Death or Dishonor

Nolee's stomach dropped. She hadn't counted on having to share a room with anyone. She looked at this man, African in descent apparently, before extending her hand with a smile on her face. Doing her best to sound like a young man she disguised her voice. "Nice to meet you David. I'm Nathanial. Looks to me as if we shall be sharing a room together."


Carter smiled when he heard the name Chris Jericho. The man was a legendary knight, one that Carter admired for years. He supposed the man was in the tournament to make sure only the best survived. He nodded polietly with a smile on his face. "It's an honor to meet you sir. Names Carter Lacroix. There's no need to tell me who you are. Everyone knows who you are."

Nolee nodded, remembering this man now. He had hurt Evan and caused both her, though she wasn't able to show it because 'Nathanial' didn't know Evan, and her brother quite stress. They had yet to hear word on how Evan was doing. "Five brothers you say? Sounds like quite an armful. I myself only have one. So...where are you from David?"

They walked to their room, Nolee tossing her knapsack on the shabbiest looking of the two beds. She wasn't trying to impress David she just didn't want anyone to think she was selfish.


As Chris threw the word pesant around like it was a word to be laughed at, Carter was trying to get past this mans arrogance. Sure, he was already a knight. But didn't he see how hard Carter had worked during the first round. It wasn't his fault that he had been able to take down Kofi so easily. "Well we wouldn't want you hanged. From what I hear you're one of the best knights in the kingdom."

"I...I am a traveller," Nolee lied, sitting on her bed after regaining some sense about her. She dare not take off the cap under which her hair sat in fear that David would figure out she was a woman. She planned later on to cut it off for fear that eventually she would get caught anyways. "I entered to have money to maybe settle down one day."


Carter did not like the way that Chris held himself. It was an arrogant tone and arrogant men often got into the most trouble. "Ah, so you are a king elsewhere? Then why did you enter this tournament? There are some of us, like myself, who simply want to get the money to be able to raise our families. I have a sister to look out for. Surely one like you does not have anything to trouble themselves with." he said almost crossly. He removed his armor, putting it neatly at the end of his bed and changing into his sleepwear.

Nolee was changed out of her outfit in record time, making sure that David couldn't turn and see her in the process of changing. It wasn't that she minded, but as a woman acting her role as a man, getting caught could mean being kicked out of the tournament. Among other things. She tucked a dagger into her boot and went to the bathroom, quickly chopping off her hair before coming back out and removing her hat. "Well I can understand that. Money is tight to come by these days, as is food. I hope you can make well for your family."


Carter sighed, having forgotten about dinner. He changed yet again, making sure to look respectable before turning to Chris. "How does one like you become indebted to the king if you don't mind me asking? You are a strong warrior. And surely a king owes dues to a man who can protect his life?" he asked as the two walked to the great hall and waited on the king and queen.

Nolee nodded, knowing that she couldn't reveal that she had met the king before this. "Well, you keep saving money. Who knows, perhaps a few extra coins will show up here and there." she smiled kindly. She knew that she needed any coins that she could raise but she knew that he needed them more. There were five siblings as opposed to just her and Carter.

As they arrived at supper, Nolee made sure to sit far away from her brother. She was to afraid that he would recognize her and be able to yell at her for her abillity to lie her way into the tournament.


Carter wasn't occupying himself with much food. He was to excited for tomorrows games, unsure what the task would be. Occassionally he glanced over at the king, picking food off of his plate and nibbling on it thoughtfully. Finally, the silence of dinner was broken by one of the other competitors. He was a young man, very arrogant, who simply called himself Ken. Carter recognized the emblem on his top to be the crest for the house of Anderson, a prestigious house that had fallen out of grace with the king a few years ago. "So m'lord...whats tomorrows game?"

Everyone seemed to look at the king, waiting for the answer to the question or to see if Anderson was ridiculed for asking such a thing.

Nolee smiled largely when she heard what the next part of the tournament was. Shooting. She had always been an expert with a long bow, even while atop a moving target. She watched the queen excuse himself before smiling with the others who were teasing Ken. Then she saw Husky. She had to force herself to look at her plate, hoping that he wouldn't recognize her from the night before. Yet, a small part of her wanted to talk to him. But she refrained. She knew the penalty if anyone were to find out she wasn't who she said she was.

