Author: Triane
Disclaimer: Not. Mine. Except Iona. Everything else belongs to someone else.
Summary: Iona settles in.
The next four days were a balm to Iona's soul. Four days of galloping across a Britain that was both familiar and foreign; four days of riding in front of each knight in turn; four days of getting to know the knights and their commander and developing a laughing, joking rapport; four days of forgetting the stress of her life back home and just, for once, enjoying herself. She was able to gain insights into their personalities and their way of life that endeared them to her, and her calm manner and sense of humour endeared her to them. She saw no harm in describing the technology and customs of her own time, making sure only to stay away from the legends of their own history - just in case they did ever find themselves in those situations and assumed the outcome because of what she said.
One night, gathered around a roaring fire, Arthur looked up at Iona with his calm, green eyes.
"And what of you, Iona? You've told us of your time, but nothing of yourself or your family. What about your people?" Iona smiled at him from across the blaze, and tilted her head slightly to think. She spoke slowly, thoughtfully.
"Well, I suppose that I have two people, Arthur. One is my husband's people, the people of this land. They are stodgy and solemn, very upright and proper, not given to excess emotion. They do what needs to be done, and then move on. But my family's people, my papa's people... the people of my heart... well, have you ever met a Greek?" The knights all shook their heads with the exception of Arthur, who smiled with sparkling eyes. Iona smiled back at him.
"They laugh and shout, they sing and fight, and everything they do, they do with an excess of emotion... and volume." She mimed covering her ears with a grimace, and the men laughed. She laughed as well, remembering some of her family reunions long past.
"My people believe that if something is worth doing, it is worth doing passionately. If it is worth loving, it is worth loving with your whole heart. And if it is worth fighting for, it is worth fighting to the death for." Bors belched, and scratched his belly absently.
"Our kind of people then, innit Ai?" Iona nodded, her stomach curling in pleasure at the sound of her father's nickname for her. No one has thought to call me by a nickname in a very long time. She was lost in thought until someone sat beside her, and she looked up to see Dagonet's strong profile staring into the flames, his soft eyes kind. A swirl of pleasure warmed her stomach and her mouth immediately went a little dry, while her heart beat a little faster. What is this, Iona? You're acting like a girl with a crush! I haven't had butterflies in... well, ever. Dagonet's voice was low, gentle.
"You are married... in your own time, Iona?" Iona sighed, not knowing how to explain why she and Alex divorced, or even if she wanted to.
"I was married, but no longer." Dagonet's voice dropped again.
"No longer?" She shook her head, her butterflies ramping up their exercises. He smiled.
"You have no suitors, in your time?" She shook her head again, fixing her gaze on the flames, feeling a blush work its way up her neck to her cheeks. From across the fire they heard Arthur.
"Dagonet, first watch." For a moment it looked as if Dagonet pursed his lips in exasperation, but he stood swiftly, pausing only to bend down to Iona's level, his mouth next to her ear.
"The men in your time are idiots." Then he was gone, and Iona was left with cartwheeling butterflies, and the heat of his breath on her neck.