Disclaimer: Same as before so please don't sue me!
This chapter is dedicated to my good friend and fellow 'halfie' Aelia for all her wonderful reviews, engaging arguments and wonderful stories! Hope you like Eithne.
Eithne means little fire.
Gràdhaich Love in Gaelic.
am piuthar my sister in Gaelic.
Gealbhan Little fire in Gaelic.
Am riut chara My meddling friend in Gaelic..
To all my reviewers thank you so much for sticking with this story and with me as I know a lot of you read and review all my fics. I am sorry there are no individual replies this chapter but I was overwhelmed with both online reviews and e-mailed replies that to answer everyone would be a chapter in itself so hope you accept my grateful thanks for all comments and constructive criticisms. :O)
WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE AND SOME SEXUAL REFERENCES, SO READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.
'—' signifies thoughts.
"—" signifies speech.
Anyway…on with the chapter thirteen and I hope you enjoy it!
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Wild Child
Chapter Thirteen – Eithne
Tári stood defiantly with her arms folded and glared at the two men before her in exasperation; this constant warring had been going on for a month now "Why do you fight so? You are from the same pack, it makes no sense. If my wolves fought amongst themselves as you do, they would die for they could not hunt effectively."
Tristan got up and went to walk off as Lancelot merely rolled his eyes "What's the matter scout - can't stand a little competition for a change?"
"I have none." He growled and swung round to confront the dark knight, pulling Tári to him "she is mine."
"Oh yes, I forgot – you 'mated' with her…..so what can I expect soon – to be the uncle to a litter of pups?"
Tári growled and stepped in front of Tristan as he went to confront Lancelot "Stop it! Stop it now, both of you." she turned to Lancelot, still shielding him from the scout. "I am no dog Lancelot, so why would I have a litter of pups?"
She then spun on Tristan before his comrade could answer "and you, why do you act like I have to be guarded all the time? I see you trailing me; do you not trust your mate?"
Both men stood silently before her, but continued to glare at each other. She sighed and threw up her hands "Oh I do not understand men. You confuse me muchly." She stalked off dragging Tristan with her.
Dagonet caught her up as she released the scout with a "do not go back there – there is little point labouring an argument such as this Tristan." she stroked his cheek and the large knight watched incredulously as he saw the scout visibly calm at her touch, before heading for the stables.
"I will scout; but be back by nightfall; tell Arthur for me." And he was gone.
She turned and saw her large friend "Dagonet! Oh glad I am to see you. A friendly face at last - they two fight so much. Is it my fault?"
"Nay lass, no more than you just being here; Lancelot has a soft spot for you as we all do, but he has read much more into it than the rest of us."
She considered for a moment "Mayhap I should leave?"
Dag looked alarmed "Nay, why would you do that?"
"If I am not here, they would no longer fight."
"Ah, but they would – Tristan would blame Lancelot and vice versa, for your leaving; besides the scout would only come hunting for you – have you not yet learnt your lesson with that?"
She beamed at him "He is a good man, lucky I am to have him. I love him so very muchly; he is gentle, kind and thoughtful Dagonet."
"I must confess those last three words I would not have used to describe our scout." He smiled.
"Well, you should for he is all of those."
"What of I, miss?" Lancelot smiled as he approached "You feel naught for me then?"
Dag felt it prudent to warn the dark knight "Lancelot leave it well alone – he will not tolerate this much longer. Better to make peace with him, than continue to antagonise him. She loves him and only him……"
"Aye so I'm told – but I do not see why I cannot test that theory. I have not said I would take her from him."
"You would not with Arthur – you left Guinevere well alone, even though the maid plagued for many a day."
Lancelot hesitated, the truth in Dag's words striking home - but then Tári walked over and hugged him and kissed his cheek "I love you Lancelot, very muchly I do. But only not as a lover – I love you as……." She caste about for a likeness in kind "as I loved my father…..my mother."
He grimaced "you love me as you did your mother? I mean your father I could just about stomach; at least he was a man – but your mother? Do you intend to hurt my feelings?"
"Nay, only to make clear that I love you as my own blood – brother; would brother be better?"
"Nay, lover or mate would be better – but…" he smiled warmly at her "I will settle for brother, at least I can love you then and still keep my head on my shoulders." He murmured into her ear as he hugged her back.
"Then you and Tristan will fight no longer?"
"I never said that…." He walked away grinning.
Dagonet rolled his eyes "He loves to goad, one day he will go to far. Tristan has little patience with him on a good day – there have not been many of those recently; he would do well to tread carefully."
"Should I go after him?" She went to follow the knight.
"Nay, for the love of the Goddess, leave him be lass – you are only making things worse trying to be nice to both. Let them sort it out and then we'll deal with the aftermath, aye?"
"Aye…" she sighed and snuggled up for a hug "I like these, you're like a bear….all warm and snuggly."
