"Lancelot!" Arthur called, standing by a cliff. Giving me a tight smile, he rode towards his commander.

"So a soldiers daughter?" Galahad asked, taking up my left side.

Tristian appeared on my right. "Well I believe that makes her on of us."

I smiled slightly. "Maybe. For all I know I can be a dogs daughter."

Bors barked out laughing, shoving Galahad aside. "I see no fur of tail. Got any fleas?" Slapping him on the shoulder, he laughed harder.

"A true soldier's daughter carries the spirit you do. Head of your own guard, I can tell you are good with the sword and an exceptional rider. You my lady carry the blood of a soldier." Dagonet said as he passed by us.

Grinning I sat up straight, immediately regretting as my back burned. "I guess that's makes you all my brothers."

"Not yet." Bors spoke seriously, causing my smile to fall. "You we call a cadet in training."

My grin came back. "I can handle that."

"Good." Tristan clapped. "Now excuse us, Arthur is calling." I received a pat on the head as they ran off. I couldn't seem to take the stupid grin off my face.

The day was quickly turned to night. We once more took shelter in the trees. I spent the majority of the night outside, siting in between my mares front legs. Ever so often she'd nudge me in comfort. Only going into my tent once, to bathe and change. Not once did I speak did I speak to mother. Not that she even tried to speak. Looking up at the sky I felt comfort wash over me.

The woods always look different at night. Everything has an unfamiliar slant to it. As if the daytime trees and stones had gone to bed and sent slightly more ominous versions of themselves, to take their place. The sound of footsteps had me stiff with somewhat fear, only when my horse snickered did I relax. I recognized the sound of his armor and sword clanging against each other.

"Arthur." I mumbled.

"You should not be out alone Ysmay." Arthur said, appearing on my left with a bow and arrow.

Shrugging I moved over. "With you around, I doubt I am ever alone."

"That is beside the point." He seemed some what tense. "It's rather cold out tonight, what are you doing?"

"I hadn't realize, I was simply trying to get some peace. Mother won't talk to me and being in the tent suffocates me."

Arthur nodded. "I heard."

With a scoff, I looked back up at the sky. "Which one? That fact that I am a bastard? Or the fact that everyone, but me knew?"

"Would you like me to leave?" He took a step back. "The lesson could wait until tomorrow."

"No please. I could use the company." I didn't want to see his face. I felt weak asking him to stay with me. "If you'd like."

Arthur held his hand out to me. "Come with me." Not sure what he planned, but I took it. He pulled me up, walking a few feet away, Arthur sat on the ground, his back against an old tree. Pulling me down with him, I gently snuggled closer to him. His arm held my by the waist. "Have you spoke with your mother at all?"

I shook my head, wincing as I hit the metal of his armor. "No, she won't even look at me. I don't understand why she just won't tell me."

"I am not one to answer that." Arthur muttered. His free hand running smoothly through my hair. "Why don't you tell me about your life? I know your good with the sword and horses. Just found out your somewhat decent with the arrow."

"Well I have a bit of medical training. I can care for an arrow and sword wound. Well…depends where the wound is. I trained all our horses and dogs." I was simply spilling things out. My mind was stuck in the fact that I was in his arms. The cold no longer fazed me, as his warmth covered me completely.

"Well that is very good information." He whispered. "Wait, what dogs?"

I chuckled. "I have bred and trained them. They run loose in the woods, come when called." I smiled as his arms tighten around me.

"The stars are very bright tonight."

"Beautiful." The midnight sky was littered with bright little stars. "It has been a long time since I have seen the sky."

Arthur reached for my chin and guided me to face him. "What happened to you?"

I was quick to change the subject, my eyes darting to the ground. "So I heard Gwen was better, thanks to you."

But he wasn't having it. "Please. I want to know."

"Why? You can't do nothing to change the past Arthur." Glancing back up at him, I got lost in his soft brown eyes. They were intense, but gave me trust. "There is nothing you can do."

"No, but I can understand you. Help you overcome what little I can." Cupping my jaw, he leaned his forehead against mine. "Please let me understand."

I was taken back, he was begging for me to speak, the great Arthur. Begging. It just seemed so wrong. "They abused of me. At first it was simply whips and…knifes. On the really bad days there was fire and swords. It went like that until a young girl, before me died. I saw them drag her body into a cell and dump her. She was bloody and…and…broken."

"Hey look at me." He paused, looking straight into my eyes. "I got you. Just breath." Inhaling and exhaling, inhaling and exhaling. I followed his rhythm, breathing alongside him. "Good. That's good. Just breath."

As I calmed myself, I continued. "The day of her death was pretty normal, whips, slaps and kicks. Then the next it changed. They dragged me into the room and stripped my clothes." I took a few more breaths. Pulling myself closer, I hid my face in his neck. "One after another and another. They didn't stop. No matter how much I fought and begged they kept coming. When Gwen came in, she was so young. I saw the look on their eyes. I couldn't let them take her. So I allowed myself to be taken. I felt so dirty and disgusting."

Arthur hugged me closer. "Shh, no you were brave. Not only did you survive that hell, but you protected and saved Gwenevier. You had no choice Ysmay. Do not think of yourself less than what you really are."

I frowned, but didn't leave spot. "What's that?"

"You are brave, beautiful, brave, honest, kind, beautiful and one hell of a soldier." He spoke softly into my hair.

"You said beautiful…twice." I whispered.

"Because you are. Any bastard would be lucky to have you as a wife." He mumbled.

I pulled back, looking up at him once more. "Thank you Arthur."

The knight smiled. "Anytime." Pulling away, he quickly grabbed his bag and placed it as a pillow. "Lets get some sleep."

I frowned. "Here?" He nodded. "Arthur you sure? You have your tent."

The commander pulled me down, causing me to land on his chest. He grabbed his cape, draping it over us. "I always preferred the outdoors."

As I felt my eyes get heavier, I draped my hand across his stomach. "Arthur?"

"Yes?"

"Will you stay?" I felt wrong asking him, but who cares.

"I am not leaving."

And just like that I allowed sleep to over take me. His arm holding me closer, in a tight, un breakable hold. His fur cape sealing our body heat around us. His scent surrounding me. The sound of his heart beat lullabying me to an even deeper slumber. This was heaven in hell.