Disclaimer: As chapter one; so please, for the love of God, do not make me keep writing it out people!
I've researched the setting of broken bones in Ancient Rome, and it is so laborious that I've taken a little liberty so that it is done at once rather than over the many days it actually did. But they did use splints and tight bandages.
WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE AND SOME SEXUAL REFERENCES (though not too graphic) SO READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
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Bethan & Lucan
Chapter Twenty-Four – Gawain & Milo
They took the boy back to the room and fed everyone the same story; as Milo had suspected, his father was not convinced and so was told the truth. He was not happy; but understood and had to admire the boy's tenacity to help his sister, as well as the lengths he would go to.
"You will be in great pain for many weeks."
"We need many weeks Papa, the children cannot all pretend to be ill for that long - Bethan would become suspicious."
"Could you not have injured your arm?"
"Nay, she would not stay for that; but if I have trouble walking my Kêmtir Mader would not leave me behind." He smiled.
Tristan was very proud as he could not fault the planning "How did you plan this so quickly."
"We had another plan, which we had started to use…."
"Darry and Tris?"
"Aye, but I needed another quickly to ward of disaster when she wakes; and wake she will." He stated firmly "We have also taken over every spare room at the fort, she will have nowhere to go; should she wish to."
Galahad had overheard and pretty soon it was not long before the only ones not in on the scheme were Sandrina, Bethan and Gawain.
The parents of the children involved – minus San – gathered in another room to discuss what in the hell their children had been up to.
Arthur was very displeased with his son and told him so - but once again Milo spoke up "It was Rahil that dealt the blow, Torvald and Suriana merely held me down and gave me something to bite on.
It was my idea and on my instructions, if anyone is to blame Arthur it is me; I accept full responsibility for my actions. I will not let those I hold dear take the blame" he eyed his king defiantly.
"Very well Milo" Arthur sighed "he will not be punished, and neither will you – you will suffer enough over the next few weeks. I have had enough broken bones over the years, as have all the knights, to know the pain you will be in.
It was a foolish thing you did, but I admire the devotion that drove it." He smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. He might be growing into a wild card like his sister but, like her, he took the blame for his mistakes and the consequences for his actions.
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Meanwhile Gilly was pacing outside the room, he was losing the plot here; the children were not paying attention to him, which was obvious by the actions that Milo had carried out. Though he had to admit that they followed the young boy when they could not follow his sister, he was merely there as a go-between for the children to the adults.
Galahad came to him "He is a brave, if stupid, boy is he not?" he smiled.
"Aye; but you have to admire his love for his sister and his determination to bring her and Gawain together. But I would have done it if he had but asked me; I owe her much."
"A word of advice Gil, do not treat her differently when she awakes. She will hate that, I heard what your father said and she would not wish it."
Gilly nodded.
The rest of the Bors brood came running up "how is she?" asked Eight.
"We do not know yet, she is still unconscious" Gilly told his siblings.
"Is it true that Milo broke his own leg?" asked Eleven incredulously.
"Aye……but now listen to me, Sandrina, Gawain and Bethan do not know the truth and they must not if this plan of Milo's is to work. I want you to get everyone, especially the children of the fort to start playing sick as soon as Bethan is well."
"She will get well, will she not?" Eight was worried, he truly adored Bethan.
"If Gawain has anything to do with it; along with her parents, Dag and Merlin she will." Gilly assured him.
Merlin stepped into the room where Milo was being tended "I see you have been busy…" he smiled at the boy "This will hurt…a lot".
Milo braced himself and never cried out once as his leg was set "Brave boy" Dag said "It was a clean break Milo and should heal well."
Milo clapped Rahil on the back "Well done my friend" He grinned, as the sweat ran off him and his colour returned "You broke it perfectly."
His father picked him up "Let us take you to your sister so she can see your handiwork when she wakes." He said. Although Tristan's voice was calm, he held his son close to him and nuzzled his hair "I am proud of you Milo." He whispered.
His son put his arms round his father's neck and hugged him tightly "I will never be you father, you are the most amazing man I have ever known - but if I can be one quarter the man you are, I will be happy."
Tristan blinked back the tears that formed in his eyes and smiled at his young son.
