Thanks for all the reviews! Yes, I'm getting married! Can't wait! As much as I love Lancelot, Tristan, and the rest, I've found my Knight and plan to spend the next 100 years living the dream. Thanks for the congrats. Seems I'll be able to update often for the next three weeks so here's another one.
Same Disclaimer. (Do we really have to do this every time? Isn't it good enough to list it in the first chapter?)
Here we go again…
She had been sitting there verbally sparring with Lancelot for some time when Arthur strode in. She saw the relief on his face when he saw Lancelot sitting up and apparently flirting as usual. Then she saw the face of the stern commander return and thought it best if she left them alone for a minute. "Now that you are here, I'd like to go to my room and freshen up and change clothes. Will you stay until I can return?" She waited for him to nod in her direction and moved toward the doorway. Then stopping, she went to the table next to the bed and held up the mug with the vile-tasting tea. "Arthur." When she knew she had his full attention she continued, "this is for pain if it gets more severe. Until then I want to gage how severe it will get before I give him anything to relieve it." Arthur nodded and she added, "he doesn't need to get agitated, so I trust you to make sure he isn't." He looked at her for a second, then nodded that he understood he wasn't to say or do anything to upset his friend. Laney left the room and breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't realized just how worried she was until he finally woke up.
She opened the door to her room and stepped into the now dark room. She moved over to light a candle when she felt someone's presence. The fear rising in her throat subsided a little when the candle came to life and she saw Tristan's face spring from the shadows. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" she asked angrily. He just looked at her and walked toward her. He saw the anger leave her face and be replaced with curiosity. "You said I could come to you if I wanted to know something." He stated in answer to her curious look.
She slowly nodded her head tilting upwards to look at him as he stopped directly in front of her. He was looking at her intensely as he spoke, "If my kisses weren't so unwelcome, will you kiss me now?" She never had a chance to answer as he lowered his lips to hers. She stood there motionless as his kiss became more intent. When he took her by the shoulders to steady her, she placed her hands on his cheeks. As his kiss deepened, she began to rub her fingertips lightly across his beard. As she did, he moved his arms to encircle her, crushing her against his chest. She moved her arms to go around his neck and relaxed into his embrace.
After thoroughly kissing her, he raised his head to look into her eyes. She slowly opened them and returned his gaze. She assumed her look held the same passion she saw in his for he again lowered his head and claimed her lips. When he felt her moan into his mouth, he picked her up and moved toward the bed. When he raised his head again, she looked at him and said, "Tristan, no. I'm not ready for this." He stopped moving and looked into her face. His look was so intense she was sure he could see right into her heart. Then he slowly released her, letting her legs swing down. Before he released her completely, he kissed her gently one last time. Then he let go of her and took a step back.
"I see now that even a kiss usually shared between two people lying together in bed can be exchanged without going any further than the kiss. Until now I wasn't completely sure a man could stop after feeling what I saw in Gawain's and Lancelot's eyes." She stood there confused. Had there really been that much passion in both kisses. She only remembered the kiss being that passionate with Lancelot. Gawain's kiss, though completely enjoyable, wasn't one that awakened any passion in her being. Lancelot's kiss made her yearn for more as did Tristan's. But unlike with Tristan, she had not been the one to break the contact with Lancelot. She would have happily gone with him to his room and let him make love to her. She had no such inclination with Tristan. He seemed to realize this and didn't act surprised when she told him, "Tristan, I value your friendship and your opinion of me, but I am not interested in taking it to another level." She hoped he would understand and not pursue the issue.
Tristan looked into her eyes and saw she was being honest. "Delaney, I've seen the way you look at Lancelot. The terror in your eyes when you saw him lying there bleeding in the practice yard. I will do nothing to hinder the relationship when it develops as I think it will. I have also seen the looks he gives you when you don't see." He stopped and took the step separating them. He placed his hand under her chin and held it as he leaned over and lightly touched his lips to hers. "I will be around should you have a change of heart." He looked into her eyes and then released her chin and walked to the door. She didn't stop him as he opened it and stepped out into the hallway.
After he left, Laney brought her fingers up to touch her lips. She knew it had taken a lot for him to say the things he'd said and she appreciated him more than she had let him know. The one thing she kept repeating in her mind was 'I have also seen the looks he gives you when you don't see.' Did Lancelot truly look at her differently when she wasn't looking back at him? She wanted to know so she hurriedly poured water into the bowl on her table and splashed her face. Then running her fingers through her hair she began to change clothes. She picked through the clothes that Arthur had acquired for her and found what would be called a peasant blouse in her world and a plain woolen skirt that tied around her waste. She left the blouse hanging over the skirt and tied the laces that were used in place of buttons. The blouse was cream colored and she guessed it was the closest to 'white' they could get with their limited chemicals. She liked the way the small collar had been sewn on to hang just above the cleavage of her breasts. It accentuated her curves without showing too much and she thought the desired effect would show on Lancelot's face when he saw her in it.
When she had smoothed her clothes down one more time she headed out the door to Lancelot's room. She was nervous about her next encounter with him because Tristan's words had changed his place in her heart. Rather, it had pointed out his place in her heart. She had realized that she felt more alive around him, but she hadn't realized that the reason was she had feelings for him other than she had thought before. That he might have the same feelings made her dare to think what that could mean. 'Please don't let me make a fool of myself.' She silently prayed. That would be the final straw to a horrible beginning for her new life.