Poking at her food, she remained quite while the others swapped tales. The longer she was silent, the better chance she had of making her self known. That was for everyone's better interest.


Carter watched the queen excuse himself and found that he was no longer hungry. He joked with the rest of everyone but he felt as if something was missing. He noticed that Hunter wasn't worried about where his wife had slipped off to and a part of him let the anger boil. He knew that if Shawn were his lover, he would want to know where he was and what he was doing so that he himself could join in. He smiled at Husky, nodding his thanks before listening to Chris telling tales of battles one and maidens won over.

At the comment of the brothel, Nolee felt like she was going to get sick. Hearing such talk of women, even if it was their job, felt wrong to her. Carter had never made such talk about anyone. With a poliet smile to David she shook her head, "Oh...I have a lover who would be most upset if I went to a brothel. But you go. Have yourself a good time with a young woman. You deserve it. I'd go if I didn't feel loyalty to...Lauren." she chose a name close to Husky's name without thinking about it.


Carter felt bile rise in his throat, glad his sister wasn't here for such comments. He had decided that he was going to get a bit of archery practice for himself for tomorrow, having never excelled at it as much as his little sister. He excused himself from the table, walking to his room. When he saw the door to the library opened, he hesitated. The room had never been mentioned but surely that didn't mean it was banned. He walked in, frowning at all the books. He himself had never learned to read so it was a fruitless attempt. But he felt something pulling him here...

Nolee had sat back down, continuing her class of wine. She looked up when she heard someone enter and quickly looked back down when she realized it was Husky. A smile crossed her face and she responded, "No, no. There is another woman who has my heart good sir. These women...it is wrong to abuse them such. Don't you agree?"


Carter smiled to himself as he heard Shawn recite the poem. It was a beautiful one and he was sure that it was even more beautifully read out loud then it was read on paper. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat, not hoping to scare Shawn but simply announce his presence. His eyes roamed over his torso, smiling at the beauty of his sculpted muscles.

"But they at one point were young...pure women who had no other choice but to submit to make money in these hard times," Nolee frowned. "Surely you have a woman that you would hate to see have to go through such a thing in order to earn a living?"


Carter closed the door behind him, sitting on the floor near Shawn. "You can stay like that, it's quite alright. There is no shame in being proud of ones body and if you rather, I can not look."

Nolee frowned, wanting to do anything to make Husky stay. Finally she spoke up, "This girl I met in the town today seemed to be awful keen on this young man. I wonder what young love is like. Her name was Nolee and she spoke of the man she had fallen for, Lawrence. She said he was a cook. Do you know him?"


Carter shook his head, "They're off to use young women at the brothel. The only ones who didn't go are Nathanial, Christopher, and I. It sickens me to think of using someone that I do not love that way. And I saw the door was open. I...I can't read..."

Nolee frowned and teared up a bit but made sure not to tear up to much, "And what...what if she was to tell you that she thought you were what she wanted. That she didn't want better, she wanted you. What would you say to her then?"


Carter smiled, "If I win I would love to learn to read. But there is some serious competition and tomorrow will be a dangerous task for me. I'm not to skilled with a bow and arrow." he hesitated, biting his lip, "I...I have heard of the stories of King Arthur. He seemed to be a man worth being king...not...not that Hunter isn't..."

Nolee nodded, not letting the weight of Husky's words hit her. "Well then, I'm off to bed. I...I think I drank to much wine." she all but bolted out of the room and to where she was staying, sobbing on the bed.



Carter smiled as they sat on the loveseat as Shawn read, his eyes full of wonder. He looked like a child, learning all there was to learn and looking deeply infatuated with it. Part of his was the way the words flowed from Shawn's tongue another was the stories themselves. Of the knights, the princesses, the troubles they faced. When it came to a story of Guinevere, Arthur, and Lancelot, his mind subconciously traded the names for Shawn, Hunter, and Carter. "Wow..." he smiled softly.