One Thing - Chapter 19


Cardeia: I'm happy that you liked the last chapter. It is because of you and your reviews that I have taken another look at the second part of this tale. It has become longer, I must say. And I am building my characters.

A/N: Alas, this is almost done. And I will warn you all now, I will follow the movie/book as much as I can. People may die, but, they don't stay dead. LOL!


It was late and the last of the tavern patrons had gone home, save one. Teagan watched Tristan as she finished cleaning up.

0o0o0o

They had fallen into a comfortable pattern since that first kiss. Neither brought it up and neither encouraged another. Several times, Lancelot or Arthur would walk into the great hall and find them together. Tristan would be in one chair, reading, while Teagan would be curled into another, also reading. Neither would say a word, but Arthur got the feeling that it just felt good to be near one another.

Lancelot watched, saddened. "One day, I would like to have what they have."

Arthur smiled at his friend. "You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because nobody can have what they have. Just as nobody can have what Bors and Vanora have." Arthur said gently.

Lancelot understood. "Everybody is different."

0o0o0o

They had been back for nearly two weeks and were due to go back out tomorrow. This was one mission that the men were looking forward to. They were to guide Bishop Gnaeus Germanus, to the fort where they would receive their discharge papers.

"What are you doing still here? Go to your bed." She said as she came and sat next to him. He had not said more than five words to her since his return. But, she had to admit, she wasn't bothered by his silence.

"No reason to. I've got watch soon."

Teagan nodded, it made sense. Tristan did have watch a good bit. She watched as he dropped the blade he was holding, cursing as he bent to pick it up.

Her hand slipped out and grasped his arm quicker than he could pull it back. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let go.

Teagan noticed the cut immediately. Mostly because it was still bleeding in places. "You haven't told anybody about this, have you?" She said simply with no accusation in her voice.

He shook his head. "No."

Inspecting the wound, she noticed that it went from his palm to just past his wrist. She also noticed a slight trembling. "And that's why you are using your left."

"Yes." Teagan noticed that he wasn't looking at her.

She eyed him warily. "Have you been keeping it clean?"

"Yes."

"You've been keeping it wrapped?" Her frustration at his simple answers was growing.

"Yes."

"But, it still isn't healing?"

He just shook his head this time.

She let out a frustrated snort.

He still wasn't looking at her and her anger started to rise. Though her anger was more frustration at this stupid man's pride. "More than one word answers would be helpful." It would help if she knew how it happened, in order to treat it better.

Tristan's brown eyes flashed at her, his own anger sparking. "And what the bloody hell do you want me to say?" This woman could be infuriating. One minute she was objectionable and teasing. The next kind and gentle. She had shown herself loyal to those she called her friends. The other knights fell in easily with her. He just didn't know why he was so drawn to her.

He did know, he just couldn't believe it.

Then she smiled at him, totally catching him off guard. An image of her nude, stepping out of the tub, sent another tremor through him. He could still feel her lips against his.

Finally, more than two words in one sentence. "Thank you." Holding his arm tighter, she tried to get a better look at the cut. The tavern light wasn't that good. She stood up and pulled him with her. "I think it'll be all right. I don't think you severed a tendon, but it is deep." She pulled him towards the door. "Come with me, let me stitch it up."

0o0o0o

Tristan followed Teagan to her room, not really comprehending why he was going. He tried to reason that it was because she could stitch him up. But if it were that simple, why didn't he just go to Dagonet? Why? Because he felt this strong need to be near this woman. This woman who was not afraid of him. This woman who did not find him disturbing.

Lost in his own thoughts, he nearly ran into her when she stopped at her door.

Shaking her head, Teagan let him go inside first. Stepping around him, she lit several lanterns and got supplies from a chest by the bed. "Sit." She commanded him. She was only mildly surprised when he did so without protest. She knelt in front of him and took his hand. She again noticed the trembling. A small smile played on her lips.

Tristan was enthralled watching her work. First she cleaned the cut, judging how deep it was, turning his arm in different directions. She placed his hand in his lap and dug into a jar, looking for something. What she pulled out was the smallest needle he had ever seen. She watched as she threaded the needle with a fine black thread. As she took his hand again, he couldn't stop the shiver that went through his body.

Teagan clucked at him. "You really must hold still." She said as she took the hot needle from the fire.

He let out a nervous laugh. "I can't." He said in his low voice. His brown eyes regarded her blue ones. Her blue eyes that held not contempt nor ridicule, just concern. And maybe something else.

