Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character names, save my own original creations. I do not wish to be compensated for this work, nor do I wish to infringe on any copyrights held by any stakeholders of the movie King Arthur. This work is an original creation, based on the legend of King Arthur and his knights.
Scribe Notes:
LilChokLaTePig: Thank you for your review! I am glad you like my story. Cerys At Knight is a play on words, based on Lancelot falling in love with herwith the moonlight across her skin. Such as as many of the chapter titles are, if I can find meaning in them to do so. My name? I started out with Carolydd, but found I didn't mesh with it. I changed to Cardeia and I like it. Just a pen name, nothing more. It is perhaps a play on Celtic language phonetics, but it is loosly based.
LilStrummrgrl527: Hold on! A few more wonderful things must happen before that can come to pass. Believe me I have it written but not quite ready to post. Octus proved a point for Cerys and for Lancelot. Dirty old Roman man aside, he was able to make Lancelot get upset and have Arthur tell him it would be fine. There is another bit of confusion that has to come from that wee altercation in the hall and it is quite humorous.
Sokorra Lewis: Kisses soon I promise. Gawain and Galahad teasing? Hmm, you gave me an idea! (grin) I am glad you liked the ending. I was writing along like a madwoman and got to that line and lifted my hands off the keyboard and went "AH! thats it for that chapter!" I love those epiphanies. I had chocolate to celebrate.
Ailis-70: Hold onto yourself. I have another gift for you in these two chapters. The second one again, as was the last Tristan moment. I read your recent post and sent you a review, and I think you need this. So enjoy! I was going to post it seperate but decided to get it proofed and up tonight.
Hairpins... Uncanny but necessary for another scene I have coming up, which is still in my head. (big grin)
Calliann: You are welcome! It is so much fun to get these spurts of creative juice and I just write and write and write. I am glad you enjoyed the hair pin scene. It's one of my favorite humorous scenes to date in this story. Enjoy the next two chapters!
LovelyHeidi: You make me laugh with your review. Fell off? Oh my... Yes, Perceval would be a nice young tidbit. He's an interesting one that I am still developing. I hope to use him again in some way! Here is two more chapters for you! I hope you like them!
History2: I got your reivew in and I cried. No! Happy tears! Really! You move my pen. You describe Cerys exactly as I picture her. The scene where Arthur knows about Tristan'salter-world meant a lot to his character development. He is an understanding man, but also he values his friends continued support so much that he is willing to accomodate. But such as Lancelot knows, I think Arthur understands why Tristan let him come with him. These men take care of each other, sometimes without even realizing it.
I am so glad you anticipate my story. This is the first body of work I have been excited about in a long. long time, and for other people to feel the same makes me feel validated in my efforts on it.
Thank you!
Babaksmiles: Here is more! Yes, Cerys would wait, she is a stubbornly patient woman normally. However, I think she may be reaching her own breaking point, this is all new emotional territory to her, as well as Lancelot!
Hessa: my review to you today did not seem to post properly so I hope it made sense! Thank you for your kind words. I am enjoying the build-up too, kind of like experiencing falling in love all over again through my characters .I love falling in love, its so euphoric!
I'm also happy to see a fellow Canuck up here! Way to go, hoser! pass me a beer eh, lets go watch hockey in my igloo! (BIG grin)
et cetera et cetera: My favorite romances are the ones that slow-burn. So much more fun! The best ones are the ones where people work through amazing obstacles (personal or physical) to be together eventually. I am glad you are excited and here is two more for you!
Chapter 33: Happiness
It was winter solstice and Cerys woke Brinn early.
"Brinn! Get up! Get up!" She said as she hopped across the cold floor from rug to rug in her bare feet. She carried a bundle in her arms, his new cloak. Her hair was undone and she was wearing her underdress, but she was too excited to put on a robe or start a fire from the coals.
Brinn looked out sleepily from behind his curtain. "Is it dawn?"
"Not quite. But I wanted to wake you early! It's winter solstice!" She laughed.
Cerys had never felt this happy before. She usually spent her day of celebration working hard to make sure everyone else had a good time, then partaking only when the majority of the days work was done. She had always loved this day of celebration, that was true, but this year, it was different.
