Twilight River Song (Lancelot)

[†Kazira Astras†]

Setting:Twilight by the river closest to Camelot
Timeline: Just a month after Season two ends
Tag:Lancelot
Song: River of Time by Lauren Christy

---

Kazira sat on the bank looking at the sparkling water before she smiled and jumped into the water. She squealed at the cold water but that same smile was still on her face. She just loved to be in water, whenever something was wrong or stressful a good dip in a lake, or river in this case, made everything better. She was glad though that Moros was still wandering otherwise she would be getting a lecture on how it was not lady like to jump into a freezing cold river.

"Blech," she thought. "Lectures are boring when there is so much nature around."

Kazira wasnt normally like this. She didn't just go and jump into lakes for the heck of it. Most of the time it was for bathing or cooling off after a long day of traveling. But being a new and unfamiliar place especially Camelot for some reason put her on edge, besides setting things on fire she enjoyed the water and the calmness it brings. She laid in the water and looked at the Twilight sky disappearing between the trees a song her mother sang to her came into her head.


"I saw the river today and it made me feel okay,
But I never ever had a lot to say,
Reading a book take a look at a boat go by,
oh, oh, oh, oh I sigh -

I've been throwing a coin into the river
Make a wish as I watch the water quiver,
Now and then i go walking by the river of time,
Leaving all my thoughts behind

I saw the river today and it made me feel free,
Oh tell me what is happening to me,
I catch my reflection and suddenly see,
The woman the girl couldn't be

So I'm throwing my youth into the river,
Make a wish as I watch the water quiver,
Now and then i go walking by the river of time,
Leaving all my thoughts behind

Winter comes and goes, and the wind it blows,
Still the water flows, and everybody knows,
Come the summertime all the churches chime
For the river of time

I saw the river today and I started to cry,
Cause the promise it made was a lie,
Stumbling brook you're a crook, take a look and see
See what you've done to me" Kazira pasued and sighed as she turned over and swan through the water before she continued to sing.

"So I'm throwing my heart into the river,
Forget the wish that you never could deliver,
Now and then I go walking by the river of time,
Leaving all my thoughts behind

Winter comes and goes, and the wind it blows,
Still the water flows, and everybody knows,
Come the summertime all the churches chime
For the river of time

So I'll keep throwing a coin into the river,
Forget the wish that you never could deliver,
Now and then I go walking by the river of time,
Leaving all my thoughts behind

See as your life changes as you're pulled along by time." Kazira got out of the water and laid down on the shore and looked up at the sky continueing to hum and sing the song. It had been a long time since she had thought of her mother or even the song she sang but it seemed to calm her down and make the Twilight seem even more beautiful to her. She blinked and flinched when she felt water running down her cheek. She knew it wasn't from the river, it was her tear. More replaced the one she wiped away as she silently cried. She didnt realize till now how much she truly missed her family. Especially the little sister that barely got to expirience the world she had been taken from. Well, this was not what she was wanting to do but the more she tried to stop the tears from flowing the more that fell. Seconds later Kazira decided to quit trying to stop them and just laid there looking up at the sky. Not noticing what was happening around her or who was around.

[Deleted]

Lancelot had felt confined by being within the walls of Camelot for too long. The re-building of much of the city had progressed quite well after the attacks of the dragon. He had tried not to take a prominent role, hanging in the background until specifically asked by Arthur to complete some task. He knew, just by the looks that he had received from Uther, that he was not entirely welcome in Camelot. He knew, though, that Gwen wanted him to stay ..... or more accurately ..... that she didn't want him to leave. He could tell that she was afraid of what he might do, as a knight, if he left Camelot.

For that reason, among others he had stayed close, in the city, if not in the castle. He had the feeling that there could be a truce between himself and Uther if he did not cross the line of the castle steps. As a result, he felt like he always had to stay on his guard, so at the first opportunity, he had elected to ride out into the Forest of Balor, where he had protected Merlin against the Griffin those many months before. The wide open spaces, even amongst the vegetation of the forest, on his black stallion, Sher-fore, was quite liberating for him.

