One Thing - Chapter 15


WARNING: Choppy chapter. Not everyone like Teagan. And someone likes her alot.


Nearly everyone had heard that Teagan had come back to the fort with a baby. Gawain, Galahad and Bors followed her into the infirmary. Arthur followed later.

Dagonet was already there.

"Who are they?" He asked her as they all trooped in.

"That's Sage."

Dagonet moved to the two, peering at the baby. "Is he yours" He asked Sage quietly.

She shook her head. "No, Sir. His mother is dead. Sir Lancelot says that I'm to be his wet-nurse."

Dagonet took the child from her arms, gently unwrapping him with Sage hovering close by. As far as Sage was concerned, she would be this child's mother. If the Lady Teagan would allow it.

Teagan was again surprised at the gentleness of Dagonet. She had seen his strength while he practiced. She knew what he was like with the other men, how he was with Bors. But right now, he was so different. So gentle.

Bors rushed in followed by Arthur. "What you got, Dag?" He crowded around his friend. Gawain and Galahad just stood by the door, watching. Babies were not their thing.

Dagonet gave his friend a shove away. "It's a baby, Bors. You've got plenty of them. Go play with one." He addressed Teagan. "He's awful thin."

She moved to her friend. "I know that, Dag. But so far, so good. Do you think he'll live?"

The big man smiled. "This is not my area of expertise. I'm pretty sure he will. All we can do is hope."

Teagan gave him a quick hug. "Thank's Dag." She looked to Arthur. Who had finally come in. "What am I to do now?" She indicated Sage.

Arthur regarded her with kind eyes. From what Lancelot and Tristan had told him of the trip, she had handled herself very well. She was very much the leader he suspected her to be. Teagan picked her fights well. She knew that her first concern was the life of the child, not his father.

"Why don't you find Jols. Get Sage a room and then go rest."

Curtseying to Arthur, she took Sage by her hand. "Come with me. We'll get you washed and into clean clothes. Then we'll find you a room. Do you wish to keep the baby with you?"

Sage nodded happily. Things were going better than she had hoped.

"Dag, watch him for a while. We'll be back."

"Wait!" Arthur called. Both women turned back to him. "What's his name?"

Sage looked blankly at Teagan, then Arthur. She did not know.

"You know, Arthur, I don't know." Teagan looked sheepish. "I never thought to ask."

0o0o0o

"How dare you intrude in my life this way!" He was shouting, Galahad was that angry. Again someone had made a decision for him. Without asking what he wanted. Arthur had confronted him about the child, saying that he needed to take responsibility for him. This was so not what he needed right now. His mind was not accepting what he was being told. He didn't want to be a father. He never expected to be a father.

Galahadnever expected to live long enough to be a father.

"Galahad..." Teagan started.

It had started calm enough. Teagan had made sure that Sage had a room for her and the baby, even paying for the board with her own money, as the girl didn't have any. She had only come into the infirmary to check on the baby, before Sage came back.

She didn't expect to see Galahad there, standing over the basket, his hand gently caressing the infant's cheek.

She had gone to him, lightly placing her hand on his shoulder. He jumped back as if burned.

"NO!" He interrupted. "You always think you know everything. That you always know what to do. And the rest of them follow you like dogs."

"Galahad." Teagan was firmer with her voice. "I didn't even know that he is yours."

"I don't care! I will be free of this hell in a few months. I have lived every day of the last fifteen years dreaming of going home. And now I am trapped here." He no longer sounded angry. He sounded...defeated.

Teagan gave one last look to the baby in his basket. Turning, she gave Galahad her full attention. "Galahad, listen to what I say. What you do with that child is your decision. What you do with your life is your decision. No one can make them for you."

Galahad turned away from Teagan, still angry. "Just leave me alone. Will you?"

0o0o0o

For the next two days, Teagan tried to stay to herself as much as she could. She was tired and both her mind and her body hurt. Vanora had given her another two days off work, for which Teagan was grateful.

Galahad ignored her every time he saw her. But Teagan did catch him talking to Sage, looking at his son. At least he was seeing the boy. As of yet there was no name for him.

Lancelot still came by to annoy the snot out of her. He even came by one morning to wake her up, taking her out for a breakfast picnic.

Teagan smiled. Lancelot was certainly a charmer. And she realized that she enjoyed his company. He was fast becoming a dear friend.

Of Tristan, she only saw him once. One evening, she had gone to the great hall to read by the fire. After dozing, she woke to find Tristan in another chair reading his own book. Though each knew the other was there, nothing was said.


A/N: I know this was a shortie. But it needed to be done and tomorrow I am on to better ones. We are fast coming upon the beginning of the movie. The question is - Will they die in my tale as they did in the movie?