Since her injuries, since Brinn had come into her life, since she had taken the time to see around her life at the fort, she had taken new joy in everything. This was a new Cerys, and she decided that she liked her very much.
Today would be a fun day, and she would enjoy it from a different perspective. Today she was going to just be Cerys, and be with her family. Her thoughts turned to Lancelot again and she smiled.
And her knight. She hoped she would get to spend time with him, perhaps a dance.
"I've brought you a gift!" She said, holding her arms out with the bundle in her hands.
Brinn blinked and stood from his bed. He scratched his head and yawned. "What is it?"
"It's a gift for you silly. Open it!" She said as she jumped onto his bed. She felt like a young girl again, she was so excited to have him wear this.
Brinn's face lit with a smile and he pulled the cord around the bundle. The cloak unfolded. It was dark blue dyed wool, with red trimmed wool threads, set in a cross-hatched pattern. She had put two pockets in it, on the inside, and a polished bronze cloak pin across the front. Brinn held it in his hands, staring.
"Well... try it on!" Cerys encouraged.
Brinn sat, his eyes big, the cloak clutched in his hands. Cerys could see his lower lip trembling. Had she upset him? She hoped not, or it would be a bad start to the day. She put a hand to his arm and before she could ask what was wrong he threw his arms about her, cloak and all, giving her the fiercest hug she had ever had. He squeezed, and Cerys realized that he was becoming quite strong.
"Alright, alright." She said as she patted his back. Brinn loosed her and stared at the cloak again.
"This is very beautiful." He said slowly. "I've never had a cloak like this before."
He got up and brought it around his shoulders, closing the pin. He looked down and tilted one side of the clasp to look at it. Round discs with horse's heads sculpted into them looked back.
"These are horse heads!" He exclaimed then, looking to the other one the same way.
Cerys nodded. "Those were made by an old armourer who used to live here. He made those for my first cloak when I was very young. It is too short for me now. Considering you are a squire, horses are quite suitable!"
Brinn looked at Cerys with round eyes and a happy smile. He smoothed the panels of the cloak out and stuffed his hands back in through the arm holes. He seemed so happy and it made Cerys' heart burst.
"Do you like it?" She asked, standing again and coming over to tug at the hems, adjusting it across his young frame. She put a hand on either side of his shoulders and smiled at him. "I thought you could use a warm cloak."
"It is warm, and so new." He said solemnly. "I am afraid to wear it to get dirty in the stables!"
"Then you shall have to become a strong knight and buy yourself a cloak for every day of the week!" She exclaimed, then burst into giggles. Brinn joined her as he walked a few steps, testing it out.
He smiled and hugged her once more. "Thank you, it's the best gift."
With that, they began their day. Cerys dressed and pulled out the myriad of tokens she had stashed away, and began to wrap them in bundles of brightly dyed cloth. Brinn set to starting the fire up again and then trotted out towards the stable, once it was burning brightly.
Cerys hummed as she watched him stride out, his new cloak billowing out around him, a smile across his face that made her very, very happy.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
. Cerys' plan was to spend the day visiting and delivering gifts. Her mood was so light that she felt as if she was floating.
Dafydd had loved the small jars she had found for him. She had hugged him, telling his she was thankful for his help with her hands, showing him how they had completely healed. At a loss for words he had sat, misty-eyed, rolling them in his fingers. She had left then, promising to come by soon and discuss a new assistant for him.
Her next stop delivered gourd rattles to Bors and Lorina, who immediately gave one to their tiny son.
He had immediately put it into his mouth, sucking on the stem. Cerys had picked him up, much to the surprise of Lorina, and twirled him about, the both of them laughing. They had never seen Cerys so happy before. She stayed for a cup of hot cider, and then went on her way.
"Cerys looks like she's in love." Bors had grunted when she left. Lorina swatted him.
"Of course she is, you ox!" And they had both laughed.
Cerys had next visited Gawain and Galahad, who were still sleeping off the night before's drinking. She woke them by pounding on their door. Galahad had come to the door, his eyes foggy, his hair tousled.
"What?" He mumbled, one eye open, his tunic half on.
"Happy Solstice!" She cried, launching herself at him, hugging him. He grunted and then wrapped his arms about her as he backed into the room, unsteady from her attack.
