"It's been months since I've been able to see Lorie!" Gawain whined. He was sprawled on a chair in his chambers at Camelot, his arm over his face. "And now that we have this tournament going on, who knows how long it'll be before I can sneak out again." He peeked around his arm at his squire.

"Terence, are you even listening to me?"

"Of course, milord," Terence said smoothly from where he was laying underneath the table.

"And what are you even doing under there?"

Terence didn't even look at him. "Important Duke of Avalon business. You wouldn't understand it."

"Really? Because it looks to me as if you're carving on the bottom of my table. Sometimes I feel that you use that excuse more often than you should."

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Gawain glared at Terence, waiting for him to get up to open the door. He didn't. With a heavy sigh, Gawain stood up to get the door.

"Ah, Sir Gawain!" Eileen said smoothly. "Just the knight I was looking for! I wonder if you could let me borrow your squire. I'm planning a trip outside the castle to gather wildflowers, and I need a servant to help carry things for me."

Gawain glared at her. "That is the flimsiest excuse that I have ever heard. You don't want wildflowers, you just want to get my squire alone so that you can have your wicked way with him, while I stay here all alone and lonely. Do you know how long it's been since I've seen my wife?"

Behind him, Terence rolled out from under the table. "Of course, Lady Eileen, I would be honored to help you." He smirked at Gawain, who just transferred his glare to him.

"I hate you," Gawain muttered.