Gawain was leaning against the doorframe to his chamber, watching Anise fiddle with some embroidery on a new dress she was making. He smiled to himself at how well she had fitted into her new life and become such an important part of his.
"Ouch!" yelped Anise as the needle sunk into her finger deeply and blood started to trickle out of the wound.
Gawain rushed forward instantly, grasping her hand as he knelt down before her; seeming not to notice Anise's slight bewilderment at how quickly he had been to her side fro nowhere but she simply watched as he gently wiped the blood away from her finger and pressed a delicate kiss on the tip. A soft smile graced her lips unconsciously and she relaxed into his touch, letting the embroidery slip from her lap and onto the floor with a clatter.
"You need to be more careful, my love." Murmured Gawain gently as he continued caressing her hand and she eyed him quietly.
"What will you be like if we do ever have children? I'll end up beating you to death with a stick at this rate, not that I'm complaining, mind." Chuckled Anise, reaching up with her other hand to brush away one of her tight curls.
Gawain smiled then; a small yet genuine smile, and he reached up on his knees to kiss her forehead.
"I'll be sure to be spending nights in the stables with Tristan then?" He murmured amusedly into her curls and smirked as he heard her laugh. "Bathing in the fountain and eating in the tavern?" He continued as he shifted backwards to look at her.
Anise only laughed harder at his raised eyebrows and dancing eyes as he sat back and she ran a hand through his tousled locks as he spoke.
"Nay. I wouldn't want you to embarrass me with washing in public, now would I?" Goaded Anise and Gawain let out a bark of laughter.
"Are you trying to imply I'm fat Lady Anise?" He said after a moment, his voice laden with mock-offence and the blues of his eyes twinkling in merriment.
"Big-boned I'd call it." She teased furrowing her brow in concentration before his jaw dropped open in shock. Pulling him up into a rich kiss, Anise smiled against his mouth and felt him reach for her instantly. His hands wound themselves around her waist, running upwards along the curve of her spine until they finally immersed themselves in her dark curls. His rough fingers traced gently across her scalp, causing her to smile further and she broke the kiss with a gentle chuckle.
"Shouldn't you be practicing or something, my love? Instead of waylaying young maidens from their work?" Anise joked rather breathlessly as Gawain stood from his place on the floor.
"And you mean you wouldn't like to watch? Oh I am disappointed." Replied Gawain, hanging his shoulders in feigned sorrow until she rose and kissed his lightly on the mouth, to which he returned a dazzling smile. They left the room in quiet companionship, Gawain's arm coming to rest around Anise's lower back and toy with the fingers on her right hand. He would have to marry her sometime soon, he thought to himself.
Galahad was dancing around the wooden post with deadly precision, his blade striking the pole with a dull thud with ever swing before he pushed back and started another feral attack. The sweat was pouring from him as he released his anger in his normal fashion, although this time it was not the usual blue Woad he pictured as the post, more rather a certain sandy haired young man. Galahad growled fiercely as she lunged at the wooden pole, lashing out with his sword and cutting a deep groove into the wood. A small whimper interrupted his jealous rage though and he turned to find an anxious looking Jade stood in the doorway. Her china blue eyes were glittering in the dim lighting and Galahad let out a sad sigh before dropping his sword to the floor and bending down to the floor. He opened his arms to her and the little girl scurried over to him and embedded herself deep within his burning muscles.
"Why are you angry Uncle Galahad?" Came her sweet voice as she burrowed her head into his chest and enjoyed the way he held onto her so tightly.
"Not for you to worry about little one." He replied in a tired voice and patted the girl gently on the head as he picked her up and carried her over to one of the nearby benches.
He sat them both down and yet the small child refused to let go of his sodden tunic and he resigned himself to enjoying her comfort. Jade's quiet innocence and vulnerability reached out for Galahad and he talked to her quietly as she nestled into his shoulder and sat playing with his damp curls. Eventually this peaceful exchange was interrupted briefly as Gawain and Anise entered quietly although Galahad spared them a small smile and nod of his head before returning his attention back to Jade. Normally the young girl would be launching herself at Anise and Gawain with a blur of movement but today she sat quietly, sucking her thumb as she toyed with the young Knight's curls, eyeing the pair silently as they entered. The young girl could sense the calm and comfort she was bringing to Galahad and had no intention of moving from his warmth anyhow. Anise smiled at the sight and placed herself down on one of the benches over the opposite side of the stables, reclining backwards leisurely as she restarted some embroidery she had picked up from Vanora on the way over here, and occasionally glancing up to watch Gawain swinging his axe from side to side; his powerful arms knocking chunks out of the wooden pole as he hit it forcefully.
This comfortable situation was once again broken though, as Arthur entered with Drogn and Jocosta. All eyes turned towards the newly entered group before shooting back instantly to Galahad, who had tensed up around Jade as his eyes turned dark at the appearance of the new arrivals. Sensing his discomfort, Jade turned sternly towards the group and glared at them whilst sucking her thumb before turning back to Galahad and reaching around to hug him closer. Galahad numbly tightened his grasp on her as he watched Jocosta and Drogn walk across the room with Arthur towards Anise.
