Thanks for hanging in there with me guys. We're remodeling, so I haven't had time to write anything :( But thankfully I found some time to do so, and I hope you guys enjoy this!
Readerfreak10: Haha, he is the little deceiver isn't he? Makes him all the more loveable :P Hope you enjoy this!
Skay Takari: I know! I wouldn't mind owning KA either. Lance would be in trouble if I did, lol. Have fun reading!
Disclaimer : I DO NOT OWN KA. I wish I did.
Chapter 3: Life In Death
Kana stood sullenly in the tavern, doing the chores she was assigned as usual. Today was different from every other day, a bit of a rain cloud hovering over her head. It wasn't because of her bitter loss to Lancelot, or anything about him really. Only days before her mother had gone into labor, giving birth – her life – to a baby boy. The poor child would never know his mother, nor would Kana have her mother to share good times with. But Kana couldn't bring herself to be bitter towards her brother, Kenton, for it wasn't his fault after all.
"Kana, why don't you go for a walk?" Vanora's mother suggested, offering Kana a saddened smile.
Kana looked up dully, but set the rag down on the table she had been wiping before shuffling out of the tavern. Her father had taken the loss hard, locking himself up in his room while ordering the maids to take care of the baby. Kana had tried all she could to help with the care of her brother, but she was usually brushed aside.
Snorting softly, she plodded down one of the paths, her mind reeling constantly with her memories and sad emotions, which only led to more wallowing. She only stopped, reluctantly of course, when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. "What do you want?" she hissed.
"I'm sorry about the loss of your mother," Arthur said as he approached Kana. He shrugged slightly.
Kana hesitated. "Thanks," she said quietly and started walking again.
Arthur furrowed his brow but followed quickly after her, falling into step beside her. He had been one of the kinder knights that Kana had met, and she preferred to talk to him over that arrogant Lancelot. Dagonet was a gentle one as well, but he didn't seem to speak much – nor did Tristan for that matter.
"Would you like to come to the stables with me?" he offered.
Kana let her breath out of her nose slowly, pondering his offer. She was reluctant to do anything that might be considered fun. Why should she have fun in a sad time such as this? After a moment she nodded. "Sure," she accepted quietly.
A smile lit Arthur's face. "Well, come on then," he said and hurried off in the direction of the stables.
Shaking her head, Kana followed after him, the strong, but welcoming, smell of horses hitting her as she neared. She couldn't help it as she reached out to stroke one of the curious equines as it poked its head out of the stall.
"That's Roan," Arthur said.
"But he isn't a roan, he's black," Kana said, raising an eyebrow as she looked at the horse.
"You don't have to name a horse by what he looks like," Arthur huffed, raising an eyebrow himself.
"Why exactly are we here?" Kana asked, switching the subject.
Arthur shrugged nonchalantly. "I know you like horses… so I thought this might make you a bit happier," he said.
Kana's expression turned to that of surprise. "Oh… thanks," she said.
"Why are you by Roan?" Lancelot's sharp voice rang as he sauntered down the aisle of the barn with Gawain and Galahad.
Kana glared at him. "I'm petting your poorly named horse," she snapped. The stallion raised his head as if offended by the comment on his name.
"He's not poorly named!" Lancelot shot back. "He's a reliable mount."
Arthur looked between the two of them, a bit of a nervous look crossing his features as he did so. He wasn't sure if he wanted to break up a fight between the two of them. "Why don't we all go for a relaxing ride?" he suggested.
Kana hesitated, still glaring at Lancelot.
"Come on, it'll be a good way to take your mind off of things," Arthur urged.
"Yeah, we can go ride down by the stream," Galahad threw in.
"Alright, let's go," Kana gave in, going to the stall, which held a bay mare named Mecho. Mecho had been given to Kana's family as a reward for their loyalty, although Kana rode her the most out of her family.
"You're going to ride in a dress?" Lancelot mused.
"No, I'm going to borrow some breeches smart ass," Kana snarled.
Arthur shifted uncomfortably again. "Come on, come on, you guys are slow," he urged, trying to ease the tension.
Lancelot snorted but finished saddling up Roan as Kana scurried to go put some breeches and a tunic on. After a moment, he smirked and waltzed over to Mecho, loosening the girth around her belly.