She smiled at him. "Just try." And she went to work stitching him up.

Tristan wasn't paying attention to the pricking and tugging on his hand. Distracted, he was watching the light play on Teagan's hair. How it brought out more red in the curls. How the fire played along her neck and back as she bent over him. He fought a desire to run his free hand over her shoulder, her neck and into that hair. His desire brought another shudder that Teagan noticed.

She gave a soft laugh. "You are lucky I am done." She tied off the thread and stood up, regarding the man in front of her. "Keep it clean and tightly wrapped. You should be able to hold a blade tomorrow."

Tristan stood up quickly, looked at her, and left. Not saying a word.

Teagan watched him go. She was thinking that she would never figure that man out. She had enjoyed that kiss. It was a tenderness that she knew many did not know he had. Or that he was capable of.

Sighing, she put her supplies away and went to bed. It had been a long night and she was most tired.

0o0o0o

As Tristan made his way back to his own room, he did not notice the figure standing in the shadows. Arthur stood there watching the knight leave Teagan's room, looking so very confused. Arthur smile to himself. 'It's about time. Let's just hope he can handle it.'

0o0o0o

As usual, Teagan wasn't there to greet the knights upon their return. As usual, she was high on the wall, watching. No one thought badly of her for it. And she felt that they did not need the added distraction when they had so much to do.

It was Arthur who found her high upon the wall, watching his knights release some tension in the practice area.

"Lady Teagan."

"Sir Arthur." Teagan bowed her head in greeting. "It's a lovely day isn't it? Your knights will soon be free." She turned back to watch the knights in question practice, noticing that Tristan was again using his sword arm fully.

Arthur, it seemed, noticed it also. "Teagan? How did you get him to let you look at it?"

"What do you mean, Sir Knight?"

"Please, it's Arthur. And four days ago, he couldn't use that hand. Now, it's back to full use. How did you notice?"

Teagan turned and regarded Arthur for only a moment, then bringing her gaze back to the knights. "I watch. It's as simple as that. Before you left, I saw him drop his blade, thinking no one was looking. I'm surprised that he actually let me stitch it. Though I don't think I gave him much choice."

"I'm not."

"Not what, Arthur?"

He faced the young woman. "Surprised." Here was someone who had a spirit. A Sarmation spirit that all of his knights picked up on. Well, save one, but Galahad was coming around. Slowly. Lancelot had said that she reminded them of home. She was spirited and not afraid to speak her thoughts. And unlike the Britons and the Roman women they had met, this one did not feel the need to throw herself over every knight she saw. She had the men working for her affections.

She was her own, unique woman. And for this, he was grateful to her.

Teagan was confused. "Why?"

"You are not afraid of him?" He asked her gently.

She shook her head. "No. Why should I be? But why did he not go to Dagonet?"

"Pride."

Teagan nodded. She could see that in the quiet knight. She looked again at Tristan on the field. Lancelot caught her eye and waved. The others noticed and waved also. She waved back at them, smiling.

"Be warned, Teagan. Tristan is not an easy man. He's not like the others."

She gaped at Arthur, surprised. She didn't know what to say.

Arthur continued. "He's got such a lust for the kill, that many find it disturbing. He's sullen and quiet. And most think that he can't function well outside this." He waved his arm around, indicating the fort. "He doesn't play well with others. You are the first woman whom he had shown even the smallest interest in."

Teagan snorted. "He is no innocent." He couldn't be. Could he?

Arthur shook his head, agreeing. "No, he's not. But it's with those he..."

She raised her hand, cutting him off. "I get it, Arthur. Then why do you think it's me? What have I done?"

"You have accepted him for who and what he is." Arthur said simply.

Teagan let that lie. He was right, she had. But then, she accepted people for what they were. She didn't expect them to change. In most case, she didn't want them to change. Her father had once said that 'People cannot be other than who they are. To change them would be to kill them.'

"So what are your plans after tomorrow? The Romans will be moving out. And so will many of my knights." Arthur said, said, changing the subject.

Teagan shrugged her shoulders. Shoulders that Arthur noticed, were quite pretty indeed. He could see why his knights doted on her. "I suppose I shall stay here. I no longer have a home. Why do you ask?"

"Tomorrow, my men will be free men." He gave Teagan a nod and started to walk away. "But I know one knight who'll want to know your intentions." He threw over his shoulder as he walked away.


A/N: That quoat from Teagan's father? Someone I loved very much told me that. And to this day,I believe it.