He had crossed several streams in the forest, before his horse had decided to take a long drink of water. This river was different, he thought, but not because of any physical properties. He heard a strange, but somehow pleasing sound ..... just to his right. It was music, in fact, it was singing, and his eyes quickly identified the source of it on edge of the river. "That was quite a pretty song. Did you create it yourself, or did you learn it from someone else," he said to the young woman, who apparently had not noticed his approach on horseback.

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira gasped as she sat up and looked at the man that had approached. She didnt think that anyone was around when she had been singing. Not that she had a bad voice or anything but it was just embarrasing to let someone hear her. She usually only sang or did anything like that when she was hired to perform for groups. Taking a calming breath she placed a hand over her heart; she looked him over. He was rather handosme with his brown hair and eyes.

"Thank you." She said, " I learned it from my mother...A long time ago."

She stood up to get a better look at him. She had never seen him before since she's been in Camelot for only a month. Though that may be why, she didn't know half of the people there and most avoided her even when she was in her dress.

She tilted her head to the side her wet hair spilled over her shoulder as she looked at him curiously.

"Who are you?" She asked reaching for her dagger just in case he was an enemy. "Where did you come from?"

[Deleted]

Sir Lancelot Du Lac could see that his appearance at this young lady's side was quite a surprise to her, at the very least. She did have a beautiful voice, though, he thought. She probably thought, as most did about their own voice, that it wasn't so great. As a result, she had had no intention in anyone else hearing it as well. He noticed that she had placed her hand suddenly over her chest, and he hoped that she did not have a naturally weak heart, that he had affected by his sudden appearance. She did not appear to be ill, however, in fact, she appeared to be rather healthy. He also noticed, somewhat uncomfortably, that she was giving him a close look up-and down as well.

Finally she spoke, thanking him, and he responded, "You are quite welcome. That would make sense. Many of our mothers would have done the same. However, by your youthful appearance I would have said that 'a long time ago' is an exaggeration."

She stood up, keeping her eyes on him, quite understandably, since she probably did not trust him yet, since he was still a stranger to her. Since he did not recognize her he thought it was possible that she was not from Camelot, but one of the surrounding villages. However, he had only been back a short time, which could explain the fact that their paths had not crossed.
She tilted her head to the side her wet hair spilled over her shoulder as she looked at him curiously.

Her hair was still wet, as was the rest of her. Obviously she had just gotten out of the river, and needed to dry off some. She did not need to dry off, though, to ask a question, and begin to take defensive actions, as with the dagger that she was accessing. "I am Sir Lancelot Du Lac. formerly of Wessex, but now attached, once again, to Prince Arthur of Camelot. However, I am not a Knight of Camelot ...... its a quite complicated situation. However, as a knight, I take my duties and responsibilities seriously. You have nothing to fear from me."

[†Kazira Astras†]

She noticed that her once over made him a little uncomfortable and found it kind of cute. She was curious about him. He was a knight tied to Arthur but not the knights of Camelot?

"How does that work out?" She thought raising a brow while relaxing slightly at his admission. Kazira nodded and let a silly smile slip onto her lips making her sky blue eyes glitter. Deciding she wanted to be a little silly she did a short bow.

"Well hello there Sir Lancelot Du Lac. It is a pleasure to meet you." That was all she could do before bursting into a fit of giggles. "I'm sorry; I'm sorry, I couldn't resist being a little silly. She smiled and walked up to him and stuck her hand out.

"My name is Kazira Astras and it really is a pleasure to meet you." She patted the horse softly with a smile still on her face."And who is this fine creature?" She paused."If you don't mind may I ask why you came back? If you don't want to answer that is fine, I was just curious--In turn you may ask any questions you have of me."

