Ok, wow! Its been a really long time since I've updated, I'm really sorry about that. I had to deal with a lot of stuff. School was ending for the year, I had crazy fials and loads of work to do...lots of papers to write...but it paid off, because I made the dean's list...yea, go me! So, I had a horse show right after school let out and the two days later I had to take the love of my life back up to the Univeristy to leave for London for a month! I cried like the whole way home! I miss him tons and that made it really hard for me to do much of anything for a while. Plus, I got a full time job working at Hershey Chocolate Factory near where I live in Pa, but its at night so I sleep for most of the day and then by the time I wake up, I want to go outside riding and then back off to work...so you see why I've been busy. Plus I've had a major writers block. I wa on my way to run downtown to get some dinner since my mom didn't save me any and I came bursting out the door yelling "I got it, I got it back!" So I came up here right away and started typing. I have to get ready for work soon, so it might be a bit short, but I'll try writing more tomorrow. Anyways, thanks for putting up with me, you guys are great! And yea, I don't own, because if I did, I definatley get imprisoned for neglecting it this long!

Time May Change

That night at the tavern…well, it wasn't a good night to get drunk. I sit in the back with Tristan at what is fast becoming our usual table. I can feel eyes on me from all over. I feel like everyone is staring at me, saying I know what you did. I look up uneasily and I see Bors smiling devilishly at us. Beside him I see Lancelot talking to a barmaid. She is twirling her fingers in her hair seductively and I can tell that she knows Lancelot's game. In fact, she may be his new favorite playing partner.

As if sensing my eyes on him, Lancelot looks up and scowls. I glare back and without taking his eyes off of me he pulls the girl onto his lap. If he thinks I care he is sadly mistaken. I roll my eyes and look away. Tristan nods and I stand to leave. Before we can make it out of the tavern though, Galahad stops, throwing knife in hand. God I want to kill this guy.

"Once more, come on, since you're feeling so good today?" If I could just take that knife and throw it in him….no, I can't do that, they'd have my neck. Instead I force a smile and take the knife. I'm in a bit of a foul mood so I wouldn't have bee surprised if I had missed, but there it was, the sound of the blade thumping into the wood. I open my eyes and see it protruding from the hard grains of the wood. "You know, that's not too good for your blade, it will go dull quickly by throwing it at such a hard thick surface."

"I know, it's just that I like to practice hitting solid targets, you know, for when I am in battle." Oh, the kid thinks he's tough.

"If you needed something that hard and thick you could have just thrown it at Lancelot then." I hear a few laughs around me and I roll my eyes again, this time taking notice of how nicely crafted the ceiling of the tavern is. I walk over to his blade and yank it from the wood. He watches as I pocket it…mine now.

"You can be quite funny; I don't understand why you don't engage in conversation more often."

I look at him somewhat blankly as I brush by him and out the door. "Because conversation wastes time." And I shut the door behind me. A second later Tristan joins me.

"You took his knife?"

"Well its not like he was using it. Besides, mine's broken, think you I should be unarmed?"

"From what I gather, you're a much threat without it." Did he just smile? God I think I did too.

"Stop it." I turn and glare at him angrily.

He looks at me hi, his eyes, partially hidden by his hair are mixed with confusion. "Stop what?"

"Stop making me smile."

"I didn't make you do anything…admit it."

I roll my eyes at him, not caring if he saw or not, as I made my way up the steps to the top of the stone wall. I plop myself down and gaze at the stars, glad that at least the stars in the sky are the same. I hear footsteps coming up the steps but they stop at the top.

"You know, you don't have to follow me everywhere, I'm staying in your room." I shout, pretending to be angry as I continue to stare at the sky.

"Good, I thought I might have to come to yours." I sigh in frustration and put my head down. Lancelot. I turn and face the man who just doesn't seem to get a clue.

"Why don't you give up?"

"Why don't you give in?"

"Honestly Lancelot, if you want to play that game we can be here all night. The answer still is, and will always be; no." Deciding that was the end of the conversation, I turn back to the stars and smile as I begin to recognize one of the constellations. I was never really into astrology, or astronomy or anything though, so I couldn't say what it was. I rack my brain for a name and try to ignore Lancelot's footsteps echoing in my head as he strolls closer.

