Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own any of the characters in this story, except for Kaleigh, who is a fabrication of my imagination.
"words"
thoughts
After paying for her drink Kaleigh set about to find a place where she could rent a room. Venora told her of a room near her own and promised to take her there when she was done at the tavern if Kaleigh could but wait a while. Kaleigh told Venora that was fine and that she would come back to the tavern shortly; she just wanted to check on her horse for the night.
Kaleigh set of at a brisk pace toward the stable, but slowed when she realized she had no reason to hurry. For the first time in almost two years she no longer felt the need to keep moving. She had found her brother. Whether or not they returned to what was left in Sarmatia was up to him. She sighed and rolled her shoulders, feeling the weight being lifted from them.
As she entered the stable she shrugged off the black cloak, revealing the loose, pale blue dress she wore. She stood quietly for several seconds, letting her eyes become accustomed to the dimmer light inside. The only sounds she heard at first were those of the horses mutely chewing their hay and swishing their tails, then she heard low talking coming from within a stall to her right. She glided soundlessly over to the stall of the gray stallion the stable man had put away earlier. When she looked inside she was surprised to see two human eyes looking back at her. "Tristan." she said surprised, "How did you know I was here? I know I gave away no sound."
He turned back to the horse, "I'm a scout."
She smirked, "Is that suppose to explain everything?"
He tilted his head slightly toward her, "Yes." and went back to grooming the dappled stallion.
"You have a beautiful horse." Kaleigh offered, hoping for a response. Tristan continued grooming, moving from the left side to the right. Kaleigh leaned against the right side of the stall so she could still see him, "What's his name?"
"Thagimasad."
She smiled, "The god of the sea. Is he a Sarmatian horse? He looks like he has the lines of one. Actually, a lot like a stallion of a wandering tribe that stopped in our village briefly. I remember because I wanted to get him for our own herd, but they refused." she offered, trying to start a conversation about something Tristan obviously showed interest in.
"He's Sarmatian."
She waited for him to say more. He didn't. "Well, Sir Tristan, I do believe you're harder to start a conversation with than my horse." Her voice was far harsher than the teasing tone she had meant for it to be. She hesitated when she saw his hand falter in rhythm. It was only a fraction of a second, but it told Kaleigh that he was indeed listening to her. She wanted to say more, apologize for the way she had spoken, but she reminded herself why she had come to the stables in the first place. She needed to hurry if she was going to spend any time with her horse. She sighed, "If you wish for silence, then silence you shall have." She turned on her heel and began walking down the row of horses. She gave a low two-note whistle and heard a deep whicker answer on her left. Looking in the stall she saw Valdeer with his head craned around to see her. He whuffed through his noise and bobbed his head up and down. She entered and laid her hand on his nose. He sighed contentedly when she reached up to scratch his ears, firmly planting his forehead against her chest.
She laughed as she was forced to regain her balance. "Easy boy." she cooed softly, "You wouldn't want to knock me over would you." He bumped his head into her arm and she chuckled, "Alright, I get the picture. You're tired of just standing around doing nothing." She untied his rope and backed him out of his stall.
Tristan saw her walk by out of the corner of his eye and wondered where she could be leading the giant of a horse so late at night. He watched her halt in the large open area in the middle of the barn where he and the others practiced close combat maneuvers on their horses. She turned to the big black stallion and dropped the rope. She began rubbing her hands all over his body and after several minutes she reached up and took off the halter. The great horse shook his head, causing his long, wavy mane and forelock to fly all over the place. He heard Kaleigh laugh as she brushed some of his hair from her own. She backed up slightly and, though he didn't show it, Tristan was impressed to see the horse start cantering a perfect circle around her as if of his own will.
Tristans' eyes quickly appraised the horse. He was very well built, with fluid, effortless action. He had known the horse was Sarmatian without even knowing that Kaleigh was. But he had never seen a horse so large that still retained the delicacy of his own stallion. Kaleigh turned slightly and the horse slid to a stop, turning to face her immediately, ears pricked for what she would ask of him next. She raised one hand above her head and murmured a command. The black stallion reared up pawing the air in front of him as if attacking an invisible foe. When she lowered her hand he dropped back to all fours, tossing his head. Tristan stood, somewhat transfixed, as she sat down on the ground. Her horse followed suit and was soon lying on the ground, not more than a yard from her. She spoke another low command and rose. The horse was well trained and stayed where he lay. She walked to the blacks side and put one of her legs over his back, sitting down softly.