Kazira truly hoped that she didn't offend him in any way with her question. She like him, he had a kind aura that seemed to scream good guy. When she looked at him again and saw what looked to be an underlining sadness. But that could be her mind playing tricks on her.

[Deleted]

As the moments passed by, it seemed, that although she had been initially surprised at his appearance, seemed to become more relaxed. For good or bad, he considered, her analysis of him, uncomfortable as it had been, had apparently been positive. The look of surprise had been slowly replaced by a smile across her face.

He assumed it must have had something to do with the sunlight bouncing off the calm waters of the nearby river, but her blue eyes had a strangely compelling sparkle to them. She gave him a little bow, and he having no knowledge of her rank, gave her a short one in return.

She returned his greeting, and broke out into a fit of giggles, which he found confusing and perplexing. However, she then moved forward, extending her hand, which he responded to by taking it softly, in his hand, bending down and kissing the upper portion of her wrist.

Straightening back up he quickly responded, "and it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Kazira." He saw next, as happened often, that she noticed the fine creature that was his companion. "This is Sher-fore ..... he is an Arabian that I acquired when I served the Earl of Huntingdon as a knight in Wessex after I had left Camelot the last time. Oh .... I ran across the Prince and he needed my help. I'm afraid that Uther, though, is not as thrilled by my presence. Questions? No ..... not really ..... other than what are you doing out here in the middle of the forest ....alone?," he asked with a raised eyebrow and arms folded.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She really did try to fight the blush that seemed to take over her cheeks but could not prevent it from happening. She was actually offering her had to shake but Lancelot surprised her slightly by placing that kiss upon her upper wrist. This was different to her, despite the fact that she often dealt with nobles and knights. Not once had they done that. Quite frankly Lancelot confused her, but she always did enjoy a good puzzle. She slowly pulled back her hand and listened to his answer.

"Arabians are beautiful horses but I prefer the Connemara," She stated stroking the horse's neck lovingly and she softly cooed to him. "They aren't like the normal war horses but they do well in small skirmishes." Kazira couldn't fathom why people would not introduce their animals as well as themselves, but then again not everyone was like her; which was probably a good thing in most cases; she was extremely stubborn and hot headed when she wanted to be; Kazira closed that train of thought it was throwing her off a bit. She looked up at him again with curious eyes. "Why would Uther not be happy with your presence? Personally I thought that he would be at least somewhat happy? Though, I really don't know the man." She said with a shrug.

Kazira retracted her hands and placed them behind her back when he asked why she was out there by herself. She gave a sheepish smile and let out a nervous laugh. "Well," She began. " I'm out here because its beautiful! Okay that's not the whole reason but its one of them. As for why I'm out here...alone. Um. I sort of live out here." She used her left hand to rub the back of her neck. With him looking at her like that made her a bit nervous but not in a bad way. She lowered her arm again and looked down at the ground before shifting her feet drawing circles in the ground.

[Deleted]

There was something about this female that was quite familiar, Lancelot thought to himself. Had he met her before? He wasn't quite sure. He thought to himself that it seemed to him that he had run across her at Camelot at the celebration of the signing of the peace treaty between the 5 kingdoms. He could be mistaken he, though, he thought. He was not mistaken in seeing the blush on her cheeks. It appeared that she had been pleasantly surprised by the kiss on her wrist.

Why would she be surprised at that. Was she not a woman, a beautiful one at that, and was that not a proper greeting? Sometimes both nobles and females he found to be most perplexing. "Yes they are," he said, watching her carefully. "I've also found that beauty most often seeks out beauty. Yes ..... well ..... everyone has their own opinions I suppose. Sher-fore, himself, though, by his very nature, does bias me toward the breed I'm afraid." At her question about the king of Camelot, he wondered exactly how much he should say. "Let's just say that on a previous encounter that Uther did not find me worthy as a Knight of Camelot, and he removed my knighthood, just granted, from me. He has his reasons, I assure you," he said somewhat mysteriously.

