, if you choose this Lilith, it will not be an easy life. Not that it is easy with any woman. If you choose her there is a chance you will also lose her. Duty burns within her breast the same as it does in yours. You are both very much alike."
"Do not try to change my mind Merlin."
"I would not do this. I do not think I have the ability to do this." Merlin grinned wryly. "These women are not like Roman women, they are not like Woad women either. They burn brighter than many stars, and my visions tell me they will change the course of many of your men's lives; and mostly for the good. But there are hard times ahead. And the threat of the Saxons isn't over. There are still some of the demons roaming these hills."
Arthur thought of Merlin's words as the day progressed. He was brought back to the present by Lancelot arguing with Gawain about the placement of rubble. "What is the problem?"
Gawain threw a narrowed glance at the dark knight who'd been argumentative all day. "I honestly do not know what Lancelot's problem is Arthur. But my problem is him!" Gawain stormed off in the other direction.
Arthur looked at his friend. "What is the problem?" he asked in a softer tone.
Lancelot blew out a breath and ran his hand through his hair in agitation. "Honestly, I don't know. I think it's the woman Aradia. I want her Arthur, I want her with something fierce inside."
"That is normal for you Lancelot."
"No, Arthur, not this need, almost desperate. I thought we would lay together last night. Then the need would be satisfied. Instead we shared nothing but a few kisses. She turned and walked away from me. She went to her chambers alone."
Arthur bit back a smile. He couldn't remember a woman ever turning away Lancelot's advances. His friend did indeed look extremely confused. "These women are not like the women we are accustomed to my friend. They are not going to fall at your feet as women have in the past."
"I know this. I do. But it still bemuses me."
"It will all be figured out Lancelot. Just relax. There is no need for rush is there?"
Lancelot seemed to consider these words. "Well…no. I suppose there isn't. The desire will not go anywhere."
Arthur laughed. "You have become spoiled Lancelot!"
"I suppose I have." Lancelot grinned. "Now let us just hope Gawain doesn't throw a large rock at me. Wouldn't want to damage my face you know?" The two men went back to work on the rubble in front of them.
Gawain made his way past the others and leaned against the remnants of a building. He was hot and tired. He heard a noise and looked up to find himself staring at a very shapely rear. It brought a smile to his face. One of the women, the warrior women, was leaning over the top of the building, with her foot in a catch hold. "What are you doing?" he asked.
The woman gave a squeak, and tumbled backwards directly into his arms. It was the redhead Vesna. She smiled. "Sorry about that. I was trying to detach some of the wood from the top of the wall, and the easiest way to get to it was to climb over from this side."
Gawain set the woman down. "I see." He walked over and looked at what she spoke of. "Step away from the side there lass." Vesna stepped to the side and out of the way. "Dagonet, a hand here?" Gawain called out. The large man joined Gawain, and moments later the two threw their bodies into the last remaining wall. It toppled over, and came to rest near Vesna's feet.
She blinked once at the two men. "Um, thanks."
They both smiled at her charmingly and walked off to do something else. Kali came up behind her. What was all the tester one show about?"
"Just a couple of gentlemen coming to the aid of a fair maiden." Vesna said with a slight roll of her eyes. "I wasn't thinking they'd rip the whole thing down."
Kali looked at the broken pieces of wall. "Don't men usually destroy everything in their path?"
"Don't women normally drive men to destroy?" The quiet voice of Tristan the scout came from behind them.
The women turned to look at him. "Only if he's lucky." Vesna grinned naughtily. Tristan tipped his head in a mock salute.
He meandered closer to them. "Tell me, where did you learn to throw the daggers so well?"
Vesna thought for a moment. "My first instructor at the academy was an expert at it. She was good with all missile weapons. Especially knives, darts, and shurikens."
"Shurikens?"
Vesna pulled one of the small throwing stars from her belt. "Shurikens. They're light, accurate, and deadly"
Tristan held the small piece of silver metal in his hands gently. He inspected it closely. "Intriguing. Perhaps you will let me try these one day?"
"Sure. The next time we train you can."
"You plan on continuing your training?"
Kali's eyes flashed. "Yes. We do. If we stop we get soft."
"Women are supposed to be soft."
"Not where we're from."
"You aren't there now." he shrugged. "It makes no difference to me if you wish to train."
"It might if there comes a time we're watching your back." she said waspishly. Kali turned and walked away.
"You pissed her off." Vesna stated.
Tristan shrugged again. "Women are emotional creatures."