Galahad and Gawain snorted in laughter, retaining their composure as Kana came back. The four knights were on their horses, waiting, although Arthur hadn't seen what Lancelot had done.
Kana grabbed the saddle horn and put her foot in the stirrup, lifting herself up only to have the saddle slide towards her weight, which caused her to cry out in surprise as it moved. Mecho began to prance forward in both panic and irritation, leaving Kana on the floor while she went cantering out of the stable.
The knights – save for Arthur – roared in their laughter. Kana got to her feet, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger. "That wasn't funny Lancelot!" she snarled, turning on her heel.
Lancelot's smirk didn't pass from his face as he sat on the back of his horse. Arthur shook his head in disappointment. "She just lost her mother, Lancelot. You could be a little more compassionate," he said, urging his horse forward after Kana.
Lancelot stopped laughing at Arthur's words, and then frowned. He snorted, a displeased look coming over his face as he urged Roan forward after Arthur and Kana. After Kana had managed to catch Mecho and saddle her back up properly, they started out down one of the forest paths.
Galahad and Gawain had delighted in throwing berries at each other. Kana only joined when Galahad grabbed Mecho's reins and urged her forward, forcing her to forget her loss for a little bit. "Ha! Got you Gawain!" Galahad exclaimed triumphantly.
"Got you Galahad," Kana said jokingly as she hit him in the forehead with one.
Gawain burst out laughing at this only to be hit with one as well by Kana. "I say we gain up on her," he said.
"I agree," Galahad agreed, grinning.
Kana's eyes widened as she urged Mecho forward into a canter down the trail.
Lancelot snorted as he watched the three playing around. "You said she lost her mother. Look at her! She's fooling around as if nothing has happened. Shouldn't she be more… depressed?"
Arthur glanced at him for a moment. "She did. Sometimes, Lancelot, it isn't a bad thing to have a bit of joy in a dark time," he replied.
Lancelot shook his head in disbelief.
Kana was relieved when they got to the stream, for her hands were sticky from holding the berries, and crushing a few of them in the process. Seeing Lancelot sitting on Roan beside the stream, she got an idea. She moved Mecho at a canter. "Lancelot!" she yelled.
The young knight was so startled he accidentally fell off of Roan and into the stream, while Roan bolted over to the other knights' horses. Now it was Kana's turn to laugh with Galahad and Gawain, while Arthur chuckled. Lancelot glared up at them as he sat in the stream, his clothes soaked through.
Kana smirked at him and moved Mecho forward before dismounting. She knelt at the side of the stream, washing her hands off.
Lancelot, smirking, reached over and splashed her, causing her to gasp at the cold shock wave.
She glared at him and splashed him back, which only caused a splashing war between them.
"It's love," Galahad said quietly.
Gawain nodded. "I think so."
"Just don't let Kana hear you," Arthur mused, smiling.
"No, that would mean death," Gawain agreed, watching Kana tackle Lancelot back into the stream as they got to their feet.
By the time the day was over, Kana and Lancelot were soaked to the bone, making the ride home slightly uncomfortable. "That's what you get when you play in the water," Arthur said, smiling as they put their horses away.
"Yes, well, I best be getting home," Kana said. "Thank you for the adventure, sir knights. I will see you some other time."
Gawain and Galahad bowed to her, and Arthur did his own jester of respect. Lancelot, however, stayed upright. He cleared his throat. "I'll walk you home," he said, and followed after her, not noticing Arthur's triumphant look.
Kana raised an eyebrow at Lancelot but didn't question as they began the small trip back to her house.
"I'm sorry about your mother," Lancelot said quietly, not looking at Kana, thus missing her surprised expression. "If I had known I wouldn't have played such a trick on you."
Kana looked down at the ground for a moment. "Thank you," she said quietly, not able to bring herself to be rude to him after he had said that. Of course, that didn't mean she liked him. "This is my home. Thank you, Sir Lancelot, for walking me home."
"T'was a pleasure," Lancelot said, kissing her hand, although it was reluctant.
Kana wrinkled her nose, but gave him a smirk before entering the house, locking the door behind her.
Lancelot snorted. "I'm going to kill Arthur," he mumbled.