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Alistair was acting as a scout for the moment for a rather large Druid camp a half dozen miles west from where he was now. He was branching out deeper so that he might be able to get a warning to them and let them get away before any of the bastard Pendragon knights came to kill them. Ever since the ward was stolen by a witch the king had turned very stone over in the kingdom looking for her and was killing very druid or magical creature that he found in the way.

Nothing had been this horrible among his people since the great purge. He had been twelve then, and his non-druid uncle had gotten him away out the back while the knights of Camelot of pulled his mother out the front door to be killed. His father also a non-magical sort loved his mother so much he had been willing to fight to the death to attempt to save her. In the end, they both died.

Years later, when he was a grown man he would return to Camelot. A return with a vengeance. First he had kidnapped the Princess of Gwent, from out of Camelot's castle in effort to embarrass the king and his knights. Then he'd kidnapped the king him self! Had it not been for the Princess of Gwent, he'd have killed the man. As it was, he returned the king, bruised and beaten but alive. It had not been easy, but the warrior had found a voice in his head that would not let him do it. That voice was Isadora. Women damned all plans to hell. They muddled the mind and she was proof.

He'd built a reputation as a foe of Camelot, and he was well known by name if not by face--yet he would be willing to be that after kidnapping the king most knew his face as well. Or the abouts of what it looked like.

He mind stopped talking as he heard slight moment ahead. Alistair had been raised in the woods. First by druids, then by a unsocial uncle. He knew how to move with out being heard. How to stand down wind. How to blend in with the trees rather then step out into the open.

It was a girl. He watched her sitting there for a moment; and was about to leave her where she sat but paused when she moved. She pulled water from the river with out a word. Magic.

Not wanting to frighten her, he stepped on a large stick to make it crack. As expected she jumped and instead of reacting as a druid--someone used to being hunted all their lives and running. She demanded as clear as day who was there. Stepping forward toward the river, staying even with her and not moving closer; he exposed himself. He said nothing other then "A traveler." Alistair wasn't a man of strong words.

Alistair almost pulled her back into him for a deeper kiss but she was walking before he could. Letting her pull him along, he followed her out into the hall and then fell into step slightly behind her. When he first arrived he had to follow her as he had allot of trouble making heads and tails of where he was and which way was which. He had not been used to high walls and not being able to get his barrings. Now he knew his way around but the rules were made clear. You walked behind your betters.

Small talk always confused him as well. He had spent his morning with her then patrol, so how did he answer? "Nothing out of the ordinary happened." It had been just a normal morning where nothing surprising happened. "Your morning?" He asked because she did, and he did not know what else he was supposed to ask.

Alistair heard Vaughn speak but did not look up at him. He walked over to the table and lifted the wine pitcher to pour two classes of wine; and then returning to hand one to Vaughn. He didn't care if Vaughn drank it, but he was trying to remind Vaughn why he had wanted access to the castle in the first place. For the finer things in life.

Besides, he had two offers for the man. One he knew Vaughn would not take and he would save it for the very last. He knew Vaughn would hate him for the offer but he hoped that one day when Vaughn needed help he would recall the offer and know it was waiting. The other one he was hoping Vaughn would take. "I want you to be the guardian of my child."

He knew it was like asking the wolf to guard the baby chicks but he also knew that if things buckled under them; if he or Isadora could not get out or get too his child--heir or daughter--then he wanted someone with the power to get to them; and get them out. Vaughn would be like his uncle. Cold, distant, and at the best of times hateful. Yet he had known his uncle would have taken the devil down to keep his alive if only for his father's name. He wanted the knowledge that someone was ruthless as Vaughn could be would be fighting in his child's favor.

Alistair was glad that Vaughn agreed. He did not miss that Vaughn was going deeper into the castle rather then trying to escape. The Vaughn that did not care about anyone or anything would have walked out of the gate and note cared what he had to say. The Vaughn who cared wanted to hear it even if he did not want to show it.

Alistair gave a silent nod and lead the way into the castle. The knights outside seemed confused but being he had introduced Vaughn to a few of the as his brother the last time they'd all met the was sure that they would assume it was a family thing.

Alistair took him to one of the rooms that he knew would be open; mainly because he had it readied for Vaughn as his rooms. "We can talk here un bothered." It was a large room, and on one side held a long table for meals and on the other a large bed and desk. While not as grand as the royal rooms; it was one of the nicer rooms in the castle. Alistair still had trouble seeing beyond the stone walls meant to keep a man in.

