Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Same as before….
Evenstar-mor2004 I am so sorry, that I make you so emotional – though in a way I should thank you as that is probably the best compliment anyone has ever paid me with regard the stories I write. I read the chapter back, and not to check punctuation and stuff as I usually do, but just to read it and I see what you mean…I never realised (even I cried at the end!) Still, hopefully this chapter will make up for it, and any tears will be from laughing:O)
Twilight Falcon: I would not have hurt our Dag, and I like the other two and didn't have the heart to kill them either – I know I am a sad softy!
Babaksmiles: I didn't realise that I had made it so emotional until Evenstar said pretty much the same as you and I read it back and thought 'uh oh' – Sorry! I have to say that was my favourite line out of that chapter! I'm glad you like the chapter so much!
Marblez: It would have definitely ruined the story and I'd be dead, as many people were not happy with me! LOL
lilstrummrgrl527: I know, I know…..but Lancelot loves them, and Tristan has had some bad news so hopefully it was believable; but anyway, couldn't resist it – especially Tristan! I know but he doesn't do emotions does he! LOL Not Jolsy yet….but I have plans for him! Oh yeah, Daddy was giving her a smacky wristy:O) I do hate making you cry, but it is also a compliment as its nice the story is so believable to make you want to cry…… I am so glad you like my descriptions as well as the chapter. Hope you like this one too, and any tears are tears of laughter!
Calliann: I know you wouldn't – but plenty of others did! LOL I know but hoarseness and tears are so horrible too:O) It comes out about Tristan in the next few chapters……Devon is very upset for him, bless her. Still, it makes them closer still – along with Lance (but she will NOT cheat on Dag, her heart belongs to him alone). I'm glad you liked Lancelot's speech, I was worried it might be a little OTT. I LOVE those poems – especially the first one; it sums up me and Trev very well and so I had to include it. The second one is one of my Mum's favourites; I found them on the internet a long time ago, but wanted to include them here. Her talk with her parents about Dag comes out in the next chapter; and she speaks more to Arthur about Pelagius, which will help her overcome her dislike of Arthur. You will find out about Tristan, and she will help him heal – to be honest she is the only one who can….she too has a scarred soul like him. Love your story SOOO MUCH! I look forward to the chapters a lot – the latest one is definitely my favourite…to date:O)
Aelia O'Hession: Oh brill, thanks! Celtic lore, really? Shows what I know – still my Dad, bless him 'is not into that rubbish' as he calls it and we have had many heated arguments about it (usually ending with me calling him a bigot and exiting stage left!) No, don't feel terrible at least you get what you want out of the story! LOL Dag will NOT suffer too much in this story – I PROMISE you - and he WILL have a happy ending too (as they all do always, because I am sad muppet!) Lucan will feature more in the next chapter, and I hope you like this one! Glad to hear I'm off the hook…for now anyway! LOL Glad you liked this one too!
Sorceress Misha: Indeed it was, and it becomes apparent what in the next few chapters as Devon tries to help him come to terms with his grief. LOL Rabid plot bunnies – NNOOOOOO! LOL Thanks for the link, I went, I read and in places I cried and in places I went AWWWW! Will keep coming back to read any new ones, plus I only read a few….but they were so much better than mine! Still, thanks for including my scribblings there… :O)
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 Thirteen!
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Heart & Soul
Chapter Thirteen – Mischief
A week later Devon was keen to be up and around; but Merlin, Van, Dagonet and even Aida forbade it. She was not impressed, and being the sort she was, ignored them. Tristan watched as she slowly dressed herself.
"They will not like it…" he muttered.
"What will they do to me? Smack my wrist? Oooh, I'm frightened!" she widened her eyes and pretended to quake.
Tristan could not help but smile; she leaned down and kissed his cheek. He painfully lifted his arm and pulled her into a hug "Sister, you do my heart good…" he whispered.
"Well, then that makes it all worthwhile already!" she grinned, not letting on that leaning over at that angle hurt her side like Hades.