When he began to ask her more direct questions about why she was out in the forest, and alone, she seemed to react a bit more defensively, as he judged from her body language. She seemed to be at a loss for words, or at least the right ones. He had known several people in the past, when faced with such a loss, they gave a nervous sort of laugh, as she did. As she started to speak, she seemed to beat around the bush for a bit, until she came to the real answer, or at least part of it. "Of course it is beautiful, as you are. You live out here? Well, I assume that it is by your choice, or did someone do something idiotic and banish you from where you had been living?" He assumed, by that answer, that this was not some helpless female, unable to defend herself, or she would have been taken long ago. Still, his feeling of her familiarity was something that bothered him; even more than this new knowledge she had just given him.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She smiled. Yes he was a bit biased to the breed but horses in general were beautiful creatures. She looked at Lancelot closer and almost fell over she recognized him! He was the man she fought during the Peace treaty festival. But she didnt let it show on her face she didnt know how he would react to her shouting HEY I KNOW YOU! and then have him not remember a thing about her. That would be very embarrassing. She listened to what he said and wondered what happened to make Uther not see him in a favorable light. "Well then whatever happened. I thnk you would have made a great knight for Camelot." She stated honestly.

She didnt know nor did she care what Uther thought. Why he would strip someone of their knight hood was beyond her. She knew only two ther knights one passed on adn the other was a knight of Camelot. "I only know one knight who resides in Camelot and from what I remember he was always kind and gave everyone a chance. Even he more than likely would have agreed that you would be a valued asset." She shrugged. She hasnt spoken to Cole in such a long time she didnt know if he was still like that or if he had changed. Kazira blushed at his compliment but tried to force it down. She didnt know what the people who called her beautiful were on but she couldnt consider herself that; average? Yes but beautiful no. "No," She laugh. "No one banished me from my home or anything." she stated humorously. "I chose to live out here. Beeing cooped up in a motel for too long would drive me crazy. I always prefered to be outdoors and sleeping under the stars." She paused and decided to ask the question to confirm what she knew.

"I have a feeling I know you from somewhere." She paused "Have we met before this?" She wondered even though she knew this to be true but she wanted to know what he thought.

[Deleted]

She did have a pretty smile .... there was something about her .... but it wasn't the smile. It was the way that she carried herself, and maybe the look of her hair and her general appearance, but he couldn't put his finger on it. There was something familiar about her, that was for sure. He silently cursed himself, since he had always been good at recognizing people that he had run across before. he prided on the ability to recognize people that he had only casually run across before, to recognize them at a great distance. Well, at any rate, she did seem to appreciate a good horse, even though her preference was not his. He watched her as he gave his rather complicated explanation of his status as a knight.

"Well then, I thank you for the kind sentiment, milady. But exactly how would you know that I would have made a great knight for Camelot. Have we met before, or perhaps you have heard of me from others?," he asked quite curious as how she would be able to evaluate his knightly skills and abilities, especially to join such a vaunted group of knights, as the Knights of Camelot. "Normally, I would expect that the Pendragons, King Uther in particular, would be well equipped to evaluate who would be the best addition to that celebrated group of men." He listened as she talked of a knight that she had known, or still did know, who was a Knight of Camelot. "Who was this knight, perhaps I met him in the short time I was a Knight of Camelot? There is no need to worry on my account. I went from Camelot back to Wessex, where I had been promised a knighthood, as well as a noble rank as the Earl of Huntingdon. I served the King of Wessex, Theodred, as the Lord Protector. In fact, I accompanied him to the celebrations of the the signing of the peace treaty between the kingdoms. Did you attend them, by any chance, mademoiselle?"

He listened very carefully to hat she said next before he replied. "Yes, ma cherie, I have the same feeling," he said in response to her comment. "If we have, I am sure that we were never formally introduced. At least I am sure that I have never encountered you in the Forest of Balor before," he chuckled. "You, I would have definitely remembered, even though you strike me as one who is well capable of taking care of yourself. I doubt whether you would want or need a knight such as myself to protect you, I imagine," he said with a slightly questioning look in his eyes. Who exactly was this woman and what was she doing way out here?