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Sandrina was beside herself on seeing her son with his leg splinted and set with the tight bandages to immobilise it.
"Dear God Milo, have I not got enough to worry about with your sister without you now adding to it!"
"I am sorry Mama, I fell….."
She sighed and scrubbed her hand over her face. She stared at the pale face of her daughter. "Speak to her Milo; we must all speak to her, bring her back…" She ran from the room in tears.
Tristan gently set his son down on the bed by his daughter and Gawain and ran after her "It will be alright Milo, it will" he said quietly from the door.
Milo grasped his sister's hand, clearly in pain. Gawain shot him a look "how fares you?"
"painfully" the young boy tried to smile "it hurts, but I will survive as she will."
"You have a lot of faith in her…"
"As much as I do in you" he sighed and regarded his friend "Did I not tell you long ago Gawain that you would be my friend too?"
The knight smiled for the first time that night "Aye, aye you did…."
"Do you remember why?"
"Nay, not really."
"She trusts you, with all her secrets; even with her life. You are an honourable man Gawain; she would not trust you so if you were not.
I know….I know what you told the others about how you felt about her even whilst Lucan lived" he grasped the hand of the knight with his free one, as the other went to protest and laid it on his sister's. "But he was not jealous. He trusted her and with good reason - no matter what she felt about you at the time, she loved him; she loved him with her all her heart. Her feelings towards you only changed when he died and you were there for her in the same way she had been for you.
But mark this Gawain - she may have given Lucan her heart, but you own her soul; that is why he released her that day at the graveyard.
He knew; when he passed on he realised the reality of her feelings, there is naught held back when we die. Our souls learn all; and in that learning we find out all that may have escaped us here on earth. Lucan knew when he lived that you had feelings for Bethan, but he also knew she loved him.
But when he died, he knew then that she could be happy with you in a way she never would have been with him" he shook his head at Dagonet "I am not saying that she would not have been happy with Lucan; she would, for they loved each other dearly. But he knew, as I do, that the connection with Gawain is different, deeper somehow.
Lucan wanted her to be different; calmer and more sedate, and she was for him because she loved him so much. But Gawain you love her as she is…wild and free….the a' allaidh soirbheas" all three men grinned at the remembrance of the Bethan they used to know.
"I know this because though a child, I watch and I see everything. People forget I am there a lot of the time and do things they think I do not see. A look, a gesture - things an adult would miss or make no mind of" he smiled.
"Whatever happens Gawain, know this - you two are meant; and if you have Lucan's blessing then you must have Ysabeau's."
"How do you know I have Lucan's blessing?" Gawain asked sadly. Milo could tell he was unconvinced by all he had said.
"He whispered one word to me that day by the graveside, the day he said goodbye to Bethan and Tris; it was Gawain."
The other two knights gasped "I speak true; this is no scheme or plan to trap you with Bethan."
"I believe him…" Dag spoke quietly from the door.
"As do I; my son would not lie about something like this." Tristan spoke as he entered the room.
"So what now?" Arthur spoke as he too came in.
"We wait….." Tristan sighed as he looked at his daughter.
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They sat for hours watching her, then the hours turned to days. She stayed as she was, almost as if asleep. Gawain never left her and neither did Milo, not unless they had to; and the others came in and spoke to her.
This day started the same as the other four had; first Dagonet and Merlin entered.
"Any change?" Dag asked.
"None." Gawain sighed "Are we sure she did not sustain a blow to the head?"
"Aye…" Merlin answered "we are sure…"
"Then why does she not wake? It is not even as if there is a fever…."
"I do not know…."
"I can feel her dying….."
"If you give her just reason she will return to you, to all of us…" Merlin stated.
He crossed to the girl in the bed "You have two here who pine for you" he looked at Milo, he could see the boy sickening; Dagonet said it was the pain in his leg, but it was more than that; he was pining for his sister. "Do not think to leave them child, for they will both soon follow." He murmured in her ear.
"Keep talking to her; she will recover Gawain, you have to believe as he does." He pointed to Milo. Gawain nodded as the Shaman left.
