One Thing - Chapter 16
WOW! I woke up at 4am this morning to all those reviews in my mailbox. You folks are my inspiration.
dellis - Galahad, he is so young to have this responsibility isn't he? I have bigger and better plans for Galahad and his son. And the first is to find him a name.
dtmitchell - No, I don't agree with the end of the movie. But I'm not one to break cannon so much. I'll work around it though.
And here you go! Our boy is going to get his head out of his butt!
Neveah101 & MistakenLove - Thank you, you guys are wonderful to continue reading this.
Diclaimer: Don't own a thing. I hate repeating this every chapter. So I occasionally forget to put it in.
Okay folks: This is the pivotal chapter in this part of my tale. These next three chapters are my favorites. I'm going to post them together. You get to find out a big chunk of Teagan's personality. (Her views on life are much like my own)
It was a good thing the pitcher of ale was empty. As Teagan passed the table of knights, Lancelot pulled her into his lap and started nuzzling her neck. He was rewarded with a giggle.
As it wasn't a particularly busy night, Teagan wasn't in a hurry to get up.
Lancelot took this as encouragement and settled her further onto his knees. "Ah, the wench likes it here."
Teagan laughed, drawing more eyes to her. "No, not really. My feet just hurt." She emphasized her point by pulling her feet up and putting them into the lap of Gawain, who was seated next to Lancelot.
This brought a smirk from Tristan, who was actually sitting closer to the rest of the knights than usual, and laughter from the rest, including Lancelot. "Well, I'll just take what I can. You'll give in eventually."
Teagan turned and kissed him on the cheek. "But not this night." Scooting off Lancelot, Teagan settled between him and Gawain on the bench.
Gawain passed his ale to her and was quite pleased when she took a long pull from it. "Teagan?"
"Hmmm?"
"What's that?" He asked pointing to her neck. "We've been wondering what it is for some time now."
FINALLY, someone brought up the subject of that blasted tattoo.
Teagan brought her hand to her neck and smiled. "It's a tattoo." She said simply.
Lancelot leaned over to her and picked up her heavy braid to inspect it further. "Hey, this goes further down." He leaned further to try and look down her shirt front.
Teagan just slapped him away, laughing.
Galahad, who had not really been listening. Finally popped into the conversation. "You never did tell us where you are from. That thing have anything to do with it? Are you Woad?" He was pointing with his ale and it sloshed over the sides.
Tristan looked up at Teagan and stopped picking his finger with his dagger. "She's Scythian."
Galahad's mouth just dropped open. "You're an Amazon." She certainly didn't look like one, she was to small, for one. And those were just tales. Weren't they? But it woud explain her pushiness.
As all eyes whipped to her, Teagan's blue eyes met Tristan's brown ones. He averted his gaze back to his finger, smiling. Teagan just nodded. "Sort of. Not really. My father was a Sarmatian knight. I grew up in Sarmatia. I know nothing of my mother's home."
Lancelot laughed. He gave Teagan a push toward Gawain. "Well, Gawain, here's your beautiful Sarmation woman. Just remember, I'll be spending much time at your house." This brought laughs from everybody.
Galahad finally closed his mouth. How could such a woman as she, make it here, to Briton whole and intact? "What's the tattoo of?"
"A dragon." Another simple answer. Galahad snorted, he was beginning to think she sounded like someone they knew. But Gawain knew by now that it was a game she liked to play.
"And how did you get here?" Gawain asked the question that was most on everyone's mind.
Teagan sighed. It had to come out eventually. "It's simple really. I was taken. By Romans. Same as you." This got puzzled looks from the men. "They thought I was a boy. At first." More puzzled looks. She stole a glance at Tristan and saw that he was looking at her intently. She gave him a smile. "All of the young men from my village were taken as soldiers. We had none left. That's how I ended with this." She felt the dragon. "I showed skill with a bow, had healing skills and sensibility. When I turned sixteen, I was chosen as the next chieftain of our tribe. Such as it was." She looked at Tristan. "Much like Tristan was for his."
All eyes now turned to him, but he just shrugged.
Taking a big drink of Lancelot's ale, Teagan continued with her tale. "The Romans came and decimated my tribe. Killed everything and everyone. I was of age, I guess, and looked like a boy." She got a funny look from Galahad. Boy, was he drunk. Or young. She smirked at him. "I WAS going around swinging a sword. Anyway, they thought I was a boy and drug me to Rome. They didn't pick up on it, the other boys knew, but didn't tell." She took a breath. "They didn't know until mother nature hit." She glanced at Galahad, who paled. Oh, the young ones. Tristan kept his same, impassive look. And Lancelot and Gawain chuckled. "Actually, I spent a year training as a knight. But, eventually, they found out I was a woman. There was no need for women as knights, especially one as short as I. They dropped me off and left me. I have fended for myself ever since." She picked up the cup of ale and took another swallow. "Now if you boys will excuse me, I need to go back to work."
"Are you not angry or bitter?" Of course she wouldn't be. She was 'perfect.'
"Why would I be, Galahad?"
Teagan saw the anger in his eyes. "Because the Romans took you from your home, destroyed it and all you love."
Teagan smiled sadly at the young knight. He would learn one day. He would find his purpose one day. "No. I am not angry. And I am not bitter. You learn to move on. Accept things you cannot change. You keep your loved ones in your heart."
Galahad looked from Teagan to the other knights. "You sound like them. I cannot be as accepting as they."
"Galahad. You will learn. If you don't, your hatred will kill you."
All the knights murmured in agreement. She was wise, Teagan was. She had a way with people. Maybe Galahad would listen to her, he certainly did not listen to them.
"Teagan?" Galahad had just one more question.
"What?"