"Not so loud!" Gawain had muttered from his place in his own bed, throwing a fur over his head and groaning.
Cerys left them each with new wineskins to replace the ones in their packs for travelling, and a kiss to each of them. She also replaced Galahad's supply of valerian while Gawain was turned the other way. He gave her hand a squeeze as she deposited it.
"Thank you, my sister." He said quietly. She had smiled so widely at that point that Galahad thought she was going to burst. He had never called her sister before, but at that moment, it seemed to fit.
Gawain turned his wineskin in his hands after she had left, running fingers over the lettering on its side. She had told him that it was his name in Latin. He couldn't read, so he assumed it was. he thought it looked noble.
"I've never seen her like that before." He murmured, looking up to his brother, who was pulling on a set of trews.
"It's good." Galahad agreed, his toothy grin wide.
Perceval loved his new flint rock, and promptly flung her over his shoulder and paraded out of the stables where she had found him, attempting to carry her away, spinning her about like a sack. She beat on his back and kicked in jest, both of them laughing. When he finally put her down, she gave him a kiss and darted back inside to find Jols.
Jols blushed beet red and put on a sheepish smile as he unwrapped a new set of woolen socks. He had immediately hugged them to his chest and given her a shy kiss on her cheek, which made her laugh and throw her arms about him.
"Oh Jols, what shall I do with you?" She exclaimed. Jols had just sighed and put his own arms about her, enjoying her closeness for a moment.
Once free of his embrace, she told them she must be going and left. She felt like she was going to burst with this happiness, and she was not quite sure where it was coming from. Her thoughts went to Lancelot. She couldn't wait to give him what she had decided would be a wonderful gift for him. She skipped a few steps.
As she strode out of the stables, Perceval stood with Jols and they watched her leave.
"Lancelot is a lucky sod." Jols said, shaking his head. "Think he's figured it out yet?"
Perceval nodded. "I do believe so. I just hope he makes the right decision."
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Cerys was now knocking at Arthur and Guinevere's rooms. She made her five long hard knocks, and Arthur ripped open the door.
"Happy solstice!" he bellowed and picked her up, swinging her in through the entryway and kicking it closed. His eyes too held such a liveliness that Cerys hugged him a moment and drank it in. She didn't get to see him so happy that often. It was wonderful. He was always so serious with his duties. His softer side she loved so much.
He set her down as Guinevere looked up from her seat next the hearth.
"Happy Solstice Guinevere!" She exclaimed and rushed the woman. They embraced and Guinevere laughed.
"You are in wonderful humour this day!"
"That I am." She said, grinning as she pulled packages out of the basket looped on her arm.
"What's this?" Arthur asked as she thrust a small bundle into his hands.
Cerys sat on a cushion opposite Guinevere and handed her another small bundle. She looked expectantly to both of them.
"Well... open them!" she burst out, her hands flying.
"You do this every year, making sure that we all have something to celebrate with." Arthur said, coming to sit beside her on the floor, crossing his legs. "My mother used to do this."
Cerys put a hand to his cheek. "It is because of that I do." He nodded and they shared a quiet moment, each remembering.
Guinevere let out a peal of happy laughter as she lifted out a small folded flap of bright blue leather. She flipped back the top, and inside were bone needles of different sizes. There was a Latin numeral above each, etched into the leather.
"It's a proper sewing kit so you can get better at fixing your husband's tunics." Cerys teased.
Arthur laughed and winked to his wife as he unfolded the cloth across his own package. He looked sideways at it, and held it up.
"What is it?" He asked, looking to her.
She grasped it from his hands and held it up, to form an L-shape. She pointed to the uniform marks on one side, then flipped it over and pointed again.
"It's for drawing. You can make diagrams with it. I got it from a passing merchant this summer. It may help you with your aqueduct."
He sobered and held it in his hand. "Very thoughtful gift my cousin. Truly you spoil us, with everything that you do."
She waved a hand at him. He rubbed a finger across the metal square, resting it in his lap, then tousled her hair, his large hand covering the top of her head. She giggled and ducked away from him, smoothing it out again.
