Standard Disclaimer: KA and the legends are soooo not mine. The craziness of the characters is the only thing I own. Bad Language, Violence and Possible Sexual Scenes Warning. Don't like it, don't read.

Ahh, chapter 20, this is soooooo weird. I've barely scratched the surface, but I'm having so much fun writing this. Hope you enjoy this one, don't forget to review!

Worth It

All he did was stare at me, no words and no movement. With a sigh I realized the truth, all he wanted was a fuck buddy, but I wasn't going to be it; the few times I had been hurt nearly broke me… not again.

"I see…" I nodded curtly. I should have expected this, I should have known! Stupid! You silver plattered your heart again, stupid.

He moved slowly toward me like a predator stalks its prey, "Well have a nice life Tristan." I turned on my heel with Loca slinking beside me, and as expected he made to follow me. I was ready, though, whipping out my unfurled tessen I held the sharp end to his throat. "Don't even think about it. All this time I thought you were worth it, when you've just made it clear enough that I am nothing more than a warm hole yet to be conquered, so back off." Conviction in my voice I used my strength to push him hard against the stall door, with one quick movement I plucked one of the throwing knives from one of his many pockets to hold him in place by his tunic and walked away… well more like stomped out of the stables to my room.

Once I closed my door, I had expected tears. I expected that I would mourn my lost chance with the scout, but I didn't. It wasn't so much of a numb feeling or an 'I can't believe I just gave up on him' sort of thing; it was more of an 'It honestly could have been so much worse' type of feeling. Which is true, it could have gotten too far that I gave myself to him only to have him drop me after, but even though I didn't it still hurt.

Over the next few days, I had avoided him at all costs. Either by working on those back orders for Argon, fixing armor, making weapons, training with Kaida on footwork and finally learning archery from Bors and Galahad, I didn't see him at all. Any contact I did have with the scout was through someone else, the making of his throwing knives was told to me by Argon. Payment for the knives was through Argon. I didn't go to the tavern, much to my friends' disappointment and displeasure for I knew that he would be there.

Arthur had relented to giving me a punching bag, given that it would be in the practice yard and that I used it during training hours with the knights in case of trouble. I didn't want to have to be around when he was training, but those were the conditions and I had no choice but to agree. Hell, as long as I have something to take my frustrations out on, I'll be just dandy.

Since getting the punching bag set up in the training yard, I had to visit the tanners several times in order to get some decent gloves for the bag, but like always they would give me a hard time. I swear they must be upping the price because every time I go there to get the gloves the price is more than what I paid before hand. Stupid tanners.

"Ria, come we're going to the tavern," Galahad had invited me after an intense practice session, I've been learning archery for the past three weeks and still I've been no better. I have no one else who's as adequate as Tristan, but Tristan doesn't exist in my world except as a faceless/nameless patron of my blacksmith skills. I rolled my shoulders about to decline when a sweaty Bors slung his arm around me and dragged me in the direction of the tavern.

"Ewewewew GROSS! Bors Lemme GO! You're all gross lemme go! Vanora HELP!" I struggled to get out of the big man's grasp, Eau d'Bors is not a scent I want to be sporting. "Vanora! Get your man off me! He's all gross!" I continued to yell as I was dragged into the tavern.

"Oi, I'm gross eh?" Bors grunted and held on tighter drenching me in his sweat, while I tried to wiggle away but to no avail. I was stuck.

"Bors, leave th'lass alone, ye grea' oaf." Vanora, my savior, my rescuer, my big sis, came and slapped her lover on the back of his head making Bors leave off. Taking a deep breath of air I praised the gods of life for giving us clean air so that we could. The other knights laughed as Bors made to chase me while I hid behind Dagonet.

"Save me, Dag, he wants to kill me with his sweaty grossness!" The giant softly chuckled before turning and holding me in a bear-hug as Bors came and tickled me forcing me to scream and laugh obscenities at the same time. It took all of Bors' and Vanora's children, Marion, Jerica, Kaida, Gawain, Galahad, Belvedere and Lancelot to release me for it had turned into an all out tickle war. The lot of us were left laughing exhausted and in need of baths and drink.

