The knights had gathered at the round table in the main hall. It had been two days since they arrived back at the Wall and still Lancelot had not woken up. Tristan, Dagonet, Bors, Gawain and Galahad had kept the fire in the midst of the table burning all the time while they waited for news. Only one at a time one of them would leave their vigil, either to keep Arthur company while he sat at Lancelot's bedside or to get a few hours of sleep. There had been no more nightmares for Lancelot since they had left the Woad camp, but by now the Sarmatians were almost wishing he would wake up screaming once more, so they would know that the dark knight was still amongst the living, amongst them. Heavy dread was almost tangible in the air.
The sky outside had darkened as well. The same day that Arthur and his knights had returned to the fortress, clouds had gathered above the Wall. It had been raining ever since. The heavy warmth from the summer had mixed with the water-filled clouds, producing thunder and lightning, not only during the nights, but during the days as well. It reflected the mood within the main hall well.
"Do you hear that?" Galahad asked all of a sudden, breaking the silence.
He only received questioning looks from the others.
"That!" the youngest of the knights emphasized.
"What?" Gawain replied irritated, not in the mood to play games. "I don't hear anything!"
"Exactly…" Galahad grinned. "The thunder has stopped. And the sun has appeared," he said while pointing toward the rays of sun that were entering the main hall through the open door.
Tristan who was closest to the door and could look outside from his seat, stood up from his chair and walked towards the door. "Look!" he said quietly.
Quickly the other knights gathered around him. A rainbow was framing the sky.
"Rain and sunshine at once. A good omen, our Lancelot would say," Bors exclaimed.
–– 8 ––
Lancelot could hear the rustling of papers but couldn't identify the source of the sound. His eyelids felt like they had been glued together. Slowly he managed to open his eyes and take in his surroundings. Warm soft furs covering him. A window to his right side, the door opposite. His twin swords with the scabbard hanging on their familiar spot on the wall. Lancelot suddenly realized he was in his own room, in his own bed. His muscles protested fiercely when he tried to turn his head in the direction of the rustling sound. Memories flooded back as his back suddenly seared with pain. He gasped in surprise and pain.
Arthur immediately moved to the bed from the table he had been working at. His eyes caught the brown eyes he hadn't seen in the past days. Relief crossed the features of the Roman as he watched how Lancelot dealt with the sudden pain.
"Thank God! We thought you were never going to wake up again!" Arthur sat down on the bed and gave Lancelot a smile of relief.
"Just until my back stops aching!" Lancelot's features relaxed slightly as the pain ebbed away, leaving only a steady tolerable throbbing pain.
Arthur was glad to hear that Lancelot didn't sound as weak as the day they had left the Woads, although his voice was croaking from disuse. "How do you feel?" the Roman asked.
Lancelot considered that for a moment. "Well enough to bed one woman, maybe not well enough for more than one just yet."
Arthur chuckled. "You and your women. They are going to be the end of you!"
"That might not be such a bad way to go," Lancelot smirked.
"Seriously, how are you feeling?" Arthur turned earnest. "Are you in a lot of pain?"
"I've felt better, honestly. The pain is not too bad as long as I don't move," the Sarmatian answered, sensing his commander's need for the truth. "How long have I been asleep?"
"We arrived at the fortress about two days ago. And it took us nearly three days to get here, but you probably don't remember a whole lot about that…" Arthur watched Lancelot as he took in the news.
"Gods! That long…? And I still feel like I could sleep for a week! I feel so drained!" Lancelot's voice betrayed his surprise as well as his fatigue.
"You nearly died, Lancelot."
Lancelot looked at his best friend as he recognized the fear in Arthur's voice.
"Thank you, for finding me, and for keeping the pendant safe." Lancelot spoke softly, but he knew Arthur had heard every word.
Arthur reached out his arms and as gently as possible he pulled Lancelot up in an embrace. The Sarmatian lent into him, letting Arthur take all of his weight.
"We didn't know if you were still alive. They played with us for days…" Arthur whispered.
The Roman felt Lancelot nodding against his shoulder. Arthur thought the curly haired knight had fallen back asleep at the prolonged silence that followed.
"I thought I was going to die," Lancelot whispered as well, revealing just the tip of his innermost feelings.
Silently they sat together as they both relived the horror of the last week in their mind.