Lancelot, who was at least allowed out of bed now, laughed at her "You will not be saying that when they hunt you down!"
"Ha! Without my brother they are like lost lambs…all milling around without their wolfhound to guide them! They will not hunt me….anyway, I am too fast for them. They do not know all my hiding places…not even Dag….." She snorted in derision.
She turned and crept to the door "If they ask, say you were asleep….they'll not know no different, and it will save you both the inquisition from Arthur and Dag…and…" she paused dramatically "Vanora!" they both rolled their eyes in mock horror at the last name, knowing what a temper she had – though in truth Devon's was a thousand fold worse.
Devon left, her tinkling laugh trailing behind her. Lancelot turned to Tristan "She is going to be in so much shit when she comes back, if they find out she's missing!" he grinned.
"Probably; but she's my sister, she'll deal with it." Tristan dismissed; secretly proud of her for being so stubborn – just as he would have been, if he'd been able to get about unaided. It had been over 2 weeks now in total and, like Devon, he was going stir crazy.
A short while later she was back "That was quick…get scared?" Lancelot smirked.
"No, I've come for my brother…we're going out, he will go mad if kept confined so; you can come too if you want."
Tristan nodded, glad now she could read him like a book…..even though neither could truly understand how he was so open to her, and she to him.
"He can't walk anywhere, and he certainly can't ride a horse!" Lancelot snorted.
"Who said aught about walking anywhere or riding a horse?" she pushed the door wider and backed in a very small wagon.
It was the one they used to tow some of the armoury equipment around the fort with; attached to the other end was a very disgruntled looking Gypsy.
"She is not happy, but I've spoke with her and she is willing…for now. So make the most of it, for I know not when she will be this accommodating again!" She grinned.
"You'll both fit in, I measured…." Both men had to admire her thoughtfulness, and Tristan was proud of the fact that she had figured out a way to help all of them escape the room that had begun to resemble a prison to him.
The two knights looked at each other…they hadn't really disobeyed orders since training, and now was a perfect time – they were free men after all, so to hell with all the protocols!
Lancelot clambered out of bed and he and Devon gingerly helped Tristan into a tunic and then to lay down in the wagon, Lancelot sat next to him. She stuck her head round the doorway, checking the coast was clear.
"Devon, a horse and a wagon, however small, sticking out of a sickroom is going to be a bit of a giveaway…trust me!" laughed Lancelot. "I mean even if we were seen, what would you say? 'Oh, Gypsy - I told you already, we can't come out and play today!"
"Listen, I'm just glad this room isn't on the second floor…I have no idea how I'd have got this lot up the stairs!"
They all three laughed; even Tristan, despite the pain and his own reticence could see the humorous sight they must make.
And the vision of Devon, manhandling a wagon and disgruntled horse up two flights of stairs, to get her and two rickety knights out without being seen, almost made him laugh out loud.
There was no one around so they moved off; Devon sitting on the wagon and the other two getting comfortable in the back.
"Where is everyone anyway?" Asked Lancelot.
"Well…."
"Oh Goddess…how did I know you'd have a hand in it!" Smirked Lancelot, rolling his eyes; the two had become close since they had been confined together in the sick room.
In fact Bors laughed they had their own little gang; she, Dag, Tristan and Lancelot, with possibly Gawain and Galahad tagging along whenever they could – just like the annoying little brothers they seemed to be…….
"Shut up and let me tell you…I got the herd to keep Bors and Van busy. Jols is out getting supplies anyway, Aida is seeing to some of the sick in the fort, along with Merlin. Dag is off on some random errand with Lucan that the boy dreamt up for me; I swear that boy is an angel, and such a masterful liar! He has an innocence about him that would fool anyone – even bloody Merlin!" she chuckled.
Guinevere is with Arthur….." she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively "for a Christian, he certainly isn't worried about the whole sex before marriage rule! If I were Arthur I would be seriously worried about his own litter of little bastards!"
