That night long after Aria had fallen asleep Tristan snuck away from the room. When he came outside it was to find the other knights waiting.

"How is she?" Arthur asked.

"She's Aria…" Tristan said with a shrug. "Sleeping like an infant. She'll be good as new by morning."

"Good."

"She asked me to look after Teleri to make sure Arnes had nothing done to her in retaliation." Tristan said.

"Go on." Arthur said with a nod and Tristan nodded back before walking off. He wasn't heading to the barns and he couldn't believe Arthur had believed him. He was instead heading to the rooms of Arnes to seek revenge.

"Where are you going?" He looked over his shoulder to see Dag and the other knights walking to him.

"To the barns." He stated halting his movements.

"With a dagger in hand?" Lancelot inquired.

"Where's Arthur?" Tristan asked his jaw clenching.

"Tending to Arias safety." Galahad said.

"We said we were going with you to the barns." Gawain stated.

"Really we mean we're going with you to kill Arnes." Bors said.

"I can do it alone." Tristan said.

"This isn't a discussion we're going with." Lancelot said.

"I don't think so… Aria would want me to do it." Tristan said.

"Why because you're so special to her?" Lancelot asked earning him a punch across the face from Tristan.

"Here we go." Dag muttered as he watched Tristan jump on top of Lancelot and begin wailing away.

"Dog pile!" Bors shouted jumping into the action.

-o-

Aria slowly harnessed the last of her weapons, the axes Gawain had bestowed upon her. She heard the door slowly open behind her and she took a deep breath before turning her eyes resting on Arthur.

"I thought I heard movement inside." He said quietly as he shut the door.

"You can't stop me…" She said.

"I can try…" He stated. "You can't kill Arnes Aria I know it's deserved but-."

"What? I wouldn't kill Arnes… Yes he deserves it but that would mean death to myself and the other knights. I would never risk their lives for petty revenge…"

"Then what are you doing with your weapons and cloak?" He inquired. Her eyes instantly averted and he took a breath. "I see… You were going to sneak away."

"I don't deserve to be a part of this noble legion. I'm weak and not at all fitting of a knight… You and the men would be better off without me holding you back… I know deserting means either life in a dungeon or death but both are more than what I deserve."

"Aria… You have done nothing wrong…" He said with a soft expression.

"It's not about doing wrong it's about honor which I have lost." His eyes grew wide.

"Aria… Did he succeed?"

"If I said yes would you let me go?"

"No…" he said. "Did he manage to rape you?"

"No… You got there in time." She said honestly. "Still you must let me go."

"Your honor has not been lost. You are intact."

"No I'm not… and I don't think I ever have been intact." She said softly. "Not sense James…" she looked to him. "I'm not as strong as I should be to be as a knight."

"You are strong though. You're the strongest of all the knights."

"No I'm not… I'm really not." He watched as a tear cascaded down her cheek and she sighed angrily wiping it away. "See that is not strength." She said holding out her hand were the moister of the tear lay. "That is not befitting of a knight!"

"Aria, You were just through something traumatic something that took you back to another traumatic event I would be worried if you weren't emotional…"

"You think too much of me…" She muttered.

"You don't think much of yourself." She looked to him her jaw clenching.

"I cried… Sobbed… Like a weak woman and now I'm afraid of every shadow and tiny noise in the night..."

"It's normal."

"Not for a knight."

"No knight before you has been a woman and no Knight has ever been molested or had nearly been raped Aria." He said. "It's alright to be scared."

"No no it's not alright… It's not… I'm supposed to be strong and brave…"

"Aria you are strong and you are brave… You prove it by standing here… Others would have curled into a ball."

"I did for a short time."

"But you pulled yourself together and to your feet…"

"I close my eyes and all I see is either James and Arnes or that woad in the dungeon climbing over me and I feel like I can't breath." She said in a hushed tone as her expression twisted with pain. "I can't burry it any more… I've tried…"

"Buried secrets never die Aria… They come back up stronger than before… You have to face what's happened."

