A/N: Thanks for the reviews! This story is playing out nicely I believe. Anyways, the paragraphs that are in italics before the singing are part of a memory. The idea for the memory was given to me by Raging Raven and I built off of what she gave me. Thanks Raven! And, to sta, I never really thought about it as a sort of King Arthur style Mulan fic until you pointed that out. :)

Lancelot: -stumbles out rather dizzy- Rope is not the best thing to get caught up in. What? Oh, right, Kalanie does… not own… anything of King Arthur or its characters or its actors.

Chapter 3: Suicide Cannot Be Chosen For Another

As they entered the pub, Latanie instantly sought out Vanora, her only woman friend. She grinned as she met up with the woman, greeted by a friendly smile. "Latanie! It's so good to see you, doll," Vanora said, embracing Latanie tightly.

Latanie laughed and returned the embrace. "Can't get rid of me that easily. Busy night I see," she said, gesturing to the groups of men stumbling around, drunk.

Vanora sighed. "Yes, yes, busy. Even more busy now that the knights have come. Can I get you something to drink?" she asked, looking at her friend.

"I can get it. I know where the water tap is. I really don't want to get drunk like those poor bastards," Latanie said, laughing. She excused herself for a moment and got herself some water. She returned with the glass.

"Anyone catch your heart?" Vanora asked.

Latanie glanced at her, slightly shocked. "No. The poor men have been spared from that kind of torture," she teased, smiling.

"I see…" Vanora responded, filling a few mugs before handing them back to some men.

"Can I help?" Latanie asked.

"No, no, don't trouble yourself. Go sit down and rest," Vanora urged.

"Rest? I had rest while we were at the Table," Latanie protested, stopping only when someone grabbed her hand. She turned to see Lancelot. "Oh, you scared me," she said. She noticed his slightly swayed movements and sighed. "You are already feeling the effects of alcohol. Lucky me," she said sarcastically.

"C'mon, you can come sit with me," he said, gently tugging on her hand.

"Well… I guess I'm going. Bye, Vanora," Latanie said, waving before being dragged off by Lancelot. She grunted as he sat down at the gambling table and pulled her onto his lap. "Lancelot, what are you-?" she started to ask but stopped when he kissed her neck. This was very uncomfortable. She tried to struggle away but ended up smacking his hand lightly. "Lancelot, let go."

"Just let her go, Lance," Bors slurred.

"Aw, come on. Everyone knows that Lat loves me," Lancelot said.

"I think the alcohol has gone to your head," Latanie said teasingly as he let go of her.

The rest of the men burst into hysterical laughter. She threw Lancelot a teasing grin as she walked off towards Vanora. She regretted ever going with Lancelot. She glanced back at Lancelot only to see him with another woman in his lap. She rolled her eyes and sat down at an empty table with her glass. Her mind wandered a bit back to when they were first training to become knights.

"Easy Latanie. You don't need to rush in without using your head. You'll get killed," her teacher said softly. "Let's try this again." He raised his sword and watched Latanie.

A frustrated Latanie raised her sword and paused for a moment, hesitant to attack. The frustration blinded her, dulled her senses. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her thoughts. Once she believed she was ready, she lunged, swinging rather wide at her teacher's sword only to have him trip her with ease. She landed face first on the ground. She groaned and rose to her hands and knees, the sound of the boys' laughter reaching her. She ground her teeth together as she rose to her feet and turned around to face her teacher.

"I'm sorry, Latanie. We'll try tomorrow," her teacher said, shaking his head sadly. He turned and left a rather wounded Latanie. Wounded in the sense of her pride.

"I would say you fight like a girl but I think you would give the statement a bad meaning," a boy's teasing voice rang.

Latanie glared at him. "Oh shut up, Lancelot. If you think you are so good then face me," she challenged, holding up her sword.

Lancelot paused and hesitated. He glanced back at the other boys who were cheering him on with taunts. He looked back to the thirteen-year-old girl before him. A smirk played onto his features. "Of course. Loser has to dump a bucket of water on the head Commander," he bargained, unsheathing his two swords.

"Deal," Latanie agreed and watched Lancelot prepare to battle. The cheers for Lancelot greatly outnumbered cheers for Latanie. She lunged forward, her lone sword clanging against one of Lancelot's twin swords. He quickly fended her off and returned the attack with one of his own. The two fought vigorously, never giving in, never backing down. The fight ended when Lancelot knocked Latanie's sword from her hand and had both of his swords pointed at her neck.