Dagonet sat down on the bed and took her free hand "Bethan, we miss you, the boys miss you - you have a sick brother here. His leg is broken and he needs his little mother." He leant down towards her "your Gawain pines most….do not desert him Little Scout; it is not what Lucan would want, trust me" He whispered.
He rose and patted Gawain's shoulder "Have faith Gawain; she will not desert you…how could she desert her soul?"
"She would not, she would only take mine with her" he muttered.
Milo squeezed his hand "and mine" he smiled sadly "Look" Gawain glanced down and saw that the boy had done the 'tie that binds'. "I could not let you both go without someone who could scout for you…."
Gawain shook his head as tears ran down his face "Milo; Milo why? Your parents cannot lose you both, it is too cruel."
"Then she must live; and frankly my bloody leg hurts too much to care!" He grinned at Gawain, trying to lighten his mood.
The knight leant over and hugged him "You are a very special boy Milo; you are, and I am proud to call you both friend and brother."
Milo blushed and hugged him back "As I am you Gawain, as I am you…" he paused "but best not to let my parents know of this, eh? I think it would upset Mama and cause much grief to Papa."
Gawain nodded.
Just then Galahad and Alisia came in "How fares she brother?"
"No change; but we hope, do we not Milo?"
"Aye we do…."
Galahad walked over to the unconscious young woman and leant by her ear "You cannot leave him now Bethan…..not when he has finally admitted how he feels."
Alisia crouched down next to her "Bethan hear me, Ysabeau would not mind I swear. Please do not leave us…."
They patted Gawain's shoulder as they left.
"Is that not annoying?" asked Milo.
"Very, but they mean well…"
"I would tell them to piss off!" They grinned together.
"You remind me of your sister! She was swearing a blue streak at your age, still is…" they both chuckled.
Bors was next, with Van and Gilly….
"Any change?"
"None."
Gilly looked at Milo "That bloody leg of yours will have healed by the time she sodding wakes up!"
"Then I will just have to do it again…."
"I bet you bloody would too!" Gilly asked incredulously.
"'Course he would, it is his sister and her happiness; he is a bloody excellent little sod, are you not lad?" Bors said with pride.
Milo grinned.
Gilly walked over to Bethan "If you bloody die whose going to keep on breaking my nose for me?" then he sobered "Please Bethan, we would all miss you so much…"
Van touched his arm and whispered her own message into the girl's ear "Gawain would follow you; but I worry that Milo would too - please Bethan, come back to us."
Tris and Darry toddled up "Mama get well; but you tell her off Borsey, and then Lancey tell her off and then you say 'wuv you', Papa…"
Bors looked at the boy and realised what he was saying - he strode over, just as Lancelot entered "How is she?"
"No change."
"Right, well I have had enough of this bloody debacle!"
"So have I!" Bors exclaimed "even Little Tris is saying we should be telling her off…."
They both went to her. Bors sat her up and shook her "Now you listen to me and listen good - you will not die, you hear me you little cow! I will not bloody allow it, I will not let you rest…I will keep you sodding earthbound until the end of bloody time!"
Lancelot gave her a shake as well "I do not know what you think you are doing but your mother is beside herself, your father is a shell of what he was and both Gawain and your bloody brother are dying with you! That is not the Little Scout we know, she would not do this to those she loved!
So buck your bloody ideas up girlie! You are a Knight; knights do not give in to this sort of injury! I never took you for a weakling, a coward - but obviously you are!"
Bors was having to restrain Gawain from braining Lancelot with his axe - but just then there was a groan from Bethan "Sod off Lancelot…….I am not dying……..I was just resting my eyes".
"I knew it! I did, she is her mother's bloody daughter; could not let an insult lie; would come back from the gates of death just to have the last word!" he crowed before racing out with Bors to tell everyone.
Gawain went to her, taking her hand he smiled with relief "where did you go that you wanted to stay for so long?"
"Heaven…"
"I hear it is a nice place, so what brought you back?"
"You…..you called me… then you said…you said…you said you loved me….Gawain I…I cannot, it is wrong…….."
"hush…….all is well, we are friends, just friends - always will be….." he stroked her forehead, tears pooling in his eyes. Oh Goddess – he had lost her, he knew he would….