He sighed too and smiled "and you are like a puppy – all mischief and mayhem, and completely unaware of the havoc you leave in your wake."
Just then a voice could be heard "I have yet to meet a warm and snuggly bear…."
"Eithne!" she ran up to her friend. Tári had found her own 'pack' amongst those that settled the fort; they were outcasts like she, but had found a welcome among the knights. With their protection and the protection of Tristan and Tári they found a peace they had not had for some time.
Though this Celt hardly needed aid as Tári pointed out "She is a warrior, a woman with muchly courage. Treat her with respect or you will deal with both of us." She had informed one luckless oaf who had chanced too much with her Celtic friend.
"Where is your scout?" warm hazel eyes scanned the area "Oh dear, another falling out, am piuthar?"
"Yes, should we bang their heads together as you suggested last night? Though I know not how that would knock sense into them – surely it would knock it out?"
The woman before her laughed, the sound ringing round the compound like music "You still take things too literally gràdhaich!" she chuckled and ruffled Tári's hair.
"And you still insist on doing something that would get anyone else killed gealbhan." The other girl smirked "Where is Rain?"
"Oh a jest, and I thought you did not do those! Little fire indeed!" Eithne smirked "I know not – have you not seen her?"
"Nay, we should go look – she mayhap be up to mischief; she is younger than us after all."
"Oh aye, I can see where a scant 4 years younger than I and 7 younger than you would make her completely childish."
Tári smirked and ignored her "Have you met Dagonet? He is my bear."
Eithne held out a hand in mock solemnity "I am pleased to be making your acquaintance Dagonet – you are one of the few miss here waxes most lyrical about."
"Who are the others?" he noticed she had a firm grip on her, and met his eyes proudly – he liked her, a lot "But I confess I have noticed you before."
"The knights, Vanora and one called Jols. If you have seen me, why not speak?"
"I……ummm….."
"Because he is shy and you are too haughty, proud…too…." Tári interrupted, only to be interrupted herself by her friend and 'sister'.
"Aye, I get the notion…." Eithne rolled her eyes "Mayhap I should teach you the meaning of tact?"
"Nay, Arthur has spoken of it and it is boring – better to speak one's mind so there is no confusion…"
"Well, I am certainly not confused as to your thoughts on me!" Eithne laughed.
Dagonet smiled slowly and took in the woman before him; she had waist length wavy hair the colour of dark ash, hazel eyes that seemed to radiate warmth and humour, but he could see there was fire to her that perfectly suited her name. She must be around the same height as Tári, about 5' 5". He knew Rain was 21 and Tári was 28, so that must make Eithne 25.
She was a striking woman and he felt his heart lurch slightly – he had watched her from afar for many weeks, but had not the courage to approach her. Bors always seemed to be hovering, and he knew his brother would make large with his infatuation if he knew. But still, she seemed very nice now he'd had the chance to meet her.
Tári turned to him and saw his face, she was quick to decipher the look "Dagonet likes you Eithne, muchly I think."
Her friend smiled at the knight's blush and discomfiture "I wouldn't say so Tári, but how would you know?"
"He looks at you as Tristan used to look at me when we first met."
She regarded her large friend and added thoughtfully "though I don't remember Tristan blushing – but Dagonet is as silent."
Eithne grabbed the older girl "I think we should leave Dagonet for a little while am ruit caraid! You should not be so blunt and talk of him so, as if he is not here." she laughed as she dragged Tári away.
"You're a Celt then?" Dag blurted out before she thought him a fool for not speaking, and then mentally kicked himself for stating the obvious.
"Aye, it looks that way does it not?" she smirked and walked off arm in arm with the dark haired girl beside her. He had to admit they made a striking pair – the dark ash coloured hair bouncing next to the jet black. "Now tell me all you know about him."
"Who?" Tári was confused.
"Dagonet." Eithne rolled her eyes.
"You said I should not speak of him."
"Only while he was there….now tell me all."
"Well, he is brother in spirit to Bors……"
"The loud bald man with all the children and the funny little wife?"
"Aye…and he is great friends with the other knights; Galahad…."
"The young whiny one?"
"Aye ….and Gawain, who is also Galahad's brother in spirit."
"That is the nice one with the long blond hair?"
"Aye……Dagonet tries to keep the peace with Lancelot…..and….well, whoever Lancelot has upset." She thought "Currently that is my Tristan."
"Lancelot? Have I seen him?" Hazel eyes swung to her as they climbed the apple tree at the back of the knight's quarters.
"The dark knight? Always doing something Dagonet calls flirting – takes a lot of different women to his bed to make love; though the others laugh when I call it that and Gawain said it is more making lust than love." She sighed "men confuse me."
"Ah…I remember him – thankfully I have been spared his advances thus far."
"It will not stay that way, mark me."
