"Arthur…" A voice called him from far away, dragging him steadily through the layers of his distorted subconscious, till he blinked open his eyes and saw the subtle figure of Anise standing over him.
He groaned gruffly at his awakening and the sharp throbbing in his side till the woman stood next to him placed a soothing hand on his forehead.
"Shhh." She whispered calmly and smiled down at his weary face. "What happened?"
Arthur coughed hoarsely before speaking to her.
"I was stabbed by the Saxon leader." He spoke throatily and his face was drawn from his exhaustion and ill health.
Anise chided him with a quiet chuckle before moving to inspect the wound.
"It went deep." She stated with a tinge of concern as her eyes looked up from his bandages to meet Arthur's eyes.
"I'll live." He groaned restlessly before chuckling quietly to himself. "If Lancelot stops gloating over it within two months."
Anise gently replaced his tunic over the wound and gave him an amused look.
"Oh we both know he won't do that."
Arthur smiled at her remark and let his head fall back heavily into the pillows beneath him. He watched as she came around the bed towards him again and winced slightly as he shifted to get comfortable. Anise sighed good-naturedly and sat him up as gently as she could before adjusting his pillows and lying him back down. He murmured his thanks and let Anise help him to drink some water before he settled down. She too settled herself in a seat next to him and wiped his dampened brow with a wet cloth so that he could sleep.
"You know you don't have to stay here." Arthur said with a gentle tone as he watched her rinsing the cloth.
"Would you prefer if it was Lancelot?"
"Point taken." Replied Arthur with a small smile and Anise chuckled at him.
"Anise are you sure you're alright to be doing this?" Arthur asked once she had sat down again.
"I'm fine Arthur." She assured him and brushed her curls from her ashen face.
"You don't look fine." He murmured sternly. "You should rest; you used far more power than you're used to out there today."
"Arthur. I am fine." Anise replied tersely even as she felt a wave of nausea rushing up to meet her.
Arthur watched as her deep brown eyes fluttered wildly and finally snapped shut as her head slumped forward; her curls falling across her pallid face as her body slipped out of the safety of the chair and hit the floor with a sickeningly dull thud. The injured commander could do more than watch as his wound refused to let him move and he gasped at her limp appearance on the floor.
"Dagonet!" Arthur bellowed out. "Dagonet!"
After a few seconds a flustered looking Dagonet flew into the infirmary and stared at Arthur's distressed appearance. He followed his commander's pointing finger to the figure lying on the floor and rushed over quickly.
"Anise?" He asked softly in his booming voice as he rolled her over onto her side and made sure she was still breathing.
"Is she alright?" Arthur asked with concern as the gentle giant lifted the young woman into his arms and carried her over to a bed nearby.
"She's exhausted that's all. Her powers have drained her and her body can't hold onto her energy. Just let her rest for a while." Assured Dagonet quietly as he set her down and wheeled the bed over near Arthur so he could keep an eye on them both.
Arthur sighed in relief at his comments and watched her peaceful form near him as Dagonet excused himself and exited the room. Arthur watched him go before reaching out a hand and fondly stroking the girl's curls from her face. He fell asleep with his fingers tangled in those ringlets and a slight smile on his face.
"Gawain."
The blonde Knight turned at the mention of his name and frowned somewhat from the look on Dagonet's face, setting his mug of ale down on the hefty table.
"You might want to go to the infirmary. Anise collapsed." Murmured the older Knight and followed Gawain who jumped up from his seat and set off in a swift march.
Gawain opened the door of the infirmary in a hurry but stopped still when he saw the two patients. He frowned at the sight of Arthur's hand in Anise's hair but resigned himself to the thought of it simply being comforting to them both.
"What's wrong with her?" Gawain asked in a hushed tone as he strode over to the bed and gently caressed Anise's face.
"Simply exhaustion. Her powers have drained her, that's all." Answered Dagonet gently and placed a broad hand on Gawain's shoulder. "Come, she needs her rest."
Gawain looked at Dagonet with a meek smile and kissed Anise softly on the forehead before the two Knights left and shut the door behind them.
Day moved softly from Tristan's warm embrace and attempted to sit up on the bed. Time had drifted with little meaning as he held her in his arms and she had stayed simply comforting him; trying to let him sleep. Her dress was crumpled slightly from the way she'd been lying and she tutted softly to herself.
"Where are you going?" Tristan's deep growl rumbled out suddenly as his hand caught her wrist softly.
"I thought you were asleep." Day replied with a smiling tone.
