Disclaimer: As chapter one; so please, for the love of God, do not make me keep writing it out people!

Romans did use 'paintbrushes' of sorts; though, according to various sources on the internet, they were made out of many natural materials, i.e. from twigs, wood, reeds, or rushes. Oh and the poem used for Gawain's 'song' is mine – awful I know, sorry:O)

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"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Bethan & Lucan

Chapter Twenty-Six – Sickness and Hope

The following morning Bethan awoke before dawn to find herself huddled into Gawain's arms, her face buried against his shoulder and her hands clutching his shirt. His face was leaning against hers and she could once again feel his breath on her cheek, her hands were over his heart and she could feel the steady beat it made.

The way things were she knew she should move, but she could not – she could not give up this wonderful feeling. The feeling of peace….

She snuggled closer against him and closed her eyes; she had not noticed the change in his breathing - he was awake; awake and revelling in the feeling of her in his arms. He tightened them about her and pulled her closer still…..nuzzling his face against her.

Milo glanced up and smiled, he hugged Tris and Darry closer "Mama and Papa are going to be very happy!" he whispered as they giggled.

Gawain smiled….she sighed contentedly as she drifted back to sleep. "I love you" he murmured, his lips against her cheek.

She sleepily kissed his neck "love you too…" He knew she was half asleep, that she would not let her guard down so obviously whilst awake; not yet at least…but he was hopeful, and if he could only feel her love for him whilst she was asleep he would take that.

It was another two hours later that a gentle tap at the door brought Milo awake and tiptoeing to it. "What?"

He opened the door to Galahad "Well? How fare they Milo?"

The boy grinned "They fare well Uncle Gal…"

He stepped out pulling the two little ones with him. "I do not want to wake them up…."

"Can I see?"

Milo opened the door enough for Galahad to peer in; he saw the sleeping couple entwined in each others arms. "Awwww…."

Lancelot arrived "Well?" Galahad and Milo gave him the thumbs up. "Really?"

Bors wandered over with his entire tribe and Van "any luck?" the other three turned and grinned.

"They slept cuddling…." Milo said.

"At bloody last!" He picked Van up and swung her round.

Tristan and San wandered over; Tristan looked at his son and was relieved to see the old light returning to his eyes, he raised an eyebrow - Milo opened the door and his parents and the others peered in. Tristan smiled and hugged Sandrina to him, as Milo closed the door again.

"Well, I am glad to see we are making headway….though the pressure still needs to be kept up. How long will you stay?" He asked his son.

"Until I know she will stay put in the bed with him" He grinned.

Tristan ruffled his hair "Good boy."

"Well?" Dag and Ilara arrived.

"They are asleep in each other's arms…it is a start Dag, it is a start!" Milo smiled.

He hugged the boy to him tightly "And they will have you to thank Little Captain will they not?" he grinned.

"Not just me Dag, all of us….we are all doing our bit to make sure we get the outcome that is needed."

"Aye, but not all of us have planned, schemed and gone to the lengths that you have Milo" Arthur said as he approached. "We are all very proud of you."

Milo merely beamed. Arthur was relieved, he had come to respect the young boy over the last few months, particularly the last six……to see him sicken as he had, he had worried – he would not want to lose such a loyal little friend.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Bethan woke slowly and focused her eyes on Gawain…..he did not look 15 years older than her. It was surprising to think in 2 months he would be 35, just after she turned 20.

She reached up and gently traced his face, her fingers lightly traced his cheek and round his forehead. She noticed he had a couple of frown lines between his eyes, her finger reached up to smooth them; she wondered if she had been the cause.

She leant back in his embrace and studied his face, his lashes fanned his cheek….his beard tickled her chin. She smiled, the guilt was waning; she could feel it. She could not fight the love she felt for this man, not any more…..she needed to speak to Merlin, she knew he would advise her. But in all honesty she doubted she could resist her heart and soul much longer.

She slowly tried to extricate herself from his embrace. But he merely tightened it "where are you going?" he asked.

"I need to speak to Merlin…..sorry, did I wake you?"

"Nay…..I am used to beautiful women who own my heart and soul caressing my face…." He opened his eyes and grinned at her. He let her go and she found herself strangely disappointed that he did not try to keep her there.

But that was Gawain all over; cold blooded killer on the battlefield and gentle man off it.

