A/N: Thanks to BooBoo33, M I Buvered, .snow0 and princesspomegranate for their lovely reviews! Thank so much guys :) Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 8: Fairytales
Two weeks have passed since the girls had stumbled upon the knights, and they had settled into life at the fort fairly well. Tam controlled the infirmary like an army admiral, ordering the knights back and forth to fetch things or people, giving people lectures on better heath and hygiene. Not that the place didn't need it.
Gawain was the only one who hadn't taken to completely avoiding her, even Arthur kept his distance less he be tasked with something again.
After a very long, very loud and very aggressive, three hour conversation and several threats on Tam's and Arthur's lives, Lily had managed to get Ash to agree to help Vanora in the tavern. She and Lancelot were at each others throats at every chance they got, the pair hadn't realised yet that they were attracted to each other, their opinions still of hatred and 'kill on sight'. But after several severe talking's from Lily and Arthur, they had settled, somewhat.
Lily had Arthur's study under complete control and all in all she only had to work for a couple of hours to keep it all organised and manageable. She got a lot of help from Jols, since he was Arthur's squire, and between the two of them things were perfectly smooth. Lil had had a few nightmares since their arrival but her cries were usually only loud enough to wake the people closest to her. They being Ash and Tristan, who were roomed either side of her.
She didn't say anything about the first night, when someone had followed her back to her room. She didn't say that she felt that presence every time she walked alone. She didn't speak to them again or give any sign that she knew they were there. And they continued to do it.
"…And the prince kissed his beautiful bride and they lived happily ever after." Tam finishes her story with a smile as she observes Bors and Van's children that sit on the floor in front of her.
It is a surprisingly bright, sunny day, with no chill factor winds and not a cloud in sight.
The reasonably early morning found the group sitting around their table in the empty tavern, eating omelettes that Tammy had prepared. They were only missing Lily, but she had been woken up several times the previous night, and is catching up on sleep.
Tam is keeping the children entertained, away from the men, while their mother and Ash get ready for tonight's work.
"Don't feed them all the fairytale, ever after bull, Tammy." Ash calls from the bar, clearly annoyed. "And don't even think about that knight in shining armour shit, 'cause I can see seven real life knights, and it's not true."
"I take offence to that." Lancelot says in mock hurt. He's discovered annoying her is more fun then he originally thought.
"Good, it was an insult."
Galahad frowns. "Why?"
Ash scoffs as Vanora hides her smile and Tam sighs. "For starters, the knights in those stories all ride beautiful white steeds, you don't all have white steeds, and that one of Tristan's nearly took my arm off yesterday. Next is shinning armour, you lot look like you've been dragged through a sewer backwards. And thirdly, you need a damsel in distress, an overly large castle and be in line to inherit a kingdom, none of which you're going to do."
"That's a stupid thing to compare us to." Lancelot sniffs in his moody way.
"Oh and knights in shinning armour are, unbelievably handsome and dashingly charming." She adds with a smug smirk in Lancelot's direction.
He scowls at her, she grins at him. Tormenting each other like this has become their favourite game. So long as they weren't on the receiving end of the joke.
Tam sighs again as she looks back to the children, who now all look confused. "Why don't you all go outside and play?"
Leaping to their feet, they just about deafen everyone with their excited yells and screams, and nearly run over each other and Lily as they swamp down the stairs.
"Whoa, slow down, guys." She smiles as they laugh and sped around her. Jumping up the stairs that nearly got her trampled, she strolls across to the knights. Galahad had stood when she nearly lost her balance, ready to dash heroically to her rescue –Ash nearly snorts at the thought- and is now ginning at her as she approaches.
"There's my knights in shinning armour."
They all turn to smirk at Ash, who smacks her forehead as Lily wraps her arms around Galahad's waist, stands on tip toes and kisses his cheek before skipping over to the others.
"Morning, boys." She leans in between Dagonet and Bors and kisses either of their cheeks in her affectionate greeting of both bald men.
"Mornin' lass, ye alright now?" Bors asks in concern as Dagonet squeezes her hand before she walks away to Ash and Vanora.
"Yes, I'm fine, no need to worry about me." She replies, brushing one of her pale bangs behind her ear.
"With ye screamin' like ye do and there ain't nothin' to fight, its hard not to worry." He chides.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"You can't help it." Dagonet says quietly, always the peace maker.
