DISCLAIMER: Wishing I owned it and wishing I was making money from this. Still not doing either and begging not to get sued. Really! I have NO money so it's not worth it. Can I at least wish for Dagonet? I promise to return him, eventually.
Kiana shook the straw from the stall out of her dress before she stepped into the tavern. She had learned to wash up before doing any serving to avoid comments about smelling like a horse, or worse. Men could be such pigs and the women spending time on the laps of the men were as snotty as ever. She greeted Vanora and Sameal and put on her apron to serve the ever growing crowd while noting all the knights were at their tables, including Dagonet who met her gaze and smiled at her briefly. She almost dropped the pitcher she was holding as her heart sped up. The man had acted like she didn't exist for the past couple of weeks and was now smiling at her? Maybe he was just being polite and needed more ale she decided and went over to the table to refill all the knights mugs.
When she managed to get her way to the knights table she checked their mugs and noted his mug had plenty of ale in it. She didn't know what to think and started to leave to go back to get their dinner when his voice stopped her in her tracks, "I'm glad to see you doing well again."
She turned slowly to look into his eyes noting they were steady and his expression seemed sincere, "I am well, thanks to you again." She started to step away not knowing what else to say when he reached out to touch her hand lightly, "Would you mind if I walked you home from now on?"
She didn't know why, but her stomach had a fluttering feeling in it when he asked. She looked back into his eyes and saw something she couldn't begin to name. She realized she knew so little about him, "I'd like that." She answered simply and honestly and was rewarded with another smile. She walked away in a stunned daze not seeing Gawain slam down his mug and jump up from the table to walk angrily out of the tavern.
The evenings work went smoothly and she was able to get off work at her normal time. After she had wiped down the last table and made sure the kitchen fire was banked for Sameal for the following morning, she tucked the cat's scraps into a cloth to put in her dress pocket and stepped outside to meet Dagonet. He was waiting patiently and didn't say anything to her at first. She had begun to feel uneasy thinking she had mistaken his kindness again when he startled her out of her thoughts, "You still bring scraps for the cat I hear."
She nodded thinking of the cat's notoriously aggressive behavior towards Tristan and Gawain if he wasn't fed, "He seems to think he owns the hut now, but he's good company."
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw her looking ahead as she walked. Again, he wished he had the smooth way with words Lancelot or Gawain had with women. Asking about her cat was polite but he knew it was far short of showing any real interest. He stopped walking and waited for her to stop and face him before he said, "I know I don't say as much as the others might, but you have been in my thoughts from the day Vanora asked me to look after you." He watched her face to see if she could understand what he was trying to say.
Kiana studied his face while thinking on what he had just said. Vanora had often said he was a man of few words and was as truthful as he was loyal. For a brief moment she wanted to believe his words might mean more than he had just said but scolded herself into reality. He was only letting her know his quietness was not directed at her personally and offering an explanation. Realizing he was watching her and waiting for a response she decided to tread cautiously, "I've never thought less of your quiet nature and I have ever been grateful of your aid since I seem to keep finding trouble."
They began walking again and Dagonet let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding when she answered him. He knew his silence and absence had pushed her away and had finally swallowed his pride to seek out Vanora for advice. He had sworn his brother's feisty lover to silence knowing she would keep his questioning secret while providing good advice. He'd had no idea how to approach Kiana and finally decided he had spent his last night in sleepless frustration. Vanora's advice had been simple and direct. She told him to be honest, be himself, and don't put up a false front. She had told him to let Kiana see his interest and to stop sending her mixed signals. Vanora had cautioned him that she may not know herself what she wanted and had advised him to be patient if he decided she was what he really wanted.
"Perhaps it is more likely that trouble finds you and I would see that end." He said cautiously. He realized his stomach was in a knot and thought he might find it easier to battle a band of Woad rebels singlehandedly than continue the conversation with her like this. Vanora's advice echoed in his head and he knew he was doing little to express his true thoughts. His thoughts were interrupted by Kiana's next words.
"I think you would try to do just that, and I don't want to seem ungrateful but I don't understand why you have done everything you have done for me. You were sent out to the wall and out to patrols in the winter and almost died from illness because you stood up for me."
He stopped walking again with her hut in sight down the roadway. When she turned to look at him he stated simply, "That is in the past. You have a future here in this place and I would like to be a part of it."
Kiana's mouth went dry as his words sank in. There was no way she could misunderstand what he had just said and she had no idea how to respond. She was not the type of woman to play with a man's attention, but had no idea who he really was other than a man who had seen fit to look out for her when others hadn't bothered. She knew nothing about him and he knew nothing about her other than their brief experiences together. She took a shaky breath before answering, "I think it would be best if we get to know one another before you decide if you want to be part of my future."