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira laughed quietly to herself. "Trust me when I say that Anything I have heard about you has been nothing but good things."She paused. "The knight's name is Cole Barrera. I met him a while ago when I was with my caretaker. He was a good judge in character and skills." She smiled good he brought up the festival at least something about her seemed to click even if it was just barely. " Yes I did attend them, Sir knight. Actually I was a competitor in a particular event." She stated with mirth before she turned and walked a few steps to were her pack laid innocently and pulled out the mask she had worn and with a quick glance over her should she put in on and then tied her hair back. This was the way she had been dressed at the festival if she remember correctly.

She stood up and turned towards him. "This was how you met me. 'She stated with a sheepish laugh. "So you were right we werent properly introduced." She was glad that the mask covered her face cause she knew for a fact that her cheeks were burning in embarrassment. While I dont need a knight to protect me a friend is always welcome. Sometimes it is too quiet to be by one's self." She stated shifting her eyes down to look at the ground. Yes she did have moros but he only knew so much and would only say so little at times that she often wished that she had another human companion to accompany her just to have that human contact when she went into seclusion. But that would mean letting someone in on her little secret and that was not something that she particularly ready to happen. At least not at the moment. One way or another this was going to be an odd meeting..or rather an interesting visit.

She absently wondered if he was ever going to get off of his horse?

[Deleted]

Lancelot thought to himself that that was quite unexpected. He never had really stayed in one place, outside of his place in Wessex, for very long .... not long enough to consider whether or what people or nobles might say or think of him. "If it is from Camelot that you have heard of me from others it does surprise me, since i was not there for long, and those that knew me there, other than Merlin, would be unlikely to have a favorable opinion of me. Yes .... yes I knew that knight .... not well but in passing. He made a point of introducing himself to me when I began training as a knight. Although he was quite sociable, he was clearly not entirely trusting of the description of my origins. However, I would have to say that he never treated me ill. As a knight, though, by all appearances, he was in good graces with the Crown Prince."

Lancelot knew that Arthur had wanted wanted to have friendly relations, and in fact, they would have, if it had not been for the complication of Gwen between them. Fortunately, Lance thought to himself, he had realized early on that it was with Arthur that Gwen belonged, and he had done what he could to break it off completely with Gwen. Unfortunately, he thought, it meant that he now not only had Uther's enmity, but Arthur's as well. He had hoped that he had not hurt Gwen too much in the ways that he had left her, but he knew that being her friend, as long as she was one with Arthur,was very dangerous territory for Lancelot to occupy. Thankfully, now, this Kazira had changed the subject, to the festival of all things. "A competitor .... at which event?," he asked as he watched her walk over, dig something out of a pack, and put it on her face, before turning back around.

Lancelot look at her, full of curiosity, as he continued to sit on the back of his black Arabian stallion. She was definitely worthy of his continued gaze, being a fine and pretty young thing to look at. She exuded quite a bit of self-confidence as well, which he found quite attractive. But this mystery of the festival competition just added another layer. finally, though, she did turn around, and he saw the familiar mask which the last time he had seen her had half-covered her face, much as it did now, and his jaw fell open, aghast, and he proceeded to slide down off his horse's back. "So .... I was right .... it was a female .... and it was you?!," he exclaimed.

