Lourdes stared at the walls in her room. It had been brimming with people all day wanting to come see her. All of them holding that same look. Confusion, sadness, amazement, she had survived, also though the gleam of her harsh words to Lancelot. She closed her eyes. The questions would continue, and curious wondering till she dispelled them. She needed too. Her reason for saving him—
Well those were her own. She had a reason that she would give them. It even annoyed her all the whispers and glances. All cause she saved her enemy. She went to move herself, and she winced. It was going to take time before she was fully well. That grated her patience as well. She wasn't a person who took illness easy. She despised not being able to be self sufficient.
She looked down to the bandages around her chest. She thought for sure she was going to die. That did not bother her. She didn't even fear it. She feared when she thought she would live. She would now bare the scar visibly and another not so visibly from that battle. Now her brother was going to take a wife, Guinevere. She sneered the pure irony was fascinating.
She heard the door open and she turned to see a person she did not expect, Guinevere stood there. Lourdes eyed her narrowly as Guinevere met her eyes. She walked in with a large basin and cloths.
"You need to bathe and clean your wound" Guinevere told her setting down the basin.
"You know very well I can't do that myself" Lourdes replied sarcastically turning her head away from her.
Guinevere ignored her clipped and displeased tone. It bothered Lourdes she was used to people reacting. Guinevere held nothing but a small smile though.
"I know that's, why Viviane sent me, I will fill the large basin and you will get in that one, and soak to help your sore muscles and clean out the wound" Guinevere informed her not waiting for a reply she set about filling the large metal tub.
Lourdes rolled her eyes slightly gritting her teeth as she cursed Viviane and her meddling ways. She listened to the sounds and watched the water be brought in then Dagonet entered.
Lourdes smiled as Dagonet came to her and kissed her cheek. "I am here to help, sit up we need to get this bandage off. He helped Lourdes sit up and Guinevere set about unwrapping it. Dagonet handed her a longer cloth to hold over herself as her bandaging came away and her breasts became bare. She smiled appreciatively. He looked at the wound it was healing well so far. He wrapped the sheet around her and lifted her into his arms gently avoiding her sutures. He carried her to the large basin behind the curtain, Guinevere close behind. Dagonet stood her into it and left Guinevere to help her with the rest. Guinevere went to take the sheet, and Lourdes held it.
"We are both ladies Lourdes, you have to get in, that's what I am here for is to help." Lourdes gave her a defiant look but let go of the sheet and Guinevere helped her ease down to a sitting position. She then picked up a cloth and began to bath her.
"I can do it myself "Lourdes grabbed for the cloth feeling uncomfortable with Guinevere taking care of her and seeing her for the entire woman she was.
"No you can't, if you hit the wound wrong and it opens you could bleed out in this basin and nobody would know." Lourdes scowled and pulled herself further into the water. Guinevere looked intrigued as she wiped off her face and neck.
"You have your brother's eyes" She said suddenly and Lourdes just looked at her. "As much as he is handsome you are beautiful."
Lourdes sighed and turned her head away. "You don't take compliments well." Guinevere added as more of a statement then a question.
"Nothing well about them, except empty courtesy." The blonde woman replied.
"Has Avalon made you so cold? Or were you always like this?" Guinevere asked bravely and Lourdes' head snapped to gaze at her, at her boldness.
"You may have won my brother over, but not me Guinevere." Guinevere just nodded.
She washed over Lourdes' back and was silent for a few moments"Someday I wish to understand your reasoning's; I believe we could be friends."
Lourdes did not answer. "I have come to understand, you have your own ways, for whatever reason you have not taken a likening to me. I will tell you, you always have my love and support. In a few days you will be my sister as well, and I have no animosity for you" Lourdes gritted her teeth she would not reply, this naive girl thinking she knew her at all. As she got out with Guinevere's help she wrapped her self up and Dagonet came in to redress her wound.
The day before there wedding came and Lourdes was sick of being tied to bed. She couldn't take it anymore. She rose and had a waiting woman help her dress; it was evening and supper time or close to it. She would go and sit with her brothers. She was slightly nervous she knew the questions that would play across their faces, and she would see Lancelot she hadn't seen him since the day she had awoken, almost a week passed now. She made her way slowly breathing hurt her still and weighed on her injured lung.
Bors rounded a corner and saw her making her way in the direction of the roundtable.
"Lourdes what are you doing out of bed?" He demanded as he walked quickly to support her as she leaned on the wall for support.
"I couldn't take being tied to my bed anymore; I could not look at my room anymore." She took his arm leaning on him and he put his other arm around her waist.
"Yes but you need your rest" He her reprimanded.
"I need air" She smiled, Bors shook his head and helped her, he opened the door and the room went silent almost as she entered with him.
"My sister what are you doing out of bed" Arthur went to her quickly at seeing her as the others stood up apprehensively watching her.
"I could not take my room anymore, I needed out." He guided her to a seat by Kyla and him at her other side. She eyed the room's patrons and they landed on Lancelot, he met hers but then moved his gaze away to his wine glass.
Guinevere handed her wine and she took it without even acknowledging her.
"You always were stubborn like your brother" Galahad chuckled.
Arthur looked at his sister and they exchanged smiles. The room was uneasily quiet and Kyla looked at her, with a sad grin. Lourdes rolled her eyes as people tried to avoid the questions.
"Really enough is enough, if you all have something to say then say it." She put her wine glass down roughly.
They all looked at one another wondering who would speak, it was Arthur. "They just wonder why you save his life, if you hate him so. You almost gave your life for his and yet you shunned him the moment you awoke." He looked at Lancelot who took a deep breath but would not look at them.
"Do you really think me that kind of monster? She asked angrily. To let your best friend die when I could prevent it. As much as I do not like it, he is your best friend, confidant, brother, that will not change despite what my feelings are towards him." She shook her head, her rage flaring.
"Kyla saved Tristan I don't see you all up in arms questioning that" She flung her arms towards Tristan and Kyla in gesture.
"Kyla does not loathe Tristan" Lancelot replied giving her a sideways look from where he sat.
Lourdes stood. "If roles were reversed and I had protected Tristan and Kyla protected Lancelot there would be none of these questions. What I did I did out of love and duty to my brother. I would not have him mourn any of his knights that day" She leaned on the table for support. "He worked so long for your freedom; I would not have the burden of him mourning you when you should not have been fighting that day, having the guilt plague his heart for the rest of his days. Next time I will save the trouble of an injury and let him take it himself. You are correct in assuming I want nothing more then to gut him myself." The occupants eyes went wide as Lancelot just gazed at her intensely she saw his jaw clench.
"My duty to my brother is worth more then my disgust for Lancelot, She turned to Guinevere. She got an evil sneer. If your future wife had not chosen battles she knows she cannot win, Lancelot wouldn't have needed to feel that surge of protection, to help our so fair Guinevere."
Arthur looked at his sister bewildered and stunned. Vivaine stood up "Lourdes she is to be Queen, she fought for the rest of us that day."
"She is no Queen of mine" Lourdes spat and Arthur stood up. "I love you my brother and I will respect your decisions, it doesn't mean I have to like them" She said to him.
Kyla closed her eyes mournfully. Returning to the wall may have been far more grievous for Lourdes then her injury. She watched as she made her way slowly from the room. Lancelot held his wine staring into it. As Guinevere took Arthur's hand as he tried to follow her. "Arthur leave her, let her calm down." She pleaded gently. Arthur looked at her then to the door his sister had left through Tristan went to help her. His eyes sad, and pained at what was happening to his sister.