The Silver Lining

Sophia had been pushed into a chair and made to stay put as Dagonet helped Agravaine pull his jerkin, maille and shirt off to reveal three large gashes in his side. The beast's claws had cut through his maille and Sophia felt guilty that he had been injured trying to help her. Arthur looked like he was ready to throw her out the door and at the moment, Sophia really couldn't blame him but she had, had her reasons for what she had done.

Agravaine was sitting down on the chair beside her, shirtless and groaning as Dagonet cleaned up his side. "I am-"

"You do not say a word, unless I say so," Arthur told her angrily.

"It isn't her fault Arthur, she was just trying to help," Agravaine remarked and Arthur just shook his head. "You know I'm right. If she hadn't have done it, then we wouldn't have caught one of them."

Sophia just looked down at her lap. "You can't kill them easily, you need silver."

"What on earth do you do for a living?" Lancelot inquired of her.

She grimaced. "I- My family are guardians of sorts to the human race, we're Gypsies. We fight the things that are unnatural to this world. But- every family has its dark sides, mine just happens to haunt my footsteps. My great grandfather's first son was cursed, I don't know why it happened but whatever he did seemed to be so much smaller than what they turned him into. Immortal with a thirst for human blood. A vampire. I was ten when my father killed him and himself along with it," she paused for a moment and saw most of them had this look of absolute stun on their faces.

"My older brother, sister and myself trained to follow on in our father's footsteps. Zachariah and Clara, when I was fourteen were hunting the dogs that served the thing my father had killed. They weren't dogs though, they were werewolves and... they were turned."

Agravaine hissed and cursed as Dagonet put something on his injuries, stopping Sophia who looked at him. He just nodded to her. "I'm fine. He is normally very gentle."

She smiled a little at him and Dagonet just chuckled. "I am trying to be."

"Keep going," Arthur pressed, now sitting in a chair opposite her.

"Six years its been since they were turned and I have tried time and time again to kill them, but I couldn't," she started and then looked down. "Its my fault this has happened. I was finally going to kill them. The villagers of my home were helping me and I had nearly killed Clara when she was a werewolf only- she got free of the cage we had caught her in. I ran, trying to save the villagers by having her chase me... Next thing I know, I had fallen over and hit my head just avoiding Clara grabbing hold of me and then I woke up here."

Silence hung over the group and Sophia sighed heavily, looking at Arthur. "Now, do I have your trust?"

He glanced around at his men. "And the things you and Agravaine-"

"Were not Clara and Zach. Zach is much larger than them and black. Clara is small and dark gray. Those were silver like, I think they are turning people," she said. "But they would've been able to tell I was here and come themselves. That is why I kept him alive- I want to talk to him."

Arthur shook his head. "Out of the question."

She chuckled. "Arthur, this is not something you can handle as you don't know what you're dealing with. You saw what they can do," she told him.

Lancelot smirked from nearby, telling Arthur she was right even if he didn't want to admit that.

"Arthur?" Bors asked.

"Bors, myself and Tristan will go with you," he remarked and Sophia nodded her head, standing up.

"We need to do it now."
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Arthur stepped into the jail before Sophia and saw the guard standing in the far corner, his eyes on the man who was pacing back and forth in the cell, holding his arm. He stopped and sniffed the air, turning when Sophia stepped in close to the bars. His deep chuckle made her shudder.

"Oh little thing, your brother said how nice you would smell, didn't think he was telling the truth," he told her.

Sophia frowned at him. "Where is Zach? Is Clara with him? Did they turn you?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk Sophia, you ask so many questions, I don't know what to answer first," he said sarcastically. Arthur stepped forward, thinking ordering him to answer would work. The man grinned back in return wolfishly and Sophia looked down. "They aren't here if that is what you're wondering."

Sophia glanced at him and then to Arthur. "Then where are they?" he inquired.

"I wouldn't know to be honest, they moved after they turned us. We were just told to look out for Sophia. I must say that Clara and you are very similar in appearance. Guess you are much smarter than they anticipated... Myself and my men were told to catch you and take you across to Gaul," the man remarked.

"Arthur?" Bors

Arthur shook his head. "Well you will not be taking her anywhere, you'll be executed at dawn for murder. Come Sophia."

She did as told and followed Arthur out of the jail.
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When they returned, Lancelot noticed the way Arthur did not seem as angry with Sophia. Agravaine was still being cleaned up but had been given a bottle of rum and was downing it as Dagonet cleaned up the third gash.

"So?" Lancelot inquired.

