"Congratulations Gawain. So have you bed her yet?" Lancelot spoke out suddenly into the silence and smirked at Anise's blush. "I'll take that as a yes then."
"I should go and find Day." She murmured quickly and allowed Gawain to kiss her lightly before hurrying off down the corridor. She could hear the cheers and jeers from the other Knights as she rounded the corner but at least it was out in the open now. Her dark eyes scanned for any signs of Day and Anise searched high and low; pushing her curls out of her view and looking behind her constantly to make sure she hadn't missed anything.
As it was still early in the morning the mists still lay over the fort and Anise found herself strolling around the fountain in the gardens, trailing her hand dreamily through its waters and allow the sharp iciness to seep into her skin. It was refreshing and her lips curled up into a blissful smile as she sighed into the mist. Hearing something rustle indistinctly to her left Anise turned immediately and caught a glimpse of some unknown object moving further into the gardens. Anise gathered her skirts to allow her to move faster and followed the shadow through the screens of white haze. She stopped a moment after she lost sight of the indistinguishable shape and peered into the suffocating white barrier. After a few more moments of spinning around in the same spot in hope of spotting the figure again Anise gave up and hung her head in vain, letting her skirts drop from her hand and her adrenalin of the chase to leave her.
"I didn't mean to run from you but I couldn't face the questions." A soft voice called next to Anise.
She raised her head to see a tear-stained Day stood there; her face sorrowful and her emerald eyes glistening. Anise reached for the girl's hand and shivered at the coldness of it. It was obvious Day had been out here for a while without a cloak and had frozen in the chill air. She let herself be led away by Anise and followed her numbly; her skin tingling as warmth started to flood back through her.
"It's strange." She murmured through her hair as Anise escorted her into her room.
Anise waited patiently for her to speak again, not wanting to distract her from her thoughts. Instead she busied herself in sitting the girl on the bed and half-shutting the door to keep some of the draughts out.
"I'm used to wearing little more than a few pieces of leather in weather like this, and yet I've never been cold before. Don't you think it strange?" Day looked upwards at Anise with a blank expression, only a small frown revealing her emotion.
"It's a new environment and you've been used to the warmth of the fort for a few days." Replied Anise as she sat herself down next to the girl.
Day shook her head fervidly but her eyes still played across the wall facing her.
"No, no it's not that. It's…." She searched for the right word with difficulty. "It's doubt. Yes, doubt." Day nodded to reassure herself that she had found the right word and looked expectantly to Anise.
"Doubt of what?"
"Doubt of me." She replied expressionlessly.
"What have you to doubt about yourself?" Urged Anise gently.
"Not doubt of myself. The doubt of others in relation to me." Day looked at Anise with a frown and smiled without warning at the older girl.
Anise returned the previous frown and glanced down at herself, looking for some sign of what she could be smiling at.
"What is it?"
"You're in love." Squealed Day, her previous lapse forgotten and was swiftly replaced with excitement.
Anise grinned at her friend and let Day grab hold of her hands.
"So?"
"So what?" questioned Anise.
"Well who is it? And how long? Oh, and have you bed him yet?" shrieked Day with anticipation causing Anise to laugh.
"Gawain." Anise paused for Day to giggle in eagerness. "Not long, just before I met you. And yes." She muttered shamefacedly and felt Day pull her into a friendly embrace.
"Oh I'm so happy for you!"
Anise laughed at the girl and thanked her before looking into the girl's eyes. There was no trace of any tears or shock, it having to seemingly disappear and Day gain something back with she'd momentarily forgotten.
"Well how are you finding life in the fort?" Anise asked with innocence and decided to leave this morning's encounter lie.
"Very well thank you. They seem to be agreeing with me and Sir Tristan has been…helping me." Day blushed with guilt at the last part of her sentence and it was Anise's turn to squeal.
There was a knock at the door and the two girls jumped at the foreign noise.
"Yes?" Day called out and smiled delicately as Tristan' head poked round the door.
"I'll see you later Lady Day." Muttered Anise with a cough to stop her giggling and she gave Tristan a polite nod which he returned.
Tristan watched Anise leave before entering the room himself and looking over Day who sat on the bed.
"I didn't mean to upset you earlier." He murmured guiltily.
Day frowned at him in confusion for a moment before realising what he meant.
"Oh no it wasn't you who upset me." She cried and jumped to her feet.
A flash of relief crossed Tristan's eyes but afterwards settled a brooding anger.
"Then who?"
Day sighed at him and he moved towards her steadily.
"Who?" he pressed again, his deep voice rumbling dangerously low.
