Chapter I : Men and Women
As soon as the steel came out of the furnace, the blacksmith quickly set to work and started pounding the heated ore on top of the anvil, flattening it to a swords consistency. This was the only blacksmith in all of Camelot, and a damn good job this one did. Hours on hours a blacksmith would work a day, with great demands and the necessary amounts all those great Knights and warriors needed, and with not enough time for a normal, healthy life full of fun and quite possibly, romance. His own leisure time didn't matter mostly, as the pride of his work put to good use in a battle surpasses any fleeting thought of an ordinary life.
As the blacksmith kept pounding, the call of a name was gone unnoticed under the loud racket and the noisiness of the busy day in the market streets. But as soon as the pounding was over, the cry was very near and very loud.
"LO!"
The blacksmith winced and looked up, golden eyes immediately smiling brightly as one of King Arthur's knights stood next to a wooden column. "Yes?"
Bors frowned and crossed his arms, eyeing the blacksmith in a mix of anger and concern. "I really think you've lost your hearing. Too young a lass you are and now you're losing senses," he said with a shake of his head. "And, you're getting senile, Lo. Do you realize that it is gone past sunrise and there are now seven angry men wanting to know your whereabouts?"
Lo's eyes widened. "Oh! I've completely forgotten about today. I didn't mean to forget, Bors, but I lost track."
He chuckled and patted Lo's shoulder. "I forgive you, only because you're our blacksmith and our good friend and that's the reason why I've calmly offered myself to come and fetch you," he said smoothly, receiving a heated look from Lo.
"The only reason why you're not going off on a tantrum is because I'm a woman," she smartly retorted, snorting when he feigned a hurt look. "And besides," she added with a grin, "you knights adore me too much to get angry."
Bors laughed. "Well, my attempts at frightening you are futile. You are needed though."
Lo, or rather Lorelyn, sighed and pushed a strand of hair away from her face with the back of her wrist. "I know. Just give me a minute to finish this."
"As you request, my lady," he said and laughed deeply when Lorelyn rolled her eyes and went back to her sword.
Before Bors left, she called out to him and he waited for her to speak. "While you're waiting, do you mind getting Sera for me?" she asked sweetly.
He grumbled and walked out of her working tent, trudging to the stables to get Lorelyn's horse for her. In the meantime, Lorelyn went back to the sword she had been wielding and set it in the furnace again until it was heated. Then, she pounded it again, just until it became nearly perfect and as soon as she finished, Bors came back with both her horse and his. She set the sword on the cooling table and removed her gloves, throwing them on the table along with her apron.
Lorelyn looked around the area before she called out, "Javey, I'm leaving!"
A young man appeared at the corner and smiled as he saw Bors standing next to Lorelyn. "Ah, the Kingdom calls. Don't worry, I'll handle everything, Lor."
She nodded turned to Bors, who had a slight frown on his face, probably from the task of hauling Sera out of the stables. She patted his cheek and walked past him. "Don't be so sour, Bors. She hates all men, you know that."
He grunted and waited until Lorelyn mounted Sera before mounting onto his horse. "Which is the reason why I made you get her," she added. Bors gaped at her as she smiled at him and started galloping towards the regal fortress.
"Women," he muttered and lightly kicked his horse's side, going after Lorelyn.
It had been a short ride to the fort, and they entered the courtyard where little activity had been going on. Lorelyn and Bors dismounted and handed their horses to Jols and made their way through the courtyard towards the great hall. She smiled at the flowers that were now blooming in Spring's arrival and remembered when she had helped Guinevere and Vanora plant them last season.
"The flowers are so beautiful," she said and stopped to pick out a pink tulip.
"This fort has lost its frightful demeanor now, because of you damn women," Bors commented and Lorelyn simply tucked a lily behind his ear. He made a move to eradicate the un-manly apparatus from him but stopped when Lorelyn glared at him.
"You best not take that out, old man, or I'll tell your wife about what happened with the baby," she warned and he let out a growl, crossing his arms on his chest, making him look even more childish.
Lorelyn smiled at him and they continued their short walk to the hall. Once inside, they immediately made their way through the corridors to the fortress hall at the end of the hall. As they walked, Lorelyn glanced at Bors and noted that he had somewhat calmed down.
