"You need to look at your foot," Bors said to Shyare.
Shyare grumbled something and pulled her boot off to see the damage. The sword had gone a quarter of the way through her foot, leaving only a small bleeding gash. She went to her horse and pulled spare cloth along with a needle and thread. After sitting down again, she wrappedtheclotharound her foot and roughly tied a knot. She quickly stitched up the hole left in the soft leather of her boot, and slid it on again.
"Well, I bid you all good night," Shyare said as she led her horse towards the forest.
"Where do you think you're going?" Arthur asked.
"There is a near by river, I wish to bathe in and a small clearing I'll rest in," Shyare responded calmly.
"You will need protection from the woads," Arthur continued.
"I can watch out for myself," she replied, "If not, Achilles will scare off any intruders," she continued while nodding towards the wolf on her heels.
"No, you are under my command. You will wash and return here afterwards," Arthur said sternly.
"Only on one condition," Shyare said, "I don't sleep near those two," nodding at Tristan and Lancelot.
"That is fine," Arthur said.
Shyare walked into the woods and found the river moments afterwards. She left Achilles and Alexander on the banks. After seeing no one in the surrounding woods, she took her boots and the rest of her clothing off, shoving it in a bag on Alexander. She waded into the cold water and dunked her head after it was up to her shoulders. She did not realize that Arthur had sent Galahad and Dagonet to keep watch, making sure no harm would come on her. Dagonet gave Galahad a glare when he saw him watching Shyare undress.
Shyare slowly ran her fingers through her hair. After making sure there was no remnants of dirt on her, she whistle and Alexander came to the edge of the water, blocking her view. She then heard a groan from the woods, which was Galahad, when the horse blocked his view. Shyare quickly threw on underbreeches, breeches and and under shirt, along with slipping on her boots. She grabbed a knife and headed in Galahad's direction. Dagonet had left when he heard Shyare leave the water, the left Galahad. She spotted him as he turned, trying to escape her wrath. Shyare was quicker and grabbed his shirt. He pulled away and ran to camp in full sprint. Shyare ran after him, with Alexander and Achilles following.
As Galahad ran through, he hid behind Dagonet's large form. Shyare came seconds later with knife in hand. Some how the knights had some form of an idea in their minds, knowing what had just taken place. Lancelot and Tristan were just staring at her. Shyare checked her surroundings quickly and then spotted Galahad.
"You peep!" Shyare yelled, "Do you not know 'tis rude to watch women undress and bathe?"
Gawain looked up from his meal and took the knife from his younger sister's hand.
"You can't just go killing Galahad," Gawain said calmly, "You'll have to wait until we're released."
"I wasn't planning to," Shyare replied with a sickening sweet voice. Galahad gulped. "What are you two staring at?" she asked Tristan and Lancelot.
"You need to put something more substantial on," Arthur said while cutting in.
Shyare then realized her shirt was very wet and see through. It was white material clinging to her body. She went to Alexander and dug through a couple of bags until she pulled out a large black tunic. She threw it over her head and tied a rope tightly around her waiste. She then placed a knife in her makeshift belt and a dagger in her boot.
"Good night," Shyare said as she settled herself against a tree, crossing her legs.
"Night," most of the knights replied.
During Tristan's night watch, he noticed Shyare shivering. He took his cloak and placed it over her body. He then noticed her hand on the hilt of her knife. He spent most of the night watching her until dawn appeared.
By dawn, most of the knights were awake and already packed. Shyare was fast asleep in the same position she started in last night, with the exception ofa cloak on top of her sleeping figure. Arthur was about to wake her up when Gawain stopped him.
"You don't want to do that." he said.
"And why not?" Arthur asked confusedly.
"One she's always armed and ready to fight, and two, you don't want to start your day off by having the crap being beat from you," Gawain replied.
"I'll take your advice," Arthur said, he then added with a grin, "I give you the honor of waking her up."
Gawain went up to Shyare with a stick in hand, and a frown on his face. He began to gently nudge her stomach when she let out a low growl. The rest of the group took a step back, excluding Tristan. Gawain nudged her once again, and a knife came out from beneath the cloak and knocked off half of the stick. After a final hard poke, Shyare stood up and walked towards Alexander. She dug through a bag and pulled out a large bottle of rum. She popped the cork and took a large swig. By now, all of the knights were watching her intently.
"What?" she asked.
"Didn't your parents ever tell you, you shouldn't drink before midday?" asked Bors with a chuckle.
"No, if they did it slipped my mind," Shyare replied, "Besides, its the only thing that will truly wake me in the morning."
She took another swig to get the point through. Gawain shook his head at her tactics.
Tristan couldn't help but stare. He couldn't understand Shyare. She brought his emotions out. He kissed her! How that happened, he wasn't sure. For all he knew, Lancelot could have entered him and taken control. He didn't want become too close to her, if it was the last thing he did. He tore his eyes away from her. He would like to mess with her though, it was ariot to see her temper rise.
"Well, Arthur, where exactly are we headed? Shyare asked while corking the rum bottle and setting it in a satchel.
"We're heading to Hadrian's Wall," he replied while mounting his horse.
"How far is it?" she asked while passing Gawain to fetch Achilles.
"About an hours ride."
"Good," Shyare replied, "Try to keep an eye on us." She continued, "If you loose us, follow our tracks."
"Why would I loose you?" Gawain asked with a confused look.
"I wasn't talking to you," Shyare said while swinging her leg over to the other side of Alexander, "I was speaking to Achilles."
"Lunatic," she heard in Lancleot's cough.
"We'll see when he shows up later," Shyare replied while punching him in the shoulder.