"He is being executed at dawn for murder," Arthur told them all. "And we are going to find the other two and bring them in."

Sophia even seemed surprised to hear him say that. "You don't have to," she whispered.

"Lass, we aren't going to leave them out there when they are so dangerous. That and we would like it better if we know you are not going to be hunted down like some wild animal," Bors replied, patting her on the shoulder as he passed by her.

"Mind filling the rest of us in," Galahad piped up from where he was sitting nearby with Lancelot and Gawain.

"Sophia's brother and sister are in fact werewolves and have turned others in order to hunt her down. Where they are we currently do not know but it seems they do want Sophia dead," Arthur explained.

The knights all looked at the small woman who was looking at the ground. Agravaine stood up, despite Dagonet's protest. "We are going to need her to help track and bait them," Tristan stated.

Sophia nodded at him. "I can do it."

"We need to head out now," Arthur ordered.

Agravaine made to pull his shirt back on and Arthur told him that he was not going to be doing this mission. "But-"

"You're injured," Sophia said suddenly. "Please rest."

After a minute or so he looked at the ground. "You need me."

"Tristan is just as capable on his own as he is with you at his side, stay here," Arthur told him, with a clear air of order. Agravaine collapsed back into the chair and looked at Dagonet who took the bottle of rum from the knights hand.

"I think you've drunk enough. I need it anyway," he said seeing the look on Agravaine's face at losing the drink. He rarely drank much but he needed it. The gashes were long and wide but shallow enough that the bleeding had stopped rather quickly however they were quite painful.

Sophia and the others headed out leaving Dagonet with Agravaine who just slumped in his chair. "Are you more upset that you aren't able to go out and kill something or is it something or someone else?" Dagonet inquired.

Agravaine lifted his gaze to his for a moment. "I have no idea what you mean," he muttered back. "I just think that we need to be out there with them."

Dagonet hit him across the back of the head. "Blind I am not Agravaine to the situation and you had better not try and cover it up just because you feel it will make you appear weak." Agravaine frowned at him in return. "She is quite striking but we all know she will not be staying here once everything is taken care of."

"Stop speaking in riddles Dagonet," Agravaine snapped, glowering at the giant healer.

"You like her. You like her because she is the opposite of what you are; she does not return Lance's advances and you seem to be the one she is able to get along with," Dagonet stated in a matter of fact tone.

The other knight did not say anything for a moment. "I do not like her in that way, Dagonet. She is nice to have round-"

"Because she does not run away or find you hideous or terrifying?" Agravaine scoffed and Dagonet sighed heavily as he sat down beside his friend having finished cleaning him up. "You also were the first one to react when she ran outside tonight."

"You lot are just getting old," Agravaine joked back making Dagonet grin hearing the slight slur behind his friends words.

"And you need to go to bed." Despite that he protested, he allowed Dagonet to help him out and get up the stairs. Locating one of the rooms they'd been given, Agravaine fell down onto the bed and shut his eyes as Dagonet managed to pull his boots off before leaving him to sleep.
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While she trusted the knights, she was somewhat wary of being used as bait when she knew how easily these traps could turn into disaster on the people laying it. Resigning to just standing there and listening to what they were saying, Sophia was somewhat startled when someone snapped their fingers in front of her face to gain her attention.

"You alright?" Galahad asked. Sophia nodded and asked them how they were going to do this.

"Use you to lure them into a place where they can not easily get away from us," Arthur told her.

"So what do I have to do?"

Lancelot grinned over at her, looking her up and down. "Try and look alluring, tempting, like you want them to follow you and have-"

She put her hands up, cutting him off, "I get it."

The curly haired knight chuckled at her and shook his head saying this was not going to work unless she did exactly as she had to. Sophia pulled a face at him and suddenly peeled her jacket and coat down her arms, throwing them over Lancelot's head as she ruffled up her hair a little, undid the front of her floral patterned top - despite that it was somewhat uncomfortable - and strutted past the group of men, turning to look at them as she got a few steps away from them.

"This qualify as alluring to you lot?" she asked of them.

Lancelot had uncovered his head and was staring at her. She took his look alone as a yes before turning and heading off. "You had better hurry up if you want to catch them before they get hold of me," she called out, putting a little swing in her hips.

As she disappeared, Lancelot pointed after her. "Can I have her?" Lancelot inquired weakly, looking at Arthur who just shook his head, rubbing his temples.

Galahad just snickered as Gawain nudged him. "Least we know she can attract Lancelot easily even if he can't attract her," he mused, laughing out loud only to be told to shut his mouth by a sour Lancelot.