Protecting A Templar Legacy

Protecting A Templar Legacy
By: Sheiado

Author's Note: This version has been slightly edited since the first time I've posted it. So, enjoy! Well, I finally got a scene where Lillis is kicking some ass (I had to have some kind of action to keep u guys entertained lol). I'm tryin' to kind of develop friendships between Lillis and the men while also issuing out an important character (grins, you'll see...). More to come! Please read and review!


Chapter Six: Getting Served

The evening, Lillis had to admit, had been, without any uncertainty, a rather entertaining display of rivalry to watch. Who knew being a spectator of feuding couples could be so amusing?

Bors had been completely over-taken by the spirited, out-spoken woman of his children... something obviously rare in these parts. Lillis had to admit that she admired her employer. She had balls of steel and no man could put her under... unless if they wanted to be deprived of something extremely valuable to them.

There was, without any doubt, a certain kinship between her and Vanora. They were both fighters, and each had their own sense of reckoning when faced with an opponent; Vanora would verbally scare the wits out of a man while Lillis, calm yet intolerant of ignorance, would use her favor of physical violence at first opportunity. The only things that truly kept them apart were their cultures and preference of methods.

Vanora likely didn't even need to resort to violence anyway, that was more of Bors' department and, without any uncertainty, Lillis imagined that any immediate threat that involved Vanora, Bors was likely included in… and no man wanted a disagreement with *that* man.

Lillis couldn’t imagine what had made the previous girls working at the fort's tavern want to leave, especially since the money wasn’t all that bad. The men, so far tonight, seemed to be behaving themselves accordingly; some didn’t even stay that long.

Small fires had been lit as night began to ascend, creating a soft, flickering glow transversely over the tables and the cobblestone walk-ways. Cheers and drunken laughter floated smoothly along the night air, simultaneous with the muffled chirps of crickets far beyond them.

The way everything seemed to her in that moment made herself feel almost surreal, like she was a viewer looking from the outside-in. The view, the people, this moment of the past that she was an intruder in, left her enthralled. It left her wandering if she was really *there*.

Her moment of pure wonderment, of course, was brief and short-lived.

“Lillis,” Vanora cried, “Thank gods!”

She couldn’t help but phase back into her immediate persona. She didn’t have to hide herself like she had to in the past. For some reason, she found herself smiling and joking more than she had, ever, in a long time. She felt liberated, free, and found that she could actually enjoy life for once.

Lillis smiled at her, taking immediate notice to her disheveled appearance. “You sound like you’re about to have a heart attack.”

“AYE! I’ve seemed to have lost Gilly and number two,” Vanora explained, “Their father, against my wishes *again*, told them that they could go about wherever they please tonight. And I have no doubt that they are somewhere in town and getting themselves into more mischief. I need ya to do me a favor, as that high and mighty twit of a girl can’t run anythin’ and has horse dung for brains.”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Can you watch the bar for me while I go find my children? Do ya think you can do that for me?”

“No problem,” Lillis assured, “I’ll keep a look out for your man while I’m at it… I’ll try and act like everything is normal, that way he won’t run.”

Vanora smiled with an approving gleam in her eye. “Aye, I like the way you think. *Men!* Once I find *that* man and those two offspring of mine, I’m gonna box their bloody ears off!”

She turned and quickly stalked out of the tavern. A feeling of disappoint left Lillis; she had really been wishing to see the mother in action herself. ‘Ah well, maybe I’ll get lucky and Bors will show up to his execution. Then I won’t be missing anything!’

Smirking inwardly at the thought, Lillis placed two full pitchers on an empty table, one filled with wine and the other filled with the mead that Vanora had concocted early this morning. It actually didn't taste that bad.

Although, Lillis had thought to herself regretfully, she could no longer indulge in mixed drinks with Bacardi or Smirnoff. It was just not done here... and there was a short selection to choose from in this time.The choices were ale, wine, or mead.

“Lady Lillis!” She held back the urge to roll her eyes as the familiar voice reached her ears. The knights had arrived.

She turned around, seeing the forms of Galahad, Lancelot, and five others, including her mysterious stranger, stride in. ‘Wonderful,’ Lillis couldn’t help but think, ‘Why did I ever agree to watching this place in Vanora’s absence again?’

