Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Same as before…. Bishops Germanius of Auxerre and another bishop were actually sent to Britain to fight the rampant heresy of Pelagianism, he was also involved (albeit somewhat from the periphery) in the downfall of Pelagius….although the man himself actually died somewhere in the orient in around 418AD –however, for the sake of the story he will have died some 54 years later (472AD) he will have died in Rome and Germanius will have had a hand in it.
SpectralLady: I know…I love cliff-hangers….aren't I a bugger! LOL I'm glad you think the same…he is just so cuddly. A floored Devon is never a good thing, but a scheming one is even worse! Oh yes….HER Dagonet…..a bit more fluff this chapter…
Evenstar-mor2004: Definitely and don't we all love him? She did, though unintentionally. No he won't puppy guard (I think she'd hate it….but I think he will try to be better….) though not boring!
Lucillaq: She did….she is, but sometimes I'm not sure that's always a good thing. Still, we'll see…. I think Bors and Vanora are how most couples are who've been together a long time and love each other…your poor brother! LOL Bet you'll like the last bit of this chapter then!
Babaksmiles: I know, but eavesdroppers never hear well of themselves! But I think he will try to prove her faith in him. As for Tristan you'll see he'll be alright in this chapter; though Devon really admires his ability to kill so emotionlessly, without realising she is much the same. Yes, she does learn about his death in this chapter…and no the outcome will not be great, but not yet….waiting is sometimes good! A bit more fluff in this chapter…
Calliann: No, she likes him too muchly to push him away. I'm to make her likeable but also flawed….no mary-sue, you know…just hope I'm succeeding. I don't know about more women….it's hard keeping track of them all, especially when they start reproducing! I had a hell of a time with 'Bethan & Lucan' with all the wives and children! ROFL So would I, as I thought he was really sweet! Well, you have to have a certain amount of cow bashing, don't you? Well, if someone hurt his mate (and brother), even another knight, you just know Bors is going to floor them don't you? LOL I won't (at least try not to….) and you will, this chapter. I rave all the time….so long as you understand you…why care about aught else? ;O) Glad you liked it! I hate this chapter!
June Birdie: I think it's because she's not around people much, so is much more observant and she's been watching them for weeks before they met her…so she's really got their numbers! Well, I had to as I really don't like her…I will give her a few redeeming features (eventually), but to be honest I can't abide manipulators and she certainly is one of those. I am more than happy to be your beta reader – thank you so much for asking. Basically it's just someone who proofs your stories for spelling, punctuation and stuff and someone you can bounce ideas off if you want to (at least that's what I do for the other people I beta for). Possibly in the next chapter…possibly…. but I don't want to her to look easy! LOL
Magpie-Detonation: Glad that KA muse has bit you too! Storylines are always a problem when you have loads of ideas. I usually go with the one that I think I have the most chance of finishing without hitting a block:O) Glad you liked it, and my faves are similar to yours….Gawain joined the other three (Dag, Lance and Tris) after I did 'Bethan & Lucan'…..Tristan is my total favourite though…
Aelia O'Hession: God I hope you feel better soon? Listen don't worry, I'm just grateful when anyone reviews, so if you can't review any chapters (and you being one of the faithful who do usually do each and everyone) don't sweat it…. Glad you liked it though….as you so desperately wanted a Dag story I am terrified of not doing it justice and thereby inciting the wrath of the lynch mob! Seriously, am glad you liked it…cruel and unnecessary, but they did kiss! I mean, they had to really….all that angst deserved a snog! Great Authoress! snorts in derision Ha, and once more I shout HA! Not bloody likely! But yes this whole sodding story is being written with your love of the Dagonet in mind…so I hope you continue to like it. Lancelot is too cocky (in a lot of ways!) and definitely needs to be slapped down every so often. Guin also needs a good slap and I don't like her anyway so am happy to make her miserable. Van is a darling and my fave of the females…so she will be staying… Hope you like this chapter too….I HATED it! I don't know what I did wrong…but I hate it…
Twilight Falcon: Glad you liked it…Devon is nice and I think she believes in the good in all of them because she watched them for a long while before they met her. She is very lucky to have Dag….