"Why would he bother with me?" Eithne chuckled "I am not that attractive nor that worthy of intelligent conversation…."
"Well, you are female and breathing – from what I can gather from the knights in general, and my watching in particular, they are all that's needed. As to looks have you actually looked at the tavern wenches lately?" Tári shuddered "You are a hundred times better looking."
Her friend nearly fell out of the tree laughing "Tári do not ever change……for I would not love you half as much as I do if you did – your blunt honesty will be the death of me yet!"
"How so; how can honesty kill you?"
"Well, I nearly fell out of the tree for one thing – I could've broken my neck!" she sobered enough to press her friend for more information "Tell me more of Dagonet and the knights…"
"I would have finished by now if you had not kept interrupting. Let me see……..well, he is friends with all – but he has a fearsome temper on the battlefield. Though he does not enjoy the hunt and the kill as Tristan and I do." She spoke sadly and her friend had to control the smile.
"Well, we can't have everything can we? After all, if we all enjoyed the kill like you and your man, there would be naught left to kill in the world except each other."
"Hmmmm….Galahad often says imagine what a lovely quiet place the world would be if everyone had their throats slit."
"Well, as we'd be dead I can see his point – sad there'd be no one left to enjoy it." They laughed together.
"Dagonet is a good man, Eithne, a good soul. Gentle and kind and I love him muchly for he is always good and kind to me. He never judges, never accuses unless with good reason." She paused and her eyes lit "if ever Arthur's God sent angels to us – Dagonet would be one……"
Her friend's eyes pricked at the love in the girl's voice, usually so emotionless "and who would be the other?"
"My Tristan……always my Tristan." she murmured with a big smile.
A hand came up and pulled her ankle, causing her to lose her balance; but strong arms caught her "Glad I am to hear it wench." Dark brown eyes laughed at her and she hugged him tightly.
"There will never be another for me Tristan – for all eternity, for every lifetime, you own me."
"I do not wish to own you, just be with you." he carried her away with a nod to Eithne. The Celt was not insulted as she had long learnt it was his way – he spoke little outside his chosen group and considered her part of his partner's 'pack'; at least for now.
She glanced down and spotted a tall figure stood to one side, his eyes pooled; she realised what a soft soul he had, that the warrior in him only extended to the necessities of killing much as it did her. "Eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves Dagonet the knight."
"Aye, well it seems this one does. She is a rare one is she not?" he smiled.
"She is indeed and glad I am to call her friend, even sister. I had one such as she but she died…." She stopped and swallowed; she missed Maeve, her little sister, so much it was still a physical pain even though long seasons had passed.
Concerned eyes regarded her "I am sorry to hear it." She realised he had moved to stand directly beneath her.
"Ach it was an age ago…" she tried to brighten and jumped down "I have stew in my room if you wish to follow me there Dagonet the knight….for I believe Tári when she says you are a good soul and know you will not betray my trust."
He nodded "I would never do that Eithne the Celt."
She grinned "Now, tell me of why Tristan and Lancelot fight so much, when it is obvious to anyone with eyes and mind not in their breeches, that Tári is besotted with her scout?"
He laughed then; a deep infectious laugh and she decided she would make him do it more often.
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"Where are you taking me?" The subject of their discussion was demanding of her lover.
"Somewhere I know I can keep you quiet for more than half a minute together."
"The stables?"
He looked perplexed "Why there?" then realised, she was always quiet when they went riding "Nay we do not ride this day." He smirked "I had something else in mind."
"Oh! You wish to make love to me? Aye I think that would be a grand scheme!"
Arthur, who was passing merely rolled his eyes at Merlin and grinned "Well, we know what they'll be doing for a while."
"I see your Celtic friend is influencing you." Tristan kicked open their door, and nudged it shut behind them.
"Aye, she is a good friend, sister even." She stopped to kiss him, something she had become expert at – Tristan often felt she was stealing his breath "you were not gone long…." She tugged his shirt from his breeches and planted little kisses on his chest as she helped him pull it over his head, earning her a low groan.
"I could not be parted from you for long….." another deep kiss and he picked her up carrying her to their bed "I miss you."
She sighed "I miss you too….where do you go when you sleep?"
He raised his head from where he was planting kisses her on her stomach "What?"
"When you sleep, where do you go?" she smiled "I go back to when my parents were alive……"
He propped himself on his elbow "You miss them."
"Not as much as I miss you – and you always come back. You have not broken my heart yet."
"I won't, so long as it's in my power, I won't."
She stroked his face and ran her fingers gently through his hair "Make love to me Tristan…..for when we're joined as one, I feel complete."
He did not need asking a second a time.
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Elsewhere a Celt and a large knight forged a new friendship, and mayhap the beginnings of more.
But in a dark corner of the stables a solitary knight wept with loneliness…..if Tristan could see him like this, mayhap he would not be so harsh……