She just knelt there watching as Faleron fought off two armed men. He parried, blocked, and kept on the defense. Then he switched tactics and started to sneak an attack through his defenses. He was quick and skilled but it was two on one and he was unarmed. Then she heard a yell of triumph and she saw the sword point start to poke through Faleron's tunic. She realized he had been run through.

"Fal!" She screamed unsure of what calling to him might do. She crawled to his side as he fell to the floor, the blood staining his chest. She was crying as she took his hand. "Please Fal," she begged though she didn't know what for. He was already dead.

"Gwen, please wake up," she heard a murmur in her ear and forced her eyes open. They were swollen with tears and her breathing was stuttered as it normally was with crying. "I'm right here," the voice whispered again. It was Faleron and he was lying with her, holding onto her in bed, clutching her tight to his body. She buried her face against his chest and cried. "It's all over. None of it was real." He whispered to her. His assurances helped to quiet her but there were still tears leaking out of her eyes. His hands began to stroke down her back and entangle in her hair. His lips found her forehead. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

"Oh good, the two of you are awake. Roald sent me to check that you two are getting up to get ready." Gwen heard someone at the door and she felt Faleron shift. "No need to glare at me. I'm the messenger. He also wanted me to tell you that you're to dine at his table at the feast tonight and to dress accordingly." The voice likely belonged to Neal said and then she heard footsteps moving away and then a door open and close.

"Some days I think that man is gifted by Uusoae in disrupting intimate moments," Faleron growled.

"Roald or Neal?" She asked, forcing her own breathing under control. She had to get up and get ready. There was a knighting ceremony she was supposed to undergo though it was only a formality after the Ordeal. Roald would knight her and give her a title. She'd accept a shield painted with her fief's design. The people would cheer. Then afterwards it was normal for the family and former knight master of the newly made knight to go out and celebrate with dinner. Except it seemed that Roald was arranging for something a little more in his schedule as he was still King and he needed to be at the feast and the party after.

"Both right now," Faleron told her with a sigh. "We have slept most of today away."

"I'm still tired," she yawned and snuggled into him.

"You should be. You were up all night. You underwent an Ordeal and then you had a healing." He nuzzled her. "I doubt if you didn't have a nightmare, you wouldn't have woken." He sighed. "You and I should both bathe and get dressed though. Roald would never forgive me if you didn't show up to your knighting ceremony."

"Has that ever happened?" Gwen asked as she forced herself to move away from Faleron and to sit up. She grimaced as she realized she had been without clothes. She sincerely hoped Faleron had undressed her and not someone else. A memory flashed in her mind from the Ordeal and she glanced under the covers to see her thighs were no longer stained red.

"Neal had me clean you up after he saw to you," Faleron told her. She blushed when she looked up to realize he was watching her.

"Fal… I…" she wanted to assure him that she was okay but she wasn't sure.

"Don't say anything," he told her softly. "I've had my own Ordeal. I understand," he leaned in to kiss her again. "You stay in bed. I'll have a bath brought up for the two of us." She laid back and let him tuck the blankets around her. Her fingers went up to her neck to fiddle with the charm that always hung between her collarbones and she frowned. It was missing. But then she remembered that she had removed it for her Ordeal. Part of her wondered if the Chamber could impregnate someone with a rape during the Ordeal. She certainly had felt the man spill his seed inside of her. She had no one she could ask without revealing what had happened. It was something she would simply have to wait and see on.

The bath arrived for herself and Faleron. The tub provided in their privy was at least large enough for the both of them. He insisted on accompanying her and helped her wash her hair and soap up her body before she was given a chance to relax in the hot water while he did the same to himself. She took inventory of herself while she soaked in the water. Her eye didn't sting anymore and she guessed it was healed up like the gouges on her arm. Breathing didn't feel hard like she was drowning still. There was still a phantom ache in her lower abdomen like she had had when she first woke in the dungeons in Tusaine but she guessed that was something Neal hadn't been able to fully heal simply because the ache was natural with losing one's virginity. But she was more healed up than most squires were when they faced their knighting ceremony. Most were simply bandaged and nature was left to take its course. She guessed her healing had more to do with the King standing over them and a strong healer as a personal friend of her betrothed and the King.

They got out of the bath and Faleron sat her on the bed to go and hunt for her clothes. They both agreed that a gown wasn't suitable for her to wear to be knighted though it was likely expected of her at the feast. With no time to change in between they decided a gown at the feast was impossible and Faleron handed her the pink silk blouse and gray feminine cut breeches she had worn several times before to parties. It would be dressy enough that she could go to the feast and only feel slightly underdressed. When her hair, face paint, and jewelry were all back in order, Faleron helped her with her weapons belt so she could carry her sword and then he slid her ring back onto her finger.