Marblez: As requested, here is the more! Glad it's cheering you up….sorry about the boyfriend…do like Van and give him a slap! (It always works on my husband!)
lilstrummrgrl527: Dagonet is a real sweetie… Oh he did- after all, Devon made him cry! But we love the plodder that is Dagonet…and I don't think being thoughtful and considerate is really plodding! He might dance eventually…I have an idea….but not saying! It is so easy to bash both Galahad and Lancelot, but I must admit they make the laughs! Bors is my husband -characteristically speaking – and I am Van (again, character only)…so now you know where I get the material from! LOL
WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE AND VIOLENCE, SO READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.
'—' signifies thoughts.
"—" signifies speech.
Anyway…chapter Eight!
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Heart & Soul
Chapter Eight – Revelations
Horton was trying to show Bors how to pray, much to the amusement of him and the other knights…..Bors was playing along – had his hands together, his eyes shut and his head towards the sky, he was muttering nothings…
Then he opened one eye and laughed "I must be doing it wrong…for I hear nothing…or maybe your God don't listen to us pagans?"
"Nay, nay good knight…he listens….he listens to all souls…" Horton tried to explain.
Devon rolled her eyes at Dagonet who stifled a smile; then she turned to Bors "Bors! Stop teasing the poor boy…he thinks he might convert you. It's cruel to torment a child so…" she smiled at the older knight.
"I am no child, nor boy!" the cleric hotly denied "I am merely a tool of the mighty Jesu…"
"Oh, you're a tool alright…" muttered Gawain, before Devon smacked his head.
She then swung her amber gaze round to the cleric "Hmmm….so you think you're a man?" Tristan moved from the wall he'd been leaning on to come sit at the table, he was interested to see how she dealt with this little worm.
Horton nodded.
"Right so – let me see you're battle scars, tell me about the men you have slain to protect those you've loved….or even because, like these good men" she gestured to the knights "You were enslaved by Rome and had to kill to survive….."
"I cannot….I have not battled, nor have I killed…."
"Then you are no man….." she dismissed him lightly "even the youngest here is a demon on the battlefield….he kills without compunction." she ruffled Galahad's hair and kissed his cheek, causing the young knight to blush and beam at the same time.
"I am a man….killing" he spat the word "does not make a man, faith does….a belief in the Almighty….."
"Oh…I have faith…and I believe in something…." She looked at him. Arthur walked in at the sound of the fairly heated discussion, Guinevere trailing behind….unsure as to her reception after her 'talk' with Devon.
"In what? In what do you have faith…in what do you believe?" Arthur was genuinely interested.
"I have faith in killing and I believe in death…that is, if you wish, my religion." She spoke quietly and emphatically.
"What!" Horton and Arthur spoke as one.
"You heard me…you should try it…you might get a taste for it…" she smiled thinly at the cleric, once more ignoring Arthur.
At that moment Tristan grinned and felt like his sister had returned to him. For one moment he could have hugged her – she understood, she did. Almost as if reading his mind she swung her head to him and smiled.
"See him?" she pointed to Tristan.
"Aye."
"A more noble, honest man you could not wish to meet – after Dagonet" she inclined her head to the large knight behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders "Yet he kills with a precision and calculation I have never seen before….each person he kills avenges the death of a loved one." She spoke with pride and also certainty; Tristan's head shot up "Is that not right my friend?"
He nodded. The other knights looked at him and he shrugged "She's right, it is."
"That is what makes him a man….to want revenge, to wish to kill until the pain goes away…to avenge the one that was taken cruelly from him; to stand by what he believes in….it is the same for all of them and for me, we all stand by the courage of our convictions."
"You think I do not?" The cleric sounded hurt.
"Where will you be when the Saxons come? Here? I doubt it….nay, you will be with the peacock, the mute and the little prick…all making your way to Rome…to safety…. No, your faith it seems only buoys you when you think safety is around you. We can all be brave little soldiers when there is no threat, Horton…."
"You think fighting and killing makes you noble? What of peace?"
