To my reviewers:
Cardeia: Glad you liked it. Sometimes I think I ramble on too much, but I want to show every emotion, every nuance to the characters as I see them. So far I've written 2 complete fics for Tristan (my favorite), almost completed one for Dag (second fav), and now this one for Lancelot. I think I might write one for each, including Arthur and his feelings for Guinnevere. Not sure about that one yet. Here is another chapter… hope you like.
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY: Here you go! Hope you enjoy!
Babaksmiles: Yes, I love a mystery. Guess that's why I love Tristan so much! There is always only one man or woman for another when true love bites! I know I found mine!
Alatarial Elf: Just love the cliffhangers! I'll try not to do too many though.
Same disclaimers, don't own the legend or anyone connected to the original. Sorry (for me, not you).
Here you go…
It was late when Lancelot and Laney rode into the courtyard, but they found Arthur standing in the stable vigorously brushing his horse. Laney rode up and stopped just short of running into the other horse. When Arthur raised an eyebrow at her as she dismounted she gave a little smile of apology. Lancelot had already dismounted and was standing holding the reins as he watched her. Arthur looked at Lancelot and saw the scowl on his face. There seemed to be a silent disagreement and he could only deduct that Lancelot did not like what Merlin had said to his lady.
"Delaney, Lancelot," he greeted them both with a nod of his head. "Arthur, we have to talk some sense into Delaney." Lancelot had begun. The use of her full name let her know how upset he was. He was going to try to get Arthur to join in his arguments of earlier. She had no doubt that the commander would do so, purely out of his chivalrous nature and unless he knew the whole story she didn't think she could make him do otherwise. She didn't want to tell him the whole story. It might change the outcome of some event if he thought he would die and she silently pleaded with Lancelot to be quiet.
Lancelot flashed her a triumphant look. Instead of letting her tell Arthur what she wanted him to know, Lancelot was daring her to argue with him or he would tell Arthur himself! She suddenly felt her anger boiling to the point of not caring who heard what. "Lancelot, how dare you threaten me with your looks." She shot at him. Arthur looked from Laney to Lancelot, but by the time he saw his friend's face, he had steeled it into a mask of feigned outrage. Before Laney could stop herself, she ran to him and began pounding into his chest, yelling at the top of her lungs, "HOW (pound) DARE (pound) YOU! (final pound as she began to cry), I can take care of myself." She finished a little quieter, more controlled.
Looking back over her shoulder at Arthur, she jerked her arms loose and made to walk away. Lancelot had taken her arms in his hands to stop her flailing. He hadn't meant for her to react the way she did. He just wanted her to know what lengths he would go to if it meant keeping her safe. As she turned to stalk away from him, he grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her to hold her until she calmed down. She protested for a moment, then sagged into his arms. Then raising her head, he saw the disappointment and hurt in her eyes. That he could have caused the emotions he saw swirling about, made him catch his breath and hold it. "Laney, I'm sorry, so sorry." He cooed as he gently smoothed her hair against her head. "Let's forget this and get some sleep. Arthur can wait until morning to hear the rest of your story." Then turning to his friend, "can't you, Arthur?" The look he gave Arthur made the man realize just how important his answer would be to him.
"Of course, there is nothing so important that it cannot wait for a good night's rest. You can come to my chambers when you awake and we will discuss what you have learned from Merlin." He bowed to her and nodded to Lancelot, who was nodding gratefully. "Come, my Love, I'll take you to your room and stay until you have fallen asleep." He slowly guided her toward the door. When they reached the exit, she stopped and looked back at Arthur. "I'll be there early, I promise." He thought her voice was shaking with un-shed tears and he was anxious to hear what Merlin could have said to cause such a riff between the two lovers. Whatever it was couldn't be good news.
As Laney walked through the empty hallways with Lancelot at her side her mind was running at double speed. There had to be a way to make him understand just how important it was for her to do what she had to do. She would try not to put herself in too much danger, but if she had to, then she would. She was so used to doing whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted that it disturbed her that she was being monitored. As much as she loved him, she would not be able to stand being suffocated like that. But, she didn't want to lose what she had found either. This was turning into a terrible catch-22 as far as she could tell.
Lancelot walked silently beside Laney, watching her from the corner of his eye. He could tell she was thinking about something by the way she wrinkled her forehead from time to time. He hoped she wasn't trying to come up with a plan to get around him, she would find that he could be pretty hard to distract when he had his mind set on something. But he hoped she would find it in her heart to forgive him later. The closeness they had found seemed to be shaky. Until tonight he had not realized just how upset she would be with him. 'Maybe I can talk to Bors about this', he thought to himself. Surely he and Vanora talked some of the time they were together.
When they arrived at her door, Lancelot reached to open it. Laney stopped him by putting her hand over his. "Lance, I want to go to the tavern for a while. I don't think I can go to sleep right now and I want to be around a lot of people and a lot of noise." He looked down at her and let out a long slow breath. "If that's what you want." Was all he said. She looked at him and almost told him she didn't need his permission. She would go wherever she wanted. But considering the argument they had in the stables, she decided to hold her tongue. He probably didn't mean it the way she had taken it, anyway.
They walked on in silence for a little while. Suddenly Lancelot stopped and grabbed her arm. "Laney, I can't go on like this. Every time I say something I feel you tense up. I don't want things to be like this." He looked at her and waited, when she didn't answer, he pleaded. "Please, Laney." She continued to stare at the floor, unsure what to say. She too, hated the wall that had sprung up between them, but she couldn't let herself pretend that he had done nothing to upset her. Finally, deciding to meet him half way, she said, "Lance, I love you. Please wait and we can talk about it when we come back later. I just want to think about things for a while and try to figure out why I'm so upset over this." She finally looked up at him. "I really don't know what made me so angry before."
She wasn't sure whether or not he was going to give in and let it drop. Finally he said, "I guess I can't blame you. We'll talk later." Then he took her hand and pulled her arm through his as they headed toward the sound of people laughing and talking. Just as they were about to round the corner, Laney stopped. When Lancelot felt her pulling him back by the arm, he stopped and turned toward her. He gave her a questioning look. She smiled shyly and said, "Lance, I love you. Let's not fight anymore. I promise I won't do anything that could put me in danger unless you or one of the other knights are there to help me should I need it. Will that work?" The moment she had finished talking, he picked her up and swung her around. She knew she had finally figured him out. It wasn't that he had to keep an eye on her. Any one of them could. He trusted them all. He just had to be in control.