She moved her head back round to face him and noticed the hurt in his deep brown eyes. She laid back down in his arms, facing him, and stared at him in concern. He stared back at her in silence and closed his eyes slowly as her fingers brushed over his tattoos and made their way smoothly over his closed eyelids and down his nose. It was growing dark outside but her emerald eyes still glistened in the dull light and Tristan sighed softly as her nimble fingertips continued to trail tenderly over his face. After a few more moments Tristan opened his eyes again and Day moved one of his unruly braids from his face so she could see him clearly. His eyes were piercing but Day could still see the hurt in the deep brown depths of them.
"What is it?" She asked softly, her hand resting lightly on the side of his face.
"Where were you going?" Tristan asked again.
"I don't know. My own chamber, for a walk, the practice field…somewhere. I wanted to let you sleep." Day replied still in her understated tone.
"I'll always sleep better if you were in my arms." Tristan murmured quietly and gazed at her lovingly.
Day smiled and nestled her head against his chest and felt his strong arms fold round her and Tristan settle. He kissed the top of her head and felt her relax into him and drift into sleep.
"I love you." He whispered tenderly into her mass of chocolate locks.
The two patients were both awake by the next morning and Anise sat up in bed; a pile of cushions behind her and Gawain had been to visit. She and Arthur joked happily although he was still in obvious pain, but he smiled for Anise's benefit.
Dagonet was tending to Arthur's bandages when he felt two more presences enter the room. He moved his head up briefly to see Vanora stood with Jade in front of her. Dagonet smiled at his friend's wife and beckoned her over to the bed.
"I hope you don't mind Dagonet but Jade was desperate to see Anise." Vanora said timidly but relaxed at his warm smile and gentle manner.
"Of course not." He spoke softly and smiled at the small girl before lifting her up into his large arms and sitting her beside Anise.
Anise frowned softly at the new appearance in her drowsiness until she recognised the vibrant colour of Jade's hair and eyes.
"Jade." She whispered, smiling.
Jade returned the smile in the form of a broad grin and hugged Anise around the waist. Anise patted her head lightly as Vanora came over to the bed and Dagonet returned to treating Arthur.
"I'm sorry to disturb you like this but she was so anxious about you." Vanora said apologetically but Anise tutted at her.
"Really it's fine. I enjoy her company, don't I little one?" Anise assured Vanora confidently and readjusted Jade so that they were both comfortable.
"As long as you're well enough. Just let me know and I'll take her home anytime." Vanora told Anise as she watched Dagonet cleaning Arthur's wound. "And how are you Arthur?" She asked with concern.
Arthur groaned suddenly as Dagonet washed the gash in his side but gritted his teeth, before answering Vanora.
"I've been better."
The two women chuckled at his response and talked idly for a while till Vanora decided it was time for them to leave.
"Day should be along later, I saw her this morning as she was asking after you." Vanora called over her shoulder as she led Jade from the infirmary.
"When can I be up and around again Dagonet?" asked Anise with slight boredom after the door had swung shut.
"Well I'd say another day at the very least, you're still weak." The Knight told her with his deep rumble as he tied off the last of Arthur's bandaging.
He smiled as she sighed and rolled Arthur's bed back next to her's so that they could talk easily and he could check easily on them from the doorway.
"I'll be back later with some lunch but for now rest." Dagonet said as he cleaned away the equipment and left the room.
"How's the pain Arthur?" Anise asked after a moment or two of watching him.
"The herbs Dagonet gave me earlier seem to be doing something to numb the pain but it still troubles me." He said with a resigned tone and turned to face the young woman to his left.
Anise smiled at him and wiped a few disorderly curls from his face and talked to him casually about his hopes for the future.
"What is it you wish for?" He asked her eventually as visions of Rome flickered in his mind.
Anise thought for a moment and Arthur watched her brown eyes glint with uncertainty for a moment.
"Stay here I suppose. Or at least until Gawain is released from his service to Rome." She replied finally but still seemed in deep thought.
"Then what?" Arthur pressed; he couldn't help himself but he needed to know.
"It depends on what Gawain wants really." Shrugged Anise and returned her gaze to Arthur. "What about when you reach Rome?"
Arthur sighed heavily and leaned further back into his pillows.
"Have a family I suppose."
Anise nodded thoughtfully before speaking again.
"Will it be a Roman wife or someone you'll take with you?"
Arthur frowned at her question and turned his head to face her. She looked so innocent and so beautiful, even in her weary state and Arthur had to mentally scold himself.
"Roman." He stated firmly and Anise couldn't help but notice the hard stare his normally expressive eyes had taken on.
"Ah."
A/N: Lol everyone seemed to like the last chapter so hey thanks! lol You guys have got to stop giving me ideas cos they're always so good I just have to include them lol. I just had to have a Tristan moment there, he's the best, let's face facts lol. Yup so thanks very much for all your lovely reviews! -hugs- Thanks x