"I am not noble because I kill you oaf! I am, as are they, noble because I stand by my beliefs! And what does Rome know of peace?" she spat "Do you know what Rome and your wonderful Church did to me? They crucified my family; they did it because my father would not stop loving his barren wife!"
Horton's head shot up "We would not condone that…."
"But you did…your wonderful fucking religion did just that….where was the bolt of lightening from your God to strike down the man that butchered them?"
"He will be judged…when judgement day comes…he will be…"
"Spare me! I did not wait for judgement day….when he tried to rape me I cut his throat!"
"Then…then God's will was done….he….he was rebuked by the hand of God…" stammered the horrified cleric.
"No hand of God killed him! This hand did!" angry, she thrust her right hand under his nose "this hand slit his throat; and then this woman stood and watched him bleed to death, before stepping over his corpse with no backward glance, my little man…"
"Do you know no Roman Christian that you admire?" There was a hint of desperation in his voice.
Suddenly her eyes softened and returned to the honey colour they usually were "Yes…one….his name is Pelagius….he is the kindest, sweetest and most just Roman I have ever met. He is a good man, and so long as he lives there is hope for your Rome….
He even offered to buy me….to save me….he told me of his beliefs and his hopes for the world….he is a good man, the only roman I have ever called friend…" She smiled.
Horton's heart clutched tightly; Devon saw the look of horror pass his face. Arthur suddenly stood upright from where he was leaning on the frame of the tavern wall 'don't tell her….for the love of God…don't tell her…'
"What?" she demanded "why do you look so? What is it?" She moved menacingly towards him.
"I….he…..I…." stammered the cleric, thoroughly frightened now.
"Spit.it.out!"
"He was…." He swallowed deeply "he was condemned as a heretic…."
"A heretic? Why? All he preached were that all men were born free from their first breath…that we are all equal….." she stopped "oh, but your precious senate and church could not have that could they? Could not have slaves thinking they were equal to their masters? What happened to him? Who condemned him….I know how it works…who and how?"
He knew she would not be stopped now; he glanced to where Germanius was talking to some of his servants "he was crucified as a heretic and …..and some of the bishops denounced him…." He stammered.
She looked stunned; crushed and stunned. She leant low to the cleric's ear, but spoke so they could all hear her "why must Rome and the church continue to kill the innocents?" she straightened as he shook his head "Well…Rome will fall…and I for one will rejoice….for never has a corrupt empire so deserved it's own destruction…" Her voice icy, she stormed out; deliberately knocking Arthur on the way.
Dagonet went to follow her - but Arthur stayed him with a look "I'll go…he was much to me also…" Horton looked "Aye, cleric - he was like a second father to me…and I agree with the woman…why must Rome kill the innocents?" he glared and followed Devon.
0-0-0-0-0-0
He found her on the battlements, staring out over the plain towards the woods. "How did you know I'd be here?" she asked.
"I come here when I need to think…."
"He is a good man…" she closed her eyes tightly "was a good man…"
"Aye…he was like a second father to me….he was the main reason I was returning to Rome…"
She looked at him, stunned "You knew Pelagius? YOU are that Arturious?"
"He spoke of me?" Arthur smiled uncertainly.
"Aye, a lot….he said you were in Briton fighting for a noble cause. He said I could trust two Romans in this world – him and his young charge….Arturious." she smiled "He was proud of you Arthur…very proud…if he had ever told me your last name I would have known you….I would never….."
"It is no matter….you have enough reason to hate every roman you ever meet Devon…."
"How do you know?"
"I….we….we were all in the stables when you told Dag…"
"I see…." She hung her head "You must think badly of me….I could not save them…."
"Nay…no more than I could save Pelagius….."
"Aye, but you were across an ocean when he died! There was naught you could do….I was there….I saw…..I…."
He touched her arm "It might as well have been an ocean Devon…..it might as well have…."
She went towards him, and embraced him briefly "he loved you muchly Arthur…you were a son to him….you were…" she looked up and wiped the tears from his cheeks "We do not want Lancelot making fun of his brother and commander now do we?"
