It was over. He knew it was over and he was glad. He could finally put it, no, her to rest. A wave of stillness washed over him and he sighed in relief; revelling in the new found calm. She'd always be there, of course she would; always reminding him, but now, now Galahad knew she had loved him and that was all he needed. He was ready to move on.
"What do you think of her?" Day asked Tristan quietly as they walked a little way behind Jocosta.
Tristan looked down into Day's smiling face and hugged her closer to his chest.
"Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy." He whispered huskily and Day reached up to kiss his cheek.
They continued walking on in comfortable silence; Day snuggled under Tristan's arm with her head resting on his chest and his hand lying over the top of her shoulder.
Jocosta shuffled along in front, no longer enjoying the snow but instead finding it seeping into her bones and chilling her thoughts. She was a child of nature but she couldn't find it in herself to wonder at its beauty any longer. She could hear the other Knights behind her and could see Dagonet helping Arthur along in front of her but she wasn't paying attention to where they were going.
"Jocosta?" called Arthur over his shoulder after a while, awakening her from her daydreams. "Could you help me with the door?"
Jocosta ran forward immediately and opened the heavy oak door that led into the Table room. Arthur nodded thankfully at her, as did Dagonet who was still supporting Arthur and they walked slowly into the large chamber. Jocosta entered silently behind them and watched as Dagonet helped Arthur into a chair; the Roman commander groaning quietly with pain before nodding Dagonet away and watching as the other Knights took their seats.
"Where's Galahad?" asked Arthur with a frown as he noticed the young Knight missing and Gawain simply shrugged.
"I asked that earlier but no-one seemed to know." He replied casually and relaxed back into his chair, his hand resting on Anise's thigh who sat next to him.
"I'll get him Arthur." Announced Jocosta quietly and waited till he nodded for her to leave before she walked out of the room.
She vaguely remembered where Galahad's chamber was as she wandered around the fort, casting her eyes languidly over doors as she walked past and shivering in the warmth of the hallways. It took her a few minutes of silent drifting to recognise the room and she paused suddenly outside the door. After taking a deep breath and gathering her courage she was shocked when the door opened abruptly and Galahad was stood looking at her raised arm.
"Oh erm...I was sent to come and fetch you." She murmured quickly and instantly dropped her arm back down to her side, a blush creeping its way across her face.
"Oh thank you." Replied Galahad a little taken aback too by the situation before smiling at her.
Jocosta gave the Knight a confused look for a moment as she watched him smiling at her. She hadn't seen him smile before, only appear sullen or angry, or seen as his tears made their way haphazardly down his face. It was a fine thing to see him smile she decided after a moment and felt herself smile back at him.
There were no tears in his eyes now, no anger or pain and Jocosta felt herself relax instantly in his presence as he closed his door behind him and presented her with his arm.
"I presume they're in the Table room." He posed gently and Jocosta nodded to him as they made their way along the warren of corridors once again.
They made idle chatter as they walked about the weather and such till an unseen stone tripped Jocosta and would have normally sent her sprawling across the floor if it wasn't for Galahad's strong grip on her arm. He caught her mid-air and twisted her so that she was facing him. They stood there simply looking at each other for a second before Galahad seemed to realise and righted her so that she was stood up straight. She brushed out her dress and mentally scolded herself for being such a fool.
"Thank you." She muttered quietly after a second.
"I should be the one thanking you." His voice whispered gently in her ear and Jocosta moved her head to see him standing mere inches from her.
She smiled back at him softly, knowing exactly what he meant and let him retake her arm and walk them into the Table room.
Day watched with mild amusement at the sight of her young sister and Galahad entering the Table room. The young Knight seemed proud, even happy now, and his smile wasn't forced but relaxed as if all was well in his world once again. Day let her eyes wander back over to the man sat next to her and smiled slightly as his eyes trailed across her face. The scout turned his attention back to Arthur though as the roman commander began to speak, but one of his hands snaked over from his chair and came to rest upon hers with a soft caress.
"Eiger has been telling me that the Woads further to the north have agreed to allowing us safe passage through their territory and defending us should a situation arise. Their hostility to other Roman patrols will not cease however which was expected and we have agreed upon these terms." Declared Arthur with his resounding boom of authority, only pausing to glare at Lancelot who snorted at the mention of Romans.
