Ok, well this is the last bit that I have on my computer. My brain is getting totally fried from all the work I have to do and I not doing any of it. Why? Because I'm an obsessed freak who can't learn when to get off of this fanfic site! Well, I guess I am done complaining...oh no, wait, my back really hurts! (Stupid horse had to go and fall on me in eighth grade...grrrrrr) So I need to get to work on my work for my Euro Lit class, where I actually did learn some about the Romans (That and my know it all history major boyfriend) and I have to do work for my Amer. Lit class and my German class and my writing class and my Cinema class...ok then, you get the picture. So I don't know when I'll be updating again. Perhaps with some encouragement...hint hint (Review please!) Well, time to hit the books! (hits head off the Aeneid) Yeah, that hurt!

Don't own it, and wouldn't want to, cause it would never fit in my dorm room!

Time May Change

When I woke again I found myself lying once again in Tristan's room. I slowly turned my head and saw him sitting in the chair staring at the fire. I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off.

"Morning, glad to see you are feeling so well." How did he know I was awake? He turned and looked at me; I stared back equally as hard. This man did not intimidate me. He stood and crossed the room. Holding out a bowl of stew he waited for me to sit up. How did he know I was hungry? My stomach let out a low grumble. Friggin stomach! I took the bowl wordlessly and quickly began to devour it.

I finished the food in a most uncultured manner, but I just wanted to eat and feel food in my stomach again so badly that I didn't even think about it. I let out a most harmonious belch that could be heard down the hall and set the bowl down on the side table.

"I want to see the stables." I swung my feet around to the floor and made to stand.

"You saw them last night." He was sitting at the table glaring at me, eating an apple."

"It was dark, I wasn't even there long." I shift my weight so I settle back down comfortably on the bed and wait for him to leave me alone. These stupid knights are really starting to get on my nerves.

"You might get hurt again. Horses are big animals…"

"I know how to ride! I could probably ride better than all you bumbling fools put together! You stupid Romans!" I shout in protest, jumping to my feet. Ow, that kind of hurt. I stare angrily at Tristan and I see his eyes narrow…I'm in trouble now.

He stands and crosses to the bed and looks me squarely in the eyes. "I am no Roman." He mutters before turning away. "And you owe me an apple." And then he was gone.

"Well, too bad," I shout after him, "cause, cause your not getting it!" oh just shut up Krista, like he actually cares about the stupid apple. Clearly you said something to really set him off. Yeah but what do I care? I have a conversation with myself in my head again, nothing unusual there. I sit down and stare at the wall thinking. What do I care? Because he helped me, well, saved me really, is that why I care? Or is it that he's the first person who didn't just walk away from, who cared just a little? He actually sees me…I guess I shouldn't look right through him. but there is no way I am giving him an apple!

Without another thought, I turn and leave the room. I try to limp as quietly as possible, which is kind of hard on the stone floors in the hall. I suppose it could be worse though, they could be wood and they would probably be old and squeaky by now. I hear the voice of Arthur down one corridor and I flatten myself against the wall. The airhead isn't going to tell me to get back to bed again! I wait and I listen for an opportunity to sneak past the hallway where I hear him and another man talking.

"Who is she? Not some peasant woman clearly. "

"Her name is Krista, I don't know much else but I know what you are thinking and it won't work." I risk a peak around the corner and see this man named Lancelot grinning. I read about him enough that he is a jerk who causes trouble between Arthur and his wife. Still, I can't really hate him till I know him, right?

"What am I thinking Arthur, you who knows me so well?"

"You know exactly what I am talking about. Save yourself the trouble on this one I beg you, you'll not get her in bed without a fight, and I fear you would come out for the worse." I hear Arthur laughing at his jest. Perhaps he knows me better than he thought; I will not be getting in bed with anyone. Would Lancelot really suggest such a thing?

"No even if I give her the old charm?" Ok, now I hate him. I really ate him. I resist the urge to step out of the shadows to teach them a lesson and sneak down the other hall instead, leading me directly outside.