Vesna sighed. "Oh Tristan, the problem is not only are women emotional creatures, but we're also trained to kill. Dangerous combination."
Tristan nodded in agreement, but didn't look concerned.
Hecate moved towards the tavern slowly. She was exhausted. How long had it been since they'd actually worked all day like that? Their missions were usually short and sweet. In the beginning she supposed they'd taken longer and been more complicated, but then their skills progressed and the missions shortened. All she wanted to do was lie in a hot bath, and then eat something. A lot of something.
As soon as she opened the doors to the chambers she whimpered in ecstasy. Several tubs were already in the room, some of them occupied. One tub was empty and steaming, and she practically ran to it. "We thought you were coming." Rhiannon said from her tub.
Hecate made short work of her clothing and eased into the hot lilac scented water. "What a day. When did we get so…"
"Lazy?" Rhiannon grinned.
"Well, I've never thought of us as lazy." Aradia said from where she was lying on one of the beds. "I mean, we were constantly on missions."
"No, not lazy." Lilith assured them from her tub. "We've just gotten complacent. We don't have to work as hard, so we don't. It comes easy now, so we let it. We're just going to have to start challenging ourselves more often."
"Definitely!" Vesna said as she entered the room. Rhiannon stood and stepped out of the tub freeing it up for her friend. "I don't want to ever feel this sore again."
"I thought I was all muscle." Kali almost moaned from her bed. She lay wrapped in the towel she'd wrapped around herself after her bath. "All of us, we're all muscle, how is this possible?"
"We sound pathetic!" Hecate chuckled.
"I'm starving." Vesna stated.
"Definitely, I could eat a cow." Hecate agreed.
Lilith stepped out of the tub and dried herself off quickly. "I could definitely eat."
The women made their way to the tavern and were inordinately pleased to see that the men were as exhausted. Galahad looked at Vesna sadly. "I will not be able to challenge you to daggers tonight."
Vesna patted his shoulder. "I think we're all too tired for that my friend."
"None of you injured?" Dagonet asked concerned.
"Oh, no, we're fine." Rhiannon assured him. "Just unaccustomed to such manual labor. We've decided though it was the best thing for us. Showed us where our training was lax."
Lilith took the open seat next to Arthur and was glad to see she'd made him happy with the action. Vanora started handing out food and was clucking at them like a mother hen. "You need to make sure you aren't overdoing it. Wouldn't do to make yourselves sick!"
"We'll be very careful Vanora." Aradia assured the woman with a sweet smile. She looked up to catch Lancelot staring at her. She smiled softly at him and he smiled back. Aradia knew he had expected to go to bed with her the night before. She also knew his reputation from hearing some of the serving girls speaking. She found herself drawn to the dark knight, but wouldn't be bedding him unless she knew him better. She knew some of the girls didn't have the same outlook on sex that she did, but she didn't think casual sex was something she'd enjoy.
Lancelot looked at the beautiful woman across the table from him. He knew he could bed any of the serving wenches if he wanted to but now Aradia had become a challenge. He would have to woo the woman, but he would succeed. She would be his and the sooner, the better. "Lady Aradia, would you care to go for a stroll after we sup?"
She smiled at him. Lady Aradia? Okay. "Certainly Lancelot, that sounds nice."
Gawain hid a snort, but not very well for Lancelot stared at him through narrowed eyes. Rhiannon came to his rescue. "So, Gawain, I understand you helped Vesna with a wall today?" She winked at him when he was able to turn his attention to her and away from Lancelot.
"Oh, yes. It was nothing really. Dagonet and I were able to take care of the situation easily enough."
"Look at all of the children playing so nicely together." Arthur murmured in Lilith's ear. His breath was warm and tickled.
She smiled. "Yes, I was just thinking something very similar. Tell me, does Lancelot think a walk around town is going to get him into Aradia's bed?"
Arthur chuckled. "I have no idea what my friend thinks. I believe she is an enigma to him. A woman who doesn't fall all over herself to get into his chambers for the evening."
"And you? You don't have the same experiences?"
Arthur stared into her eyes. "No. Women do not fall over themselves for my affections."
"Then they are quite foolish." she murmured.
"None have thought so thus far."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that Arthur." Heat filled Lilith's gaze.
"You are as much an enigma to me as she to Lancelot." he whispered.
"I'm nothing of the sort."
"Ah, but you are. But one day I will understand you."
"Then you'd be bored by me."
"I do not believe I could ever find you boring Lilith."