"You have such compassion Devon…"
"Nay…but I know sorrow Arthur." She sat him down on the battlement wall "But now listen to me; mourn not the dead. For he has gone to a better place; a place that is bright and sunny and the sky is always blue. The gates of death hold no fear for him now, for he is happy and no longer suffers." She spoke with an honest reassurance, and no small amount of envy.
"You speak as though you've visited that place…" Arthur grimaced.
"Aye – twice now have I touched the gates of death, only to be turned back by those I love. Tis not my time they tell me…." Devon shut her eyes, to the tears and the pain. "though I long to join them…..I do…it is not my lot in this life to be with those that loved me most; I am destined to be always alone – on the outside of life…." Her voice hitched; she swallowed.
"Not now Devon…now you have us…and Dagonet; and you are always so fearless…."
"Aye…but…it was not always so…" she sighed "I do not fear death Arthur. I do not fear much at all in this life. What I do fear; what I fear most is living… .because living is such torture to me….death is what I pray for every night when I close my eyes, and every day I curse the first breath I take on waking." She finished quietly and with a chilling conviction.
He took her hands in his "I heard you telling Dagonet that…but do you still feel the same, now you have him?"
"I…I am not sure….some moments I think I could be happy – others I feel he will leave me and die as all do that I love…" she shrugged "I know you are a Christian Arthur, that you believe in Heaven and hell… But I don't believe in hell; I don't believe in it, because life is the hell we live…Heaven is what we get for surviving it; I told Dagonet that, and I still believe it. What has happened to Pelagius only confirms it; and now I worry he will die too…."
"Well, only God knows what you have had to suffer to make you believe that…none would judge you Devon, He least of all…but I think Dag is…." he saw her stiffen "what is it?"
"Listen….." she could, very distantly, hear the rumble of drums.
Tristan and Dagonet appeared beside her "You hear it too?"
"Nay…but I knew something was wrong when he suddenly bolted from the tavern." Dag shook his head, nodding at the scout.
"But you hear it?" she looked at Tristan.
"Aye…I do…"
"When?"
"Nightfall…."
"Then I fight tomorrow…" she sighed.
"Nay Devon….we fight tomorrow. Remember, I have a loved one to avenge…" he smiled thinly "You see too clearly into each of us you know." She looked at Dag who nodded. If the silent scout wanted to confide in her, he would not object.
Dag wandered away with Arthur and watched them talking. He thought it was touching how in their own ways all the knights had come to trust and care for her – he and Tristan the most….Jols too really.
"She is a rare one Dag….she is that…" Arthur murmured.
"Aye…and, according to Lancelot just now, I am one lucky bastard!" he grinned at his commander.
"I would have to agree with him on that one…" they laughed. They saw Devon embrace the scout. "Her compassion amazes me, and then her temper scares me….I think she could kill without thought if given enough incentive…"
"Aye she could that….and that is what we need when going to war with the Saxons." Dagonet said.
0-0-0-0-0
Tristan watched Dagonet and Arthur walk away. Devon drew him towards her "What is it?" she looked concerned.
"You remind me so much of my sister….and…another…" he sighed.
"what happened to them?"
"They died…"
"How?"
There was a lengthy pause "The Romans killed my sister in battle in Sarmatia…she was 2 years older than I and part of our army. My…betrothed followed me to Briton. She wanted to be with me….the Woads attacked the caravan and she was killed." He sighed "But of the two you remind me most of my sister, Isolda….."
"Then that is what I will be to you Tristan…your sister…I will be your little sister. For if ever I could choose one man on this earth to my brother, it would be you – that is if you agree…." she smiled at him.
The scout held his breath, his face passive as it always was – but his eyes were a sea of conflicting emotions; then he pulled her into his arms "I would be honoured…
sister…" he said gruffly.
0-0-0-0
Dagonet and Arthur watched her pull her dagger "What's she doing?" Arthur asked.
The large knight beside him shrugged "I don't know…not killing him I hope."
She cut her hand and then cut Tristan's, before pressing their palms together "She's making a blood tie with him…" Dagonet added "She is becoming blood kin to him."