"So, why do you knights need me? You've not ruined your weapons, have you?" she asked warily. Over the years, she had to either repair or reconstruct their weapons for various reasons. But they hadn't been in battle for months, so she didn't see any reason why their cherished artillery would be tarnished or whatnot.
He chuckled and shook his head. "No, we did not. In fact, they're in fine shape, if I may say."
She nodded and they finished their walk in silence. But when they reached the double doors of the room, Bors groaned in protest and Lorelyn paused in her action.
"Do I really have to go in there like this?" He gestured to the flower in his ear and Lorelyn smiled at him.
"Yes. It hurts me that you men do not appreciate the little things I give you. You're lucky that I hadn't decided to put a scalding dagger in your ass instead," she replied easily. "Besides," she added, "What difference does it make if you go in there with a beautiful flower that perhaps your wife planted anyway? It makes you no less a man than your comrades."
Bors looked at her angrily and slumped into the same position they had entered with. "No less a man. Hah! My pride is at stake here, Lo."
She decided to ignore him and instead, turning to the doors and pushing them open. The conversations inside halted and she walked in with Bors nowhere behind her.
"Alright, what is it that you brutes want from me?" she asked loudly and sat down in a chair with a huff. There was no need for any formal greetings, just because these were still the same men that she had known before they had gained their honorable titles.
Arthur smiled at her. "Good day, Lorelyn. Would you care for a drink?"
Lorelyn eyed him with suspect but shook her head. "Don't you dare try and get me drunk this hour of the day, Arthur Castus. I want a reason to why I'm here, and now. I am a very busy woman," she said.
He raised his brows and lifted his hands in surrender. "I have no intention to getting you drunk at the moment, Lor. But please, consider my courtesy."
"And besides," Lorelyn looked to see Galahad smiling brightly and mischievously at her. "We're getting you drunk later tonight."
She sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Anyway, is everything alright?"
Arthur nodded and began to speak as he looked around the table, but stopped when he noticed a vacant seat and looked at Lorelyn questioningly. "Where is Bors?"
She in turn turned to look behind her and raised her brow at his whereabouts. That childish man, he values his pride too much. She grinned and shrugged at the other men. "He blames me for his loss of manliness at the moment."
Gawain erupted in guffaws. "You castrated Bors!" Lorelyn blushed as the rest of the knights laughed along.
"I removed nothing on his body, and instead, gave him a nice flower," she said indignantly. "I do not know why he's hiding…I thought it had been a nice gesture to give him something that I labored long hours over…" she trailed off and looked down at her hands, feeling very silly for rambling on about such an irrelevant topic that was surely not the topic of this meeting.
Arthur noticed her slight anguish and looked to the door before sighing loudly. There are times where he feels as if he's watching his knights and closest friends as they were children, not grown men. "Bors! Get in here, now!" he called out, and after thirty seconds, the large man huffed his way into the room, grumbling all the way to his seat, not noticing the fact that none of his comrades were as much as snickering at his accessory.
When Arthur felt that things were righted enough to speak, he turned to Lorelyn, who lost her innocent brooding, returning his gave with a professional shine he was so accustomed to.
"There is a favor we ask of you. In a week, my knights and I are traveling to Ercing, to convene with their high officials there. Supposedly, they also have quite some quality weaponry and we want you to travel alongside of us to meet their own blacksmith," he explained, watching as Lorelyn's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He knew she could not refuse the offer. Competition to be the best ran strong in her blood.
Dagonet laughed merrily and Lorelyn switched her gaze. "Just imagine his face when he sees a woman as our blacksmith!"
The knights laughed and simultaneously drank to that but Lorelyn waved them away, leaning forward on her elbows. "Hence, he must be good if you are asking me to join your expedition, I assume," she said, already calculating her visit and at what she will be looking forward to finding out about this blacksmith of Ercing.
"Well, naturally. But I doubt he has quite the same skills as you, my lady. You are brilliant in your wielding skills; no man can outdo your talent, Lor."
Lorelyn laughed at Arthur's Knights as they verbalized their approvals. "Thank you for your kindness, but your flattery has gone unnoticed, your highness," she said and smiled wider when they all gaped at her. "There is no need for your words of adulation; I have many a day lent my ear to your nonstop bragging at how excellent my blacksmith's skills are, to me and to everyone else."
