Here, t is, another chapter. I am sitting on my dorm floor, cables stretched to two different walls cause my boyfriend is using my desk, my hair is drying funky from an unusual shower I took, I'd really rather not talk about that one, and I am happy because my German test that I' definately not ready for was postpones till next wednesday! Also my friends that are still in high school are taking a trip to see me tomorrow and that makes me happy cause I don't have any classes tomorrow! Oh, and yeah, I am going larping over Easter weekend (I won't get to celelbrate the holiday too much :( but I will live) Yea, running around killing people dressed like an elf! Weeee!

So this is where I ask yall who have been following along what I should do. I know how I am ending the story, I worked that out a couple nights ago...I like it, hope you do too, but I am not sure where to go next. I know I don't want this to be a romance thing (icky!) however I am tossing up the idea that Krista and Tristan um...you know (Am I allowed to do this on the net?) (coughs embarrasingly) right, you know, but only for like one night...nothing would come out of it...or I could just keep things at a mutual friendship...kind of like they are, if you call that being friendly! So, review and let me know please!

Ok then, I don't own King Arthur, I think we all know that by now. But I wish I did, cause then I would get my friend back for falling asleep during the movie (I'll sick Cynric on her, hee hee hee heeee!) Well, actually we're already even, I blew a high pitched whistle in her ear and woke her up for the end!

Time May Change

I enter the barn and find that Tristan is there, brushing the already shining coat of his mare and otherwise preparing to ride. I sit on a bale of hay and watch. We say nothing, we make no eye contact; just acknowledge the other's presence. Then in walks Lancelot, Bors and the one with the wild hair, Gawain I believe he is called. I narrow my eyes at Lancelot and he, catching this, walks over to give me a nice hello.

"Must you do that, it is very unnerving. I begin to think you hate me." He sits casually on a bale near mine and smiles. Stupid smile.

"Oh no, if I really hated you I wouldn't even look at you, I'd just kill you." I smile back like a Barbie Doll; plastered on and completely fake. He stands and kicks at the dirt and loose hay on the ground.

"I see, so does that mean you don't want to ride my horse?" he grins…you know, I wish he was actually talking about the four legged animal in the stall behind him and not…well, I don't need to elaborate. Nevertheless, it's not stopping me.

"Of course I do." I walk past him, fetch the appropriate tack and take his stallion from the stall to start brushing him.

"That's not what I…I mean…sure, ride my horse…" he shakes his head and Bors claps him on the back laughing.

"Vanora was the same way lad, get used to it." He walks away still laughing, and begins tapping on the door of another stall. "Come here big boy…eh, that's my boy." A large black head suddenly appears over the half door and Bors rubs his hands vigorously over its forehead and ears, receiving a trail of slime and horse hair when the horse suddenly started rubbing his head against him. Lancelot takes the opportunity to laugh back at him.

"Did Vanora do that too?" Bors glowers and walks out of the barn…I assume to wash his shirt up some.

Lancelot is still staring at me and I am sick of it. I swear the way he acts, if it's female…ugh! "You know what you're problem is, you always think with that," I point accusingly at his crotch, "instead of trying to use this," I now point accordingly to my temple. "Wrong head buddy." He mutters something about moody women and leaves. Tristan and Gawain are looking at me in amusement and I just scowl back.

"No." I don't know what they are about to say, but my answer is sure to be no. Gawain takes this as a cue and saunters over.

"I do hope we can be friends." He says, sugarcoated words seem to be his choice. I close my eyes and sigh. Why won't people just shut up already!

I open my eyes and look at him without turning my head. "Get out of here before I get angry, I give you fair warning." He stands and leaves as though nothing happened. Men, I just can't understand them. Place a woman in front of them, and they go crazy. Somehow I think Lancelot got the message though. As for Gawain, I don't think I really have to worry about him.

By this point Tristan is almost ready to mount up, but I can see that he is taking his time. I do believe he is waiting for me. Rather than make him wait, I leave the saddle and lead the stallion outside and mount up bareback. I used to do this a lot back in high school, but since going to college, I wasn't really allowed to do it too much. I relax as I feel the horses back moving directly beneath me and I smile; it's good to be back where I feel most comfortable.

Tristan says nothing as we ride and I don't bother to strike up conversation either. If we ride in silence, all the better. About ten minutes from the stables I feel myself calm down and I am soon my normal, still somewhat cranky and altogether rude self instead of Krista, head-biting snake woman that I've been all morning. I smile to myself as I enjoy the peaceful woods until I remember what Tristan had said about Woads. Well, it's as good a conversation starter as any, so I inquire about them.

"Are there any Woads around here?" I shift slightly uneasily on the horse's back and peer around me.

"Yes, but none close by…don't worry, we aren't threatening them…they shouldn't attack us…then again." he smiles slyly at me. God I hate men! To my surprise, he suddenly makes a dramatic topic change. "You really seem to hate Lancelot."

"Nay, I just don't like his pimping attitude."

"What?" oh yea, I forgot, fifth century, no slang or modern terms…

"Never mind. Hey," I say, hoping to change course with the conversation again, "I thought you were going to stay and keep the fire going, my bath this morning was freezing."

"I could tell that you were uncomfortable by the idea of my presence."

"Oh how noble of you, what made you think that?" I demand, pulling back gently on the reins as the black beast tries to surge forward suddenly.

"You've never been with a man, have you?" he keeps his head turned forward but I can feel his eyes peering at me beneath his braids.

Oh no, he's talking about that…and for a second I thought he wasn't like most men…thinking about sex all day long. "What makes you say that? I shift uncomfortably again, only this time not under the threat of Woads."

"Just a guess. You haven't then?" he asks somewhat unceremoniously.

"No…I haven't. I haven't exactly been the greatest charmer of mankind. What about you, huh, have you?"

"No, Lancelot pretty much takes care of most of the business around here. I must say I'm not a great charmer of woman."

"Really, that great scowl and everything? I'm surprised you're not the most popular guy around. You should try smiling."

"You should try it too." He counters back, gently urging his mare into a trot.

"I can't, it will kill me." I say, following him briskly. I pick up a canter and ride past him. I shoot a smile at him as I go around the turn and disappear into the woods. A minute later Tristan rounds the bend. He stops his horse and stiffens.

"There are Woads, not far off. We should head back."

The ride back was, in my opinion, lamentably uneventful. We reached the stables, untacked, put the horses away and headed inside. I asked around for Arthur but the best I got was an answer from the tall knight named Dagonet that he was once again spending time with his God.

"Well do you know when he will be available?"

"You never know how long he will be. Do you need something?"

"I was wondering if I had a place to stay at night yet."

"I can't know for sure but I don't think so, he might have gotten the impression that you and Tristan…"

"No, we aren't." I walk away before I hear anymore. Why do all people have to be so judgmental?

I join Tristan in his room and sink down on his bed.

"Still here?"

"Yes unfortunately. You know, for never knowing a man, I sure am spending a lot of time with you." I realize that they have a substantial reason for thinking that about us, but that doesn't mean I have to make it truth. I rest my head on my knees and sigh. I'm not hungover anymore, but somehow my head still hurts.