Chapter 22
Before long I found myself getting more and more annoyed. Everything was so complicated and I couldn't help thinking how much easier things would be if the bishop and company had never come.
Kaden and Ani were still sitting at the table and I only went over there once the pub was busy with people. The knights were now sitting with them as well.
"Jess, where have you been?" Lancelot asked as I approached their table.
"Just, around." I shrugged looking over to Kaden who looked across to Tristan. I felt another shot of anger run through me. I new why he wouldn't look at me and I still really hadn't gotten over the shock but I was still annoyed that he wouldn't even tell me he just preferred to ignore me.
Lancelot pulled me into his lap and I saw Kaden shift uncomfortably in his seat. I didn't want to get upset so I decided to ignore it myself; I started running my finger over a long thin scar on Lancelot's arm.
"Where did you get it?" I asked quietly so just Lancelot would hear me. I wanted something to distract me from Kaden.
He paused for a minute as if trying to remember "Woads." He finally said. "About 5 years ago."
Lancelot ran his thumb under a thin scar I had just under my eye. "Where did you get it?" he asked.
I smiled remembering I had fallen out of a tree. "Woads." I said as believably as I could.
"Liar." He smiled
I laughed as he pulled me closer kissing me slowly; I pulled away as I heard a cup shatter on the ground. I looked over to see a barmaid already picking up the broken shards of clay.
"Sorry." Kaden said leaning over to help pick up the pieces.
I stared at Kaden trying to figure out if it was accidental or not. Lancelot had started talking to Arthur so I walked over to Tristan and Galahad who were throwing knives. I couldn't figure out why I was getting so annoyed at Kaden but I thought talking to Tristan might calm me down.
I tried to look like I was watching Tristan and Galahad when I was really watching Kaden trying to figure him out. I noticed a handful of the younger barmaids were staring at him, trying to catch his attention; this made me even more angry, though I wasn't sure why.
"Hey Jess, do you want some bread?" Galahad asked breaking off a piece of his bread.
"No, I don't want any stupid bread." I said before storming out of the pub, my temper finally getting the better of me. I got past the courtyard and into the hallways before I heard running footsteps behind me and then a hand on my shoulder forcing me to stop.
Kaden was standing there this was the first time he had looked at me; his eyes were clear and looked troubled.
"I know." I said softly my anger finally sinking. "How you feel about me." I finished looking down to the ground. I suddenly found myself not wanting to look at him and hated the irony.
"How?" he asked after a slight pause.
"I heard you and Ani in the pub, and you haven't looked at me all day." I said still keeping my eyes on the floor.
"I can't explain how hard it was." He answered.
"What was?" I said finally looking up.
"Not being able to look at you." He answered taking a step closer. He reached up and put his hand on my cheek as if waiting for a response. I didn't move as he leaned in, his lips brushed mine as he looked into my eyes to see what I was going to do. I felt myself unconsciously kiss him back. Something snapped in my head and I quickly pulled away, I put my hand on his chest and gently pushed him back.
"Jess…" Kaden started to say he moved in again and I pushed him back.
"Kaden please don't." I said trying to move back but finding the wall at my back. He moved in again more forcefully this time. I tried to push him back but he grabbed my waist. Finally sick of it I threw my fist out I felt it connect with his jaw. He stumbled back a bit.
"I'm sorry." Kaden said as if realizing what he had just done.
I quickly turned and hurried of to my room. I shut the door and leaned against it reflecting on what had just happened. A thousand thoughts were racing through my head and despite what had just happened I couldn't stop thinking about Lancelot. I lay down in bed Kaden didn't come after me and I was very grateful, I wasn't sure if I got to sleep at all. After what seemed like the longest night of my life, I noticed the sun shining brightly through my window. I forced myself to get up. I stumbled over to the mirror, my dark hair was tangled and I had to brush it for about 10 minutes before it fell smoothly and straight. I sighed and walked out the door. Hoping I wouldn't run into Kaden as I hadn't thought about what to say to him.
"Here you go." Mary said handing me some rags.
I looked at her a little confused before figuring she wanted me to throw them out. I looked around for a bin. "Hurry up and put them on." Mary said quickly.
"Ok, hold on I've got to find a bin." I said still scanning the courtyard.
"What for?" She asked impatiently.
"For…" I started to say but when I looked down to the 'rags' in my hand I noticed it was actually a tree costume. "For the, lack of bins…in the…general area." I said unable to think of a better cover story or even one that made sense.
"I don't have time for this, put it on." She snapped at me before hurrying of to where the bishop was standing.
I held up the material it wasn't that bad, brown pants and shirt with a green 'hat'. I sighed before walking back to my room to get changed.
About 1 hour later I was leaning against a stone wall watching as everybody sat down and talked excitedly about the play.
"I saw you." I heard Lancelot say. I turned and saw his expressionless face looking back at me.
"Saw me?" I asked confused.
"You and Kaden." He answered not looking at me as if it hurt him to do so.
I didn't say anything for a second just took in what he had just said, when I was about to respond Mary came charging up, shoving a brown shirt into Lancelot's hands.
"Quick get on stage, the plays about to begin." Mary snapped at us both before quickly scurrying of.
Lancelot walked off before I had a chance to say anything. I stood there a little stunned at how fast everything had just happened. I hurried of after Lancelot but lost him in the mass of people sitting down to watch the play.
"Did you see which way Lancelot went?" I asked Ani who was leaning against a wall combing her hair with her fingers.
"You look different, did you get a haircut?" she asked tilting her head slightly to the side.
"What…no, I'm dressed as a tree." I said pulling of my hat.
"Oh." She said smiling slightly. "No sorry, I haven't seen him."
"Jess, the plays starting, just stand there and if one of the children forgets a line you remind them." Mary said pushing me onto the stage. The kids came on and everybody clapped.
Mary stood up and made a speech about how the play was made for the bishop. But I wasn't listening I was staring over at Lancelot he was on the opposite side of the stage to me, I caught his eyes and immediately wished I hadn't he didn't look angry or annoyed just disappointed.
I broke his gaze and looked to my feet. The sound of clapping reached my ears and snapped me out of my thoughts the play had begun and was already a little way through.
"We have to go now, before she dies." James said, I had to admit he was a very good actor.
It was about half way through and the children were getting through it without many mistakes, the crowd loved it they thought it was the cutest thing they had ever seen.
"Where is she?" James shouted as he marched across the stage he went to forcefully though and his crown fell to the ground.
"She's with the dragon." Marty answered through his laughter. I had to admit it was very cute.
"She's with the dragon?" James said as he put his crown back on. I stared over to Lancelot and felt a stab of guilt I wanted to make everything better.
"Yes…" Marty started and looked up to me. I knelt down and found myself whispering what I wanted to say to Lancelot.
"Yes, but she's very sorry and never wanted to hurt you." Marty said I watched as Lancelot looked down to the script and then back to me I gave him a weak smile. James lost his place and looked up to Lancelot. He knelt down and whispered something into his ear.
"I thought I could trust her not to go off with the dragon." James answered.
Marty once again came back. I whispered into his ear.
"It wasn't her fault, the dragon took her." Marty said. He was still acting very well, but I wasn't watching, I couldn't look away from Lancelot.
James went back to Lancelot obviously very confused but he still looked like he was having a good time. "Took her? Why didn't she tell me that?"
Marty looked at me and I whispered in his ear once again. "She shouldn't have too, you should have trusted her."
Sorry I stopped it there, the next chapter will follow off this one, but keep reviewing and tell me what you like/don't like…. Etc So go review now!