He and Tam would have been good. Lily thinks as she smiles at him, going to greet her best friend. If she and Gawain weren't head over heels.
That was something else she could do.
"Mornin, Van." Lily says cheerily. "Ash, why do you look like a cats arse?"
The older woman laughs lightly and pats her shoulder as Ash glares at her.
"I just spent valuable time telling them they weren't knights in shinning armour, and you waltz in and tell them they are! We've got to be consistent with them, Lily."
The blonde laughs and skips back to the table, sitting next to Galahad when he moves to make room for her. Tam is smiling at them both, typically shaking her head as she smoothes her skirts and sit next to Gawain.
"Their not children, Ash, or not our children. Besides, do you see any other knights getting around?" She smirks, picking a piece of omelette off Galahad's plate and pops it into her mouth.
"Oh, so what." Ash mumbles. "Point is, Tams shouldn't be filling Bors' little monster's heads with all the 'once upon a time' crap."
"They are kids, stories are good for them. Keeps these ones quiet for a while." Lily chuckles, pinching more of Galahad's egg.
"Can't you get your own?" He pouts in mock annoyance, watching as his breakfast disappears, though he makes no further move to stop her.
"I'll get Tam to make you some more, Precious." She gives him a sickly sweet smile and pats his arm.
"Or you could always get your own." Tam points out, smirking.
"That's not as amusing."
Ash chuckles, falling into the seat across from Lily and grins lazily. "Knew I'd taught you well."
"Oh, because I defiantly learnt food stealing from you."
"Enough you two." Arthur says with a shake of his head. They are so bemusing, but it got tiresome at times.
"I like these mornings." Lily muses as she takes more of Galahad's meal, making him smile.
"What mornings?" Gawain asks, forcing himself out of his conversation with Tam.
"The ones after you face your demons?" Ash frowns.
Lily rolls her eyes, but smiles instantly as Vanora sets a plate of the omelette in front of her before sitting in Bors' lap. "No, these ones, when we're all together. I like it."
"So do I." Vanora agrees, kissing Bors gently.
"When Arty hasn't got his nose stuck in some paper and Tristan isn't off…doing whatever the hell it is you do, scare the hell outta people probably." The scout gives her the smallest of smirks and she flashes him a grin and continues. "When Jols isn't running around doing everything else. And when Lance and Ash aren't in the middle of their own mini war, or Ash and Tam aren't arguing, or Ash isn't fighting anyone, for that matter."
They laugh and the red head has the decency to look a bit sheepish.
"And no ones got a hangover…it feels like home."
"Nuh ah. Better then your household, Lil, your mother scares me." Ash mutters, reaching over and taking some of Lancelot's breakfast, kicking him under the table when he starts to complain.
"Don't you dare ruin my girl's happy, homey morning, Lassie." She snaps playfully, using her newfound favourite nickname for him. "Take it like Gal is, we'll make a man out of him yet."
"Ash, my mother scares everyone." Lily replied giving Galahad a share of her eggs as he shoots Ash a semi annoyed look. "That's just the way she is."
"Yeah, freaky lady."
"You don't speak of your home much." Arthur states, as he swallows his mouthful. "Or your families."
Ash casts a quick glance at Lily, but the blonde doesn't seem affected.
"There's not much to talk about." Ash replies evenly. She didn't have a good track record with her family. That, in Tam's opinion, played a large part in her attitude and persona problems.
"Sure there is, girl." Bors says in his louder-then-needed voice. "Even we've got something to talk about on the subject."
"Be my guest."
"Nah, we're askin 'bout yours."
"Sneaky fricking knights." She mumbles and Lily kicks her under the table.
"It isn't really interesting." Tam mends, drawing their curious faces to her. "I have an older sister and a younger brother, my parents own a store, we live in a place called Sydney. Ash is one of five children, but she moved out of home when she was fifteen. And Lily had a brother, as you know. That's about it."
"That's…it?" Lancelot asks. "Why did you leave home? Are you married?"
"What?" Ash shrieks, the very idea of the 'm' word churns her stomach. "Definitely not, the day I get married will be the day the sky falls. No, I had an argument with my parents and moved in with Lily."
"One day, you'll eat your words, madam." Tam smirks. "Even you will fall in love with some unlucky guy."
She snorts. "Me? Love one guy? Me?...Are we talking about the same me, here?"