"That is all I ask, for now."
He bid her a goodnight and left her at the doorway to her hut. She went inside and wondered about his sudden change and interest in her life. She decided to take the situation at face value for now and focus on getting to know him as a man instead of a benevolent protector. As she lay down to rest her mind kept replaying their conversation and sleep eluded her.
Dagonet walked back to his quarters feeling both relieved and apprehensive. He had been nothing less than truthful with her and her answer was all he could have hoped for. His experience with women was limited to his friendship with Vanora and the few paid dalliances with whores. He had never had any interest in any one particular woman before Kiana and now that he had the chance to get to know her he didn't have the slightest idea how he should proceed. When he reached his room and was able to lay down to sleep he remained awake thinking of the small woman her kind smile and sweet nature.
The next day Kiana was groggy from the lack of sleep and had to hurry to get to the stable to see Anthes before working at the tavern. She again went into his stall and spent time grooming him with the brushes Jols had provided. The big horse liked the brushing and had stopped snorting suspiciously at the halter and had allowed her to move freely around him in the stall.
Jols had thoughtfully provided her a bucket of water with soap for her to clean herself up before going to work and she hastily rushed through the process before practically running to the tavern. Neither she nor Jols realized a pair of eyes watched her going to and from the stable with an expression of disgust.
The tavern was busy that afternoon and she had little time to think as she served the tables of hungry men. She noted a couple of the women who sat on the laps of the men looked both eager to earn coin but had eyes that looked worried. One of the women, Diedre, she knew from previous encounters while doing business outside the tavern. They had spent some time talking and she felt they could become friends despite how everyone looked down on the other woman because of how she was able to earn her coin.
She was somewhat disheartened to see Diedre sitting on Gawain's lap and schooled her face into a mask of neutrality as she approached the table. Gawain was well into his mugs of ale and freely groped Diedre in front of her and the other knights. Kiana could tell Diedre was uncomfortable with the situation and had looked at her with a mute apology in her eyes. Despite her efforts to keep her face expressionless he saw Kiana's face and laughed, "You can join us later if you'd like."
Kiana scowled at him and skipped filling his mug with more ale. She decided not to respond to him knowing he was drunk and not likely to speak more with her in any manner of pleasantry. She was turning to leave when he said, "Yeah, I guess it would be better for me if you don't. I wouldn't want to be sent out on patrols or up on the wall like the others. You've led poor Dagonet on a merry chase now and we all wonder what you'll be up to next." His eyes were narrowed with anger and scorn while his tone was harsh and biting.
Cold anger and shock hit her and she couldn't believe he would dare to think that of her. Before she could think about what she was doing she took the pitcher of ale in her hand and swung it at the back of his head. He should have easily been able to dodge it but was too drunk and the pitcher connected with his head in a solid hit. It broke and ale spilled down the back of his head and neck. She watched dispassionately as he swayed on his seat and finally slumped over unconscious.
Lancelot and Bors sat at the table in stunned silence as she turned and walked away. Diedre jumped off Gawain's lap to follow her into the kitchen, "He's a right bastard when he's drunk." She said.
Kiana felt her hands start to shake as the anger and embarrassment wore off and shock at what she had just done settled in, "I'm sorry if I cost you your nights earnings." Was all she could think to say.
She was surprised when the other woman put her arm around her shoulders in a brief hug, "Don't you worry about me. It was nice to see one of them put in his place by someone other than Vanora. He was being horrible to any woman he saw before he grabbed onto me. You did me a favor."
"I had no idea he thought so little of me."
"Some men get drunk when they don't want to face life." Vanora said from the doorway of the kitchen, "Bors is dragging him off to his room for the night."
"Getting drunk doesn't excuse his behavior. I had thought we were friends." Tears began to well up in her eyes and she blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. She turned away from the kitchen doorway so no one else could see her face. She jumped as Diedre hugged her tightly, "Maybe I shouldn't be the one to say this, but he's jealous that Dagonet walked you home last night. I think he'd hoped to be the man to capture and keep your attention."
Kiana couldn't have been more shocked if someone had told her there were going to be two moons in the sky. Gawain had acted like nothing other than a friend and she had no clue that he might feel anything other than friendship towards her. She had liked his quick wit and sense of humor but had never seen him any way other than as a friend. She shook her head in disbelief, "No. He's never said or done anything. He just got drunk on too much ale." She didn't want to believe anything else. Her life had suddenly become too complicated.
She straightened up and smoothed out her dress deciding that hiding in the kitchen was childish. She had made her point, even if it was going to cost her for the pitcher, and she was going to go back to work with her pride intact. She picked up plates of food Sameal had made ready while they spoke and swept past the other two women to do her job.
