The Lady of Hauntdesert

Disclaimer: I own nothin'

Summary: I was doing a bit of research In my spare time and found out that there was something going on (so they say in the myth of King Arthur) between Sir Gawain and The Lady of Haundesert, wife of a man named Bertilak. I thought I'd write a fic about it. It starts of after the movie finishes.

Matilda lady of Haundesert looked down on her embroidery and sighed. She had just given birth to her second child- another girl. She decided to call her Jaclyn, another daughter she thought wearily. As much as she loved her girls she was disappointed- why couldn't she produce a heir for Bertilak? A strong son. This birth had left her tired and ill. She had been pregnant four times in her nine year marriage to Bertilak, one had died at birth- a little girl and the other had lasted about a week, he was a boy. Thinking these thoughts saddened her, losing a child took so much out of her. Jaclyn was two weeks old, she was a little sickly but was improving. Bertilak should know by now- she had sent a message to where he was currently residing on the other side of the isle. He often stayed away, for there was no love in the marriage. Well there was, they loved each other as friends, and only friends. Matilda thought this was because she had disappointed him in not bearing him a son. They used to be in love, years ago. Matilda was sixteen when she found out she had been betrothed, she wasn't happy- it had been the cause of many arguments. But in the end she gave way to her fathers logic. It was as good a marriage than she could ever had imagined. Bertilak was only six years her senior and was rich with a good family. As Matilda wasn't a complete Roman- her mother was a Briton- this was amazingly good. She was even happy that she would be living in her mothers homeland- Matilda hadn't been there since she was six years old. She was looking forward to it, so she found herself leaving Rome- not that she was sorry. And traveling to Briton. She married Bertilak just after her eighteenth birthday and they fell in love. Well, for about two years, when their first child died they started drifting apart. Matilda sighed again. She couldn't complain at least Bertilak didn't beat her, some of her friends and acquaintances weren't so lucky. Jaclyn started to cry and Matilda picked her up- she preferred to look after her own children. She let her daughter suckle until she fell asleep after being contentedly burped. Leaving her daughter asleep Matilda walked into the nursery next door where her other daughter Eleanor played. Eleanor was five years old and the apple of her mother's eye. As soon as Matilda walked in Eleanor leapt at her.

"Mother, mother finish that story you started. The one about Arthur and his Knights and Queen Guinevere!" she said excitedly "Please mummy!" Matilda smiled at her pretty young daughter. With slightly curly black hair and dazzling blue eyes, she was a younger version of her mother.

"Okay darling, come her." Matilda sat down on a cushioned chair and Eleanor curled up in her lap.

"Where was I?" she asked.

"The wedding! Arthur and Guinevere had just gotten married." Eleanor said excitedly.

"So they did." Matilda said smiling.

Matilda smiled down at her sleeping daughter, thumb in her mouth and tucked her in. She placed a kiss on Eleanor's brow and left the room. It was four weeks since Jaclyn's birth and she was expecting a reply from Bertilak any day now. Looking out the window she noticed what a lovely night it was and decided to go down to the gardens, she grabbed her coat just as her maid Lilly walked in the room.

"Milady this came for you." She said curtseying. Matilda thanked her and decided to read the letter rather than go outside. Looking at it she noticed it was from Bertilak. She sat down on her desk to read it.

Dearest Matilda,

I'm so happy for this joyful news, my heart yearns to see our daughter. I trust both of you are well. I am currently with King Arthur and his knights, expect one to drop in soon he'll be the lord of our area. He will be staying with you, so I trust you will make him welcome. I regret to say I must go to Rome. I will be gone a year, but will visit before I leave so I can say goodbye to you and our daughters. Expect me home soon after this letter reaches you.

Love always,

Bertilak.

Matilda reread the letter- it was remarkably short. So Bertilak was to go to Rome and she was to entertain a Knight of the Round Table- Eleanor would be ecstatic. She wondered which one it would be. Sir Lancelot? Sir Dagonet? Sir Bors? Sir Tristan? Sir Gawain? Or Sir Galahad? She thought about these knights quickly. No it couldn't be Sir Lancelot, Sir Bors, Sir Tristan or Sir Dagonet they all had land to govern. It would have to be Sir Galahad or Sir Gawain. Deciding after all that the garden would be nice Matilda put on her coat.

Bertilak arrived two days later and stayed two days. He was happy with Jaclyn who was very happy and had his green eyes but there was more distance between Matilda and him. He didn't even make love to her. She was kind of grateful when he left for Rome.

One sunny day Matilda was taking Eleanor and Jaclyn for a walk. They stopped outside the gates at a pretty little stream. Eleanor had a stick and was pretending it was a sword. Singing softly to Jaclyn Matilda smiled at Eleanor eagerly destroying imaginary enemies. She was so immersed in her daughters so she was surprised when she heard a polite cough behind her. She and Eleanor turned at the same time to see a handsome man with long brown hair in braids with a neatly trimmed beard.

"How may I help you?" She asked politely standing up. Eleanor gaped at the man with wide eyes.

"Are you a Knight?" she asked, eyes big. The man smiled.

"Aye, that I am. Sir Gawain of the Knights of the Round Table at your service." He said bowing and giving Eleanor a light kiss on the hand.

"You have a way with a sword milady." He said smiling at Matilda's daughter.

"Sorry milady." He said turning to Matilda.

"That's okay" Matilda said smiling. "I'm Lady Matilda." She said, introducing herself.

"Sir Gawain." The knight said again, kissing her hand politely. "It's a pleasure. I know your husband." He said.

"Yes he mentioned that a knight was to visit. So you're to become my lord now?" Matilda asked.

"Well, I suppose." Gawain said.

"Come, come. I'm not being very hospitable. You must be hungry. Follow me and I'll find you something to eat. And allow me to introduce me to my daughters. This one here is Eleanor. And my baby is Jaclyn." She told Gawain, who was following her with his bay stallions' reins in his hands. She couldn't help but feeling a strong sense of chemistry between her and the handsome knight.