Galahad and I

By: SarmatianKnight13

Chapter Two

The next morning I woke up and I felt a little better. I changed out of my clothes and washed myself a bit, and then put a new set of clothes on. I had duties to do around the tavern before I went to visit Guinevere. I tried to do them as fast as I could, which wasn't very fast. I was a bit clumsy at some things. I spilled water out of the pail I was using to wash off the tables, and I knocked over some chairs.

When I had finally finished I went to wash up again, and I put my best gown on. It was a simple jade green gown, nothing too spectacular. I made my way over to the main building of the fort that housed the legendary round table and other essential rooms.

The guards at the main door had been expecting me. I greeted them kindly as they let me in, and I walked along the path of the dark, gloomy hallway to the round table. Guinevere was there already, sitting to the right of the chair Arthur normally sat in. When she spotted me she grinned and motioned for me to sit in the chair to the right of her. I quickly sat.

"How are you this fine morning my queen?" I greeted her, knowing how much she hated for me to call her that. She rolled her eyes.

"It is as fine as it could ever be. What about yourself?" She asked.

"It could be better." I replied.

She grinned mischievously. "You mean better if a certain knight were here?" She asked, coyly.

I laughed. "You know me so well don't you, Guinevere? Other people knew of my feelings before I did."

"You are just easy to interpret!" She said.

Just then the doors opened and Arthur walked in followed by Gawain, Galahad and Bors. My heart jumped. Guinevere let out a silent chuckle that only I could hear, and I elbowed her.

"Ladies, I did not know you were in here." Arthur said.

"Would you like us to leave?" Guinevere asked.

"No, love. You are fine. As long as you don't mind us discussing some things."

Guinevere shook her head. We both stood and moved to the opposite side of the table so that Arthur may sit in his chair, and Galahad, Gawain, and Bors may sit in the chairs closest to him. When we were all situated the men began to speak in hushed tones.

"I wonder what they are talking about." I said. Guinevere only shrugged and we began to converse.

"You know, I think you should tell him." Guinevere stated.

"Tell who what?" I asked, playing dumb.

"You should tell Galahad that you love him!" She exclaimed silently.

"No I could never do that. What would he want with me? He could have any beautiful girl he wants. There are plenty of them working at the tavern."

"You would be surprised." Guinevere replied, mysteriously. I gave her a questioning look but she didn't say anything else. I glanced over at Galahad who was listening intently to Arthur. I sighed. He was so handsome. If only…

I shook my head turned back to Guinevere. We discussed many things including the castle that was in the process of being built. Merlin did not think it suitable for the King to be housed in the Roman fort. He believed that Arthur needed a bigger space to work in. In the end, Arthur had just given in.

"You should come and live there with me!" She urged. "We could have so much fun together! I could teach you how to use those swords that were given to you."

"I don't think I could ever bring myself to use them, Guinevere." I said sadly.

"Tush! Lancelot would have wanted you to learn so that you may protect yourself against anything!"

I had to admit she was right. When I voiced this to her she said jokingly, "Of course! I am always right." We broke out into a fit of giggles. This drew questioning stares from the men across the table. They looked at each other, shrugged, and continued talking. This brought on more laughs.

"And, you would be closer to Galahad." Guinevere stated. Yes, I would love more then anything to be closer to him.

"Yes, that would be nice." I replied. "I think I will come with you. My parents have plenty of help with their tavern."

"Yes! And you could visit them whenever you wish as soon as I teach you how to ride a horse properly!" I laughed at Guinevere's statement. It was true; I had only gotten little schooling on how to ride a horse. The extent of my knowledge was mounting it, and walking with it.

"That would be nice." I admonished.

Then we began to discuss our plans we would do as soon as we would move in. Guinevere would teach me how to fight and ride a horse, and I would teach her how to cook more elaborate things. She had always wanted to learn to cook, but she was only taught the basics to survive if she was ever on her own.

"And!" She exclaimed silently again, quite excited I might add. "We could get new gowns and clothing fit for a queen!"

"Yes, but I am not a queen." I said.

"So! I was not born into nobility; I was made and married into nobility at the same time. I could make you a Lady! Of course, you would already be one if you would just marry Galahad and be done with it."

"Excuse me!" I said in a hushed tone, and we both began to laugh again.

By then the knights had finished their conference. They stood, shook each other's hand, gave us a 'good day' and they were off again. Everyone that is, except Arthur and Galahad. Arthur made his way around the table and held out his hand to Guinevere. She took it, and he helped her out of the chair.

"Come, let us take a walk." He said. She nodded and turned back to me.

"I'll be back later. Don't go too far." I nodded, and they were gone. It was only Galahad and I. I squirmed in my chair as the silence in the room grew. No one made to speak. He just stood there, and would glance at me occasionally. Finally, he spoke.

"Did you have a good nights rest?"

"No, I did not." I answered truthfully.

"I am sorry for that." He said. I nodded.

"I want to thank you for escorting me out to the cemetery. It meant a lot to me."

"It was nothing. I was just helping out a friend." And that last comment broke my heart. So that's how he saw me? As just a friend? I should have known. I nodded.

"Of course." I stood, turned around, and began to walk from the room. Before I stepped through the doors to go outside into the bright morning I threw over my shoulder:

"If you see Guinevere, tell her that I went back to my home." And I emerged into the sunlight. I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, but I didn't run home. I ran to my favorite tree that I had frequented as a child. At the moment I didn't care if my dress was torn, and I climbed. I climbed to the top most branch of my tree, and I sat there and cried. Galahad only saw me as a friend. I should have known. I thought. I wish this pain would stop. I wish that I could stop hurting over Lancelot and the other fallen knights. And I wish most of all that I could stop pining over Galahad. Sweet, handsome Galahad who only saw me as a friend.