Vanora and Diedre exchanged looks after she left and Vanora said, "I think things around here are about to get a lot more interesting."
The other woman laughed dryly, "Yeah, and I wonder if he'll pull his head out of the ale and make a real play for her instead of sulking and being a sot."
"Tristan and Bors may carve out his liver if her tries and he knows it. Best to leave her and Dag be and let them figure it out on their own." She picked up two more plates Sameal had ready to serve and followed Kiana out into the main room.
Diedre stood in the kitchen looking out into the room with men busily drinking and eating while enjoying each other's company. Sameal's voice jolted her out of her musings, "Let it be girl. His eyes are for Kiana now and he's the kind of man that only loves once and loves deeply."
She took a shaky breath while looking at the old cook. He had been working in the tavern when she had first come to the fort and started to earn her coin in the only way she saw possible, by selling her body. She had lain with each of the nights at some point and had harbored a silent hope that one day she would be able to make the big knight with the quiet eyes and gentle hands see more to her than just a whore. She was watching her hopes and dreams fade away in the form of another woman who had managed to earn her way in a manner she hadn't had the courage or will to attempt. Bitterness and sorrow over a fading dream threatened to consume her as her own eyes filled with tears. She nodded at the old cook and slipped out the back kitchen door into the alleyway to mourn her lost dream in private.
Bors had found Dagonet heading to the tavern after unceremoniously dumping Gawain on the floor of his room to sleep off his ale and harsh words. The girl hadn't done anything to earn his treatment of her and he'd been proud of her response. He chuckled when he realized that between Dag and Kiana, Gawain would be sporting sore ribs and a headache. It served him right. He'd been told to stay clear of the girl and he hadn't listened.
Dagonet had raised a questioning eyebrow at Bors when he saw him coming from Gawain's room and Bors couldn't help his laugh, "That girl may be small but she packs a good hit with a pitcher of ale. She broke it across the back of his head after he insulted her the way he did." Seeing his brother looking back toward the blond knight's room with a dark scowl on his face he reached out and grabbed his arm, "She took care of it but left to go to the kitchen in a hurry afterward. Go on to the tavern for her. You can beat him in the training yard tomorrow."
Dagonet turned and left for the tavern without a word but his step was more hurried than before. He was glad she'd been able to stand up for herself but dismayed that one of his brother knights would stoop to such low behavior. He made up his mind that Gawain would be leaving the training field with a limp and some bruises to remind him to keep a polite tongue in his mouth.
When he arrived at the tavern his eyes searched until they found her busily serving tables of laughing men. He watched her from a distance trying to see if the incident had unduly upset her and noted a stiffness in the set of her shoulders and a her smile a bit forced. He strode into the tavern and sat at the table with Lancelot who had returned just shortly before him. The normally quick witted knight chose to remain silent and simply pushed an empty mug in his direction across the table. Dagonet picked up the mug with a nod of thanks while looking around the tavern to follow her with his eyes.
Kiana felt the moment he stepped into the tavern as his quiet but imposing presence seemed to fill the air. She quickly finished serving a table of men and headed towards the bar to pick up another pitcher of ale. Sinich handed her the pitcher with a scowl, "You'll pay for the pitcher as well as the spilled ale."
She breathed out an exasperated sigh and gave him a less than friendly look, "I expected to do nothing less." She snatched the pitcher out of his hands and walked away before he could say anything more. She knew there hadn't been more than two mugs of ale left in that pitcher and tamped down her irritation about having to pay for the full amount. Still, thinking back to Gawain's slurring insults, she thought the expense worth the end result. She made her way to Dagonet and filled his mug. When Lancelot tried to shove his mug in her way rudely she glared at him, "Do I have to break one over your head as well to teach you manners?"
Lancelot reflexively jerked backwards and caught the warning look in Dagonet's eye, "Please." He said with as much sincerity as he could muster. After she filled his mug and left he grumbled at the big knight, "Next she'll be coming at us like Vanora with a wooden spoon."
"Which would only serve you right. You spend no effort in making up words to lure a wench to your bed yet you cannot bring yourself to speak with decency to her when she has done you no wrong."
The dark haired knight looked across the table and noted the hard look in his friends eyes, "She means that much to you then?" Getting no response other than a steady stare he sighed in frustration, "You are all fools when it comes to women."
Dagonet didn't reply and simply drank his ale while continuing to watch Kiana as she moved busily about the tavern. When Galahad came in a short while later adjusting his breeches he said nothing and indicated an empty seat at the table. He had no doubt that Diedre had sought him out to earn her coin for the night. She was fond of the knights and kept herself as close to them as possible. He couldn't blame her considering the recent murders.