"I can't… Not alone."

"You don't have too… I will help." He said.

"How can you not think less of me because of all this?"

"Because I see the strength within you from these experiences. You think you're weak you're not. There's no way a woman who has faced this situation not once, twice, but three times and doesn't just die from it. You continue to stand when others would fall and that is true strength. That is what makes knight Aria. To stand when others would fall…" She looked at him for a long moment. "Besides you can't leave… The men would be so distracted in their loss their likely to get themselves killed."

"They wouldn't miss me…"

"When you were hurt by the bear they were sitting around you as you healed and it was like they were shells of the men they were… Empty vessels. Their hope and drive completely gone… Then when you woke up it was back." He snapped his fingers. "Like that. You have to stay the men draw their strength from you."

"There's probably no point in me running I'd come right back worried for all you guys…" she said softly. "Where's Tristan by the way? He was here when I fell asleep then he was gone."

"He said you asked him to look after Teleri."

"No… Teleri is quite capable on her own." Arthur fell silent for a long moment. "Arthur you didn't really believe he was going to check on my horse did you?"

"Bloody hell." He muttered before running out the door Aria quickly following his movements. As they turned down three hallways they spotted a commotion at the end of one.

"Hey!" Aria yelled seeing Lancelot punch Tristan across the face as Galahad tackled Bors to the ground while Gawain and Dag watched with perplexed expressions. "Hey!" She yelled again hoping for them to stop fighting.

"I order you all to stop!" Arthur yelled. Aria sighed heavily when nothing happened.

"Let's go for a more physical intervention then…" Aria muttered as she pulled Lancelot off Tristan while Arthur did the same to Bors and Galahad. "What's going on here!?" Aria asked.

"They're fighting over who gets to kill Arnes." Dag said.

"What?" Aria asked looking to the four who had been feuding. "No one gets to kill him don't you think I would have done that by now if it were an option?"

"It is an option." Bors said.

"No it's not the death of Arnes would not only put the killer at risk but the rest of you knights as well." Arthur explained.

"Hence the reason I didn't kill Arnes the hundred times I had the chance to during the time he was attacking me." She looked to Tristan. "Which I explained to you."

"I couldn't help it…" He muttered. "I'm angry."

"Oh you're angry how do you think I feel?" She asked. "Heed my word now and this goes for every single one of you. Grow up… I won't fight beside children…" She said before storming off.

"Wait Aria!" Galahad called before his expression turned sullen. "Damn…"

"You think she'd be happy we'd kill for her." Bors muttered.

"She's angry because you think you have to." Tristan stated his mind snapping with realization.

"She shouldn't be alone." Dag said heading off to follow her the others doing the same.

-o-

Aria stormed into her room and slammed the door making sure it locked behind her. She couldn't believe the men thought her as weak that they would have to take revenge for her. Also she didn't like they would take such a risk of all their lives for that revenge. Still she understood the blood lust. The want to take back power that had nearly been taken away and in some ways was. She looked to the window and slowly walked over to see a large hay stack underneath it.

"Who am I kidding… I want revenge… But not the kind that will put us all at risk." She smiled to herself remembering back to the fond memory of what she had done to James.

"Aria are you alright?" She heard Gawains voice.

"Yes but don't expect to come in here you sleep out there it's more then you deserve for fighting each other."

"I did nothing!" Gawain said.

"Exactly you could have stopped them from fighting each other…" She smiled. "I'm going to bed now leave me to some peace!"

"Good night!" she heard the men chime and she just smiled before she jumped out the window and landed easily on the hay as she leapt down from the stack she smiled to herself a she headed back into the estate sneaking like a spider in the shadows as she moved.

-o-

"My neck is killing me…" Gawain muttered as he stretched. He had managed to sleep but only a little.

"My arse is killing me." Galahad said. "You think the others would have let us bunk with them."