"I never want to see you take that off again if it can be helped," he told her honestly and kissed her nose.

Then they walked down to the Throne Room to find Roald waiting for them in the antechamber. He looked her over several times before he seemed satisfied she was alright or not going to fall over if he tapped her with the flat of his sword. Someone called warning from the door that they needed to get moving so Roald pulled her into a tight hug rather than say anything. He went out to the dais with Faleron and she was left sitting in the antechamber alone for another minute. Then she went out to face the crowds. She felt there was a certain level of irony in the fact that her knight master was the one knighting her as she stepped up onto the dais. Then again Kings had taken squires to train and then knighted them before in the end. She knelt down before Roald in front of everyone and didn't miss the look of pride that showed in his eyes.

Roald drew his sword and struck both of her shoulders with the flat of his blade hard and then lightly tapped the top of her head. "You are dubbed Lady Knight, Gwendolyn of Merrywood," his voice echoed in the silent hall. "Remember your vows and service to this Crown. Remember your promise of chivalry." She grinned at the ceremonial words. She knew her service to the Crown of Tortall. She had displayed it often enough. And chivalry was something she lived normally. She stood and Roald swept her into a hug.

"I am so proud of you for continuing on," he whispered in her ear before letting her step off of the dais to find her family and Faleron to receive their congratulations. Faleron kissed her hard in front of court and she heard a murmur follow. He had always been vocal about their relationship and exceptionally tender and romantic towards her in public but he usually kept his kisses to light pecks or tender brushes of his lips against her temple or forehead or hand. She hugged each of her parents, her brother, her sister, and Aloys who crept up to the front of the line for her.

Then it was time to present the shield and she returned to the dais where the cloth covered shield was held on a stand. Usually the shield was presented by the royalty or the family of the knight but hers was standing alone and Roald stood slightly to the side. She and Faleron had talked often about what she should expect of her shield. It would be the Merrywood shield and then when they married she would get a King's Reach shield. She had mentioned that it sort of felt like a waste of a shield and the time it took to paint one up properly but it wasn't proper for her to carry the King's Reach shield until they were married. Roald stepped up to remove the cloth around the shield and gave her a wink as she stared at the device. It wasn't the Merrywood shield she had expected. Her shield was painted black like the King's Reach shield except the device in the center was a silver crown wrapped in a vine of ivy leaves painted a light sage green. The distaff border was green and silver.

"Your own device," Roald whispered as she stepped forward. "Your betrothed's idea." He grinned and helped her to strap it on. She turned to let everyone see.

There was a brief few moments in between the knighting ceremony and the feast that allowed her to run back to her room to put her shield away. Faleron refused to let her walk that distance so he took the shield and left her in the company of her parents, siblings, and Roald. He made it back just in time to take her arm and lead her into the great hall where the banquets took place.

"You'll get used to sitting up here," Roald informed her when she was sat just below Faleron on his right. Her mother and father were placed on Shinko's left while her siblings divided up to sit on either side. Also at the table were Edric, as visiting royalty, and Nik and Aloys as his companions. The royal head table was always placed so that it remained open faced while still curving around enough for the inhabitants to speak to each other.

"Why will I get used to it?" She asked. She knew that the royal head table was used to honor certain people and guests and it usually rotated throughout Midwinter so each night there were different people honored. The only people that usually stayed at the royal head table with the exception of the King and Queen were the visiting royalty.

"Because you are always honored," Shinko informed her. "You saved my husband's life twice. You made it your mission to protect him. You saved the life of my son, the heir to the throne. You held your tongue when others far stronger in body than you are would have broken in those conditions to protect the Crown. For that you, your husband, and your children will always be honored."

"What's this about the Prince?" She heard her brother ask. It sparked a retelling of the story of the spidren in the woods and then it turned to the current state of the immortals throughout both Tortall and Tusaine. She was grateful the topic had changed off of her as the pages came around to serve the first course.

"You were awfully sneaky about that shield," she told Faleron while the others were engrossed in their conversation. "Considering we talked about it enough."