"Tristan, you may ride ahead," Arthur said.
Tristan nodded and nudged his horse foward, into the clearing's exit. Lancelot was still rubbing his shoulder from Shyare's punch. When everyone was on their horse, they made their way foward. Arthur rode aside Shyare, ready to start a conversation.
"Do you have any armour?" Arthur inquired.
"No," Shyare replied.
"We'll get you some when we reach the wall," Arthur said.
"That would be a waste of good money," Shyare said while looking him in the eye, "For it will only rust in a trunk next to my bed."
"Oh, yes, about that," Arthur continued, "You'll need to share a room with one of the knights, until one is cleaned out for you."
Shyare nodded and looked ahead.
"No more rum or any other beverages that are not water," he continued, "while we're traveling."
"What'll keep me awake!" Shyare asked snapping up with an incredulous look plastered on her face.
"I won't be having any drunk knights," he said sternly.
"I've only become drunk while drinking wine," she said defensively.
"No more duels with real weapons, there are practice one in the armory and practice arena," he continued, ignoring her last comment.
"One last thing, no sharing beds with men," Arthur said.
"And who are you to stop me?" Shyare asked.
"Your commander," he said.
"I don't believe you've stopped the other knights from this pleasure," Shyare said.
"They're not prone to becoming with child," he said while riding ahead.
"Good thing I still have that herb," she muttered under her breath.
"So, did Arthur give you the rules?" Galahad inquired while coming up on her right, Gawain on her left.
"Aye, I have some problems with them," she mumbled.
"No sharing beds, right?" he asked.
"Aye, but I can get around that," Shyare said with a wink.
"I don't want to hear that!" Gawain said with a look of disgust on his face.
Galahad cut in, noticing the look of discomfort on the subject, "I bet the drinking was what really got you worst," he said with a smirk.
"Don't even think about sneaking it on trips," Gawain said, "I've tried, he searched my bags."
"Damn, I'll find some way to bring some, just enough to wake me up in the morning," she said with a scowl.
Shyare tied Alexander's reigns around her hand. She then sat back in her saddle and closed her eyes, before being poked on the shoulder. She opened one eye to see Lancelot.
"What do you want?" she asked tiredly.
"You can't sleep while riding," he said, "You'll injure yourself."
"I assure you, I won't be injured," Shyare replied while closing her eyes, "besides I have seven men to protect me."
"Well, what if someone knocked you off of your horse?" Lancelot pressed on.
"They'd be sorry they were ever born," she replied.
After a few moments of shut eye, Shyare felt someone pull their horse beside hers. They were leaning over, about to shove her off, when Alexander shot foward. Shyare looked back to see Lancelot fall into a muddy puddle. He jumped up and remounted his horse, with a scowl on his face hearing the other knights' laughter. He rode up beside Shyare. She gave him a smirk and shook her finger at him.
"That wasn't very nice," she said.
"You made me fall off my horse!" he yelled.
"It was for your own good," she replied.
Shyare went back to sleep on her horse for another half hour, while Lancelot fell back. Before she knew what was happening,she felt someone grab her around the waiste and pull her to the ground. She looked up to see a smirking Lancelot.
"What the bloody hell!" she yelled, gettingout of a mud puddle and shoving Lancelot to the side.
"It was for your own good," he mimicked her.
Shyare walked up to Lancelot and made a fist ready to punch him, when a hand grabbed her ready fist from behind. She turned around quickly, ready to punch the person stopping her from beating up Lancelot. Her other fist was quickly caught when she looked up to see Tristan. She gave him a scowl and pulled away, to turn and give Lancelot his deserved black eye, which he recieved. Tristan lifted her up onto his horse and mounted behind her, before she could react. He rode ahead so the other knights couldn't hear them.
"What do you think you're doing?" Shyare asked angrily.
"Stopping you from injuring any other knight," he replied calmly.
"You better release me then," she said.
"No," was his simple answer.
Shyare made a move to jump from the horse when Tristan grabbed her waiste. She gave him a look that seemed as if it could kill. She elbowed him in the stomach and head butted his face, with the back of her skull. Shyarequickly jumped from the horse and mounted her own stallion. Arthur rode up with a stern look planted on his face.
"You and Tristan can not go on like this," he said, he obviously must not have seen her and Lancelot earlier.
"And how might you cure this?" Shyare asked sarcastically.
"Tristan," Arthur called.
Tristan fell back to Arthur right side, and gave him a look of questioning. Before Tristan or Shyare knew what was happening, Shyare was once again mounted infront of the scout. Arthur placed a cuff on Shyare's right hand, and one on Tristan's left. Shyare gave her new commander a glare.
"What do you think you're doing?" she yelled.
"The cuffs will come off once I'm sure you and Tristan get along," he said while riding foward.
"We're more likely to kill each other first!" Shyare called after him.
A/N: How'd you like this chapter? Was it okay? Thanks for the reviews! I hope to hear from you again!
Litha2124: I'm glad you like Shyare, I like having my female characters tough and unintimidated. I'm glad you liked the fight scene. I agree, Tristan is hot! Lancelot should have fun with no women for a week!
elvinscarf: I'm glad you love it!
Elfvamp1-13-97: I'm glad you like Shyare! I will continue as quickly as possible!
CoffeeeFreeeak: I'm glad you think my story's good! Sorry I made Shyare seem like super woman, I have trouble with that type of thing! I'll try to give her some flaws!
Rayden 77: I'm glad you're enjoying my story so far! Yeah, I pretty sure Tristan and Shyare are hooking up! I always have trouble deciding between him and Lancelot! I'll update as soon as possible!