She hugged him briefly and got up. She went to find Merlin…..

He sighed, feeling the coldness steal round his heart again - but it was a start…

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

She found him in the stables. "Merlin?"

"How fares you child?"

"I am confused and worried."

"Speak and I will try to help." She sat next to him on the bale of hay he was already seated on.

She told him all what had happened right up to that morning. "I cannot resist him any longer Merlin….but what of Lucan? I feel I should be punished for not loving him as much as I love Gawain."

"Look down deep in yourself and think about what you want. Think about what you have and where you want to be….that will help you decide what to do.

As to Lucan, he knew you loved him deeply; he told you at the graveside he wanted you to be free and be happy. There is naught else he could do to set you free; you are your own captor Bethan…you are the only one who holds the key to set you free from your guilt so you can love again.

You loved Lucan, but the love you feel for Gawain is different only because it is deeper and touches your soul. Gawain felt the same way about Ysabeau and came to me for advice - I told him as I am telling you, they were your first loves; as such will always be evergreen, and they both will hold a piece of your hearts for all time.

But you love each other too; as Ilara loves Dagonet….she feels no guilt to her first husband. She freely admits she loves Dagonet 10,000 fold more than she did him, but love him she did and confesses that he too will always own a part of her heart.

There is no crime in loving more than one Bethan, so long as we inflict no hurt on any other. You have not, the one you loved first died – as did Ysabeau. So you are both free to love again; but mark me, if they had not – if they had lived, things would be different.

You and Gawain would never have been more than deep and abiding friends. So do not think, as you do, that you cuckolded you husband; and he Ysabeau. You did not, your feelings only changed on their deaths as you realised who supported you and comforted you the most." He hugged her.

"You can almost read me like a book, my kin" she smiled sadly, stunned he had guessed at her darkest secret. "I worried that the 'tie that binds' did something…"

"Nay, it only made your bond stronger - but as I say if Lucan and Ysabeau had lived you would only have been friends….but destiny has other plans for you."

"I feel that, once again, there is much you know that you are not saying…"

"There is - but I can say this much, and plainly, as I now how my 'riddles' drive all to madness!" he smiled.

"Mainly Milo and my mother!" she grinned in return.

"You have trying times ahead Bethan; very trying and not too far distant. Gawain will be the rock you long for. But think on what I have said…."

She felt uneasy at his words, like he had confirmed something that had been nagging at her mind. "Aye…I will…."

He watched her walk away; his heart ached for her, she had indeed suffered so much already - but there was more to come. She would need her knight; those she would normally rely on for strength were the ones who would be leaning on her….and very soon. He could hear the rumble of distant thunder approaching.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Milo was in the practice yard with Torvald. "You should not be here Milo…."

"I am fine….now swing…" they were sparring.

They carried on like this, with Milo giving directions, until Rahil came and took his attention…..….all of a sudden there was a scream from Suriana that brought everyone running.

They found her crouched next to a prone Milo, Torvald standing over him and a bloody sword in his hand.

Tristan dropped down by the other side of his son, horrified at the amount of blood pouring from the wound in his shoulder "What did you do?" He demanded; his voice icy.

"It…it was an accident Papa…" grimaced Milo "I….was sparring with him…and Rahil called me, I let my guard down…..it is a clean wound…" Tristan checked and indeed it was a clean piercing through one side and out the other; but it had only missed his vital organs by inches.

The blood flow was not slowing and Bethan came running up "What has happened? Oh dear God Milo!"

"Befan it hurts a lot…" he grimaced. She took off her jerkin to stem the flow of blood.

She picked him up and Tristan took him "He is getting too big for you daughter. I will carry him."

"Take him to our room and put him in our bed; is that alright Gawain?" she nodded to the man who was standing close to her.

"Of course…aye….quick Tris we need to sort him out. Where is Dag?"

"Here…" the large knight pushed forward through the sudden throng of knights and children. "How bad is it?" he asked Tristan.

The other knight shook his head "I…I do not know Dag…bad."

San came running up "What has happened…I heard Milo is hurt - how is he?"

It was an accident, they were sparring…his attention wandered…."

"I am sorry San…." Torvald broke down in tears "It…I…."