"You are safe now. Just get better," Arthur said in a soothing tone. Not much later Arthur realized that Lancelot had fallen asleep again. He hugged him closer, holding him for awhile, before he laid him back down on the bed.
Lancelot's eyes fluttered open again as Arthur stood up from the bed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," the Roman commander apologized.
Lancelot didn't answer as he was overcome by a long yawn, enveloping him from head to toe.
Arthur chuckled softly. "I'll leave you to your beauty sleep. You look like you need it. Those dark circles around your eyes and the sunken cheekbones in a deadly white face will surely scare off the ladies…"
Lancelot smirked sleepily. "Just the opposite, dear Arthur. It will only bring them running, awakening their nursing instincts. You might have to hold them off by the door until I'm indeed well enough to see them all…"
Arthur walked towards the door laughing, eager to find his knights, and glad to see Lancelot getting back to his old self.
When he turned around at the door for a last look, the Sarmatian knight was fast asleep already, but this time Arthur's heart felt a whole lot lighter as the weight of uncertainty and fear had been lifted.
–– 8 ––
Lancelot slowly walked towards the stables. His back was still hurting him and walking was painful and tiresome but he hated being inside all the time. He needed the fresh air to breathe. At home, back in Sarmatia, they had always been outside. It was in his blood. His trip to the stables would be his third in as many days. The black stallion would be waiting for him already. He felt at peace there.
When the Sarmatian neared the stables, he noted in surprise how Jols led two horses out into the sunlight, both saddled and ready to ride out. The black stallion whinnied as he saw his rider approaching. Jols kept on tightly to his reins, while holding the reins of Arthur's white horse in the other. "Jols, what…?" Lancelot never finished his question as Arthur appeared behind the squire, a big smile on his face.
"I figured you might like a ride to keep you from dying of boredom," Arthur explained, taking over the reins from Jols. "Unless you don't feel up to it," he added hastily and with worry in his voice as the dark haired man made no move to come forwards.
"No, no!" Lancelot shook his head to rid himself of the surprise that lingered. "Let's go! I'm just… surprised." He stepped forwards and immediately the black horse pressed his head against his chest. Lancelot spoke to him softly in his native tongue as he fed him an apple that he had brought all the while stroking the big animal behind his ears where he liked it.
Arthur's voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to face his friend.
"Do you need help to mount?" Arthur repeated, looking at Lancelot questioningly.
Lancelot nodded hesitantly. "Probably, yes."
Arthur watched as Jols assisted Lancelot to mount his horse. It didn't escape him when Lancelot winced in pain, but he didn't seem too uncomfortable. Quickly he mounted himself and cantered towards the gates, Lancelot following close behind.
"Thank you," Lancelot whispered as they rode away from the gates over the green fields.
"You seemed to be getting more edgy the last couple of days," Arthur grinned. "I thought I better take you out, before you decided to go out on your own without someone watching out for you."
Lancelot realized that Arthur's joking comment contained sincere concern for his well-being as well, and he felt his heart warming. A small smile briefly crossed his face.
"Are you alright?" Arthur asked.
"Aye, a bit stiff and achy, but alright," Lancelot answered.
They continued their ride in companionable silence. No words were necessary between the friends.
Arthur kept a close eye on his knight, but the Sarmatian sat relaxed on top of his big mount, the reins lying loosely in his hands, his body swaying in rhythm with the animal beneath him.
Arthur broke the silence after half an hour. "How are you feeling?"
Lancelot turned his head towards the older man, their eyes meeting for a moment. Then Lancelot looked across the beautiful land before him, and up to the sky and the sun, before he returned his attention to Arthur once again. Their eyes locked. "Alive," he answered, a genuine smile brightening his face.
–– The End ––
A/N: A lot of people have commented on Merlin's remark about Arthur repaying his 'debt'. I merely meant to hint at what happens in the movie, when Guinevere leads Arthur into the woods and Merlin appears there, asking him to become the leader the Woads require to fight of the Saxons. That scene always irked me a bit, because I don't feel Arthur's reaction was "strong" enough. He just says to Guinevere "You betrayed me" and then he recited what happened to his mother at Merlin's hand, but he stays and talks with Merlin without any hostility. Like he had met and talked with the man before and he felt not only anger towards Merlin. So maybe he felt a bit of gratitude as well because he helped save Lancelot? LOL
Thanks to all my lovely reviewers! I hope everyone enjoyed the story!