"Well .... at any rate .... you were good .... better than most men. I would say that you would even have given the Crown Prince a good run for his money," he said with the slightest of grins crossing his face. "I find it hard to believe that you do not have many friends, with the way that you look, or that you would be in seclusion, unless that is how you would wish it. Just tell me and I will abide for your wish for privacy and go my way," he said, standing there with his arms crossed leaning up against a tree, situated next to his faithful companion, the Arabian stallion, She-Fore, as he awaited Kazira to state what she desired.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She smiled as she pulled the mask off. Well his expression was priceless. He was very shocked that the fighter was her. She nodded her head. "Yes that was me." She untied her hair and shook it from its previously tied state. "I doubt that I could even make Arthur sweat, my skills are good but not that good and i still have a ways to go before i'm even close to that level. Though i havent really fought him." She hm-ed and and shook her head. "That wouldnt be such a good idea. I dont really feel like getting put in the stockades." while she was just joking about it she knew that something would happen if she did honestly challenge Arthur. Who knows what the oaf Uther would do. Granted while she knew she could hold her own in a fight or battle she knew that Arthur had a wider range of skills and her skills excelled when she was one with her powers and being Camelot made that very hard to do that without getting discovered. Of course another reason that she shouldnt do it would be because she would goad him and make him him angry and then she would be flat on her back with a sword positioned at her throat. That really didnt sound all that appealing.

She listened to what he said next and she had a smaller but still bright smile on her face. "With the way I look? Yes I'd probably have many friends. But with the way I act? not so much." She stated pulling her bangs out of her face"If anything Its when I open my mouth I tend to make people angry and have them walk away glaring at me." She gave a soft chuckle at a few of the memories that drifted into her mind. "Many dont like a woman with a brain and opinions. And they really dont like it when a woman voices those opinions."." The only reason I go into seclusion is to practice my..." She trailed off for a bit before finishing"..skills." She sounded so unsure with that word that she wanted to slap herself. "But I dont mind your company. If you'd like you can stay." She stated quietly and finished off with a barely audible sentence. "I'm tired of not having a companion who can talk back."

[Deleted]

Lancelot did have to take the effort to close his mouth after the shock of finding out that it had been her at the sword competition at the Celebration. "Well," he said once he got his breath back. "As I believe I already said, you were quite skilled, better than most men there who fought or could have fought. I doubt whether I have been able to fight someone who was so skilled and so beautiful all at the same time," he said nodding in deference to her. "You underestimate your skills. Besides if Arthur would have found that the person he was fighting was a female, the Knight's Code, would not have allowed him to press you as hard as if he assumed you were a man. There were even a couple of times that I stepped back from you for that reason."

He thought, though that it would be an interesting match between her and Arthur. "I think that you could do well against him if it would set up as the final test for reaching knighthood. Its basically restricted to only a minute or so. Your only real issue is durability and endurance. After a long struggle the wight of the swords and other weapons wears you down. That was how I got a an advantage over you. If you were able to end it quick there's no telling how successful you would be, against either myself or Arthur."

She seemed to be pleased, yet somewhat surprised by his comments about her appearance. "Yes, you are quite pleasant to look at, and I think, as we are now, quite agreeable to talk with. I must say, though, that your attitude during our part of the contest I did not find you quite so pleasant, but quite sarcastic," he laughed. "However, I must say that you were able to back up your remarks with sword, dagger, and other weapons." He listened to her other comments and began shaking his head in the negative. "Then they don't don't know what they are talking about. I want someone who stands beside me, either as a fighter or as a friend, to speak their mind freely. Its what I have always hated about the Pendragons, especially Uther."

"He knows what he wants to hear and is not willing to accept other views on certain issues, like magic. You are just the type I would want in the field beside me, whether you be man or not. Some of the greatest fighters in history have been women. Its only the close-minded who refuse to see the truth. Skills? ..... What skills do you speak of? You seem to be quite adept a great many important skills, especially when it comes to fighting." Suddenly he noticed she had become quieter, almost impossible to hear. "I may have misunderstood, but if that was an invitation I am more than happy to accept, until, of course, you get tired and bored with my presence."

