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.

Thanks to all my reviewers you rock! I haven't got anything witty to say, but I hope you enjoy this.

Cargo

"Bleeding hell, it's so cold." David complained morosely, I looked over at my fellow apprentice and frowned. The guy was wearing a thin navy linen shirt and dark dirty (I think they were grey) breeches, of course he's gonna be cold, whereas I was bundled in all the warm clothes I had and still shivered. The only thing lacking was that my boyfriend was about 10 feet away in line with his brothers-in-arms waiting for the Roman to escort back to the fort, whereas Argon, David and I were to pick up some cargo and stuff for the smithy. So I thought.

"Argon! Long time no see!" A stocky man not much taller than me ambled down the gangplank of the ship we had all been waiting for, he had pitch black hair, a full beard and sole-black eyes and embraced my forge master tightly. "What have you been doing all this time? Chasing the maids and squelching on your craft, but I've seen some of the work your smithy sent overseas. I'd say you deserve time off, where're your apprentices, I want to see what young lads you've been sent to mold." His eyes looked behind Argon and at David and me.

Argon was all grins with the praise and heartily patted the man on the back, "Just here Sloane. Meet David, he's one of the best I've taken under my wing; he's fast and learns like none other. You should see him work, like a natural he is. Good and strong like a lad should be, not scrawny at all and doesn't shirk his work. He's got a good head on his shoulders and bargains like the devil." I could see David swell and puff out his chest with pride before gripping Sloane's forearm in a greeting gesture; the two seemed to test their strength for a bit, until Sloane felt he was satisfied. Wow the display of testosterone was so thick; it was like 'Yeah!' I wanna be a guy too, ROAR…

Then Sloane saw me.

"The boy's young wife? Or his betrothed, such a slight girl for a hardy lad." He grasped my hand to brush his lips on my knuckles. "I can tell she's a hard worker, her hands are calloused like a proper—"

"Blacksmith," I interrupted changing his grip to grasp his arm as David had. "My forge master failed to mention in all the excitement that I too am an apprentice of the Raven Armory. My name is Ria, how ya doin'?"

Sloane looked incredulously between Argon and me; the bewildered look brought a smirk to my lips. I love messing with people's heads. "Argon, are the boys in such short supply that you had to take on fragile lasses?"

"Er, no. Finn insisted I take her on. She's good, for a lass." Argon was ever-so reluctant to admit that I was the one who made a lot of profit for the Raven and seemed content to keep my part secret.

"Actually, Master Sloane, I went abroad a year past to improve my craft. And I carried the Raven Armory name with me during my studies. My work has actually been praised in Rome, but my forge master is too modest to say such praise of his teaching." My smile was pure saccharine as my lashes batted against my cheeks of their own accord. "But surely you know that."

"Aye, I thought I did." He looked at me thoughtfully, the emotion in his eyes made me rather uncomfortable; but I held his gaze firmly inwardly wishing that Tristan was with me instead of waiting for his own quarry. "Come, let us get out of this cold, the tavern has warm mead I'm told." Sloane's hand on my shoulder caused my body to stiffen, "See the lass could use a warm drink as well."

"No, that's not necessary; I shall wait for the rest of the cargo to come before joining you," I pushed them on their way; Argon eyed me suspiciously since I would normally tell him to do his own shit, but shrugged when I failed to acknowledge him in any way. The creepiness wouldn't fade until Sloane was away from me and only one man could ease those feelings. Once the three smiths turned the corner I hastened over to the knights and Tristan.

Apparently the Roman had not come down yet, so they were still standing there waiting in the cold. As silently as I could, I wrapped my arms around Tristan's armored middle and on my tiptoes whispered into his ear, "Hey, you're a handsome stranger, what say you and I ditch this Popsicle stand, get a private room and get to know one another?"

He grunted leaving me disappointed. Dejected I removed my arms only to be swiftly brought hard against Tristan's armored chest. "Woman, you will regret those words." His kiss was rough, passionate and promising, it was the kind of kiss that'll make your toes curl and steal your breath away. Somewhere I could hear the others groan, but in the back of my kiss-fogged mind I knew they made a human wall from who knew what.