"It's because of your snoring." Gawain muttered. The door opened and all men including the silent Tristan stood.

"Morning." Aria said a shiner on her cheek left over from the attack.

"Aria are you alright?" Gawain asked.

"I'm peachy actually… Really hungry though. You boys are forgiven and are welcome to walk me to the dining room."

"Well right this way princess." Gawain muttered still upset from the lack of sleep. Aria punched him in the shoulder and he hissed for a long moment. "Owe!" he yelled the pain settling in.

"Any one of the rest of you have a snippy comment?" she asked only to have Tristan and Galahad just shake their heads.

"Aria Arnes might be in the dining hall…" Galahad muttered. "Not that I think you're scared of him it just might throw you in a rage… Or all of us…"

"I doubt he'd show his face…" Aria said with a small smile.

"Are you sure, he's full of Ego?" He asked.

"No no I don't think he is anymore." They walked into the dining room and took their seats, before Tristan could hand her an apple she slipped a pear onto his plate. He smiled down at it before handing her his fruit of choice.

"I have interesting news." Arthur said his eyes going to Aria.

"Really what's going on?" Galahad asked his mouth full of bread.

"Arnes was attacked last night in his sleep." Arthur said as he watched Aria grab a roll.

"Really?" Dag asked highly interested.

"Yes his fingers lips toes nose and tongue were cut off from him crudely…" Every one's eyes went to Aria who was taking a bite of her apple. "Would anyone know anything about that?" When no one said anything Aria looked up to see everyone staring at her.

"What?" She asked blinking.

"It just sounds familiar…" Arthur said. "His lack of lips toes nose and tongue I mean…"

"I was in my room all night." She said her eyes never meeting his as she took a bite of apple.

"You didn't do it?" He asked.

"Of course not." She said with a shrug.

"Could you say that while looking me in my eyes?" A long silence filled the room before she sighed heavily.

"Could you blame me if I couldn't?" she asked her jaw clenching before she brought her eyes to him.

"Well…" Arthur said. "Whoever did it... It was good thinking to burn the wounds… That way he wouldn't bleed out… Interesting that his mouth was burned completely shut."

"He was probably screaming too much…" Tristan muttered and Aria looked to him with a small smile before her back suddenly straightened and her eyes shot to Arthur.

"What?" He asked.

"It's starting…" She said quietly before a loud horn sounded.

"We're under attack!" they heard someone yell.

"Let's go!" Arthur ordered jumping onto his feet with the others. As they ran out Aria gave a high pitched whistle. The knights turned to see Teleri rushing out of the barn with the other horses. As the massive horse rode by Aria grabbed onto the saddle and pulled herself up onto her back. "Follow suit!" Arthur yelled as he stopped his horse before climbing on. "What's the situation?" he asked a soldier who was running down from the lookout point.

"We've got an insertion on our hands, they're nearly upon us."

"How did we not see them before?" Arthur asked.

"Smoke screen sir." They looked up to see smoke indeed rising into the air. "What do we do?" He looked over his shoulder to see the rest of the soldiers riding up on horseback.

"We fight…" Arthur said turning his horse and looking at the soldiers and his knights. "Aria take six men and Tristan up to the wall and set up an archery line when we ride out you cover us."

"Right." She said turning with Tristan.

"You six with us." Tristan called.

"The rest of you get ready for battle!" Arthur yelled.

"Back to the barn Teleri it's safer there." Aria said jumping off her horse. The horse went to follow her and she quickly turned. "Did you not hear me go… I want you safe." The horse nudged her. "I'll be fine besides you have to look after Tristan's horse. Teleri looked to the young quarter horse who was looking around confused at all the commotion. "See…" Teleri nodded before rushing off grabbing Tristan's horse reigns with its mouth as she did.

"Well trained." Tristan commented.

"Basic instinct." She corrected as they headed up the steps their bows and arrows in hand. "I'll follow your lead you're the better bowman." He nodded as he turned and faced the soldiers. "You follow the lead of us and cover the men down there." They all nodded before lining up on the wall. Tristan heard Aria take a small breath as she readied her bow and aimed along with everyone else.