"Up." she commanded softly. Her horse gathered his forelegs beneath him and stood, careful of the rider on his back. He craned his head to reach around and nudge her boot before facing forward, ready to go.
Tristan watched her work the horse, making him perform pirouettes and piaffes (A/N: complicated dressage movements I'm learning with my trainer) without her showing any visible sign. He began to study her then. He watched closely the way she sat so gracefully no matter where her horse moved, and the way the skirt of her dress rid up slightly, revealing tanned, sinewy legs that wrapped around the horses barrel. He looked up to her face. Her expression had changed from the hardened one he saw in the tavern to that of someone who had peace only those who had never seen hardship had.
That's what her true face looks like, he mused. She was beautiful. He usually didn't care much for woman. Of course he enjoyed their company after a hard fight but besides that their company seemed a hindrance. He much preferred being with his hawk or horse to any man, they understood his silence. Yet he found himself memorizing her face. The way her slightly sunken cheeks flushed and her brow wrinkled as she concentrated. The way she chewed on her pink bottom lip and then impatiently blew away brown tendrils of hair that had fallen in her face. His eyes followed the ample curves of her thin body. Yes, she was beautiful. But Tristan knew it wasn't just her outward appearance that drew him to watch her now. It was the same thing that had him looking up the hill that afternoon and watching the hooded figure in the tavern. What that thing was, he wasn't sure. Perhaps that was why he was so particularly closed lip now. He wasn't use to not having complete understanding of something at a single glance.
Kaleigh halted and he moved to the opening of the stall, "Good tricks."
She turned to look at him and a small smile appeared on her lips, "Thank you. I haven't done that since I left home." She leaned forward and swung her leg over the side of her horse. As she began to slide down from his back, her horse stepped away and her feet slid as she landed, causing her to fall rather unceremoniously to her arse. Tristan surprised himself by moving forward to help her when she began to silently shake. He was worried that she had hurt herself. After all, he'd seen woman cry over less. As he stopped next to her and reached down to help her up he realized she wasn't crying, but laughing.
Kaleigh looked up and saw the confused look on Tristans face. She pierced her lips together in an effort to stop laughing and smiled slightly, "Well, that was certainly very clumsy of me. Don't tell Lancelot, he'll never let me forget it." She reached up and grabbed his hand and he pulled her to her feet. They both miscalculated how much effort to put into getting her to stand and Kaleigh ended up flying against his chest. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment and then both quickly stepped back.
"You should be more careful." Tristan could have kicked himself for his words.
Kaleigh looked at him coolly, "I'll try to remember that next time." She spun on her heel and grabbed Valdeers halter off of the ground. She saw her horse disappear into his stall and followed him. She slipped his halter on his head, mentally trying to determine why she had reacted to Tristans advice so coldly. It was good advice. She decided to avoid that subject and brought up instead something that had been troubling her, "Tristan, why did you not tell the others you saw me watching all of you." When she got no response she left the stall, looking around for the scout, but he had disappeared.
She sighed and sat down on a bale of hay, pondering her situation with the scout. A few moments later, a horse several stalls down grew restless and started kicking the sides of his stall. Curious, she walked slowly toward the almost white horse. His eyes rolled back and he grunted in fear. She entered his stall and he eyed her for a moment before renewing his efforts to get loose, eyeing a spot at his feet. Kaleigh saw something move through the straw and quickly reached up and untied the frightened animal. She didn't let go of the rope as he backed into the open area, dragging her with him.
"Easy boy." She crooned as he shied away from her, "I'm not going to hurt you." The horses' ears flicked towards her as she kept up the gentle monologue, "You're out of that stall now. Nothing's going to hurt you. Easy." She slowly folded up the rope and reached a hand out to his neck. When her hand met the satiny mane he jerked back and away from her, "Come now beautiful one. I promise it's alright." She reached up again and this time the horse didn't shy when her hand touched him, though his skin did quiver. She kept stroking him and he eventually sighed into her touch. "Now, isn't this better boy? I bet you-"
"Lady, I am curious to know what you are doing with my horse." Both the girl and horse jumped at the masculine voice. The horse whickered softly at the man that came from the shadows.
Kaleigh sighed when she recognized the figure, "Arthur, you frightened us." He looked at her curiously, slight suspicion in his green eyes. "I'm sorry. I forgot you don't know me. I am Kaleigh. I am sorry if this is your horse. There was something in the hay beneath him that frightened him."