"But we only say the truth, Lo," Gawain countered and she gave him a kind smile. Yes, their words were true, but she was far too modest to bask herself in the glory of being quite possibly the only woman blacksmith in all of Britain-Europe to be certain. She has known these men for over a decade and a half and still they seem to be at awe with her talent. Not that she minded the endless extol, but coming from these men-King Arthur and his Knights, her accomplishments were nothing compared to their legendary glory.
Sighing, Lorelyn glanced around the table and smiled warily, knowing that she will never get them to stop being in wonderment. 'Oh, might as well enjoy the attention of them while I get the chance,' she thought earnestly.
"Honestly," she said after a minute, "You do not need to coax me into agreeing to accompany you men on your journey. You know me; I live for adventure."
"So will you come with us?" she heard Galahad ask.
She trained her gaze on Arthur and nodded. "You have my word."
He gave her a nod and then turned to his men. "Well, Knights, you have a journey's preparation ahead of you. We must confer about the matters we will discuss with Archbishop Rainier, though. This will be our first visit to Ercing, and we must make it a pleasant visit. We need their trust above everything else. First…"
Lorelyn took that opportune moment to detach herself from their discussion, seeing as it was not of any importance that she be involved with their diplomatic affairs. Of course, she listened to what was being said, and took note of the different matters at hand. Now that the battle between the Saxons had been through and over with for a year past, it was Arthur's duty, as a new king, to meet with all officials and discuss important factors in his leadership.
They had been talking for close to an hour and Lorelyn had started to doze off, boredom and exhaustion seeping into her. It had been a busy morning for her, and she was up late last night, so she needed as much rest as she could get until more demands came. She hoped that Javey wasn't having too much trouble handling the business, as he was still new to being in charge.
Her eyes had closed as her head rested in her arms placed on the smoothness of the oak table, though Lorelyn meant it as just a resting of her eyes. She knew that her slight rest wouldn't bother anyone, since this was a semi-informal meeting between King Arthur and his Knights.
Lorelyn's slight rest, however, lasted throughout the whole entire meeting, which carried on until midday, three hours past since Lorelyn had first came here. She felt herself being gently roused awake and opened her eyes, looking upon a familiar black tunic. The first thing that she had thought of was that the meeting passed quickly, considering she had just closed her eyes a minute ago.
She sat and stretched her tired arms out and cracking her strained neck, looking up and smiling warmly at Lancelot as he stood there, waiting. "Why had the meeting finished so soon?" she asked and he cast her a look that immediately brought her to alarm. Lorelyn quickly glanced around and saw the rest of the men standing and making their way toward the doors.
"Oh goodness," she said and brought a hand to her face, the humility of sleeping through their whole entire conference slapping her straight on the face.
Lancelot just laughed and pulled Lorelyn to her feet. "We wouldn't have noticed the fact that you were sleeping were it not for your boisterous snoring," he told her, receiving a bony elbow in his ribcage.
Lorelyn groaned as they followed Tristan and Dagonet out the doorway. "I am truly sorry for taking a rest during your meeting. I mean, here, on the Round Table!" She then laughed at her own words and threw a sly grin at Lancelot. "But then, how many people can say that they had taken a nap on the legendary Round Table? I would much rather accept the honor of sleeping on it than the humility," she told him as they all made their way down the hall.
Lancelot raised an eyebrow at her. Intelligent as this woman was, she could never get a logical statement out of her mouth. "You do better in humility, trust me," he said and Lorelyn gawked at him.
"Humility!" She narrowed her eyes at him then scoffed. "I daresay, Sir Lancelot, that you just enjoy seeing me blush," she smoothly replied, smiling widely as Bors and Gawain laughed heartily behind them. Raising her own eyebrow at Lancelot, she watched as the muscle in his jaw slightly clinched, an indication that he was not enjoying the fact that it was not he who had the upper hand at the moment.
She never really liked seeing Lancelot so dismayed, so she let out an airy laugh and proceeded to lean up and press her lips to his cheek in a sounding kiss, her own way of apologizing. Trying to ignore the blazing of her face at her brazen actions, she bit her lip and just kept on walking.
"Hey!" Lorelyn looked over her shoulder and saw Gawain looking at her with his arms out.
"Yes?"
He raised his brows at her. "Yes? Is that what you say when you only kiss one knight, leaving the rest of us lonely?" he asked and she giggled, shaking her head.
"Well…" She thought for a moment before just shrugging her shoulders and said, "That is just your loss." She turned back around and smiled giddily as her answer was met with silence from behind her. And yet, she knew that silence wasn't the only answer she was going to receive, and braced whatever Gawain would do next.