Finally someone came up with the most brilliant idea, "C'mon you lot, and I know yer 'ungry so le's 'ead o'er te get some food." The scramble of feet and cheers could be heard as the rest of them raced over to the tavern, while I lay there on the hard ground of the training yard shielding my eyes from the sun with my arm. I know my body was caked with dust and sweat, but it felt good to relax, even for just a few moments.

"Wee-ya? Wot're ya doin'?" Peeking through the shield of my arm, I saw Eight staring down at me, her small head tilted with curiosity.

"I'm waiting for it to rain." I grinned as the little girl lay down beside me, her arm over her eyes imitating me.

"Why?" I felt her shift closer to me.

"I'm too tired to get up for water, mija, so when it starts to rain I'll be able to get a drink." I stated seriously, I forget that she sort of doesn't understand the poem by Shel Silverstein.

"Oh."

"Mm-hm," I replied lazily not aware that the little girl got up until the ladle of water was pressed to my lips. Instinctively I leaned forward shielding my eyes from the sun and slowly got up from the dusty ground. My arms were weak from my archery lesson as well as the antics we were up to earlier, but the draw of the water was much too sweet to ignore. Taking the ladle, I drank deeply eyes closed enjoying the sweetness. "Gracias mija," I sighed opening my eyes to see Eight precariously holding a mug of water filled to the brim that spilled with every little step at least five feet away. If she's there, then who brought me… slowly I turned to see Tristan crouched next to me holding his hand out for the ladle. Handing him the ladle I watched him carefully as he reached over and gently wiped the excess water from my lips like he had all those years ago in Wren's Bend. His thumb traced my lower lip and my breath hitched in my throat, all those feelings I held back and locked away to never be brought back flooded me like never before. No body no! Do not react! Blood rushed to my cheeks while the rest of my body leaned into his touch, while my mind kept yelling at me to knock his hand away, to not give into someone who hurt me as he did. Damnit body, stop right now!

SPLASH!

A small spray of water hit us breaking the spell, I turned to see little Eight flat on her face the mug of water she had held some distance away and empty. She was crying. If I hadn't been concerned with the well-being of Eight, I would have laughed it off when I saw how most of the water has soaked Tristan; an amusing sight indeed, a lot like when Loca comes in out of the rain.
Breaking away from Tristan, I quickly gathered her in my arms, somehow.

"Ay mija, c'mere. Where does it hurt?" I somehow managed to cradle her while taking in her injuries; both knees and palms were skinned she would need a healer to bandage her up. But I couldn't carry her; my arms are still very weak. "Um…Tristan? Would you mind taking Eight to the infirmary, my arms are a little weak right now and I fear I may drop her."

He grunted as he hefted Eight into his arms and started walking before looking back at me, both the little girl and scout stared at me expecting something.

"What?" His brow rose and he tilted his head. "Sorry, is that supposed to mean something?" Eight sniffled, the tear tracks down her cheeks glistened as she looked up at the scout, her lip quivering. Damn the quivering lip! "Alright I'm coming." I sighed pushing myself off the ground trying not to wince at the soreness of the prior activities.

"Now how's that?" The aged healer asked Eight after seeing to her scrapes, the little girl sniffed and replied it was better before hopping off the cot and wrapping her arms around my waist.

I had been sprawled lazily on a chair next to the cot with my arms hooked on the chair back willing the feeling back into my arms and staring at the ceiling. The dust had already been somewhat cleaned off from my body and all I wanted was to rest a bit. For some reason, Tristan was still here watching as the healer had taken care of Eight, although the times I heard him shift against the wall, I could have sworn that he was looking over at me.

"Well now bella, all better now?" I smiled at the little girl circling my waist; she nodded her head in my stomach. "Okay, well say thank you for Tristan for carrying you and then we'll go see your momma." I watched amused as the little girl tentatively wrapped her arms around his leg then ran back to latch onto me, the scout looked uncomfortable as though he had a malignant growth on his leg. "Um…Thanks Tristan for taking her… and the drink." I wanted to add 'Okay, go away now.' But I didn't, I'll be nice until Eight is settled with Vanora. He grunted and followed us outside… jeez I need a bath, but first to take Eight to her mom and dad. "Eight you don't have to hold so tight, I can barely walk bella." I tried twisting from the little girl's grasp, but she only seemed hold on tighter until suddenly Tristan lifted her bodily and hefted her onto his shoulders where she squealed delightedly and clung onto his head. I couldn't stop the giggles, for some reason it looked so right.