"How old are you?" He knew she had to be older than him. But couldn't tell. She sure did act like a know it all.
"Old enough to bed." Laughed Lancelot. This got him a slap in the head from a laughing Teagan. "What? It was just wishful thinking."
"True enough, my friend." Gawain agreed. He got a slap in the head also. "Ow!" He grunted.
Teagan's eyebrow arched "And why do you want to know?"
"Just wondering." Galahad mumbled.
"Well, since you ask so nicely. I am twenty eight."
"Hah! She is to old for you Galahad." Lancelot laughed heartily.
Laughing, she got up to leave. "I am to old for you also, Lancelot."
He pouted. And Teagan had to admit, he looked lovely when he pouted. "But, we are the same age."
She kissed him on the cheek. "I wasn't talking about years."
Gawain hooted, nearly falling off the bench.
0o0o0o
Teagan was just finishing up, cleaning the tables when Vanora called to her. She walked to the bar, wringing out her rag. "What can I do for you?"
Vanora set a two steaming mugs of hot ale on the bar. "Can you take these? Two knights have watch."
Teagan nodded. "Sure. Who has watch?"
"Lancelot and Tristan."
0o0o0o
Climbing up the wall wasn't too difficult, considering she was carrying two mugs of ale. As she stepped on top, she was momentarily breathless at the beauty of it. Not really being quiet, she didn't want to startle the men and have them hurt her, she made her way to Lancelot first.
He took the ale gratefully. "Thank you, my dear." He said taking a long drink.
They stood in silence for a while, just looking over the wall.
"Can I ask you something?"
Teagan nodded. "Ask away, Sir Knight."
Lancelot leaned against the wall, taking another drink. "What brings you here? Why don't you just go home?"
She shrugged. "I told you, I no longer have a home. And I just don't want to have to deal with Rome or Romans to go there."
Lancelot nodded. "Yes, I can understand how you feel." He fell silent for a while. Then asked a question he was not sure she would answer. "You were not just 'dropped off.' Were you?"
She shook her head. "No, I wasn't. But it was the Roman's mistake. He was highly embarrassed. And he was highly angry. I was let go by the order of Pelagius. A Roman who was actually decent." She gave the dark knight a smile that melted his heart. "But, I was not beaten. Much. I was a lucky one."
It was then that Teagan noticed Tristan, looking toward the wood, and remembered that she had brought drink for him also. "Excuse me, Lancelot. I was sent on a mission." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
Lancelot watched her walk away, his heart somewhat saddened. Teagan was a wonderful woman. Strong willed, intelligent and loyal. He had hoped that he would be the one for her. But, it seemed that he wasn't.
Now, she walked to the one who had stolen her heart, though neither knew it yet.
Lancelot had seen the looks, the comments, the small things. Then, he smiled. His friend deserved the happiness that Teagan could offer. 'Maybe she can thaw that heart of his.' He thought, returning to his watch.
0o0o0o
As Teagan made her way to Tristan, she noticed, not for the first time, how lonely he looked. She extended the cup of ale to him. "This is for you." She whispered.
As he took the cup, his fingers brushed hers and Teagan felt a small tremble from him.
"Thank you." He murmured.
Teagan leaned over the wall, looking toward the wood. "And what are you looking for?" In the distance, she heard Tristan's hawk screech.
"Anything, everything." Came the simple reply.
Teagan was silent for a time, just watching the wood, trying to see what Tristan was seeing. What she didn't see, but Lancelot did, was the way Tristan was watching her. As she turned to him, he quickly adverted his gaze.
"Tristan?"
"What?"
"How did you know I was Scythian?" She'd been wondering this all night. Not very many people knew about her heritage. It was no secret, but she didn't share it either.
"I recognize the mark. On your neck."
Made sense. Tribes were often distinguished by their markings. "Can I ask you a question?"
He hesitated, almost afraid. "What?" He had found that he often answered her questions before he could stop himself.
"Are you lonely?" There, she asked. Another thing she'd been wondering about all night. "You always seem apart from the others."
Tristan turned back to look over the wall. "I am alone most times. It is my job."
Teagan chuckled softly. "You didn't answer my question."
"I know." He didn't look at her. He couldn't just then. She had just asked a question he had been asking himself as of late.
Teagan decided to change the subject. "What will you do when you get your papers?"
He shrugged. "I don't really think about it. Wander, I suppose. What would you do?"
As Teagan smiled, she didn't hear Tristan's breath catch. "I am already free. I've made a good life here. Doing this. I'd go home. But only to visit. Never to live. This is my life now."
Tristan nodded, but only slightly. "Good point. This is our life now."
"Can I ask you another question?" She wasn't looking at him this time, she was looking at Lancelot who was swinging his swords.
"Maybe."
Teagan glanced at him, smiling when she saw the confused look in his eyes. "This won't hurt, I swear."
"Ask."
"Tell me about that sword."
Whew. He knew the answer to that one. "It was mine. When I was a child. It belonged to my mother. She died shortly after my brother was born."
"Oh. I'm sorry." She didn't know what to say. It was the most personal thing he had ever said to her.
Without thinking, Tristan had moved closer to Teagan. "It happened a long time ago."
"Tell me about your home." She asked softly.
And he did, in his low, deep voice.
He freely told Teagan about growing up in Sarmatia. How he had a younger sister and younger brother, though he left out their names. He also told of how he knew he would be taken as a knight. How he had trained for that day. He was twenty when the Romans came.
0o0o0o
"You've got it bad." Lancelot laughed at his friend.
Tristan just glared at him, but Lancelot continued. "She's a fine woman. She has more spirit than you ever will. Go after her, man. You won't be disappointed."
A/N: Maybe he'll kiss her, maybe he won't. Oh, I put a big hint in here. Has anyone figured it out?