It was too much for Lancelot who roared with laughter, Tristan grinned knowing she spoke true.
Out of nowhere Gawain and Galahad appeared "Where you lot off to; aren't you supposed to be in bed still!" Gawain asked innocently, knowing full well they were.
"Shit!" Devon muttered.
"Are we given to understand you forgot to deal with the twins?" Lancelot asked mildly.
"Shut up Lance…."
"Where you going?" Gal bounded up "You shouldn't be up…"
"No you shouldn't…" agreed Gawain with a smirk "But…"
"What?" Devon asked suspiciously, wondering if she was going to like the trade off.
"We won't tell if we can come with you." Gal raised an eyebrow.
"Alright, but I drive…and be careful….don't bounce Tris around as you get in the back…" she ordered sternly as she agreed reluctantly to let them come; the two young knights went past her to climb carefully into the wagon, balancing on the side and holding onto the seat she was sitting on.
"That was easy…" Gal admitted "I thought you might say no…"
"Ah, but you're so cute when you pout!" she reached over and ruffled his hair.
He grimaced "I don't pout!" then grinned "Am I?"
She cuffed him lightly across the head "Aye, you are!" she chuckled.
Gawain rolled his eyes "Devon don't be telling him that – that's all he'll do now if he can't get his own way….."
"Aye he might…..but it's silent; so no moaning!" she grinned.
Gawain laughed, whilst Galahad looked confused "Did she just insult me again?" all the knights laughed harder….even Tristan smirked.
She looked to the sky and let out a low whistle, a hawk came wheeling down screeing loudly "You have a visitor…"
"How do you know how to do that?" Tristan asked looking up at the sky and saw her, his hawk. "But she'll not come; I have no arm to offer her…." He sighed.
"Then you do not know women my brother…for we are nothing if not tenacious creatures with those we love…..and she loves you very muchly." she smiled, reaching down and patting his shoulder "and in answer to your question, you taught me – I've watched you do it so many times, when I followed you."
Tristan grinned at her; sure enough the hawk landed on the side of the wagon and then floated gracefully onto Tristan's chest. Moving slightly as he shifted uncomfortably with her claws gripping where he'd been stitched. Eventually she found a spot she was happy with that did not cause him discomfort.
"How ya been, eh? How ya been? Never thought I'd see you again…" he murmured lovingly at the bird.
"Marvellous isn't it? If he were like that with a woman he would have a wife by now!" Lancelot said in mock disbelief.
Devon cuffed his head "Play nice Lancelot!" she grinned.
"How you going to make me?" He snorted. She showed him the boots she was wearing under the loose fitting gown she'd donned. There were two small daggers in it "Never go anywhere without them. You were saying?" she asked mildly.
"I was saying how I was looking forward to playing nice with my brothers….." Lancelot gave her his best innocent look, and studiously ignored the snorts that came from the three knights in the wagon with them.
"Hmmm…..that's what I thought." she smirked.
Lancelot looked more closely "Good Goddess!"
Devon looked round startled "what! Who did you see? Don't tell me it's Van or Aida….Goddess, I'll never hear the end of it!" she rolled her eyes.
"No….no it's not that…." Lancelot made himself look like he might faint.
"What, are you ill again?" Devon was getting anxious. Lancelot winked at Gawain and Galahad as they looked over and then raised an eyebrow at Tristan.
"Oh yeah…." Said Galahad, also making himself look green, Gawain joining him.
"What.Is.It…" she was getting irritated now.
"You're wearing a gown…." Tristan pointed out calmly.
"What?" she looked at her brother as if he were mad "So?"
"So they…we…have never seen you in one…ever. They think it worth the jest…" he shrugged "little things, please little minds….."
"Spoilsport!" grumbled Galahad.
"Could you lot be any more childish!" Devon grinned rolling her eyes.