Let someone take care of him? He's been alone since he was twelve. His father's brother had taken him out of that place but the man had mostly expected Alistair to take care of himself. He spent every single day of his live alone; expect for the few trips with Vaughn and his few days with Isadora. he liked to think they were friends but with Vaughn there wasn't a tight bond there; and with her she'd not had a choice. Even then, he had been the one to care for her or force her to care for herself.

He'd been ill for a while; and she'd taken care of him but for some reason it felt different. Maeve was not asking to care for someone that she'd come to love and she was no in way at fault for the injury so their could not be guilt. Why would she wish to care for someone she knew nothing about? He could only watch her; not replying to anything else she spoke of. Not even sure what would be expected of him in return.

Alistair had not expected the hit; and his large body twisted from the force of it. While it would leave a bruise he could tell right away that no damage had been done. It was another sign. He had expected Vaughn to draw out his swords but instead the man had hit him and not even as hard as he knew Vaughn could hit.

He noticed the same knights who had delivered Vaughn were running up them and it took Alistair a bit to think of why. Right! Because they had to protect him now. How did Garrett control the masses? Alistair lifted his hand up to tell them to stop as he'd seen Garrett to before in training and the men slowed to a stop but did not back off.

Keeping his voice low he looked over at Vaughn, "You could have walked out of the building. You came looking for me knowing I'd walked into a trap. You then moved to put your self between an arrow and my self. You were injured and had you been taller you'd be dead." because Alistair's heart (where the arrow had been aimed) was were Vaughn's shoulder was.) "You wanted access. Power. Gold. You wanted this knowing one day she would make me her husband and I'd be able to give ti to you. Yet now; when you could have everything you want you wish to walk away?"

It was allot for Alistair to say; and he felt the slightly panicked feeling he always did when he had to speak before his men only this time it was only Vaughn who could hear him. He never knew what words to say and how to turn them to make a point.

Alistair ignored Vaughn's comments that he was sure was meant to cause him to put his guard up. He didn't bother even reacting to it, for he knew better. Vaughn was trying to provoke a reaction from him that would allow him to feed off of. Alistair knew how Vaughn worked and knew that ignoring him was for the best. There were times when he could not ignore him; but this was not that day.

"I will be a father in a matter of days or weeks." He told Vaughn's retreating back, "I wanted you here as my friend." He didn't know if it would stop Vaughn, or if the man would even care. Yet he had a theory. One newly formed with in the last encounter with Vaughn. Vaughn cared. Perhaps not about everyone; but like Alistair, they really only had each other for years. You could not undo years of your life for convenience. "As a brother." Would he stop? If only to say something? "And to ask something of you."

Alistair glared at Vaughn for for words, either not caring or not knowing he was feeding into the taunt that Vaughn had just through at him. He stood there for a moment and thought about killing him now but knew he needed him to get past Asher's fools and to distract Asher's wife who would have to killed as well if she saw him there. Better blame Asher's death on Vaughn and let Vaughn's body turn up somewhere after he and Isadora had left this kingdom.

Silently; Alistair reached up to put his hand forcefully on the back of Vaughn's neck to make it look like a half hug or two men close before giving it a sharp squeeze and turning to push Vaughn into walking toward Garrett. Alistair wasn't going to smile right now for it would be too odd for him and he didn't need Garrett wondering what all he'd drunk. "Sir Garrett."

Alistair called to him as a way of both getting the man's attention as well as in greeting. When the knight turned to look over at them; Alistair gave Vaughn a little push forward. "I wanted to introduce you to my little brother." This would allow a good enough reason for Alistair's request and also give him a chance to show someone from his past who knew it. Making his 'history' more solid. "He was a father's ward, and we were raised as brothers."

Alistair did not have all night. He had to get back before he was noticed gone for too long. While it was a party, he was still at work. With her here, he was always at work. Especially now with a child. There was too much at risk; and he needed this handled fast and silent. "Follow me." He told Vaughn before turning and walking toward were he'd last seen the general. Alistair didn't want to turn his back on Vaughn but he knew how it might look. He had never been afraid to do so before and doing so now would raise an alarm.

He needed Vaughn's guard at it's normal level; if not dropped. He needed things to appear normal. When this was over: he needed Vaughn dead. In order to be able to live in peace and to keep his child safe; Vaughn would have to die. It took a bit to find Sir Garrett but once he was in Alistair's line of sight he paused to look back at Vaughn. "We should appear to be on good terms." Meaning not looking like they'd just kicked each others ass.