AN: Sorry about the delay! I was on a mini-vacation and they lost my luggage (still no word!) so I was a little bit distracted. I hope that you enjoy this chapter- part 1 of this story is almost over (all the pre-movie stuff = part 1). :)

Chapter 10: Reunion

"My lady." Arthur said with a bow as he reached where Valeria was standing beside the carriage, wondering what she should do.

"My Lord Artorius." Valeria said with a somewhat awkward curtsy. "I would be most in your debt if you allowed us to lodge here."

"For as long as you need." Arthur said seriously. "Come, allow me to escort you into the keep." The pair walked in silence for a little bit until Arthur broke the silence. "My lady, I do not mean to be rude, but am I correct in assuming that one of my men is…er…responsible for you present situation?"

Valeria merely blushed in reply and watched a bit alarmed as Arthur's expression darkened further. He began to talk, but she felt like someone was watching her and looked up to the battlements, where she met Gawain's eye. Valeria could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she maintained eye contact with him. But it seemed as though when she blinked, Gawain disappeared. She turned her attention back to Arthur.

"I assure you, Lancelot will have to answer for his behavior." Arthur said. Valeria shook her head, a bit confused while Elspeth merely snickered behind the pair.

"Lancelot, sir? I don't follow." Valeria asked quietly and Arthur stopped, turning her so that she met his eyes.

"Isn't Lancelot the, ah-" Arthur broke off and cleared his throat. Valeria was a bit surprised to see that he was blushing a bit.

Arthur's embarrassment was cut short though as Gawain came skidding to a stop before them. Elspeth took his arrival as a chance to go back and supervise the unloading of what they had managed to pack before fleeing Fulvonius' house. Gawain bowed quickly to Arthur and turned to Valeria with a look that clearly showed his heart. Arthur looked between the two of them and was at a bit of a loss. Gawain was so large and rugged looking and Valeria so petite and delicate that he never would have imagined the two of them together. Arthur gave Gawain a disapproving look as the knight took Valeria's hand and began leading her away.

"Sir Gawain." Arthur said in a hard voice, causing the pair to stop. Gawain turned and met Arthur's eyes, flinching slightly at the disapproval that he saw in his commander's gaze. "Please escort the lady to the guest room three doors down from mine." Gawain nodded and Arthur left the pair alone together- there was no need for a chaperone anymore.

"Come." Gawain said and continued down the hallway towards what would be Valeria's room for the time being. They walked in an awkward silence for a bit until Valeria broke it.

"It's yours." She said in a nervous whisper. Gawain stopped walking and pulled her close, tilting her head up and smiling down at her.

"Shhh. I know." He said causing Valeria to blush and drop eye contact. He sighed. "Why did you keep it though? Valeria, you've ruined your life." He took a step away from her.

"How can you say that?" She asked, hurt. He looked back at her in surprise.

"You're pregnant with the bastard child of a Sarmatian slave and you can honestly ask me that?" Gawain asked incredulously. Valeria felt tears come to her eyes.

"I don't care about that." She said waving her hand impatiently as though to dismiss all of what he was saying. Gawain groaned.

"Valeria, you can't just ignore that! People will be horrible to you- you don't know what it's like having everyone look down on you and treat you less than human. Sometimes, you can start to believe it yourself." Gawain sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "Wasn't there, isn't there something you could do?"

"Nothing you can say can convince me to get rid of this child." Valeria said in a strong, cold voice. Gawain looked at her, surprised at her tone. Taking in the stubborn tilt of her chin and her stance, he sighed reaching out to pull her to him. She resisted a bit at first, but he was insistent and sooner rather than later, Valeria was ensconced in his arms with her head resting on his chest. He reached up to stroke her hair.

"I just want what's best for you." He said quietly and shivered when she rubbed her cheek against his tunic. He felt his grip on her tighten imperceptibly. "I don't want you to have to go through the hardships that I do-"

"Gawain, I love you." Valeria interrupted him abruptly and Gawain fell silent. He held her at arm's length for a bit, staring at her in disbelief.

"Valeria..." He said but trailed off as she wrapped her arms around his waist and he couldn't help but wrap his own arms around her again.

"I've loved you since I was thirteen, Gawain. Don't you think that Elspeth told me of ways to stop this when she found out? I couldn't do it. I love you and I love this child." Gawain leaned his head on top of hers and pulled her closer. "I don't care if it's ruined my life." She murmured a bit defiantly. Gawain chuckled a bit at her childishness, still somewhat in shock that she should love him.

"Alright." He said, releasing her from the embrace but taking her hand as he continued to lead her to her room. "We'll figure something out."

Gawain was at a loss as to what exactly they would figure out, but he knew that he did care for her as he had never cared for another before in his life. If she was willing to give up her life as a Roman to be with him, then he would be there for her and their child.

After Gawain kissed her good-bye and left her in the room that Arthur allocated her, she sat down heavily on the bed and thought about what had transpired between her and Gawain. She also thought about her mother's plan to send her to Rome; she could still follow that plan and have Arthur arrange her transportation to Rome. But she thought of Gawain and the look in his eyes when he had first seen her she knew that she couldn't leave him…even if it was the sensible thing to do.

AN: As always- please review! It really helps!