Bethan hugged the small boy "It is alright Torvald…..it was an accident, no one blames you; we have all injured ourselves when sparring, not all my scars are from battle you know." But inside she felt a deep disquiet.

Suriana was walking next to Tristan and holding a hand that Milo had extended down to her "Do not you leave me Milo…..I could not stand to be without you." she pleaded.

All the knights' hearts went out to the small girl as she clutched the hand of her beloved.

Bethan turned automatically to Gawain "What am I going to do?"

"What you always will be here for you, I will not leave you as you will not leave him" he smiled and hugged her briefly "If we have aught to do with it, the Little Captain will be alright."

She hugged him back; he was right, she would cope as she always had….so long as he stayed by her she would manage.

As it was she needed him more than she ever knew over the next few weeks.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

They had worked on Milo long into the day and eventually had him patched up. However, like his sister before him, he had lost a lot of blood - and in his case infection also set in quickly.

Five days later it became clear that all was not well with the boy and they could lose him. They now had a battle on their hands; but one which no one, least of all his sister, was about to lose. Bethan was forced to look on incredulously as her mother and father fell to pieces whilst she watched.

The one that hurt the most was her father……..she had not seen him this distraught since her mother nearly died, twice. He was usually the strong one; she knew no matter what that she could rely on him….but this time both he and her mother were beside themselves with worry. She did not know what to do to make them feel better, there was naught she could think of; it was killing her to see her father so distraught as well as her brother so ill.

The other knights too were worried about the boy. He was an integral part of their lives. They had noticed all the children round the fort, particularly the knights' children, had completely lost their direction since he had become sick.

"What about our round table? Who will chair it now?" asked Tanwir, looking to his brother.

"What are you talking about?" asked Arthur outside the room on the fourth day.

"Milo chairs our meetings" the boy tilted his chin proudly "we are the Children of the Knights of the Round Table - we are warriors and leaders of the future; Milo tells us so. We have much to be proud of and not least our parents; he tells us that if we turn out to be one tenth as good and just as all of you, if we are even one quarter the warriors you are then we should consider ourselves most fortunate." He spoke with such quiet dignity, and the other children nodded so emphatically, that it was the undoing of three of the knights.

Dagonet and Bors both had tears in their eyes and had to turn away. Lancelot too found it difficult to control his tears. Dag because he felt he was losing Lucan all over again…..and because the boy had so much integrity, so much pride in his background and the knights; Bors because he admired the boy's tenacity and bravery in the face of all he had to do, especially when he broke his own leg to help his sister; and Lancelot because he too had got to know the boy well during their scheming about Bethan, coupled with the fact that Suriana talked of him incessantly.

The tears pooled in the eyes of all three men, and Arthur himself was not immune. He turned to Guinevere and made mention that they should leave, but she saw the stricken look in his eyes; as soon as they were around the corner she stopped and held her arms open to him, and the large knight and king leant into her neck and wept.

Torvald saw this and was crushed anew at what his foolish actions had provoked. He turned to leave, but Celeste gripped his arm "Do not despair Torvald, no one faults you. It was an accident and they happen, even Bethan said so as well as Milo and they cannotbe wrong."

"I know Celeste, but I still feel badly and I worry he will die. He is my best friend; as your father is to mine – so he is to me. I do not know how I would fare without his counsel and guidance….I must one day be king, but I do not know if I could be without Milo." He hugged her and buried his head in her neck.

"You will, whatever happens you will; and be a good one, for that is what Milo would wish. But I know that he will not die, none of us would allow it; not least my sister and his."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Bethan was distraught but trying to be positive for the sake of her parents; they were completely beside themselves.

"I will not outlive my child! That is not what is meant to happen. I knew I would not outlive you Tristan, that is why I have been grateful for Bethan being almost a second mother to him; that way when our time came together, and together it will be, he would not feel our loss as greatly. But I do not want to outlive him…he is not 11 summers for another 2 weeks!"

"Hush, hush…you will upset Bethan….he will fare well. Would she let him perish? He is as much to her as Gawain." Tristan tried to reason calmly, his voice and face as passive as always.

Sandrina hugged him to her tightly "Your voice tells me one thing my husband, but your eyes another." She sighed into his ear.

Tristan closed his eyes against the emotion that rose like bile in his throat and threatened to choke him, it was at times like this he cursed her for giving him back his heart. Without his humanity he would neither care nor think about suffering.