"Easy breath… Easy shot…" she said to herself and he smiled his mind traveling many years before.

"Straighten your wrist Adne!" The roman hit the young Aria across the face and she fell to her knees. "If you can't shoot a bow you're no good to the Romans! Stay here until you get it!" Tristan watched the Roman solider walk off before he slowly walked over to Aria and helped her to her feet.

"Thanks…" she muttered.

"You can't hit anything…" Tristan commented.

"Stating the obvious…" she said back softly so the soldiers wouldn't know they were speaking.

"You're not breathing…"

"You would know this how?"

"I've been watching…" He muttered. "Easy breath. Easy shot."

Tristan smiled brought back to the battle at hand. He couldn't believe after all these years Aria was still following the advice he had given her as children. She slowly looked to him and he averted his eyes the smile gone his mind now on covering the knights below.

"I say we cover our fellow knights…" Aria said softly and he nodded.

"Agreed."

"ROSSS!" They heard the battle cry and the doors screech open as the knights and the soldiers rushed out into the oncoming battle. Aria couldn't believe that Arthur was leading a total of twenty men against a huge army of at least fifty. It was going to be a blood bath and she just hoped that at least her fellow knights made it out alive.

"Fire!" Tristan yelled seeing the rebel horde well within range.

"Easy breath…" Aria whispered before firing and watching as it slammed into a man about to cut Gawain down. "Easy shot." She smiled to herself before continuing to fire arrow after arrow at any man who dared come near one of the knights. Aria went to pull an arrow as she watched Lancelot get knocked off his horse only to find her arrows all gone. "I'm out I'm going in!" She shouted to Tristan. Before he could say anything against the insane notion she was jumping on the back of Teleri who had shown up with his own horse.

"We're out!" The other soldiers yelled. Tristan loaded his last three arrows into his bow and firing them blindly.

"Prepare for battle!" he bellowed before rushing down the stairs and jumping on the back of his horse.

Aria rode in as fast as she could. She could hear the others not far behind and was glad for the backup of Tristan riding into battle. She took a deep breath pulling her two swords from their sheaths her arms spread wide. She slammed her swords across the backs of two before jumping off Teleri.

"Go!" She yelled. The horse nodded before racing off. The battle was the roughest any of the knights had been in. With attacks coming at all sides. There were moments when they would turn and kill and find themselves nearly chopping each other to bits. Without thinking the Knights and Arthur backed themselves together forming a ring of defense. If one failed to see a hit coming the other would see and protect their comrade.

"We're winning!" Bors yelled hacking the head of a rebel clean off.

"Don't count your chickens before the hatch bors!" Dag offered as he blocked a rebels arrow from hitting him.

"He's right they're retreating!" Aria said. "These guys here!" she punched one across the face. "Don't know when to quit!" she cut off his head before throwing a dagger at a Rebel that threatened to stab Lancelot. As a horn sounded the last of the rebels halted his movements just as he was about to try and stab Aria. He locked eyes with her for a long moment before looking around at all the dead bodies. "That's right… You're all alone." He slowly backed away. "Are you seriously going to run?" He turned. "Really?" she asked as the other knights just shook their heads. "Coward!" she yelled as she threw a dagger that stuck into the back of the rebels neck causing him to go down. "Honestly the nerve…" she muttered wiping blood on her hands off on the back of her pants.

"Rebels they're not as honorable as they used to be huh?" Gawain asked and Aria laughed nudging him with her hip.

"You know this is just what I needed a nice bloody battle. I feel borderline obnoxious after that." She said stretching.

"Even with that dagger in your side?" Bors asked.

"I thought I felt something itchy…" she said trying to steal a peek. "I can't see it…" Lancelot moved forward and pulled it out. "Owe!" He tossed it aside with a smile.

