Gareth staring out the window on the silent kid's bed. He had been out for sometime now and Gareth didn't think he would mind if he just sat there for a little while.

He stared out at the night sky. He didn't think it was near as nice as the night sky in Sarmatia but it would have to do for the next fifteen years.

Gawain slept loudly in his own bed not far off and Gareth slowly turned to look at his brother. The two didn't make it well known that they were twins for in Sarmatia it was considered witchery but they made it extremely clear that they were brothers. They had always gotten on so well that their parents had thought that there had been something wrong with them because siblings never got along. Well except for Gareth and Gawain.

The thought of his parents suddenly sent a great thud to his heart. Oh how he longed for them. He and Gawain had spent long and enjoyable days hunting with their father and helping their mother around whom suffered dearly and could not walk by herself. She always told them it was because she had been born wrong.

Gareth turned back to the window. He knew this suffering and homesickness would continue for a long while until and then most likely he would forget it all like his father had said he had done.

Suddenly Gareth was alerted by movement outside the window. He saw it again and realised someone was hiding behind the water trough just outside in the yard.

He peered out into the darkness and anxiously and looked for more movement but it was a fair while before any came. He waited and waited, his curiosity had gotten the better of him and he was unable to sleep.

"What are you looking at Gareth?"

Gareth turned around quickly to find Bedivere standing behind him. Over the past few days Bedivere, Gareth and Gawain also had become quite familiar with eachother and some might even say they were close to being friends.

"Something moved out there".

Bedivere joined Gareth on the bed and they both searched for any sort of movement. But just as Gareth was looking to the left he caught a glimpse of a person racing around the building to the right. But he just missed it by a little.

But Bedivere saw it.

"I-ah-got to go".

And with that he hurried out of the room leaving Gareth sitting by himself with curiosity creeping inside of him. Gareth wondered what Bedivere had seen and then he thought maybe Bedivere had found a girl or was secretly trying to escape.

Whatever it was it kept Gareth from sleeping that was for sure.

"Keighley!" called out Bedivere in a hoarse whisper. There was no answer.

He had been certain it had been Keighley outside their quarters just minutes ago and had hurried away so that Gareth would not realise who it had been. But now he couldn't find her. He knew that if Hangis caught him leaving their quarters after dark he would get a good whipping but Bedivere cared not for his own safety but that of his sister's. It was his duty to protect her.

"Psst! Keighley!" he whispered roughly out into the dark from behind a barrel.

He looked out into the dark, waiting desperately for the girl to show herself but he was waiting for some time.

Maybe I was just seeing things, he thought.

Suddenly he heard shuffling noises behind him and he contained a scream as someone leapt down from the roof right beside him. He lay sprawled out on the ground panting with shock. And there crouched Keighley with a cheeky smile across her face.

"Oh for god's sake Keighley what do you think you're doing sneaking up on me?"

Keighley just shrugged her shoulders insolently and blinked innocently.

Bedivere caught his breath and sat up right while Keighley made herself comfortable. Bedivere looked at his sister with deep, brotherly affection. Now Keighley looked like a cute little girl, only eight with gorgeous blue eyes and wild, wavy hair that only reached her jaw. But Bedivere knew that with time she would grow into a beautiful and almost irresistible woman. Like their mother had once been.

Bedivere vowed he would never let her turn out like his mother. It wasn't that their father was a bad man or anything for he had never wronged them meaningfully but Bedivere wanted a strong and sturdy life for Keighley.

"So how have you been brother?"

Keighley's sweet, childish voice would melt most adult's hearts. It was one of the reasons she always got away with everything.

"Non-stop labour just about. We have been made to train and train from dusk til dawn everyday so far and honestly I am about to drop dead".

He gave a small laugh as Keighley listened impatiently with an excited look on her face. She really wanted to tell him something Bedivere could tell. He knew his sister like the back of his hand. To others she was quite confusing and hurried but to Bedivere she was as clear as the sky back home.

"What is it Keighley,"

She almost burst as she began explaining.

"Well if you really must know," she said making sound as though she wasn't that happy to tell him; which was all an act. "Argus said he's going to teach me how to make sores better".

"You mean be a healer?"

"Oh whatever but that's not all, I have a new teacher now and I'm learning how to read and write!"

Bedivere almost screamed with joy. His sister, learn to read? It was enough to celebrate. Bedivere was certain this was one of the best of starts for Keighley. She would become an accomplished woman and when she came age of marrying she would be able to marry someone higher in society perhaps.

"That's wonderful Keighley!"

"I know. I already know what the letter A looks like".

Keighley found a twig and made a marking upon the ground. Bedivere guessed it was an A. He gloated at his sister as he saw how proud she was. He truly was happy for her.

"I'm so happy for you sister".

"Thankyou Bed but oh I feel really sorry for you cause you don't like your job".

Bedivere almost laughed at how the small girl spoke. Hopefully she would learn to speak proper and be able to talk elegantly as well.

"Its not so bad I suppose".

"Are you kidding Bed? I don't know what you think so bad about it. I would honestly rather be learning how to fight than read".

This didn't please Bedivere. He turned his gleeful face to a cross one and immediately Keighley changed her face to a sorry one.

"I don't want to hear you say that again Keighley. Right now you're getting an education and theres nothing better than that. You must forget the old ways and become a lady otherwise you will turn out like mother and father".

This didn't go well with Keighley this time.

"There isn't anything wrong with mother and father," she protested with her arms crossed.

"I never said there was Keighley I just meant-"

But he didn't finish because at that moment Keighley stood up crossly and stalked off in a mood. Bedivere wished he hadn't spoken so sternly. But he needed to be firm with her, for her own good. But was he doing it right? It was like being a father. But Bedivere didn't know if he was any good at that for he had never been a father. And right at that moment he hoped he wasn't any time soon.

I hope I've made it clear that Bedivere feels a strong need to protect his sister from this new place yet help her to strive in it. But he is a little confused on how to and isn't really having a good time with it.