Well folks, it's been awhile, but I finally have updated. Now that I've finally gotten over writer's block I am already starting on the next chapter, so hopefully that'll be up soon. I want to thank everyone who reviewed last chapter. You guys rock! I appreciate all your encouragment. Please accept this chapter as a token of my gratitude. Haha. Enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-Five

"You have done a fine job of warming your bed with another while pining away for her. Mayhap you should have kept with Zephaniah instead of hurting Juliana in the way you have."

Gawain's words rang in Juliana's ears that night as she lay in bed, crying. She had known that Galahad had kept another in his bed; she had known that he'd had more than one woman in his lifetime. But the words still stung. They tore at her heart, reminding her once more of how vastly different their worlds were. She had grown in the world of purity, of gentleness, of love and peace, of putting God before everything else. But Galahad had grown in the world of lust, war, and greed. What sort of future could they have with how different they were?

Her tears formed a pool on the feather pillow before slowly absorbing into the wool. Her face was damp and Juliana didn't need a mirror to know that her eyes were puffy and her nose red.

Things were getting so twisted, so messed up. Juliana wondered if life would have been simpler if she had just stayed a nun. It was not too late. She could go back and beg Mother Superior to take her back. She could do it, she knew she could.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

The words of Matthew came to her, jumping to the forefront of her mind as if sent there by God himself.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Juliana clung to God's word as an infant clings to its mother. She repeated it over and over in her mind, letting the words wash over her in a calming wave. These were the words she needed to hear. They replenished her spirit, filling her until she felt as if she would burst.

A smile crept slowly up her face as Juliana lay there, praying to God and drinking in his words. Things would get better. God had promised her.

The morning dawned bright and clear and more beautiful than any morning that Juliana had yet seen. Everything about the day seemed accentuated by the lightness of her heart. Today would be different from the others. Today would bring with it God's promise. Juliana only had to wait with a heart of patience and praise and God would deliver all that he had promised to her.

She went about her morning chores with a cheery bounce in her step. All those who encountered her could tell that something had happened, that something had changed the once mournful servant into a blossoming maid.

"What has happened to you, Juliana?" Guinevere asked as Juliana the queen her breakfast. "You seem extremely happy this morning."

"It's simply a blessed day." Juliana replied, refilling the glass in front of her queen with watered down wine. She glanced at the small swell that was beginning to show beneath Guinevere's gown. "How is our little heir today?" She asked.

Guinevere laid a gentle hand on her stomach and smiled.

"He started kicking last night." She replied, her smile so bright and happy that Juliana couldn't help but share in her joy.

"Have you ever thought of having children of your own?" The question caught Juliana off guard, and she faltered in her step.

"I…I don't really know." She stuttered. "I've only ever been a nun and nuns are not exactly permitted to…engage in such acts as would produce a child." Her cheeks flushed with her own words.

"What about now, now that you are no longer bound to the Church?"

"My lady," Juliana set the pitcher she held down on the small table where Guinevere sat, "I would welcome a child given to me by God. But I'm afraid that I cannot marry the man that would potentially father my children. For you see, I cannot marry any man who is not, himself, committed to God."

As she spoke those words, Juliana's joyful mood fled her. Galahad was no man of God, he held no belief in the faith as she did. She could never marry him without guilt tearing at her heart.

You shall not yoke yourself to an unbeliever.

The scriptures slapped Juliana. Jesus had declared that believers should not marry nonbelievers because they would pull them from God.

But what if I can pull Galahad? What if it can be the other way? She thought. But even as the thoughts entered her mind, Juliana knew they could never happen. The love she bore for Galahad was strong, too strong. She would wish to serve him in the way a wife should, she would wish to please him in any way she could. And, in doing so, she would place him above God.

"Juliana? Juliana, what's wrong?" Guinevere's voice pulled the distraught maid from her thoughts.

"I…I am sorry, my lady," Juliana stammered, "I must go." She fled the room, leaving behind a confused Guinevere.

"Where is Galahad?" Juliana cornered the first knight she encountered.

"Last I saw he was at the stables." The knight replied. Juliana ran quickly, her feet barely touching the ground in her haste to find him.

"Galahad." She cried as she came near the stables. "Galahad."

His familiar form appeared in the large doorway, his eyes blinking at the sudden burst of light.

"Juliana?"

She came to a halt in front of him, out of breath, her heart hammering inside her chest.

"What's wrong?" His voice was full of worry. He placed a gentle hand on her arm, drawing her a few inches closer to him. "Is Guinevere all right? The baby? Arthur is in the fields with the farmers, I can saddle my horse and find him in only a few minutes."

"Guinevere's fine, as is the baby." Juliana replied, having caught her breath. "But I am not."

"If it is about last night, Juliana, I have never been more sorry in my life. I never wished to hurt you, I love you. But to see you in Gawain's arms, you have to know how that made me feel. Juliana…"

"It is not about last night." Juliana cut him off. "It's not about anything you've done in the past."

"Then what is it?"

"It is what you have not done." Juliana reached for his hand and pulled him back into the stable. She sat down on a mound of hay near the door and pulled Galahad down next to her.

"You know I love you, Galahad. I want to be with you, in every way that God intended." She blushed at her words, embarrassed to continue. But she knew she had to press on. "I wish nothing more than to be one with you, to share your bed at night, to bear your children."

Galahad gently brushed the hair from Juliana's face, his soft caress weakening her defenses.

"But I cannot do that, Galahad."

Her words halted his caress. She looked up at him through tear filled eyes.

"God said that believers should not yoke themselves to nonbelievers. Galahad, even if you would one day wish to make me your wife, we cannot marry. God would view it as a sin, and I would feel guilt every day for having defied Him."

The tears choked her, making it difficult to say the words she needed to say.

"I think it would be for the best if we no longer had any contact. To continue in the way that we are can only lead to sin. Please, Galahad, if you love me do not talk to me again."

With the tears streaming from her eyes, Juliana fled the stable. Too afraid to look back and see Galahad sitting on the hay, tears glistening in his own eyes.

Well, what'd ya'll think? I know the last chapter seems a bit out of place, but trust me, it is where it's supposed to be. I'll explain the scene in more detail in the next chapter. In the mean time, please review and let me know what you thought.