The whole table roll their eyes, except Lancelot, who nods in agreement and so gets a kick in the shin.
"What?" He asks Lily, innocently.
"Don't 'what' me."
"Ah, Lancelot, now there are two who can keep you inline and keep up with you." Gawain teases.
"I can run circles round him any day." Ash declares easily, leaning back in her chair. She is being playful, but the dark knight picks up on the challenge and swoops on it like Tristan's hawk swoops on a mouse.
"I accept your challenge." He replies smartly.
She raises her eyebrow. "Um, it's a figure for speech, Einstein. But if you want me to prove it…stand up."
Cautiously, he does as she says and backs away from the table when she does the same.
The others stop their separate conversations and watch the two, ready to jump in and save either one at a moments notice. Lily looks at ease, however, as she moves around to get a better view.
Once she has backed him to a more spacious area, Ash smirks at him and moves forwards. Lancelot immediately goes into a fighting stance and stares in confusion as she ran around him twice, and then back to her seat. Grinning like a manic.
"Smartass." Lily laughs as her friend falls into her chair.
"Well, he wanted me to show him. I ran circles around him."
"I don't understand." Lance mutters and they laugh harder.
"Oh I'm sorry, is it to complicated for you?" Ash replies sweetly, smirk playing on her lips.
He glares at her.
"Well, breakfast was lovely, thanks, Tam. Don't kill each other while I'm gone, or anyone else, Tristan. See ya's later." Lily smiles, getting up and leaving the tavern. She picks up Six, who ran at her, twirls the young girl around and sets her back on the ground before promising to teach them a game later and disappears around the corner.
"Where's she's off to?" Bors asks, watching his brood resume their game of tag.
"Study." Tam replies as she begins clearing the table.
"Doesn't she ever have a day off?" Galahad mutters.
The baby begins to cry and Vanora gets up to get him. "She's a busy girl, keepin' this place organised, and she's doin' a good job of it to."
"She's perfect." Arthur adds proudly. He was quite pleased with the whole agreement. "If she can control Lancelot and Ash, the forts affairs must be easy for her. She and Jols have made a truly remarkable team."
The squire grins.
"Eh, it's like school work, don't know how she puts up with it. Strange girl, also don't know how she's so fond of you lot." Ash shrugs, earning herself glares.
"Probably the same way she's so fond of you." Tam adds.
The red head resumes her private mutterings.
"What are you lot up to today, anyway?" Tammy asks, taking the last of the plates.
"Not hanging around us women like a bunch of vultures like yesterday." Vanora is quick snap, rocking her son. "Three! Put Ten down right now!"
"I don't know." Arthur says thoughtfully. "Since Lily started helping it has freed up much of my time."
"Why don't you all go play with sharp objects?" Ash suggests bitterly. "Or play tag with hammers?"
"Not everyone's a suicidal manic, Ash."
"They want something to do, and since you and Lil have banned me from killing them in their sleep, the next option is to get them to do it."
"I still do not understand why you despise us so." Dagonet ponders, blinking his large understanding eyes at her.
"You're getting there, some of you. But you have this fatal flaw, you see…your male. It's in my nature, sorry." She smiles, a bit evilly. "Don't worry, most of you have removed yourselves from my hit list."
The hit list. They have heard all about Ash and her famous hit list, if you were on it, then you were best advised to sleep with both eyes open and an array of weapons within easy reach.
"Wonderful." Gawain murmurs. He had been receiving more of her glares then most of the others, bar Lancelot. He didn't know what he'd done to deserve it.
"Shush, Hairy." The sadistic minded girl chimes. "Run along, boys, go on get lost." She makes shooing gestures towards the exit and kicks the base of Lancelot's chair to get them moving. "Go on, or you'll be makin' your own lunches. Scram, go…kill woads or something."
"But Lily said..." Galahad starts, but she glares at him to and he winces again when Vanora joins her in attempting to get rid of them.
"Out!"
A/N: O-kay, there we have it. Not sure how I feel about it, it doesn't feel quite right…What do you think? Not much happens, I know. Just more trivial banter between them all. Kinda showing how they've adjusted I guess…I don't know, it's to late to contemplate haha. It's 2am where I am, so I bid you all good night :)
Pretty please with sugar on top R.E.V.I.E.W! :) Love yas!
~Meg xx