"You were right, it was a waste of a shield to give you one that you would simply never use and then a new one a few weeks later. Beyond that, you carrying the shield of King's Reach is sort of impractical. I'm carrying on the tradition of King's Reach by carrying my shield and our children will likely do the same. Your deeds sort of set you apart already my dear. Just like Kel's shield was modified to represent her specifically and Lady Alanna's shield was magicked to show the Trebond device until she was ready to reveal the device chosen for her by her brother. You've done enough to deserve your own device as well." He squeezed her hand under the table. "Roald's idea was the crown. He wanted to make sure there was a nod to your deeds. And ivy because it brings luck, has protective properties, and represents fidelity. All of which define you."

"And the colors?" She asked feeling like she might know the answer.

"Well, black for King's Reach so we have some similarity. And the green as a nod to Merrywood, but not the emerald green. That tends to clash a bit with the purple of my device so I picked a different green." She grinned at his explanation. And the silver crown was a nod to the royal Crown. She appreciated the thought that the two of them put into her shield. She was about to say something about it when she noticed Faleron about to say something else though his eyes were on everyone else at the table for a moment. They were still engrossed in their conversation. "I noticed you left your pregnancy charm on the vanity when I went up to put your shield away. I brought it down for you." She felt him drop the small gold charm and chain into her hand.

She knew that she had left her charm behind. The thought had crossed her mind when putting her jewelry on to put the charm back on, but then she had really thought about it. They were going to be married in a few weeks, they had a comfortable life already with a promise that she would remain at court in a comfortable position with Kai. It would be a good time to start a family. She fiddled with the charm in her fingers. She had expected Faleron to become aware of the missing charm when they were getting ready for bed, not before then and certainly not to bring it up at dinner surrounded by their friends and family, even if they weren't listening. How did she dare approach the subject?

"I sort of, left it off on purpose," she whispered. "I mean… we'll be married in a few weeks." She worried she had been a bit hasty in her decision. Perhaps Faleron didn't want her to take off her charm yet. Perhaps he wanted to wait for a family. But when she looked up to Faleron's face she saw something far past his normal level of desire. This was different, this fire she saw in his eyes. It was the desire to have a family, to pass down his legacy. Despite the fire she saw roaring in him, he was gentle as moved forward and cupped her face to kiss her lips. Any doubts that she had been too quick in making the decision abated.

"Well, I doubt they are talking about the ogres in Tusaine," Aloys voice drawled nearby. They broke apart and Faleron made a rude gesture at Aloys in jest causing the table to laugh. Gwen took that moment to tuck the charm into her pocket.

"So, what were you two talking about?" Aurelia asked when the laughter died down.

"Just some decisions that still had to be made for after the wedding. How long we'll stay at King's Reach and such," Faleron offered though his hand was on her thigh under the table rubbing little circles telling her more of what he was really thinking of. He very much wished they were up in their rooms likely working on having a family. The conversation turned to the appropriate amount of time to spend away from duties after a wedding and what sort of duties would follow. She knew by the look on Roald's face that he was well aware they weren't discussing their honeymoon. They had already arranged how long they would be at King's Reach with him. When the others were distracted by Nik telling a story about a year-long honeymoon, he raised his eyebrows at her. Very slowly she reached up and tapped the empty space between her collarbones which usually showed her charm neatly around her neck. She saw him frown as he thought about what was usually there and then saw his eyes go wide then he leaned over to Roald and whispered something in her betrothed ear.

"Roald says if we want to escape after the feast you just have to claim you're exhausted and he'll dismiss both of us," Faleron whispered in her ear. "I don't know how he knows what we were discussing but he's thrilled for us."

"There were some subtle gestures," she smiled at him. "And I'm glad he's happy. I was more worried that you wouldn't be ready."

"Eat so you have the energy for me to prove I'm ready," he grinned at her. She smiled back until she realized what he meant. The feel of the man ripping up her insides from just that morning made her cringe. Something must have shown on her face because Faleron's smile slipped down into a frown. Before he could say anything to her or her to him in assurance, they were interrupted by the arrival of the next course.

When dinner was done Gwen claimed she was still tired and Roald waved her and Faleron off while he stood to lead everyone to the ballroom where the night's party would be. Faleron waited until they were out of sight before he caught her hand and pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. "We can wait as long as you need," he told her when he pulled back. "You don't need to explain yourself."

"Or," she countered as she pulled away from him to resume walking. "Or you could help me remember why your name gets called out in bed more than anything else." She kept walking though he had stopped moving. He likely was trying to process the meaning. Then she heard footsteps running up behind her and her legs were swept out from under her. She threw her arms around Faleron's neck as he carried her fairly quickly down to the royal wing. Clearly he thought her option was a little more worth his while.