"I just saved you from a nasty infection caused by that rebel dagger forgive me for all I've done lately?" he asked and she just punched him across the face knocking him to the ground.

"That hurt you jerk…" She muttered walking away as the others laughed.

"I'll take that as a no then." He said as he slowly got up.

"You're good with the ladies Lancelot just not that lady…" Gawain said patting him on the back.

"Don't I know it…" he muttered.

-o-

"There we are girl…" Aria said as her hand slowly moved over Teleris coat. She had washed the blood from her coat, and was now finished brushing her off. "You'll be right as rain for tomorrows ride back to Badon hill." She stopped brushing and sighed heavily. "Hello Lancelot…"

"Such distain in my lady's voice…"

"Not your lady."

"No I'm not worthy." She smiled.

"At least you know it." She turned and looked to him. "What is it you want Lancelot."

"For us to be friends again, to be siblings again." He said holding up his palm where a scar laid.

"It's your fault we aren't."

"I know… I know, and you've made me suffer for it, can't we just burry things?" He asked.

"No... You like Galahads betrayal hurt worse than anyone else's… How could you think so low of me Lancelot?" His jaw clenched seeing the pain in her eyes.

"I wish I had an answer." He said honestly. "I don't know why I acted the way I did, but I do know I regretted it the moment I did act in such a way." He slowly walked to her. "I know it will take much time to make it up to you so let me start now…"

"You come baring gifts like the others I presume?" she asked.

"I come baring the gift." Tristan stopped hearing Lancelot's words and quickly ducked into a skull. It seemed the knight was finally making up with Aria. He would stay hidden until all was well again, after all he wasn't one to interrupt a needed apology.

"The gift?" She asked.

"Aye."

"Must be one hell of a weapon." She said and he smiled.

"A weapon to some a blessing to others." She crooked an eyebrow before shaking her head.

"Well keep it to yourself, I don't need more to carry in my saddle bags… I forgive you."

"See you say it but I know you don't mean it, besides it's not something you carry in saddle bags."

"What?" She asked. "Oh so I carry it on my person."

"In a sense."

"Lancelot I'm not very fond of riddles." She said with a soft expression.

"Then close your eyes and all will be revealed."

"You want me to close-."

"Humor me Aria." She sighed as her eyes drifted closed.

"Fine." She said.

"It's something that every woman wants, even a powerful woman such as yourself…" Tristan tilted his head as he watched Lancelot run his fingers through his hair before slowly setting it on Arias hip.

"Lance-."

"It's all part of the present." He said. "Keep your eyes closed." She sighed heavily growing impatient. Lancelot looked over her porcelain face for a long moment. "It means nothing… It's why I can give it to you…" his hand set on her shoulder.

"What are you talking about?" She asked softly.

"Just hold still…" He said softly as he neared her his hand slipping to her cheek the movement instantly setting her on edge.

"Lancelot?" her eyes opened and she froze seeing his mouth inches away from hers. "What the hell are you doing!?" Before she could do anything other than push him Lancelot was pulled away from her. Tristan slammed him onto the ground and kicked him in the stomach.

"Don't touch her!" He yelled. "Get out!"

"Right then." Lancelot said scampering onto his feet before running out of the barn. Aria took a deep breath as Tristan turned and looked to her.

"I had no idea he was-." He moved forward suddenly his hands setting on her hips as he backed her up into a pillar. She stared up at him for a long moment his lips just inches from hers. "Tristan…" She said softly. His hand slowly went up to her cheek where he brushed his thumb over a rare blush. Aria took a deep breath as Tristan slowly moved forward, he was so close she could feel his breath on her lips. Her eyes slowly drifted close and Tristan's jaw clenched as he looked over her lips. He took a shaky breath before turning and rushing off. "Tristan?" Aria asked at the sudden lack of contact. "Tristan?" she blinked seeing he had disappeared from sight. Her fingertips slowly raised to her lips as her heart beat faster than it ever had.

Go after him Aria…