"I win," he stated coolly. He lowered his swords and sheathed them before turning around to face the cheers of appraisal. He had his trademark smug cocky smirk on his face. "I have defeated the all powerful, Latanie," he declared.

Latanie glared at his back, feeling her anger boiling over. Without warning, she ran up and jumped up onto his back, bringing him face down in the dirt. "Never turn your back to the enemy," she retorted, squeaking as he rose off the ground. She clung to his neck as she grabbed her legs to support her. "Lancelot! What are you doing!" she exclaimed.

"Just being a noble, helpful knight, milady," he responded sarcastically, walking casually over to a water trough. Without warning, he dumped her into it, creating a rather large splash.

"LANCELOT!" Latanie screamed as she sat up in the trough. She glared at him as he gave her that trademark smirk. "I'm so going to kill you!" She threw her leg over the trough and tripped while getting out, landing on the ground. She grunted and rolled over to get to her feet. "When I get through with you, you won't know which way is up!" She started off at a run, weighed down considerably by her wet clothes. The other boys started laughing hysterically at the sight of Lancelot being chased down by a waterlogged Latanie.

"Latanie? Latanie? LATANIE?" Vanora's voice rang as she shook the young knight's shoulders.

"Wha!" Latanie exclaimed, coming out of her trance.

"Are you alright? You were staring as if nothing else existed," Vanora asked, concern clearly present.

"Oh… yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking," Latanie said. She looked up as Bors walked over and grabbed Vanora, handing her their son.

"Here, be a mother to your son," he said.

"Oh, come here," Vanora said, taking the precious bundle into her arms.

Latanie gave her a smile. "How are the children?" she asked.

"Just fine," Vanora answered, smiling.

"Dagonet, where have you been? We've got plans to make," Bors asked, looking at his massive friend. "Here, please. Sing," Bors pleaded with Vanora.

"No," Vanora said stubbornly.

"Just a last one," Bors insisted.

"No. I'm trying to work," Vanora whined.

"Come sing. Shut up! Vanora will sing," Bors said.

Chants of 'sing' rose up. "Only if Latanie will sing with me," Vanora bargained, watching the young female knight dragged up to her by Bors. She caught Latanie's playful glare and chuckled. The two paused and began in unison.

"Land of bear and land of eagle.

Land that gave us birth and blessing

Land that called us ever homeward

We will go home across the mountains

We will go home

We will go home

We will go home across the mountains

We will go home singing our song

Hear our singing, hear our longing

We will go home across the mountains

We will go home

We will go home"

"Arthur!" Jols exclaimed.

"Arthur!" Galahad chimed in.

Latanie instantly stopped singing and moved towards her Commander.

"Arthur! You're not completely Roman yet, right?" Galahad asked teasingly.

"Rus!" Bors yelled as they all came to a halt before the Commander.

Lancelot had a weary look on his face – he knew Arthur's expression meant he was the bearer of grave news. He stopped beside Latanie and made sure she was in front of him so his height didn't block her view.

"Knights, brothers and sister in arms. Your courage has been tested beyond all limits. But I must ask you now for one further trial," Arthur said.

"Drink," Bors jested, causing Galahad to chuckle into his ale.

"We must leave on a final mission for Rome before our freedom can be granted." Looks of disbelief were exchanged. "Above the wall, far in the north, there is a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxons. Our orders are to secure their safety," Arthur continued.

"Let the Romans take care of their own," Bors said.

"Above the wall is Woad territory," Gawain put in.

"So you're willing to risk our necks out there for the sake of one Roman family?" Latanie spat, straightening up. "Do they matter so much to you that you won't stop to think about us?"

"Latanie," Arthur said sternly. "This is what we're supposed to do. Never question orders."

"Oh, I'll question orders. It's not me I'm thinking about, Arthur. It's them," she said, gesturing to the others before pushing past Lancelot. She ignored him as he tried to grab her hand. Without another word, she stomped into the building that held their quarters. She wearily climbed the stairs until she came to her door. In frustration, she slammed her fist against the door. "Damn it!" She didn't plan on dying early. It looked as if she didn't have a choice. She roughly opened the door and slammed it shut, locking it behind her. She prayed that no one was stupid enough to follow her. Without bothering to get undressed, she collapsed on her bed. Her thoughts were full of bitter anger as she fell into slumber. She had a feeling deep down inside that one of them would not make it.

A/N: There we go! R&R please!