"What like a sister or….or….something more?" Arthur did not want to see his friend hurt.
"No, Arthur - like a sister!" he laughed. "I know what she feels for me, and what I feel for her…I trust her…and I trust Tristan as much…"
"That says much for him as well as her…"
"Aye….but it is deserved."
"Meet my brother!" Devon beamed as the two walked up "I have a family again!"
Tristan kissed her cheek, strange from the knight who rarely showed any affection….yet the two facing them could see his eyes shining as he took his leave.
Tristan walked away feeling better than he had in 15 years. At least if he died in this battle then he would die knowing that someone cared enough for him to become kin…someone would bury him and mourn his passing….someone loved him.
"You are not jealous?" she asked Dagonet.
"Nay..why should I be?"
"Nay, you should not…no one could take your place with me…" she grinned and blushed as she kissed his cheek "besides he's my brother now…"
"No one could take my place, eh?" the large knight grinned mischievously.
"No one."
"Then…kiss me…for I forget what honey kisses you have…" he had never been so bold with a woman, this was almost Lancelot talking – but he felt comfortable enough to sport with her and she knew he meant it in jest only.
Arthur decided they needed time alone and left….it would seem from what she and Tristan had said this may be the last day left for such frivolity.
She reached up and wrapped her arms round his neck and pulled him down to her mouth….her lips met his gently at first and he grinned.
Pulling back slightly he went to speak, to make a jest – but she tugged him back and kissed him harder….her tongue flicking at his bottom lip, her hands pressing him to her. As the kiss deepened he groaned in the back of his throat and hauled her tightly against him.
She sucked his bottom lip and nipped gently at it; their tongues found each other and tangled together. She hadn't realised until they finally broke the kiss that he had lifted her against him and they were both breathing heavily. "Did the honey reach my lord?" she laughed, the same tinkling in there as before.
He swept her into his arms "Aye it did my lady…it did. Your kisses are sweeter than the finest mead!" he grinned. He sobered suddenly "I…..I care for you Devon…I care a great deal…."
"As I do you Dagonet…I doubt you realise how much….and in such a short time…." She buried her head in his shoulder.
His heart soared…she cared…she might even….love him…she might. He could die in battle tomorrow knowing someone cared and would mourn him….someone loved him.
0-0-0-0-0
A little later they were back in the tavern – Bors was still tormenting Horton and Devon decided to stop it "Bors – leave the boy alone and stop teasing him."
"Oh Devon girlie….he says he's a man….so…."
"Leave him be, you bully you!" she grinned "just because he has a beard, does not make him a man….Galahad proves that point. He has a beard, and yet is still but a babe!"
"Oi! I heard that…." He called.
She ruffled his hair as she passed "You were meant to little man…" she leant down and kissed his cheek "But I still like you… "
He grinned "Am I much to you then Devon…a friend?"
"Of course you are Galahad….you are a good man….just a little whingey off the battlefield….but I think you are a wonderful knight…"
He stood and hugged her "You can be quite nice you know…"
"Well, don't tell everyone…I like scaring people!" she grimaced at him and then chuckled.
He roared as he sat down with Gawain….
Horton hurried over "you won't hurt him?"
"Who? Galahad? Never….he is family to me…I would never hurt the little urchin!" she smiled.
"No…Germanius…."
"Why would I hurt that preening peacock?"
"Because he denounced Pelagius; I thought Arthur would have told you…..I know he had guessed from what the boy Alecto had told him." before he could say more she was gone….
"what did you say to her?" Lancelot demanded "She had a face like thunder when she stormed out of here..."
"I just told her that Germanius had denounced Pelagius…"
"Oh fuck! Come on boys, it's time to stop Devon doing something stupid…." They all followed the dark knight towards Arthur's room.
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Arthur's door swung open and a furious looking Devon stood there; swords drawn. "Where the fuck is the preening little bastard!"
"Who might that be…."
"Don't fuck with me Arthur…you know full well who I mean, the weasel Horton told me Germanius denounced Pelagius….he was one of the ones who gave him up! A follower of his teachings….a friend!" She grimaced.
