Lancelot was exhausted and his throat was so dry that he was sure the skin inside it was cracking. But even though it was obvious how week Lancelot was, Hangis still pushed.

"You're not done yet boys".

Lancelot briefly glanced around at his fellow Sarmatians before heaving about the hundredth sack of grain onto a cart. All the others looked about as tired as him and just about ready to faint. Only Dagonet and Bors looked about in the best condition for they were older and stronger. Even the unreadable Tristan looked exhausted.

"Come on. Put your backs into it!"

Lancelot swore under his breath at Hangis. It hadn't been easy leaving his home and entering a new and highly unwanted life and bloody Hangis wasn't making it all that much better.

The day continued and Lancelot didn't think he had ever been so glad to see the darkness of night. Hangis allowed them to go to bed once the sun had disappeared and they all clambered into their room, dragging their feet.

Not a word was spoken but how ever Lancelot knew he wasn't the only one that couldn't sleep. Ever since they had left Sarmatia he hadn't been sleeping very well and it wasn't doing him any good.

All night the miserable thoughts of being trapped on this damn isle for the next fifteen years were embedded in his mind and he felt as though he was trapped in a cage that was locked entirely.

Suddenly the sound of someone getting up came to Lancelot's ears and he sat upright to investigate. He watched with interest as Bedivere crept from their small, crowded room and headed down the corridor. Fixed with curiosity, Lancelot followed.

Bedivere led him out of the sleeping quarters and out into the yard. Lancelot watched as Bedivere looked about cautiously and tiptoed over to the stables. Lancelot smiled as he began to feel as though Bedivere was making a midnight visit to some barmaid or something and couldn't stop himself from following the boy into the stables to have a look.

Voices met with Lancelot's ears.

"Hello there little sister".

Lancelot almost laughed at how wrong he had been. He peered over a stall and watched as Bedivere embraced with his little sister Keighley.

He was astonished by in such a little amount of time the girl already looked different to when he had last seen her. She had been more thin and frail before but now her cheeks were filled and her body wasn't just some stick-frame anymore.

He watched as brother and sister talked for a long, long time and soon he fell asleep.

"Wakeup".

Lancelot was abruptly shaken awake by someone in front of him.

Groggily he rubbed his eyes so he could focus on what whom was waking him. To his surprise it was Keighley.

"How long were you listening for eh?" she asked with her hands on her hips. Lancelot felt a little bad for listening in on such a private conversation but really he hadn't taken much notice of what they had said.

"I was just following Bedivere; I didn't really hear much of your talking. Anyways I fell asleep as you can see".

Keighley's face turned to a disbelieving look. She held out a hand to help Lancelot to his feet which he gratefully took. "Thanks," he said as he brushed all the hay off his backside. Keighley began to walk out of the stables but she stopped at the door, as if waiting for him. So lancelot hurried to join her.

"I remember you Lancelot and I like you. You were the first and so far the only one who talked to during our journey to here and also Bedivere tells me that you two have become sort of friends".

For such a young girl of such poor living in the past her speaking was very good.

"Thanks-I think," said Lancelot as they walked out into the yard. "Have you made any friends?"

"Keighley nodded her head with a smile as they stopped by the well. "My tutor Hanna is my friend and also I have you".

Lancelot's cheeks burned crimson as Keighley took his hand and squeezed it a little.

"Goodnight Lancelot".

"Goodnight Keighley".

He stood there whole time she walked off and watched her go as if protecting her. What was it that had made him blush? Why was this girl making him feel so strange?

Lancelot pitied the girl and wished Keighley a good life. So he made a small vow to help her along the way. To help his friend.

And little did he know that Bedivere watched the whole time from the window beside Tristan.