There were quiet murmurs of agreement from all the Knights and Arthur smiled with satisfaction. He looked around the Table room with pride and proceeded in telling the Knights of the new routes that they would be able to take without fear of attack by the Woads and how this would affect their campaigns and missions. They discussed the new advantages a while longer and asked if there had been any sightings of further Saxon militia, to which none of the Woads further north had confirmed. Satisfied with the outcome of things, Arthur dismissed everyone and allowed Dagonet to help him back to his chamber. He had preferred for his commander to stay in the infirmary but had eventually agreed for Arthur to retire to his chamber, as he'd be more comfortable there and it would be just as easy to attend him there than the infirmary. Everyone else went their separate ways; many to the tavern or their chambers, or back outside to play in the snow. Day, however, left Tristan quietly and told him she would be back soon and for him to go and enjoy himself with the other Knights. He had frowned at her, searching for an answer to where she was going but Day had simply kissed him and sent him on his way. She watched him go before walking in the opposite direction, walking swiftly through the corridors of the fort and stalking stealthily through the shadows. After a short walk she reached the infirmary and closed the door behind her quietly as she stepped in from the cold and pushed her hair from her face.
"Dagonet?" She called out quietly as she drifted further into the room and looked around cautiously.
"What can I do for you Lady Day?" Dagonet's voice asked gently as he appeared from a screen at the other end of the room, behind her.
"Oh." Day breathed in relief and watched as Dagonet looked at her questioningly and wrapped up some bandages. "Well…I just wanted to ask you something really." She said quietly after a second and smiled uneasily as he patted the bed beside him and walked round to the other side.
"What seems to be the problem?" He asked casually, only with a hint of concern as she climbed up onto the bed and laid back against the cushions.
"I…I've not been having regular…cycles." She commented with a blush and Dagonet coughed quietly as recognition hit him.
"Ah right ok." He murmured softly as he began feeling her stomach gently, his large hands pressing lightly over her abdomen and his face passive.
Day watched in quiet anxiety as a frown etched itself onto his face and she looked up to him for reassurance.
"Well?" She asked quietly and her eyes glistened with worry as Dagonet removed his hands from her stomach and rubbed his chin.
"Have you and Tristan…been having relations?" He asked wisely, his voice slow and calm.
"Yes." Replied Day simply and chewed her lip nervously.
Dagonet nodded his head sagely and gave her a small smile as she lay back on the bed.
Day was looking out across the blanket of white when she heard Tristan enter his chamber. He suspected she'd be here as she hadn't returned for him at the tavern and Jocosta was sharing her own chamber. She had always commented this was where she felt safest so he had made his way straight here when she hadn't come looking for him. He closed the door quietly and paused for a second just to watch her standing at the window; snowflakes floating past her and outlining her in a pure light. Day didn't move round to look at him but simply stared out and watched the snow drifting past the window, her arms cross tightly around her waist. Tristan walked over to her silently and ran his hands down her arms before running them back up and down again. He was close to her back and she could feel the warmth of his body radiating against her own, his hands relaxing her and making her feel safe.
"I'm pregnant." Day blurted out all of a sudden.
She couldn't stop herself, she just felt so safe and so right in his arms and she had to tell him. Tristan's hands hesitated briefly after the words had been spoken and Day half expected him to pull away right there and then. But his hands continued running softly up and down her arms and she felt him move even closer.
"Are you sure?" He whispered softly as he bent to kiss along her neck.
Day nodded slowly, a few loose tears running down her face. Tristan noticed them with growing concern and turned her around to look at him; his intense brown eyes searching out her emerald ones and he frowned.
"Why are you crying?" Tristan asked her quietly, moving a hand up to brush away her tears.
"Because…because you…this…" Day stammered out before looking up at Tristan with a tearful frown.
"Marry me." Stated Tristan huskily, his hand still resting on her face and stroking her cheek tenderly.
"What?" gasped Day in surprise, her tears forgotten and her eyes wide.
"Marry me." Repeated Tristan, gazing at her intently as she stared back at him.
Day stood in silence for a moment, the shock stilling her brain. She was sure he would have hated her for getting pregnant, surely he wouldn't have wanted a child but here he was asking her to marry him.
"Yes." She murmured even as Tristan began reaching for her, kissing her eagerly and pulling her back towards the bed with him.
A/N: So do we like? Do we hate? Any comments? I wasn't too sure I liked the rush of that chapter but in the end meh lol. It was going to happen sometime wasn't it? lol Well there may be more Gawain and Anise slush coming up in the next chapter if you're lucky lol. Lol and thanks so much for everyone reviewing both this fic and my other fic 'Noyou can't go home yet Galahad', all the comments have been very much appreciated! Thanks x