Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the 2004 movie King Arthur, they belong to Touchstone Pictures
This is going to be a short story but it has been mulling around in my head for about two years now…so hope you like it
This story takes place at the time of the moive
Tristan/Gawain and OC
Chapter 1: His Lamb
"I stay my papa" a sweet soft small voice could be heard
"Hanna, you must come with momma." Her mother softly replied coaxing her young two year old daughter
"I stay my papa." Her small arms and legs clinched tightly around his father's right leg,
"There now lamb, you cannot stay with your papa." Stooped down near the child her mother held out her hands
Slowly their daughter's small hand reached out from under the tunic with only a finger pointed out straight toward her mother.
"No momma, I …stay….. my …PAPA!" protested the two year old in the sweetest softest voice from the safety and concealment of her father's long tunic
Looking up at her husband with frustrated eyes Tamara reached through the tunic taking hold of her daughter's midsection, prying her from her father's leg. Lifting the dark haired girl into her arms Tamara placed her on her left hip as she wiped the tussled mess of locks from her face. She truly had the look of her father, dark amber eyes that could look deep into the very soul of a person, dark thick locks that no matter how many times her mother brushed them always seemed windblown, high predominate cheek bones that gave her the air of nobility and a voice as low and soft as the purr of a kitten.
Placing a soft kiss upon her daughter's rosy lips she gently wiped the tears from her eyes. Placing her forehead against the child's she spoke softly.
"Momma would like nothing better than to stay with papa too. But we cannot my lamb, your papa has his duties and we have our chores." She whispered as she headed out the stables
With tears in her eyes the child cried not loud and rough but rather with deep sadness.
"I stay my papa…..I stay my papa" she repeated as one arm reached back for her father while a fist of tiny fingers covered her crying eyes
Her father usually stoic and unemotional bit his lower lip, his heart breaking as he stood in place watching his daughter leave his sight distraught. The other knight's watched the scout in amusement knowing that this tiny figure was the only person who could melt his heart into a puddle.
Turning the corner from the stable the two headed toward the market place. Tamara tried unsuccessfully to console her daughter. The child weeping, her head lay limp upon her mother's shoulder now tear soaked, while her arms wrapped tightly around her mother's neck, repeatedly saying "I stay my papa" in a low heart wrenching voice.
"I know love, I know" she gently patted her daughter's back "I feel the very way as you. Your papa is not one I wish to be parted from either but…"
Suddenly the child was ripped from her arms over her shoulder. Tamara turned around quickly completely prepared to fight the person who dared take her child from her, as mother cat protecting her cub would do. To her surprise stood her husband their tiny daughter in his arms. Tristan stood holding Hanna in his left arm with his right hand on her back. Hanna had her face hidden under his braided locks as though she was shielded from the world while one hand slipped in the opening of his shirt and the other arm around his neck.
Towering over his petite wife (measuring a mere 5"1' inches tall to his near 6 foot frame) as she stood with her hands on her hips glaring at him in a disapproving manner Tristan looked into her grey/blue eyes sternly.
"I will take the girl, you go on with your chores woman" he said with great authority "I will find you when I am ready to return her"
"You spoil her far too much husband" his wife said with a cocked eye brow looking up at her husband
"Nonsense, she is a mere child" patting his daughter's back
"Aye, who has her father wrapped in the palm of her tiny hand" she added
"I stay my papa" in a happy tone was suddenly heard from the child as she looked from under his locks with a smile as she pat his chest from under his shirt
"Yes I see that little girl you got your very wish did you not" her mother said softly looking at her husband who now wore a proud grin upon his lips
Tristan slipped his hand beneath his wife's dark brown hair lacing it around to the back of her neck, the scout pulled her close as he bent down placing a warm tender kiss on his wife's lips.
"Bid your momma goodbye my lamb" he commanded of his child
"Go momma" she said as she pointed her finger to her mother as she buried her head in her father's neck
Attempting to hide a laugh Tristan cleared his throat.
"Hanna, do not speak to your mother in such a manner" he chastened her tenderly "say you are sorry" he gently poked her side arm
"I torry momma" she said never lifting her head from her father's protective hold
Rolling her eyes Tamara turned, headed toward their cottage to begin her chores. It would be a bit of relief to have time alone to accomplish all she had to do this day. Not that Hanna was any trouble, for she was a good child, quiet like her father, not like Bors' and Vanora's brood for sure. If truth is told Hanna was shy around them, often seeking the protection of her father or mother's arms when they were about. Hanna, like her father avoided loud and rambunctious people, preferring to live on the outside circle of people.
"Bye bye momma" she yelled back over her father's shoulder as he headed toward the stable
Turning back to face them she smiled. Tamara stood with crossed arms as she watched her husband and child walk off. She could not help but smile within warmly as she gazed upon them. Her daughter chatting away in her husband's ear as she stroked his locks. How that little girl adored her father, and he her in return, for certain the scout was not an easy man to love, this Tamara knew all too well. But Hanna was a different story, she alone melted the coldness and distance of his heart. Just as the two turned the corner toward the stable he stopped looking toward his wife catching her in a gaze. He had his moments and this was one of them as she detected a softness come over his lips as the edges barely tilted upward. She could sware she saw a glimmer in his amber eyes, even through his tussled locks. She knew what that look meant as well.