Still looking at her with slight unease, Arthur drew his sword and entered the stall. Kaleigh cringed when she heard something thrash in the straw. Arthur exited the stall with a rather large snake draped across his blade. He walked to the stable door and called for Jols. The man Kaleigh had talked to earlier appeared, removed the dead reptile from the sword and took it away. Arthur walked back to Kaleigh and his now calm horse. "That snake was very poisonous. I thank you for your quick actions."
"I'm just thankful that no one got bitten." She handed him his horse's lead and he took it, still watching her carefully. As he tied his horse back into the stall she stood waiting for him, wanting to ask him about why the knights had become so upset at the tavern.
"Neptunus isn't usually so obedient around people besides me, my knights, and Jols." Arthur commented as he exited his horse's stall.
"Well, maybe he trusts me. Horses are a good judge of character."
"You must pardon me lady," said Arthur as he stood before her, allowing his gaze to analyze her, "I know your name, but not who you are."
Kaleigh bowed slightly, "Lancelot's baby sister. Please to make your acquaintance."
Arthur looked somewhat surprised before nodding thoughtfully, "Lancelot mentioned you once. Years ago."
"And you remembered? I'm flattered. I hope he told you only good things."
Arthur smiled, "He said you two were very different from each other."
Kaleigh smirked, "Don't believe everything you hear. People can change quite a bit in 15 years. Speaking of my brother, what was it you said at the tavern to aggravate him and the other knights so?"
"Rome wishes us to leave on another mission."
Contained fire flashed through her eyes, "But wasn't the Bishop Germanius suppose to be giving them their discharge papers tonight?"
Arthur looked down at the girl in front of him. If he looked closely he saw a strong resemblance between her and his first knight. The only real difference he could see was her eyes. Unlike the deep brown ones of her brother, hers were as blue as the ocean. They were slightly mesmerizing, the way they went from mirth to murder in a split second. Despite her obvious anger he could see that she had a great zeal for life in her every movement, although, her eyes were haunted deep down, as if hiding something that no one could ever know. He wondered what horrors she had seen on her journey to this place and how much it had to do with the scar running down her right cheek.
Kaleigh coughed and Arthur realized she was still waiting for his answer, "Yes, but Rome has need for our assistance one last time."
"What is it Rome wishes of them now?" Arthur looked at her, not sure if he should tell her. Seeing this she crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her hip to the side, "Look Arthur, you can tell me now, or I'll find it out for myself in a way I'm sure Rome would greatly disapprove of."
He smirked. Yes, she had obviously changed. Lancelot had said she was as meek as a kitten and could never fathom doing wrong, such was her innocence. He remembered because he had wondered how such a person could be related to the loud, outgoing knight. "The pope's favorite godson resides with his family north of Hadrian's Wall and Rome wishes us to bring them here so that they might return safely to Rome."
Her eyes became thoughtful, "I'm new to this land, so correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't north Woad country? If the families still alive why don't you just let them be. If you and the knights go you might as well be wearing targets."
He shook his head, "We can not leave them."
She chewed on the inside of her cheek in thought, "Then I'll come with you."
"I am sorry, but you can not."
"Like hell I'm not. I can fight and you'll need all the help you can get against those blue people." Arthur was surprised at the way she did not listen. He was use to people just nodding and going along with whatever he said. It was kind of nice to be questioned. He'd think about that later though.
"You can fight?"
Her hand moved subconsciously to her dagger, "With necessity comes knowledge."
Arthur watched the haunted look flit to the surface of her eyes for a moment but it did not deter him. "You're being able to fight is of no consequence. If it was just the Woads, I might let you-"
"What do you mean, 'If it was just Woads.'" She cut him off impatiently, "Who else could there be?"
"Saxons."
Kaleigh's heart froze in her chest. That word, that single word put more fear in her heart then facing a thousand Woads. She felt the fear building inside of her as images of burning homes and dead livestock flitted through her mind. She knew Arthur was still talking but she could no longer hear or see him. All she saw was herself, helpless and alone. Her breathing quickened. With great effort she managed to push the fear back down into the little box where she kept it hidden. She wasn't helpless. She never had been, she could fight until her last breath. And she wasn't alone, she had friends. As the images flit through her mind she felt anger take the place of the fear. Anger for what had been done, and hatred for those who had done it. She continued collecting her thoughts and jumped back when she felt something touch her arm.
The worried visage of Arthur was enough to snap her from her thoughts and she shook her head to clear it, "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I didn't hear any of what you said after Saxons."