"I'm very experienced."

"I'm not interested….why do you not leave me alone already?"

"Because you're a challenge. Do I want to be remembered as being beaten by a girl?"

"I'm not challenging you or beating you at anything. I just don't want to be another notch in your belt. That's nothing to be proud of…or worth being remembered for. Why sleep with so many women? Find one and love her like you do a thousand women. That's at least honorable." Not wanting anymore to do with the conversation, I begin to leave.

"You sound like you speak from experience, what do you know of love?"

"That it has never known me." I cast my eyes down as I remember sad times and walk down the steps.

"I make no stops as I make my way back to Tristan's room. I knock and wait briefly before entering upon hearing no answer. Inside I find the room empty. I look around at the sparse items in the room and decide that life at the wall must be lonely for Tristan. He seems like the kind of guy who needs to constantly be out doors, always on the move. I notice that he has an extra sword by his bed, which surprises me, swords can't be too cheap. It was lying on the table at the head of the bed. There was an old, plain floor rug covering part of the floor space and on the other side of the room near the ash and soot filled fireplace, a small table and a lone chair. I guess he doesn't get much company. There was a bin next to the fireplace with some dried wood in it and on the mantle of the fireplace there were a few candle stubs and a book. In the far corner I saw the wash tub that I had used before.

I figured it was definitely time for another bath and I could really use a soak in some hot water, so I drug it away from the wall and went to fetch the first of many buckets of water.

Somewhere along the way, between the second and third trip, I ran into Dagonet. I smiled weakly at him for I found no error in him and continued along. As I made my way back down for more water, I was joined by two more buckets and a warm smile. Our eyes met and though we exchanged no words, he knew what I said; 'thank you.'

Together the tub filled up in no time and before I knew it he was shutting the door and I was stripping down to finally enjoy my bath. The water was a bit hotter than I thought it would be. I thought it would have cooled down more by then, but guess not. Knowing that the water I had was the water I was stuck with for the whole bath, I ignored the overwhelming sensation of the heat and slouched down deep into the steaming water.

My lower back was aching from a riding injury I had sustained years ago and the water felt great to relieve the muscle stress I was experiencing. I sink down deeper in the tub, my knees practically in my mouth and head almost level with the water and let out a sigh. Not the most comfortable position, but it felt good nevertheless. Just as I begin to fully relax though, the door swings open.

Not expecting anyone to come in I am startled and jump up in surprise. However the position I entangled myself in doesn't leave me at liberty to move quite so gracefully. I succeed in almost tipping over the tub as I try to spring up and grab my shirt to cover myself. I quick right the tub knowing that if I spilled the water it would be a huge mess and end up flying out of the tub and landing soaking wet in a wave of water on the floor. As I lay there stark naked I look up and see mess of hair and dark eyes glaring down at me.

"Hi Tristan."

"Women are supposed to clean up messes….not make them." He sits down at the table, pretending I'm not lying on his bedroom floor naked, and begins eating an apple. Luckily for me I didn't dump the water; I just took a good part of it with me when I flopped out so it wasn't a big mess. However I was more concerned about getting dressed and my clothes were soaked. Clearly it was someone's goal to make a moron out of me. I sit up, clear my throat and address Tristan as though I were asking him to pass the salt. "Tristan, might I borrow a shirt for the night?" he stands and flings a shirt at me from a shelf I had failed to notice on the wall by his bed. I raise my eyebrows as I see a basket of apples on the other end of the shelf.

I throw the shirt on and ring my clothes out in the tub before asking for his help to empty the tub out. An hour went by before I was able to sit down and relax again. By this point I was ready to turn in. As I climb into the bed shyly I make a silent prayer to anyone listening that Tristan doesn't want to pick up where he left off. I let out a sigh of relief as he climbs in facing away from me.

I want to say something before nodding off but I don't know what. Not just 'good night' either. However, that was the best I could come up with. Before I fall asleep though, I do say one other thing. "Hey Tristan? Go riding tomorrow?" I got a grunt as an answer, which I took for a yes, and soon fell asleep.