Guinevere handed her a cup of mulled cider and she sipped while they chatted. The fire was warm, and she relaxed. Arthur had shifted so that he was close to Guinevere and was running his fingers through her hair slowly. Cerys watched them. He was being more affectionate than normal. Guinevere was beaming as she pulled each needle out of the casing and looked at it. One hand was absently rubbing her stomach.
"You two look very happy." Cerys said, between sips. She wondered if finally her friend and cousin were going to have a baby. It was time, and they had been together some years without one. It seemed to be a likely answer, and she had noticed Guinevere eating less, only nibbling her food in the mornings, and running to the loos more often.
"Ahh... well..." Arthur started, scratching at his stubbled face and looking sheepish.
"You're going to have a baby." Cerys said quietly, winking to Guinevere. Guinevere nodded. .
"How did you know?" Arthur asked, a questioning look to his face.
"Women knew these things." Cerys and Guinevere chimed together, then giggled.
"No one knows yet." Arthur said, shaking his head at the two of them. Cerys put a finger to her lips, signalling she would not tell a soul.
"I am happy for you both."
They sat for a while longer and chatted, and Cerys eventually got around to telling Arthur about Octus.
Arthur nodded, flipping the square in his hand and looking at the markings. He set it to his lap again and sighed.
"I have seen to that. He believes you are spoken for, as he asked after you yesterday."
Cerys raised an eyebrow. "And who did you tell him had spoken for me? He believes me involved with Perceval."
Arthur cleared his throat and looked to his wife. "Well, your jest may have been in vain. I told him you were claimed by Lancelot."
She sobered and looked at him, then to Guinevere, then back to her cousin.
"You... You what?" She stammered. "Lancelot?" She set her cup down. "Does he know of this?"
"No."
Cerys blinked. She was trying to be mad, she was trying to be upset at being "given" to the very man she loved, even in a ruse. But, she wasn't. She realized that she was perhaps a bit sad that it was not truth that Arthur spoke.
"Oh." Was all she said.
Guinevere and Arthur looked to each other, mischief in their eyes.
Lancelot filled me in on your fiction last night after I spoke with Octus. I understood after that why Octus seemed a tad confused, but it has been smoothed out."
"I would hate for any problems to arise out of that. He shows no grief for his dead family. He was quite forward in his interests towards me..." She shuddered as she spoke it. Horrible man, she thought to herself.
"He is quite Roman." Guinevere added.
All three nodded in unison, understanding what Guinevere meant perfectly.
Cerys smiled and slapped her thighs. "I must keep moving, I have a few more stops to make before I begin to help with dinner." She rose, Arthur standing as well to help her.
"Truly this is wonderful news about your baby. It is the best Winter Solstice gift."
Arthur laced his fingers on top of his head and stretched, standing as well. "As is your happiness, cousin."
Cerys nodded, smiled and reached up to kiss her cousins cheek. She grasped Guinevere's hand and then turned to leave, her step again bouncing.
After Cerys had departed, Arthur took his wife in his arms and kissed her. Guinevere pulled back a moment and looked to him.
"She didn't seem too upset by being promised to Lancelot."
"That's because she loves him, and I fully intend to give her away to him when he figures it out. Have I told you about their kiss in the baths?"
Guinevere smiled and shook her head. "Perhaps some time you will?"
Arthur nodded and kissed his wife again. "Yes, but not right now." He murmured as he picked her up and carried her to their bed.
Dear Reader:
Babies are wonderful and I really wanted Guinevere and Arthur to be happy. Also, now is a great time, since Cerys will be able to open up and feel the joy they share with each other. Before she may have seen it as "more work", and happy for the task. Now she sees it as a joyful gift!
Her mothering of Brinn is making her a happy woman, I think she repressed her biological clock, and now it shall start ticking, with everything in her life falling into place (Well, almost everything).
Cerys loves Solstice and has gifts for all. I have to admit that this chapter for me was (ok here goes) a big ole Mary Sue (whatever that really means). I LOVE Christmas and my list grows exponentially throughout the year as I gather gifts for all my loved ones. I spend most of December wrapping and baking. It is such a happy time of year for me. I wanted to give Cerys this gift of experiencing it in a new light, with her newfound energy and happiness in her station, being able to come to terms with her feelings instead of burying them. I did that too.
So now you know. Onwards towards the next chapter! Tristan fans, grab your mouse...
Cardeia
