A cold wind brought a slight howling noise to the candlelit room. All of Arthur's knights were cramped inside. Gawain lay silently upon his own bed for it was his quarters that were filled with these men. He had not spoken for hours now. He was sick, violently sick. At least he had been violently sick earlier but now he seemed to rest fitfully.

"He's not out of the woods yet." Bors said gruffly, after a long silence. Truthfully it was much more than even that. Gawain was far from consciousness.

Arthur was pacing the hall outside and was surprised by Galahad who came out of Gawain's room suddenly.

"Galahad, you frightened me." Arthur said with a faint laugh but he abandoned any attempt at encouraging the younger man. Galahad lowered his head in an obvious attempt to stop his tears. Placed his hand on his shoulder.

"I know this is a great trial for you Galahad. But give him tonight and we will know what to hope for tomorrow."

The silence was long and awkward and Arthur was unsure what kind of emotions where battling in Galahad's mind. He was still so young, slightly jaded yes, but young. Arthur heard him take a breath and it was long before he released it and when he did the tide of tears could not be suppressed.

Arthur rarely wept and when he did he was always quite alone. But he immediately reached out and brought Galahad to his chest. The cries of the young knight were raw and miserable in the cold and silent hall. The stones of the walls threw back the sound in heart wrenching clarity. Galahad could feel the warmth of his captain as he clenched his fists into his shirt. It reminded him of the comfort he had found in Gawain in the years past and the thought brought a fresh wave of hot tears.

Arthur found that his hands were vaguely clinging as well. He thought for a moment that this was how he would comfort his own children one day and a paternal feeling came over him.

"Galahad…" Arthur said softly, so softly that if anyone were around, even in the silence they would not have heard it muttered. Galahad found that he had never heard a more comforting rendition of his name.

"Nothing can stop death when it is approaching, not your anger, not your tears. But perhaps it is not imminent."

Galahad pushed himself away and looked up to Arthur.

"He is dying." Galahad's voice cracked noticeably and he swept a long sleeve over his wet face. Arthur kept hold on the young knight a brought one hand to Galahad's face.

"Galahad, look at me."

Galahad did and Arthur was hard pressed to think of another time he had seen such vulnerability in any eyes before. Perhaps in the helpless dying he had seen in battle but never in the blue windows of this certain friend.

"Gawain's fate is not sealed. The last thing he would want you to do would be to give up hope."

Galahad leaned once more upon Arthur's shoulder and looked to Gawain's closed door.

"I won't. But if he dies…"

Arthur wanted to desperately to say he won't die but he didn't. The situation was truly dire. When Galahad failed to get another word of encouragement from Arthur, for there were no more to give, he backed away.

"Do you see? Even you are unsure."

"Galahad, we must have faith." Arthur reached out.

"No!" Galahad backed further away and swatted Arthur's gesture.

"You have faith! Lancelot is right…" Galahad was quiet a moment as he watched the harm he had just inflicted run across his Captain's face.

"Your God does not hear your prayers." Galahad seethed. He was no longer able to stand and slumped down against the wall, lamenting many things but not regretting. No, he was right, he knew it.

Arthur found himself on the floor, the cold stone floor, before his knight, unrefined and no longer a Captain. He reached for Galahad cautiously and lifted his chin.

"Perhaps he would hear your prayers."

Galahad's face was a mask of obstinacy. He would not be so week as to pray to the Roman's God, not even with Gawain…

Arthur saw this thought pass the Sarmatian's eyes.

"Ah, where are your priorities, knight?" Arthur said flatly.

"You either love your friend or you are proud. Which do you discern is more important?"

The moment was gone in a flash for the other knights were filing from Gawain's room and Tristan was herding them out himself. Everyone passed the two on the floor sadly and went about their evening duties in silence. Lancelot however passed with a concerned glance at Arthur and received no compliance with his silent request to stay.

Tristan stayed silent in the door way and Galahad looked up expectantly. Tristan only stared back a moment.

"You both should sleep." He said blankly and turned and closed the door behind him.

Galahad started to rise but Arthur held him down.

"Let Tristan stay with him a while. Go and sleep. He will wake us if there is any change." Arthur tried, but Galahad pushed him away and stood to walk to the door.

Arthur sighed, he was reluctant to order the young knight. Perhaps Tristan would take care of him. Arthur decided this was best and left for the common room, where he knew Lancelot was waiting for him. He did stop however one last time to see Galahad at the door, he could see that he and Tristan were conversing through it and he saw Galahad's shoulders fall and the silent stomp of his foot before he walked away to his own room.

Once inside his room, which was right next to Gawain's, Galahad didn't light a candle nor did he start a fire but only took an old blanket and wrapped it around himself. He then slid down the wall that separated Gawain from him and fell into a tear-induced sleep.