So when she heard him shout something she couldn't really comprehend, she laughed and ran ahead until she was in front of Tristan, using his tall frame to protect her. Both he and Galahad halted their trek and before any questions could be asked, heavy footfalls were coming closer and Tristan turned around to face Gawain, blocking him from any further steps.
"Is there a reason for me to be protecting this lady from you?" he asked, mockery laced in his words.
Gawain huffed and pointed to Lorelyn, who was lightly clutching the back of Tristan's tunic. "That lass behind you refused to give me a kiss."
Galahad in turn laughed and clapped him on his back. "Well, that is perfectly understandable! Why would our pretty Lorelyn want to kiss you?" He cleverly dodged Gawain's punch.
"At least I get women into bed with me!" Gawain countered, starting up a heated argument between them.
As the shouts got louder and Lancelot and Bors were now watching, along with a few knights passing in the distance, Lorelyn sighed and moved away from her hiding position, stepping amid the two men, interrupting their quarrel.
"You two stop this instant!" When they stepped back from their fighting stances, Lorelyn sighed. "You should not be fighting over such trivial things, especially if I was the one to start all this ruckus," she said. She turned to Gawain and smiled.
"I apologize that I had not equally dispersed my kisses to each of you. But you should know, there are enough kisses for each of you. But at the moment, I do not feel like being charitable about them, so stop acting like children or you will never get one again." Her austere homily done, Lorelyn turned back around and started walking again towards the castle's dining room, where she knew lunch was waiting.
They passed through the halls and once entering the indoor common, the delicious aroma of fresh bread and roasted beef wafted through the air. Lorelyn's stomach growled in reaction and she took a deep breath, smiling silly as her and each knight were seated at their usual place. Arthur had already been seated, along with Guinevere and as Lorelyn sat in her seat, Guinevere smiled at her.
As the meal was passed along the table, Lorelyn silently counted her blessings as she looked around the table at the wonderful people she cared and loved so deeply. Sitting here, at this table with the noise and clatter, she was much grateful to God that her knights had survived their turmoil and obstacles in order to gain their freedom. And freedom they had received. Now, as everyone settled in this new settlement the stories were being told of brave knights whom the townsfolk considered honorable heroes, and Lorelyn wholeheartedly agreed.
The dark thoughts of death were vaguely returning to her, thoughts that she had long ago adopted as they stayed at the wall that one fateful day, and she had been forced to leave them. Thoughts that conquered her waking hours and haunted her in her dreams. But the time spent worrying had been passed, and they were each safely returned to her, wounded and exhausted, but they were back in one piece. And that had been enough to make her cry.
"Are you not hungry? Was it not your stomach that I had heard just as we were seated?" Tristan asked her, pulling her from her thoughts and she smiled.
"I was just thinking. A way of forgetting about my hunger, you know. But now that you stirred me from my distraction, my hunger is still very present," she said and grabbed her steaming roll, taking a big bite from it. He chuckled softly at her and went back to his own meal.
Lorelyn sighed happily into her goblet, loving the tangy and sweet taste of the wine flow down her throat, erupting pleasant sensations in her mouth. This was one thing that she loved about living in the castle; the food was always fresh and so good.
Lunch passed quickly and gaily. Even when Galahad said some droll words, Guinevere laughed softly and when Lorelyn looked up and across the table, she noticed Lancelot looking upon the queen in quiet veneration. It pained her to see this, not because she was jealous–even though the inner confines of her heart would attempt to relay that emotion through her mind–but because she knew the faint infatuation that Lancelot still had for Guinevere. She mainly lived for her knights' happiness, and to see one so lovelorn and smothering his mild anguish in the lips of countless women broke Lorelyn's heart with a cracking whip.
Biting her lip, she looked away and quietly sipped on her wine, waiting until Arthur stood and dismissed lunch. Lorelyn stood with the other men and smiled at Bailia, a hall maid and a fellow friend, as she set about and removing the serving plates from the table along with other maids. She followed along behind the others as they all went out to do their afternoon duties.
Her thoughts had been running steadily as they made their way out the southern entrance of the hall and into the outer compound, where the people there greeted them with glee. She watched with a smile as they bustled to and fro across the enclosure from the meat houses to the kitchens and to the stable. Such liveliness this fortress had! Lorelyn had the urge to help the ladies with their chores, but was gravely reminded of her own duties back at the shop.