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira blushed slightly as his compliments and when sheard the rest she pouted. She hated when that happened in competitions. Sadly though she couldn't be mad at him for it. Its within the knights code to courtious to women. But that didn't mean she had to happy with it. She listened to what else he had to say and couldn't help but smile when he laughed. "Yes well I usually have the sarcastic attitude to distract my opponents and ir usually works on the less level headed." She noded her head in agreement. She knew she struggled with the weight and the stamina that had to go es along with it. It was somewhat expected seeing as she was somewhat short in stature and body mass to males but she worked with what she could. "Yes that would be an interesting fight. But id have to work on those just to hold my sword up." She laughed lightly but grew somewhat somber at the thought of Uther Pendragon. She smiled at the words lancelot said about having them by his side instead of behind them not many had those views. " you know many don't have those views. Its a rather rare trait to possess." She stated with a small shrug a small blush dusted the bridge of her nose but jumped to something else he had said skiping over the part of her skills. Its not that she was ashamed of her magic but she didn't want the whole world to know that she had them. Two already did and they were criminals for the most part at least maybe she would tell him at a later date?

"Yes uther hears only what he wants. He is closed minded to what is unknown and unexplainable to him." She let out a dry laugh. Kazira beemed a bright smile at him when he accepted to stay. She grabbed his hand without thinking and pulled him to sit on the river bank with her. "What are your views on magic? The subject has always been facisinating to me." She stated plopping onto the ground sitting indian style. Another idea popped into her head. " do you think you could train me?" She asked tilting her head.

[Deleted]

Lancelot saw that she blushed at some of his complimentary comments, but he was a bit puzzled at her reaction. All that he was saying was the truth that he had observed about her various fighting skills. She didn't seem to be so pleased, though, when he went into a discussion of how both he and the Prince would have reacted to the definite knowledge of her being a female. He had then gone on to address the sarcastic streak that she had exhibited and she had indicated that she liked to distract her opponents in that way, to which he just smiled knowingly with his arms crossed and shook his head.

Although he could see that she was making a joke about her sarcastic attitude, Lance could see that she was quite practical and self-critical about her fighting performance, and understood, by what she said, what her weaknesses and disadvantages were. It was obvious that she was a hidden warrior and one who who learned from her mistakes. "Yes, it would be quite interesting. But I don't think you would go into such a conquest without being able to hold the active end of your weapon up." He listened to what she said about his other comments. He chose to direct his comments about fighters in general and not their gender, merely since he was being practical. He shrugged and said, "I'm more interested in having warriors who I know will protect my back and flanks as much as possible." He didn't care how rare a trait it was. He just found any other attitude than his own on this issue to be silly, stupid, and un-practical.

He thought for a moment, then, that he saw another question or comment form on her pretty lips, but then, just as suddenly, it seemed to vanish. He only had to wait for a moment for her to go on to the the next subject, Uther. He did think it would be wise for him to say everything about his feelings about that king. He had his own king to be loyal to, although, he would always feel a special loyalty to Arthur, even though, right now they weren't on the best of terms. The best, Lancelot thought, that he could wish for in the future, would be an uncertain truce. He felt, still, that Gwen would not want either one to bring harm to the other.

Kazira was definitely a hard person to read on some things, but it was easy for Lance to see that she approved of his decision to stay with her for awhile. He wondered, momentarily, what that meant. Whatever it did mean, it did seem that some of Kazira's defenses were brought down as she reached out for one of his hands and pulled him to sit down by her on the riverbank. There was a comforting warmth in her hand that he had not experienced, he thought, since Gwen had touched him right after her escape from Hengest's castle.

"Magic?," and he wondered where she was going with this and how truthful he should be. He was determined, finally, that he would protect Merlin's secret no matter what. His general views on magic, as long as he wasn't talking to Uther or Arthur, he was more than happy to express. "Well .... I don't think that most magic is necessarily good or evil. Its a tool, just like my sword is a tool. However, there is some magic, I think, that lends itself to being used in an evil manner ..... dark magic ..... why do you ask?" She suddenly changed the subject again .... she was good at that it seemed. "Train you? What kind of training do you seek?"

