Lessa stood next to Galahad on the edge of the cliff, her long blonde hair blowing gently in the breeze. She was in one of her better dresses, watching as Arthur and Guinevere were wed and then Merlin declared Arthur king. The knights all grinned at him as Bors bounced his youngest around, calming the baby.
It had been a month since the battle. A month since they lost Dagonet, Lancelot and Tristan. A month since Lessa had married Galahad and snuck away from her father. For a while she had thought maybe her father would just let her go once he discovered she was not among the caravan to Rome. However, it took just two weeks before Brutus had returned with a small group of soldiers to fetch her. Arthur had sent him away with a letter explaining that the marriage had been annulled and she was now legally wed to Galahad.
As king, they could not defy his orders. Rome no longer held power in Britain.
She would stay and there was nothing Brutus or her father could do to force her to go. They had left the next day, with Brutus sporting a black eye that Galahad claimed to know nothing about though Bors casually mentioned he may had run into him at the tavern.
Once the ceremony on the cliff was over, there were cheers as Arthur looked all around them, smiling. He stepped over to his knights, Guinevere on his arm, and began conversing with them. While Lessa still was slightly wary of the woman, as they dealt with the aftermath of the battle, the two had come to slowly accept each other. Guinevere saw that Lessa was happily married to Galahad and not after Arthur. And that she was no wilting flower in need of saving. Lessa came to respect Guinevere's strength. She could see that she would make a good queen.
She and Galahad had moved into her home that she had shared with her father. At first the two resisted when Arthur offered it to them, saying that as the largest, grandest home in the village, Arthur and Guinevere should live there. Arthur turned it down, saying they would soon start work on building an actual castle and better fortifying the fort - he and Guinevere were content in his rooms in the barracks until then. Part of the walls would be torn down so that the village could be expanded. A fair amount of the villagers had returned once they heard the Saxon threat was gone, and the Woads were now moving within its boundaries and starting up trade.
As more moved in, the more Lessa wanted to find her mother's family. She had started up a friendship with Luan, who was helping. So far, she seemed to think that Lessa's family may live in a village farther north and she, along with Lessa and Galahad, had plans to ride there in a few weeks to search.
Lessa's heart nearly burst at the thought of being reunited with her mother's family. She sincerely hoped that they could find them, even though she was content with Galahad and her family of knights.
But today was about celebrating Arthur and Guinevere. Lessa sighed happily as Galahad took her arm and they followed everyone back to the village square where a large feast was being set up.
"Are you happy with this life?" Galahad asked, looking down at her. She nodded and smiled up at him.
"What will you do?" Lessa asked. In the month following the battle, they had worked hard to setting the village to rights and burying their dead. But now real life would need to start. And there was much to do.
"I will be Arthur's knight," he said, looking down at her. "And his counsel."
"And here I thought you wanted to be a farmer," Lessa said as the village came into view. Galahad shrugged.
"I think I quite like being a knight," he said. "Now that I have a choice."
"It suits you. I quite like being the wife of a knight," she replied, absentmindedly placing her hand on her stomach as she smiled to herself.
"Are you alright with living in your father's house?" Galahad asked. "If you are not, I can build you a new house. A better house."
"Well, it was him I loathed, not the house. Besides, we'll need the room," she said.
"What do you mean?" Galahad asked, staring at her. Lessa just smiled and shrugged. A large grin started to fill Galahad's face as he realized what she was saying. "You mean? Are you? Really?" He stopped walking and turned to face her. Lessa nodded.
"I've had my suspicions but when my time came and went, well, that confirmed it," she said, grinning. Galahad gave a whoop and picked Lessa up, spinning her around. The knights stopped and looked at him.
"I'm going to be a father!" he shouted. Bors and Gawain grinned and shouted congratulations. Arthur and Guinevere stepped up to them, Arthur smiling warmly
"My utmost congratulations to you both," he said, hugging Lessa.
"Of course, you'll be godfather," she replied.
"I would be honored," Arthur said.
"What about us?" Bors called out, frowning slightly.
"I'm sure our child can have more than one. Or perhaps you will be happy as uncles," Galahad said to them.
"Hmm… Uncle Bors… has a bit of a ring to it," the jolly knight mused. Vanora laughed as she rolled her eyes slightly.
"Suspect it won't be much longer for you," Lessa said, winking at Arthur before smiling at Guinevere. The woman's face paled slightly as Lessa and Galahad laughed.
"We're in no rush," Arthur said comfortingly. "There is still much to do." Guinevere looked at him and then over at Lessa and smiled.
"I should think I need time to settle into being queen before I become a mother," she admitted.
"Come, seems there is much to celebrate this night," Arthur said, starting to lead their group back towards the village. Galahad bent down and kissed Lessa again.
"Indeed there is."
Lessa laughed as Gawain brought her back to the table where Galahad, Bors, Vanora, Arthur and Guinevere were seated.
"I'm beginning to wonder just whose wife you are," Galahad said, pulling Lessa into his lap.
"If you could dance better I wouldn't be forced to take Gawain out," Lessa said to him, grinning.
"Perhaps we should see about getting Gawain married so he'll leave my wife alone," Galahad said, glancing over at the knight. Gawain laughed loudly as he reached for a cup of ale.
"There is certainly no lack of eligible maidens now that the Woads are moving in," he replied as he looked around the crowded square.
"So, you want to marry a Woad now?" Bors asked, looking at him.
"I assure you, they make fine wives. If you can keep up with them, that is," Guinevere said, glancing down the table towards him.
"And can assure you of that. I've only got a half-Briton and she constantly keeps me on my toes," Galahad said, gazing at Lessa.
"Lessa has kept life interesting for all of us," Arthur said, leaning towards Guinevere. "She had a habit of running off outside the Walls anytime she had an argument with her father. And Galahad would be sent after her."
"I suppose that's how you fell in love with me, isn't it?" Lessa replied, looking at Galahad. "All that chasing me through the underbrush." Galahad chuckled.
"Or up trees," he added.
"Didn't she hide in a cave for a bit once?" Bors asked. Guinevere studied Lessa. "Gods forbid you have a daughter just like her."
"I should welcome it," Galahad said. "If she is as spirited as her mother, it should be an interesting journey." Lessa laughed again.
"But what if we have strapping son?" she asked, an eyebrow raised. "You should teach him to be a great knight, like his father."
"I'd gladly welcome him among my council," Arthur said, smiling at the two.
"Son or daughter, I will let them choose to be whatever it is they should like to be," Galahad said, causing Lessa to grin.
"Yes, that is how it should be," she said. She then kissed him, causing Bors and Gawain to howl in laughter and whistle.
"Get you home! This is just the first. You still have to have 10 more to catch up to me and Vanora!" Bors shouted. Lessa laughed and looked over at him and then around at her remaining knights. She sighed and then gazed at Galahad, feeling as though her heart would burst in happiness.
Yes, this was as it should be.
Since this last chapter was so short, I decided it best to post the last two in one go. I've enjoyed writing this story and sad it's come to an end. But got more to focus on!
Hope you've all enjoyed reading!