She felt like she was now in charge of a group of over-aged children.

Galahad, the blonde haired man that Hermione had called, ‘Gawain’, and two others sat together at one table, Lancelot and a dark-haired man in Roman-like attire sat in another, and the mysterious man from earlier held himself silently within the shadows. He was obviously the recluse in the group.

Trying to shake off the feeling that she was being scrutinized by the man, Lillis ignored him, and went to check on her orders. There was no sense in making a big deal out of nothing.

Sighing, Lillis strode forward, “Well, a return visit… you four wouldn’t have happened to have seen Bors tonight would you?”

Galahad chuckled, asking curiously, “Bors?”

Smirking slyly, Lillis continued, “Vanora is looking for him and my guess is with a motive to maim. So, if you see him you probably want to give him a forewarning. That way he can get a head start of running from her.”

"Bors? Run?" One of them replied amusedly, "The man's probably hiding somewhere with Dagonet to keep him company!"

Lillis found herself chuckling softly. The mental image, to be truthful, was a very comical one. "I'm sure. So, what can I get you boys tonight?"

The red-haired one of the group smiled. "Would a kiss from a lovely lady do?" he asked charmingly.

Lillis raised a sardonic eyebrow at his innocent, dimpled face, her voice rather calm and silky as she replied, "Sure. There's a lovely lady in the back kitchens that should love to meet your request, I'll go get her for you."

"No, no, no," Galahad objected, placing a hand on her arm imploringly. "Penn was only kidding. Please, do not trouble yourself."

"Aye," Gawain agreed heartily, "I don't want another headache."

"We will take four pints of brew then, Lady," the one called Penn ordered.

She was certainly a puzzle to them. She was the first barmaid to not be swayed by their advances and surpassed, shockingly enough, even Lancelot's. Did she find any of them attractive? Or even remotely desirable at all?

"Coming up," Lillis answered, winking at the three teasingly. She pivoted her body away from the table, only to see Hermione glaring at her from the opposite end of the tavern. "Oh, great," she grumbled aloud, her smile fading into a deep frown,"Satan's sister has returned."

A voice from behind her, thick and with a tone of doom, caught her ears. "Oh gods, the girl is headed this way! Quick!"

Lillis' eyes bulged as arms wrapped themselves abruptly around her midsection, pulling her flush up against a hard body of muscle. Not again! She was about to protest and smack the individual, but stopped as her gaze met the panicked one of her assailant.

Gawain smiled down at her sheepishly, responding quick to defend his actions,"My Lady Lillis, I know you wish us chivalrous men to keep our hands off but I request one favor from a lovely maiden such as yourself."

At her inquisitive stare, he continued in a small voice, "...can you please save me?”

The picture of innocence and fright on his cherub face was enough to disway her from smacking him. Lillis chuckled, her lips forming into a pout as she replied with mock sympathy, "Awww. Is the big bad warrior man scwared of the wittle girl?"

Galahad, looking away from the piercing eyes of Hermione, shouted, "YES!"

To make his point even more clear, he edged his chair frantically closer to Gawain and Lillis. "Don't save Gawain, My Lady, SAVE ME!"

Penn and Gareth, meanwhile, were throwing themselves into its of laughter. In fact, the two men looked like they were about to fall out of their respective chairs.

Shaking her head, Lillis laughed herself at their frightened expressions, "You guys are as sad as they come... Alright, Gawain, I'll protect you from the wrath of the she-demon down there, but on one condition."

Gawain nodded sharply. "Anything!"

The other knights, interested, listened intently as she replied, "Make sure all hell doesn't break loose here for me. Vanora isn't here. Do we have an accord?"

Gawain smiled. The request sounded easy enough. "Aye, Lady, its a deal."

Lillis nodded, "Good." Patting Gawain comfortingly on the shoulder, she continued, "Now I am going to see to the wench on the opposite side of the bar."

Unable to withhold his curiosity, Galahad asked in wonder, "What are you going to tell her?"

"Simple, Sir Galahad," She answered with a sly smirk, "Lancelot wants to speak with her."