'Oh that look, he knows just how to make me weak in the knees' she thought as he left her sight 'He does it on purpose, he does.' she said exhaling
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Entering the stable with his daughter in his arms Tristan heard the muffled chuckles and was given skirmish looks from his fellow knight's as he made his way to his spot on the benches. Sitting down Hanna slipped into his lap with her legs stretched as far as they could across his legs, her back resting against his belly. She looked up at her father who was gazing into his daughter's eyes smiling at her. He loved this little girl more than he ever thought he could love another person. She was his life, his future, his reason to exist.
Taking out his dagger he began to sharpen it as she placed her small hands on his forearms. Content and happy the daughter of the scout sat with her father for sometime quietly in his lap watching him. Tristan requested that Johls saddle his horse and bring him. The page did as he was instructed. With the horse before them Tristan looked at Hanna who had jumped from his lap excited to see the steed. Her bright smile lit her face as she placed her hands together and bent her knees as nearly knelt on the benches then jumped high clapping. She loved riding with her father, he brought her on more and more rides now that she was getting older.
"Wide papa wide papa" she exclaimed
"Yes daughter we go for a ride" he chuckled softly shaking his head
Hanna toddled over to where Gawain sat, climbing in his lap she took his face in her hands and turned him to face hers.
"Dawain….Dawain… I wide a my papa" she shouted
"Aye Hanna you ride with your papa" he said to her with a smile "Come I will hand you to him" he said as he lifted the child making his way to the scout who had mounted his horse
Her arms stretched out for her father Gawain placed her in the scouts lap. With open palm pressed to her lips she blew a kiss to Gawain as her father turned the reins of the horse and headed out of the stable. The scout cast one of his infamous dark glares toward Gawain as his hold upon his daughter tightened. He was not pleased that Hanna favored Gawain the way she did, not at all. Gawain adored the wee girl and made no bones about it, doted on her all the time. This did not sit well with the scout at all, not at all, but his daughter loved him he could tell. He still did not trust the golden haired knight around his wife, knowing how he felt about her.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The two rode for some time in the open field and in the woods. The wonder of her age and curiousty amazed him. She never seemed void of questions. He chuckled as his daughter pointed at everything she saw naming it off, her voice so soft so sweet. Yes, he was a proud father, something three years ago he would have laughed out loud at the very thought, but now, now he could not imagine his life without her, or her mother in it. He kissed the top of her tiny head as she continued to chat away patting his forearms as they went.
"We had better pick some flowers for your momma, lamb, they will make her happy." He said as he brought his horse to a halt
Dismounting he reached his arms out as Hanna flew into their safety. Hugging his neck she placed a kiss upon his cheek. Placing his daughter on the ground he watched as she ran threw the field as though she had not a care in the world, and she did not. He thought hard to a time when he was that way, running carefree in fields, near streams, playing with no thought of his future life. He joyfully watched as his daughter run about, her hair flying behind her, her face brighter than the noonday sun, her arms full of wild flowers from the field. When she had her full she raced back to her father heading straight into his legs. he placed his hand on her head and gently rubbed her hair.
"Well then, have you enough child?" he chuckled
"More" she said looking up at him
"No that is enough girl, come let us make our way back to your mother, I am sure she will have supper ready for the two of us." he said as he lifted her unto the saddle before mounting his self
"Fowers" she said "for my momma"
"Yes lamb flowers for your momma. They will get us both out of trouble" he laughed as he placed a kiss on his daughters head "Papa loves you my sweet lamb"
"Ove my papa" she replied patting his arm
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Their cottage was located just on the outskirts of the fort. Arthur had requistioned it to them when he married. It was small but comfortable. Tamara had made it a nice home for them. He did not like to admit it at first but he liked coming threw the doors at night to a warmly lit home that smelled of fresh things baking or cooking. It was something he had to adjust to, sharing his life with another person. He found he spent less time at the tavern and more time sitting infront of the fire near his wife, even if most of the time they spoke very little, well he did not that is. Tamara chatted away, often times to herself. He would often catch her in full conversations with herself before Hanna came into their lives. He amuzed himself standing outside the window listening to her sing or talk to herself. At first he thought her half out of her mind, then he realised she was merely lonely. Her voice was musical, soft like Hanna's and it soothed him to hear her speak. Especially in the middle of the night when he would stur from a nightmare, her soft hand would find him, her voice calming him back to sleep.
Opening the door to their small cottage Tristan put Hanna on the ground allowing the child to run to her mother. Closing the door behind him he kicked his boots off in their usual place, placed his weapons in the cupboard near the door. His wife insisted on tidiness in their home and made sure the scout followed. Smiling as he cast his eyes on his wife who held their daughter in her lap. They were beautiful to him and he enjoyed watching the two together.
"Momma fowers for you" she said looking up at her mother with an arm full of flowers
"They are beautiful daughter, thank you" she said as she placed a kiss on her cheek then looked up at her husband with a warm smile
Her husband made his way to the table and took his usual place. Grabbing an apple from the bowl he began to cut pieces sharing them with Hanna.
"She spoils you wife" he muttered lowly with a impish grin on his lips never looking up from his apple
"So does her father" Tamara replied as she placed her hand on his arm
To be continued...