But he had reckoned without the young boy on the bed. He caught Tris and Darry's eye….and nodded, then he turned to the door and winked at Gilly. The adults were completely unaware a whole plan was being put into action without their knowledge.
He was ready for this eventuality, he was not going to be defeated now; the adults would not be able to help. But he would; he and the other children - Bethan's only Achilles heel…..
"You have not lost her Gawain; not while there is breath in my body you have not - I will call you brother yet" He smiled. The knight did not believe him as he ruffled his hair, but that was alright.
Arthur had watched from the door and smiled. He would be a leader one day, a good one; until then he knew he would have double the headache he had before - now he would have the Little Scout and the brother to deal with.
He wandered away smiling; they would have to think of a nickname for Milo, like they had for Bethan - but what would fit?
Fixer? Nay….
Schemer? Nay….
Trouble? Aye…..now that would fit him - Trouble! He grinned; he was that alright with a capital T, but at least in a good way.
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So the days passed again. Bethan was recovering quickly, fear for her brother driving her healing. Milo's plan worked well.
It seemed that Bethan was completely aware of all that had transpired and she was mortally guilty about her own feelings as well as Gawain's. Things became difficult as she fought her feelings and knew he was doing likewise, and so she had wanted to move her and Tris to a room by themselves.
Of course there was none, and Arthur was unwilling to accommodate her by moving anyone; even Milo's room was quickly occupied whilst he was out of it, so she had no option but to stay with Gawain.
She could not shake the feeling that something was going on and she was missing a crucial part, but she could not get her head round it - even her breezes had stopped as if ensuring whatever was being carried out went ahead.
She sighed as she shifted in the bed; Milo beside her. She saw the little piece of fabric….and froze "Milo?" she shook him awake, whilst trying not to disturb Tris and Darry.
"Hmmm? What?" he was groggy with sleep.
"Did you do the 'tie that binds' with me?"
"Aye, I would not let you and Gawain die alone" he was immediately defensive.
The yelling brought everyone running "You stupid little bastard!"
"Me stupid! I am not the one pretending I do not love someone when it is obvious to anyone with a bloody eye in their head that I adore him!"
"What!"
"You heard me; you are being a complete prat Befan - Lucan would not want this….he would not…it is stupid!"
"How dare you speak to me like this? I am your sister…."
"It is because you are my sister that I can speak to you like this!"
"If you did not already have a broken leg I would break your bloody neck!"
"Huh! I would like to see you try! Even with a broken leg I could take you, sister!"
Bors stood at the door as they hurled insults at each other "Good to have the old spitfire Bethan back!" He laughed "we have missed her, so much you would never guess…."
She started laughing then, and almost immediately the laughter turned to tears. Bors flew in as Milo tried to scoot across to hug her too. "I did not mean to upset you Befan!"
"What is it Little Scout, eh? Why do you weep so?"
"I feel so bad Bors - there I am laughing and Lucan cannot laugh. I love Gawain Bors, I love him so much - and I never loved Lucan like that!" She sobbed "I feel so guilty…."
"No one condemns you Bethan; not Dag or Alisia or even Ilara - no one. Everyone would be pleased to see you and Gawain get together." He placated.
"But I condemn me Bors; I do…."
"Why?"
"Because I cannot explain why I love Gawain more than I did Lucan - that is wrong, Lucan was my husband….Gawain is a friend, yet I love him with all my heart, body and soul!"
"So? Lucan is dead, but while he was living you loved him; he never once doubted that…"
"But it was not the same!"
"Mayhap it was not, but it was enough for him; do not spoil his memory because of this…."
"Mayhap I just need to get out of the fort…" Milo and Bors exchanged a look over her head.
"I do not think that will happen Bethan; there are many sick around at the moment and Merlin cannot cope on his own and you know Dag is all about battle wounds."
She sighed "I am sure they will fare well…."
"Well the adults might…." Bors paused theatrically "But I am not sure about the children, especially ours." He lowered his eyes in case something in them gave the game away.
Bethan was immediately alert "Children? The children are sick……our children are sick?"
"Then of course there is Milo….and he is having problems, are you not boy?"
Milo nodded emphatically, pointing to his leg.
"What is wrong with the children?"