"Do I get a ruffle or a thump?" Galahad braced himself for either, then felt a wop "ah…a thump" but then his hair was ruffled "oh and a ruffle as well… Ah well, I can live with that…" he grinned as Devon leant down and kissed his cheek.
"Why a gown Devon?" Gawain asked.
"Stitches…." Tristan said "Right?"
"Aye…stitches. My usual clothes would rub my wound too much, I've learnt in the past – though never had any other options until now. Van let me have this, and it doesn't rub – hence I'm wearing a gown; though I doubt she'd intended me to wear it quite so soon." She held her face up to the morning sun "But it so wonderful to get outside again, is it not brother?"
Tristan had his eyes closed and merely nodded, the hint of a smile on his face as he stroked his hawk. At this moment he was as content as could be….despite…..but he would not think of that now….
All he needed was an apple. Suddenly he felt a thud on his chest, he opened his eyes to see an apple sitting there; he looked enquiringly up wondering where in Hades it had dropped from….
"I thought you could do with one by now Tris…I filched it earlier…shhhh…" she held a finger to her lips, "don't tell Arthur…." She grinned.
He flashed a smile back – but you know, it was almost odd the way they could do this; especially since they came back.
"Were you always on your own Dev?" Asked Galahad.
"Aye….except for one year. Then he died too…." She sighed.
"You must have got lonely…."
"Sometimes…but I learnt I could be happy on my own – I learnt that isolation can be loved as well as hated; and being on my own I could not be hurt again.
Plus there was no one to tell me what to do, to order me around. I was my own master; I chose my own fate, my own future…" she smiled at the young knight "Freedom to choose is a wonderful thing is it not Galahad?"
"Aye, that it is…." Smiled the young man with a hitch in his voice; he would not say, but he felt luckier than her.
He looked at his brother knights and knew that for all his moaning, he at least had not be alone for the last 15 years – had had people to rely on. If he had had to choose between his life and Devon's, he would choose the life he'd led every time.
Freedom was a wonderful thing, she was right – but hers had been harder won, he felt, than his own.
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They made it as far as the gates before Dagonet caught up with them. He was not a happy man…..in fact none of the ever remembered him being this angry.
"What the fuck do you lot think you're doing?" he raged "It's only been a week since you were at death's door, now you're out bloody gallivanting around the fort!"
He glared at Gawain and Galahad "I'll take her, you take them back to the room…." The two younger knights merely nodded.
Then he spied Gypsy; Dag knew no one else would have persuaded the beast to be hitched to a wagon except Devon….they had all had dealings with the horse whilst she was sick, and had decided (though no one had told her) that if she'd died the horse was going too….the beast was a nightmare to handle and all hated her. Even Jols wasn't keen, and he loved all horses.
"This was your idea!" he asked incredulously "What were you thinking wench! How to die once more! What, you're thinking of writing a tome called 'the knight's guide on how to die stupidly'!"
Lancelot flinched and exchanged a look with Tristan who smirked. Both knew that was probably not the brightest thing to say to the woman with a temper many a demon would be proud of...
Dagonet swept her into his arms as the wagon was turned round. That was until she started thumping him on the chest to be put down "Let me loose, you Ox!" although her fists were making no dent on him at all, he set her on her feet purely so she would not harm herself.
She stood, hands on hips, blond hair flowing and eyes a dark amber, two little red spots on her cheeks –she was as angry as he was now.
"First lovers tiff…."smiled Galahad dreamily.
"First lover's all out war you mean!" smirked Lancelot, having been on the receiving end of her temper more than once now "she's is going to flatten him!"
He sat behind Tristan and lifted the scout into his lap, so that he could see the impending explosion between his sister and the man she adored more than life, or death…..
"HOW DARE YOU! Who the hell do you think you are anyway! I'll do what I damn well please Sir Knight!" The last two words dripped sarcasm.
"How dare I? HOW DARE I!" Yelled Dagonet back.
"Ooh, have we ever heard him shout before!" Galahad asked, 'talk about clash of the titans!' he thought.