[†Kazira Astras†]

She leaned on her hand and listened as he told her that he thought magic was just a tool, like a sword. That was a rather honest answer had they been around someone else it would probably have been quite different. "There's no particular reason. I was just curious. I've met many people who have magic, not all of them good. I guess I'm just curious to what others think of magic here." She paused and looked to the water watching as a leaf fell and made the surface ripple. She smiled," I would have to say that its not the magic that is bad. It's more neutral than anything, like you said its but a mere tool that a person has to learn to control and that said person isn't always bad." She looked back at him. "What would you do if something were to randomly catch on fire or flood?" She asked. She was tempted to do just that well not on a large scale but on a minor one so she didn't cause to much attention. She knew that she was jumping around with her subjects but she wanted to know certain things before she did or said anything and with his answer she was curious about something else but she would ask a bit later.

"I dunno. Any type really." She giggled. "Maybe even a little bit of strength?" She said somewhat sheepishly. She wasn't used to asking for help and she certainly wasn't used to asking someone to train her. It was just something that she didn't do. she used her free hand and drew small figures in the dirt. She drew a dragon encased in fire standing on water. It didn't mean anything to her but when she saw it she brushed it away. Some could get the wrong idea for something like that. She'd already been in trouble once for a simple doodle and she was not going to do that again.

Her hand was still warm from his hand when she grabbed it unthinkingly. It was an absent minded on her part but it was then she realized how tiny she was to him. That was a little unnerving but she was used to it. Arthur had towered over her during the time she spent with him. she giggled at the memory. He had been so mad and frustrated with her that she nearly thought he wouldn't let her see Cole. "Has anyone ever annoyed you to the point that you wanted to strangle them?" She asked softly as she came back from her mu singings.

[Deleted]

She had asked him a direct question in casual conversation, and it was just the two of them, and the other person was not Uther Pendragon. So ..... Lancelot felt pretty safe in giving something that was pretty close to his actual opinion. He would not offer any examples, or specifics like the names of people, but he was comfortable in stating an overall favorable opinion about magic. "I see. Well, I was more than willing to tell you what I think about magic, generally," he said with his arms crossed. "If we were in the presence of Uther Pendragon, of course, I wouldn't have felt so free to state my opinions, my true opinion on the subject. I would not say that I have met many, but I have met some, and most have been good people."

"I have also seen magic just occur, as with the magical beast, the Griffin. As to what people think of magic here, I think that they are of two opinions. The public opinion that they must show because of King Uther, and then their true feelings. I think it would be a pretty hard thing to generalize as to how the people really feel about the art of magic." She did seem to agree with his general outlook on magic, he thought, as he listened to her. And then, as she was wont to do she changed the subject yet again. "Well, since neither of those things are normally to be expected, I think, at first, I wouldn't react to them well I expect." He thought that it was a pretty strange question on its own, but he had the distinct feeling that she had something else she wanted to say as well.

She then moved on to his response to her question on training. There really were an almost infinite number of directions that they could go. To make matters worse she wasn't really willing to give him an idea of the type that she would want. "Yes," he smiled, "everyone, and especially a woman would see an increase of strength as something that would be desirable." He was a bit surprised that she would even ask for any kind of assistance. She really did not seem to be the type, but her desire to improve her skills might outweigh he determination to be independent, he reasoned. As her mind apparently drifted he watched her doodle something in the dirt, but he couldn't make out what it was before she erased it with her hand.

"Whatever training that we do should focus on what can be done to enhance your strengths and to neutralize your disadvantages .... like your size." As she grabbed to his hand once more, and he felt its comforting warmth, he realized once more that she seemed to be quite impulsive. He could improve her skills through training, but she was also going to have to learn to not let her emotions and impulses guide her too much. She might over-commit herself and be unable to get out of some predicament. "Yes ..... Arthur .... the last time I left Camelot .... and left he and Gwen to hopefully work something out. I could have strangled him right there. I had finally had more of his pompousness than I could stand for one sitting," he laughed. "Of course, at his core, there is no noble better than him, and he will make a fine king someday for Camelot."