"I hate him….full as much as you do Devon…but there is nothing we can do. He is a bishop of the church…." Arthur ground out.
"Your bloody church – not mine Arthur! I can do what I like to him! Pelagius loved you like a son…he did….and…and….YOU'VE ABANDONED HIM!" she shouted at the end.
Arthur bristled "I have not done so….but he would not wish us to die as well…."
"I won't….."
"I don't want you to get hurt….."
"Let me worry about that…."
She took off down the corridor, just as Lancelot and the others reached Arthur's room.
"what happened?" Asked Lancelot.
"Enough….she's gone after Germanius…" Arthur sighed.
"And you let her!" Dag queried, a dangerous glint in his eye.
"Nay, Dag I was about to follow her when you all arrived."
So they had gone after her, but she was not with Germanius…..
"I don't understand – she was definitely going after him…." Arthur was both perplexed and worried as he met the knights outside "I think we should look for her…."
Dagonet was already on his way out to the training ground with Tristan in hot pursuit. "Where can she be?" Lancelot asked catching them up.
Dag grinned "I know…." And he looked up – sat on the roof of the stables was Devon with a nervous looking Aida perched next to her with her arm round her and trying not to fall off at the same time.
They saw Jols' head poking through the thatch about to join them and then Lucan came running…. "I want to go with her, but they won't let me…"
"What they doing up there – having a bloody party!" exclaimed Bors.
"It is getting a bit crowded Dag….I don't know if the thatch can take it…." Remarked Galahad.
Dagonet ran into the stables….
0-0-0-0-0
Aida wondered how on earth she'd got herself talked into this. She sighed, she liked the girl that was how….and when she'd bumped into her with those murderous looking swords drawn, she wanted to help.
She had persuaded the girl to talk to her first before making any hasty decisions and so they went into the stables; Devon had climbed into the hayloft "It's warm up here…" Aida noted.
"Why don't you sleep here tonight? It'll be our last night before the battle Aida….be comfortable. You'll ship out with the caravan tomorrow…"
"Nay – I will not….I am staying. I'm too old to run; I like you and I'll stay…so is the woman at the Tavern."
"Vanora? I don't think Bors will like it…"
"She don't care…says she ain't leaving her man." Devon smiled, that sounded like Van.
"Why would stay because of me?"
"I like you and want to be near to keep an eye on you."
"If we don't win – they'll kill you."
"Aye they would….but you'll win. You'll see. If I sleep up here, where will you sleep?"
Devon smiled "I know a certain knight that would let me share his room without wanting aught in return." She continued climbing.
"where are you going?"
"Onto the roof….I always go there…"
"I'll come too…." So she helped the old lady onto the roof and told her the story; how she wanted to kill the bishop. Aida had to agree, but told her there was more than one way to skin a cat.
"what do you mean?"
"If you kill him now…everyone will know. But I know the boy and the cleric don't like him…so wait."
"what for Aida?"
"Until after the battle, then intercept the caravan and kill him then…I can guarantee that if you speak to the boy and the cleric they'll lie for you and nothing more will happen. You can all blame his death on the Saxons; you know their style of killing better than most, you can copy it….."
Devon thought about it and kissed her cheek "I suppose you heard me telling Dagonet like the knights?"
"Aye….and sad I was for you too. But you have a life now…things change, we all move on… So there is no point wasting the opportunity the Goddess has given you for a new life; I'm sure your Roman friend wouldn't wish it…"
"You would make a brilliant diplomat and general Aida!"
"Nay lass, but I am a crafty old woman!"
Devon hugged her and kissed her cheek once more "I think you're lovely Aida. You remind me of my Nana…."
The old woman blushed and then Jols pushed his head through the thatch "is this a private party or can anyone come?" he grinned "You have a lot of frantic knights searching for you Devon…..even Tristan is looking mildly worried…which for anyone else would be distraught!"
She smiled "We're coming down now Jols….."
"Thank the Goddess!" Muttered a rattled looking Aida as Jols helped her down "Devon, don't let me know when you climb up here, there's a good girl….I'd worry!"