When Kiana returned to their table she brought them all meals as well as ale for Galahad. Galahad had immediately dug into his dinner and suddenly stopped to look around, "Where's Gawain?"
Kiana thought for a moment about ignoring the question but saw the youngest knights earnest look, "He got sent to bed early." Was all she said.
Lancelot snorted, "With a little help from a pitcher of ale alongside his head."
She smiled sweetly, "That did help." She turned to leave smiling at the confused look on the young knights face. She had no doubts that Lancelot will fill him in on the details once she was safely out of earshot.
The tavern had been getting busier as the night wore on and she had to hurry to and from the kitchen and bar to get men served. When she was finally able to take a break she looked over to see Vanora sitting next to Bors at the knights table. She waved at the other woman and started to go to the kitchen to step outside for a breath of fresh air, "Come sit and rest a bit." Dagonet's voice startled her. She hadn't seen him get up from the table.
"I was going to step out back to get some fresh air."
She wasn't surprised when he followed her through the kitchen and out the back door to the alleyway. What she was surprised at was the sudden bite of cooler air that hit her when she stepped outside. She inhaled sharply and realized with regret that she'd forgotten to bring her cloak with her when she left her hut earlier when it had been warmer. She laughed at her forgetfulness, "It seems that winter hasn't completely gone from here yet." Despite the chill in the air she took a deep breath of the fresh air. When the tavern was busy on nights like these the air inside became stale and smelled heavily of ale and too many bodies in too closed in a space. She shut her eyes to enjoy the momentary peace from the noise inside.
"You miss the quiet from your home." His observation startled her. He could be so still she had almost forgotten he was there.
"I do miss that. We all worked hard for our little farm, but it served us well. I miss the stillness in the night air instead of the constant noise and crowds." She gave a small wistful smile at her memories and added more seriously, "I can hardly complain of any loss with the service Rome has forced on you and the others."
"Only two years remain and summer will come soon. There will be fewer men to fill the tavern as the businesses begin their trades and they begin to travel the roads again." He noted her arms crossed tight across her chest from the cold air, "Where is your cloak?"
"I forgot it in my hut this afternoon. It was such a warm day and I left without thinking how much the night might cool." She shrugged at her own explanation while preparing herself for the walk home in the cooler air.
Dagonet remained with her until she had to return back into the tavern to continue her duties. He silently admired her hard work and efficiency. Doing honest work in the tavern was certainly much harder than selling her body and he noted how the constant movement kept her figure trim and slender. He suspected she wouldn't be the type to remain idle even if her lifestyle was such that she could be afforded the opportunity. As the last of the customers were leaving the tavern he left briefly to go to his chamber. When he returned she was finishing wiping down the tables and bar. She put the rags away and gathered the cat's scraps before turning to him to go home.
When she stepped outside the tavern into the night air he heard her suck in her breath from the sudden exposure to the cold air. He took the woolen cloak he had retrieved from his room and wrapped it around her shoulders. When she started in surprise he told her, "Borrow this to keep warm for the walk home. There is no reason for you to become sick."
Kiana pulled the cloak more securely while noting he had added another layer of clothing on for himself. She breathed in a deep breath of the now cold night air and inhaled his scent from the cloak. It was masculine with his own unique scent making her want to pull it closer and breathe in deeper. She felt a pleasant tingling in her stomach and was glad the darkness hid her smile, "You've spared me from an unpleasant walk home. Without your cloak I would have to hurry in this cold." She looked up at the shining starlight and gave him an impish smile, "Perhaps I should forget my cloak more often."
Dagonet chuckled at her playfulness, "Then I shall watch out for you ever more carefully." He agreed smiling into her eyes. He liked her playfulness and found himself relaxing to enjoy her company. Suddenly, he found he wasn't at such a loss for words around her and they exchanged playful banter throughout the remainder of the walk to her hut.
Once he had checked her hut he stepped outside and took his cloak back before she moved to go inside. He let his fingers linger over hers as their hands met inside the folds of the material still warm from being wrapped around her body. His pulse quickened at the contact and he resisted the urge to grasp her hand and pull her into him. He gave her a soft smile as he let her hand slip away, "Rest well. I will see you tomorrow."
Kiana returned his smile and reluctantly turned and went inside. After she shut and latched the door she leaned her back against it with her eyes closed still feeling the touch of his fingers lingering on her own. She had no name for the feeling coursing through her blood and had resisted the urge to move closer into him. Her thoughts were interrupted by the cat firmly rubbing up against her legs, "Play none of your games with him." She told him firmly as she fed him the scraps.
She slept deeply that night dreaming of his gentle smile and softest of touches.