"Well, it seems like some kind of stomach cold - aches, pains and aching heads, with stomach pains and nausea" Milo invented quickly, as Bors caste about in his mind for symptoms of diseases.
He smiled gratefully to the boy 'Ye Gods, that child could think on his feet!' he thought.
"I must go and see them" She went to rise - but her stitches pulled and made her catch her breath.
Gawain came in "What are you doing?" as he pushed past the others.
"Going to the children; Gawain, they are sick - why did no one tell me?"
"Because you are too and there is no way you can help them until you are fit." She glared at him mutinously "Look I will help you…" she looked dubious "will you not let me help you Little Scout?" the plaintive way he spoke, Bors' heart went out to him - the hurt look on his face. But then he saw her relax and nod; mayhap there was hope yet.
He looked across at Milo, who nodded to Tris and Darry. "Mama kiss Papa fank oo's" Tris giggled "Mama kiss Papa fank oo's…"
"Not today Tris; mayhap a later…" she blushed as to how that might have sounded.
"NAY! NOW! MAMA KISS PAPA!" He stamped his foot on the bed and Milo flinched, even though it had not bothered him too much.
"Alright, alright…..just mind Milo" She kissed Gawain's cheek, quickly and with the barest touch of her lips to his skin.
"That no kiss Mama….kiss like dis…" he planted a real smacker on Gawain's cheek "Mama no like Papa anymore? Poor Papa…poor, poor Papa – Mama meany; but Tris-Tris wuv Papa, wuv Papa lots…."
Darry piped up "Aye, Mama a meany – we wuv you Papa!" and she too planted a huge wet kiss on Gawain's cheek. He smiled adoringly at them.
"Nay…..it is alright, we are…friends. Mama and I are friends, and things are different." He tried to cover for Bethan who was looking very hurt.
All the knights looked on as Milo grinned behind Bethan's back; Lancelot, Bors and Arthur the only ones to really twig what was going on. Lancelot admired the boy for his planning, these were small children but they had obviously been schooled as to what say for certain situations…..
Bethan reached up and pulled Gawain down, kissing his cheek properly. She desperately tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach, or the way her breath caught in her throat as her lips touched the warm skin of his cheek…
For his part, Gawain had to steel himself from crushing her to him and never letting her go, consequences be damned. Guilt or no guilt he was not sure how much longer he could stand the torture of having her so near him; he knew she felt the same, had heard her whispered conversations with Van, Amila, Guinevere and her mother; all of them telling her to be free. Even Ilara, who had moved her to tears, had told her it was alright….but she could not.
If he could just get things back to the way they were before….where they could hug and kiss without fear. He wondered if he could. He looked at the children, he had no idea what had got into them lately; they were always trying to get him and Bethan together. He sighed….he just did not know how to fix it.
Galahad watched and his anger grew; he would not allow her to continue treating his brother like this. Nay, he would not - it was time he said something, and it would not be nice.
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He strode into the room a few days later…. Bethan was alone; he had made sure of that. Milo had gone to have his leg checked and rebound by Merlin and Dag; Gawain had taken the children outside for some fresh air.
"Bethan?"
"Hello Gal…" she smiled. She was pale and sad looking; his resolve nearly faltered, but as he thought of his brother he stood firm.
"Why are you being such a complete bitch to Gawain? Has he ever done anything to you to deserve it?" he ground out.
She looked surprised "I did not know that I was…."
"Don't play sodding dumb with me Bethan, you and I go back too far for that! I have known you full as long as all the others, and I know you! You are tormenting him beyond reason and it is not fair!" He cried.
"You think I am not being tormented?" She looked hurt.
"Well if you are, you obviously enjoy it for there is no other reason for it. Both your partners are dead and have been for some while – more than a year for Lucan and over two years for Ysabeau – and you love each other to distraction. Ye Gods, you even love each other's children and they call you Mama and Papa!"
"But I feel guilty…"
"Oh, I see so you are going to go on tormenting you and Gawain forever so that you feel you 'pay' for the feelings you have? That is so ridiculous that if was not hurting my brother I would laugh out loud at you. How old are you? 5, 6? Because that is how you are acting…."
"Gal…I…." she tried to explain.