"Are you alright?" she nodded slowly in answer to his question and he continued, "The Saxons are invading Briton from the north and Rome is leaving. They do not think this land is worth fighting for anymore. If the Saxons get a hold of the family who knows what they will do."
"Slaughter them probably." Kaleigh grumbled.
Arthur nodded, "That is why my knights and I have been charged with their safety."
Kaleigh looked into Arthur's eyes, "I'm going with you." She held up a hand before he could protest, "Don't even say no. If this is about Saxons, I'm going. I won't let it happen again."
"Let what happen again." I jumped as Lancelot entered the stable. Arthur looked at her with the same question in his eyes.
Kaleigh quickly searched for any believable excuse, "I- won't let you go off and leave me to not know when or if you'll be back again." She said with fake conviction.
Though Arthur's eyes were disbelieving still, Lancelot nodded in acceptance. Arthur spoke, "I am sorry Kaleigh, but you can not go on th-"
"What!" cried Lancelot turning to look at his sister, "Don't even think about wanting to come. It's bad enough that Rome broke its promise to us, I will not let you put yourself in danger as well."
Arthur watched the sister and brother go nose to nose for several minutes, each not backing down in the slightest. Lancelot tried to use his height over Kaleigh as intimidation and she stood on her tiptoes to stay eye level with him. Arthur smirked, he knew he shouldn't just stand there and watch, but it was amusing. Besides, who was he to interrupt this sibling bonding, right?
Kaleigh stamped her foot and Lancelot sneered down at her with his trademark grin, "See, you are just a little girl. Which is exactly why you can't come."
"Try and stop me." she hissed.
"You can't come if your horse is dead." Lancelot threatened.
Arthur watched Kaleighs face go lax and her eyes grow big, "You wouldn't." she whispered.
"Try me." Kaleigh glared coldly at her brother.
Kaleigh began to do some quick calculating in her mind. Arguing wasn't getting her anywhere and she didn't want to test her brother, especially when it came to her horse. She sighed, "Fine, go get yourself killed." She grabbed her saddlebags, sword, bow and quiver and exited the stables, throwing one last glare at her brother, before heading in the direction of the tavern. When she knew she was out of their sight she doubled back and stood listening outside to them talk.
"She didn't say that she wouldn't come." Kaleigh almost growled at Arthur's observation.
"I know." came Lancelot's reply, "Which is why in the morning I'm going to hide her horse and tack."
She smirked and headed off to find Vanora. She needed to get that room so she could sleep as soon as possible. Hide my horse and tack dear brother. That won't stop me. That won't even come close.
Authors Note:
Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry I haven't updated sooner. Life has been so hectic. Never believe someone who tells you your senior year will be the easiest. Especially when you go to a private school and take a whole bunch of advanced placement courses. Why'd I decide to be such an over achiever this year? Oh yeah, my parents made me. Speaking of my parents I'm having to type this around them being home because they hate fanfiction all of a sudden for some reason!
Sorry about that minor rant. I hope you like this chapter. It made me so happy to see all the different reviews I got. I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. On with the review responses!
gryffindors-seeker: Thanks for the compliment. I have tons of story written but it's all in my journals, so it might take me a while to transfer all of it.
Caity: I'm glad you love my story. I hope this chapter makes you just as happy.
Dazzler420: The hypocrisy of Lancelot having to protect his sister from men like him wasn't lost on me when I wrote it. I'm glad you liked it.
Zelina: I'm glad you like Kaleigh's character. I'm trying hard to develop her, but she's got a lot of secrets that can't be revealed until later, so it's hard sometimes.
abeldina: I'm glad you liked Kaleigh too. But you might have to wait a couple more chapters to really find out anything about her. Hope you enjoy!
katemary77: hehe! I'm thrilled that you think her names sexy! And I know what you mean. I totally hate it when authors go word for word from the movie. You're just like, 'Ok. Lets get on with your story. I'm biting my nails in anticipation here.' Don't worry, there will be fluff between Lancelot and Kaleigh. You just might have to wait a couple chapters to get it. Again, sorry it took so long to update. I've already started transferring the next chapter from my notebooks to the computer, so the next update shouldn't take so long.
All of you that read my story and didn't review, well, here's your chance. Just go ahead and push the little blue button and make my day. Good or bad reviews are both welcome. PLEASE! The more reviews I get, the faster I'll update. Go on, push it.
word meanings:
Thagimasad - Sarmatian god of the sea
Papai - Sarmatian god of the sky
Neptune - Roman god of all fresh water and equestrian accomplishments