Gareth, unable to contain himself, jeered and hollered. He wasn't drunk yet, but Lillis hated to imagine how loud he would be if he *was* intoxicated. "She's a sneaky devil if I've ever met one," almost as an afterthought, he added to Lillis' retreating backside, "...and Arthur gets to deal with the minx too-"

"Should we... perhaps warn Arthur?" Galahad asked the three curiously.

They looked at one another and pondered it for a moment. Then they shook their heads simultaneously, "Nah..."

"-we don't need to-"

"-he's a brave man-"

"-Aye!"


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After her act of manipulation was complete along with her orders, Lillis smiled contentedly as she watched Hermione approach Lancelot's table. Lancelot didn't seem too pleased about her presence. And neither did the other man. “My work here is done," she chuckled softly, padding back toward the direction of the bar.

A small head peaking out from behind it caught her attention. A small head with *very* familiar red hair.

Lillis knew that all of Vanora's children, with the exception of her two troublemakers, were at her great aunt's home. The rest were MIA and right now, apparently Vanora was mistaken. Now she had three out of eight missing.

Lillis peered around its corner, spotting the child named "number six" immediately. Thinking of the child's "name", Lillis frowned. Who *does* that to a kid! She was going to have to have a talk with Vanora or, at the least, subtly suggest something about names.

Carefully, so she didn't startle the small five-year-old, Lillis knelt to her level, speaking gently, "Hey. What are you doing behind there?"

The small red head, eyes wide, grinned up at her sheepishly, knowing that she had been caught red-handed and by her mother's own friend, of all people.

"Its alright, you can come out from behind there now," Lillis replied. To reassure her, she continued, "I know for one thing your ma and pa are out somewhere so they won't see you."

Nodding her head quietly, she stepped out shyly and took Lillis' outstretched hand. "To be honest with you this isn't a very safe place to hide. Men can be louts and drunken idiots at night in a bar like this. They might trample over you."

The little girl shrugged her shoulders.

Curious, Lillis asked, "Let me guess, your Aunt's company has alot left to be desired?"

The girl nodded.

"Well, I guess it’s just you and me then, kid. Your pa left... probably hiding to save himself from the wrath of your mom."

The child smiled knowingly, making Lillis herself grin broadly. Cute kid.

"Alright then."

Releasing her hand gently, Lillis pulled a chair up to an empty table. "Well, you get a place all to yourself. I'd stay with you and all but your mom put me in charge of this entire ruckus... how she and her knocked-up self can handle it, I'll never know."

She was about to lift the small girl into the chair but then noticed the girl's height difference. She wouldn't be able to even see over the table! "Hmmm... this chair is a bit low from the table for you isn't it?... Stay here; I'll go get you something. Do you want anything from the kitchen while I'm gone?"

The girl nodded her head enthusiastically, showing that she was, indeed, both hungry and thirsty.

"Alright, it’s a done deal."


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Lillis returned shortly, first setting a cup of water and a small tray of fruits and dried meats down on the tabletop. She quickly put a crate with a blanket on top of the chair and then lifted the child onto it. Number Six smiled gratefully to her and then began digging into her food.

Lillis smiled back. She was most certainly a cute little thing.

She didn't mind children all that much, to be truthful. But she really couldn't see herself being a mother, especially to eight children, of all numbers. That many ankle-biters at once would drive her up the wall and then, she would have to kill herself. 'Then again,' she thought with a smirk, 'they don't exactly have cable TV to keep themselves entertained in this time.'

As she was about to sit down next to her at the table for a short break, a disturbance from afar suddenly gained her abrupt attention. Lillis, utterly annoyed, turned around. She saw Hermione being yanked up by a very inebriated man. Gawain and Galahad didn't seem to take any notice, nor did their companions. In fact, they obviously wanted nothing to do with the "fair Hermione’s rescue". Sighing heavily, as she couldn't take the harassment scene much longer... there was something Lillis just couldn't stand about seeing females getting harassed by a man. It pissed her off, no matter how much she *hated* the female in question.

"Alright, hon, no matter what happens," Lillis said, turning back to the girl who was also staring at the two people on the opposite end, "Just stay here. I'm gonna take care of this."

The girl gave her a frightened look. The man was a soldier of Rome and a very drunk and angry one. He wasn't exactly the small looking type either.

Lillis gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry," she answered with a silent wink, "I'll be back in no time."