Day averted her eyes and shrugged, obviously hiding something from him and he knew it.
Tristan clutched her hand and asked again with his eyes, his thumb stroking her palm absent-mindedly.
"Galahad." She murmured with defeat but held his gaze with a pleading look. "He was concerned that's all."
Tristan growled but his grip on her hand was still as tender as before; almost as if he was playing with a fragile doll.
"Please don't." Day implored, knowing his thoughts.
Tristan didn't reply but instead let go of her hand; his fingers slipping away from her's slowly as he stalked out of the room.
The Knights were once again drinking in the pub as there was nothing else to do seeing as they hadn't been on a campaign in such a long time. The men laughed merrily as the drink took its desired effect, Lancelot sat with a barmaid on his lap and murmured wicked things into her ear to which she giggled.
Tristan appeared in the doorway and stormed over to the table where the Knight sat. He grabbed Galahad by the throat and rammed him up against a nearby wall. Everyone stopped at the sudden intrusion and could only watch. Galahad's face was one of pure shock and terror and his eyes were wide as Tristan's livid face came into focus.
"If you ever, and I mean ever, talk to her like that again I swear I'll do more than just threaten you." Whispered Tristan in a harsh growl before dropping Galahad to the floor.
The younger Knight choked as he was able to breathe again and could do no more than stare up at the dark Knight in terror as Tristan was known to keep his promises.
Nobody tried to stop him as he stomped out of the tavern silently and instead returned their gaze to Galahad. Dagonet helped him up off the ground and everyone looked at him questioningly.
"What was that about Galahad?" asked Gawain with concern.
Galahad blinked and shrugged as he sat back down at the table and swigged back his ale. He stared sullenly into the depths of his mug as everyone watched him before walking out of the tavern hurriedly, not bothering to answer Gawain's question.
"Do you think that had anything to do with Day?" wondered Gawain aloud.
"Who knows." Shrugged Anise as she nestled into Gawain's arm further. She suspected it did though.
Day was firing arrows at the targets on the practice field when Tristan found her. Her face was furrowed in concentration and she oozed confidence. Tristan's face stayed glum as he walked over to her and Day continued firing the arrows; a constant barrage of them jabbing into the targets with a thud. Just as Tristan reached her, Day strode off towards the target to collect her arrows and he watched her go. She marched back towards him and promptly turned her back on him in a defiant gesture.
"I asked you not to." Reprimanded Day in an angry tone.
"He needed to be taught a lesson anyway." Replied Tristan calmly.
"Perhaps, but not by my bidding." She murmured testily.
Tristan stayed silent as she growled in frustration and took to packing up her equipment. She didn't even bother to look up at him as he stood over her; watching her every move and admiring her. Day stood up with a grunt as she heaved the weapons over her shoulder and stalked off to see Arthur. Tristan watched her go and instead took out his sword and slashed grooves into one of the nearby wooden poles.
"Arthur?" Day called out into the dim chamber as she opened the door.
A small fire was burning fiercely in the corner of the room and there stood a desk littered with candle ends, maps and other parchments near to the door but there was no sign of the Roman commander.
"Arthur?" Day called out a little louder this time and started violently when a hand rested on her shoulder.
Day span around to face the intruder and breathed in relief at the face of Arthur. She let go of her position on the half-open door and explained that she'd been looking for him. Arthur smiled at her obvious fluster and waved her into his chamber.
"So what is it you seek Lady Day?" asked Arthur kindly as they sat themselves down in his chairs.
"Well I was hoping to return to my village for a few days to check that there have been no further attacks and that they are in no need of assistance." Day paused as she watched Arthur nod his head seriously. "But with your permission I would return promptly to the fort and continue with training Lady Anise."
Arthur smiled at her politeness and agreed to her request.
"Of course Lady Day. We are more than happy to accommodate you here and you can leave whenever you want." Spoke Arthur softly.
Day gave him her thanks and stood to leave the room but Arthur called out to her just as she reached for the doorknob.
"What happened this morning Lady Day?" he asked with concern.
Day's hand froze in midair; her fingertips barely brushing the cool metal of the handle.
"Nothing Sir Arthur. Everything is fine." She said quietly and leant her head forward to hide her face with her long hair.
Arthur hummed his disapproval at her answer but let her go and she rushed out of the room and towards her chamber.
A/N: Aww Tristan's getting all protective! Ya just gotta love him with all his hotness and stuff lol. And nowDay's making a run for it, gawd does nothing ever go right easily in my story? Mwaa guess not lol. What's gonna happen next? Thanks x