"Nay, forget it…you know what, just forget it….I will not bother you again Bethan. You are not the sister or knight I thought you was to torment one we know you love so. I would not treat a dog the way you treat him! The really sad part Bethan is Lucan would not wish this crap and neither would Ysabeau - YOU are the only one who wants it…….think about it!" he slammed out.
Bethan sat there for a moment and then burst into tears, it was not like her to cry over an argument, but he really had no idea what she was going through. But what if he was right - that all this misery was her own doing?
A few minutes later Alisia came in with Ilara "What happened? We saw Gal and he looked like he was going to hit something…"
"I think he would have liked it to be me…" she smiled, wiping her eyes.
"Has he made you cry? I will bloody kill him!" Alisia went to go after him.
"Nay…..he spoke true that is all. But this is, to use Bors' best loved phrase, such a bloody mess….I do not know what to do anymore…."
"Mayhap you should just follow your heart; it has been well over year since Lucan died Bethan. He would not wish this, he would not. So you did not love him as you love Gawain. But you did love him; you must have, to try and change as you did for him. I knew you would - even when the others said Lucan would be lucky to just survive the ride with you, I knew how you loved him and would do aught to make him happy - and you did." Ilara spoke softly.
"I love Dagonet a million times more than I loved my first husband, does that make me a bad person? I love my boys full as much as I loved my natural son who perished, does that make me a horrible woman? Of course not; we have to live our lives, and I consider myself very fortunate that Destiny has been kind enough to give me a second chance at love.
Do I love my first husband still? Aye, there will always be a piece of me that belongs to him, as there will always be the same from you and Gawain for Lucan and Ysabeau. But they would not wish this torment you and Gawain are going through….they would not."
"I know Ysabeau would not, and I think I knew enough of Lucan to think the same for him." Alisia added.
Just then Tris and Darry toddled in - pushed by Milo "Mama? Papa crying in the beer place…."
"What?"
"Papa crying tearses……help Papa, Mama; do not be mad at Papa anymore….." Tris patted her cheek "Make Tris-Tris and Darry sad when you not like Papa…."
Fresh tears sprang to Bethan's eyes, as the two other women exchanged looks, this was slightly out of character for the small children; they would get to the bottom of this…..
Bethan stood and flew out, the two women followed the little ones…..straight back to Milo, and the other knights' children. "I knew you had to be in on it somewhere Milo!" Glowered Alisia "You made her cry!"
"Good, then maybe she will see sense."
Ilara laughed and laughed, Alisia looked askance at her "You cannot find this funny?"
"Oh aye, I can….I mean you have to admire all the work they have put into this - his broken his own leg; schooling the children about what to say. Every house she has visited since she has been back on her feet has had a child in it asking her about Gawain…….it must have driven her near mad. Gawain's had all the boys following him around wanting to know what he thinks of Bethan.
They have not been allowed a moment not to think of each other from the second they awake until they sleep. Naught has been left to chance, you have a general in the making here Arthur!" she spoke to their king as he wandered up with an amused looking Guinevere.
Milo" she turned to the boy "I salute you!" she grinned as she walked away with Alisia.
"I know I have a general, I only hope you work as hard for me as you do your sister!" Arthur chuckled "How is the leg?"
"Painful but these crutches help….at least I can move around."
"Who made them?"
"Gawain and Papa. I would be lost without them. Arthur?"
"Hmm?"
"Do think I am being cruel? You know with this new plan of ours? Over egging the pudding as Van says?"
"Nay Milo – I do not. I think they need a swift kick in the backside to stop all this. You are doing well, my young Trouble."
"Trouble?" Milo was confused.
"Aye, as we call you sister Little Scout; I thought we would call you Trouble…. Do you not approve?"
Before he could answer Rahil ran up "Milo it is starting, Bethan has Suriana at the tavern and has apparently caught her telling Tris what to say - she is baying for blood! Now?"
Milo thought for a moment "It is as good a time as any."
Tanwir ran up with Celeste "Have you told him? Should we start now?"
"May as well…..if this does not work, I might have another plan…."
"Do not you always brother!" Laughed Rahil and they went with the hobbling Milo.
"I do not think Trouble suits him Arthur" Guinevere smiled at the boy's retreating back.
"You do not? What then?"