She hated leaving the kid alone, unguarded, in a place like this... but, she was left to also watch over an establishment with extremely reckless people... or er, men, to be exact. Walking determinedly, past the tables that held the midnight batch of customers and curious stares, Lillis shouted loudly, "Yo!"

The man didn't seem to notice her. In fact, he was still trying to put his arms around the squirming barmaid that was swatting away his advances. "Eh? Come on, love, I've notice yer pretty self all night and ya still 'ave yet to come to me table-"

Hermoine, frantic, stomped down on his foot, running out of his grasp as he howled in pain. When her eyes caught those of her co-worker, she let out a sigh of relief. "Lil!"

She made a bee-line for her, immediately hiding behind the fuming woman. With the look on her face, no man would want to be in front of her right now. It was like being in the path of Vanora in full power. “You go anywhere near her and you're gonna find yourself in a world of pain, pal." She spoke coldly.

The man's drunken comprehension didn't seem to shine through because even after her words of warning had been spoken, he still continued to advance in her direction. "Well then, pretty lass, I guess you will do then," he spoke, his eyes leering at her appreciatively. Obviously he saw her as being a *better* opportunity.

Lillis glared at the man. 'Oh hell no...'

"Um, Lillis," Hermione spoke meekly, her fear revealed as she began shrinking away, "Perhaps we should-"

"What? Run? Sorry, I'm not that type of girl," she replied, her anger mounting by the second. "And this man obviously wants an ass kicking. So, an ass-kicking he's gonna get."

Little did they know, they had an audience. And at the woman's reply, the men who were about to interfere, that being the majority of knights present along with their commander, held themselves back, curious as to what she was going to do. Hermione saw this and stepped back also, definitely *not* wanting to be in the way.

The man smirked at her. "Come 'ere lit'l pretty..."

He lunged at her and Lillis, her reflexes quicker, took the defensive and moved her lithe body around him. The grace of her movements should have given the man a warning. But, in his drunken state, he didn't seem to take notice that she obviously had a distinct flare for fighting. The man staggered back, having missed her, and glared.

Lillis smirked teasingly at him, intensifying his anger as he charged at her again. This time, Lillis deflected the punch that came at her head, ducking quickly and side-stepping him with ease. In a blink of an eye, she did a smooth round-house kick, landing gracefully on her feet just as the man fell back, hard, onto the table.

He was most certainly dazed from the blow, as his eyes were empty and glazed over with a blank expression. Not wasting any time, Lillis grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him forwards, effectively flinging him onto the hard cobblestone walkway. "Now, do us all a favor, sober up, and learn some manners before coming here," Lillis hissed, walking away and entering the bar scene again.

Everyone was staring at her, open-mouthed, and the only sound that could be heard was the crickets.

Rolling her eyes, Lillis spoke irritably, "What! Anyone else want beef?"

She received only shocked stares in reply.

"People act like you’ve never seen a man get his ass served before…” She muttered under her breath, walking away in a huff. She felt eyes burn upon her backside.

When she was out of earshot, Galahad turned to Gawain with a look of utter confusion. “I really can’t believe what I’ve just seen," he sputtered, "I must have consumed too much ale...”

He shook his empty glass dramatically.

“No," Gawain assured, "You saw what all of us did. A barmaid best one of Rome’s soldiers, three times her size, without even breaking a sweat. Either that, or we’ve both drank too much.”

Gareth shrugged nonchalantly. "I thought she was rather good."

Lancelot, from the table beyond, walked up and sat down next to the four men. “Remind me not to get on her bad side… I won’t be putting my hands anywhere on *her* unexpected again.”

Penn chuckled. “-Unless YOU want to be pinned to a table.”

Lancelot, smiling amusedly, seemed to enjoy the thought. "That doesn’t sound half bad, actually…”

"-Or have a knife at your throat," Gawain finished pointedly, "I guess Bors is mistaken. There is a woman far worse than Vanora; she has a sharp tongue and can fight with a grace unlike most real men we know.”

Penn shuddered slightly. “Aye, and SHE is the one with child... I’d almost hate to think how Lady Lillis would be in that condition…”

Gawain chuckled. "THAT woman is far from the cry of a lady…” almost as an afterthought, he asked his companions, “Do any of you know where she is from?”

TBC...