But even as he thought it, he knew that not to be true; even before she came he cared about his brother knights. Had he not attacked Cerdic because he thought he had a better chance at defeating him than Arthur?

Again too, he knew he would never change the life she and Bethan had given him - did he not thank all the fates for bringing them to him every day, even after all this time?

He paced the room like a caged animal; whilst San sat, wrung her hands and wept for her son. Bethan finally could bear it no longer, but tried to be nice as she felt Gawain's hand on her shoulder.

"I can stay with him…..go and rest. If there is a change I will call you; but you need to eat and rest, I will not cope if you sicken too and I end losing all my family." She tried to smile.

Sandrina and Tristan knew her enough to know she was fighting the urge to cry, but would not break down with them there. He nodded to Gawain who inclined his head back. Tristan knew the knight would not leave Bethan's side, no more than he had for the last 5 days.

"Come San….she speaks true, there is no need for us all to be getting sick." San nodded and they left, promising to return in an hour.

As soon as the door closed Bethan burst into tears "Gawain what am I to do? I know not how to save him! It is so bad; I know it is. Merlin worries, I can see it in his eyes; and if he does not know how to help my little man, then all is lost!

It is all my fault Gawain…all my fault….he worried about you and me so…his guard was down…that is why he got sick. If I had not been so bloody stubborn as usual, let myself love you like I wanted to…." She sobbed into her hands.

Gawain knelt down in front of her and gently drew her into his arms. "Remember what I told you? Way back when your father nearly died?"

"Aye" she mumbled against his shirt, wetting it with tears for her brother now, as she had with tears for her father then "You told me it was not my fault and he would agree when he awoke….and Milo will too. This has nothing to do with you and I - this was an accident; a deep wound that unfortunately became infected.

As to you; you were acting on emotions you thought were right - you always do. I can never fault you for that, and I never will. You always do what you think is right, no matter the consequences; I respect that so much about you, I love you so much for that…" he smiled against her hair.

"I love you too Gawain, even when I was being so stubborn I loved you….I just do not know what I will do….if he…if he…" She murmured clutching his shirt as the tears abated.

" He will not. But I will tell you now as I told you then -you are a strong person Bethan, brave and courageous too. I am as proud to ride with you into battle now as I always have been; and I think you make a formidable scout, just like your father." His arms held her tightly to him.

Her arms snuck round his neck and she clung to him as a drowning person would to a rock. For to her that is what he was; the knight who was first her friend, and then became her soul - was also now her rock.

She realised now what Merlin had meant, she had loved Lucan rightly; loved him deeply and always would - a part of her would always belong to him, the wonderful man he was, as well as the sweet boy he had been. A small part of her would always miss him too… but now she had Gawain and, especially now, she thanked God for him as well.

Two very different men; but she had been fortunate enough to be loved by, and to love, both – mayhap one more than the other; but she had loved them both. God had been good to her….it was time to move on; but for now her thoughts, love, heart and soul were centred on another…..

Milo.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Her brother had been sick for another seven days now, and Bethan was beginning to fear the worst.

Her parents constantly prowled the room until she could stand no more of her mother's weeping or her father's hunted face, and then Gawain would entreat them to leave and eat….as soon as they were gone he would comfort her through a fresh wave of grief.

Suriana would come every day and sit curled in Bethan's lap, much as she herself had in Tristan's when her mother had been so sick. Occasionally the girl would lay down by Milo' side and twice Bethan had caught her trying to do the 'tie that binds'.

"Suriana please do not do that; he would not wish it and your father would kill me…." Bethan would say and then hug the girl as she sobbed.

"He is all to me Bethan….without him I am nothing….he is my heart and soul. What do I want to live for, if I am forced to live without that which would give me life? We are two halves of the same soul, believe me….even without the 'tie that binds' I am his…"

Bethan would hug her tightly and soothe her tears; but even as she did so her eyes would stray to Gawain's and they shared a similar thought, both knowing that without the other they too would perish.

Bethan knew that all that had kept her sane this last week had been his presence. Hugging her through her tears and soothing away her panic. Even when all about her raged he only had to rest his hand on her and she would feel suddenly eased. When he held her tightly to him, murmuring words of comfort, she felt she could face anything.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Van brought Tris and Darry in; they had been spending their time between Van and Bors and Dagonet and Ilara. Darry got too upset on seeing the sick and ailing Milo to stay with them. Tris too had seemed upset at seeing the boy so ill - but today he was different.