I give the place a quick look over, decide I hate it, and head over to the stables. Inside I find Tristan tacking up his horse. It appears he is ignoring me. I do believe I pissed the man off. Good. I walk to the opposite side of the horse and gently rub my hand on the mare's soft cheek. Nice and soft, he takes good care of her. I see Tristan give me a 'hate' glare from over the saddle.

Tristan's silence for some reason bothers me, I don't know why. I start thinking about what I said to anger him. I called him Roman, that's right. That pissed him off, I thought he was a roman, yet he denies it. No wait a minute, in my Brit Lit class I distantly recall my professor saying something about the early Roman Empire in Brittan and how they tried to take control of the land that was full of uncivilized people. I also remember from my European Lit class last semester that the Romans often used men from other countries previously conquered to fight their battles for them. One country in particular that I believe had men stationed in Brittan was…fudge sickles, what was it? Sarmatia! He must be from there. I can understand why being called a Roman would be an insult now; that sucks!

"You're from Sarmatia, aren't you?" I try making peace so I don't have endure his 'hate' glare anymore.

"We aren't called the Sarmatian knights for nothing." He turns and leads the mare outside without looking up.

"You know, I hate the Romans too!" I see about ten Roman men stop and glare at me. This is why I never talk, I get myself in trouble. Frustrated and follow Tristan and hold his horse unnecessarily as he mounts up. "I never would have fought for them; I'd rather die then fight for someone else. I'm the only person I care about."

He looks down at me with an understanding glance. "Perhaps, but there's no honor in that." And he rode off.

I watched him ride away and I started thinking again. No honor, what do I care about honor? I guess maybe I would feel better for myself if I had something good to stand for, even if it is something as simple or important as honor.

I was still standing there when Arthur came up to me with Lancelot and some other guy that I don't recognize. I clench my fists when I see Lancelot but I force a smile and greet them through gritted teeth.

Arthur introduces Lancelot to me, who tried to kiss my hand, key word there being 'tried' and then the other man, whose name is Jols. I nod blankly at the two without speaking and make to walk away when Arthur says something most wonderful.

"Would you like a horse to ride? You are in front of the stables." I look back and give a half smile which means a big yes in my book and tell him "why the heck not, I could use some fun."

He arches his eyebrows in response ad says nothing. I decide to spare myself the trouble of being placed another pony and being told to 'walk him nice and gently' and tell him that I am pretty experienced and want a challenge. He gives me Lancelot's horse.

His horse is 1) very pretty, I mean very pretty and 2) very headstrong. Good thing I'm a good rider, otherwise I might have had a difficult time riding him. Instead I soon have him in a wonderful collected canter and working on lateral work. After half an hour though I decide I shouldn't wear out the beast in case he is needed for something big and I take him back in to untack him.

Sa I begin untacking Jols suddenly comes in and offers to do it for me. I glare at coolly. "I can handle it." I say shortly and slide the saddle off his back with ease. Jols shrugs and walks away. "Just trying to be helpful…" Whatever, I can do it on my own. I put the saddle back where Lancelot had gotten it from, I can feel his stare from the hayloft where I know he is hiding with a barmaid.

"All good for you Lancelot? I yell, surprising him as he didn't know I knew he was there. He tries to act like he isn't there, he's probably in the middle of some 'intimate' act but I don't care. "Ok well you just enjoy banging that whore; I'll just take care of your horse for you." I hear him sit up quickly, nearly falling from the loft.

"She's not a whore!" he yells very childishly. I could care less about his opinions of those stupid wenches. I fetch a cloth and start rubbing the horse down when Tristan reenters the barn, mare in tow.

"You rode Lancelot's horse?" he asks, somewhat disinterested yet I know he is curious to see if I could handle him.

"Lancelot was a little busy." I nod towards the loft where there is a slight rolling noise being omitted.

He begins taking her saddle off as I finish and I leave the rag there for him as I put the stallion away and take his bridle off. "No problem, good horse." I pick the rag back up and help Tristan clean his mare up.

"Thought you only cared about yourself." He says without looking up from the hoof that he was examining.

"I do, I just like horses." I hand him the rag and leave the stable. I don't really know where I am going, but I wanted to get away from Tristan and Lancelot before they tempted me to kill something.