Thanks to all who read and especially to all who take a moment to let me know they're reading. Hope you let me know if I begin to cause you to lose interest with all my drabble, but sometimes I just get lost in my own world…
Disclaimer: If only… but since I don't, I write about them for fun. No money has or will change hands for this story.
Gawain woke the next morning feeling hungry. He was trying to decide how he could get up and go in search of something to eat when there was a knock on the door and then it opened to allow entry to the woman carrying a tray of food. "Good, you're awake. I hope you're hungry. I didn't know what you liked so I fixed some of everything, bacon, eggs, bread and hot porridge with butter and honey." Sarah spoke cheerfully. She wanted to let him know that she wasn't upset by their conversation and hoped he wouldn't be either.
He watched her place the tray on the table and noted that she was smiling. He decided she should smile more often, it lit her face and made even the room seem suddenly brighter. "Actually, I am hungry. Thank you." He tried to sit up a little and found his shoulder was still too stiff and painful to do much with his left arm. She came hurrying over and offered her hands to help him. "Thank you, I'm a little stiff from just lying here for so long." She helped him sit and placed his pillow behind his back to support him. When she made sure he was comfortable and not in pain, she went back and got his tray and placed it in his lap, removing the cloth that was covering the food.
He took a bite of the eggs and found his mouth watering for more. He felt he should carry on a conversation but found he didn't want to stop eating long enough. He saw that she was just sitting in the chair by the bed, watching him eat. He swallowed the bite he had in his mouth and took a drink of the wine in his cup. He wrinkled his nose and she smiled. "I mixed it with water. The last thing you need is to get drunk with your breakfast. I don't think you'd enjoy having a sick stomach on top of your shoulder." He returned the smile, "Thank you. Breakfast is delicious, but you didn't have to do this. I could have made do with just some porridge and bread."
When he finished speaking, she stood up and reached for the plate, "I'm sorry, if you only wanted porridge, you didn't have to eat the rest." He thought she was teasing, but he reached for the plate anyway. She wasn't smiling, but her eyes had a special glint. "No, this is fine." He started, then he saw the corners of her mouth quivering with trying to hide her amusement. "Oh, in a joking mood are we?" He let his smile show his amusement and she laughed. "Serves you right. I slaved over a hot fire this morning to make this and you sounded like you didn't appreciate it." This time her smile belied her words.
Sarah noticed he had almost finished every bite, "If you'd like more, I can fetch it for you. It will only take a few minutes." She offered. "As tempting as that sounds, I think I've had plenty. Thank you again. I really appreciate your effort." He put emphasis on the last sentence mocking her earlier statement. He was glad he did when she responded with her smile, "You're very welcome, Sir Knight, it was the least I could do when you endangered your life to keep me safe." He could tell that although she smiled, she really meant what she said.
"No thanks are needed, Milady. All in a days work for a knight such as myself." He told her with an answering smile. If he didn't know better he would think she was flirting with him and he found that he liked it more than a little bit. But he would have to be careful and not scare her like he did the first day. She took the tray and placed it on the table next to the bed. He tried to reach around and get his pillow from behind his back and found he couldn't reach it without straining his shoulder. She quickly came over and moved it as she helped him lower himself back to lie down.
She leaned over him and looked at his bandages. As she did so, her hair fell forward almost brushing his face. He wanted to reach up and take a handful and run his fingers through it, but he knew she wouldn't like it if he did. "Your bandages need to be changed." She stated simply. "They are not soaked, but your wound has been seeping and it will be worse if the blood dries. Would you like to wait for Dagonet or will you allow me to do it?" She looked at his face and he saw the question mirrored in her eyes.
"You can do it, if you don't mind. I promise I won't be a horrible patient." She saw him smile and moved to get some more of the bandages that Dag had left on the table. She was trying to find a knife to cut the ties that Dag had made the day before and Gawain told her, "My dagger is lying on top of my clothes over in the corner." She went over and picked it up, noticing his torn and blood stained tunic and trousers. "When I finish with this I'll take your clothes and wash them for you. If they aren't cleaned soon the stains might not come out. I'll try to mend the holes as well, but I must warn you, I'm not the best seamstress."
"Don't worry about it, I don't want you to feel you have to do these things." He was watching her face as she unbound his shoulder. He was amused by the way she bit her lower lip when she was concentrating. He wondered what her reaction would be if he nibbled on her lip and had to turn away as he felt his body react to the imagined response. He couldn't remember ever restraining his actions with another woman the way he was trying to with Sarah. If he wanted to kiss one of the other women in the fort, he just did. But he had found out first hand what happened when he did that with her. She ran like a scared rabbit and he didn't want to risk it while he was laid up in bed. He didn't know if the others would try to bring her back.
When she had unbound his shoulder, she checked the wound, both front and back and found no fresh blood. The bandage was stained pink, which was to be expected, but there was no bright red stains. The wound had sealed itself and the healing had begun. "It looks good considering how bad it was yesterday. She took a piece of the cloth and wet it in the bowl on the table. She then lightly washed around the area, removing any dried blood that was left. The blood had run down his chest and back, so she washed as much of it off as she could without moving the covers. She knew Dag and Galahad had undressed him and she didn't know what if anything covered him underneath the blankets.
After she finished washing, she took another piece and dried the skin, lightly blowing to help it dry. She didn't want to bandage wet skin, it could cause infection or cause the bleeding to start back up. She saw him close his eyes tightly, "I'm sorry if I'm causing you pain," she said softly, "but I'm almost through."
He opened his eyes and almost told her that the only pain he felt was from having to restrain the desire to take her in his arms. It was hard enough to let her rub the wet cloth over his skin, but when she blew her breath over it, he had to close his eyes in frustration. "I'm fine. Pain is a good thing. It lets me know I'm alive." 'Even the sweet pain you're causing,' he finished silently.
He saw her smile as she applied some of Dag's salve to the wound. Then she placed a clean piece of cloth on both sides and wrapped the long strips around his chest and over the top of his shoulder, tying them in place. When she finished, she helped him ease back into the prone position to rest. "I hope it didn't hurt too much. But you should be fine until tomorrow now. Unless you need me for something else, I need to go to the tavern, I promised I'd help Vanora today."
He wanted to tell her that he did indeed need her, but it wouldn't be fair to her when all he wanted was for her to be near. It was torture to have her so close and not be able to touch her, but it was a sweet torture. He slowly shook his head, "Thank you Sarah." Was all he said as she gathered the tray and dirty bandages to take with her. Before she turned to leave, she told him, "I'll be back later this evening. As long as you're abed Vanora is letting me work the early shift so I can help with your care. That isn't a problem, is it? If it is, my feelings won't be hurt, just tell me and I can swap back and work nights."
"No, Sarah, I'd like for you to come back later." He watched her smile and felt good about this visit. It had ended on a more positive note than the one the night before. He watched her leave and relaxed, closing his eyes. He would rest as much as he could until time for her to come back. Then he would try to tell her some things about himself as well as finding out about her. He really wanted to get to know her better and hoped she felt the same.
Sarah took a moment to catch her breath. She wasn't expecting the way her heart had raced as she waited for his answer to her question of whether or not to return. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath until she released it when he told her yes. Why it mattered whether or not he wanted her to come she didn't understand. She was going to do what she could while he was sick whether he wanted it or not. But it made her happy that he did. She hurried toward the kitchen to unload the tray so she could go to work. She found herself looking forward to the time that she could come back and see him again. She didn't want to think about why she looked forward to it, she just did.