She sighed and looked forlornly at all the things she misses each day.
"Is there a reason for you distress Lady?"
Lorelyn felt her trouble dissipate as she felt Lancelot come up to walk alongside of her. She turned her head and looked at him, at the features that both calms her and ignites that sense of attraction, grinning lightly at him.
"As much as I wish to stay here with all of you, the duty of my vocation is keeping me strained from living," she told him.
Lancelot laughed. "Well, I am not one to stop you." When she gave him a heated look, he laughed again and started directing her toward the stables. "Come then, I'll see you off," he offered.
They took the direct route to the stables and had light conversation, chatting about their morning past. Lorelyn looked up as Lancelot held the large door of the stables open for her, allowing her to pass through first. She smiled at his gentlemanly ways, ways that always got the women lusting after his charms.
It made her laugh, and Lancelot went back to her side, looking at her strangely at her sudden amusement. "What is so funny?"
Lorelyn calmed her giggles and shook her head at him as they passed by occupied stalls, searching for her mare. "How do you do it, Lancelot?"
He gave her a quizzical look and replied, "Do what?"
At his obvious puzzlement, she sighed. "Make women fall over their skirts just to have you kiss them on the cheek? How are you so…endearing?" she asked, tilting her head at him.
Lancelot chuckled and smiled sweetly at her as they stopped by the stall Sera was in. He reached out his hand and the horse snorted, nuzzling his palm. Lorelyn mused at how even his charisma got her man-hating horse to love him.
Lancelot stroked Sera's snout and looked over at Lorelyn, grinning broadly at her bemused expression. "Charm isn't something that I practiced to perfect, my dear. The way that I act is natural to me; it is only natural that I offer a good time to the women. It is the only way I know how to live."
Lorelyn pursed her lips in contemplation and chewed over his words. As the duty of being a best friend to Lancelot, she only wanted complete happiness for him, and it puzzled her to think that he could be satisfied with his life without just one girl. What of a family? She's seen the way he was with the children, he loved them and she knew he longs for sons of his own.
"So you tell me that charming the young women here is satisfying for the demands of life?" she finally asked, setting her hand on Sera's neck.
"And what are the demands of life Lorelyn?"
She sighed and looked from his eyes to the golden mane of her horse. "Being happy, living fully, seeking wisdom from one's own mind…being in love…oh, Lancelot, I do not know. It may vary for every person, but that is how I see it," she said, feeling very cautious of her words.
Lancelot only smiled at her. "Well, that is the demands of life for me as well. But alas, this conversation must wait for a later day. I will keep you from your work if we continue this," he told her in a light tone, winking as Lorelyn rolled her eyes.
Lancelot held Sera steady as Lorelyn mounted onto the saddle. She adjusted the skirts of her dress with a grumble about wearing dresses while riding a horse and Lancelot laughed at her, handing up the reins as she settled herself.
Lorelyn looked down at him and smiled. "Thank you for escorting me to my noble steed, my noble knight," she said, earning an eye roll and giggled.
"Hardly am I such a dignitary man."
"Oh, quiet your mouth else we'll end up in another conversation that will keep me another five minutes. I really must be going, Lancelot."
He laughed. "If you must. Will you be looking for me later in the court?"
She snorted and set Sera forward towards the back exit. "Ah sorry, but I am much too desirable to be wasting time looking for you. Perhaps we should have a secret tryst?"
Lancelot patted Sera's flank as they passed by and laughed. "Ah, perhaps we will. When you are done carousing with the other men, meet me in the gardens."
Lorelyn waved back at him and as she left, Lancelot leaned against the wooden column of the stall, watching her leave and listening to her laughter, enjoying the sound.
A/N: Alrighty! I have created this new story, and I am much excited for this. I'm hoping that this was a good first chapter, maybe a good exposition for the story...? If you read this, I hope you enjoyed, and if you like it, please do leave a review for my desperate eyes! They put the spark to my flame of motivation.
Oh, and if you are wondering, the way to pronounce Lorelyn's name is "Lore-uh-lyn". And also, I named her horse Sera because I derived Sera from Seraph, and essentially Sera is Lorelyn's guardian angel. Okay, irrelevant information, but I wanted to add that tidbit.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to King Arthur except for my own characters.
