Disclaimer: The usual… I am but a servant of the knights and own them not.
Gwilwillith, thank you so much for the review I am glad you are enjoying the story so far.
So here we are I know it's been a minute since I updated A Lost Soul. I have not forsaken Lorna and Tristan. I have some very interesting plot twist coming up so please enjoy. As always thank you for all the support and interest in this storyline.
Chapter 35: Childish Behavior Part two
One week later-
"Honestly mother, I do not know what has gotten into Tristan," she complained. "He is behaving much like a child these past weeks."
Moira chuckled as she cast a gaze to her daughter as she continued stitching the dress that lay across her lap.
"What?" She protested as she caught her mother's glare.
"Why do you think he is behaving as a child Lorna?" Moira chastened her daughter.
Lorna cast a bewildered look to her mother then to Sophie who sat at the end of the table playing with Rivalen.
"Lorna he is a man. And as a man he has certain needs," Moira stated with a cocked eyebrow.
"Oh for goodness sake's mamma," she laughed in an irritated tone. "Is this not the talk for Sophie?"
"Me?" Sophie looked wide eyed at her mother and sister.
"No, I will give her that talk the day of her wedding to Galahad in a fortnight." Moira said to Sophie with a wink.
"And what talk is this you will be giving our daughter?" Morlang said as he entered the room in mid conversation.
"The 'you are marrying a Sarmatian knight with an insatiable sexual appetite and desires, which women are expected to fulfill' talk father. Care to join us papa?" Lorna laughed.
"Oh dear…..perhaps I shall come back at another time." Morlang said as he became increasingly uncomfortable and red faced as he turned and headed back outside.
The three women laughed hardly at the sight of such a strong man buckling at the knees at such conversation. Morlang quickly retreated to the sanctuary of his stables.
"You laugh now dear sister but wait until mamma does truly bestow 'the talk' upon you," Lorna chuckled.
Sophie sat up straight with wide eyes as she cradled a sleeping Rivalen in her arms.
"I feel my talk fell upon deaf ears daughter," Moira said gazing at her eldest daughter with a cocked eyebrow.
"Whatever do you mean mother?" She asked in astonishment.
"You complain of your husband behaving childish," she continued. "Yet you have no idea as to the cause of this?"
"No, I do not," Lorna stated strongly.
"Your marriage to your husband is much like a garden, daughter." Moira said as she placed the needle and thread down as she looked her daughter's bewildered eyes. "If the garden is not tended or cared for the plants will wither and die, the garden will be barren of lush vegetation."
Lorna looked at Sophie with clenched eyes and confusion on her face. Sophie merely shrugged her shoulders.
"Mamma, you speak in riddles," Lorna said in a huff.
"Lorna," Moira said sternly. "Your husband is feeling like the neglected garden."
She tilted her head as she gazed at her mother.
"Honestly child," the tone of her voice issued a warning. "You had better tend to the needs of your husband or…."
"Tristan would never mother," Lorna shouted definitely.
"Are you so certain child?" Her mother returned with a cautioned expression.
"Yes, I am. I know Tristan," she stated. "He would never take up with another woman."
"No man is above seeking comfort elsewhere if he is not receiving it within the walls of his home." Moira chastened her daughter. "He is a man, a man with needs. It is your duty child."
"I do not like the way this conversation is turning mother." Lorna said as she stood up and made her way to the kitchen for a cup of water.
"And the truth often is bitter when swallowed with pride, daughter," she said eyeing her child. "This is the time in a marriage that is tested most harshly, when the babes come." Moira placed the wedding dress on the table and took Lorna's hands in hers. "Daughter you need to make the time for one another, he is feeling cast to the wayside. It is perfectly normal. But it is your charge to tend to him, to rekindle the romance."
Moira lifted her daughter's chin up with the crook of her finger.
"When was the last time you spent any time alone with Tristan since Evrain arrived?" She asked. "Exactly, none," she answered.
"What am I to do?" Lorna whined. "I have two young children who demand all my time. I barely have time for myself mamma. Surly he can understand this?"
Moira smiled an unwary smile.
"He is man; the only thing your husband understands is that he is being neglected.
"That is why you have a mother and many younger sisters," she chuckled. "Leave the children here for a few days and rekindle the romance with your husband." She smiled slyly.
"Oh, mamma," Lorna giggled. "You are something else."
"Yes I am indeed something to behold," She laughed.
"But what of Rivalen, he still suckles?" She inquired.
"We have a cow, and he has a grandmother who is sharp as an axe. We will manage for two days." Moira said confidently.
"Two days alone with my husband," Lorna bit her lower lip and smiled. "That would be lovely."
Lorna made her way to Sophie and kissed the head of her sleeping child.
"You have so much to look forward to sister," Lorna said as she kissed her head.
"Yes, it appears I do," Sophie said with a laugh. "Perhaps I shall reconsider Galahad's proposal."
"I still cannot believe you are to be married in a fortnight," she laughed. "And to Galahad at that."
"Is there something wrong with that sister?" Sophie said pucker her lower lip.
"No, of course not," she said softly. "I just cannot believe my little sister is to be a married woman that is all."
"Mamma is right. You need this time alone with your husband." Sophie said. "Galahad said that Tristan has been in a foul mood for weeks now. He is unnerving everyone around the fort."
"Galahad needs to find better use of his tongue than going around wagging it about my husband's foul mood." Lorna laughed with her hands on her hips.
"Lorna," Sophie said as a blush hued her cheeks as she looked at her mother.
"I am sure young Galahad knows exactly what his tongue is for." Moira
"Mamma!" Both girls called out in unison.
Once again the three women laughed loudly, waking young Rivalen up crying for his mother.
"Oh, come young knight," Lorna said as she lifted her son to her breast.
"So it is settled then daughter. When your husband returns from his scouting mission to fetch you and the boys, you will steal him away." Moira said proudly.
"Yes, I shall steal him away," Lorna smiled as a plan began to formulate in her mind.
To be continued….
Oh Lorna, what are you cooking up for our marvelous scout? So as you will assuredly have guessed by now if you know my writing…the next chapter will surely be M rated…..