Gawain could feel the tension building rapidly within the stables, seemingly centred over the other side of the large room with Galahad. He watched passively and nodded at the new arrivals before letting his gaze snap back to his friend; silently warning him not to do anything stupid. Anise smiled warmly at Arthur and Jocosta, hiding her curiousness about the other young man as he greeted her. Gawain had spoken quickly to her about the sudden news as they walked briskly towards the stables and Anise had sensed Gawain's worry for his friend. She had spoken little to Jocosta but when she had they had both felt comfortable in the other's presence and so Anise asked for the young girl to join her, to which she complied after a smile and nod from Drogn. Anise glimpsed Galahad brooding across the other side of the room as Drogn granted her permission and Anise simply smiled at Jocosta and sat upright before beginning to talk to her. Arthur and Drogn had moved over to the other set of benches in order to talk about politics and Gawain was still training with his axe. The battle began.
"How do you fare Jocosta?" Whispered Anise subtlety as she concentrated on her embroidery which hung limply from her lap.
"Not well." Was the troubled reply that Anise received and she glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Jocosta's eyes brimming with tears. The older girl dropped her embroidery into her lap and moved closer to Jocosta, placing a soothing hand on the girl's shoulder and stroking her hair softly.
"Is there no way you can break the arrangement?" She asked evenly, keeping her voice hushed so the others would not hear as Jocosta hastily wiped at her eyes.
Jocosta stared down into her lap and shook her head resolutely in silence, fiddling with her hands. Anise sighed in regretful agreement and looked up into the room to watch the silent battle of wills commencing.
Drogn was sat in discussion with Arthur although his gaze kept wandering over towards the women with a gentle smile as he watched his betrothed. Across the other side of the room Galahad sat glaring at her, willing her to look at him, communicate with him, just acknowledge he was there! Anise wondered whether the girl next to her was aware of this, or simply ignoring it. She could feel the passion and hurt radiating from Galahad from across the other side of the room and the quiet appreciation floating it's way towards them from Drogn.
"Does he treat you well?" Anise asked and Jocosta realised instantly who she meant.
"Yes. He will make a fine husband, he's caring, attentive, successful. He's just-"
"Not the one you want." Finished Anise with a knowing tone and a sad expression came across her face as Jocosta looked up to meet her eyes. Her auburn locks were falling across her face and once again her dark green orbs were glistening with unshed tears.
"Yes." She breathed simply before returning her gaze to her lap, her shoulders hunched and head hung mournfully.
Jade looked up into Galahad's desperate yet forceful face and simply stared at him. After a few moments, Galahad realised he was being watched and looked down at her questioningly.
"Go." She murmured gently to him, taking in the heart-wrenching look in his eyes.
Galahad frowned for a moment, looking back up to Jocosta and then back to Jade's innocent knowing expression. Jade reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek, feeling his arms gently close around her as she did so before sitting back down into his lap and staring at him mournfully. In a moment she was gone from his warm embrace and skipping out the door with a wisdom beyond years present in her. Galahad swivelled his head back to Jocosta then who just as quickly was up and out of the room. He watched in surprise as she flew past him and he stood immediately, as did Drogn. Arthur stood a moment later and nodded to Galahad to leave, who had to restrain himself from sprinting until he was outside the room. Drogn gave Arthur a confused glance and opened his mouth in protest, only to have the Roman commander place a firm hand on his arm and give him a knowing smile.
"Galahad will take care of her."
Gawain stopped his training and returned to Anise's side, who had a serene look upon her face.
"What did you say to her?" He murmured quietly as he wiped away the sweat trickling down his forehead with the back of the sleeve of his tunic.
"Only what she already knew herself." She replied mysteriously and carried on with embroidery.
Jocosta had heard the quick and nimble footsteps behind her growing louder and she gave up running from them as she entered an abandoned corridor. She leant back against the wall, her breathing slightly heavier than normal due to her swift running, and she turned her head to look at Galahad as he rounded the corner. Both simply stared at each other for a moment, listening to the other's heavy breathing before Galahad walked forward towards her.
"Don't, not now Galahad, please." Pleaded Jocosta tiredly as she shook her head helplessly before resting it back against the wall and staring up to the ceiling.
"Stop pretending like I don't exist." He breathed dangerously low and Jocosta banged her head backwards against the wall.
"What do you want me to do? You think I want this? I hate this as much as you do! Knowing that I can never have what hasn't even been and yet feeling it's loss!" Exploded Jocosta, launching herself off the wall and flinging her arms up in protest.
"Then let it have been." Pressed Galahad gently, his voice growing softer as he watched her struggle to keep her composure. "Run away with me, let me be your's and you be mine. Let me love you." He whispered huskily, suddenly aware of their position; her back firmly against the wall and he not a mere foot from her.
"You know running away would only get us both killed and that what you ask of me I cannot give." Breathed Jocosta, finally looking up only to sink into those profoundly passionate eyes of his.
Galahad ignored her last words and instead pressed his lips to hers. The mutual understanding flowed between them like lighting in that soft embrace and both could feel the other's grief, apologies and need in that single exchange.
"Jocosta?" Eiger's voice called uncertainly into the dim light.
A/N: Yes ok I didn't get very far with the actual introduction of action with the other characters in this story. There are other characters?I hear you gasp lol. Well yes I hope that was ok, had to have some more angst and a bit of a cliff hanger, alwaysa good thing lol. Was that to everyone's liking? Well let me know what you think and then I can try to keep you happy lol. Btw this is totally irrelevant and really represents how disturbed I am lol but I was sat in chemsitry the other day and our chemistry teacher made a comment about the atoms having to be in water to be free or something, and I could just imagine Tristan ducking his hawk in water and going "Be free! Be free!" and of course I started laughing lol. No-one else will probably find that amusing but oh well lol. Thanks x