Lessa wandered through the market listlessly. After staring out the window in the great room for hours, her father sent her out, stating that he could not stand her moroseness in the house. So, she went out, walking through the village as though she were in a fog.
"Alessandra," a voice said, bringing her around. She stopped and looked up at Brutus.
"Yes?" she said, not being able to even muster the energy for a snide comment.
"Pining away for your knight, it seems," he said.
"You mean my husband," Lessa shot back, frowning. "Or have you forgotten."
"I haven't. Though I wonder what your father would say if I told him I saw you sneaking out of your window on your wedding night," he said casually. Lessa's eyes widened.
"You speak of madness," she replied shortly.
"Do I? I also recall overhearing a little conversation between Arthur and one of his knights," he continued. "A plot, actually. To whisk you off to Sarmatia." Lessa stared at him, blinking. "I should think your father would be very interested in hearing that the child you may have conceived is not that of his beloved Arthur."
"What do you want, Brutus?" she asked softly. "Isn't it bad enough that my husband and his men are out there risking their lives on a mission that very well could kill him?"
"What's the plan?" he asked, stepping closer to her.
"There is no plan," she said, staring at him.
"I know you, Alessandra. There is always a plan," he said, lowering his voice.
"And what would you do? What would you get out of this? I'm already wed to Arthur. Nothing can change that," she said. "Do you think that maybe there is a way that father would annul the marriage? Give me to you? I assure you, he wouldn't. He would never give me to you, a lowly officer, when I'm already wed to someone of higher status."
Brutus stared at her, breathing heavily.
"Is it money you're after?" she asked, continuing. "I have none - it's all Arthur's now. Tell him what you like, it makes no difference to me." She then turned on her heel and strode away, leaving him gaping after her.
She continued walking until she found herself at the home that Vanora shared with Bors. She could hear her yelling after her many children as Lessa stepped in.
"Lessa! My it's good to see you!" Vanora said and she stepped over and hugged the younger woman. "Please, sit." Lessa took a seat at a table and Vanora pushed all her children outside to play. "What brings you around?"
Lessa sighed heavily as her hands started shaking slightly. Now that she was away from Brutus, the fear had set it. She had been bluffing when she spoke with him. She was terrified that if he told, there was no way they would be able to sneak her out with Galahad.
"Brutus… he knows we're planning something," she said softly, looking up at the red-headed woman. "He knows that… that I snuck out on my wedding night. He knows that we're planning a way for me to go to Sarmatia."
Vanora placed a hand to her mouth, staring at Lessa in shock.
"What did you tell him?" she asked. Lessa shrugged.
"I told him that I was wed to Arthur and there was nothing he could do about that. That I had no money - it's all Arthur's - and that he could tell father. I don't care," she said, her voice shaking. "I… I didn't know what to do or say. But Vanora, what if he does? What if… what if father locks me up and I can't get out of leaving?"
Vanora studied Lessa a moment before reaching across the table and placing her hand on Lessa's.
"It will be okay," she said softly. "We will work this out. When they return, we will find a way. Did he mention that he knew what the plan was?"
Lessa shook her head.
"No. He asked me what it was," she said. "I don't think he knows what we have planned. Just that there is something. I told him there was none." Vanora nodded.
"Then he knows nothing. We just have to be careful. Not mention anything from now on," Vanora said. "We cannot risk that someone will overhear." Lessa nodded, wiping her face. "It will be fine, Lessa."
"Thank you, Vanora," Lessa whispered. The older woman smiled.
"It will be fine. Now, get home before your father comes looking for you," she said, shooing her out of the house.
The knights were huddled together around the fire as the rain poured down around them, talking about what they would do after they were released from Rome. Arthur was silent as he listened in.
"We know what Galahad will do," Gawain said, glancing at the youngest knight. "He and Lessa will make a brood of children." Galahad chuckled.
"And then I shall follow them to Sarmatia… see if I can finally tempt Lessa away," Lancelot said with a grin.
"Try all you want. I doubt it'll work," Bors said. "She's devoted to this one."
"May have already got started on the family front," Tristan said quietly, looking up at Galahad. "I heard voices from your room." The men all looked at him, their faces breaking out into grins.
"What happened to waiting until your wedding night?" Gawain asked.
"I thought you had too many morals," Lancelot said. Galahad glanced over to Arthur.
"I was told that someone should have had a wedding night," he said. They all looked to their leader.
"You? You sent Lessa to Galahad?" Lancelot asked.
"I thought it best for her if… if there was the chance a child could be born," he said softly. The men went quiet for a moment, each lost in their thoughts.
"What will you do, Arthur?" Bors asked. "In Rome?"
"I will be reunited with Palagious," he said simply. "Start over in Rome. What that entails, I will have to see."
The men were all silent a few moments, all lost in their thoughts. Galahad's were with Lessa. He looked passed the fire, out towards the way they had come. He fingered the necklace she gave him. He had worn it under his tunic and armor, hiding it underneath before they left.
He would survive this and make it home to her. And then they would leave this place and never return.
Short chapter, but at least I'm posting! Sorry for taking so long. Been caught up in the other stories the passed few weeks. Hope you enjoy!