"How about Little Captain? For do they not all follow his every order?"
Arthur hugged her "You are wise my darling….Little Captain it is then. MILO!" he called.
"Aye Sire?"
"You will be known as Little Captain!" he smiled.
"I like that muchly better, to phrase Darry!" The boy grinned back.
"Come my wife; we have our part yet to play…."
"Takes you back does it not? Remember Dagonet and Ilara?" she grinned happily.
Arthur laughed out loud "Aye I do; it seems the brother is full as much a schemer as his sister!"
"Better I would say!" giggled Guinevere as they made their way back to the meeting room that held the round table.
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Milo and the others found Bethan holding Suriana by the arm and giving her a mouthful "Why would you teach him to tell me I am bad for not loving his papa!"
"I….I…."
"Get off her" Milo spoke low and angrily.
"What?"
"You heard me…get off her…" he batted at his sister's arm with a crutch.
Suddenly a light went on for Bethan "You did this? But why?"
"Because you are wrong Befan….very wrong - I tried to be nice…tried to make you see sense the better way; but now we are going into a lock out…."
His sister's eyes widened as the other knights looked on seemingly confused "You would not do that to me….you would not."
"I would and I will; you are no longer with us Bethan" for the first time since he was born he used her proper name "We will neither speak nor acknowledge you until you see sense."
He slowly turned his back; after a moment of blinking at the enormity of what he was doing, the others slowly followed suit; all had hoped it would not come to this. As Arthur and the others knew, they would always follow their 'Little Captain'.
"Darry, Tris-Tris….Mama has upset Uncle Milo muchly, we will not speak to her until she is being nice to Papa Gawain…understand?"
The two small children nodded, not really grasping what they were doing, and slowly turned round on their mother.
As she looked round the open area by the tavern she saw children whispering and as they caught her eye each turned their back on her - she was locked out.
The children slowly walked away. Suriana was upset, and even Milo had tears in his eyes "Do not let them fall Suriana - none of you. We are doing this for her own good" he hissed….but he felt awful, a betrayer.
He had stood by his sister no matter what she had done, shoulder to shoulder - but this time…this time…..it was different….when this was all over he prayed she would understand why he had done it.
Bethan stood mutely clasping and unclasping her hands - this was beyond cruel, the children here were her life; she loved each and every one of them…….and the knights children were her special favourites.
"What have they done?" Lancelot asked, worried by the stricken look on her face.
"They have initiated a lockout - none of them will talk to me or acknowledge me; I may as well be dead to them." She looked at him sadly. "It seems they love Gawain as much as I do…."
"Will your guilt be worth this now?" San looked at her daughter "You know Milo would not take such actions lightly - he hates what you are doing only…"
Bethan nodded "But…..I thought he loved me….." she could not finish.
Bors had had enough "He does, you daft wench! Do you…"
"Bors….." warned Lancelot.
But the other knight was beyond reason "do you know he broke his own leg just to keep you on the fort! To keep you around Gawain…..to make you see….he has planned and schemed to try and bring you together; I cannot believe you would doubt him like this….poor little sod!"
Bethan swung round "Bors!" Lancelot groaned "Can you not just let it lie?"
"He would not….he could not….broke his own leg?"
"Aye he did…we saw him…" Lancelot nodded "He loves you so much Bethan. It is not only Gawain you are destroying, but him too. Believe me, he is as stubborn as you - I would not see this lock out ending any time soon, if you persist with this ridiculous 'guilt' of yours."
"I will not be bullied Lance" she warned, though the fight was not there. She seemed merely…..devastated.
"He does not wish to bully you sister" he said more softly, hugging her to him "He wishes to help you see sense; I pray this works, as we are all out of options. Gawain…."
"What of Gawain? I was told he was here and crying?" She looked about, suddenly starting to panic…
"Tell her…" Galahad hissed angrily "Tell her…."
"Tell me what?"
"He is leaving…."
"Who?"
"Gawain, Bethan, Gawain wants to leave; you have succeeded in breaking his heart and now he wishes to leave. He has gone to see Arthur, to be released so he can leave the fort…….for good!" Galahad ground out viciously.
She spun round and took off towards the meeting room as fast as her side would allow…..