"Unckie Miwo getting better, Mama….see?" he patted Milo's cheek and then kissed it.

Bethan felt her brother's forehead "Bloody hell, he is right - his fever has broken!" She leapt up and threw herself at Gawain "It is broken! His fever has broken!" Gawain hugged her tightly, grinning over her head at Van before burying his head in her hair.

Tris leant over and spoke quite loudly into the ear of his friend and uncle "Time to get well Unkie Miwo! You worry Mama, Poppa, Grandy and Papa….and all the other childrens….Suri is crying all the time…and Torvi is muchly sad. The knighties are sadly too." He smoothed the boy's face with his little hand. "Unkie Miwo will be well alright?" he patted Milo's face again.

Bethan's heart surged with love for her son, and she swept him into her arms and hugged him tightly "Awww; I wuv you too Mama….and I wuv Papa….do you wuv Papa?" Bethan nodded. "Good then we all happy again…." He grinned and patted her face "Darry! Mama love Papa and we is all happy again!" Darry grinned and held her arms up to her father.

He swung her into his arms and hugged her tightly "Tris-Tris said she would!" she whispered in his ear, she turned to look at him. "Sing Papa – sing for Miwo….it make him happy and he come back from Heaven."

"What?" all three in the room turned to her.

"Tris-Tris say Miwo in Heaven with Angels Papa and Mama - he gone for a visit. Tris-Tris say he be back soon; so sing for Miwo and remind him time to come home…"

"Please Papa….he will come back if you do…" Tris looked at Gawain with his odd coloured eyes and the knight could sense the pleading and something more…like he actually knew this to be true. Tris looked at the two women "Papa sing like an angel, but it big secret….hush" he put a finger to his lips "No tell, alright?"

The two women nodded in shock and merely looked at Gawain as he began to sing, a song he and Galahad had learnt long ago shortly after their conscription:

"the road before me stretches,

Through the coming days and years –

I had turned to see my nightmare,

To face my mortal fear.

Yet with my woman here beside me,

To ever hold my hand –

I find the road is now enlightened,

I grasp each day that I can.

No darkness now surrounds me,

No enemy is too strong –

I have her love to guide me,

Her footsteps lead me on.

May you find a love like mine,

A heart and soul to hold –

May you have a maid like mine,

To love you as you grow old."

His voice was clear and strong, and had a depth to it; it had also been joined by another, not as good but just as heartfelt, as Galahad sung with him the last two verses. "Why brother, it has been long since we have sung that song!" he grinned as Gawain went and embraced him with a rueful smile.

"Blame the little 'uns…..they made me do it!"

Bethan and Van were openly wiping tears from their eyes "Oh come now my ladies….our voices are not that bad!" laughed Galahad, until Bethan punched his arm.

"Why did you never tell us you could sing like that!" exclaimed Van "and why did not you!" she nodded at Bethan.

"Oh, this is one secret even I did not know!" smiled Bethan through her tears.

"Well, I thought it was bloody lovely lads - and this secret is safe with me!" They all turned to see Bors wiping his eyes at the door. Gawain rolled his eyes knowing that it would be nothing of the sort.

"That was lovely; I thought I was hearing angels…" a croaky voice said behind them.

They all swung round to see Milo looking at them with bleary eyes "If you sing like that again Gawain, I might even stay;though Uncle Gal could do with some work!" he grinned wearily.

Gal roared with laughter "He is his sister's brother!" he cried as he ran to fetch the others.

Bethan fell over in her haste to reach her brother.

"Less haste, more speed my little mother!" he grinned as she picked herself up.

"Oh Milo never do that to me again! Never, ever!You scared me half to death!" She hugged him so hard he hissed in pain and was gasping for air. "Sorry, sorry…"

"Try not to kill him before he recovers!" Smiled Gawain "Or at least before your parents get to seem him…" He nodded over his shoulder as Tristan and Sandrina ran into the room.

Milo looked startled as they both hauled him between them for a hug. "Milo, if you ever scare us like that again I will not be responsible for my actions!" his mother sobbed into his hair. His father never spoke, but the fierceness of his hug spoke for him.