Just then Devon felt a hand grab her ankle "what are doing?" It was Dagonet "Arthur thought you were going to kill Germanius…."
"Oh, I am….but there is more than one way to skin a cat." She winked at Aida.
"You're going to skin a cat to kill him? How will that help? Or is it a curse?" Galahad was confused…..
She ruffled his hair "Dolt…it doesn't matter – but I appreciate you all worrying about me…"
"I wasn't worried….I was just curious where you'd gone…" Tristan calmly replied.
"Of course not brother….I believe you…though thousands more would not…" she smirked and hugged the silent knight.
"Since when was he 'brother' and we all just 'friends'?" asked Gawain in surprise.
"Since I asked; he agreed and we took a blood oath…" smiled Devon.
Gawain smiled. He was one of the few that knew about the loss of Tristan's sister….the only other was Dagonet.
She muttered something to the large knight holding her hand and walked away "where she going?" asked Lancelot.
"She needs to speak to some people about tomorrow…" the other knight shrugged.
They watched her leave…. "You know, you're one lucky bastard Dag…" Galahad sighed.
The large knight grinned "Aye I am….and don't I know it!"
0-0-0-0-0-0
A little later she returned grinning….as Aida had suspected both Alecto and Horton were more than willing to look the other way as she disposed of Germanius.
As she walked into the tavern she ducked a flying cup "What's happening?"
Lancelot moved out of the way of a tray that sailed past his head "Van's just told Bors she's not leaving tomorrow when we battle…" he grinned "Bors decided he was going to argue…." he shook his head "never a good move….Van has an infamous temper!"
"You are bloody going wench!" they heard Bors cry.
"Yeah? Well, you just you try and bloody make me! It'll be the last thing you do on this earth, believe me!" Van shot back.
This time Devon pulled Galahad out of the way as another tray sailed past. Dagonet picked Lucan up just as a mug landed where he'd been sitting.
"Are they normally this violent?" asked Devon as a whole tray of cups hit the wall near Tristan, who barely moved out of the way as if knowing they wouldn't hit him.
"Not usually this bad…but….he worries what will happen to her and the children if we lose…" Dag cast a worried glance to Lucan.
"Then we won't….."
"You seem very sure…."
"Not really…but there is always hope…." She hesitated "Dag?"
"Hmmm….." he stepped back out of the way of plate.
"Can I share your room tonight?"
He spun round in surprise "What!" he didn't see the other plate that hit him on the head…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
When he came round his head was in Devon's lap….. "Are you alright? You're going to have a nasty lump…."
"I'm fine…just a little dazed…" he smiled "What did you say?" he sat up.
"Aida wants to sleep in the hayloft and I wondered if I could share your room….no pressure…I…just wondered…." She looked worried.
"Of course you can….I mean as a friend, of course…." He smiled.
"Thanks Dag…." There was another crash.
"Are they still at it?"
"Aye…I'm surprised there's anymore crocks to break!" Galahad laughed.
All of a sudden the shouting and smashing stopped – Bors emerged from the back sporting various cuts and bruises and Van emerged looking victorious " I am not leaving….but we are sending the children with the caravan…at least until I know you've won; and you will win…"
Lancelot looked at Devon "You know I think I would rather face the Saxons than Van in a rage!"
She grinned "I think tomorrow you will get your wish my friend…." Both she and Tristan could hear the distant drums draw closer. They exchanged a look, but smiled.
She took Dag's arm and helped him to his feet "I feel a drink is in order, do you not?"
"I did not think you drank?"
"I do not ….but a cup of milk would be welcome….assuming there are any crocks left Van?" she laughed.
The older woman grimaced "I think so….."
Devon looked at Dagonet "I want to enjoy tonight…it might be my last." She smiled.
"Not if I have aught to do with it, it will not be…" he replied emphatically.
"Nor me…." Said Tristan walking up, and casually dusting bits of broken crockery off his jerkin.
"Then between the three of us…we will all be safe…" she smiled, linking arms with the two knights she loved the most.