"Not really…I don't think so…" Gawain replied, looking down at Tristan and Lancelot who shook their heads in agreement.
"Never!" Said Lancelot "this should be good!"
"I'll tell you how I bloody dare, wench! You nearly died! Understand? And I am not about to go through all that sodding torment again…and certainly not so poxy soon!"
"I have nearly died before and there was not all this bloody fuss!"
"No, that is because YOU WERE ALONE! There was no one to 'fuss' as you put it…Now there is - ME!"
"Oh, get stuffed…you great ox…" she stormed towards the battlements, with Dagonet in hot pursuit.
"Round one to Dag I think…." Smirked Gawain.
"Aye….but she will win the war; women always do…" sighed Tristan with a smile. She had such a temper, he loved that.
"Shame we'll miss the end…." Sighed Galahad.
"No you won't…go fetch Bors, then you can go and watch the fireworks and report back to us when she's chucked him over the battlements!" grinned Lancelot.
Minutes later the younger knights had left an irritated Bors, muttering about missing all the fun, aiding Lancelot in getting Tristan back to bed.
The two younger knights were trotting towards the battlements, but broke into a run when they heard shouting.
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This time Van was there backing up Dagonet. Devon was so angry she was almost puce coloured. "I DON'T NEED TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO!"
"WE ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU, YOU UNGRATEFUL COW!" yelled Van.
"WELL DON'T!" Dagonet stood looking somewhat vindicated as Van tore into Devon. "AND YOU CAN STOP LOOKING SO BLOODY SMUG AN' ALL!" she stamped her foot in frustration.
"I have taken care of myself, BY MYSELF, for 16 sodding, bloody summers - if was sick, I was sick BY MYSELF and if I got well, I got well BY MYSELF. I hunted BY MYSELF, I fought BY MYSELF, I lived BY MYSELF. NO ONE CARED ABOUT ME….NO ONE WAS THERE FOR ME….I JUST HAD ME!" She almost screamed at end - Dagonet began to understand….
"No one, NO ONE, told me what to do or when to do it…..why the bloody hell should I start letting YOU" she jabbed a finger at Dagonet "do it now!" She glared viciously at him.
He rubbed a hand over his eyes as he began to understand this went deeper than just her resenting being told what to do; she was afraid that she might learn to lean on him and he leave her, and then she'd have to cope by herself again. Hadn't Van told them that Devon believed that all she loved left her eventually?
He touched Van's arm as she was about to launch another volley "Because I love you so much…I could not live without you…" he muttered quietly.
"I…..what?" She stopped mid tirade.
"I could not cope if something happened to you again Devon. And remember Tristan was badly hurt and Lancelot is still not right, if they sickened again and died, what would you do? But you are the most important to me…I could not lose you…" he looked at her then, his eyes showed his love and concern as well as his anger, which was quickly dissipating.
Devon stood resolutely for merely a moment before she turned on her heel and ran off, but he could see her twisting her hands…she might not be crying, but she was not far off.
"I'll go…" he said to Van.
"What's her problem? This is more than not wanting to be bossed around isn't it?" Van's anger too was waning, and now she was just looking concerned.
"I think she's frightened she'll love me too much, come to need to me too much and I'll leave…" he sighed.
"Ah…well, that's going to take some getting round….."
"I know…and I'd best start now."
However, when he got to her favourite place in the fort, the stables….she was gone.
His heart lurched, she must love him a lot to run….he could never see Devon running from a fight normally; but where?
"I know where she's gone boy….and it won't be far…." He turned to see Aida smiling at him.
"Bors told me, when he returned Gypsy, that he had never really heard you raise your voice before, yet I could hear you both yelling all the way over here! She's a real little mischief isn't she, to annoy you like that!"
"Aye mother, she is…" he smiled sadly.
"But you love her very much….." she stated more than asked.
"Aye…." He thought for a moment and then grinned ruefully "I love her very muchly…."