The knights all poured into the room and there was much back slapping and laughter. Dagonet walked over to the boy sat on the edge of his bed and took one of his small hands in his large ones "It is good to have you back Little Captain - your troops have missed you." he murmured to the smiling boy; then he looked at Arthur "Now?"

"Aye, with his parents permission." San and Tristan nodded unaware of what the other knights and their king had been up to. He gathered the boy into his arms and strode outside.

He walked across to a small room and kicked open the door; inside all the children were seated, all of them – even all Bors' brood……at a round table; an exact duplicate of Arthur's. Milo could only stare in wonder…..

Suriana crept over "Welcome home Milo my dove; here is to the new knights of the round table! You are to be our Captain…Arthur decrees it!"

Milo could not withhold the tears any longer and buried his head in Dag's neck. "I think he is happy with the idea Arthur…." The gentle knight said with a smile.

"Whose idea was this?" Bethan asked with a hitch in her voice.

"Dag's…" said Bors "Would not bloody accept the boy would not recover, and he and Arthur wanted to do something nice for him. When Arthur and us found out about their own little 'knights of the round table', Dag had the idea of doing this. We all chipped in; that bit" he indicated a badly painted piece "That is Gal's, I never knew he was so blood awful with a paintbrush!" The older knight roared with laughter at the sulky look on Galahad's face.

"Is that your happy face?" Gawain grinned clapping his brother on the back, causing Galahad to laugh.

"Aye…it is alright…now will stop asking me? For over 20 years you have asked and now you know!"

They were all on a high - none had wanted to see the little lad, who was such a wild card like his sister, perish; but not just for them and his parents, but for her too. They did not think she would have withstood another loss like that.

Once they had him back in bed he hung onto Dag's hand "Thank you Dagonet……that was a wonderful thing you did. I will never forget it."

The knight smiled "It was naught…a mere trifle to cheer our best boy." He smiled his goodnights to Bethan and then left.

"He is a good man…." Bethan sighed as the door closed behind him.

"Aye he is…the very best" her mother answered. "Bethan? I want Milo with us tonight….I would feel easier…"

"Of course…do you want Gawain to take him?"

"I will….." Tristan lifted the sleepy boy into his arms.

"Will it be alright to leave them Papa?" he whispered.

"Your job is done my son….your illness brought down the final barriers; trust me, your work here is at an end." Tristan smiled as he muttered back. "But you are good to remember after all you have been through."

They left, with San holding Milo's hand.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Bethan suddenly felt sick with nerves; they were alone, completely. Ilara had taken Darry and Tris back with her and Dag for the night; as she said she wanted a visit with her grandson and his 'sister'.

So here they were, alone. She had had so much she wanted to say to him and now did not know where to start….

He turned to her "I will fetch the cot back in" he went towards the door, but then felt a hand on his arm.

"Nay, do not; this is your room more than mine." Gawain waited for her to say she was leaving…….but it never came "The bed is ours."

She dipped her eyes until she felt his finger under her chin; she raised her head, and blue eyes regarded deep green ones. "I am happy to just hold you until you feel ready for more Bethan…" he smiled lovingly at her - trying to reassure her there was no rush; he had waited for her this long, a little longer would make no odds.

She lay down and he curled up behind her, hauling her towards him as he had done that last night, before Milo had sickened…… she felt the warmth of his body next to hers, once more the comfort he always brought her, the peace.

She could feel his beard against her cheek as he had turned her once again slightly toward him, feel his breath on her skin…the weight and warmth of his hands on her…..

Gawain felt like he had finally found some peace for his soul; he felt the warmth of her body next to his….once again the comfort she always brought him. The smell of lavender in her hair and on her skin from that soap she loved to use….the softness of her of her face touching his.

I love you…." he kissed her hair and snuggled closer against her, before allowing sleep to claim him. He had hope now….hope…..

"I love you too Gawain" she muttered back against his cheek. His arms tightened about her; he had longed to hear her say that……not because there were others present and she thought she ought to, or because she had been half asleep, but just because she wanted to and could.

They slept; entwined both in body and in hearts and souls as well; tomorrow would be a new day - and she would have something to say to her brother, for she had heard his conversation with her father. She smiled, she felt she would be hearing much from all the knights…..