I could tell, Vanora was shocked to see Tristan carrying her daughter in such a manner, but she didn't mention anything about it. It was a good thing Bors wasn't around, the rest of the knights went back to the training grounds where I know another archery lesson would be waiting, but I hadn't eaten and neither had Tristan. "Van, is there any food left? I haven't eaten; I don't think Tristan has either." Why am I being so nice? I should've just shooed him away. She gave me a look that was supposed to have a meaning I couldn't decipher before placing Eight at a table and getting three bowls of stew, a loaf of bread and a bowl of fruit. The three of us ate, Eight telling me a story about something she and her brothers found and how they were trying to convince Vanora to let them keep it. Soon Eight got up and bounded out the tavern leaving Tristan and me in the empty tavern to eat. Awkward silence reigned as we ate and I focused entirely on my meal. If my arms weren't so sore I'd have shoveled my food and left, sadly I can't. Oh gaad, he's staring!

"Got a problem?" I looked up at him with a raised brow, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk before returning to his food. I suddenly lost my appetite.

"Just you." He replied baiting me.

"Too bad, if I bother you so much, go away." I continued to eat calmly. Silence stretched awkwardly as I finished my stew and worked on an apple.

"Why do you avoid me?" He asked suddenly, making me look up.

"You talkin' to me?"

"Aye. There is no one else." Damn that's true, but I'm not gonna make this easy.

"I don't feel like it, I'm eating." I finished my apple and reached for the last one, but he got to it first.

He growled deep in his throat, his frustration at me evident in his eyes and a smirk tugged my lips. It may be a little sadistic of me, but hell it was fun.

"Answer me woman." He grits his teeth and my smirk grew to a mischievous grin. Leaning closer with my best devil-may-care attitude, I plucked the apple from his grasp and crunched into it.

"And if I don't? Say, I just walk away. What'll you do? Pull me into the stables and thrash me about like a disobedient child? Threaten me with the daggers I made you at my throat? Toss me out the fort for the Woads to take?" Another big bite and then the apple was placed back into his palm. "Don't think for a second that I won't fight you, that I won't return every blow with even more force. Because I can and I will."

I held his gaze expecting violence, expecting him to lash out, expecting something… anything, a fight even; Lord knows I'm itching for one. But not the use of one word to floor me, it was said so quietly I wasn't sure he said it.

"Please."

That one word knocked me over and my defenses against what I'd expected crumbled when not only did he plead, but he held my face gently to his own, forcing my attention. The look in his eyes made my confession fall from my lips.

"You hurt me, Tristan. You hurt me so in a way I vowed would never happen again," I whispered harshly trying to pull away. One hand moved to the back of my neck the other pulled me closer. "I presented you my heart on a silver platter with all the fanfare, streamers and balloons saying 'Guess what I want to be with you because I have fallen head over heels for you,' thinking that you felt the same." I sniffed, "Maybe I should've gotten you a parade, but sorry I'm not like Charity where things like that can come at a drop of a hat." This time I pulled away successfully and stood up facing him. "So just leave me alone and let me live out my heartbroken existence peacefully. Right now, that's all I want from you."

"And what of what I want?" I watched him get up and close in on me. "I can not leave you be, nor do I want to." Slowly I tried to back away only to be pulled into his arms.

"Let me go Tristan, please just stop." He tightened his hold, "Why won't you just leave me alone?"

"Nay, I will not."

Before I could ask why, his lips crashed on mine and I was soon against a wall. My mouth involuntarily opened letting his tongue in, his kiss was heady and hot... and everything I wanted. Cheers erupted from somewhere as well as grumblings about money lost. When he finally let me up for air I looked at him with a pout. "You, sir, did not answer my question."

"Innit obvious Ria? Th'bloody scout's in love wif ye!" Bors yelled over the ruckus. Well, now I know… coming back was so worth it.

A/N: Finally this one is done, two finals down, two to go. Wish me luck because I've got a one in a million chance of passing them with decent grades. Don't forget to review!