Summary: "Dagonet, where were you?" - This is where he was. One shot.
Authors Note: I was not impressed when Dagonet died, so here is a story for him. There is mention of Sir Bedivere, who is one of my favourite of the knights of the round table. (Monty Python had help with that!)
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Waiting
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The child laughed, light danced in her eyes as she held up her hands to the knight that stood before her. He reached down and scooped her up into his arms, lifting her high into the air so that she squealed with delight.
"That's my girl," he said, settling Mabel into his arms.
He heard a sigh behind him and he turned. Gemma, the child's mother was leaning against the entrance to the bar, she had a dish rag draped over her shoulder and she was rubbing a hand over her face. In the dim light he could see that she was exhausted.
"How was she?" Gemma asked, "did she cause you any trouble?"
Dagonet looked down at Mabel who was playing with his shirt, she was bunching the fabric in her hands.
"Never," Dagonet replied, lifting Mabel across the bar he handed her to Gemma.
"Thank you," Gemma said, settling Mabel on her hip. "I wish there was a way that I could repay you."
Gemma worked long hours in the tavern, mostly withMabel at her hip.She was saving her money so that one day she could move away from Hadrien's Wall and start anew. Dagonet would not take a penny from this woman.
Dagonet regarded Gemma, "seeing you well is payment enough."
Gemma snorted, "you flatter Sir Knight." She reached out for his mug, "let me refill your cup." As she reached over Dagonet covered her fingers with his.
"Bedivere was a good man, he is missed."
Gemma nodded, she looked down at Mabel; she was young, not yet three years of age but already she held so much of her father in her. She had his eyes and his soft brown hair, his gaiety and his kindness. It broke Gemma's heart everytime she looked into Mabel's large grey eyes.
"I wish you would let me take care of you."
"You do, you watch Mabel-"
"No," Dagonet interrupted. "I mean in the way a man takes care of his wife." He stroked the back of her hand with his callused fingertips. "It pains me to see you so sad. It's been nearly a year, he would not want you to live like this."
"Oh," Gemma snapped, "and I suppose that he would want me to live a life afraid. Knowing that any time that you leave for a mission you might never come back? I'm sorry, I lived that life once and it nearly killed me, I could not do it again." Tears stood in Gemma's eyes, "Mabel is the only thing that keeps me from lying in my bed forever. The hope I see in her is the hope that keeps me alive." Grief stood out on her features, the lines surrounding her eyes and mouth that made her look older than she truly was. Her shaking hands and her trembling lips that were pressed into a tight line.
"There is hope," Dagonet said softly, "I love you." Dagonet watched as the tears spilled down Gemma's cheeks, she made no move to wipe them away.
"Do not think that I don't care," Gemma said, her voice thick with tears. "I do, but I cannot let myself love you."
Dagonet knew that he could not push her, he only hoped in time thatshe might change her mind. He drained his cup and then stood. "I'm going to visit the other knights," he reached out and brushed Mabel's hair out of her eyes. "I'll be back tomorrow."
Gemma choked back a sob asshe watched Dagonet's retreating back.
"I will be waiting"
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End Note: Anyway, I'm pretty happy with this piece, so please review and let me know what you think!