Before a reply could be sought from my lips a voice interrupted us.

"Arthur, such vulgar actions do not merit well in the eyes of Rome. You will do well to see that my daughter is not subject to view that barbaric heathen behavior at the fort." A voice dripping with hate made us turn to see Arthur with a man in probably his sixties, a hook nose and pox scars littering his face. His hair had been close cropped to his head to hide the fact that he was balding horribly, he looked worse for the wear; apparently riding in a rocking boat had not agreed with him.

"Senator Nympholia, I present the Sarmatian Knights under my command as well as the Lady Blacksmith, Victoria." When I heard the senator's name I was hard-pressed not to burst out laughing… I mean come on "Nympholia?" Arthur stared at me with an intense disapproval, sheepishly I bit my lip. "Knights, Lady Victoria, this is Senator Justus Nympholia and his daughter, Lady Isolde." We bowed to the senator, but when the daughter stepped up, my heart stopped. She looked just like me!

For a moment I didn't move, it was like looking through a blonde mirror, the young woman had blonde hair, my light brown eyes, my build and face. While I stared, she was the epitome of grace and femininity with her smiles and curtseys and everything I could never hope to achieve; if I were not so shocked I would have felt so inadequate… I would've felt like all those times I had to stand next to Kaida, Marion, or any of my friends, like a loser. I no doubt would have stared forever if Arthur hadn't cleared his throat loudly.

Somehow I managed to regain some composure from somewhere, "Uh, uh…M-My Lady, I am Lady Blacksmith Victoria, welcome to Britannia." She gave me a shy smile and followed her father to the tavern in which we stayed, the others moved to follow, but I was rooted to the ground.

"Ria, what is wrong?" Tristan asked in English as he held my elbow to steer me out of the cold.

"Did you see that? She looked just like me, Tristan. She's my double in every which way save for her hair. That is so freaky."

"Frr-eee-key? What is that word, love?"

Watching him roll 'freaky' on his tongue was so adorable…but I could think of something better to do with that tongue of his. No, bad thoughts, not right now Victoria, bad girl. "It means odd, strange. I don't know how else to explain it." I gripped his hand tightly and let him draw me close, my body shivered but not from the cold, something else was amiss… I could feel it.

The next few days at the seaport passed without too much incident, although I did find out why Argon and the boys enjoyed coming to the seaport so much. Three words: Mermaid Song Brothel. As I labored away in front of the forge at Hadrian's Wall, they were getting their jollies with the whores of said brothel. I mean how unfair is that! I demand that my rights as a worker be recognized. I'm gonna form a union and get on Argon's ass… or I can just set the older barmaids on him. Hee, I like that idea better.

The Mermaid Song Brothel was the same reason a lot of the knights liked going too. It was immensely funny when some were trying to explain they weren't thinking straight. Hmph, men, the only time they think straight is when they have an erection. When Dagonet told me that, I would have confronted my forge-master… but that would mean I would have to be near Sloane.

That man creeps me out to no end. I swear, everywhere I go while doing my job he watches me or tries to get close to me! I mean, what the fuck is his problem?

Tristan must have sensed my unease the first day we met with him and seems to be with me at every moment since. Maybe he arranged something with Arthur and the other knights. If they were my real brothers I fear for my ex in the future if ever they found out how he hurt me.

Anyway I'm going everywhere in my thought. The point is that I was rarely alone when Sloane was around; I even went on patrol with the knights while Argon finished his "business" at the seaport and all of the Nympholias' things were packed and ready to go. All of which went agonizingly slow. My only comfort was that Charity was nowhere near me to interrupt my time with Tristan. Gods above I only hope it won't be so short lived... please.

A/N: This chapter's a little shotty and a bit on the short side, but I needed to intro some people crucial for later. I apologize for it. I hate blocks, brain lapses, homework, and summer school finals. Reviews would really make me happy.